# Dictionary.com vs Word Hippo

Dictionary.com and Word Hippo both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 92% of Word Hippo's written reviews are positive against 26% of Dictionary.com's. Word Hippo also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). Dictionary.com's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (328K vs 14K). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Word Hippo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Dictionary.com asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Dictionary.com against 4.9 for Word Hippo. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dictionary.com has 328K ratings behind it against 14K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 26% of Dictionary.com's written reviews are positive against 92% of Word Hippo's.

Dictionary.com ships an update every 3 weeks, Word Hippo every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dictionary.com | Word Hippo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (328K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictionarycom-english-words/id308750436/reviews) | **[4.9 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-hippo/id1293778889/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **328K** | 14K |
| Positive reviews | 25.6% of reviews | **91.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#159** | — |
| Size | 35 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Curiosity Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/332510497) | [KAT IP PTY LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1293778888) |

## What reviewers say

### Dictionary.com

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictionarycom-english-words/id308750436)

**Currently charting:** #159 Top Free · Reference (US App Store)

Access over 2 million trusted definitions and synonyms for English words. Enhance your vocabulary with daily new words, example sentences, and audio pronunciations. This app provides grammar tips and editorial content to deepen your understanding of the English language.

**Highlights:** 2 million+ definitions and synonyms, Word of the Day, Example sentences, Audio pronunciations, Grammar tips, Search history

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Robust dictionary and thesaurus
- 🤓 Helpful resources like blogs and articles
- 💡 Useful word games and puzzles
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🤩 Great for expanding vocabulary

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent search results and missing definitions
- 💸 Aggressive ads even after paid upgrades
- 🤯 Frequent crashes and performance issues
- 🤔 Confusing layout changes and UI issues
- 🤷‍♀️ Paid features not always working as expected

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not working as expected
- Inconsistent behavior when tapping on words
- Offline dictionary not downloading properly
- Frequent crashes and freezes on various devices
- Paid features not unlocking or resetting unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- Dedicated section to display all forms of a word
- Ability to create and manage custom word lists
- Improved offline mode with more functionality
- Better integration with other productivity apps
- More language support beyond just English


### Word Hippo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/word-hippo/id1293778889)

This app offers a comprehensive suite of word tools, including an advanced thesaurus for synonyms and antonyms, example sentences, rhyming words, and word type identification. It also features word finders for games, definitions, and translations into numerous languages.

**Highlights:** Advanced thesaurus with synonyms and antonyms, Example sentences for word usage, Rhyming word finder, Word type identification (adjective, noun, verb, adverb), Word finders for games (Scrabble, Words with Friends), Word definitions, Multilingual translations

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all Features | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Multi-functional app with thesaurus, dictionary, and more
- 🚀 Comprehensive and extensive word lists
- 📚 Helpful for writing, vocabulary building, and creative expression
- 💰 Affordable premium upgrade with no ongoing subscription
- 🧠 Aids in learning and expanding language skills

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional app freezes or crashes
- 🔍 Inconvenient to re-enter search term when switching between features
- 🔍 Lack of offline functionality
- 💰 Premium upgrade not synced across devices

**Reported bugs**

- Cursor placement issues when re-entering search term
- Inconsistent performance on some devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to save/favorite words and phrases
- Offline mode or downloadable word databases
- Syllable counter or rhyming tool
- Seamless switching between dictionary, thesaurus, and other features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dictionary.com free?

Dictionary.com is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Word Hippo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Dictionary.com or Word Hippo?

Word Hippo is rated higher. Dictionary.com averages 4.8 out of 5 from 328K ratings, while Word Hippo averages 4.9 from 14K ratings.

### Do Dictionary.com or Word Hippo have ads?

Both Dictionary.com and Word Hippo show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dictionary.com or Word Hippo?

Dictionary.com ships an update every 3 weeks, and Word Hippo every 2 weeks. Most recently, Dictionary.com was updated on November 5, 2026 and Word Hippo on November 5, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*