cryptogram solver
Cryptogram Solver
Work through cryptogram patterns with known letters, unknown positions, and quick candidate words. Use the controls below and get usable answers without leaving the page.
Enter solved letters or a pattern Not sure what to enter? Use the Sample button to load a realistic puzzle.
Enter letters or a pattern, or click Sample to see how this tool narrows a real puzzle.
Stuck on a substitution cipher? Enter the ciphertext, lock any known letter mappings, and get frequency hints and candidate words to crack the code fast.
Enter Your Ciphertext
Paste the encrypted message into the input box. The solver will analyze letter frequencies and suggest possible plaintext mappings.
Lock Known Mappings
If you already know that X = E or Q = T, lock those mappings before generating candidates. This prevents the solver from overwriting your confirmed letters.
Use Frequency Hints
The tool displays a letter frequency table for your ciphertext. Compare it to standard English letter frequencies (E, T, A, O, I, N, S, H, R, D, L, C, U, M, W, F, G, Y, P, B, V, K, J, X, Q, Z) to guess common letters.
Get Candidate Word Suggestions
Select a word from the ciphertext and the solver will show possible plaintext words that match the pattern. For example, if the ciphertext word is XYYX, the solver might suggest DEED, POOP, or NOON.
Cryptogram example
Use known letters and repeated-letter patterns together. If the cipher pattern is ABBA, the answer must repeat the second and third positions the same way.
Choose the right word tool
Use this page when repeated-letter patterns and known substitutions matter. If you only need ordinary words from letters, a word finder will be faster.
Common Questions
How do I solve a cryptogram?
Start by looking for common short words like the, and, of, to. Use the frequency table to guess the most common letters. Lock mappings as you confirm them and use candidate word suggestions for longer words.
What is a substitution cipher?
A substitution cipher replaces each letter in the plaintext with a different letter. The same plaintext letter always maps to the same ciphertext letter. Solving means figuring out the mapping.
How do letter frequencies help?
In English, E is the most common letter, followed by T, A, O, etc. By matching the most frequent ciphertext letters to these common letters, you can start guessing the mapping.
Can I lock known letter mappings?
Yes. Use the lock feature to fix a mapping so the solver does not change it when generating new suggestions.
Can a cryptogram have multiple solutions?
Yes, especially short messages. The solver may show multiple possible mappings. Use context and common sense to choose the correct one.
Before you accept the substitution
Before you accept a cryptogram candidate, check repeated letters. The same coded letter must stand for the same solved letter every time, or the answer breaks the substitution pattern.