Comparison

Luminous E vs Dictionaries

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

Head to head
About

Luminous E

This comprehensive English-Japanese and Japanese-English dictionary app offers extensive vocabulary and grammar explanations. It includes audio pronunciations, search functionalities, and export options, making it a powerful tool for all English learners.

Highlights
  • Extensive vocabulary (approx. 100,000 entries each)
  • Audio pronunciations for words
  • Incremental search and spelling suggestions
  • Bookmark with notes
  • Export definitions and bookmarks
  • Daily vocabulary notifications
  • iPad multitasking and Drag & Drop support
Features
Read full description

ルミナス英和・和英辞典 (InApp購入版) This app is not free! For new users, an InApp purchase is required to activate the dictionary. Japanese language ability required. 英和・和英それぞれ約10万の豊富な収録語句に加え、アプリ独自に単語の英米音声ファイルを収録。もちろんiPhone・iPad両対応。大学入試からTOEIC®受験まで、全ての英語学習者にお薦めする学習用英和・和英辞典の「最強ツール」です。 【全体】 総収録語数は英和・和英各10万,用例は各 5 万以上。豊富な語彙だけでなく、文法や語法、ライティングのための解説も充実させた、英語学習辞典の定番。大学受験生から社会人まで全ての英語学習者・使用者にお勧めの最強ツール。 【英和】 日常用語はもちろん、時事用語、科学用語を豊富に収録し、成句や句動詞も充実。語彙だけでなく、詳細な文法・語法解説に加え、ライティングにも使える「コロケーション」や「言い換え」、語彙増強のための「単語の記憶」や「語源」など、学習・実用に役立つ情報が満載。英和辞典として初めてTOEIC®頻出2千語句を表示。 【和英】 「振り込め詐欺」「ニート」「認知症」から「源義経」「額紫陽花」「丑の時参り」まで広範な分野の語彙・慣用句・成句を採録。日本固有の風物・文化・固有名などには簡潔な英語の説明も施した。日本語的発想を自然な英語にするために不可欠な「発想指示」や学習者の間違えやすい点を分かりやすく解説した「語法」「日英比較」も充実。 ■ アプリケーションの特徴: * ロングマンシリーズの約90,000点の英米音声ファイルを収録 * 単語タップで表示される、便利なリンクメニュー * インクリメンタル検索(逐次検索)機能 * スペリングのサジェスト機能 * ワイルドカード検索機能 * 収録画像の拡大・縮小機能 * メモ付きブックマーク機能 * 語義やブックマークをメールやFacebook, Twitterなどに出力可能 * 自動履歴機能 * 書籍の付録部分を収録 * AI強化アナグラム生成機能 * "今日"とロックスクリーンのウィジェット * iCloudを利用したブックマーク機能 * 日替わり英単語の通知機能。(TOEIC®やTOEFL®の単語リスト付き) * 3D Touch 対応 * DarkMode 対応 * iPadのマルチスクリーンとDrag & Drop 対応 * iPhone 17 対応 * iOS12〜iOS26 完全対応 * iPhoneとiPodとiPadとmacOS 対応 ■ 外部辞書ハイパーリンク機能 * 「ロングマン現代英英辞典」や「アメリカンヘリテージ® 」など英英辞典へのリンク * 「Roget's II: 新類語辞典」へのリンク * 「ロングマン英和辞典」へのアプリケーションリンク * 「大辞林」「大辞泉」へのアプリケーションリンク (外部辞書は別途インストールが必要です) コピーライト: ルミナス英和辞典 (第2版)/ルミナス和英辞典 (第2版) © 2005, 2012 株式会社研究社

About

Dictionaries

Access and search multiple dictionaries simultaneously in one app. Purchase various language dictionaries, including English and Japanese, from an in-app store. Features include batch searching, handwriting input, and cross-dictionary navigation.

Highlights
  • Batch search multiple dictionaries
  • Purchase language dictionaries
  • Handwriting input support
  • Trace and Jump between words
  • Bookmark and categorize words
  • iCloud synchronization
  • Multitasking with other apps
Features
Read full description

“Dictionaries” is an electronic dictionary viewer app made to allow users to efficiently use various dictionaries. Our popular standalone apps have been integrated into a single app where users can search multiple dictionaries at once. You can purchase and use a variety of dictionaries, including English, Japanese, French or other language dictionaries, from the “Dictionary Store” which can be accessed from within the app. Searches • Batch Search (Consolidated Search) allows users to search multiple dictionaries at once. • The display order of dictionaries used in the batch search can be customized. • The keyboard language switches automatically depending on dictionary search groups. • Handwriting input is possible for Japanese, Old Japanese, Kanji, Chinese, Korean, and Russian dictionaries. • Using Pattern Search, users can search for words even if a part of the spelling is unknown. Trace and Jump • Users can easily jump to not only other words in the same dictionary but other dictionaries as well simply by tracing words in a definition, allowing users to go on a journey of intellectual curiosity through the dictionary as their hearts desire. Collection • Purchased dictionaries are shown as icons on the Collection screen. • By opening a dictionary from the Collection screen, users can also carefully go through a single dictionary. Even in this case, users can use the “Trace and Jump” function to easily jump to another dictionary. • The display order of dictionary icons on the Collection screen can be changed to the user's preference. Bookmarks • Users can bookmark their favorite words. In addition, users can also efficiently categorize these bookmarks using the Bookmark Folder. • By turning on Quick Bookmark, users can quickly add/remove bookmarks simply by tapping the Bookmark icon. Search History • In History, display frequency is automatically recorded so that users can immediately recognize words they search for repeatedly. iCloud • Users can synchronize Bookmark and History data among all devices by turning on iCloud. Multitasking • Users can display websites, documents, and more alongside their dictionary by using the Multitasking function on the iPad. By turning on Clipboard Search, users simply have to copy the word they wish to look up in order for the app to find that word in multiple dictionaries. Substantial Lineup • The Dictionary Store carries a large number of full-scale dictionaries, and we plan to further improve this selection in the future as well. • The following English dictionaries are available. Check in the Dictionary Store, which can be accessed from within the app, for more information on each of these items. - Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 10th edition (OALD) - Oxford Learner’s Dictionary of Academic English - Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus - Oxford Collocations Dictionary - Practical English Usage - Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 10th edition - Collins COBUILD Advanced American English Dictionary 3rd edition - Collins COBUILD Intermediate Learner’s Dictionary 4th edition - Collins English Dictionary with Thesaurus An internet connection is required to purchase content.Usage fees and terms of use may apply.

Screenshots

Luminous E4 screens
Dictionaries4 screens

Verdict

The call

Luminous E and Dictionaries both sit at 4.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 57% of Dictionaries's written reviews are positive against 24% of Luminous E's. Dictionaries also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (84 vs 6). Luminous E's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Luminous E sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Dictionaries sells 23 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for Luminous E against 4.1 for Dictionaries. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dictionaries has 84 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 24% of Luminous E's written reviews are positive against 57% of Dictionaries's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Luminous E ships an update every 5 weeks, Dictionaries every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Luminous E versus Dictionaries: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLuminous EDictionaries
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (6 ratings)4.1 (84 ratings) — better
Positive reviews23.5% of reviews56.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings684 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size1021 MB60 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperEnglish Channel, Inc.物書堂

Customer experience

Luminous E

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive23.5%
Neutral23.5%
Negative52.9%

Dictionaries

All ratings84 ratings
Positive78.6%
Neutral3.6%
Negative17.9%
Written reviews155 reviews
Positive56.8%
Neutral16.1%
Negative27.1%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Luminous E

One-time1
  • Luminous activation$14.99
23 purchases

Dictionaries

One-time23
  • WISDOM English-Japanese 2Free
  • WISDOM English-JapaneseFree
  • COBUILD American 2nd editionFree
Show 20 more
  • COBUILD Advanced 9th editionFree
  • DAIJIRINFree
  • 柯林斯 COBUILD 高级英汉双解词典Free
  • RGKO12 UpgradeFree
  • REIKAI GAKUSHU KOKUGO 11th$15.99
  • REIKAI GAKUSYU KANJI 9th$15.99
  • Nihongo Bunkei Ziten: English$19.99
  • Basic Japanese Grammar$20.99
  • SHINMEIKAI 8$20.99
  • Gendai Shin Kokugo Jiten$20.99
  • Meikyo Japanese Dictionary$22.99
  • DAIJISEN$22.99
  • Japanese Colloquial Expressions$25.99
  • WISDOM English-Japanese 3$26.99
  • DAIJIRIN 4$28.99
  • Shogakukan Chinese-Japanese$31.99
  • OALD 10$32.99
  • Japanese Collocations$33.99
  • NHK Japanese Pronunciation$36.99
  • SHOGAKUKAN Korean-Japanese$47.99

Questions

Is Luminous E free?
Luminous E is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dictionaries free?
Dictionaries is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Luminous E or Dictionaries?
Dictionaries is rated higher. Luminous E averages 4.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Dictionaries averages 4.1 from 84 ratings.
Do Luminous E or Dictionaries have ads?
Neither Luminous E nor Dictionaries shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Luminous E or Dictionaries?
Luminous E ships an update every 5 weeks, and Dictionaries every 4 days. Most recently, Luminous E was updated on September 21, 2026 and Dictionaries on September 25, 2026.

Other comparisons