# WordReference Dictionary vs Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

The clearest difference is rating: Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus at 4.6 against WordReference Dictionary's 3.8. Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (29K vs 32). WordReference Dictionary's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and review sentiment (60% vs 52%). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. WordReference Dictionary asks for nothing beyond the download.

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus has 29K ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of WordReference Dictionary's written reviews are positive against 52% of Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WordReference Dictionary | Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordreference-dictionary/id515127233/reviews) | **[4.6 (29K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oxford-dictionary-and-thesaurus/id978674211/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 32 | **29K** |
| Positive reviews | **60.1% of reviews** | 51.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#72** |
| Size | 7 MB | 145 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WordReference.com, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/296878902) | [MobiSystems, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/289579214) |

## What reviewers say

### WordReference Dictionary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wordreference-dictionary/id515127233)

Access a comprehensive suite of dictionaries and translation tools for multiple languages. Explore conjugations, synonyms, and a vast forum with millions of answered questions. This app provides quick access to extensive language resources.

**Highlights:** Extensive multilingual dictionaries, Verb conjugators, Synonym finder, Language forums, English definitions, Spanish definitions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent translation tool
- 👍 Comprehensive dictionary with examples
- 👍 Helpful for learning languages
- 👍 Reliable and accurate translations
- 👍 Great resource for professional interpreters

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable performance
- 🐛 Slow and unresponsive at times
- 🐛 Inconsistent user experience across updates
- 🔋 Requires internet connection, no offline mode

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes on various devices
- Inconsistent performance on cellular vs. Wi-Fi connections
- Search functionality not working as expected
- Inability to delete or manage favorite dictionaries

**Requested features**

- Add support for more languages (e.g. Hebrew, Persian, Latin)
- Implement offline dictionary functionality
- Improve search and navigation, including ability to search for phrases
- Add user account and sync features to save favorites and history
- Enhance verb conjugation and grammar tools


### Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oxford-dictionary-and-thesaurus/id978674211)

**Currently charting:** #72 Top Free · Reference, #76 Top Grossing · Reference (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription ODE | $2.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Oxford Dictionary Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| ODE Annual Subscription Promo | $9.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription ODE | $19.99 | per year |
| Oxford Dictionary Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Oxford Dictionary of English | $4.99 | one-time |
| Oxford Dictionary of English | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WordReference Dictionary free?

WordReference Dictionary is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus free?

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, WordReference Dictionary or Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus?

Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus is rated higher. WordReference Dictionary averages 3.8 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus averages 4.6 from 29K ratings.

### Do WordReference Dictionary or Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus have ads?

WordReference Dictionary shows ads; Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus does not.

### Which is updated more often, WordReference Dictionary or Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus?

WordReference Dictionary ships an update monthly, and Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus monthly. Most recently, WordReference Dictionary was updated on October 19, 2026 and Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus on October 21, 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.*