# Wiki Search vs Encyclopedia by Farlex

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Encyclopedia by Farlex at 87% against Wiki Search's 50%. Encyclopedia by Farlex also leads on ratings volume (401 vs 8) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Wiki Search's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Encyclopedia by Farlex sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Wiki Search asks for nothing beyond the download.

Wiki Search holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Encyclopedia by Farlex has 401 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Wiki Search's written reviews are positive against 87% of Encyclopedia by Farlex's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Wiki Search ships an update every 2 weeks, Encyclopedia by Farlex every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Wiki Search | Encyclopedia by Farlex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wiki-search/id986812321/reviews)** | [4.6 (401 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/encyclopedia-by-farlex/id1021341213/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **401** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **87.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 17 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KAZUYUKI TAJIMA](https://appshunter.io/developer/876885221) | [Farlex, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/379450386) |

## What reviewers say

### Wiki Search

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wiki-search/id986812321)

Access and search the full text of Wikipedia and its sister projects. This app allows for more comprehensive keyword searches and displays multiple articles simultaneously, offering a unique experience compared to the web version.

**Highlights:** Full text search of Wikipedia, Searches sister projects (Wiktionary, Wikisource, etc.), Displays multiple articles, Bookmark articles, View search history, Random article display

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Encyclopedia by Farlex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/encyclopedia-by-farlex/id1021341213)

Access over 330,000 articles, 77,000 audio pronunciations, and 24,000 images from trusted sources. This app provides in-depth information on a vast range of topics, perfect for students, professionals, or the curious.

**Highlights:** 330,000+ encyclopedia articles, 24,000+ images, 77,000+ audio pronunciations, Unlimited bookmarks, Native voice search, Advanced search options, Adjustable font size

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free upgrade | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 📚 Comprehensive knowledge base
- 🚀 Fast and efficient search
- 💰 Free or affordable access
- 📖 Succinct articles for quick learning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Internet connectivity issues
- 📤 Opens search results in browser instead of app
- 📺 Too many advertisements
- ♿ Poor accessibility for vision-impaired users
- 📚 Limited article coverage for some terms

**Reported bugs**

- App displays 'No internet available' error despite active connection
- VoiceOver accessibility not functioning properly
- Search results not loading within app

**Requested features**

- Browse by topics or categories
- Table of contents for related subjects
- Delete search history option
- Retractable menu bar for smaller screens
- Flip through pages functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Wiki Search free?

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

### Is Encyclopedia by Farlex free?

Encyclopedia by Farlex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Wiki Search or Encyclopedia by Farlex?

Wiki Search is rated higher. Wiki Search averages 4.8 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Encyclopedia by Farlex averages 4.6 from 401 ratings.

### Do Wiki Search or Encyclopedia by Farlex have ads?

Encyclopedia by Farlex shows ads; Wiki Search does not.

### Which is updated more often, Wiki Search or Encyclopedia by Farlex?

Wiki Search ships an update every 2 weeks, and Encyclopedia by Farlex every 17 months. Most recently, Wiki Search was updated on September 24, 2026 and Encyclopedia by Farlex on September 23, 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.*