# Dictionary Universal vs MDX Reader

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dictionary Universal | MDX Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $5.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictionary-universal/id312088272/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mdx-readerpersonal-dictionary/id6756669176/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **26** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 84.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#70** | — |
| Size | 2 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dmitry Zhuk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1274744830) | [Yulei Duan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1860295257) |

## What reviewers say

### Dictionary Universal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictionary-universal/id312088272)

**Currently charting:** #70 Top Paid · Reference (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** StarDict and Lingvo DSL support, Fast search and fuzzy matching, Morphology support, Pronunciation playback, Dictionary profiles, Favorites and history, Clipboard lookup

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### MDX Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mdx-readerpersonal-dictionary/id6756669176)

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.

**Highlights:** Unlimited dictionary management, Fast full-text search, Smart favorites for saved words, Customizable appearance, Offline functionality, Cross-dictionary search

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MDX Premium (Lifetime) | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dictionary Universal free?

Dictionary Universal costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MDX Reader free?

MDX Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Dictionary Universal or MDX Reader?

MDX Reader is rated higher. Dictionary Universal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while MDX Reader averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Dictionary Universal or MDX Reader have ads?

Neither Dictionary Universal nor MDX Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dictionary Universal or MDX Reader?

Dictionary Universal ships an update every 7 months, and MDX Reader every 11 days. Most recently, Dictionary Universal was updated on September 22, 2026 and MDX Reader on September 20, 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.*