Dictionary Universal vs MDX Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Dictionary Universal
Access a vast collection of dictionaries on your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. This app supports StarDict and Lingvo DSL formats, offering fast searches, morphology, fuzzy matching, and pronunciation. Organize dictionaries by language and save your favorites for quick access.
- StarDict and Lingvo DSL support
- Fast search and fuzzy matching
- Morphology support
- Pronunciation playback
- Dictionary profiles
- Favorites and history
- Clipboard lookup
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Dictionary Universal is iPhone, iPod touch and iPad application for viewing StarDict dictionaries and dictionaries in Lingvo DSL format ¹. Many of these dictionaries are available on the Internet for free ². Features: * Very fast. After dictionary is indexed, minimal time is required to start before you can type text. List of matches appears without delay while you type. * Supports morphology for English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. * Fuzzy search. This functionality will help you find words if they are misspelled or when you don't know how to type word correctly. Just type in the text and hit Search button on the keyboard. * Pronunciation support. * Searching text in currently displayed article. * Profiles group dictionaries, pronunciation and morphology for quick switching. Useful if you work with several languages. * Favorites and Search History. * Ability to lookup word in clipboard when switching to the application. Copy word to clipboard and switch to Dictionary Universal to see translation. * Most complete StarDict format support in the AppStore (including images, synonyms, and various dictionary formats). * Color highlighting for better text readability (when supported by dictionary format). * Arbitrary word lookup. Tap any word in article to lookup it in loaded dictionaries. * Full screen mode support. * Compressed dictionaries and resources support. * Embedded web browser for downloading dictionaries from the Internet. ¹ Lingvo DSL format is a text format with dictionary source code. Dictionary Universal does not support compiled Lingvo dictionaries (LSD format). ² No dictionaries are bundled with the application. You will need StarDict or Lingvo DSL dictionaries to use them with the application.
MDX Reader
This app allows you to build and manage your personal dictionary using MDX/MDD files. It offers powerful offline search, smart favorites, and customizable appearance for a personalized reference experience.
- Unlimited dictionary management
- Fast full-text search
- Smart favorites for saved words
- Customizable appearance
- Offline functionality
- Cross-dictionary search
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MDX Reader is a powerful offline dictionary reading application that supports MDX/MDD format dictionary files. Whether you're learning a language, doing academic research, or need quick reference, MDX Reader is your ideal choice. Core Features • Unlimited Dictionaries Add and manage multiple MDX dictionaries simultaneously, supporting parallel queries across dictionaries for comprehensive information retrieval. • Powerful Search Engine Lightning-fast full-text search with instant results. Supports fuzzy matching and comprehensive indexing. • Smart Favorites One-tap to save important words, organized by dictionary for easy review and management. • Custom Appearance Personalize font family, size, weight, line spacing, padding, and background color. Create your ideal reading experience. • Offline First All dictionary data and search functionality work completely offline. No internet connection required, protecting your privacy. • Cross-Dictionary Search Simultaneously search multiple dictionaries and instantly view definitions from different sources. • Search History Automatically record search history for quick access to previously viewed content. Supported Formats • MDX (MDict Dictionary) Mainstream dictionary format with wide compatibility • MDD (MDict Resource) Supports images, audio, and multimedia resources Premium Features Unlock all features with a one-time purchase: - Unlimited dictionary additions (free version limited to 1) - Unlimited daily searches (free version limited to 20) - Custom appearance settings - Background color selection - Advanced font settings Free Trial New users get a 7-day free trial of all premium features. Experience the full functionality before deciding to purchase. Privacy First - No data collection - No user tracking - No third-party analytics - All data stored locally on device - Complete offline functionality Perfect For - Language learners: Support for multiple language dictionaries - Academic researchers: Professional terminology dictionaries - Translators: Quick reference and terminology lookup - Students: Comprehensive learning resource - Knowledge workers: Personal knowledge base Easy to Use 1. Add Dictionary: Import your MDX/MDD dictionary files 2. Search Words: Enter search terms for instant results 3. Manage Favorites: Save important content for easy review Download MDX Reader now and start your knowledge exploration journey!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: MDX Reader at Free against Dictionary Universal's $5.99. MDX Reader also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 7 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Dictionary Universal's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (26 vs 1). On 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
MDX Reader is free to download; Dictionary Universal costs $5.99 up front. MDX Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Dictionary Universal asks for nothing beyond the download.
MDX Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dictionary Universal has 26 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Dictionary Universal ships an update every 7 months, MDX Reader every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Dictionary Universal | MDX Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (26 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 84.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 26 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 11 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #58 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dmitry Zhuk | Yulei Duan |
Customer experience
Dictionary Universal
MDX Reader
In-app purchases
Dictionary Universal
No in-app purchases
MDX Reader
- MDX Premium (Lifetime)$3.99
Questions
Is Dictionary Universal free?
Is MDX Reader free?
Which has better reviews, Dictionary Universal or MDX Reader?
Do Dictionary Universal or MDX Reader have ads?
Which is updated more often, Dictionary Universal or MDX Reader?
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