Games like NYT Spelling Bee you can play together
Word Hive is Letternerd’s free game like NYT Spelling Bee: seven letters, one in the middle, and two minutes to make as many words as you can. Every word uses the middle letter, one word uses all seven, and a word only you found scores extra. Play solo, or race friends in a room on their own phones.
What is Spelling Bee?
Spelling Bee is a word puzzle from The New York Times that started in the print magazine and is now part of NYT Games. A honeycomb shows seven letters, and you make words of four letters or more that always include the centre letter. Longer words score more, and a word that uses every letter is a pangram. There is no clock: you work on the day’s hive for as long as you like and move up through ranks as your score grows.
Why people look for games like Spelling Bee
- You want to race friends on the same letters, not just compare ranks.
- You want a quick round that is over in a couple of minutes.
- You want a new set of letters without waiting for tomorrow.
Letternerd vs Spelling Bee
| Feature | Spelling Bee | Letternerd |
|---|---|---|
| Letters | Seven, and every word uses the centre one | Seven, and every word uses the middle one |
| Time | No clock; the hive lasts all day | Two minutes a hive, two hives a game |
| Scoring | Points by word length, extra for pangrams, ranks for your total | Points for every word, extra for long words and the one that uses all seven, extra again for words nobody else found |
| Playing with friends | Play alone | Everyone works the same hive at the same time, and the reveal compares what each player found |
| How often | One hive a day | A new game whenever you like |
| Where it runs | Browser and the NYT Games app | Any browser, as a guest |
Which should you pick?
Pick Spelling Bee if
- You like to chip away at one puzzle through the day with no timer.
- You enjoy climbing the ranks and hunting for every word in the hive.
Pick Letternerd if
Pick Letternerd if- You want a timed word race against friends on the same letters.
- You like being rewarded for finding the words nobody else thought of.
- You want it free in the browser, with no account.
How to play Word Hive
- Open Word Hive and play alone, or host a room and share the code or link.
- You get seven letters, one in the middle. Make words of four letters or more, and every one must use the middle letter. Letters can repeat.
- You have two minutes. Longer words score more, and one word in every hive uses all seven letters.
- At the end the reveal shows everyone’s words. Words only you found score again, so the unusual ones count most in a group.
Spelling Bee vs Word Hive: the big difference
Spelling Bee is slow and private: one hive, all day, against yourself. Word Hive is short and social: two minutes, the same letters as your friends, and a bonus for the words they missed. If you want a grid of letters you trace through instead, try Letter Web in the Arcade, with a daily board you can compare with friends.
Play games like Spelling Bee
Free in your browser on any phone or computer. Play alone, or share the room code and everyone joins as a guest.
- Word Hive1–12 players · 6 minSeven letters, one in the middle, two minutes. Make more words than anyone else, and find the one that uses them all.
- Four Links1–12 players · 8 minSixteen words, four hidden groups of four. Find them all before your four mistakes run out.
- Word Race1–12 players · 8 minEveryone guesses the same hidden word. Six tries each, with letter-by-letter hints. Fewest tries wins.
- Category Clash2–10 players · 10 minOne letter, six categories, ninety seconds. Only the answers nobody else thought of score.
In the Arcade
Frequently asked questions
Can you play Spelling Bee with friends?
Spelling Bee is played alone. To play together, host a room of [Word Hive](/g/word-hive): everyone gets the same seven letters at the same time, and the reveal shows who found which words.
Is there a Spelling Bee style game with a timer?
Yes. Word Hive gives you two minutes a hive, which makes each round quick and turns it into a race when you play with others.
Is Word Hive free to play?
Yes. It is free, runs in any browser on a phone, tablet or computer, and you can play as a guest without an account.
More games
Other comparisons
See all- Daily word-grouping puzzle from NYT GamesGames like ConnectionsFour Links is a free game like NYT Connections: sixteen words, four hidden groups, four mistakes. Play alone or race friends on the same board in your browser.
- Daily five-letter word puzzleGames like WordleFree games like Wordle you can play with friends: race the same hidden word in a room, try four words at once, or play daily letter games in the Arcade.
- Letter-grid word gameGames like BogglePlay a free game like Boggle online: find words in a grid of touching letters before the clock runs out, compare scores with friends, or race them in a room.
- Party game of categories and a letterGames like ScattergoriesCategory Clash is a free game like Scattergories: one letter, six categories, ninety seconds, and only answers nobody else gave score. Play on your own phones.
Spelling Bee is a trademark of its owner. Letternerd is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by them. The comparison describes each product as publicly presented and may change; check their site for the latest.