# WordBook (Universal) vs Merriam

The clearest difference is price: WordBook (Universal) at $2.99 against Merriam's $9.99. WordBook (Universal) also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.0). Merriam's advantage is ratings volume (22K vs 275) and chart position (#9 vs #193). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

WordBook (Universal) costs $2.99 and Merriam $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Merriam holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merriam has 22K ratings behind it against 275, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 88% of WordBook (Universal)'s written reviews are positive against 82% of Merriam's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

WordBook (Universal) ships an update every 4 months, Merriam every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WordBook (Universal) | Merriam |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $9.99 |
| Rating | [4.7 (275 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordbook-universal/id364030280/reviews) | **[4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merriam-webster-dictionary-plus/id478126577/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 275 | **22K** |
| Positive reviews | **87.6% of reviews** | 82.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Best chart rank | #193 | **#9** |
| Size | 28 MB | 238 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)

**Currently charting:** #193 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


### Merriam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merriam-webster-dictionary-plus/id478126577)

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Paid · Reference (US App Store)

Access America's leading dictionary with over 15,000 extra entries for people and places. Enjoy offline access, voice search, and daily vocabulary builders. This app offers expert word guidance with a thesaurus and example sentences.

**Highlights:** Ad-free experience, 15,000+ premium entries, Offline dictionary access, Voice search functionality, Daily Word of the Day, Vocabulary-building word games, Integrated thesaurus

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Clear and intuitive layout
- 🚀 Convenient offline access
- 🔍 Comprehensive word definitions
- 🔠 Helpful thesaurus and word games
- 🔊 Useful audio pronunciations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app freezes and crashes
- ⚠️ Missing words and incomplete definitions
- 🔍 Lack of spell-check and word suggestions
- 🔍 Limited search functionality
- 🔀 Difficulty navigating back to previous words

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes and crashes on launch
- Audio pronunciations not working in some cases
- Inconsistent performance across iOS versions
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Improved search with spell-check and suggestions
- Ability to mark and review words
- Integration with system search and Siri
- Support for landscape mode and dark mode
- Expanded word coverage and more detailed definitions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WordBook (Universal) free?

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

### Is Merriam free?

Merriam costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### 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 22K ratings.

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

Neither WordBook (Universal) nor Merriam shows ads.

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

WordBook (Universal) ships an update every 4 months, and Merriam every 5 months. Most recently, WordBook (Universal) was updated on November 1, 2026 and Merriam on November 5, 2026.

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

WordBook (Universal) currently peaks at #193 in the App Store charts, and Merriam at #9. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*