The Free Dictionary
The Free Dictionary: A broad free reference service with offline access, translations, and specialist dictionaries. Ranked #3 of 39 in Online Dictionaries by our editors (9.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for users wanting the broadest free reference set.
At a glance
- Editor score9.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forUsers wanting the broadest free reference set
- Free planYes
- Audio pronunciationYes
- Founded2004 · Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, United States
- Facts checked19 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Dictionary, thesaurus, specialist dictionaries, and translation lookup
- Offline access, audio pronunciations, voice search, and synchronized bookmarks
- Available on web, iOS, Android, macOS, and through an API
Where it doesn't
- The free plan includes advertising
- The ad-free upgrade is limited to the iOS app
- API access is described for calls from other apps, not a broader integration suite
Our verdict on The Free Dictionary
The Free Dictionary is a reference service from Farlex, Inc. for looking up words, synonyms, translations, idioms, and specialist terminology. It combines dictionary and thesaurus lookup with medical, legal, science, financial, and idiom dictionaries, plus example sentences, etymologies, audio pronunciations, and word content. It is suited to users who want one free service for general reference, language lookup, and specialized terminology across several devices.
The published plans show a free tier with online and offline dictionary access and translations into 40+ languages. That tier contains advertising. The ad-free upgrade removes advertising in the iOS app, giving iOS users a paid way to change the reading experience without changing the listed reference feature set. The pricing model is therefore straightforward for users who value free access and acceptable for iOS users who specifically want to remove ads. Those seeking a paid plan with broader feature additions should look elsewhere.
Platform coverage is a major part of the product’s appeal. The service is available on the web, iOS, Android, and macOS, with bookmarks synchronized across devices. Mobile apps add offline access, pronunciation audio, voice search, translations, and word games, while API calls from other apps provide an integration path. Its breadth extends beyond basic definitions into specialist dictionaries and daily word content. Pick The Free Dictionary for wide, free reference coverage across platforms; choose a narrower dictionary if you want a simpler interface centered only on definitions or a paid upgrade beyond iOS ad removal.
Your product? Our editors can test The Free Dictionary in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
The Free Dictionary pricing
All 2 The Free Dictionary plans and prices →
The Free Dictionary fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Audio pronunciation | Yes |
| Usage examples | Yes |
| Translation lookup | Yes |
| Offline access | Yes |
| Mobile apps | Ios_android |
| Languages covered | 14 |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile, Desktop |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, macOS |
| Integrations | 1 integrations: API calls from other apps |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | thefreedictionary.com |
| Facts checked | 19 Sep 2026 |
The Free Dictionary integrations
The Free Dictionary lists 1 integrations on its own site.
- API calls from other apps
Alternatives to The Free Dictionary
- Cambridge DictionaryA broad English learning reference with free access, audio, examples, and bilingual lookup.9.4
- Collins DictionaryA broad free dictionary for definitions, language tools, translations, and offline mobile lookup.9.3
- Oxford Learner’s DictionariesA broad English-learning dictionary with strong pronunciation, usage and study tools.9.1
See all The Free Dictionary alternatives →
The Free Dictionary vs the competition
- The Free Dictionary vs Cambridge Dictionary
- The Free Dictionary vs Collins Dictionary
- The Free Dictionary vs Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
- The Free Dictionary vs Merriam-Webster Dictionary
- The Free Dictionary vs Dictionary.com
- The Free Dictionary vs Linguee
Compare The Free Dictionary with any tool side by side →
Used The Free Dictionary? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used The Free Dictionary for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
The Free Dictionary is listed in our Online Dictionaries directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/the-free-dictionary/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/the-free-dictionary.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update