# Merriam vs Webster's Writer's Dictionary

The clearest difference is price: Webster's Writer's Dictionary at $1.99 against Merriam's $9.99. Webster's Writer's Dictionary also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Merriam's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 5 months vs every 30 months). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Merriam costs $9.99 and Webster's Writer's Dictionary $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Merriam holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Merriam has 22K ratings behind it against 85, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 82% and 81% positive.

Merriam ships an update every 5 months, Webster's Writer's Dictionary every 30 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Merriam | Webster's Writer's Dictionary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merriam-webster-dictionary-plus/id478126577/reviews)** | [4.4 (85 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/websters-writers-dictionary/id943993346/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 85 |
| Positive reviews | **82.0% of reviews** | 81.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 30 months |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#10** | #119 |
| Size | 238 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Merriam-Webster, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/399452290) | [Parks Digital LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/381462445) |

## What reviewers say

### Merriam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merriam-webster-dictionary-plus/id478126577)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Paid · Reference (US App Store)

Access America's leading dictionary with over 15,000 extra entries for people and places. Enjoy offline access, voice search, and daily vocabulary builders. This app offers expert word guidance with a thesaurus and example sentences.

**Highlights:** Ad-free experience, 15,000+ premium entries, Offline dictionary access, Voice search functionality, Daily Word of the Day, Vocabulary-building word games, Integrated thesaurus

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Clear and intuitive layout
- 🚀 Convenient offline access
- 🔍 Comprehensive word definitions
- 🔠 Helpful thesaurus and word games
- 🔊 Useful audio pronunciations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app freezes and crashes
- ⚠️ Missing words and incomplete definitions
- 🔍 Lack of spell-check and word suggestions
- 🔍 Limited search functionality
- 🔀 Difficulty navigating back to previous words

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes and crashes on launch
- Audio pronunciations not working in some cases
- Inconsistent performance across iOS versions
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Improved search with spell-check and suggestions
- Ability to mark and review words
- Integration with system search and Siri
- Support for landscape mode and dark mode
- Expanded word coverage and more detailed definitions


### Webster's Writer's Dictionary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/websters-writers-dictionary/id943993346)

**Currently charting:** #119 Top Paid · Reference (US App Store)

This app offers a unique dictionary experience for both readers and writers. It provides concise definitions for specialized words and also explores the nuances of common words with delightful and imaginative prose. Discover new connections and spark your creativity through classic examples and a serendipitous browsing experience.

**Highlights:** Concise definitions for specialized words, In-depth exploration of common words, Imaginative and delightful prose, Classic examples of usage, Serendipitous word discovery, Fast search and browsing

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Eloquent and poetic definitions
- 📚 Rich etymological records
- 📖 Traditional and non-woke content
- 💎 Treasure trove of words
- 📱 Simple, performant, polished app

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❓ Codes in etymology unclear
- 🚫 Lacks fundamental words (e.g., 'polis')
- 📉 Word of the day is rudimentary
- 🤷 Many words not found
- ❌ Devoid of word usage or grammar tips

**Reported bugs**

- Graphical glitches
- Headings go over page edge on smaller screens
- Widget cuts off definitions

**Requested features**

- Glossary or 'how to read' section for etymology codes
- Linking words within definitions
- Dark mode
- Ability to make app default dictionary
- Widget resizing to show more definition


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Merriam free?

Merriam costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Webster's Writer's Dictionary free?

Webster's Writer's Dictionary costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Merriam or Webster's Writer's Dictionary?

Merriam is rated higher. Merriam averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Webster's Writer's Dictionary averages 4.4 from 85 ratings.

### Do Merriam or Webster's Writer's Dictionary have ads?

Neither Merriam nor Webster's Writer's Dictionary shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Merriam or Webster's Writer's Dictionary?

Merriam ships an update every 5 months, and Webster's Writer's Dictionary every 30 months. Most recently, Merriam was updated on November 5, 2026 and Webster's Writer's Dictionary on November 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Merriam or Webster's Writer's Dictionary?

Merriam currently peaks at #10 in the App Store charts, and Webster's Writer's Dictionary at #119. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*