Comparison

Random House College DIC vs Heron Derivation Dictionary

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

Head to head
About

Random House College DIC

This comprehensive dictionary app provides clear definitions and well-structured entries for English words. It features native speaker pronunciations and offers the latest vocabulary, making it ideal for precise meanings and exact pronunciations.

Highlights
  • Clear definitions
  • Well-structured entries
  • Latest vocabulary
  • Native speaker pronunciations
  • Precise meanings
  • Exact pronunciations
Features
Read full description

◉ DaolSoft announces the world-acclaimed republication of Random House Webster's • Dictionary, the most widely-used dictionary in the past. • You can learn English words with its superior, clear definitions and well-structured entries. ■ This completely revised and updated edition of America's dictionary of choice brings you Newer Words Faster. Acquire the very latest vocabulary, recent history and more. ■ Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary is very useful to most common readers who need precise meanings and exact pronunciations. ■ Here are the editorial reviews for the hardcover version of this Dictionary. "Best desktop Hardcover Dictionary." -- Hammacher-Schlemmer ■ "Since the purpose of a dictionary is to provide definitions of difficult, unusual and new words, Random House Webster's College Dictionary succeeds." -- Booklist ■ Native speaker's pronunciations are added in this version. Dev•Sales: DaolSoft, Co., Ltd.

About

Heron Derivation Dictionary

Explore the history and origins of common English words with clear, concise derivations. This reference tool is ideal for learners and anyone curious about word etymology, offering over 11,000 entries and easy cross-referencing.

Highlights
  • Simple, concise derivations
  • 11,450+ word entries
  • Glossary of etymological terms
  • Cross-reference linking
  • Easy to understand explanations
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Gain mastery of English and a greater appreciation of language by understanding the history of words. The Heron Derivation Dictionary contains simple and concise derivations for commonly used words. It is perfect for those just beginning their journey into the world of English etymology, or those seeking insight into word origins but find existing etymology resources too complex. Features: * Simple, concise and easy to understand derivations * Approximately 11,450 entries for commonly used words * A glossary of terms (Ex: Old English, Latin, etc) * One-click links to explore cross-references and glossary terms ----------------- Why? ----------------- A derivation gives a more complete understanding of a word by revealing the story of how a word has changed from its original form to become what it means today. The word "muscle", for example, has a derivation: Flex your upper arm and look at your bicep. What does it look like? Some Roman did this and gave birth to the word we now know as "muscle", which meant "little mouse" in Latin, the language of the Ancient Romans. Knowing the history of words the words not only gives you deeper understanding of what you are reading, it also unlocks the power to use words in their fullest sense so that you can clearly communicate your ideas to others.

Screenshots

Random House College DIC4 screens
Heron Derivation Dictionary4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Heron Derivation Dictionary at 100% against Random House College DIC's 29%. Heron Derivation Dictionary also leads on chart position (#168 vs unranked). Random House College DIC's advantage is price ($14.99 vs $19.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Random House College DIC costs $14.99 and Heron Derivation Dictionary $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Random House College DIC ships an update every 7 months, Heron Derivation Dictionary every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Random House College DIC versus Heron Derivation Dictionary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRandom House College DICHeron Derivation Dictionary
Price$14.99 — better$19.99
Rating—5.0 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews28.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—6 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#168 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.09.0
Further details — not scored
Size409 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaolSoft, Co., Ltd.Synthesized Software, LLC

Customer experience

Random House College DIC

Written reviews14 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral35.7%
Negative35.7%

Heron Derivation Dictionary

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Random House College DIC

No in-app purchases

None

Heron Derivation Dictionary

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Random House College DIC free?
Random House College DIC costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Heron Derivation Dictionary free?
Heron Derivation Dictionary costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Random House College DIC or Heron Derivation Dictionary have ads?
Neither Random House College DIC nor Heron Derivation Dictionary shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Random House College DIC or Heron Derivation Dictionary?
Random House College DIC ships an update every 7 months, and Heron Derivation Dictionary every 4 months. Most recently, Random House College DIC was updated on November 6, 2026 and Heron Derivation Dictionary on November 7, 2026.

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