Comparison

Dictionary.com vs Chambers Dictionary

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

Head to head
About

Dictionary.com

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
Currently charting
Read full description

Download the #1 free dictionary app! With more than 2 million trusted definitions and synonyms, this English dictionary and thesaurus app for iPhone is optimized for your mobile device. Improve your English vocabulary, whether you're just starting your learning journey or you're already a word wizard. Install the app for access to definitions and synonyms whenever and wherever you need them — no bulky books necessary. Flip to dark mode to give your eyes a break, or stick to the traditional set-up. In addition to the trusted reference content from Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com, this education app includes: Word of the Day ► Learn a new word each day and expand your vocabulary. Example Sentences ► Browse real-world example sentences to see how words are used. Idioms ► Explore how words can gain new meanings. Rhymes ► Finish every verse. Audio Pronunciations ► Never mispronounce another word. Grammar ► Get grammar tips, word usage, and more to improve your writing. Editorial Articles ► Explore editorial content for features on words, the origins of the English language, and the nuances that make English so complicated and unique. Search History ► Customize your recently searched word list, and never forget the newest words you’ve learned. Dictionary Shuffle ► Think you know ALL the definitions? Prove it with Dictionary Shuffle, which chooses a word at random and brings you to the definition. A-Z Dictionary ► What’s more exciting than ... wait for it … browsing the Dictionary?! We’ve now made it even easier, with the A–Z Dictionary.

About

Chambers Dictionary

This comprehensive English dictionary offers extensive coverage of words, including new terms from science and culture. It features intelligent search with spelling suggestions, pattern matching, and filtering, plus standard tools like bookmarks and anagrams. An offline reference for word enthusiasts and crossword solvers.

Highlights
  • Extensive word coverage
  • Latest new words
  • Intelligent spelling suggestions
  • Advanced search with pattern matching
  • Filter search results by word type
  • Offline functionality
  • Anagrams
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Chambers is the single-volume international English dictionary with the widest coverage of all the riches of the English language. Clear, accurate and occasionally witty definitions, with the latest new words from science, technology and contemporary culture. This 13th Edition reflects the changes in our language, with special attention paid to new words that have emerged, new uses of old words and the most up-to-date pronunciation. The 13th Edition includes over 260,000 distinct words, compounds, phrases and derived forms. The intelligent word entry suggests possible correct spellings as you type, as well as listing words that sound the same or are often confused. Search features include: - Alphabetical listing - Spelling suggestions - Sounds-like and often-confused - Fast pattern-matching search (*, ?, vowel and consonant) - Filter search results by noun, verb, adjective, adverbs - Customize search options (case, derived forms, etc) - Full text search - Anagrams There are also standard bookmark, recent word and random word features. No Internet connection is required, and it supports Split View and Slide over for use with other apps on iPad. The Chambers Dictionary is treasured by word-lovers and crossword enthusiasts for its majestic coverage of English and its tradition of sneaking in a sprinkling of light-hearted definitions. Alone among the single-volume dictionaries, it preserves a rich stock of words from our literary heritage as well as covering all the latest developments in contemporary English. Chambers Thesaurus is also available as a separate app, and can easily be cross-referenced from the dictionary. Our WordWeb, Chambers, Collins and Oxford dictionaries are also available separately for Windows and Mac desktop.

Screenshots

Dictionary.com4 screens
Chambers Dictionary4 screens

Verdict

The call

Dictionary.com and Chambers Dictionary both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 79% of Chambers Dictionary's written reviews are positive against 26% of Dictionary.com's. Chambers Dictionary also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 9) and ads (none vs shown). Dictionary.com's advantage is price (Free vs $9.99) and ratings volume (328K vs 13). On rating, chart position, device support and iOS requirement 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

Dictionary.com is free to download; Chambers Dictionary costs $9.99 up front. Dictionary.com sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Chambers Dictionary asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Dictionary.com against 4.8 for Chambers Dictionary. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dictionary.com has 328K ratings behind it against 13, 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 79% of Chambers Dictionary's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dictionary.com ships an update monthly, Chambers Dictionary every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Dictionary.com versus Chambers Dictionary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDictionary.comChambers Dictionary
PriceFree — better$9.99
Rating4.8 (328K ratings)4.8 (13 ratings)
Positive reviews25.8% of reviews78.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings328K — better13
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#126 — better#198
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB58 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperCuriosity MediaAntony Lewis

Customer experience

Dictionary.com

All ratings327,783 ratings
Positive95.5%
Neutral2.0%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews1,381 reviews
Positive25.8%
Neutral9.2%
Negative65.0%

Chambers Dictionary

All ratings13 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews113 reviews
Positive78.8%
Neutral8.8%
Negative12.4%

Bugs and requests

Dictionary.com

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

Chambers Dictionary

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Dictionary.com

One-time9
  • Rhyming Dictionary$1.99
  • Grammar & Tips$1.99
  • Idioms & Phrases$1.99
Show 6 more
  • Example Sentences$2.99
  • Science Dictionary$2.99
  • Encyclopedia$2.99
  • Offline Dictionary$2.99
  • Remove Ads$2.99
  • Power Pack$5.99
None

Chambers Dictionary

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dictionary.com free?
Dictionary.com is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chambers Dictionary free?
Chambers Dictionary costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Dictionary.com or Chambers Dictionary?
Dictionary.com and Chambers Dictionary are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 328K and 13 ratings respectively.
Do Dictionary.com or Chambers Dictionary have ads?
Dictionary.com shows ads; Chambers Dictionary does not.
Which is updated more often, Dictionary.com or Chambers Dictionary?
Dictionary.com ships an update monthly, and Chambers Dictionary every 4 months. Most recently, Dictionary.com was updated on September 25, 2026 and Chambers Dictionary on September 21, 2026.
Which is more popular, Dictionary.com or Chambers Dictionary?
Dictionary.com currently peaks at #126 in the App Store charts, and Chambers Dictionary at #198. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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