Comparison

MDict vs OpenMDict

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

Head to head
About

MDict

This open platform dictionary app supports multiple languages and allows users to download various pre-built dictionary data. It offers fast lookups, rich text content, pronunciation, search history, and in-page search capabilities.

Highlights
  • Multi-language support
  • Downloadable dictionary data
  • Fast lookup and loading
  • Rich text content
  • Pronunciation support
  • Favorites and search history
Features
Read full description

MDict is a dictionary that support multi-language. It dosen't bundle with dictionary data. But it's a open platform that you can download many pre-built dictionary datas by others. Key features include: 1. Very fast lookup speed and dictionary loading speed. You can switch dictionary instantly. 2. Support rich text formated content 3. Pronunciation support. Currently with English, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese.(Chinese/Japanese pronunciation support are limited) 4. Favorites and Search history 5. Supports in page search

About

OpenMDict

This free, open-source dictionary reader allows you to view definitions from multiple dictionaries simultaneously. It offers pop-up lookup from any app and syncs your dictionaries, bookmarks, and history across devices via iCloud. Includes over 65 curated dictionaries to get you started.

Highlights
  • Multiple layout modes (Columns, Grid, List)
  • Pop-up lookup via Action Extension
  • Jump search within definitions
  • iCloud sync for dictionaries and history
  • Import unlimited dictionaries and create groups
  • Includes 65+ curated open-source dictionaries
  • Dark mode enhancements with adjustable brightness
Features
Read full description

OpenMDict is a free, open-source MDict (.mdx/.mdd) dictionary reader for iPhone and iPad. ► THREE LAYOUT MODES & MULTI-WINDOW ON iPadOS - View definitions from multiple dictionaries simultaneously in Columns, Grid, or List layout — compare and cross-reference at a glance. - Desktop-class productivity with multiple windows and 30+ keyboard shortcuts. ► POP-UP LOOKUP & JUMP SEARCH - Look up words from any app via the Action Extension pop-up. - Keep jump-searching unfamiliar terms within definitions until every word is clear. ► iCLOUD SYNC & UNLIMITED GROUPS - Dictionaries, bookmarks, history, and lookup counts sync across all your devices. - Import unlimited dictionaries and create unlimited groups — no subscriptions, no ads, no paid tiers. ► PRESET DICTIONARIES INCLUDED & DARK MODE ENHANCEMENTS - Choose from 64 curated open-source dictionaries (WordNet, JMdict, CC-CEDICT, and more) — download and start using them right away. - Enhance third-party dictionaries' readability in dark mode, with 7 levels of adjustable brightness per dictionary. ► AI COACH & VOCABULARY GAMES - Turn the English words you bookmark into four quick games, generated on your device by Apple Intelligence, with definitions from your own dictionaries. - Swipe to sort synonyms, antonyms, and look-alikes. - Spot the impostor words hiding among a word's true relatives. - Settle a daytime-TV-style paternity dispute: is this word really in the family? - Answer a game-show survey: name the words that share a category. - Requires iOS 26 or later and a supported device with Apple Intelligence turned on and set to a language it supports. ► MORE FEATURES • Full MDict format support: V1 (LZO), V2 (zlib), MDD resources, obfuscated dictionaries • Lemma-aware search — finds base forms and inflected variants automatically • Siri Shortcuts, Spotlight search, Quick Actions, Share Extension, Drag & Drop • Available in 13 languages: English, 简体中文, 繁體中文, 日本語, 한국어, Español, Deutsch, Français, Português (BR), Русский, Українська, العربية, हिन्दी

Screenshots

MDict4 screens
OpenMDict4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: OpenMDict at 4.5 against MDict's 4.1. OpenMDict also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). MDict's advantage is ratings volume (32 vs 4). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OpenMDict holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MDict has 32 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 75% and 75% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MDict ships an update every 3 months, OpenMDict fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
MDict versus OpenMDict: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMDictOpenMDict
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (32 ratings)4.5 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings32 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.6
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB78 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer文伟 张Han Yin

Customer experience

MDict

All ratings32 ratings
Positive78.1%
Neutral9.4%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews124 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral8.9%
Negative16.1%

OpenMDict

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

MDict

Reported bugs

34 issues
  • Appearance settings reset on macOS
  • UI misalignment in appearance settings
  • Full-text search missing on mobile
  • Daylight mode not working at night
  • Cannot add custom fonts to iOS version
Show 29 more
  • App crashes frequently on Mac
  • App crashes on launch (older reviews)
  • Audio not working after iOS updates
  • Clipboard not working in floating mode
  • Search bar behavior requires back button
  • Auto-lookup clipboard not working in floating window
  • Group function invalid format on iPhone
  • Sharing section not working
  • MDict floating window blank when looking up words in Instapaper
  • Cannot search from right sidebar on iPad
  • Sound not working
  • Sound not working after upgrading to new version on iOS 9.1
  • Multi-dictionaries lookup not working
  • Auto lookup clipboard not working in floating window
  • Group function does not work on iPhone
  • Sharing section not working
  • MDict's pop out window is always blank and cannot provide any definition when looking up words in Instapaper
  • Cannot search a word from right sidebar on iPad
  • Sound not working
  • Sound wasn't work after upgrading to new version on IOS 9.1
  • Multi-dictionaries lookup cannot work
  • Audio problems solved (older review, implies it was an issue)
  • Cannot search clipboard content on iOS 5
  • Dictionary sorting gets messed up after upgrades
  • Shows 'pirated' status despite payment
  • Clicking on dictionary name triggers unwanted search
  • Russian Wikipedia search not recognizing Russian input
  • Font corruption when loading some dictionaries
  • App crashes when using notification bar shortcut

Requested features

22 requests
  • Full-text search on mobile
  • Custom font support for dictionary entries
  • Add fonts to iOS version
  • Dark mode
  • Add collection folders
Show 17 more
  • Login and sync function
  • Fix clipboard auto-lookup in floating window
  • Fix search bar behavior
  • Support more extensions (.BGL, .LD2)
  • Improve Mac version shortcut functionality
  • Add test function
  • Add support for .mdd downloads on iPhone
  • Add scroll bar
  • Add dict shortcut button in main window
  • Improve file reader support
  • Add simplified/traditional Chinese conversion for search
  • Allow full screen on iPhone
  • Font selection memory
  • Improve configuration for dictionary grouping backup
  • Support for iPhone 6/6 Plus
  • Allow scrolling down precedents near a keyword
  • Multi-dictionary lookup convenience

OpenMDict

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

MDict

No in-app purchases

None

OpenMDict

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MDict free?
MDict is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OpenMDict free?
OpenMDict is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MDict or OpenMDict?
OpenMDict is rated higher. MDict averages 4.1 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while OpenMDict averages 4.5 from 4 ratings.
Do MDict or OpenMDict have ads?
Neither MDict nor OpenMDict shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MDict or OpenMDict?
MDict ships an update every 3 months, and OpenMDict fortnightly. Most recently, MDict was updated on November 1, 2026 and OpenMDict on November 5, 2026.

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