# 12 Steps Companion — The world's first recovery app

> Digital Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book reader and sobriety companion. (iPhone/iPad app by Dean Huff.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/12-steps-companion/id295775656 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Dean Huff](https://appshunter.io/developer/295775659)
- Category: Lifestyle, Health & Fitness
- Price: $2.99
- Rating: 4.50/5 from 143 App Store ratings · 72 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 42 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2008-11-14
- Data updated: 2026-09-18
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/12-steps-companion/id295775656/reviews.md

## What is 12 Steps Companion?

First published in 2008, 12 Steps Companion was the world’s first recovery app. It is a reader, sobriety tracker, and recovery toolkit.

The reader covers the first 164 pages of Alcoholics Anonymous, plus more than 60 personal stories, the original forewords, and the appendices from the First and Second Editions. Dark mode, highlighting, adjustable type, a concordance search, and a built-in dictionary are included.

Also available: 12 Steps Speakers, for talks recorded by members around the world.

KEY FEATURES

UNIVERSAL • Built for iPhone and iPad • Cloud-themed design and a quiet, discrete home-screen icon

SOBRIETY CALCULATOR & WIDGETS • Sobriety length on the launch screen • Home-screen widgets with years, months, days, and hours

THE READER • Dark mode • Highlight and unhighlight text • Adjustable font size • Full-screen reading in portrait or landscape • First 164 pages, plus 60+ stories from the 1st and 2nd editions • Original forewords and appendices • Page numbers and quick page jump • Tap any word to define it • Collapsible index • Return to a bookmark from any note

SEARCH • Full concordance • Results highlighted in place

PRAYERS & PROMISES • Morning and night prayers • Prayers from the Twelve Steps • Prayer of St. Francis • Promises collected from the text

NOTES • Highlight a passage and attach a note • Share via Messages, Mail, and other apps • App attribution is added when you share

CONTACTS • U.S. central offices, areas, districts, and answering services • Tap to call, email, or open a website • Maps and directions • Add your own contacts

SUPPORT Questions or feedback: www.deanhuff.com

Only stories from the 1st and 2nd editions are included • This app is available to U.S. customers only

Not affiliated with AA World Services, Inc. Alcoholics Anonymous and The Big Book are registered trademarks of AA World Services, Inc. Please support A.A. by purchasing a printed copy from your local central office.

## Key features

- Modernized Big Book reader
- Dark mode and adjustable font size
- Enhanced sobriety calculator with widgets
- AA contacts database with integrated maps
- Powerful search and concordance tool
- Collection of prayers and promises
- Note-taking and sharing capabilities

## Chart rankings

- #10 in Top Paid · Lifestyle (US App Store)

## What do users think of 12 Steps Companion?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 📚 Comprehensive AA literature
- 📱 Convenient mobile access
- ✨ Sobriety calculator included
- 🔍 Effective search feature (when working)
- 💖 Long-time user loyalty
- 🌟 Highly recommended by users
- 💡 Quick access to key topics
- 🔒 No email or personal info required
- ✅ Works well with meetings
- 📝 Ability to highlight passages
- 🚀 Fast performance (historically)
- 🔄 Developer responsiveness (historical)

**Cons**

- 🐛 Search feature often crashes app
-  outdated content (older editions)
- 📚 Missing specific stories/prayers
- 🐛 Data loss after reinstallation/updates
- 🐛 Sobriety calculator inaccuracies
- 🐛 Page number issues
- 🐛 Typos in text
- 🐛 Inconsistent highlighting/deletion
- 🐛 App not working on newer OS versions
- 🐛 Re-purchase required on new devices
- 🐛 Font size issues
- 🐛 Notes not saving/syncing
- 🐛 App appearance changes disliked
- 🐛 Deceptive cover page (12x12)
- 🐛 Incorrect wording in Traditions

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Search feature kicks user off the app
- App crashes after using search feature
- Lost bookmarks after deleting and reinstalling
- Lost all data after deleting and reinstalling
- Sobriety counter is off by a day or more
- Page numbers do not correspond to the printed Big Book
- Table of contents does not list page numbers
- Highlighting a passage sometimes deletes it
- App not working in newer iOS versions
- Sobriety date changes by mistake when changing time zones
- Notes do not save or travel between devices
- Text resizing not working
- Calculator not calculating correctly
- App does not save sobriety date on new installations
- Search by page number not working
- Typographical errors in the text
- Incorrect wording in the 5th Tradition

**Most requested features**

- Add newer editions of AA literature
- Include specific missing stories (e.g., acceptance prayer, resentment prayer, Dr. Paul's story, Acceptance is the Answer)
- Update preamble and conference-approved material
- Include the 12x12 text
- Add the AA World Service Manual
- Add the Concepts
- Add push notifications for morning/evening prompts
- Add page numbers to the index
- Make page numbers match the printed Big Book
- Allow text resizing/font adjustment
- Improve notes functionality (saving, syncing, visibility)
- Add different highlight colors
- Allow notes within the text (e.g., word definitions)
- Add the Preface and Forewords from newer editions
- Update the app for current OS versions
- Allow annotation of text with notes
- Enable multitasking feature or disable splash screen
- Add contacts for areas, intergroups, and hotlines
- Include other appendices, specifically the Traditions appendix
- Add Dr. Paul's story from the third edition
- Add the 12x12 book
- Add the 24 book
- Improve the sobriety calculator accuracy and appearance
- Allow multiple, named bookmarks
- Add highlighting feature
- Landscape book reading
- Central office contacts linked to apps

## Recent user reviews (10 of 72)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/12-steps-companion/id295775656/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Search feature

*2026-07-03*

I’ve had this app since 2009, the update yesterday disabled my beloved search feature. It will pull up the search, but kicks me off the app when I go to the page. Bummer!!!! And yes I tried the restore button, deleted and reinstalled the app (losing all my bookmarks). Dang!

**Developer response:** I apologize for the search bug that caused the crashing. A new update to fix this is now available on the App Store for download.

### 5/5 — Latest update

*2026-07-03*

Love this app. The latest update seems to kick you out after the word search.

**Developer response:** I apologize for the search bug that caused the crashing. A new update to fix this is now available on the App Store for download.

### 4/5 — Almost perfect

*2026-01-25*

I wish Dean would add the additional stories from the newer additions. The stories that are significant for me include acceptance prayer and the resentment prayer. I thought these used to be included but I guess not. An update to add these stories would be wonderful.

### 5/5 — Functionality

*2026-01-16*

This is by far my most favorite AA app. I had somehow deleted a few word from a sentence and cannot figure out how to update/fix my error. Page 42.
"I saw that will power and self-knowledge would not  help in those strange" how I deleted this I do not know. I want to fix it but have some many things highlighted that I do not want do delete and reinstall as I do not want to loose my years of work. Can you help?

**Developer response:** We’ve just released and update with a subtle “Restore” button at the bottom of the table of contents which will restore all of the book’s text while preserving your highlights.

### 3/5 — Please update!

*2025-09-11, version 2.5.9.6*

I wish that some tech-savvy recovering Friend could find a way to update this app. Mine is no longer searchable.

### 5/5 — Great but…

*2025-08-02*

It would be really nice if you could add the concepts. And the AA world service manual. 

Also, you might want to update the preamble and anything else that’s conference approved.

### 5/5 — Include the 12x12 text

*2025-07-07, version 2.5.9.6*

I am probably not the first to say this but PLEASE include the 12x12 to consolidate apps.

### 3/5 — Old Edtion

*2024-10-20*

I’ve used this app for many years and when I tried to go fully digital at meetings, I soon realized this was a second edition version. I can only rate this higher if I have content that is read at big book meetings.

### 4/5 — Love this app but…

*2024-09-23*

Would be great if this were the fourth edition and included the Preface, all Forewords and stories from the fourth edition. Also there are a lot of typos in the Forewords. I love that you can highlight passages and the day count is great too!

### 5/5 — High Tech Recovery

*2023-09-02*

I’ve had this app for ten+ years. Over the years, I can’t count how many times this has saved my day!!

**Developer response:** Thank you for the support and great review!

## Frequently asked questions about 12 Steps Companion

### What is the 12 Steps Companion AA Big Book app?

This app is a digital tool designed for members of Alcoholics Anonymous. It offers a modernized reader for the Big Book, including features like dark mode, adjustable font sizes, and quick navigation. It also includes a sobriety calculator, notes, and a contacts database to support users in their recovery.

### What are the key features of the app?

Key features include a comprehensive Big Book reader with dark mode and customizable text, an enhanced sobriety calculator with home screen widgets, an AA contacts database with integrated maps for finding meetings, a powerful search function, and tools for taking notes and accessing prayers and promises.

### How much does the 12 Steps Companion AA Big Book app cost?

The application is a paid app. Users will need to purchase it to access its features. Specific pricing details can be found on the app store listing.

### What devices is the 12 Steps Companion AA Big Book app compatible with?

The app is a universal app, optimized for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. It is designed to work seamlessly across these Apple devices.

### Who is the target audience for this app?

The app is specifically designed for members of Alcoholics Anonymous who are looking for a convenient and modern digital tool to assist them in their sobriety and recovery journey. It aims to be useful, beautiful, and simple to use for every AA member.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.0.7 — 2026-09-16

Improvements and bug fixes. Adds a short notice that this app is not affiliated with AA World Services, Inc.

### 3.0.6 — 2026-07-30

Bug fixes
Added a share this app button

### 3.0.5 — 2026-07-04

Bug and crash fixes

### 3.0.4 — 2026-07-02

Fine tuned some framework and functionality.
Tool icon size proportions corrected.
Enhanced contact organization with contact categories.

### 3.0.3 — 2026-02-15

Bug fixes
Added button to expand tool bar allowing chapters names to be shown on iPhones
Updated contact info

## Apps similar to 12 Steps Companion

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [My Spiritual Toolkit AA Steps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-spiritual-toolkit-aa-steps/id642922942) | 4.9 (12,708) | Free | Lifestyle |
| [AA Big Book Ultimate Companion](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aa-big-book-ultimate-companion/id998807519) | 4.8 (3,528) | Free | Lifestyle |
| [Sober Me: Tools for Recovery](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sober-me-tools-for-recovery/id990308161) | 4.8 (14,452) | Free | Lifestyle |
| [Meeting Guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meeting-guide/id1042822181) | 4.4 (1,013) | Free | Lifestyle |
| [I Am Sober](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i-am-sober/id672904239) | 4.9 (186,803) | Free | Lifestyle |
| [Everything AA](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/everything-aa/id1565768051) | 4.9 (69,230) | Free | Lifestyle |

## More apps by Dean Huff

- [12 Steps Speakers](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/12-steps-speakers/id468149167)
- [AA Big Book App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aa-big-book-app/id1067750892)
- [Simply AA](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simply-aa/id6755447729)
- [Kubo Journal](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kubo-journal/id6793303324)

All apps by Dean Huff: https://appshunter.io/developer/295775659

## Related topics

[12 steps companion aa big book](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/12-steps-companion-aa-big-book) · [12 steps](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/12-steps) · [12 steps companion](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/12-steps-companion) · [twelve steps](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/twelve-steps) · [twelve steps the companion](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/twelve-steps-the-companion) · [12 steps the companion](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/12-steps-the-companion) · [12 step](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/12-step) · [12 step companion](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/12-step-companion) · [aa big book ultimate companion](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/aa-big-book-ultimate-companion) · [12 steps and 12 traditions](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/12-steps-and-12-traditions) · [twelve and twelve](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/twelve-and-twelve) · [aa big book](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/aa-big-book) · [aabluebook](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/aabluebook) · [alcoholics anonymous book](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/alcoholics-anonymous-book) · [Big Book app](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/big-book-app) · [aa 12 steps](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/aa-12-steps) · [aa big book app](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/aa-big-book-app) · [big book](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/big-book) · [aa big book free](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/aa-big-book-free) · [aa 12 steps guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/aa-12-steps-guide)

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-18.*