American Heritage® Dictionary vs Dictionary.
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
American Heritage® Dictionary
Access a comprehensive digital dictionary with nearly 300,000 terms and thousands of sound files. Features include advanced search, etymology, and AI-powered tools for deeper understanding and language learning.
- Full dictionary text
- 33,000+ example sentences
- 64,000+ recorded sound files
- Three-way cross-referencing search
- Etymology with root links
- AI Teacher for ESL students
- Offline use
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*NOTE: there is a newer version of American Heritage® Dictionary available on the AppStore. Tap on the "Enfour, Inc." link for AHD5. The entire 2,074 page, 7.5 pound dictionary with its nearly 300,000 terms –plus 64 thousand recorded sound files by native speakers -all available instantly at your fingertips. ________________________________________ "In the battle of the Big Three dictionaries, American Heritage® stands out on iPhone" (4 mice) — MacWorld ________________________________________ More than 33,000 written examples, totaling 4,222,000 words, makes this largest mobile dictionary on ANY platform The indexes alone are larger than most brand-name dictionaries. Even without the sound files, AHD would still be the largest dictionary in the AppStore. Main Features: ● the entire text of this best selling book ● complete front matter and appendices ● three-way cross-referencing search ● real-time progressive look-up ● wildcard pattern searches (with * ?) ● spelling suggestion dictionary included ● internal hyperlinking & supports copy/paste ● pop-up pronunciation symbols chart ● IPA pronunciation symbol conversion ● etymology (word history) with root links ● professionally recorded sound files ● zoomable graphics ● fallback online search for esoteric or archaic words and the latest slang ● unique two-way external application interaction — first iPhone dictionary with external linking and now most advanced! ● bookmarks with editable notations ● automatic search history ● an "AI Teacher" for deeper explanations or help for ESL students in 98 languages ● AI boosted anagram generator ● "Today" & LockScreen widgets ● 3D Touch support ● DarkMode support ● Siri support ● iPad multi-screen and Drag & Drop ● iPhone 18 & iOS27 support ● iPhone, iPod, iPad and macOS support ● complete offline use - no Internet connection The renowned American Heritage® Usage Panel, a group of more than 200 distinguished writers, scholars, and scientists, offers advice on problems of grammar and style; engaging notes explain word histories and clarify differences among synonyms; thousands of quotations and example sentences show words in context; and elegant definitions are enhanced by numerous full-color photographs, drawings, and maps, making this one of the most complete reference tool available on any mobile platform. Reviews for the application: "As apps go, only Enfour’s American Heritage® Dictionary stands out for its graphic appeal and functionality. Although I was pleased to have so much lexical firepower in such a compact form, I was annoyed at how poorly the other dictionaries present on the platform." (4 mice) — MacWorld Editor's Choice. ranking = "Great" — MacLife Reviews of the print version: "The Best Dictionary...Designed to appeal to the eye as well as the mind, it is notable for its imaginative illustrations....This is a great family dictionary, and ideal for schoolrooms." — The Courier Journal "This dictionary, now in its fourth edition, makes it fun to look up definitions of words....This up-to-date and eminently useful dictionary features a fabulous full-color design that quickly and effectively guides users to the information they seek." — Library Journal ________________________________________ The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. http://www.hmco.com ________________________________________ Powered by Enfour's "UniDict® Engine 18" —thesaurus links work with these products: "Roget's II: New Thesaurus" "Companion Thesaurus" "Companion Synonyms" and many more
Dictionary.
Access a comprehensive dictionary, thesaurus, and translation tool with millions of definitions and synonyms. Explore specialty dictionaries, learn new words daily, and play word games. This app offers offline access and integrates seamlessly with other applications.
- Offline dictionary and thesaurus
- Millions of definitions and synonyms
- Word of the Day and Idiom of the Day
- Specialty dictionaries (medical, legal, etc.)
- Translations into 40+ languages
- Word games (Spelling Bee, Hangman)
- In-app word lookup via sharing
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The only Dictionary and Thesaurus with every word you search for. Plus Word of the Day, free offline dictionary access, and millions of definitions and synonyms from top sources, including: Webster's Dictionary Roget's Thesaurus The American Heritage Dictionary Plus FREE access to: English Offline Dictionary English Offline Thesaurus with synonyms and more Medical Dictionary English Idioms and Slang Dictionary Translations of English into 40+ languages Dozens of other translation options + Much more! The Free Dictionary is like getting 100+ apps in one easy-to-use interface. Rated #1 app in the App Store in the free reference category in 114 countries 2011–2019. (Source: https://www.appannie.com/apps/ios/app/379450383/app-ranking/#device=ipad&type=best-ranks) Here's what you can do with The Free Dictionary app: * Find every word you search for. Clear, accurate definitions from top dictionaries—online and offline. * Find synonyms fast. Free Thesaurus with simple interface makes it easy to find the perfect word. Browse synonyms, antonyms, and related words. * Learn something new every day. Word of the Day Idiom of the Day + Other daily content * Build your vocabulary. Don't just look up words—learn how to use them! Featuring: Audio pronunciations Example sentences Etymologies + More! The perfect dictionary app for word lovers and learners of all levels. * Explore topics in-depth. Multiple specialty dictionaries and encyclopedias: Medical dictionary Legal dictionary Science dictionary Financial dictionary Idioms and Slang dictionary Acronyms and Abbreviations + More! * Play word games. Spelling Bee, Hangman, and more. * See idioms in action. Watch idioms videos inside the app! Featuring animations of words and phrases from the idioms and slang dictionary. * Access dictionaries in 13 other languages. Spanish dictionary and thesaurus French dictionary and thesaurus German dictionary and thesaurus + Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and more! * Translate English into Spanish, French, and 40+ languages. Or translate other languages into English. Access dozens of other translation options. * Access dictionaries and encyclopedias from these top publishers with just one search: McGraw-Hill Houghton Mifflin HarperCollins Random House Cambridge University Press + More! Here's why The Free Dictionary is the most user-friendly dictionary app: * Instantly look up words in apps or webpages! Just highlight the word you want to look up, tap "Share," then tap "More" in the bottom menu and turn on the "Define" option. You will then see a "Define" icon in the menu. Tap it to see the definition of the highlighted word! * Voice search. Look up a word just by saying it. * Advanced Search options. * Look up the definition of any word on the page. Just highlight and tap "Definition." * Save bookmarks with one tap and sync them to all your devices. * Customize your homepage: Move, add, or remove articles, games, even local weather. * Jump to Definition, Thesaurus, or Translations with one button. * Navigate the app in more than a dozen languages with the multilingual interface. * Adjust font size. * Share your favorite words via social networks, email, or text. EXCLUSIVE * Earn meals for hungry children through The Free Dictionary's partnership with the World Food Program—just by using the app! This is not a trial version—you get everything free and forever. Additional offline dictionaries in other languages are available in the Pro version. Seem too good to be true? The Free Dictionary app has been downloaded tens of millions times across multiple platforms, with top ratings after hundreds of thousands of reviews. Read reviews from real users to see why they say The Free Dictionary is the best dictionary app they've ever used. * For app developers: The Free Dictionary app can be accessed by other apps with API calls (Contact Farlex for instructions).
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Dictionary. at Free against American Heritage® Dictionary's $12.99. Dictionary. also leads on ratings volume (15K vs 204) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). American Heritage® Dictionary's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On rating, update cadence, 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
Dictionary. is free to download; American Heritage® Dictionary costs $12.99 up front. American Heritage® Dictionary sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Dictionary. sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for American Heritage® Dictionary against 4.8 for Dictionary.. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dictionary. has 15K ratings behind it against 204, so its average is the more settled of the two.
American Heritage® Dictionary ships an update every 2 months, Dictionary. every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.
| Parameter | American Heritage® Dictionary | Dictionary. |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (204 ratings) | 4.8 (15K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 65.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 204 | 15K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 386 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Enfour, Inc. | Farlex, Inc. |
Customer experience
American Heritage® Dictionary
Dictionary.
User reviews
American Heritage® Dictionary
From 204 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 Comprehensive and authoritative
- 👍 Excellent pronunciation audio
- 👍 Helpful etymologies and word roots
- 👍 Seamless integration with Roget's Thesaurus
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔋 Large app size can cause sync issues
- 🔒 Concerning privacy/security issues with unauthorized social media posts
- 👎 Overpriced compared to alternatives
- 👎 Lack of customization options (font size, themes, etc.)
Dictionary.
From 15K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Comprehensive and detailed definitions
- 👍 Helpful thesaurus and translation features
- 🎮 Fun word games and activities
- 📚 Vast amount of information beyond just definitions
- 🔍 Easy to use and navigate
Room to improve
- 🔍 Cluttered interface with too many ads
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Difficulty finding specific settings or features
- 🔋 Drains battery life quickly
Bugs and requests
American Heritage® Dictionary
Reported bugs
3 issues- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Unreliable audio playback
- Unexpected behavior when clearing search history
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to bookmark words and organize them into custom categories
- Improved search functionality (e.g. tapping words in definitions to jump to them)
- Landscape mode support
- Better sync/backup options for user data
- More visual aids and illustrations
Dictionary.
Reported bugs
3 issues- Frequent login issues and lost user data
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Incorrect or missing definitions for some words
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to create and organize custom word lists
- More advanced vocabulary-building tools
- Improved audio pronunciation quality
- Offline access to full dictionary content
In-app purchases
American Heritage® Dictionary
- Roget's II Thesaurus$4.99
Dictionary.
- Ad-free upgrade$5.99
Questions
Is American Heritage® Dictionary free?
Is Dictionary. free?
Which has better reviews, American Heritage® Dictionary or Dictionary.?
Do American Heritage® Dictionary or Dictionary. have ads?
Which is updated more often, American Heritage® Dictionary or Dictionary.?
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