Comparison

Merriam vs Deep Dictionary

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

Head to head
About

Merriam

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
Read full description

Get America's most useful and respected dictionary, optimized for your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Continuously updated with the newest words and meanings, this is the premier iOS app for English language reference, education, and vocabulary building. Key Features: * Offline access: Complete access to definitions and synonyms whether or not you're connected * Voice Search: look up a word without having to spell it * Word of the Day: learn a new word every day * Word Games: fun, fast quizzes to test your vocabulary * Favorite Words and Search History: keep track of the words that are most important to you * Favorite Word Syncing Through iCloud: share your favorites between devices and on the Web * In-app purchase: an ad-free experience + access to Kids, Medical, and Legal dictionaries * For Tablets: browse the entire dictionary with a scrolling index * Apple Watch Extension: see the Word of the Day and find watch-sized definitions with voice search Expert Word Guidance: * Integrated Thesaurus: more than 200,000 word choices with examples of their use * Example Sentences: understand how a word is used in context * Audio Pronunciations: voiced by real English speakers, not text-to-speech robots Terms of Use: https://www.merriam-webster.com/terms-of-use

About

Deep Dictionary

Access definitions from various sources like Wikipedia and Urban Dictionary, with multilingual support and pronunciation guides. Enhance your vocabulary with synonyms, related words, and real-life usage examples.

Highlights
  • Multilingual definitions
  • Urban Dictionary slang integration
  • Wikipedia content access
  • Pronunciation guides and usage examples
  • Comprehensive thesaurus
  • Images and contextual phrases
Features
Read full description

Deep Dictionary is like Wikipedia, Urban Dictionary, Oxford English Dictionary, and Youglish all in one App! Deep Dictionary supports multiple languages! Get definitions in Japanese, Chinese, Russian, German, Spanish, and French alongside English. The best multilingual dictionary for learning and translation—perfect for English-Japanese dictionary, English-Chinese dictionary, English-Russian dictionary, English-German dictionary, English-Spanish dictionary, and English-French dictionary! With direct integration with Urban Dictionary, you'll never miss the latest slang and expressions. Our app ensures you stay updated with contemporary language trends, capturing the essence of the latest terms just like Urban Dictionary. Like YouGlish, our app offers pronunciation guides and real-life usage examples through integrated YouTube clips. Need scientific definitions? Our app connects you to comprehensive Wikipedia entries. For dictionary definitions, Deep Dictionary includes images and contextual phrases to make vocabulary building a breeze. Download now to enhance your vocabulary with the best of both traditional and contemporary language tools. Download the Deep Dictionary app for free and start your English learning right away. ## KEY FEATURES: ## Thesaurus: Deep Dictionary is more than just a dictionary—it's a comprehensive thesaurus at your fingertips. Unlike traditional thesaurus apps that focus solely on synonyms and antonyms, Deep Dictionary broadens your vocabulary with a wide range of related words that are more practical for everyday use. Whether you’re writing, studying, or simply want to expand your vocabulary, our thesaurus feature offers tools that go beyond just finding synonyms and antonyms. Discover new words and enhance your language skills with Deep Dictionary’s unique approach to the thesaurus! ## Wikipedia: Deep Dictionary includes direct references to authentic Wikipedia content, wrapped in an improved, user-friendly interface. Now you can access reliable Wikipedia information. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or simply curious, Deep Dictionary provides a seamless Wikipedia-like experience for all things related to words and their meanings. ## Reliable Sources: Looking for an alternative to Dictionary.com? Deep Dictionary provides everything you need, from detailed definitions to pronunciation guides, much like Dictionary.com. With features similar to Dictionary.com, Deep Dictionary helps you explore the English language with ease. If you love Dictionary.com, you'll find Deep Dictionary an equally valuable resource for learning and mastering English. And what's better? Deep Dictionary doesn't have Ads to interrupt your learning experience. ## Pick Up Slangs like Urban Dictionary: Stay updated with the latest trends in language. Our direct integration with Urban Dictionary ensures you’re never out of the loop with contemporary and evolving terms. When you prefer, jump over to the Urban Dictionary website to explore more with one simple tap! ## Best Youglish Alternative on iOS: iPhone users have long sought a good YouGlish substitute, and now you've found it! Deep Dictionary offers pronunciation guides and real-life usage examples. ## Academic: Inspired by the Oxford English Dictionary, Deep Dictionary offers a wealth of detailed definitions and historical contexts, just like the Oxford English Dictionary. Dive into the depths of the English language with a dictionary that mirrors the comprehensive nature of the Oxford English Dictionary. Whether you’re studying or just curious about words, our app provides the insights you need, much like the Oxford English Dictionary.

Screenshots

Merriam4 screens
Deep Dictionary4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Deep Dictionary at none against Merriam's 4. Deep Dictionary also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months). Merriam's advantage is ratings volume (328K vs 51) and chart position (#36 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Merriam sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.79 per month. Deep Dictionary asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Merriam against 4.7 for Deep Dictionary. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merriam has 328K ratings behind it against 51, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Merriam's written reviews are positive against 78% of Deep Dictionary's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Merriam ships an update every 3 months, Deep Dictionary every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Merriam versus Deep Dictionary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMerriamDeep Dictionary
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (328K ratings) — better4.7 (51 ratings)
Positive reviews83.2% of reviews — better77.8% of reviews
Number of ratings328K — better51
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
Best chart rank#36 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size255 MB13 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperMerriam-Webster, Inc.DEEPCO

Customer experience

Merriam

All ratings327,751 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral2.1%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews2,510 reviews
Positive83.2%
Neutral4.8%
Negative12.0%

Deep Dictionary

All ratings51 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral3.9%
Negative3.9%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%

Bugs and requests

Merriam

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

Deep Dictionary

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Merriam

Subscriptions4
  • Premium Monthly$1.791 Month
  • Remove Ads$2.991 Year
  • All References + Remove Ads7 Days trial$5.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Premium Annual7 Days trial$9.991 Year
None

Deep Dictionary

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Merriam free?
Merriam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Deep Dictionary free?
Deep Dictionary is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Merriam or Deep Dictionary?
Merriam is rated higher. Merriam averages 4.8 out of 5 from 328K ratings, while Deep Dictionary averages 4.7 from 51 ratings.
Do Merriam or Deep Dictionary have ads?
Both Merriam and Deep Dictionary show ads.
Which is updated more often, Merriam or Deep Dictionary?
Merriam ships an update every 3 months, and Deep Dictionary every 5 days. Most recently, Merriam was updated on September 29, 2026 and Deep Dictionary on September 27, 2026.

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