Comparison

Encyclopedia by Farlex vs Thesaurus dictionary

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

Thesaurus dictionary

Enhance your writing by accessing a thesaurus directly from your keyboard. Select any word in any app to instantly see synonyms and related terms, helping you expand your vocabulary and refine your text. This ad-free tool offers a simple and effective way to improve your communication.

Highlights
  • Keyboard thesaurus integration
  • Instant word suggestions
  • Synonym lookup in any app
  • Ad-free experience
  • Simple interface
Features
Read full description

Improve your writing with alternative word suggestion with a thesaurus built right into your keyboard. Just select a word and get similar words in any app your working in. Ad free and simple. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/thirtynineapps-privacy/home

Screenshots

Encyclopedia by Farlex4 screens
Thesaurus dictionary4 screens

Verdict

The call

Encyclopedia by Farlex and Thesaurus dictionary both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 87% of Encyclopedia by Farlex's written reviews are positive against 33% of Thesaurus dictionary's. Thesaurus dictionary's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 17 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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 and Thesaurus dictionary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Encyclopedia by Farlex against 4.5 for Thesaurus dictionary. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 401 and 291 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 87% of Encyclopedia by Farlex's written reviews are positive against 33% of Thesaurus dictionary's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Encyclopedia by Farlex ships an update every 17 months, Thesaurus dictionary every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Encyclopedia by Farlex versus Thesaurus dictionary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEncyclopedia by FarlexThesaurus dictionary
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (401 ratings) — better4.5 (291 ratings)
Positive reviews87.3% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings401 — better291
Update frequencyEvery 17 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFarlex, Inc.LEAP STUDIO

Customer experience

Encyclopedia by Farlex

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

Thesaurus dictionary

All ratings291 ratings
Positive85.6%
Neutral6.5%
Negative7.9%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral22.2%
Negative44.4%

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

Thesaurus dictionary

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Encyclopedia by Farlex

One-time1
  • Ad-free upgrade$4.99
3 purchases

Thesaurus dictionary

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly7 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Yearly$24.991 Year

Questions

Is Encyclopedia by Farlex free?
Encyclopedia by Farlex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Thesaurus dictionary free?
Thesaurus dictionary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Encyclopedia by Farlex or Thesaurus dictionary?
Encyclopedia by Farlex is rated higher. Encyclopedia by Farlex averages 4.6 out of 5 from 401 ratings, while Thesaurus dictionary averages 4.5 from 291 ratings.
Do Encyclopedia by Farlex or Thesaurus dictionary have ads?
Encyclopedia by Farlex shows ads; Thesaurus dictionary does not.
Which is updated more often, Encyclopedia by Farlex or Thesaurus dictionary?
Encyclopedia by Farlex ships an update every 17 months, and Thesaurus dictionary every 3 weeks. Most recently, Encyclopedia by Farlex was updated on September 23, 2026 and Thesaurus dictionary on September 23, 2026.

Other comparisons