Comparison

Merriam vs Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

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

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

Access a vast collection of dictionaries and thesauruses with definitions, pronunciations, and etymology. Features include offline access, advanced search options, and personalized word lists. Ideal for students, professionals, and word enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • 15 Oxford Dictionaries
  • Thesaurus integration
  • Audio pronunciations
  • Offline access
  • Camera search
  • Word of the Day
Features
Read full description

Trusted by millions of students, professionals, and language learners worldwide, Oxford Dictionary is powered by Oxford Languages, giving you access to millions of words, definitions, and translations across 18 languages in a single app. Whether you are preparing for exams, improving your writing, or expanding your vocabulary, Oxford Dictionary is your trusted language reference. ■ What can I use Oxford Dictionary for? - Find accurate word definitions in English, Spanish, French, and German - Check pronunciation - Discover English synonyms and antonyms - Learn word origins and etymology - Translate across major languages - Build vocabulary and improve writing - Access trusted language references online and offline ■ How many dictionaries are included? 18 Oxford dictionaries: monolingual editions for British and American English, Spanish, French, and German, plus bilingual dictionaries in French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Italian, Hindi, Urdu, Portuguese, Japanese, Greek, Bulgarian, and Thai. ■ How do I find the meaning of a word? Search for any word to access trusted Oxford definitions, example usage, phrase support, word origins, and language references powered by Oxford Languages. ■ Does Oxford Dictionary work offline? Yes. Oxford Dictionary includes full offline access. Download dictionaries to your device and search for words anytime, no internet connection needed. Ideal for travel, studying, or working anywhere. ■ Does Oxford Dictionary include a thesaurus? Yes. An integrated thesaurus gives you thousands of synonyms and antonyms in English, helping you find the right word, avoid repetition, and improve your writing. Available with Premium. ■ Does Oxford Dictionary have pronunciation support? Yes. High-quality audio pronunciations in English help you speak with confidence, essential for language learning and exam preparation. ■ Can I search for words even if I don't know the spelling? Yes. Use voice search, fuzzy search, autocomplete suggestions, keyword lookup, and camera search to find words quickly and easily. ■ Is Oxford Dictionary good for IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, or ACT preparation? Yes. Oxford Dictionary provides accurate definitions, example usage in context, and a broad vocabulary range trusted by students and academics preparing for major English proficiency exams worldwide. ■ How can I build my vocabulary with Oxford Dictionary? Save words to Favorites, organise them into folders, revisit Recent searches, and discover a new word every day with Word of the Day. ■ Should I use an AI chatbot instead of a dictionary? Research shows that students and professionals continue to rely on dedicated dictionaries for formal definitions and verified word usage. Oxford Dictionary provides definitions backed by Oxford Languages' rigorous editorial process, not AI-generated approximations. When accuracy matters, it remains the trusted reference. ■ Who is Oxford Dictionary for? Students, writers, professionals, academics, language learners, and word enthusiasts — anyone who needs a reliable multilingual dictionary at every level. ■ What do you get with Premium? - Unlimited database access - Offline and fast mode - Audio pronunciations - Full thesaurus - Regular Oxford Languages updates - Ad-free experience ■ Why choose Oxford Dictionary? Oxford Dictionary combines trusted Oxford language expertise with powerful search technology, multilingual support, offline access, and intuitive vocabulary tools, all in one app. Download Oxford Dictionary and experience the world's most trusted language reference. Web: https://mobisystems.com/oxford-dictionary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oxforddictionaryapp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxford_dictionary_app TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oxforddictionaryapp X: https://x.com/OxfordD_app Privacy Policy: https://mobisystems.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://mobisystems.com/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Merriam4 screens
Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus at none against Merriam's shown. Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). Merriam's advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 52%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and chart position 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 and Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Merriam holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merriam has 328K ratings behind it against 29K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Merriam's written reviews are positive against 52% of Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Merriam ships an update every 3 months, Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus monthly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Merriam versus Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMerriamOxford Dictionary & Thesaurus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (328K ratings) — better4.6 (29K ratings)
Positive reviews83.2% of reviews — better51.7% of reviews
Number of ratings328K — better29K
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#36 — better#77
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size255 MB145 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperMerriam-Webster, Inc.MobiSystems, Inc.

Customer experience

Merriam

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

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

All ratings28,956 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews1,088 reviews
Positive51.7%
Neutral8.1%
Negative40.2%

User reviews

Merriam

From 328K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

From 29K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Reliable and simple to use
  • 👍 Comprehensive and best for all English, especially rare and aged language
  • 👍 Very useful for learning new words
  • 👍 Excellent reference app
  • 👍 Helps with homework or even if you forgot how to spell write or don't know the meaning of a word

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy, way too many ads
  • 🔒 Annoying popup ads makes it unusable
  • 🔒 Ads stuck in, despite payment
  • 🐛 Never connect the server
  • 🐛 Stopped working

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

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Favorites folder disappearing after device restart
  • Inconsistent behavior when looking up words
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Inability to restore premium purchases on new devices

Requested features

6 requests
  • Improved formatting and typography for definitions
  • Better organization of features and information
  • More advanced search and filtering options
  • Ability to sync favorites across devices
  • More challenging and interesting 'word of the day' selections
Show 1 more
  • Improved offline dictionary with more comprehensive coverage

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
8 purchases

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

Subscriptions6
  • Monthly Subscription ODE1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • Monthly Subscription1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • Oxford Dictionary Premium2 variants$4.997 Days
Show 3 more
  • ODE Annual Subscription Promo$9.991 Year
  • Annual Subscription ODE$19.991 Year
  • Oxford Dictionary Premium3 Days trial4 variants$39.991 Year
One-time2
  • Oxford Dictionary of English$4.99
  • Oxford Dictionary of English$9.99

Questions

Is Merriam free?
Merriam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus free?
Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Merriam or Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus?
Merriam is rated higher. Merriam averages 4.8 out of 5 from 328K ratings, while Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus averages 4.6 from 29K ratings.
Do Merriam or Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus have ads?
Merriam shows ads; Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus does not.
Which is updated more often, Merriam or Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus?
Merriam ships an update every 3 months, and Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus monthly. Most recently, Merriam was updated on September 24, 2026 and Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Merriam or Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus?
Merriam currently peaks at #36 in the App Store charts, and Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus at #77. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons