# WordBook (Universal) vs Merriam

The clearest difference is price: Merriam at Free against WordBook (Universal)'s $2.99. Merriam also leads on ratings volume (331K vs 275) and chart position (#48 vs unranked). WordBook (Universal)'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Merriam is free to download; WordBook (Universal) costs $2.99 up front. Merriam sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.79 per month. 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 Merriam. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merriam has 331K 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 83% of Merriam's.

WordBook (Universal) ships an update every 4 months, Merriam every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | WordBook (Universal) | Merriam |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (275 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordbook-universal/id364030280/reviews) | **[4.8 (331K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merriam-webster-dictionary/id399452287/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 275 | **331K** |
| Positive reviews | **87.6% of reviews** | 83.2% 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 | — | **#48** |
| Size | 28 MB | 255 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [TranCreative Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/289694927) | [Merriam-Webster, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/399452290) |

## What reviewers say

### WordBook (Universal)

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

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


### Merriam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merriam-webster-dictionary/id399452287)

**Currently charting:** #48 Top Free · Reference, #84 Top Grossing · Reference (US App Store)

Access America's most respected dictionary, updated with new words and meanings. This app offers offline access, voice search, daily vocabulary challenges, and a thesaurus. It's designed for English language reference, education, and vocabulary enhancement.

**Highlights:** Offline dictionary access, Voice search for words, Daily Word of the Day, Vocabulary word games, Integrated thesaurus, Audio pronunciations

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $1.79 | per month |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | per year |
| All References + Remove Ads | $5.99 | per year |
| Premium Annual | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Comprehensive definitions
- 👍 Helpful thesaurus
- 🚀 Offline access
- 👍 Word of the day feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Ads can be intrusive
- 🐛 Difficulty closing ads
- 🐛 Repetitive game questions
- 🐛 Missing words in dictionary
- 🐛 Unreasonable level progression in games

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when searching for certain words
- Widget does not update daily word
- Scribble feature is buggy
- Inconsistent ad behavior

**Requested features**

- Add spelling correction suggestions
- Improve word game timer and scoring
- Expand etymology information
- Add more languages beyond English
- Improve widget functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WordBook (Universal) free?

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

### Is Merriam free?

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

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

Merriam is rated higher. WordBook (Universal) averages 4.7 out of 5 from 275 ratings, while Merriam averages 4.8 from 331K ratings.

### Do WordBook (Universal) or Merriam have ads?

Merriam shows ads; WordBook (Universal) does not.

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

WordBook (Universal) ships an update every 4 months, and Merriam every 3 months. Most recently, WordBook (Universal) was updated on November 6, 2026 and Merriam on November 6, 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.*