Online Crossword Puzzle Makers:
* Crossword Hobbyist: ([https://www.crosswordhobbyist.com/](https://www.crosswordhobbyist.com/)) Offers a user-friendly interface, lets you create puzzles with different sizes and difficulty levels, and provides both printable and online versions.
* Crossword Weaver: ([https://www.crosswordweaver.com/](https://www.crosswordweaver.com/)) A more advanced option, allows for more customization, including thematic puzzles and non-standard grid shapes. Offers both a free and paid version with varying features.
* The Crossword Compiler: ([https://www.crosswordcompiler.com/](https://www.crosswordcompiler.com/)) A robust tool, ideal for experienced puzzle makers. Provides extensive options for customization and features like automatic clue generation. It also offers free and paid plans with varying capabilities.
* My Puzzle Builder: ([https://www.mypuzzlebuilder.com/](https://www.mypuzzlebuilder.com/)) A straightforward and easy-to-use online platform for creating various types of puzzles, including crosswords, Sudoku, and word searches.
* Puzzlemaker (by Discovery Education): ([https://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/](https://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/)) A good option for educators, offers a variety of puzzle types including crossword puzzles.
Offline Crossword Puzzle Makers:
* Microsoft Word or Google Docs: You can create a basic crossword grid using tables or shapes.
* Excel: You can use Excel to create a grid and use formulas to automatically generate crossword puzzles based on your provided words and clues.
Tips for Creating Crossword Puzzles:
* Choose a Theme: Having a theme can help you focus your word choices and create a more cohesive puzzle.
* Select Words: Choose words that are relevant to your theme and have a good mix of easy and challenging entries.
* Create Clues: Write concise and engaging clues that hint at the answers without giving them away.
* Test Your Puzzle: Have someone else solve your puzzle to check for errors and to get feedback on the difficulty level.
Remember: Many of the free online tools may have limitations on the number of puzzles you can create or the features available in the free version.
I hope this helps you get started on making your own free crossword puzzles!