Merriam-Webster Dictionary alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Merriam-Webster Dictionary: no spaced repetition or study plan, and free version shows ads. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Merriam-Webster Dictionary, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Word of the Day (Vocabulous) currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Vocabulary - Learn words daily	Free plan + paid	No	iOS, Android	5 of 5	61.8
2	WordPal	Free plan + paid	No	iOS, macOS, Android	7 of 7	59.4

1. Vocabulary - Learn words dailyTop pick
Best for: People who want a low-effort daily word on their Lock Screen without sitting down to study
Free plan + paidiOS, Android
61.8
score / 100
Why switch from Merriam-Webster Dictionary
A scrolling word feed and Lock Screen widget, if you want more than one new word a day.
Pros
Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets show a new word all day
Choose your level and topics during setup
Library of 10,000+ English words with examples
Works on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Android
Cons
Free version has frequent, loud video ads
Review games and quizzes need Premium
Scrolling format makes it easy to skim without retaining words
Visit Vocabulary - Learn words daily Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Vocabulary - Learn words daily a good Merriam-Webster Dictionary alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Price
Free download, Premium via in-app purchase
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Lifetime Premium
$149.99 (US App Store)
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Word library
10,000+ English words by level and topic
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Apple devices
iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, iMessage
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Requirements
iOS 18.0 or later
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. WordPal
Best for: Fluent English speakers who want short daily quizzes that adapt to the words they miss
Free plan + paidiOS, macOS, Android
59.4
score / 100
Why switch from Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Adds the spaced-repetition testing a dictionary app lacks, with free daily synonym quizzes.
Pros
Core quizzes, definitions and progress tracking are free
Spaced repetition prioritizes the words you struggle with
Words picked by frequency in everyday English
Clean interface without distractions
Cons
Can't add your own words to study
No way to keep drilling a word marked as mastered
Extra games and word lists need Premium
Visit WordPal Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is WordPal a good Merriam-Webster Dictionary alternative?
Verified facts
7 of 7 verified
Price
Free, Premium subscription for more words and games
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Method
Synonym multiple choice with spaced repetition
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Progress levels
5, from work needed to mastered
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Word selection
Based on frequency in everyday English
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Mac support
Runs on Macs with macOS 12.0 or later
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
$2.99 a month (WordPal Premium Monthly)
Checked Nov 1, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Premium Annual plan
From $19.99 a year
Checked Nov 1, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Merriam-Webster Dictionary alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Merriam-Webster Dictionary alternative for most people

Word of the Day (Vocabulous)

Builds a full habit around the daily word, with quizzes, spaced review and Lock Screen widgets.

Best Merriam-Webster Dictionary alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Vocabulary.com

A learner's dictionary with plain-language explanations that feeds the words you look up into an adaptive quiz trainer.

Best Merriam-Webster Dictionary alternative for Mac

WordPal

Adds the spaced-repetition testing a dictionary app lacks, with free daily synonym quizzes.

Best Merriam-Webster Dictionary alternative for iPhone and Android

Vocabulary - Learn words daily

A scrolling word feed and Lock Screen widget, if you want more than one new word a day.

Best Merriam-Webster Dictionary alternative for working in the browser

Vocabulary.com

A learner's dictionary with plain-language explanations that feeds the words you look up into an adaptive quiz trainer.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Merriam-Webster Dictionary?

Word of the Day (Vocabulous) ranks first right now. Builds a full habit around the daily word, with quizzes, spaced review and Lock Screen widgets. Vocabulary.com and Vocabulary - Learn words daily follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Merriam-Webster Dictionary?

Yes. Word of the Day (Vocabulous) (free plan + paid), Vocabulary.com (free plan + paid), Vocabulary - Learn words daily (free plan + paid) and WordPal (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Merriam-Webster Dictionary?

None of the 4 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Merriam-Webster Dictionary?

The complaints we hear most: no spaced repetition or study plan; free version shows ads; quizzes are short and general rather than personalized.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Merriam-Webster Dictionary, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.