About BetterWordSearch

BetterWordSearch is a small, independent site that does one thing: word searches. A maker for your own puzzles, and a library of ready-made ones.

Why another word search site?

Because most of them are frustrating. Makers that ask for an account before you can print. Puzzles that are impossible to solve on a phone. Printouts buried under ads and logos. Answer keys you have to hunt for. We wanted a site we’d happily send a teacher, a grandparent or a party planner to.

What we care about

• Free, without catches. Every feature of the maker is free: printing, PDFs, answer keys, multiple versions and share links. No account, no watermark.
• Readable puzzles. Grids use Atkinson Hyperlegible, a typeface from the Braille Institute designed so similar-looking letters are easy to tell apart.
• Phones first. Drag or tap to select words, grids that resize to your screen, and progress that’s saved when you leave.
• Fair puzzles. The generator balances word directions, checks that every word appears exactly once, and stops filler letters from spelling rude words by accident.
• Content worth reading. Each of our 99 themed puzzles explains every word in its list, so it doubles as a vocabulary lesson.
• Privacy. Puzzles are made in your browser. Your word lists aren’t uploaded to us. See the privacy policy.

Using our puzzles

You’re welcome to print our puzzles, and anything you make with the maker, for personal, classroom, library, homeschool, therapy and community use. Please don’t resell them or republish them on other websites. The terms of use have the details.

Get in touch

Found a mistake in a puzzle, have a theme you’d like to see, or an idea for the maker? Email hello@betterwordsearch.com. We read everything.