Wordle is a web-based game, which means the entire experience lives in your browser — no download, no install, no app store required. Created by software engineer Josh Wardle in late 2021 and acquired by The New York Times in January 2022 (NPR's coverage of the acquisition), it gives players six chances a day to guess a hidden five-letter word.
What Does "Web-Based" Mean for Wordle?
A web-based game runs on remote servers and renders in your browser tab. For Wordle this means:
- Nothing to install — open the page and play within seconds.
- Same game everywhere — your phone, tablet, laptop and desktop all load the identical daily puzzle.
- Always up to date — there are no updates to download; the new word simply appears at midnight.
- Tiny footprint — it uses no meaningful storage space on your device.
This simplicity was central to the original appeal. Wardle built the game for his partner, a crossword lover, as a no-fuss daily ritual — and millions adopted it precisely because it asked for nothing in return (hothardware.com).
Where to Play the Wordle Web Game
The official home of the web-based Wordle is the New York Times Games section. It works in any modern browser — Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox — on:
- Smartphones (iOS and Android)
- Tablets
- Laptops and desktop computers
Your streak and statistics are saved in the browser's site data on the device you play on, so regular players tend to stick to one browser to keep their streak intact.
Beware of copycat apps
Because the original Wordle is web-only, paid "Wordle" apps that appeared in app stores were imitations — one high-profile clone even tried to charge a subscription fee, and Apple removed it after user backlash (hothardware.com). If an app asks you to pay for the classic daily Wordle, it is not the original. Playing in the browser is the safe route.
How to Play Wordle Online: The Rules
- You have six attempts to guess the five-letter word of the day.
- Each guess must be a valid five-letter English word.
- After each guess, the tiles change colour:
- Green — correct letter, correct spot.
- Yellow — correct letter, wrong spot.
- Grey — the letter is not in the word at all.
- Letters can repeat, so do not rule out double letters.
- A new puzzle arrives at midnight local time, and everyone worldwide gets the same word each day.
Tips for Playing Wordle in the Browser
Pick a strong opener
Start words rich in common vowels and consonants — CRANE, SLATE, ADIEU and ROATE are perennial favourites — to maximise the information from your first guess.
Use Hard Mode to sharpen up
Toggle Hard Mode in the settings (the gear icon) to force yourself to use revealed hints in every subsequent guess. It is the fastest way to break sloppy guessing habits.
Play on a bigger screen when stuck
The web version shines on desktop: keep a notes tab open for eliminated letters, or simply enjoy the extra thinking space a large screen gives you.
Do not overthink the meta
Wordle's answer list leans toward common vocabulary and avoids obscure words and plurals ending in S or ES, so favour everyday words for your final guesses.
Share without spoilers
The built-in Share button copies your emoji grid — a spoiler-free way to compare results with friends, and the feature that helped the game go viral.
Wordle Web Game Settings Worth Knowing
The settings menu (the gear icon in the top-right corner) holds a handful of options that change how the daily word game feels without changing the puzzle itself:
- Hard Mode — any revealed hints must be used in subsequent guesses. It does not change the puzzle, only your discipline.
- Dark Theme — easier on the eyes for late-night solving sessions.
- High Contrast Mode — swaps the palette for colour-blind players (orange and blue tiles instead of green and yellow).
- Share button — copies your result as an emoji grid for spoiler-free bragging with friends.
Experiment with Hard Mode for a week — it is the fastest way to sharpen your opener discipline, a principle our daily word puzzle tips apply to every guessing format.
Web-Based Wordle vs App Versions
Search any app store for "Wordle" and you will find dozens of results — none of them is the original game. The comparison below shows why the browser version remains the authentic daily word puzzle experience, with the tile feedback, streak tracking and social sharing that made the format famous:
| Feature | Official web version | Copycat apps |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Often paid or ad-heavy |
| Daily puzzle | One, identical for everyone | Varies by app |
| Streak tracking | Saved in your browser | Varies |
| Authenticity | The original game | Unofficial imitations |
Playing Wordle on Shared or School Computers
Because Wordle runs entirely in the browser with no account, it is a natural fit for shared machines — but remember your streak and stats live in that specific browser on that specific computer. Playing on a library or school PC means your progress stays on that PC. If you solve at home and at work, you will effectively have two separate streaks. Private or incognito windows make this worse: closing the window usually discards the stats. For a consistent streak, pick one browser on one device and stick with it.
Do I need to download Wordle?
No. The original game is entirely web-based; there is nothing to install.
Who created Wordle?
Software engineer Josh Wardle created it in late 2021 for his partner; The New York Times purchased it in January 2022 (hothardware.com; apartmenttherapy.com).
How many guesses do you get in Wordle?
Six guesses to find the five-letter word of the day.
Can I play old Wordle puzzles on the web?
The official site only offers the current daily puzzle; archives exist solely through unofficial fan recreations.
Why is Wordle only once a day?
The single daily puzzle is the core of the design — everyone solves the same word, which powers the social sharing ritual.
Does Wordle work on mobile browsers?
Yes — it plays perfectly in Safari, Chrome and other mobile browsers, with large touch-friendly tiles.
New to Wordle variants? Our Wordle Hurdle guide explains another take on the format, and Plusword vs Wordle compares the original with our site's own daily game.
Is Wordle free to play online?
Yes — the web-based Wordle is free in your browser on the New York Times Games site.
Will my Wordle streak survive if I clear my browser cache?
No — clearing cache and cookies wipes your local Wordle statistics and streak, since the official game stores them in your browser rather than in an account. Back up your streak by taking a screenshot of your stats page before clearing data.
Can I play Wordle offline after loading the page?
The game loads entirely in your browser, so once the page has loaded you can keep playing that day’s puzzle even if your connection drops mid-game. You will need to be online again for the next day’s puzzle to load.
Why do some people still play on the old powerlanguage site?
Josh Wardle’s original powerlanguage.co.uk version was the home of Wordle before the New York Times move in early 2022. It no longer hosts the current daily puzzle, so players looking for today’s word should use the official Times page instead.