Cipher helper
Cryptogram Solver
Stuck on a cryptogram? Paste it above. A substitution cipher keeps every word’s shape - which letters repeat, and where - so HDGGX can only be a five-letter word whose third and fourth letters match. We check that shape against all 168,551 English words and show you what fits.
Words with only one possible answer are your way in: solve those, and the letters they lock in cascade through the rest of the puzzle.
Every letter stands for a different letter. We match each word's shape - its pattern of repeats - against 168,551 English words, then rank by how few answers fit. Cmd/Ctrl + Enter also solves.
From the makers of this tool
Love words? You'll love Decode.
Crack hidden phrases symbol-by-symbol, climb the Temple Ascent, and race the daily cipher. Hand-crafted puzzles, no ads.
Free on the App Store · iPhone & iPad · No ads.
From the makers of this tool
Love words? You'll love Decode.
Crack hidden phrases symbol-by-symbol, climb the Temple Ascent, and race the daily cipher. Hand-crafted puzzles, no ads.
Free on the App Store · iPhone & iPad · No ads.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cryptogram?
A puzzle where each letter of a phrase has been swapped for another letter, consistently - every A might become R throughout. Your job is to work backwards to the original phrase, usually a quotation.
How does this cryptogram solver work?
It matches each cipher word’s repeat pattern against a 168,551-word dictionary. HDGGX has the pattern “first, second, third, third, fourth”, so only words like hello or jolly can fit. Fewer matches means a stronger lead, so results are sorted shortest-list first.
Does it solve the whole puzzle automatically?
It gives you every possibility for each word rather than one guess. Cryptograms usually crack from a single confident word - lock that in, and its letters carry across the whole phrase.
What are the most common letters in English?
In rough order: E, T, A, O, I, N, S, H, R. The frequency table beside your results lines your most-used cipher letters up against that order, which is a reliable starting guess on longer puzzles.
Where can I play cryptograms?
Decode is our free iPhone and iPad cipher game - a fresh cryptogram every day plus a 16-chapter campaign, with no ads and no account required.