Comparison

American Heritage® Dictionary vs Concise English Dictionary HD

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

*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

About

Concise English Dictionary HD

This comprehensive reference app offers an extensive English dictionary and thesaurus with detailed definitions, pronunciations, and word origins. It provides offline access and a user-friendly interface for quick look-ups and vocabulary expansion.

Highlights
  • Comprehensive dictionary database
  • High-quality audio pronunciations
  • Extensive pronunciation guides (IPA)
  • In-depth word origins
  • Detailed definitions and examples
  • Thesaurus integration
  • Offline access
Features
Read full description

Discover the power of words with Concise English Dictionary & Thesaurus, an exceptional all-in-one reference app designed to elevate your language experience on iOS and iPadOS. Key Features: • Comprehensive Database: Access one of the largest English dictionary databases, featuring up to 591,700 entries and over 4.9 million words, ensuring you find exactly what you need. • High-Quality Audio Pronunciations: Hear words pronounced in American, British, and Australian English, with options for both male and female voices. • Extensive Pronunciation Guides: Includes 134,000 guides in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) with easy-to-use symbol assistance. Just tap the guide to understand pronunciation details. • In-Depth Word Origins: Discover the etymologies of words to better understand their histories and how meanings have evolved. • Detailed Definitions and Examples: Get clear, precise definitions along with sample sentences to see words in context, enhancing your writing and speaking skills. • Thesaurus Integration: Expand your vocabulary with word links that provide synonyms and related terms. • Diverse Lexical Entries: Beyond everyday words, find biographical and geographical data, technical and scientific terms, idioms, prepositions, conjunctions, determiners, interjections, abbreviations, contractions, common misspellings, irregular forms, and even Old English words. • User-Friendly Experience: Enjoy fast look-ups and a snappy user interface with smooth-scrolling screens, specifically designed for iOS and iPadOS devices.` • Customizable History and Bookmarks: Keep track of your search history and bookmark favorite words for quick reference. • Fun and Educational Word Shake: Shake your device to discover random words and expand your vocabulary in an enjoyable way. • Offline Access: Use the app anytime, anywhere, without needing an internet connection. • Privacy-Focused: Rest assured, there are no analytics, spying, or tracking features in the app. Your privacy is fully respected.

Screenshots

American Heritage® Dictionary4 screens
Concise English Dictionary HD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Concise English Dictionary HD at $1.99 against American Heritage® Dictionary's $12.99. Concise English Dictionary HD also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). American Heritage® Dictionary's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 13 months). On review sentiment, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

American Heritage® Dictionary costs $12.99 and Concise English Dictionary HD $1.99 up front. American Heritage® Dictionary sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Concise English Dictionary HD asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

American Heritage® Dictionary holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: American Heritage® Dictionary has 210 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of American Heritage® Dictionary's written reviews are positive against 71% of Concise English Dictionary HD's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

American Heritage® Dictionary ships an update every 2 months, Concise English Dictionary HD every 13 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
American Heritage® Dictionary versus Concise English Dictionary HD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAmerican Heritage® DictionaryConcise English Dictionary HD
Price$12.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.7 (210 ratings) — better4.2 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews65.6% of reviews71.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings210 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 13 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size386 MB317 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperEnfour, Inc.JDMI Kft.

Customer experience

American Heritage® Dictionary

All ratings204 ratings
Positive94.6%
Neutral1.0%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews157 reviews
Positive65.6%
Neutral7.0%
Negative27.4%

Concise English Dictionary HD

All ratings9 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%

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

Concise English Dictionary HD

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

American Heritage® Dictionary

One-time1
  • Roget's II Thesaurus$4.99
None

Concise English Dictionary HD

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is American Heritage® Dictionary free?
American Heritage® Dictionary costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Concise English Dictionary HD free?
Concise English Dictionary HD costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, American Heritage® Dictionary or Concise English Dictionary HD?
American Heritage® Dictionary is rated higher. American Heritage® Dictionary averages 4.7 out of 5 from 210 ratings, while Concise English Dictionary HD averages 4.2 from 9 ratings.
Do American Heritage® Dictionary or Concise English Dictionary HD have ads?
Neither American Heritage® Dictionary nor Concise English Dictionary HD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, American Heritage® Dictionary or Concise English Dictionary HD?
American Heritage® Dictionary ships an update every 2 months, and Concise English Dictionary HD every 13 months. Most recently, American Heritage® Dictionary was updated on November 6, 2026 and Concise English Dictionary HD on November 6, 2026.

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