# Dictionary.com vs WordBook (Universal)

Dictionary.com and WordBook (Universal) both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 88% of WordBook (Universal)'s written reviews are positive against 26% of Dictionary.com's. WordBook (Universal) also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 9) and ads (none vs shown). Dictionary.com's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and ratings volume (328K vs 275). On rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Dictionary.com is free to download; WordBook (Universal) costs $2.99 up front. Dictionary.com sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. WordBook (Universal) asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Dictionary.com against 4.7 for WordBook (Universal). That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dictionary.com has 328K ratings behind it against 275, 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 88% of WordBook (Universal)'s.

Dictionary.com ships an update every 3 weeks, WordBook (Universal) every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dictionary.com | WordBook (Universal) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (328K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictionarycom-english-words/id308750436/reviews)** | [4.7 (275 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordbook-universal/id364030280/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **328K** | 275 |
| Positive reviews | 25.7% of reviews | **87.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#153** | — |
| Size | 35 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **7.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Curiosity Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/332510497) | [TranCreative Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/289694927) |

## What reviewers say

### Dictionary.com

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

**Currently charting:** #153 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 (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rhyming Dictionary | $1.99 | one-time |
| Grammar & Tips | $1.99 | one-time |
| Idioms & Phrases | $1.99 | one-time |
| Example Sentences | $2.99 | one-time |
| Science Dictionary | $2.99 | one-time |
| Encyclopedia | $2.99 | one-time |
| Offline Dictionary | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Power Pack | $5.99 | one-time |

**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


### WordBook (Universal)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordbook-universal/id364030280)

This comprehensive English dictionary and thesaurus offers extensive definitions, word origins, and pronunciation guides. It includes a built-in spell checker, bookmarking, and advanced search capabilities for word puzzles.

**Highlights:** Professionally recorded pronunciations, Word origin information (Etymologies), Built-in spell checker, Bookmark and note management, Advanced word search and puzzle solver, 150,000+ entries with 220,000+ definitions, Words of the Day

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Comprehensive dictionary with detailed definitions
- 🚀 Fast and efficient lookup
- 💡 Helpful thesaurus and word origin features
- 👍 Customizable web links for additional reference
- 👍 Useful for crosswords and puzzles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Some words missing or inaccurate definitions
- 🔇 Pronunciation issues or missing audio
- 🚫 Lack of updates and new features
- 🚫 Limited vocabulary compared to other dictionaries
- 🚫 Censored words and features

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes, especially on newer devices
- Compatibility issues with recent iOS versions
- Anagram solver not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More comprehensive vocabulary
- Improved pronunciation and audio support
- Regular updates and new features
- Better optimization for iPad and split-screen use


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dictionary.com free?

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

### Is WordBook (Universal) free?

WordBook (Universal) costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Dictionary.com or WordBook (Universal)?

Dictionary.com is rated higher. Dictionary.com averages 4.8 out of 5 from 328K ratings, while WordBook (Universal) averages 4.7 from 275 ratings.

### Do Dictionary.com or WordBook (Universal) have ads?

Dictionary.com shows ads; WordBook (Universal) does not.

### Which is updated more often, Dictionary.com or WordBook (Universal)?

Dictionary.com ships an update every 3 weeks, and WordBook (Universal) every 4 months. Most recently, Dictionary.com was updated on October 24, 2026 and WordBook (Universal) on October 23, 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.*