Cryptogram Maker

Type any message below. The maker generates a unique substitution cipher so you can share the puzzle with friends or print it for offline solving.

Interactive maker coming soon. Try our pre-made cryptograms in the meantime.

How to Create Custom Cryptograms

Making a good cryptogram starts with choosing the right source text. Quotes, proverbs, and short passages work best because they are self-contained and recognizable. Here is what to keep in mind:

  • Length matters. Texts between 8 and 25 words hit the sweet spot. Shorter ones are too easy (not enough letters for frequency analysis). Longer ones can feel tedious.
  • Variety of letters. A good cryptogram uses at least 18 of the 26 letters. Texts with limited letter variety produce puzzles with fewer constraints and therefore fewer deduction paths.
  • Avoid proper nouns. Names and places do not follow standard English letter patterns and can frustrate solvers who expect recognizable vocabulary.
  • Include common words. THE, AND, IS—these give solvers reliable entry points. A puzzle with no common short words feels unfair.

Share and Print

Once the maker generates your cipher, you can share it as a link (the encoded text and cipher data are embedded in the URL) or print a clean PDF with the encoded message and a blank alphabet grid for pen-and-paper solving.

For classroom use, teachers often create cryptograms from vocabulary words or famous historical quotes. The combination of language skills and logical thinking makes these puzzles a strong educational tool.