Dictionary.com vs Chambers Thesaurus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 2 million+ definitions and synonyms
- Word of the Day
- Example sentences
- Audio pronunciations
- Grammar tips
- Search history
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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.
Chambers Thesaurus
This offline English thesaurus offers a vast collection of synonyms and antonyms for writers and language enthusiasts. It features intelligent word entry with spelling suggestions and advanced search capabilities, all accessible without an internet connection.
- Nearly 40,000 indexed words
- 400,000 synonyms and antonyms
- Intelligent spelling suggestions
- Sounds-like and confused word suggestions
- Fast pattern-matching search
- Cross-reference to dictionaries
- Offline access
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The Chambers Thesaurus is the perfect reference for writers and word game enthusiasts, while all lovers of language will find it a pleasure to browse through. There are nearly 40 000 distinct indexed words, and a total of about 400 000 synonyms and antonyms. 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 - Cross-reference to offline and online dictionaries There are also standard bookmark, recent word and random word features. On newer iPads it supports Split View and Slide Over for easily viewing with other apps. With iOS 13+ it supports dark mode. No Internet connection is required. The Chambers Dictionary is also available as a separate app, and can easily be cross-referenced using the X-Ref button. Our WordWeb, Chambers and Oxford dictionaries are also available separately for Windows and Mac desktop (Collins coming soon).
Screenshots
Verdict
Dictionary.com and Chambers Thesaurus both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of Chambers Thesaurus's written reviews are positive against 26% of Dictionary.com's. Chambers Thesaurus also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 9) and ads (none vs shown). Dictionary.com's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99) and update cadence (monthly vs every 8 months). On rating, 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
Dictionary.com is free to download; Chambers Thesaurus costs $4.99 up front. Dictionary.com sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Chambers Thesaurus 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 Chambers Thesaurus. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dictionary.com has 328K ratings behind it against 11, 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 77% of Chambers Thesaurus's.
Dictionary.com ships an update monthly, Chambers Thesaurus every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Dictionary.com | Chambers Thesaurus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (328K ratings) | 4.9 (11 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 25.8% of reviews | 76.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 328K — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #132 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.5 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 35 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Curiosity Media | Antony Lewis |
Customer experience
Dictionary.com
Chambers Thesaurus
User reviews
Dictionary.com
From 328K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Robust dictionary and thesaurus
- 🤓 Helpful resources like blogs and articles
- 💡 Useful word games and puzzles
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🤩 Great for expanding vocabulary
Room to improve
- 🐛 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
Chambers Thesaurus
From 11 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Excellent tool overall
- 📚 Comprehensive vocabulary
- ✍️ Great for writers
- crossword Perfect for crosswords
- 💰 Good value for money
Room to improve
- ❓ Incomplete vocabulary (missing common words)
- 🔗 Faulty linking between words
- 🐛 App crashes after updates
- 💻 Not working on newer OS versions
- 🖱️ Faulty interface (search field not immediate)
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 Thesaurus
Reported bugs
6 issues- App crashes when opening after update
- App no longer works on older OS versions
- Search field not immediately available
- Latest update prevents download on iPhone
- Index broken, making it less useful
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Search only for headwords, not synonyms or sub-collections
Requested features
8 requests- Switch between purchased dictionaries/thesauruses in tabs
- Sell other desktop dictionaries on mobile
- Consistent spacing and text placement across tabs
- Use MacOS built-in support for graphics card acceleration
- Display identifying headings ('Thesaurus'/'Dictionary')
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Allow changing background and text color for dyslexia
- Update to the 3rd edition thesaurus
- Visibly differentiate words with links
In-app purchases
Dictionary.com
- Rhyming Dictionary$1.99
- Grammar & Tips$1.99
- Idioms & Phrases$1.99
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- Example Sentences$2.99
- Science Dictionary$2.99
- Encyclopedia$2.99
- Offline Dictionary$2.99
- Remove Ads$2.99
- Power Pack$5.99
Chambers Thesaurus
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Dictionary.com free?
Is Chambers Thesaurus free?
Which has better reviews, Dictionary.com or Chambers Thesaurus?
Do Dictionary.com or Chambers Thesaurus have ads?
Which is updated more often, Dictionary.com or Chambers Thesaurus?
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