# Pleco Chinese Dictionary vs MDX Reader

The clearest difference is update cadence: MDX Reader at every 2 weeks against Pleco Chinese Dictionary's every 3 months. MDX Reader also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Pleco Chinese Dictionary's advantage is ratings volume (1.9K vs 1) and chart position (#168 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pleco Chinese Dictionary sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and MDX Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MDX Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pleco Chinese Dictionary has 1.9K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Pleco Chinese Dictionary ships an update every 3 months, MDX Reader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pleco Chinese Dictionary | MDX Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pleco-chinese-dictionary/id341922306/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mdx-readerpersonal-dictionary/id6756669176/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 85.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#168** | — |
| Size | 114 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | +9 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pleco Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/330462895) | [Yulei Duan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1860295257) |

## What reviewers say

### Pleco Chinese Dictionary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pleco-chinese-dictionary/id341922306)

**Currently charting:** #168 Top Free · Reference (US App Store)

This app is a comprehensive tool for learning Chinese, offering integrated dictionaries, document reading, and flashcard features. It supports various input methods including handwriting and OCR, with extensive dictionary options and pronunciation guides.

**Highlights:** Integrated dictionaries with over 110,000 entries, Full-screen handwriting input, Live OCR for word lookup, Document reader for various file types, Flashcard system with SRS, Stroke order diagrams, Mandarin and Cantonese audio

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Integrate Purchases | Free | one-time |
| Mandarin Audio (male) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Stroke Order Diagrams | $4.99 | one-time |
| Document Reader | $9.99 | one-time |
| Enhanced Handwriting | $9.99 | one-time |
| Flashcard System | $9.99 | one-time |
| Optical Character Recognizer | $9.99 | one-time |
| Basic Bundle | $29.99 | one-time |
| A Student's Dictionary of Classical and Medieval Chinese | $39.99 | one-time |
| Professional Bundle | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Extremely helpful and useful
- 👍 Comprehensive and detailed dictionary
- 🔍 Excellent search and lookup features
- 💡 Customizable and personalized experience
- 🎓 Essential tool for learning Chinese

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive add-ons and bundles
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and freezing issues
- 🔍 Cluttered interface and navigation
- 🌐 Lack of cloud sync and backup

**Reported bugs**

- Handwriting recognition not always accurate
- Inconsistent performance on older devices
- Occasional issues with iCloud sync and backup

**Requested features**

- Improved flashcard management and organization
- More language options beyond Mandarin and Cantonese
- Better integration with other learning apps and platforms
- Ability to filter and prioritize common/essential vocabulary


### 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 Pleco Chinese Dictionary free?

Pleco Chinese Dictionary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MDX Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pleco Chinese Dictionary or MDX Reader?

MDX Reader is rated higher. Pleco Chinese Dictionary averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while MDX Reader averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Pleco Chinese Dictionary or MDX Reader have ads?

Neither Pleco Chinese Dictionary nor MDX Reader shows ads.

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

Pleco Chinese Dictionary ships an update every 3 months, and MDX Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, Pleco Chinese Dictionary was updated on October 24, 2026 and MDX Reader on October 16, 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.*