# EtymologyExplorer vs RootWords

The clearest difference is rating: EtymologyExplorer at 4.8 against RootWords's 4.0. EtymologyExplorer also leads on ratings volume (1.5K vs 4) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). RootWords's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. EtymologyExplorer sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. RootWords asks for nothing beyond the download.

EtymologyExplorer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EtymologyExplorer has 1.5K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 96% of EtymologyExplorer's written reviews are positive against 100% of RootWords's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

EtymologyExplorer ships an update fortnightly, RootWords monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EtymologyExplorer | RootWords |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/etymologyexplorer/id1189423897/reviews)** | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rootwords/id6503809963/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 95.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 33 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Might Could Studios LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1053696888) | [Charlotte OConnell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1258048613) |

## What reviewers say

### EtymologyExplorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/etymologyexplorer/id1189423897)

Discover the fascinating origins and connections of words. This app provides visual maps of word roots, detailed etymologies, definitions, and audio pronunciations. Explore how seemingly unrelated words can share common ancestry.

**Highlights:** Visual map of word origins, Connections between related words, Full written etymology, Definitions, Transliterations, Audio pronunciations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter | $1.49 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual Special | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Special Premium | $29.99 | one-time |
| Premium Lifetime Special | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Intuitive and user-friendly
- 🔍 Comprehensive and detailed etymology information
- 🌟 Visually appealing and well-designed
- 📚 Helpful for language learning and vocabulary building
- 🔍 Ability to explore word origins across multiple languages

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔍 Limited database of words
- 💰 Subscription model may be costly for some users
- 🕰️ Slow performance on older devices

**Reported bugs**

- Word of the day feature not working consistently
- Occasional freezing or unresponsiveness of the app

**Requested features**

- Add more words and languages to the database
- Implement a dark mode option
- Improve search functionality to allow cross-language searches
- Provide more advanced features for power users (e.g., flashcards, quizzes)


### RootWords

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rootwords/id6503809963)

This word game helps users expand their vocabulary by building words from root components. It offers a fun way to learn word meanings and improve reading skills, beneficial for standardized tests and general language learning.

**Highlights:** Build words from root components, Learn word meanings, Improve vocabulary, Enhance reading skills, Test preparation aid

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EtymologyExplorer free?

EtymologyExplorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is RootWords free?

RootWords is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, EtymologyExplorer or RootWords?

EtymologyExplorer is rated higher. EtymologyExplorer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while RootWords averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do EtymologyExplorer or RootWords have ads?

Neither EtymologyExplorer nor RootWords shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, EtymologyExplorer or RootWords?

EtymologyExplorer ships an update fortnightly, and RootWords monthly. Most recently, EtymologyExplorer was updated on October 13, 2026 and RootWords on October 2, 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.*