Science Olympiad · Codebusters · Cryptograms
Crack the code.
Built for Codebusters.
Cipher Munch is the cryptogram practice app designed for Codebusters coaches and students, and anyone who loves cracking a good cipher. Solve real quotes across 12 cipher types, dial the helpers up or down as you improve, and watch your solve times drop.
- No ads
- No account
- Works offline
- Free Starter packs
- Private iCloud sync
How it works
From first cryptogram to timed-event ready
Every puzzle hides a real quote from writers, scientists, and statesmen behind a classical cipher. Crack the code, enjoy the quote, get a little sharper.
- C
Pick your cipher
Twelve types, from beginner-friendly Atbash and Pigpen to competition Aristocrats, Patristocrats, and Spanish Xenocrypts.
- O
Crack real quotes
A custom keyboard tuned for fast letter-mapping, plus full hardware-keyboard support on iPad and Mac.
- D
Dial the helpers
Frequency counts, letter highlighting, translation tables: turn them on while you learn, off as you train for competition.
- E
Watch yourself improve
Per-cipher stats, solve times, daily streaks, and shareable achievement medallions keep practice honest.
Screenshots
A cryptogram board that feels like paper, with superpowers
For coaches & students
Purpose-built for Science Olympiad Codebusters
The classical-cipher formats used in Codebusters are all here, with the tools that turn solo solving into timed-event readiness, and a Print & Share mode that recreates the paper test experience for team practice.
- Aristocrats classic letter substitution
- Aristocrat K1 & K2 keyword alphabets
- Patristocrats K1 & K2 5-letter blocks, no spaces
- Xenocrypt Spanish, 27 letters with Ñ
- Caesar forward-shift convention
- Affine number-based substitution
- Atbash mirror alphabet
- Visual ciphers Pigpen, Dancing Men, Knights Templar
Beginner to expert
Every helper is a training dial
Turn everything on while you learn. Switch tools off one by one as you improve, until you're solving cold, the way you would at a competition.
- Analyze
Letter frequency tools
Frequency counts under every cipher letter or in a table below the puzzle: the core skill of every cryptogram solver, built in.
- See
Smart highlighting
Highlight every cell that matches the letter you're editing, spot repeats at a glance, and optionally flag errors when the board is full.
- Learn
Tables & decoders
Translation tables for Atbash, Pigpen, Dancing Men and Knights Templar, a manual Caesar decoder strip, and a printable reference sheet.
- Print
Print & share puzzles
Print any puzzle with or without frequency tables and filled answers: perfect for paper practice, classrooms, and team sessions.
- Type
Built for fast input
A custom keyboard tuned for letter-mapping, plus full hardware-keyboard and arrow-key support on iPad and Mac.
- Track
Stats, streaks, badges
Per-cipher progress, fastest and average times, a daily solving streak, and gold-medallion achievements you can share.
Guides
Get more out of every solve
Short, practical guides on using Cipher Munch for competition prep, classroom practice, and plain cryptogram joy.
The Codebusters practice app: how students train with Cipher Munch
Structure daily practice across Aristocrats, Patristocrats, and Xenocrypts.
Read the guide → CoachesRunning Codebusters team practice with one app
Print puzzles for paper sessions, assign cipher types, and track who's improving.
Read the guide → CiphersAristocrat practice, from first solve to K1 and K2 keywords
Use frequency and highlighting helpers as training wheels you remove on purpose.
Read the guide → CiphersPatristocrat practice without word boundaries
What changes when the spaces disappear, and which helpers matter most.
Read the guide → CiphersXenocrypt practice: Spanish cryptograms with the Ñ
Train on the 27-letter alphabet the way it appears in competition.
Read the guide → Start hereCryptograms for beginners: your first week of solving
Start with visual ciphers, turn on every helper, and build up from there.
Read the guide → PrintPrintable cryptogram puzzles, straight from your phone
Print any puzzle with the exact helpers you want on paper.
Read the guide → Quality of lifeA cryptogram app with no ads that works offline
Planes, classrooms, camping, and not a single interruption.
Read the guide → TrainingHow to get faster at cryptograms (and prove it)
Use stats, streaks, and solve times as a real training log.
Read the guide → TechniqueLetter frequency analysis, the solver's superpower
What the frequency tools show, and why turning them off makes you better.
Read the guide →FAQ
Questions, decoded
AIs Cipher Munch good for Science Olympiad Codebusters practice?
Yes: it's designed for exactly that. The cipher formats used in Codebusters (Aristocrats, Patristocrats, Xenocrypts, Caesar, Affine, Atbash, and K1/K2 keyword variants) are all included, with frequency tools, timed stats, and print support for paper-style practice. Learn more →
BCan coaches use Cipher Munch for team practice?
Coaches print puzzles (with or without frequency tables) to recreate the paper test setup, assign specific cipher types to team members, and have students track their own solve times and accuracy. Learn more →
CIs Cipher Munch free?
Yes: every cipher type includes a free Starter pack with no time limit, no ads, and no account. When you want more, you can buy a single volume once, subscribe to one cipher, or get All Access. Download free →
DWhich ciphers are included?
Twelve types: Aristocrat, Aristocrat K1 & K2, Patristocrat K1 & K2, Xenocrypt (Spanish), Caesar, Affine, Atbash, Pigpen, Dancing Men, and Knights Templar. Every puzzle hides a real quote. Browse the guides →
EDoes it have Aristocrats with K1 and K2 keywords?
Yes: dedicated K1 and K2 packs, with the frequency grid arranged the traditional way for each so you learn to spot the keyword where it actually appears. Learn more →
FCan I practice Patristocrats?
Yes: Patristocrat K1 and K2 packs present letters in 5-letter blocks with no word boundaries, exactly as they appear in competition. Learn more →
GDoes Cipher Munch include Xenocrypts (Spanish cryptograms)?
Yes: Spanish-language Aristocrats on the full 27-letter alphabet including the Ñ, the format used in Science Olympiad Xenocrypt questions. Learn more →
HI've never solved a cryptogram. Where do I start?
Start with the visual ciphers (Pigpen or Dancing Men) with the translation table on, then move to Atbash and Caesar, then Aristocrats with every helper enabled. The app meets you at your level. Learn more →
ICan I print the puzzles?
Yes: print or share any puzzle as a clean sheet, and choose exactly what appears on paper: frequency numbers under letters, a frequency table, highlighting, even your current answers. Learn more →
JDoes it have ads or need an internet connection?
No ads, no tracking, no sign-up, and it works completely offline. Progress syncs privately through your own iCloud when available. Learn more →
KCan I track my progress and solve times?
Yes: per-cipher stats, fastest and average solve times, an activity chart, daily streaks, and achievement badges you can share. Learn more →
LIs there an Android version?
An Android version is coming soon. Cipher Munch is available today for iPhone, iPad, and Apple silicon Macs. Get the iOS app →
