Comparison

Encyclopedia by Farlex vs Encyclopedia

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Encyclopedia by Farlex

Access over 330,000 articles, 77,000 audio pronunciations, and 24,000 images from trusted sources. This app provides in-depth information on a vast range of topics, perfect for students, professionals, or the curious.

Highlights
  • 330,000+ encyclopedia articles
  • 24,000+ images
  • 77,000+ audio pronunciations
  • Unlimited bookmarks
  • Native voice search
  • Advanced search options
  • Adjustable font size
Features
Read full description

Encyclopedia by Farlex gives you free, instant access to more than 330,000 articles, over 77,000 audio pronunciations, and 24,000 images, all from the most trusted sources, including McGraw-Hill, Harper-Collins, Cambridge University Press, and more—all in one app! Whether you're a student, professional, or just curious about the world, this free encyclopedia app can help you find clear, in-depth articles on vast amount of topics right on your iPhone or iPad. Search multiple authoritative encyclopedias and specialty dictionaries for entries on: Science History Animals, plants, and the natural world Biographies of prominent figures Countries Technology Art Business Music Culture Food + much more… FEATURES: * Search 330,000+ encyclopedia articles on any topic you can think of, all from top sources you won't find anywhere else. * Learn by seeing: 24,000+ images, including vivid photos, diagrams, and illustrations. * Save unlimited bookmarks to quickly access your favorite articles. * Use native voice search to look up a word just by saying it. (With supported devices) * See search suggestions as you type and always find what you're looking for. * View your recent searches. * Perform advanced searches, including "Starts with," "Ends with," "Contains," and "Wildcard." * Adjust font size. * Listen to 70,000+ audio pronunciations for both American and British speakers. * Share your favorite articles via social networks, email, and text. (With supported devices) User-friendly, comprehensive, and authoritative: Encyclopedia by Farlex is the perfect free app for students, professionals, and anyone curious about the world. This is NOT a preview or a trial version, and there is no "locked" content. Open the app on your iPhone or iPad and immediately access all content — no subscriptions required! How do we do it? TheFreeDictionary.com - Farlex apps have been downloaded tens of millions times across multiple platforms, with top ratings after hundreds of thousands of reviews. We work with the best publishers to bring together trusted content in the most comprehensive, authoritative dictionary apps on the market. Our flagship app is The Free Dictionary (TFD), powered by TheFreeDictionary.com. Find our other apps by searching "Dictionary by Farlex" in the App Store.

About

Encyclopedia

Access a vast digital encyclopedia with over 25,000 topics and articles covering nature, cities, and more. Read content or have it read aloud, and explore over 100 high-definition images per article. Discover popular places in over 1000 cities worldwide.

Highlights
  • 25,000+ topics and articles
  • 10 diverse categories
  • Read-aloud functionality
  • 100+ HD images per article
  • Search 1000+ cities
  • Save wallpapers
  • Video content
Features
Read full description

The free encyclopedia with more than 25,000 topics and articles — now completely redesigned. Explore 10 categories from our beautiful planet: Animals, Birds, Dinosaurs, Insects, Fish, Plants, Flowers, Cities, Mountains and Gems. WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL • Beautiful new dark nature design, made for comfortable reading • Stunning HD photo galleries for every topic • Smart search with instant, highlighted results • Read articles yourself — or let the app read them aloud • A fresh random selection every time you open the app • Home-screen widget with a new topic every day • Works in 10 languages, including full right-to-left support Download now and start exploring the world — one amazing topic at a time.

Screenshots

Encyclopedia by Farlex4 screens
Encyclopedia4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Encyclopedia by Farlex at 4.6 against Encyclopedia's 4.0. Encyclopedia by Farlex also leads on review sentiment (87% vs 50%) and ratings volume (401 vs 66). Encyclopedia's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 17 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Encyclopedia by Farlex sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Encyclopedia asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Encyclopedia by Farlex holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Encyclopedia by Farlex has 401 ratings behind it against 66, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Encyclopedia by Farlex's written reviews are positive against 50% of Encyclopedia's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Encyclopedia by Farlex ships an update every 17 months, Encyclopedia fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Encyclopedia by Farlex versus Encyclopedia: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEncyclopedia by FarlexEncyclopedia
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (401 ratings) — better4.0 (66 ratings)
Positive reviews87.3% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings401 — better66
Update frequencyEvery 17 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.4
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB65 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperFarlex, Inc.Anas Almomany

Customer experience

Encyclopedia by Farlex

All ratings401 ratings
Positive89.5%
Neutral5.7%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews79 reviews
Positive87.3%
Neutral3.8%
Negative8.9%

Encyclopedia

All ratings66 ratings
Positive78.8%
Neutral1.5%
Negative19.7%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Encyclopedia by Farlex

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App displays 'No internet available' error despite active connection
  • VoiceOver accessibility not functioning properly
  • Search results not loading within app

Requested features

6 requests
  • Browse by topics or categories
  • Table of contents for related subjects
  • Delete search history option
  • Retractable menu bar for smaller screens
  • Flip through pages functionality
Show 1 more
  • More comprehensive article coverage

Encyclopedia

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Encyclopedia by Farlex

One-time1
  • Ad-free upgrade$4.99
None

Encyclopedia

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Encyclopedia by Farlex free?
Encyclopedia by Farlex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Encyclopedia free?
Encyclopedia is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Encyclopedia by Farlex or Encyclopedia?
Encyclopedia by Farlex is rated higher. Encyclopedia by Farlex averages 4.6 out of 5 from 401 ratings, while Encyclopedia averages 4.0 from 66 ratings.
Do Encyclopedia by Farlex or Encyclopedia have ads?
Both Encyclopedia by Farlex and Encyclopedia show ads.
Which is updated more often, Encyclopedia by Farlex or Encyclopedia?
Encyclopedia by Farlex ships an update every 17 months, and Encyclopedia fortnightly. Most recently, Encyclopedia by Farlex was updated on September 23, 2026 and Encyclopedia on September 22, 2026.

Other comparisons