# Chinese IME Dictionary vs Cantonese English Dictionary +

The clearest difference is rating: Cantonese English Dictionary + at 4.4 against Chinese IME Dictionary's 3.0. Cantonese English Dictionary + also leads on ratings volume (496 vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Chinese IME Dictionary's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cantonese English Dictionary + sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chinese IME Dictionary asks for nothing beyond the download.

Cantonese English Dictionary + holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cantonese English Dictionary + has 496 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 50% and 49% positive.

Chinese IME Dictionary ships an update every 2 months, Cantonese English Dictionary + every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 17, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chinese IME Dictionary | Cantonese English Dictionary + |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chinese-ime-dictionary/id532042490/reviews) | **[4.4 (496 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cantonese-english-dictionary-plus/id848119310/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **496** |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 49.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 29 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chun Kai Lau](https://appshunter.io/developer/777529458) | [Sing Fu Chan](https://appshunter.io/developer/799399521) |

## What reviewers say

### Chinese IME Dictionary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chinese-ime-dictionary/id532042490)

This app helps users find Chinese characters they've forgotten how to input. It supports multiple input methods and offers phonetic text-to-speech functionality. Search by character, phonetic spelling, or letter groups.

**Highlights:** Multiple input method support, Phonetic text-to-speech, Search by Cangjie/Quick, Search by Pinyin/Cantonese, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Bilateral search functionality, Bookmark and copy results

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cantonese English Dictionary +

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cantonese-english-dictionary-plus/id848119310)

This offline dictionary helps you master Cantonese and English. Search using Chinese characters, Jyutping, or English words. Features native audio, a large vocabulary, and tools like favorites and history for confident learning anywhere, anytime.

**Highlights:** Offline dictionary, Search by characters, Jyutping, or English, Native audio pronunciation, Extensive vocabulary database, Favorites and history, User-friendly interface

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Versatile dictionary
- 🔊 Accurate Cantonese pronunciations
- 🗣️ Helpful for learning Cantonese
- 📚 Comprehensive vocabulary coverage

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Limited translation capabilities beyond single words
- 🌐 Inconsistent handling of Cantonese vs Mandarin
- 💰 Excessive advertising
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes after updates

**Reported bugs**

- Audio playback issues
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Inability to use handwriting input

**Requested features**

- Ability to translate full sentences
- Option to toggle between Jyutping and Pinyin
- Vocabulary for specific domains (e.g. medical)
- Improved search and browsing functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chinese IME Dictionary free?

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

### Is Cantonese English Dictionary + free?

Cantonese English Dictionary + is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Chinese IME Dictionary or Cantonese English Dictionary +?

Cantonese English Dictionary + is rated higher. Chinese IME Dictionary averages 3.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Cantonese English Dictionary + averages 4.4 from 496 ratings.

### Do Chinese IME Dictionary or Cantonese English Dictionary + have ads?

Both Chinese IME Dictionary and Cantonese English Dictionary + show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chinese IME Dictionary or Cantonese English Dictionary +?

Chinese IME Dictionary ships an update every 2 months, and Cantonese English Dictionary + every 3 weeks. Most recently, Chinese IME Dictionary was updated on August 17, 2026 and Cantonese English Dictionary + on September 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.*