Cryptogram maker
Type a quote, a riddle or a classroom message. The tool swaps every letter for a different one, always the same way within a puzzle, and prints the coded text with a blank square under each letter. Switch on the answer key for the solution.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Type or paste your message.
- Press New cipher for a different coding if you like.
- Print the puzzle. Tick the answer key and print again for the teacher.
How it works
The tool builds a random arrangement of the 26 letters in which no letter stays in its own place, then replaces each letter of your message through it. Within one puzzle, the same plain letter is always coded the same way, so solvers can use letter frequency and word shapes. Each coded letter is printed over a square for the answer.
Worked example
With a fixed key where A is coded as Q, B as W and so on, the word “ABBA” would become “QWWQ”. The repeated pattern 1-2-2-1 is the kind of clue a solver looks for.
Tips
- Use messages of 30 to 100 letters: shorter ones have too few clues, longer ones take a long time.
- Keep the punctuation in the message. Apostrophes and one-letter words help the solver.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cryptogram?
A cryptogram is a short text written in a substitution cipher: each letter of the alphabet stands for a different letter. The solver works out the original by spotting patterns such as one-letter words, common short words and double letters.
Can a letter stand for itself?
No. The cipher is built so that no letter maps to itself, which makes the puzzle slightly harder to start. Every letter always maps to the same coded letter within one puzzle.
What happens to accents, numbers and punctuation?
Accents are removed first (é becomes E) and all letters become capitals. Digits, spaces and punctuation are not coded and appear as they are, which gives the solver useful clues.
How do I print the answer key?
Print the puzzle with the key off for the students. Then tick Show the answer key and print again: the solved letters appear on the squares.
Is this the same as a Caesar cipher?
No. A Caesar cipher shifts the whole alphabet by a fixed number, so there are only 25 possibilities. This tool shuffles the alphabet completely, giving a far larger number of possible keys.