Categories vs NYT Connections
Categories vs Connections: A Free Grouping Puzzle Compared
Connections popularised the grouping puzzle: a grid of words that secretly splits into equal groups, with red herrings placed deliberately between them. Categories is our free daily take. The core loop is the same; the options around it are wider.
The short verdict
Categories is the closest free equivalent to Connections, with the same four-groups-of-four daily board plus an expert 5x5 grid for players who find the standard size too easy.
Play Categories freeCategories vs NYT Connections at a glance
| Categories | NYT Connections | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard grid | 4x4 — four groups of four | 4x4 — four groups of four |
| Expert grid | 5x5 — five groups of five (Pro) | Not available |
| Mistakes allowed | Four | Four |
| Difficulty colours | Yes, revealed as you solve | Yes |
| Shuffle & deselect | Yes | Yes |
| Archive | Last 30 days (Pro) | Games subscription |
| Account required | No | Account for streaks |
| Price | Free | Free tier, paid archive |
Solve the overlap last
In any grouping puzzle the setter's real weapon is the word that plausibly fits two groups. The reliable method is the same in both games: find the group whose four members share the narrowest, least-arguable link, submit that first, and let each solved group shrink the ambiguity for the rest.
What the 5x5 expert grid changes
Going from sixteen tiles to twenty-five does not just add words — it adds crossings. With five categories, most tiles have at least one credible second home, so guessing early is punished much harder. It is the mode to play when a standard board takes you under two minutes.
Cost and access
Categories is free and needs no account to play today's board. A Pro plan adds the 30-day archive and the expert grid, but the daily puzzle everyone discusses is never paywalled.
Play Categories if…
- You want a free daily grouping puzzle with no subscription
- Standard boards feel too easy and you want a 5x5
- You want to play without creating an account
Play NYT Connections if…
- You want the exact NYT editorial voice and its community
- You already subscribe to NYT Games
Categories vs NYT Connections: frequently asked questions
Is there a free game like NYT Connections?
Yes. Categories is a free daily grouping puzzle with the same 4x4 board, four groups and four allowed mistakes, plus an optional 5x5 expert grid.
How many mistakes can I make in Categories?
Four, matching Connections. A fifth incorrect group ends the board and reveals the solution.
What is expert mode in Categories?
A 5x5 grid with five groups of five, available to Pro members. The extra category creates far more overlap between tiles, which makes early guesses much riskier.
Does Categories have an archive?
Yes — the last 30 days of boards are available to Pro members. Today's puzzle is always free.
Do I need an account to play?
No. You can play today's Categories board immediately; an account only stores streaks and stats.
Keep reading
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