# Dictionary.com vs WordReference Dictionary

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 (#133 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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dictionary.com | WordReference Dictionary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (328K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictionarycom-english-words/id308750436/reviews)** | [3.8 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordreference-dictionary/id515127233/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **328K** | 27 |
| Positive reviews | 25.8% of reviews | **60.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#133** | — |
| Size | 35 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Curiosity Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/332510497) | [WordReference.com, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/296878902) |

## What reviewers say

### Dictionary.com

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

**Currently charting:** #133 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


### WordReference Dictionary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordreference-dictionary/id515127233)

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.

**Highlights:** Extensive multilingual dictionaries, Verb conjugators, Synonym finder, Language forums, English definitions, Spanish definitions

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent translation tool
- 👍 Comprehensive dictionary with examples
- 👍 Helpful for learning languages
- 👍 Reliable and accurate translations
- 👍 Great resource for professional interpreters

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable performance
- 🐛 Slow and unresponsive at times
- 🐛 Inconsistent user experience across updates
- 🔋 Requires internet connection, no offline mode

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dictionary.com free?

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

### Is WordReference Dictionary free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Dictionary.com or WordReference Dictionary?

Dictionary.com is rated higher. Dictionary.com averages 4.8 out of 5 from 328K ratings, while WordReference Dictionary averages 3.8 from 27 ratings.

### Do Dictionary.com or WordReference Dictionary have ads?

Both Dictionary.com and WordReference Dictionary show ads.

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

Dictionary.com ships an update monthly, and WordReference Dictionary every 6 weeks. Most recently, Dictionary.com was updated on September 27, 2026 and WordReference Dictionary on September 25, 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.*