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	Word of the Day (Vocabulous)	Free plan + paid	No	iOS, macOS	8 of 8	83.8
2	WordPal	Free plan + paid	No	iOS, macOS, Android	7 of 7	59.4

1. Word of the Day (Vocabulous)Top pick
Best for: Native speakers who want a daily word plus quick quizzes and word games in one app
Free plan + paidiOS, macOS
83.8
score / 100
Why switch from Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Builds a full habit around the daily word, with quizzes, spaced review and Lock Screen widgets.
Pros
Hand-picked words with illustrations and audio
Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets
Spaced-repetition quizzes take about a minute
Stop Saying lists suggest stronger everyday word choices
Cons
Many features require a Premium subscription
Several overlapping subscription options in the store listing
Redesigns have removed features some users relied on
Visit Word of the Day (Vocabulous) Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Word of the Day (Vocabulous) a good Merriam-Webster Dictionary alternative?
Verified facts
8 of 8 verified
Pricing
Subscription-based; some features Premium-only
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Downloads
7 million+
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Widgets
Home Screen and Lock Screen
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Games
Hangman, Gaps, Word Relay and crosswords
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Quizzes
1-minute daily spaced-repetition quizzes
Checked Oct 29, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Monthly Premium plan
$9.99 a month (App Store, US)
Checked Nov 1, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Weekly plan
$7.99 a week (App Store, US)
Checked Nov 1, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
Annual Premium plan
$49.99 a year (App Store, US)
Checked Nov 1, 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.