# Daily Dictionary — user reviews

> 27 indexed App Store user reviews of Daily Dictionary by Benjamin Mayo, rated 4.80/5 from 483 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daily-dictionary/id1421185864/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daily-dictionary/id1421185864.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 416 · 4★ 41 · 3★ 16 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 7

## What do users think of Daily Dictionary?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 📚 Helpful for learning English
- 🧠 Good mind/memory jogger
- 💡 Expands vocabulary effectively
- 📝 Useful for IELTS exam prep
- 💰 Reasonable subscription cost
- ✨ Nicely designed interface
- 🗣️ Pronunciation feature is good
- ⌚ Works well on Apple Watch
- 🎨 Appealing simple design
- 🌙 Dark mode appreciated

**Cons**

- 🥱 Words are too easy/basic
- 💸 Paywalls for basic features (dark mode)
- 🤔 Disappointing word selection
- 🔄 Apple Watch app not updating
- 📉 Words not challenging enough
- 🤷‍♂️ No etymologies provided
- 📣 Sales pitch takes up screen space
- 👎 Not a replacement for Writing Aid

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Apple Watch app doesn't update
- Siri command shortcuts not working
- Dark mode requires payment (when device has it)

**Most requested features**

- Add widgets for home screen
- Include parts of speech (noun, verb, etc.)
- Add bookmarks to Apple Watch detail screen
- Offer an 'advanced mode' with more obscure words
- Consider more inspirational words for specific days
- Add etymologies (word origins)

## Newest reviews (7 of 27)

### 4/5 — EXPANSION 🤓

*2020-12-15*

I enjoy very much, my reminders 
Daily Dictionary Words📚
I believe that we all at some point desire to improve ourselves in one way or another. And sometimes those changes are subconscious or deliberate acts of routine.
And for me expanding my vocabulary is about being able to communicate amongst many types of people from all walks of life in this vast world.🌎
This App helps me to accomplish that goal in an non intrusive, painless repetitive... 
almost subliminal method .

### 4/5 — Identify grammar (parts of speech). Lexical category

*2020-05-26*

Would be good to know and be identified next to word. Ie: adjective, verb, noun, etc.

Otherwise great app!!

### 4/5 — Muito bom

*2019-05-07*

Poderia ter como pronunciar só a palavra quando clica na palavra e pronunciar só a frase quando clicar na frase

### 4/5 — Great App... however...

*2019-01-01*

A little editorial control would be great. Happy new year! The word of the day is incapacitated.  It might be good to have a more inspirational word on specific days like New Year’s Day.

**Developer response:** There is editorial control, although maybe I could have picked a better word for the stary of the year. 'incapacitated' was chosen as a bit of a joke if you read the example usage ... "they were all incapacitated the next morning, having indulged in the New Year's celebrations of the night before".

### 3/5 — Hard sell

*2018-12-06*

Enjoyable if not too brief, but it’s annoying how much of the screen is taken up by a sales pitch to subscribe.

**Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately, I do have to make money out of this somehow :P Subscribing (or buying the one-time purchase Lifetime Unlock available in version 1.5) removes the Upgrade banners as well as unlocking all of the additional features.

### 4/5 — Super, um tolle Englische Wörter zu entdecken

*2018-11-02*

Daily Dictionary eignet sich nicht nur für Muttersprachler, sondern hilft auch so den eigenen Wortschatz zu erweitern.
Die gewählten Wörter gefallen mir bisher sehr und das Design der App, das an ein Wörterbuch erinnert ist passend. Das Einstellungen Menü finde ich zwar nicht so hübsch, aber das ist nicht wirklich relevant.
Die Apple Watch Komplikation gehört zu meinen absoluten Lieblingen und ist eine tolle Erweiterung der Uhr.
Was allerdings fehlt und auch zu einem Stern Abzug führt, ist ein Archiv mit allen bisherigen Wörtern. Die Bookmark Funktion ist zwar an sich nützlich, aber hilft nicht viel, wenn man die App später installiert oder alles speichert, nur um die Wörter nicht wieder zu vergessen.

### 3/5 — V

*2018-10-14*

The

**Developer response:** 'make something worse' is a perfectly acceptable definition of the word 'compound'. Obviously, it also has other meanings like 'compound interest'. Many words have multiple meanings. For simplicity and elegance, Daily Dictionary typically features just one meaning to feature on a particular day.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Disappointed in five seconds

*2021-05-22*

He wants you to pay for dark mode. 
He wants you to pay for something that your device already has built-in. 
He wants you to pay for something even though you can bypass it by enabling invert colours.

What next? I don’t want to know, sorry.

### 1/5 — Not Writing Aid

*2018-10-05*

You force users to switch to this app. Unfortunately, they don’t save the same purpose at all.
Uninstalled.

### 2/5 — Simple

*2021-07-28*

I gave it two stars so as not to be too negative. Perhaps the words they send me are words some people may not know. But they are very simplistic and after a month of trying this app, there hasn’t been one I didn’t already know. 
Disappointing

### 2/5 — Words are too simplistic

*2019-06-22*

Technically the app works fine but the choice of daily words are too simplistic. Possibly skewed towards anyone for whom English is a second language or just learning. Previous app Writing Aid had better choices for word of the day as well as functionality. 

Would not recommend to anyone over 10 unless learning the English language for the first time, in which case it could be very helpful.

### 2/5 — Using with Apple Watch

*2019-01-09*

Doesn’t work as expected with Apple Watch.  Don’t get notifications and ask Siri command I created doesn’t work.

**Developer response:** I'm not sure why you aren't receiving notifications — please email me@benjaminmayo.co.uk for assistance. 

Siri commands are available on iPhone through Siri Shortcuts.

### 3/5 — Good for learning English

*2022-09-18*

English is my first language and the words are far too easy for me. However, I told my friend, whose first language is Creole, about it and she’s found it helpful. Would be more suitably marketed to users learning English

### 3/5 — A lot of basic words

*2019-11-18*

Many of the words are very basic for native English speakers. Also, the Apple Watch app doesn't seem to update when the iPhone does.

### 3/5 — Words most native English speakers already know

*2019-04-09*

It’s an attractive app and the Apple Watch notifications are thoughtful, but even though I upgraded, I’m still being shown words that are way too easy and don’t pose an issue for native English speakers. Singe, serene, decay, siphon—really? Yes I’m a reader and a writer but anyone with a decent vocabulary will not be challenged by many of these.

Contrast this with the many “word of the day” apps and websites out there that feature words that are actually challenging or often misunderstood. A random sampling of today’s words of the day includes polysemy, atypical, opusculum, and and pulchritudinous. (Now *there’s* a word.)

Also, no etymologies (word origins), which are often the most interesting part of a word definition and can greatly help in memorization.

### 3/5 — Not difficult enough

*2019-03-18*

Okay app, but if you’re any kind of reader, writer, or just someone with a decent vocabulary you’ll need to upgrade at least once and hope at least a few words are challenging. I’m planning on doing one cheap annual upgrade and if the words don’t get more difficult, I’ll trash it.

### 3/5 — The usage of the word used to be free...

*2019-02-10, version 1.5.2*

If it wasn’t for the premium features that you have, I would definitely rate this app 5 star

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Perfect mind/memory jogger

*2021-03-26*

Please create a widget(s)! 
I forget to check the app everyday, I’d love for  daily words to appear on my home screen. 

A fantastic, functional app. Word selection is great (by human editors).

### 5/5 — Title

*2020-05-30*

The app is amazing. Probably the best one out there. The UI isn’t overstuffed with useless elements and the animations are good… even though UI isn’t the most important part of an app it still is very important to me. Somewhat relatively minimalistic design. And obviously the daily words. The CHEAP subscription. It really isn’t all that expensive… going and eating some fast food one time would cost you more than the annual subscription. The app is simple to use and very useful. Love it.

### 5/5 — The perfect app to improve your vocabulary

*2020-05-25*

This app really help me ,helped my vocabulary ,and helped my for my IELTS exam.

### 5/5 — Great app

*2019-11-29*

This is a nicely done app. Thanks. The subscription is quite reasonable. 

A few suggestions:
- Please add bookmarks to the Apple Watch detail screen. 
- I agree with some of the other comments that it would be nice to have more obscure words more often. I realize it is hard to please a broad base. Maybe there could be an “advanced mode” that sprinkles in more challenging words now and then. I realize that generates extra work, as well.

### 5/5 — excellent daily word app

*2018-12-01*

Good to see synonyms.  Short definitions good.  Add type of word.

### 5/5 — Brilliant on iPhone, Perfect on Apple Watch

*2018-10-17*

The Daily Dictionary app is fabulous and is the first such app that has worked flawlessly on my Apple Watch. On the watch I particularly like the inclusion of example usage, and synonyms.  The text on the small screen is concise and clear to read, which distinguishes it from others of its kind. 

The iPhone app is polished and an absolute delight to use.  A very nice touch is the pronunciation feature, that not only vocalises the word, but also gives an example of its common usage. Movement around this app is delightful and intuitive.

### 5/5 — Nice interface

*2018-10-15, version 1.3*

Clear and smooth interface with daily English vocabulary! Thanks

### 5/5 — Nicely Designed

*2018-10-14*

It’s a pretty app and even though it’s part of the subscription, I appreciate the dark mode. $2.99 a year isn’t bad either.

**Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. With the release of the version 1.5 update, you can buy the Lifetime Unlock upgrade as a one-time purchase, instead of subscribing.

### 5/5 — Fun learning

*2018-10-04*

Like the app. Dark mode is the best. Nicely laid out. Only thing you might wanna add is what it is either verb,noun etc. Ask Siri shortcuts works. Thanks again.

### 5/5 — Very appealing simple design!

*2018-09-19*

Really like the design, it doesn’t beg for attention or have a brand attached, feels almost like a system app. Only recommendation would be to add whether the word is a noun, verb, adjective, etc. Other than that, this seems like a super cool thing to wake up and take a look at everyday!

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*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 2026-08-18.*