Comparison

Dictionary vs American Heritage Dictionary 5

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

Head to head
About

Dictionary

Instantly look up words from your iOS Home Screen without opening the app. Get definitions in seconds to aid studying, reading, or satisfying curiosity, keeping you focused and learning.

Highlights
  • Home Screen widget for instant lookups
  • No app launch required
  • Quick definitions
  • Seamless learning experience
  • Focus on tasks
Features
Read full description

With the iOS widget, you can look up words instantly right from your Home Screen — no need to launch the app. Whether you’re studying, reading, or just curious, the widget makes searching smooth and effortless. Stay focused on your task, get definitions in seconds, and keep learning without interruptions. Perfect for students, language learners, and anyone who loves words.

About

American Heritage Dictionary 5

Access a comprehensive English language dictionary with over 10,000 new words and senses. Features include real-time searching, cross-referencing, pronunciation guides, and etymologies. Enhance your vocabulary and understanding of word origins on the go.

Highlights
  • Entire text of the Fifth Edition
  • Real-time progressive searching
  • Three-way cross-referencing indexes
  • Wildcard pattern searches
  • Detailed etymologies
  • Professionally recorded sound files
  • AI boosted anagram generator
Features
Read full description

The Fifth Edition of The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language is one of the most comprehensive and accessible resources available on any mobile device. This latest edition has been much anticipated: 10 years 20 Lexicographers 200 Usage Experts 10,000 New Words and Senses 1 Defining Achievement Keep the hardcopy at home and take the app out with you wherever you need it. Main Features: ● the entire text of this landmark new edition ● complete front matter and appendices ● real-time progressive searching ● three-way cross-referencing indexes ● wildcard pattern searches (with * ?) ● online search support for rare words and slang ● spelling suggestions ● internal hyperlinking ● zoomable graphics ● full pronunciation symbols chart ● IPA pronunciation symbol conversion ● detailed etymologies with links to root appendices ● professionally recorded sound files ● automatic search history ● fallback online search for esoteric or archaic words and the latest slang ● AI boosted anagram generator ● two-way external application interaction ● bookmarks with editable notations ● make-your-own flashcards ● "Word-a-day" feature with TOEIC® & TOEFL® lists ● "Share" extension​ to search inside other apps -with "store for later" ● "Today" and LockScreen widgets ● 3D Touch support ● DarkMode support ● iPad Pro multi-screen and Drag & Drop ● Dyslexic mode and VoiceOver support ● iOS12 to iOS26 support ● iPhone 17 support ● iPhone, iPod, iPad and macOS support In keeping with the American Heritage® tradition of cutting-edge research, the Fifth Edition represents the work of a dedicated team of experts, scholars, and contributors. Thousands of definitions have been revised in rapidly changing fields such as astronomy and biology, geographical entries and maps have been completely updated, and the dictionary’s signature feature notes on word history, synonymy, and language variation have been enhanced and improved. Word meanings are made easier to understand with thousands of new quotations from classic and contemporary writers. Etymologies explaining word origins and development have been newly created or revised to reflect the very latest scholarship. Many words are traced back to their roots in prehistory through two unique appendices showing word roots in ancient Indo-European and Semitic. Reliable, enlightening, and visually stunning, the Fifth Edition of The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language gives you the opportunity to make your mark in the best possible way. ________________________________________ The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. http://www.hmhco.com ________________________________________ Powered by Enfour's "UniDict® Engine 17" ________________________________________ ● This is "free-to-download" but not a free app. It requires an InApp purchase.

Screenshots

Dictionary1 screens
American Heritage Dictionary 54 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Dictionary at 94% against American Heritage Dictionary 5's 43%. Dictionary also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). American Heritage Dictionary 5's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support 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. American Heritage Dictionary 5 sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Dictionary asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

American Heritage Dictionary 5 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: American Heritage Dictionary 5 has 420 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 94% of Dictionary's written reviews are positive against 43% of American Heritage Dictionary 5's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dictionary ships an update every 3 weeks, American Heritage Dictionary 5 every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Dictionary versus American Heritage Dictionary 5: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDictionaryAmerican Heritage Dictionary 5
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (5 ratings)4.5 (420 ratings) — better
Positive reviews94.0% of reviews — better43.5% of reviews
Number of ratings5420 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB627 MB
Age rating12+9+
DeveloperCatalystwoEnfour, Inc.

Customer experience

Dictionary

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews168 reviews
Positive94.0%
Neutral1.8%
Negative4.2%

American Heritage Dictionary 5

All ratings420 ratings
Positive87.4%
Neutral2.9%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews168 reviews
Positive43.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative48.8%

Bugs and requests

Dictionary

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

American Heritage Dictionary 5

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • Inability to access full dictionary
  • Bookmarks and history issues
  • Compatibility problems with OS updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved search and navigation
  • Better integration with other apps
  • More sample sentences and usage examples
  • Ability to sync across devices

In-app purchases

None

Dictionary

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

American Heritage Dictionary 5

Subscriptions1
  • AHD 5th Subscription$0.991 Month
One-time3
  • Roget's II: The New Thesaurus$4.99
  • AHD5 -activation$13.99
  • AHD4-user discount$14.99

Questions

Is Dictionary free?
Dictionary is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is American Heritage Dictionary 5 free?
American Heritage Dictionary 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Dictionary or American Heritage Dictionary 5?
American Heritage Dictionary 5 is rated higher. Dictionary averages 4.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while American Heritage Dictionary 5 averages 4.5 from 420 ratings.
Do Dictionary or American Heritage Dictionary 5 have ads?
Dictionary shows ads; American Heritage Dictionary 5 does not.
Which is updated more often, Dictionary or American Heritage Dictionary 5?
Dictionary ships an update every 3 weeks, and American Heritage Dictionary 5 every 2 months. Most recently, Dictionary was updated on September 26, 2026 and American Heritage Dictionary 5 on September 26, 2026.

Other comparisons