# Etymonline English Dictionary vs Flashword

The clearest difference is ads: Flashword at none against Etymonline English Dictionary's shown. Etymonline English Dictionary's advantage is ratings volume (12K vs 9) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Etymonline English Dictionary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Flashword sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Etymonline English Dictionary holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Etymonline English Dictionary has 12K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 94% of Etymonline English Dictionary's written reviews are positive against 100% of Flashword's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Etymonline English Dictionary ships an update every 9 days, Flashword every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Etymonline English Dictionary | Flashword |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/etymonline-english-dictionary/id813629612/reviews)** | [4.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashword-save-learnt-words/id6477286559/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **12K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 94.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 64 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [崇伟 柳](https://appshunter.io/developer/813629615) | [Alessio Mason](https://appshunter.io/developer/1728830142) |

## What reviewers say

### Etymonline English Dictionary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/etymonline-english-dictionary/id813629612)

Explore the origins and history of English words with this comprehensive dictionary app. It offers instant search, related word suggestions, and an offline mode for premium users. Enhance your vocabulary and understanding of word roots.

**Highlights:** Word origin exploration, Instant search with suggestions, Related words by root, Offline dictionary (Premium), Ad-free experience (Premium)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Etymonline Premium 1 Month | $4.99 | per month |
| Etymonline Premium 6 Months | $13.99 | per 6 months |
| Etymonline Premium 12 Months | $17.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent app
- 👍 Comprehensive and well-researched
- 👍 Useful for understanding word origins
- 👍 Informative and insightful
- 👍 Straightforward and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App version has incomplete entries
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with data collection
- 💰 Subscription fees too high

**Reported bugs**

- Bottom of related words list cut off
- Search bar not always visible
- App version not compatible with dark mode

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Offline access to full entries
- One-time purchase option instead of subscription


### Flashword

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashword-save-learnt-words/id6477286559)

Easily save new words you encounter, look them up in system dictionaries, and add personal notes for context or translation. Organize your vocabulary into custom categories for efficient learning and retention.

**Highlights:** Save new words, System dictionary lookups, Personal notes for words, Categorize saved words, Organize vocabulary

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small tip | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Etymonline English Dictionary free?

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

### Is Flashword free?

Flashword is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Etymonline English Dictionary or Flashword?

Etymonline English Dictionary is rated higher. Etymonline English Dictionary averages 4.9 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while Flashword averages 4.7 from 9 ratings.

### Do Etymonline English Dictionary or Flashword have ads?

Etymonline English Dictionary shows ads; Flashword does not.

### Which is updated more often, Etymonline English Dictionary or Flashword?

Etymonline English Dictionary ships an update every 9 days, and Flashword every 2 weeks. Most recently, Etymonline English Dictionary was updated on October 31, 2026 and Flashword on October 24, 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.*