# Alpus — Dictionary viewer > Offline dictionary viewer for StarDict, DSL, XDXF, Dictd, and TSV/Plain formats. (iPhone/iPad app by Ismail Alper Yilmaz.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpus/id1054362605 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Ismail Alper Yilmaz](https://appshunter.io/developer/689664798) - Category: Reference, Education - Price: $5.99 - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.0 · 34 MB - Languages: American English, German (Germany), Turkish - Released: 2015-12-09 - Data updated: 2026-09-15 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpus/id1054362605/reviews.md ## What is Alpus? Alpus is a viewer application for dictionaries in StarDict, DSL, XDXF, Dictd, and TSV/Plain formats ¹. Features: • Fast and fully offline operation • Searches ignoring case, diacritics, and punctuation • Wildcard search • Fuzzy search • Full-text search • In-page popup translator • History and bookmarks • Customization options Compatibility: Alpus is compatible with the following dictionary/file types: • StarDict dictionaries (*.idx) • DSL dictionaries (*.dsl) • XDXF dictionaries (*.xdxf) • Dictd dictionaries (*.index) • TSV/Plain dictionaries (*.txt, *.dic) • Hunspell dictionaries (*.aff) Setting up dictionaries: • Connect your mobile device to your computer. • Copy dictionary files to the app's documents/files folder on device ². See iOS help ² for details. • Select the dictionary index file as listed in the compatibility section above (or an archive of it) using the "Import Dictionary" option of the "Manage" menu. • Select multiple indexes/files, with each selection assumed and analyzed as one dictionary. (optional) • Select resource ZIP files (if any) to copy during importing. (optional) • Edit properties of the dictionary such as visible name using the "Edit Properties" option of the dictionary menu. (optional) • Create a full-text search index of the dictionary using the "Upgrade" option of the dictionary menu. (optional) • Create profiles to group and organize dictionaries. (optional) Resource files: Resource files of a dictionary can be put into multiple ZIP files with arbitrary sizes and file names. The resource ZIP files placed into the root folder of a dictionary (beside Main.props file) will be detected and indexed automatically. Full-text search: The app supports searching full-text of all dictionaries for exact matches. The feature requires a one-time upgrading ("Upgrade All" option of the "Manage" menu) of a dictionary which can take a very long time to complete, since every single word anywhere on the dictionary is made searchable during the process. Synchronizing between devices: Copying/moving dictionaries between devices is done using one of the two available methods: • "Export Dictionary" to an *.aaf file on the first device and then "Import Dictionary" that *.aaf file on the second • Copy/move whole "Alpus.Config" folder or individual dictionary folders using a file manager or built-in file operations Search types: There are five kinds of searches you can perform on dictionaries. • Regular search: Shows results exactly matching the query. • Extended matching search: Shows results matching the query with case, diacritics, and punctuations ignored. Suggestions include in-phrase and phonetic matches. • Full-text search: Shows list of articles containing exact matches of the query. The scope of search is not limited to headwords and includes all text in all articles (definitions, synonyms, examples, etc). • Fuzzy search: Shows list of articles most similar to the query. The search works like a spell checker for words you're not sure how it's written/spelled. • Wildcard search: Shows list of articles that match the criteria set with a wildcard query. Help and Support: • https://alpusapp.com ¹ No dictionaries are bundled with the application. You will need dictionaries in supported formats to use with the application. ² https://support.apple.com/HT201301 ## Key features - Offline dictionary access - Supports multiple dictionary formats - Advanced search (wildcard, fuzzy, full-text) - In-page popup translator - History and bookmarks - Dictionary synchronization ## Recent user reviews (1 of 1) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpus/id1054362605/reviews.md ### 1/5 — App doesn't work! *2021-01-09* In Big Sur doesn't work. The Menu contains almost no options. Monaey waste. ## Frequently asked questions about Alpus ### How do I add dictionaries to Alpus? To add dictionaries, connect your device to a computer and copy the dictionary files to the app's documents/files folder. Then, use the 'Import Dictionary' option in the 'Manage' menu to select the index file. ### What dictionary file formats does Alpus support? Alpus supports StarDict, DSL, XDXF, Dictd, TSV/Plain, and Hunspell dictionary formats. This includes file extensions like .idx, .dsl, .xdxf, .index, .txt, .dic, and .aff. ### Can I search dictionaries in Alpus without an internet connection? Yes, Alpus is designed for fast and fully offline operation. You can search all your imported dictionaries without needing an internet connection. ### Does Alpus offer different search types? Alpus provides five search types: regular search, extended matching (ignoring case, diacritics, punctuation), full-text search, and fuzzy search. It also includes an in-page popup translator. ### How can I synchronize my dictionaries between devices using Alpus? You can synchronize dictionaries by exporting a dictionary to an *.aaf file on one device and importing it on another. Alternatively, you can copy the entire 'Alpus.Config' folder or individual dictionary folders using a file manager. ### Is Alpus available on multiple platforms? Alpus is compatible with Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, making it accessible across various Apple ecosystems. ### How often is Alpus updated? The latest version of Alpus is 26.5, and it was last updated on May 19, 2026. This indicates a relatively active development cycle. ### What is the price of Alpus? Alpus is a paid application with a price of $5.99. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 26.5 — 2026-05-19 v26.5 • Added ZIM file format support • Added MediaWiki file format support • Improved indexing and optimization performance • Improved compatibility with newer devices • Fixed bug when opening media externally • Bug fixes and performance improvements ### 26.4 — 2026-04-17 v26.4 • Added spelling suggestions shortcut • Fixed bug in loading article resources • Bug fixes and performance improvements ### 12.2 — 2026-03-01 v12.2 • Bug fixes and performance improvements ### 12.1 — 2026-01-27 v12.1 • Added full Dark Mode support • Bug fixes and performance improvements ### 12.0 — 2026-01-20 v12.0 • Added built-in file manager integration • Added more color customization options • Optimized various default settings • Bug fixes and performance improvements ## Apps similar to Alpus | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Latin synonym dictionary](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/latin-synonym-dictionary/id1140775688) | — | $1.99 | Reference | | [Dictionary Universal](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictionary-universal/id312088272) | 4.7 (26) | $5.99 | Reference | | [Latin Etymology Dictionary](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/latin-etymology-dictionary/id1440480140) | — | $2.99 | Reference | | [Latinicola](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/latinicola/id6756457481) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Reference | | [Dicty](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dicty/id969045273) | 4.3 (31) | Free | Reference | | [Larousse Spanish Advanced](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/larousse-spanish-advanced/id957829453) | 3.5 (24) | $2.99 | Reference | ## Related topics [amethyst scene](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/amethyst-scene) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-15.*