Comparison

Collins vs Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

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

Head to head
About

Collins

This comprehensive French-English dictionary offers extensive vocabulary, verb conjugations, and usage notes. It provides smart search functionality, offline access, and text-to-speech for pronunciation. Ideal for students and language professionals needing a reliable reference tool.

Highlights
  • 57,000 headwords and 190,000 translations
  • 90,000+ example phrases
  • Full verb conjugations
  • Hundreds of usage notes
  • No internet connection required
  • Smart search with misspelling correction
  • Text-to-speech pronunciation
Features
Read full description

57,000 headwords and more than 190,000 translations • more than 90,000 phrases • full conjugations for thousands of French and English verbs • hundreds of usage notes and examples • no internet connection required Carry a dependable French and English reference everywhere you go with the latest edition of the Collins Pro French-English Translation Dictionary. This app combines detailed, professional dictionary data from HarperCollins and Le Robert with our new, easy-to-use Ultralingua interface. Our smart search goes beyond dictionary entries to give you complete conjugations of thousands of verbs in all standard forms, convert numerals into French or English text instantly, and catch common misspellings to get you to the word you are looking for faster than ever. DICTIONARY: • Over 57,000 entries with 190,000 translations • Over 90,000 example phrases • Tap-and-hold any word or phrase and choose "Speak" from the popup menu to hear that word spoken using Apple's built-in text-to-speech feature. • Genders for all French nouns • Idioms, slang, technical language, and regional differences in spelling and usage • Hundreds of usage notes about troublesome constructions • Dozens of cultural notes • Smart search results in both French and English simultaneously, in case you misspell or mistype • Search-as-you-go displays words and narrows your selection as you type • Tap on a word in a definition to quickly look it up, conjugate it, or copy it to your clipboard. This features recognizes inflected forms and chooses the correct language for you. • Search the dictionary by speaking to Apple’s Siri on applicable devices VERBS: • Conjugations for thousands of French and English verbs • Includes all standard tenses and forms • Displays the direct translation of each conjugation when available • Smart search finds infinitives and catches misspellings • View verb conjugations in a single tense or expand a verb to view all conjugations in one user-friendly format MORE: • Translates numerals into French and English text as you type • Language swapper button to switch from French-English to English-French with ease • Tap the history button to view the 50 most recent dictionary definitions, verb conjugations, and more in one place. Sort the list alphabetically or by date, and choose to clear the list completely or delete one entry at a time. • Favorite individual definitions and verbs and view them by tapping on the favorites button. • No internet connection required • Change your device settings to view the app display in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, or German This universal app will run on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, so you can purchase it once and load it onto all your devices. The iPad and iPhone/iPod touch versions look and behave differently to give you a great experience on every device you own. The Collins Robert Concise French Dictionary is a must-have reference tool for students and language professionals alike. REVIEWS: (5 stars) "Best French dictionary ever - In the 30 years that I have been studying and using French I have yet to find a better French-English dictionary, whether in-print, online or an app. This app is totally worth the price." -User review (5 stars) "Wonderful for an high intermediate reader like me who often needs a clarification but doesn't want to haul around a heavy dictionary. The interface is great because it anticipates the word as you type and if your French spelling is weak - like mine is - it saves a lot of time." -User review Follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook for app news, language learning tips, and more: http://www.twitter.com/ultralingua http://on.fb.me/ifI8Hy

About

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

Access 18 dictionaries and over a million words, phrases, and definitions. Translate between English and major languages, explore etymology, and find synonyms and antonyms. This trusted language reference is ideal for students, professionals, and language learners.

Highlights
  • 18 dictionaries including English, Spanish, French, German
  • Over 1 million words, phrases, and definitions
  • Translations between English and major languages
  • Word origins and etymology
  • English synonyms and antonyms
  • Offline access with Premium
  • Audio pronunciation with Premium
Features
Read full description

Trusted by millions of students, professionals, and language learners worldwide, Oxford Dictionary is built on content from Oxford Languages and gives you 18 dictionaries, over a million words, phrases, and definitions, plus translations between English and major languages, all in a single app. Whether you are preparing for exams, improving your writing, or expanding your vocabulary, Oxford Dictionary is your trusted language reference. ■ What can I use Oxford Dictionary for? • Find accurate word definitions in English, Spanish, French, and German • Check pronunciation • Discover English synonyms and antonyms • Learn word origins and etymology • Translate between English and major languages • Build vocabulary and improve writing • Use the dictionaries online and offline (offline with Premium) ■ How many dictionaries does Oxford Dictionary include? Oxford Dictionary includes 18 dictionaries: 5 monolingual (British English, American English, Spanish, French, and German) and 13 bilingual dictionaries pairing English with French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Italian, Hindi, Urdu, Portuguese, Japanese, Greek, Bulgarian, and Thai. ■ How do I find the meaning of a word? Search for any word in Oxford Dictionary to get trusted definitions, example usage, phrases, and word origins from Oxford Languages. ■ Does Oxford Dictionary work offline? Yes, with Premium. Download dictionaries to your device and search for words anytime, no internet connection needed. Ideal for travel, studying, or work. ■ Does Oxford Dictionary include a thesaurus? Yes. The built-in thesaurus gives you thousands of English synonyms and antonyms, helping you find the right word, avoid repetition, and improve your writing. With Premium, synonym lookups are unlimited. ■ Does Oxford Dictionary have audio pronunciation? Yes, with Premium. Recordings by native British and American English speakers help you speak with confidence, ideal for language learning and exam preparation. ■ Can I search for words even if I don't know the spelling? Yes. Use fuzzy search, wildcards (* and ?), autocomplete and auto-correction, voice search, camera search, and keyword lookup to find words quickly and easily. ■ Is Oxford Dictionary good for IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, or ACT preparation? Yes. Oxford Dictionary provides accurate definitions, example usage in context, and a broad vocabulary range for students preparing for major English proficiency exams worldwide. ■ How can I build my vocabulary with Oxford Dictionary? Save words to Favorites, organize them into folders and sync them across your devices, revisit Recent searches, and discover a new word every day with Word of the Day. ■ Should I use an AI chatbot instead of a dictionary? Students and professionals continue to rely on dictionaries for formal definitions and correct word usage. Oxford Dictionary provides definitions backed by Oxford Languages' rigorous editorial process, not AI-generated approximations. When accuracy matters, Oxford Dictionary remains the trusted reference. ■ Who is Oxford Dictionary for? Students, writers, professionals, academics, language learners, and word enthusiasts: anyone who needs a reliable multilingual dictionary at every level. ■ What do you get with Premium? • Offline mode and fast search • Audio pronunciation by native speakers • Unlimited synonym and antonym lookups • Ad-free experience ■ Why choose Oxford Dictionary? Oxford Dictionary combines the language expertise of Oxford Languages with powerful search, 18 dictionaries, and practical vocabulary tools, all in one app. Download Oxford Dictionary today. Website: https://mobisystems.com/oxford-dictionary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oxforddictionaryapp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxford_dictionary_app TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oxforddictionaryapp X: https://x.com/OxfordD_app Privacy Policy: https://mobisystems.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://mobisystems.com/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Collins4 screens
Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus at Free against Collins's $14.99. Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (29K vs 643). Collins's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (60% vs 51%). On rating, 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

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus is free to download; Collins costs $14.99 up front. Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Collins asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Collins against 4.6 for Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus has 29K ratings behind it against 643, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 60% of Collins's written reviews are positive against 51% of Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Collins ships an update every 5 months, Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus monthly. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Collins versus Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCollinsOxford Dictionary & Thesaurus
Price$14.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (643 ratings) — better4.6 (29K ratings)
Positive reviews59.6% of reviews — better50.8% of reviews
Number of ratings64329K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank—#74 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB122 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUltralingua, Inc.MobiSystems, Inc.

Customer experience

Collins

All ratings635 ratings
Positive93.7%
Neutral3.3%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews334 reviews
Positive59.6%
Neutral9.3%
Negative31.1%

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

All ratings29,337 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews1,127 reviews
Positive50.8%
Neutral8.2%
Negative41.0%

User reviews

Collins

From 643 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Comprehensive dictionary
  • 🚀 Excellent verb conjugations
  • 🚀 Offline availability
  • 👍 Detailed definitions and examples

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs after updates
  • 🐛 Missing common words and expressions
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate and search
  • 💰 Expensive for an app
  • 🔍 Clunky interface

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

From 29K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Reliable and simple to use
  • 👍 Comprehensive and best for all English, especially rare and aged language
  • 👍 Very useful for learning new words
  • 👍 Excellent reference app
  • 👍 Helps with homework or even if you forgot how to spell write or don't know the meaning of a word

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy, way too many ads
  • 🔒 Annoying popup ads makes it unusable
  • 🔒 Ads stuck in, despite payment
  • 🐛 Never connect the server
  • 🐛 Stopped working

Bugs and requests

Collins

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Keyboard and display issues after updates
  • Incorrect verb conjugations
  • Inability to search for conjugated forms

Requested features

5 requests
  • Audio pronunciations
  • Ability to save/review words
  • Improved search and navigation
  • Expanded vocabulary coverage
  • Night mode option

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Favorites folder disappearing after device restart
  • Inconsistent behavior when looking up words
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Inability to restore premium purchases on new devices

Requested features

6 requests
  • Improved formatting and typography for definitions
  • Better organization of features and information
  • More advanced search and filtering options
  • Ability to sync favorites across devices
  • More challenging and interesting 'word of the day' selections
Show 1 more
  • Improved offline dictionary with more comprehensive coverage

In-app purchases

None

Collins

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

Subscriptions5
  • Monthly Subscription ODE1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • Monthly Subscription1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • Oxford Dictionary Premium$4.997 Days
Show 2 more
  • Annual Subscription ODE$19.991 Year
  • Oxford Dictionary Premium3 Days trial4 variants$39.991 Year
One-time2
  • Oxford Dictionary of English$4.99
  • Oxford Dictionary of English$9.99

Questions

Is Collins free?
Collins costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus free?
Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Collins or Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus?
Collins is rated higher. Collins averages 4.7 out of 5 from 643 ratings, while Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus averages 4.6 from 29K ratings.
Do Collins or Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus have ads?
Neither Collins nor Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Collins or Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus?
Collins ships an update every 5 months, and Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus monthly. Most recently, Collins was updated on November 10, 2026 and Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus on November 10, 2026.

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