Comparison

Chambers Dictionary vs Collins English Dictionary

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Extensive word coverage
  • Latest new words
  • Intelligent spelling suggestions
  • Advanced search with pattern matching
  • Filter search results by word type
  • Offline functionality
  • Anagrams
Features
Read 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.

About

Collins English Dictionary

Access a comprehensive English dictionary with over 722,000 words, meanings, and phrases. Features offline pronunciation audio, advanced search options including anagrams and pattern matching, and usage notes. Ideal for word enthusiasts and crossword solvers.

Highlights
  • 722,000+ words, meanings, and phrases
  • Offline pronunciation audio
  • Anagram and pattern-match search
  • Usage notes and etymologies
  • Includes place names and biographies
  • Crossword solver features
Features
Read full description

The new 2014 Collins English Dictionary app is fast, easy-to-use, has all the latest words and is the most comprehensive and trustworthy English dictionary available on iOS. It contains more than 722,000 words, meanings and phrases reflecting the rapid evolution and growth of modern English. No internet connection is required. Pronunciation audio available. For more than a century, Collins’ editors have worked to create dictionaries that meet the needs of the world they define. They’re still doing so today, tracking language change around the world and vetting suggestions from the public on collinsdictionary.com, ensuring Collins English Dictionary truly is the home of living language. With all of the latest words to enter the English language as well as over 8,500 place names and 5,500 biographies you have thousands of fascinating facts and figures at your fingertips. Usage notes give advice on using the right word in the right place, and thousands of etymologies trace the roots of modern English. *More than 722,000 words, meanings and phrases *Reintroduces literary and rare words useful for crossword solvers and setters as well as Scrabble players *Includes the latest new words and extensive coverage of scientific and technical vocabulary *Over 8,500 place names and 5,500 biographies *Pronunciation audio available offline *Full appendixes of the Collins English Dictionary (The Joy of Dictionaries by best-selling author Mark Forsyth, Guide to Using the Dictionary, Pronunciation Guide and Abbreviations) *No internet connection required Search features include: -Alphabetical listing -Spelling suggestions -Anagrams -Fast pattern-match search (*, ?, vowel, consonant and group of letters) for crossword solving -Customize search options (starts/ends with, appears in idioms/examples) -Search within entries, definitions and examples -‘Jump’ feature – touch any word anywhere in the dictionary to go to the definition -Custom action feature allows users to look up a word in the dictionary from within other applications -Bookmark and history functions

Screenshots

Chambers Dictionary4 screens
Collins English Dictionary4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Chambers Dictionary at 4.8 against Collins English Dictionary's 3.7. Chambers Dictionary also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (79% vs 70%). Collins English Dictionary's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $9.99) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.5). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Chambers Dictionary costs $9.99 and Collins English Dictionary $1.99 up front. Collins English Dictionary sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chambers Dictionary asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chambers Dictionary holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Chambers Dictionary's written reviews are positive against 70% of Collins English Dictionary's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chambers Dictionary ships an update every 4 months, Collins English Dictionary every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Chambers Dictionary versus Collins English Dictionary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChambers DictionaryCollins English Dictionary
Price$9.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.8 (13 ratings) — better3.7 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews78.8% of reviews — better70.5% of reviews
Number of ratings13 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.513.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB404 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAntony LewisHarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Customer experience

Chambers Dictionary

All ratings13 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews113 reviews
Positive78.8%
Neutral8.8%
Negative12.4%

Collins English Dictionary

All ratings9 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive70.5%
Neutral4.5%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

Chambers Dictionary

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Collins English Dictionary

One-time1
  • Headword Audio PackFree

Questions

Is Chambers Dictionary free?
Chambers Dictionary costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Collins English Dictionary free?
Collins English Dictionary costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chambers Dictionary or Collins English Dictionary?
Chambers Dictionary is rated higher. Chambers Dictionary averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Collins English Dictionary averages 3.7 from 9 ratings.
Do Chambers Dictionary or Collins English Dictionary have ads?
Neither Chambers Dictionary nor Collins English Dictionary shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chambers Dictionary or Collins English Dictionary?
Chambers Dictionary ships an update every 4 months, and Collins English Dictionary every 6 months. Most recently, Chambers Dictionary was updated on October 20, 2026 and Collins English Dictionary on October 21, 2026.

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