MDict AD vs Dictionaries
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MDict AD
This is a dictionary application that supports multiple languages and offers fast lookups. It allows users to download various dictionary data packs and features pronunciation support, favorites, and search history.
- Fast lookup and loading speed
- Support for rich text content
- Pronunciation support
- Favorites and search history
- In-page search
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This is the adware version of MDict. MDict is a dictionary that support multi-language. It dosen't bundle with dictionary data. But it's a open platform that you can download many pre-built dictionary datas by others. Key features include: 1. Very fast lookup speed and dictionary loading speed. You can switch dictionary instantly. 2. Support rich text formated content 3. Pronunciation support. Currently with English, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese.(Chinese/Japanese pronunciation support are limited) 4. Favorites and Search history 5. Supports in page search
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.
- 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
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“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
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MDict AD at 5.0 against Dictionaries's 4.1. MDict AD also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 23). Dictionaries's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 12 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Dictionaries sells 23 one-off in-app purchases. MDict AD asks for nothing beyond the download.
MDict AD holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dictionaries has 84 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 47% of MDict AD's written reviews are positive against 57% of Dictionaries's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
MDict AD ships an update every 12 months, Dictionaries every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on August 14, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MDict AD | Dictionaries |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.1 (84 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 47.1% of reviews | 56.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 84 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Ad-supported — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 文伟 张 | 物書堂 |
Customer experience
MDict AD
Dictionaries
In-app purchases
MDict AD
No in-app purchases
Dictionaries
- WISDOM English-Japanese 2Free
- WISDOM English-JapaneseFree
- COBUILD American 2nd editionFree
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- 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









