# WordBook (Universal) vs Dictionary.

The clearest difference is price: Dictionary. at Free against WordBook (Universal)'s $2.99. Dictionary. also leads on ratings volume (15K vs 275). WordBook (Universal)'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Dictionary. is free to download; WordBook (Universal) costs $2.99 up front. Dictionary. sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. WordBook (Universal) asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for WordBook (Universal) against 4.8 for Dictionary.. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dictionary. has 15K ratings behind it against 275, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of WordBook (Universal)'s written reviews are positive against 91% of Dictionary.'s.

WordBook (Universal) ships an update every 4 months, Dictionary. every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WordBook (Universal) | Dictionary. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (275 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordbook-universal/id364030280/reviews) | **[4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictionary/id379450383/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 275 | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | 87.6% of reviews | **90.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#120** | — |
| Size | 28 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TranCreative Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/289694927) | [Farlex, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/379450386) |

## What reviewers say

### WordBook (Universal)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordbook-universal/id364030280)

**Currently charting:** #120 Top Paid · Reference (US App Store)

This comprehensive English dictionary and thesaurus offers extensive definitions, word origins, and pronunciation guides. It includes a built-in spell checker, bookmarking, and advanced search capabilities for word puzzles.

**Highlights:** Professionally recorded pronunciations, Word origin information (Etymologies), Built-in spell checker, Bookmark and note management, Advanced word search and puzzle solver, 150,000+ entries with 220,000+ definitions, Words of the Day

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Comprehensive dictionary with detailed definitions
- 🚀 Fast and efficient lookup
- 💡 Helpful thesaurus and word origin features
- 👍 Customizable web links for additional reference
- 👍 Useful for crosswords and puzzles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Some words missing or inaccurate definitions
- 🔇 Pronunciation issues or missing audio
- 🚫 Lack of updates and new features
- 🚫 Limited vocabulary compared to other dictionaries
- 🚫 Censored words and features

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes, especially on newer devices
- Compatibility issues with recent iOS versions
- Anagram solver not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More comprehensive vocabulary
- Improved pronunciation and audio support
- Regular updates and new features
- Better optimization for iPad and split-screen use


### Dictionary.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictionary/id379450383)

Access a comprehensive dictionary, thesaurus, and translation tool with millions of definitions and synonyms. Explore specialty dictionaries, learn new words daily, and play word games. This app offers offline access and integrates seamlessly with other applications.

**Highlights:** Offline dictionary and thesaurus, Millions of definitions and synonyms, Word of the Day and Idiom of the Day, Specialty dictionaries (medical, legal, etc.), Translations into 40+ languages, Word games (Spelling Bee, Hangman), In-app word lookup via sharing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free upgrade | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Comprehensive and detailed definitions
- 👍 Helpful thesaurus and translation features
- 🎮 Fun word games and activities
- 📚 Vast amount of information beyond just definitions
- 🔍 Easy to use and navigate

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Cluttered interface with too many ads
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Difficulty finding specific settings or features
- 🔋 Drains battery life quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent login issues and lost user data
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Incorrect or missing definitions for some words

**Requested features**

- Ability to create and organize custom word lists
- More advanced vocabulary-building tools
- Improved audio pronunciation quality
- Offline access to full dictionary content


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WordBook (Universal) free?

WordBook (Universal) costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dictionary. free?

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

### Which has better reviews, WordBook (Universal) or Dictionary.?

Dictionary. is rated higher. WordBook (Universal) averages 4.7 out of 5 from 275 ratings, while Dictionary. averages 4.8 from 15K ratings.

### Do WordBook (Universal) or Dictionary. have ads?

Dictionary. shows ads; WordBook (Universal) does not.

### Which is updated more often, WordBook (Universal) or Dictionary.?

WordBook (Universal) ships an update every 4 months, and Dictionary. every 3 months. Most recently, WordBook (Universal) was updated on October 16, 2026 and Dictionary. on October 19, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*