Build Own Dictionary vs Topical Dictionary
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Build Own Dictionary
Create and manage personalized dictionaries for language learning. Add words with translations and descriptions, organize them by category, and search your entries. Translate sentences word-by-word using your custom dictionaries.
- Create and import dictionaries
- Add, edit, and delete words
- Categorize words
- Sort words alphabetically or by time
- Search dictionary entries
- Translate sentences word-by-word
- Customize appearance
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Using this app you can create your own dictionaries during learning a foreign language. The key features are: - Create a dictionary or import it from your device into the app. - Delete or rename the dictionary. - Export the dictionary from the app to your device. - Add quickly a word with its translation and optionally its description to the dictionary. - Delete or edit words in the dictionary. - Assign a category name to the words. - Sort the words alphabetically, by time added, or by category. - Search a word, translation, or description in the dictionary. - Translate a sentence, word by word, using your created dictionaries. - Customize the colors and the font sizes of the dictionary. - Save all of your created dictionaries as an SQLite database in a DB file. The premium version enables the export/import feature, adding description, assigning category, customizing colors and font sizes, and sentence translator. It also removes all ads from the app.
Topical Dictionary
Easily create custom dictionaries with over 400,000 words, descriptions, and examples. Ideal for expanding vocabulary while reading, researching, or watching media in English. Offers a dedicated tool for word study, superior to generic note-taking apps.
- Create custom dictionaries
- Over 400,000 words
- Word descriptions and examples
- Vocabulary expansion tool
- Dedicated word study
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Start with vocabulary chosen for you—or create collections around the subjects that matter to you. Topical Dictionary combines ready-made English vocabulary, personal topic dictionaries, and focused word-card games. Explore a collection, copy it to make it your own, then practice every word without losing its meaning or context. EXPLORE CURATED DICTIONARIES Discover carefully selected English vocabulary organized from A1 to C1. Build everyday foundations, strengthen communication, explore advanced language, or practice practical phrasal verbs. COPY AND CUSTOMIZE Copy any curated dictionary to your personal library. Its original version stays unchanged while your copy becomes fully editable—add words, rewrite definitions, update examples, or adapt the collection to your goals. LEARN WITH WORD CARDS Turn one dictionary or several collections into a focused practice session. Reveal definitions and examples one card at a time, revisit previous games, and continue building familiarity with the words you saved. BUILD VOCABULARY BY TOPIC Create personal dictionaries for travel, school, technology, work, books, films, exams, or any subject you choose. Add a title and description so every collection has a clear purpose. SAVE WORDS IN CONTEXT Keep each word with its definition, part of speech, and an example sentence. Enter every detail yourself or use online lookup to fill the fields faster, then edit the result whenever you want. FIND AND ORGANIZE Search your personal dictionaries or browse curated collections by title, description, and matching words. Sort your library and mark important dictionaries as favorites. YOUR VOCABULARY, AVAILABLE TO YOU Sign in with Apple, Google, or email. Your personal dictionaries stay linked to your account. Manage your profile, password, and account directly from the app. DESIGNED FOR iOS Enjoy a modern SwiftUI interface with English and Turkish localization, accessibility support, and system, light, and dark appearance options.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Topical Dictionary at none against Build Own Dictionary's 1. Topical Dictionary also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 69%). Build Own Dictionary's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). On price 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
Both are free to download. Build Own Dictionary sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Topical Dictionary asks for nothing beyond the download.
Build Own Dictionary ships an update every 6 months, Topical Dictionary fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Build Own Dictionary | Topical Dictionary |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (72 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 69.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 72 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bita Sobhani | Ibrahim Ethem Karali |
Customer experience
Build Own Dictionary
Topical Dictionary
In-app purchases
Build Own Dictionary
- Premium$3.99
Topical Dictionary
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Build Own Dictionary free?
Is Topical Dictionary free?
Do Build Own Dictionary or Topical Dictionary have ads?
Which is updated more often, Build Own Dictionary or Topical Dictionary?
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