# Dictionary vs American Heritage Dictionary 5

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 6 weeks). American Heritage Dictionary 5's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.5 vs 4.0). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

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.

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 441 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.

Dictionary ships an update every 3 weeks, American Heritage Dictionary 5 every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dictionary | American Heritage Dictionary 5 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictionary/id473493861/reviews) | **[4.5 (441 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/american-heritage-dictionary-5/id475661641/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **441** |
| Positive reviews | **94.0% of reviews** | 43.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 28 MB | 628 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Catalystwo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1651079501) | [Enfour, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284965604) |

## What reviewers say

### Dictionary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictionary/id473493861)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### American Heritage Dictionary 5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/american-heritage-dictionary-5/id475661641)

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:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AHD 5th Subscription | $0.99 | per month |
| Roget's II: The New Thesaurus | $4.99 | one-time |
| AHD5 -activation | $13.99 | one-time |
| AHD4-user discount | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💎 Excellent dictionary content
- 🔍 Quick reference and search
- 🔊 Good pronunciation support
- 📚 Comprehensive word information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Forced in-app purchases
- 🔄 Unreliable updates and support
- 🤖 Outdated and clunky interface

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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 441 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 6 weeks. Most recently, Dictionary was updated on October 23, 2026 and American Heritage Dictionary 5 on October 26, 2026.

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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.*