Chambers Dictionary vs Dictionaries
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chambers Dictionary
This comprehensive English dictionary offers extensive coverage of words, including new terms from science and culture. It features intelligent search with spelling suggestions, pattern matching, and filtering, plus standard tools like bookmarks and anagrams. An offline reference for word enthusiasts and crossword solvers.
- Extensive word coverage
- Latest new words
- Intelligent spelling suggestions
- Advanced search with pattern matching
- Filter search results by word type
- Offline functionality
- Anagrams
Read full descriptionHide full description
Chambers is the single-volume international English dictionary with the widest coverage of all the riches of the English language. Clear, accurate and occasionally witty definitions, with the latest new words from science, technology and contemporary culture. This 13th Edition reflects the changes in our language, with special attention paid to new words that have emerged, new uses of old words and the most up-to-date pronunciation. The 13th Edition includes over 260,000 distinct words, compounds, phrases and derived forms. The intelligent word entry suggests possible correct spellings as you type, as well as listing words that sound the same or are often confused. Search features include: - Alphabetical listing - Spelling suggestions - Sounds-like and often-confused - Fast pattern-matching search (*, ?, vowel and consonant) - Filter search results by noun, verb, adjective, adverbs - Customize search options (case, derived forms, etc) - Full text search - Anagrams There are also standard bookmark, recent word and random word features. No Internet connection is required, and it supports Split View and Slide over for use with other apps on iPad. The Chambers Dictionary is treasured by word-lovers and crossword enthusiasts for its majestic coverage of English and its tradition of sneaking in a sprinkling of light-hearted definitions. Alone among the single-volume dictionaries, it preserves a rich stock of words from our literary heritage as well as covering all the latest developments in contemporary English. Chambers Thesaurus is also available as a separate app, and can easily be cross-referenced from the dictionary. Our WordWeb, Chambers, Collins and Oxford dictionaries are also available separately for Windows and Mac desktop.
Dictionaries
Access and search multiple dictionaries simultaneously in one app. Purchase various language dictionaries, including English and Japanese, from an in-app store. Features include batch searching, handwriting input, and cross-dictionary navigation.
- Batch search multiple dictionaries
- Purchase language dictionaries
- Handwriting input support
- Trace and Jump between words
- Bookmark and categorize words
- iCloud synchronization
- Multitasking with other apps
Read full descriptionHide full description
“Dictionaries” is an electronic dictionary viewer app made to allow users to efficiently use various dictionaries. Our popular standalone apps have been integrated into a single app where users can search multiple dictionaries at once. You can purchase and use a variety of dictionaries, including English, Japanese, French or other language dictionaries, from the “Dictionary Store” which can be accessed from within the app. Searches • Batch Search (Consolidated Search) allows users to search multiple dictionaries at once. • The display order of dictionaries used in the batch search can be customized. • The keyboard language switches automatically depending on dictionary search groups. • Handwriting input is possible for Japanese, Old Japanese, Kanji, Chinese, Korean, and Russian dictionaries. • Using Pattern Search, users can search for words even if a part of the spelling is unknown. Trace and Jump • Users can easily jump to not only other words in the same dictionary but other dictionaries as well simply by tracing words in a definition, allowing users to go on a journey of intellectual curiosity through the dictionary as their hearts desire. Collection • Purchased dictionaries are shown as icons on the Collection screen. • By opening a dictionary from the Collection screen, users can also carefully go through a single dictionary. Even in this case, users can use the “Trace and Jump” function to easily jump to another dictionary. • The display order of dictionary icons on the Collection screen can be changed to the user's preference. Bookmarks • Users can bookmark their favorite words. In addition, users can also efficiently categorize these bookmarks using the Bookmark Folder. • By turning on Quick Bookmark, users can quickly add/remove bookmarks simply by tapping the Bookmark icon. Search History • In History, display frequency is automatically recorded so that users can immediately recognize words they search for repeatedly. iCloud • Users can synchronize Bookmark and History data among all devices by turning on iCloud. Multitasking • Users can display websites, documents, and more alongside their dictionary by using the Multitasking function on the iPad. By turning on Clipboard Search, users simply have to copy the word they wish to look up in order for the app to find that word in multiple dictionaries. Substantial Lineup • The Dictionary Store carries a large number of full-scale dictionaries, and we plan to further improve this selection in the future as well. • The following English dictionaries are available. Check in the Dictionary Store, which can be accessed from within the app, for more information on each of these items. - Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 10th edition (OALD) - Oxford Learner’s Dictionary of Academic English - Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus - Oxford Collocations Dictionary - Practical English Usage - Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 10th edition - Collins COBUILD Advanced American English Dictionary 3rd edition - Collins COBUILD Intermediate Learner’s Dictionary 4th edition - Collins English Dictionary with Thesaurus An internet connection is required to purchase content.Usage fees and terms of use may apply.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Dictionaries at Free against Chambers Dictionary's $9.99. Dictionaries also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (84 vs 13). Chambers Dictionary's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.1) and in-app purchases (none vs 23). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Dictionaries is free to download; Chambers Dictionary costs $9.99 up front. Dictionaries sells 23 one-off in-app purchases. Chambers Dictionary asks for nothing beyond the download.
Chambers Dictionary holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dictionaries has 84 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Chambers Dictionary's written reviews are positive against 57% of Dictionaries's.
Chambers Dictionary ships an update every 4 months, Dictionaries every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chambers Dictionary | Dictionaries |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (13 ratings) — better | 4.1 (84 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 78.8% of reviews — better | 56.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13 | 84 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 58 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Antony Lewis | 物書堂 |
Customer experience
Chambers Dictionary
Dictionaries
In-app purchases
Chambers Dictionary
No in-app purchases
Dictionaries
- WISDOM English-Japanese 2Free
- WISDOM English-JapaneseFree
- COBUILD American 2nd editionFree
Show 20 moreShow fewer
- COBUILD Advanced 9th editionFree
- DAIJIRINFree
- 柯林斯 COBUILD 高级英汉双解词典Free
- RGKO12 UpgradeFree
- REIKAI GAKUSHU KOKUGO 11th$15.99
- REIKAI GAKUSYU KANJI 9th$15.99
- Nihongo Bunkei Ziten: English$19.99
- Basic Japanese Grammar$20.99
- SHINMEIKAI 8$20.99
- Gendai Shin Kokugo Jiten$20.99
- Meikyo Japanese Dictionary$22.99
- DAIJISEN$22.99
- Japanese Colloquial Expressions$25.99
- WISDOM English-Japanese 3$26.99
- DAIJIRIN 4$28.99
- Shogakukan Chinese-Japanese$31.99
- OALD 10$32.99
- Japanese Collocations$33.99
- NHK Japanese Pronunciation$36.99
- SHOGAKUKAN Korean-Japanese$47.99
Questions
Is Chambers Dictionary free?
Is Dictionaries free?
Which has better reviews, Chambers Dictionary or Dictionaries?
Do Chambers Dictionary or Dictionaries have ads?
Which is updated more often, Chambers Dictionary or Dictionaries?
Other comparisons















