# Etymonline English Dictionary vs TheSaurus

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Etymonline English Dictionary at 94% against TheSaurus's 50%. Etymonline English Dictionary also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.6) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 months). TheSaurus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Etymonline English Dictionary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. TheSaurus asks for nothing beyond the download.

Etymonline English Dictionary holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.6. 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 point the same way: 94% of Etymonline English Dictionary's written reviews are positive against 50% of TheSaurus's.

Etymonline English Dictionary ships an update every 9 days, TheSaurus every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Etymonline English Dictionary | TheSaurus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/etymonline-english-dictionary/id813629612/reviews)** | [3.6 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thesaurus-interactive-visual-thesaurus/id875078177/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **12K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | **94.2% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 64 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [崇伟 柳](https://appshunter.io/developer/813629615) | [Shadanan Sharma](https://appshunter.io/developer/875078180) |

## 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


### TheSaurus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thesaurus-interactive-visual-thesaurus/id875078177)

Explore word relationships through an interactive visual graph. See synonyms and definitions presented as interconnected nodes, allowing for deeper understanding of language. Expand the graph by tapping on nodes to reveal more connections and meanings.

**Highlights:** Interactive word graph visualization, Synonym and definition display, Node definitions on tap, Expandable graph view, Adjustable node and font size, Promote nodes to root

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Etymonline English Dictionary free?

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

### Is TheSaurus free?

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

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

Etymonline English Dictionary is rated higher. Etymonline English Dictionary averages 4.9 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while TheSaurus averages 3.6 from 9 ratings.

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

Etymonline English Dictionary shows ads; TheSaurus does not.

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

Etymonline English Dictionary ships an update every 9 days, and TheSaurus every 6 months. Most recently, Etymonline English Dictionary was updated on October 29, 2026 and TheSaurus 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.*