# Shakespeare vs ABAB Word

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ABAB Word at none against Shakespeare's 27. ABAB Word also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks) and review sentiment (100% vs 74%). Shakespeare's advantage is ratings volume (3.5K vs 2). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shakespeare sells 27 one-off in-app purchases. ABAB Word asks for nothing beyond the download.

ABAB Word holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shakespeare has 3.5K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Shakespeare's written reviews are positive against 100% of ABAB Word's.

Shakespeare ships an update every 3 weeks, ABAB Word every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shakespeare | ABAB Word |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare/id285035416/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abab-word/id6760215327/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.5K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 74.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 416 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PlayShakespeare.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/809094812) | [ABAB Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877618883) |

## What reviewers say

### Shakespeare

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shakespeare/id285035416)

Access the complete works of Shakespeare, including plays, sonnets, and poems. Features include a powerful search, integrated glossary, note-taking, and customization options for a rich reading experience.

**Highlights:** Complete works of Shakespeare, Powerful search and concordance, Integrated glossary with definitions, Add and share personal notes, Customizable reading experience, Scene breakdowns and character descriptions, Modern translations and lexicons

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (27)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Modern Translation (AYLI) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Sonnets) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (AWEW) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation(Coriolanus) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (CoE) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (WT) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Othello) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Much Ado) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (LLL) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Hamlet) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (Macbeth) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (R&J) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (King Lear) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Glossary by Alexander Dyce | $3.99 | one-time |
| Glossary by C. T. Onions | $3.99 | one-time |
| Schmidt's Lexicon | $3.99 | one-time |
| Glossary by C. T. Onions | $4.99 | one-time |
| All Apocrypha | $7.99 | one-time |
| Course: Intro to Shakespeare | $9.99 | one-time |
| All Apocrypha | $9.99 | one-time |
| All Lexicons | $9.99 | one-time |
| Course Shakespeare for Kids | $9.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Shakespeare Pro | $12.99 | one-time |
| All Lexicons | $12.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (All Works) | $14.99 | one-time |
| Modern Translation (All Works) | $19.99 | one-time |
| Shakespeare Ultimate | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best app out there
- 👍 Excellent app
- 👍 Terrific app for Shakespeare lovers
- 👍 Remarkable level of detail and care
- 👍 Invaluable for actors and students

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes, buggy, unstable
- 💰 Nickel-and-diming for features
- 💰 Upgrade to pro is misleading
- 💰 Constant nagging to upgrade
- 🤔 Abbreviated character names

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch or opening plays
- Scrolling and UI issues
- Incompatible with latest iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add modern translations
- Include line numbers
- Improve search and navigation
- Add more content like sonnets
- Sync purchases across devices


### ABAB Word

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abab-word/id6760215327)

This app helps users quickly build and review vocabulary through a simple flashcard system. It allows for the creation and management of personal word libraries, providing meanings, examples, synonyms, and antonyms for efficient learning.

**Highlights:** Personal word library creation, Flashcard vocabulary review, Meaning, example, synonym, antonym display, Fast and distraction-free learning, Simple and efficient interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shakespeare free?

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

### Is ABAB Word free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shakespeare or ABAB Word?

ABAB Word is rated higher. Shakespeare averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.5K ratings, while ABAB Word averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Shakespeare or ABAB Word have ads?

Neither Shakespeare nor ABAB Word shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shakespeare or ABAB Word?

Shakespeare ships an update every 3 weeks, and ABAB Word every 2 days. Most recently, Shakespeare was updated on October 31, 2026 and ABAB Word on October 16, 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.*