Comparison

Chambers Dictionary vs Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

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

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

Access 18 dictionaries and over a million words, phrases, and definitions. Translate between English and major languages, explore etymology, and find synonyms and antonyms. This trusted language reference is ideal for students, professionals, and language learners.

Highlights
  • 18 dictionaries including English, Spanish, French, German
  • Over 1 million words, phrases, and definitions
  • Translations between English and major languages
  • Word origins and etymology
  • English synonyms and antonyms
  • Offline access with Premium
  • Audio pronunciation with Premium
Features
Read full description

Trusted by millions of students, professionals, and language learners worldwide, Oxford Dictionary is built on content from Oxford Languages and gives you 18 dictionaries, over a million words, phrases, and definitions, plus translations between English and major languages, all in a single app. Whether you are preparing for exams, improving your writing, or expanding your vocabulary, Oxford Dictionary is your trusted language reference. ■ What can I use Oxford Dictionary for? • Find accurate word definitions in English, Spanish, French, and German • Check pronunciation • Discover English synonyms and antonyms • Learn word origins and etymology • Translate between English and major languages • Build vocabulary and improve writing • Use the dictionaries online and offline (offline with Premium) ■ How many dictionaries does Oxford Dictionary include? Oxford Dictionary includes 18 dictionaries: 5 monolingual (British English, American English, Spanish, French, and German) and 13 bilingual dictionaries pairing English with French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Italian, Hindi, Urdu, Portuguese, Japanese, Greek, Bulgarian, and Thai. ■ How do I find the meaning of a word? Search for any word in Oxford Dictionary to get trusted definitions, example usage, phrases, and word origins from Oxford Languages. ■ Does Oxford Dictionary work offline? Yes, with Premium. Download dictionaries to your device and search for words anytime, no internet connection needed. Ideal for travel, studying, or work. ■ Does Oxford Dictionary include a thesaurus? Yes. The built-in thesaurus gives you thousands of English synonyms and antonyms, helping you find the right word, avoid repetition, and improve your writing. With Premium, synonym lookups are unlimited. ■ Does Oxford Dictionary have audio pronunciation? Yes, with Premium. Recordings by native British and American English speakers help you speak with confidence, ideal for language learning and exam preparation. ■ Can I search for words even if I don't know the spelling? Yes. Use fuzzy search, wildcards (* and ?), autocomplete and auto-correction, voice search, camera search, and keyword lookup to find words quickly and easily. ■ Is Oxford Dictionary good for IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, or ACT preparation? Yes. Oxford Dictionary provides accurate definitions, example usage in context, and a broad vocabulary range for students preparing for major English proficiency exams worldwide. ■ How can I build my vocabulary with Oxford Dictionary? Save words to Favorites, organize them into folders and sync them across your devices, revisit Recent searches, and discover a new word every day with Word of the Day. ■ Should I use an AI chatbot instead of a dictionary? Students and professionals continue to rely on dictionaries for formal definitions and correct word usage. Oxford Dictionary provides definitions backed by Oxford Languages' rigorous editorial process, not AI-generated approximations. When accuracy matters, Oxford Dictionary remains the trusted reference. ■ Who is Oxford Dictionary for? Students, writers, professionals, academics, language learners, and word enthusiasts: anyone who needs a reliable multilingual dictionary at every level. ■ What do you get with Premium? • Offline mode and fast search • Audio pronunciation by native speakers • Unlimited synonym and antonym lookups • Ad-free experience ■ Why choose Oxford Dictionary? Oxford Dictionary combines the language expertise of Oxford Languages with powerful search, 18 dictionaries, and practical vocabulary tools, all in one app. Download Oxford Dictionary today. Website: https://mobisystems.com/oxford-dictionary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oxforddictionaryapp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxford_dictionary_app TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oxforddictionaryapp X: https://x.com/OxfordD_app Privacy Policy: https://mobisystems.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://mobisystems.com/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Chambers Dictionary4 screens
Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus at Free against Chambers Dictionary's $9.99. Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus also leads on ratings volume (29K vs 18) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). Chambers Dictionary's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (79% vs 51%). On rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus is free to download; Chambers Dictionary costs $9.99 up front. Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Chambers Dictionary asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Chambers Dictionary against 4.6 for Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus has 29K ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of Chambers Dictionary's written reviews are positive against 51% of Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chambers Dictionary ships an update every 4 months, Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Chambers Dictionary versus Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChambers DictionaryOxford Dictionary & Thesaurus
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (18 ratings)4.6 (29K ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.8% of reviews — better50.8% of reviews
Number of ratings1829K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank—#72 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB122 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAntony LewisMobiSystems, Inc.

Customer experience

Chambers Dictionary

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

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

All ratings29,337 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews1,127 reviews
Positive50.8%
Neutral8.2%
Negative41.0%

Bugs and requests

Chambers Dictionary

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Favorites folder disappearing after device restart
  • Inconsistent behavior when looking up words
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Inability to restore premium purchases on new devices

Requested features

6 requests
  • Improved formatting and typography for definitions
  • Better organization of features and information
  • More advanced search and filtering options
  • Ability to sync favorites across devices
  • More challenging and interesting 'word of the day' selections
Show 1 more
  • Improved offline dictionary with more comprehensive coverage

In-app purchases

None

Chambers Dictionary

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

Subscriptions5
  • Monthly Subscription ODE1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • Monthly Subscription1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • Oxford Dictionary Premium$4.997 Days
Show 2 more
  • Annual Subscription ODE$19.991 Year
  • Oxford Dictionary Premium3 Days trial4 variants$39.991 Year
One-time2
  • Oxford Dictionary of English$4.99
  • Oxford Dictionary of English$9.99

Questions

Is Chambers Dictionary free?
Chambers Dictionary costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus free?
Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Chambers Dictionary or Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus?
Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus is rated higher. Chambers Dictionary averages 4.6 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus averages 4.6 from 29K ratings.
Do Chambers Dictionary or Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus have ads?
Neither Chambers Dictionary nor Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chambers Dictionary or Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus?
Chambers Dictionary ships an update every 4 months, and Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus monthly. Most recently, Chambers Dictionary was updated on November 10, 2026 and Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus on November 11, 2026.

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