At first glance, Words With Friends and Scrabble look like the same game. Both feature a 15×15 board, a rack of seven tiles, and the goal of making words for points. But underneath the surface, these two games have significant differences that can completely change your strategy. If you're switching between them — or playing both — understanding these distinctions will make you a much better player.

1. The Board Layout Is Not the Same

This is the single biggest difference, and it catches beginners off guard. The premium squares are placed differently. In Scrabble, the double‑word score squares are symmetrically arranged near the centre. In Words With Friends, the triple‑word and double‑letter squares are positioned more aggressively, making it easier to hit high‑scoring combinations. The centre star is also a double‑word square in Words With Friends, whereas in Scrabble it's simply the starting point. This means opening plays in Words With Friends can be worth far more points, and you need to be much more careful about what you leave open for your opponent.

2. The Word Lists Are Different

Scrabble uses the official TWL (Tournament Word List) or SOWPODS for international play. Words With Friends uses a different dictionary — one that includes some words that are not valid in tournament Scrabble, and excludes some that are. For example, many slang terms and informal words are accepted in Words With Friends that would be challenged off the board in a Scrabble tournament. Always use our Dictionary Checker to verify whether a word is valid in your specific game.

3. Tile Distribution and Values Differ

Words With Friends has a slightly different distribution of letters and assigns different point values to some tiles. For instance, the letter "V" is worth 5 points in Words With Friends versus 4 in Scrabble. The letter "H" is worth 3 in Words With Friends versus 4 in Scrabble. These small changes affect which words are optimal to play. A word that scores 30 in Scrabble might score 35 in Words With Friends — or vice versa — purely because of the tile values.

4. The "Power‑Up" System in Words With Friends

Unlike Scrabble, Words With Friends has optional power‑ups that can swap tiles, reveal word suggestions, or give you extra time. While purists may scoff at these, they fundamentally change the competitive dynamic. In Scrabble, the game is purely about skill. In Words With Friends, a well‑timed power‑up can swing a match. If you're playing competitively, know whether your opponent has access to these tools — and whether you do too.

5. The Endgame Bonus Works Differently

In Scrabble, the first player to empty their rack gets the total value of their opponent's remaining tiles added to their score, and that same amount is subtracted from the opponent. In Words With Friends, the player who empties their rack gets double the opponent's remaining tile value added to their score, and the opponent loses nothing. This makes the endgame in Words With Friends even more critical — clearing your rack first is a massive swing.

Practical Strategy Tips

If you play both games regularly, keep these rules in mind before every session. Use our Word Unscrambler to check your rack against the correct dictionary, and always double‑check the board layout before committing to a play on a premium square. The player who adapts their strategy to the specific game will win far more often than the one who treats them as identical.