Dictionary.com vs WordReference Dictionary
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.
WordReference Dictionary
Access a comprehensive suite of dictionaries and translation tools for multiple languages. Explore conjugations, synonyms, and a vast forum with millions of answered questions. This app provides quick access to extensive language resources.
- Extensive multilingual dictionaries
- Verb conjugators
- Synonym finder
- Language forums
- English definitions
- Spanish definitions
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The app of the world's most popular and powerful dictionary translation website. It grants you quick access to our extensive dictionaries and forum discussions. WordReference.com's dictionaries: English to Spanish English to French English to Italian English to German English to Portuguese English to Polish English to Romanian English to Czech English to Greek English to Turkish English to Japanese English to Chinese English to Korean English to Arabic English to Swedish English to Dutch Spanish to French Spanish to Portuguese English definitions Spanish definitions Italian definitions Catalan definitions Conjugators: Spanish conjugator French conjugator Italian conjugator Synonyms: English and Spanish Forums contain over 3 million questions and answers about English and translation. Your questions have already been answered. NOTE: Requires internet access. WordReference is often misspelled as "Word Reference" in searches.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Dictionary.com at 4.8 against WordReference Dictionary's 3.8. Dictionary.com also leads on ratings volume (328K vs 27) and chart position (#137 vs unranked). WordReference Dictionary's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and review sentiment (60% vs 26%). On price, update cadence, 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
Both are free to download. Dictionary.com sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. WordReference Dictionary asks for nothing beyond the download.
Dictionary.com holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dictionary.com has 328K ratings behind it against 27, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 26% of Dictionary.com's written reviews are positive against 60% of WordReference Dictionary's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Dictionary.com ships an update monthly, WordReference Dictionary every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Dictionary.com | WordReference Dictionary |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (328K ratings) — better | 3.8 (27 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 25.8% of reviews | 60.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 328K — better | 27 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Best chart rank | #137 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 35 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Curiosity Media | WordReference.com, LLC |
Customer experience
Dictionary.com
WordReference Dictionary
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
WordReference Dictionary
From 27 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Excellent translation tool
- 👍 Comprehensive dictionary with examples
- 👍 Helpful for learning languages
- 👍 Reliable and accurate translations
- 👍 Great resource for professional interpreters
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable performance
- 🐛 Slow and unresponsive at times
- 🐛 Inconsistent user experience across updates
- 🔋 Requires internet connection, no offline mode
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
WordReference Dictionary
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes and freezes on various devices
- Inconsistent performance on cellular vs. Wi-Fi connections
- Search functionality not working as expected
- Inability to delete or manage favorite dictionaries
Requested features
5 requests- Add support for more languages (e.g. Hebrew, Persian, Latin)
- Implement offline dictionary functionality
- Improve search and navigation, including ability to search for phrases
- Add user account and sync features to save favorites and history
- Enhance verb conjugation and grammar tools
In-app purchases
Dictionary.com
- Rhyming Dictionary$1.99
- Grammar & Tips$1.99
- Idioms & Phrases$1.99
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- Example Sentences$2.99
- Science Dictionary$2.99
- Encyclopedia$2.99
- Offline Dictionary$2.99
- Remove Ads$2.99
- Power Pack$5.99
WordReference Dictionary
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Dictionary.com free?
Is WordReference Dictionary free?
Which has better reviews, Dictionary.com or WordReference Dictionary?
Do Dictionary.com or WordReference Dictionary have ads?
Which is updated more often, Dictionary.com or WordReference Dictionary?
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