# Encyclopedia by Farlex vs Thesaurus dictionary

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Encyclopedia by Farlex | Thesaurus dictionary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (401 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/encyclopedia-by-farlex/id1021341213/reviews)** | [4.5 (291 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thesaurus-dictionary-wordloop/id6472162810/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **401** | 291 |
| Positive reviews | **87.3% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 43 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Farlex, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/379450386) | [LEAP STUDIO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1472946428) |

## What reviewers say

### Encyclopedia by Farlex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/encyclopedia-by-farlex/id1021341213)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free upgrade | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 📚 Comprehensive knowledge base
- 🚀 Fast and efficient search
- 💰 Free or affordable access
- 📖 Succinct articles for quick learning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Internet connectivity issues
- 📤 Opens search results in browser instead of app
- 📺 Too many advertisements
- ♿ Poor accessibility for vision-impaired users
- 📚 Limited article coverage for some terms

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Thesaurus dictionary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thesaurus-dictionary-wordloop/id6472162810)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $24.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*