Comparison

Chambers Thesaurus vs Pocket Thesaurus

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

Head to head
About

Chambers Thesaurus

This offline English thesaurus offers a vast collection of synonyms and antonyms for writers and language enthusiasts. It features intelligent word entry with spelling suggestions and advanced search capabilities, all accessible without an internet connection.

Highlights
  • Nearly 40,000 indexed words
  • 400,000 synonyms and antonyms
  • Intelligent spelling suggestions
  • Sounds-like and confused word suggestions
  • Fast pattern-matching search
  • Cross-reference to dictionaries
  • Offline access
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The Chambers Thesaurus is the perfect reference for writers and word game enthusiasts, while all lovers of language will find it a pleasure to browse through. There are nearly 40 000 distinct indexed words, and a total of about 400 000 synonyms and antonyms. 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 - Cross-reference to offline and online dictionaries There are also standard bookmark, recent word and random word features. On newer iPads it supports Split View and Slide Over for easily viewing with other apps. With iOS 13+ it supports dark mode. No Internet connection is required. The Chambers Dictionary is also available as a separate app, and can easily be cross-referenced using the X-Ref button. Our WordWeb, Chambers and Oxford dictionaries are also available separately for Windows and Mac desktop (Collins coming soon).

About

Pocket Thesaurus

Expand your vocabulary and master the English language with this offline thesaurus. Quickly find synonyms and antonyms, explore word definitions, and enhance your writing and communication skills. Features include daily word challenges and advanced search options.

Highlights
  • Extensive offline access to 90,000+ words
  • Fast and efficient synonym/antonym search
  • Word of the Day/Week from GRE list
  • Advanced search with wildcards
  • Bookmark and search history
  • AI-powered word insights
  • Compact size, no full-screen ads
Features
Read full description

Unleash the power of words with Pocket Thesaurus, your ultimate offline companion for expanding your vocabulary and mastering the English language. Whether you're writing an essay, preparing for exams (GRE, TOEFL, IELTS), crafting a speech, or simply searching for the perfect word, Pocket Thesaurus puts a comprehensive, lightning-fast dictionary and study suite right in your pocket — 100% offline. _________________________________________________________________ FIND THE RIGHT WORD, EVERY TIME _________________________________________________________________ • Extensive Offline Database: Explore over 90,000 common words, synonyms, antonyms, and definitions without needing an internet connection. • Lightning-Fast Search: Instant results with typo-tolerant suggestions and wildcard search (* and ?) for words you aren't sure how to spell. • Synonym & Antonym Powerhouse: Explore related terms sorted by relevance and part of speech. Tap any word to dive deeper into its linguistic web. • American & British Variations: Automatically matches spelling variations (e.g., colour / color, analyse / analyze). _________________________________________________________________ POWERFUL VOCABULARY & STUDY TOOLS _________________________________________________________________ • 3D Flashcards: Boost retention using spaced repetition flashcards designed for rapid vocabulary building. • Vocabulary Quiz: Practice meanings, test your synonym mastery, and beat your personal high score with smart question rotation. • Word of the Day & Week: Curated vocabulary drawn from top academic word lists to level up your language day by day. • Daily Streaks: Build consistent study habits and track your learning streak. • Worldwide Word Map: Watch live vocabulary trends and see what words language enthusiasts are exploring around the globe. _________________________________________________________________ SMART & MODERN COMPANION _________________________________________________________________ • AI Lexical Assistant: Ask our AI assistant for deep nuances, historical etymology, sentence examples, or tailored grammar breakdowns. • Bookmarks & History: Save favorite terms into custom bookmarks and quickly review your recent searches. • Home Screen Quick Actions: Jump directly to Search, Random Word, Flashcards, or the Word Map right from your iPhone home screen. • Beautiful Dark & Light Theme: Designed for comfort with customizable font sizes, audio pronunciations, and native iOS Dark Mode support. • Distraction-Free: Lightweight and responsive, with zero full-screen popup ads interrupting your flow. Download Pocket Thesaurus today and discover the joy of finding the exact right word, every single time. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Chambers Thesaurus4 screens
Pocket Thesaurus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Pocket Thesaurus at Free against Chambers Thesaurus's $4.99. Pocket Thesaurus also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (577 vs 11). Chambers Thesaurus's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On 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

Pocket Thesaurus is free to download; Chambers Thesaurus costs $4.99 up front. Pocket Thesaurus sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Chambers Thesaurus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chambers Thesaurus holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pocket Thesaurus has 577 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Chambers Thesaurus's written reviews are positive against 62% of Pocket Thesaurus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chambers Thesaurus ships an update every 8 months, Pocket Thesaurus fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Chambers Thesaurus versus Pocket Thesaurus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChambers ThesaurusPocket Thesaurus
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (11 ratings) — better4.4 (577 ratings)
Positive reviews76.7% of reviews — better62.2% of reviews
Number of ratings11577 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#90 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB108 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAntony LewisCONEM LABS INFOSYSTEMS LLP

Customer experience

Chambers Thesaurus

All ratings11 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews86 reviews
Positive76.7%
Neutral4.7%
Negative18.6%

Pocket Thesaurus

All ratings565 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral3.0%
Negative11.3%
Written reviews119 reviews
Positive62.2%
Neutral5.9%
Negative31.9%

User reviews

Chambers Thesaurus

From 11 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Excellent tool overall
  • 📚 Comprehensive vocabulary
  • ✍️ Great for writers
  • crossword Perfect for crosswords
  • 💰 Good value for money

Room to improve

  • ❓ Incomplete vocabulary (missing common words)
  • 🔗 Faulty linking between words
  • 🐛 App crashes after updates
  • 💻 Not working on newer OS versions
  • 🖱️ Faulty interface (search field not immediate)

Pocket Thesaurus

From 577 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ⭐ Useful resource
  • 🔍 Helpful for writing and crosswords
  • 💻 Works offline
  • 📚 Extensive synonym and antonym database
  • 🧠 Improves writing and vocabulary

Room to improve

  • 🤮 Inappropriate ads
  • 🔍 Search function issues
  • 🔀 Reverts to previous searches
  • 📵 Can't remove ads
  • 🐞 Bugs and glitches

Bugs and requests

Chambers Thesaurus

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App crashes when opening after update
  • App no longer works on older OS versions
  • Search field not immediately available
  • Latest update prevents download on iPhone
  • Index broken, making it less useful
Show 1 more
  • Search only for headwords, not synonyms or sub-collections

Requested features

8 requests
  • Switch between purchased dictionaries/thesauruses in tabs
  • Sell other desktop dictionaries on mobile
  • Consistent spacing and text placement across tabs
  • Use MacOS built-in support for graphics card acceleration
  • Display identifying headings ('Thesaurus'/'Dictionary')
Show 3 more
  • Allow changing background and text color for dyslexia
  • Update to the 3rd edition thesaurus
  • Visibly differentiate words with links

Pocket Thesaurus

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Search does not work
  • App freezes or crashes
  • Typing issues with keyboard
  • Inconsistent or incorrect search results

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add pronunciation feature
  • Improve search functionality
  • Provide option to remove ads
  • Expand word database with more complex vocabulary
  • Enhance user interface and design

In-app purchases

None

Chambers Thesaurus

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Pocket Thesaurus

Subscriptions3
  • Pocket Thesaurus Premium7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Pocket Thesaurus Premium7 Days trial$4.996 Months
  • Pocket Thesaurus Premium1 Month trial$8.991 Year

Questions

Is Chambers Thesaurus free?
Chambers Thesaurus costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pocket Thesaurus free?
Pocket Thesaurus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Chambers Thesaurus or Pocket Thesaurus?
Chambers Thesaurus is rated higher. Chambers Thesaurus averages 4.9 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Pocket Thesaurus averages 4.4 from 577 ratings.
Do Chambers Thesaurus or Pocket Thesaurus have ads?
Pocket Thesaurus shows ads; Chambers Thesaurus does not.
Which is updated more often, Chambers Thesaurus or Pocket Thesaurus?
Chambers Thesaurus ships an update every 8 months, and Pocket Thesaurus fortnightly. Most recently, Chambers Thesaurus was updated on October 29, 2026 and Pocket Thesaurus on October 24, 2026.

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