Playing Wordle online is simple: open the official game on the New York Times Games website in any web browser, type a five-letter guess, and use the green, yellow and grey tile feedback to solve the daily word in six tries. Wordle is browser-based by design — there is no official standalone app you need to download, it works on phones, tablets and computers, and the daily puzzle remains free to play without a subscription.
Where to Play Wordle Online (Official)
The Official NYT Games Page
The one and only official home of Wordle is the New York Times Games website. After acquiring Wordle from creator Josh Wardle in January 2022, the Times moved the game to its own platform — Wardle's original domain now redirects there. If you're playing anywhere else, you're on a clone. [screenrant.com]
How to get there: open your browser and navigate to the NYT Games section, then choose Wordle. The game loads directly in the page — no download, no installation.
Why There's No App to Download
This is deliberate, not an oversight. Wardle designed Wordle as a web-only game from the start, partly because he opposed the data collection that comes with app stores. [grimsbytelegraph.co.uk] When Wordle went viral, the App Store filled with copycat apps — some charging money for a free game. Apple removed several of these clones in early 2022. The lesson: if an app asks you to pay for Wordle, it's not the real thing.
The Times does offer an official NYT Games app (iOS and Android) that includes Wordle alongside its other puzzles — that's the legitimate mobile route if you prefer an app icon.
How Browser Play Works
On Desktop
- Open the Wordle page in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari or any modern browser.
- Type your first five-letter guess with your physical keyboard and press Enter.
- Tiles flip to reveal green (correct spot), yellow (wrong spot) or grey (not in the word).
- Keep guessing — six tries total.
- The puzzle resets at midnight in your local time zone; everyone gets the same word. [nytimeswordle.net]
On Mobile
The browser version is fully responsive. On your phone or tablet:
- The on-screen keyboard appears automatically with large, tappable keys.
- Letters you've eliminated are greyed out on the keyboard as you play.
- The layout adapts to portrait orientation — no sideways scrolling needed.
- You can play in any mobile browser; nothing needs installing.
Do You Need an NYT Account?
No. The daily Wordle is free and playable without logging in or subscribing. Creating a free NYT account is optional — it lets you sync your streak and statistics across devices, which is handy if you switch between phone and computer. [thediplomariot.com]
Wordle Online: Free vs Paid — What to Know
The Daily Puzzle Is Free
Despite living on the New York Times platform (which paywalls much of its content), Wordle's daily puzzle has remained free since the acquisition. Both Wardle and the Times stated at the time of the deal that it would stay free, at least initially — and as of 2026, that is still the case. [screenrant.com]
Watch Out for Fakes
Because Wordle has no official paid version, anything charging money for "Wordle" is a scam or an unauthorised clone. Warning signs:
- An app-store listing charging a fee or pushing in-app purchases for basic Wordle play.
- A website plastered with ads that mimics the NYT layout but has a different domain.
- "Wordle Pro" or "Wordle Premium" upsells — these don't exist officially.
Playing Beyond the Daily Puzzle
Unlimited Practice Versions
The official game gives you exactly one puzzle per day. If you want more, unofficial Wordle Unlimited-style versions let you play as many rounds as you like — useful for warming up before the real thing. These aren't affiliated with the Times and don't affect your official streak.
Wordle Review and Archives
- Wordle Review (via NYT) lets subscribers replay and analyse past puzzles.
- Third-party archive sites let you play older daily puzzles, though the Times has asked some archives to shut down over the years — availability varies.
Wordle Online vs Other Ways to Play
| Way to Play | Official? | Free? | Streak Sync | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYT Games website (browser) | Yes | Yes | With free account | The real daily puzzle |
| NYT Games mobile app | Yes | Yes | Yes | Includes all NYT puzzles |
| Wordle Unlimited clones | No | Yes | No | Endless practice rounds |
| Paid app-store "Wordle" apps | No | No | No | Avoid — unauthorised copies |
Quick-Start Checklist
- Go to the official NYT Games Wordle page — bookmark it so you always land on the real game.
- Pick a strong opener — CRANE, SLATE and ADIEU are popular for a reason: they test common vowels and consonants fast.
- Use the keyboard display — greyed-out letters are eliminated; don't waste guesses on them.
- Consider a free NYT account — optional, but it protects your streak across devices.
- Play daily — the puzzle resets at midnight local time, and streaks only grow with consistency.
Tips for Online Play
Browser-Specific Tips
- Hard refresh if the puzzle looks stale. In the early NYT days, cached versions briefly showed different answers than the live game. A hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R / Cmd+Shift+R) forces the latest version. [livemint.com]
- Enable Dark Theme and Colour Blind Mode in the settings cog if you play at night or have trouble distinguishing green and yellow.
- Don't clear site data carelessly — your streak lives in the browser, so wiping cookies can reset it (another reason a free NYT account is worth having).
Strategy Refresher
New to the game? The core loop never changes: six guesses, five letters, green/yellow/grey feedback. Strong openers use five unique letters. Mid-game, stop reusing grey letters and start testing yellow letters in new positions. For a full breakdown, see our complete guide to the Wordle game and how it compares to the Telegraph's Plusword.
Final Thoughts
Playing Wordle online the right way means one thing: use the official New York Times Games page, in your browser, for free. Everything else — the paid apps, the lookalike sites — is noise around one of the cleanest game designs ever made. Bookmark the real page, protect your streak with a free account, and enjoy your three minutes a day.
Sources: NYT acquisition and free-status reporting via screenrant.com and thediplomariot.com; browser-play details via grimsbytelegraph.co.uk and nytimeswordle.net.
Is Wordle online free?
Yes. The official daily Wordle on the New York Times Games site is completely free — no subscription, no download, no payment. [thediplomariot.com]
What is the official Wordle website?
The official game is hosted on the New York Times Games website. The original creator’s domain now redirects there. Any other site offering “Wordle” is an unofficial clone.
Can I play Wordle on my phone without downloading an app?
Absolutely. Wordle is designed for the browser and works perfectly on mobile browsers. Alternatively, the official NYT Games app includes it.
Does Wordle online save my progress?
Your streak and stats are stored in your browser. Sign in with a free NYT account to sync them across devices so you never lose a streak when switching phones.
Why can’t I play more than one Wordle a day online?
That’s by design — one shared daily puzzle is the heart of the game. Creator Josh Wardle wanted it to be “three minutes a day, and that’s it.” Unlimited practice versions exist on unofficial sites.
Is there a Wordle app?
There is no standalone official “Wordle app.” The legitimate options are the browser version and the NYT Games app. Paid apps calling themselves Wordle are unauthorised.
What time does the Wordle puzzle reset?
Midnight in your local time zone. Every player worldwide gets the same word each day. [nytimeswordle.net]
Can I play yesterday’s Wordle?
The official site only shows today’s puzzle, but NYT’s Wordle Review feature and various third-party archives let you revisit past puzzles.