Tipitaka Pali Reader vs Shan Dictionary
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tipitaka Pali Reader
Navigate extensive Pali texts with powerful dictionary and search tools. This offline application offers fast, precise results for exploring Buddhist scriptures. Supports multiple scripts for enhanced accessibility.
- Offline access to Pali texts
- Advanced search functionality
- Multiple dictionary definitions
- Integrated Sanskrit definitions
- Support for various scripts (Sinhala, Myanmar, Thai, Devanagiri)
- Fast search results
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TPR is a software program to help one navigate the vast amounts of Pāḷi texts. The Dictionaries and Search functions are where TPR separates itself from the other Pāḷi readers. It is very fast and totally offline. This application was created at Pa-Auk Forest Monastery in Maymyo. The Mac app supports Sinhala, Myanmar, Thai, and Devanagiri Scripts. The Search function is fast. very very fast. Click on the matrix to limit your search or select all books. As you type, we show you what is available. Click on the word and jump to your searches quickly by list or with a table of search results. The Dictionary panel can display multiple definitions from the selected dictionaries. You can disable or enable them with a simple click to the checkboxes. You can even search for English words you may want to understand clearer by clicking on the English words inside the panel. The dictionaries are also integrated with Sanskrit.
Shan Dictionary
This app provides comprehensive translation capabilities between English, Shan, Burmese, Thai, Pali, and Chinese. It serves as a valuable tool for language learners and those needing to bridge communication gaps across these languages.
- English to Shan translation
- Shan to English translation
- Burmese to Shan translation
- Shan to Burmese translation
- Shan to Shan translation
- Thai to Shan translation
- Pali to Shan translation
- Chinese to Shan translation
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Shan Dictionary, Enhance your knowledge and simplify your life. English to Shan Shan to English Burmese to Shan Shan to Burmese Shan to Shan Thai to shan Pali to Shan and Chinese to Shan
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Tipitaka Pali Reader at 4.6 against Shan Dictionary's 2.5. Tipitaka Pali Reader also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 50%) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Tipitaka Pali Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tipitaka Pali Reader has 26 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Tipitaka Pali Reader's written reviews are positive against 50% of Shan Dictionary's.
Tipitaka Pali Reader ships an update every 4 weeks, Shan Dictionary every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Tipitaka Pali Reader | Shan Dictionary |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (26 ratings) — better | 2.5 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 88.9% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 26 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 681 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Path Nirvana Foundation | Norhsangpha Boonhse |
Customer experience
Tipitaka Pali Reader
Shan Dictionary
In-app purchases
Tipitaka Pali Reader
No in-app purchases
Shan Dictionary
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Tipitaka Pali Reader free?
Is Shan Dictionary free?
Which has better reviews, Tipitaka Pali Reader or Shan Dictionary?
Do Tipitaka Pali Reader or Shan Dictionary have ads?
Which is updated more often, Tipitaka Pali Reader or Shan Dictionary?
Other comparisons
