# Ascension: Catholic Bible — user reviews > 574 indexed App Store user reviews of Ascension by Ascension Publishing Group, LLC, rated 4.90/5 from 89,515 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascension-catholic-bible/id1660909501/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascension-catholic-bible/id1660909501.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 84,677 · 4★ 3,465 · 3★ 731 · 2★ 218 · 1★ 424 ## What do users think of Ascension? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🙏 Deepening faith and drawing closer to God - 👍 Convenient and easy to use - 📚 Comprehensive Bible and Catechism resources - 🎧 Excellent podcast experience with Fr. Mike - 🤗 Transformative and life-changing - 🌟 Outstanding and invaluable tool - 🙌 Incredible gift to the world - 🎨 Gorgeous app design and layout **Cons** - 💰 Paid subscription model after initial free period - 🔍 Lack of dictionary/glossary for unfamiliar terms - 🔙 Removal of 15-second forward/backward buttons **Commonly reported bugs** - Sync issues between audio and text - Inconsistent behavior with continuous reading mode **Most requested features** - Dark mode option - Ability to track progress across multiple devices - Daily Mass readings integration - Verse of the day widgets - iPad-optimized version - Spanish language support ## Newest reviews (19 of 574) ### 3/5 — Video issues. Great content. *2026-08-10* Content is stellar. However for a paid subscription and an app at this level of development, the way videos play really needs to be fixed. It doesn’t tap into iOS controls. Meaning it won’t do Picture in Picture if you need to navigate away for a minute. Worse, the play/ pause can’t be triggered with an AirPod or similar. Meaning if I’m watching a video with Fr. Columba and I pause the video with an AirPod (this does work, interestingly) and then restart the video with the AirPod, Fr Columba sounds an awful lot like Jimi Hendrix or Fr. Mike depending on if I was last in my Music or Podcast app—- Even when Fr. Columba is still on screen. This is the only video app I’ve encountered that does this. Further (update to review)- I have to force close the app between most videos, videos stop and won’t start again for no apparent reason, and if you watch a few seconds of a video, it shows up with a check mark as entirely played. I’m using the newest pro iPhone with fully up to date iOS. Please fix! ### 4/5 — Video issues. Great content. *2026-08-02, version 1.15.20* Content is stellar. However for a paid subscription and an app at this level of development, the way videos play really needs to be fixed. It doesn’t tap into iOS controls. Meaning it won’t do Picture in Picture if you need to navigate away for a minute. Worse, the play/ pause can’t be triggered with an AirPod or similar. Meaning if I’m watching a video with Fr. Columba and I pause the video with an AirPod (this does work, interestingly) and then restart the video with the AirPod, Fr Columba sounds an awful lot like Jimi Hendrix or Fr. Mike depending on if I was last in my Music or Podcast app—- Even when Fr. Columba is still on screen. This is the only video app I’ve encountered that does this. Please fix! ### 2/5 — It was good for a couple years *2026-07-23, version 1.15.20* The app is not worth it. My BIAY was coming up now all of a sudden it’s a big hassle to find the right day. I will not renew. Use the free versions they work better. ### 3/5 — Most recent update. *2026-07-22, version 1.15.20* not a fan of the new update.. with regards to the home screen.. i miss the boxes where one can check off the readings for the day… the thumbnails are dry… should have kept it how it was.. also the limited settings is frustrating… doesn’t show what translation one is reading from only in the daily readings does it show. ### 3/5 — Saint of the day *2026-07-16, version 1.15.19* it’s frustrating that the saint of the day does not align with the saint of the day of the Church after the readings on the main page. instead, it is someone else and flipping through apps is annoying. Can you all make it so that the saint of the day align with the saint of the day from the Church. i want to make this app my daily driver but small things like this make me want to stick to the Verbum software especially if it’s subscription based. thanks. ### 5/5 — It’s $60 a year *2026-07-06, version 1.15.19* I like it. Give it a try ### 3/5 — Wanted to Love the app *2026-07-06, version 1.15.19* I so wanted to love this app, and it has so much potential. It is great to have access to the Bible and CCC in the same app. But, you need to be in wifi or have “unlimited data” for most of it to work. There is no way to download audio to play while you are offline. Especially the rosary, which doesn’t change day to day, it should be saved locally so you can play it in the car or while walking. Until this is solved I will keep using Apple (or Google) podcast for most of my listening. In addition if you stop playing the rosary, then select continue, it restarts at the introduction, please fix this too! Also the UI is a little quirky, sometimes, while in a resource or program, when finished it exits to the main screen rather than going back to the previous screen or menu. ### 2/5 — Price *2026-07-03, version 1.15.19* I think limiting this to adults with money is wrong for many reasons. There are kids who might want to access and can’t because they don’t have permission from a guardian. There are people who are poor and/or don’t have credit cards. Fr Mike gets so much funding from YouTube alone, where is that money going? The church pays for priests shelter, food, vehicles… but you have to pay to access the features in this app? It doesn’t seem right. It should be donation based, if the money is truly needed. Or put religious ads on for the people unable to pay, that way the ads pay for the $10/mo instead. ### 5/5 — Fantastic app *2026-07-02, version 1.15.19* I have been enjoying the free version of the ascension app for 2 years. There is so much material available at my fingertips. Bible in a year, Catechism in a year, Sisters of life podcast, plus daily readings, saints and a short meditation from a whole variety of people available to me in my home or when I travel. 5 stars for sure!! ### 5/5 — My Bible app experience *2026-07-01, version 1.15.19* I love Bible apps it’s what is started with reading the bible I love the Goal of Ascension, and to my Brother in Christ Father Mike Schmidt, God bless ### 2/5 — Frustrating how this App works *2026-06-28, version 1.15.19* The content of this app is amazing, and God bless you all, you are providing outstanding and much needed education, but this app, UGH, it has always been extremely frustrating to navigate and get things to work. I’m a computer programmer, I’m old school, and the logic makes no sense. If I want to go back and listen to previous content, it’s impossible, you can’t go backward without a whole rigamarole. It’s more tedious than it needs to be. I don’t care for the icon driven platforms for this reason, it’s a mess. I spent a lot of time in settings trying to find where to reset things, and I did, but it would be helpful to not have these previously listened to check boxes blocking you from going back, just let us click a back arrow. Thank you ### 5/5 — A True Blessing for Returning Catholics *2026-06-25, version 1.15.19* I was raised Catholic but strayed from the Church in my early adulthood. After returning to the faith, I felt a strong urge to learn more fully about what I believe, to fill in the gaps from my Catholic upbringing. The Ascension app has done exactly that. The education it provides is thorough and truly invaluable. I completed the Bible in a Year podcast, and I’m currently working through the Catechism in a Year alongside Jeff Cavins’ Revelation study plan. All of this learning and transformation has made me a better mom, a better daughter, and I am becoming a better Catholic. I am so grateful to Father Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins, and to the entire Ascension team, for creating something that has genuinely helped transform my life. If you’re looking to deepen your Catholic faith, I cannot recommend this app enough. ### 5/5 — Fantastic App *2026-06-24, version 1.15.19* Thank God for this app and all the work Father Mike does! If it wasn’t for this app I would not be reading scripture. Besides that reading puts me to sleep its not easy to understand. Bible in a year has helped me listen , understand help me grow closer to GOD! I look forward to my lunch break daily to keep listening to the stories of the Bible. I am only 33 days in so I have a long way to go but super excited with my journey. Thanks to all who work at Ascension and also looking forward to Catechism in a year when Im done. ### 5/5 — Love this app *2026-06-22, version 1.15.19* I get so much out of this app and find new things every week. I was confirmed this Easter and have so much to learn. This app by far has been my best tool. I read the Bible in it and love the footnotes and explanations. I’m doing Bible in a year and a couple of other study plans. I love the daily readings. I can’t say enough good things about this app. Father Mike and Jeff Cavins are amazing! ### 5/5 — Benjamin Ward *2026-06-22, version 1.15.19* Reading ### 3/5 — Why change when it worked before? *2026-06-15, version 1.15.19* When I tried this app I wanted more information about the Scriptures. I faithfully opened my life to this app. Since a recent update I have noticed a lot has changed including highlighting Scriptures, sharing Scriptures to friends and family. Some functions don’t work as before so now it feels more like every other app with no pizzazz! As this is one of my daily favorites I will continue using it until I find something better. ### 3/5 — Fix the scrolling function please!! *2026-06-13, version 1.15.19* Love the content, and would really like to use the bible in a year here instead of on Amazon, but it’s almost impossible to scroll past day 10, because the scroll function is so super sensitive that the slightest leftward movement sends you back to the home screen. So frustrating if you’re trying to scroll to day 11 and on!! Please fix this!! Just make it easy to scroll down without sending back to the Home Screen please! ### 5/5 — Love this App *2026-06-12, version 1.15.19* I use the app every day. I have done Bible in a year and Rosary in a Yearwonderful. It makes everything more meaningfully and understandable. There are many more studies in there and Mass in a Months. They are many more studies in here too read and learn from. You will be glad you got this app! ### 5/5 — MUST HAVE APP for Christians *2026-06-11* The best daily liturgy format, the bible in a year, rosary and further more to keep in touch with the word of God at hand and at any time. I thank God for this amazing way to be connected with Him through this amazing work of Ascension team. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Expensive paywall *2026-07-10, version 1.15.19* This religion empties your credit card. ### 1/5 — Sinful and Greedy Paywall *2026-06-05, version 1.15.19* They’re slowly placing every feature behind a paywall. Soon you’ll have to pay $20 a month just to read the Bible. Why do I have to pay for the Daily Meditation now? They’ve ruined their app; you’re much better off finding an app created for the purpose of spreading the Good Word, not for the purpose of making money. ### 1/5 — Taking more money *2026-06-02, version 1.15.19* Loved the app until they just put even the daily meditation reading behind a pay wall. I’m sure more is to come. It’s just another money grab now ### 1/5 — App not good *2026-05-21, version 1.15.18* The application use interface is not at all good when it swipe up it’s wipes to the right please fix it ASAP ### 1/5 — Fraud *2026-04-13, version 1.15.14* I wanted to try the app on a 7 day trial and then I end up being charged for a full year. I just want a refund. ### 1/5 — Con Game *2026-03-14, version 1.15.13* Can’t I read the bible without giving you my personal information. What a bunch of Pharisees. ### 1/5 — Difficulty *2026-03-11, version 1.15.13* Great resources but, I have found it difficult to get around as well as the people that I have suggested follow the Lent program that I’m on with Father Colombia Jordan. Sometimes it’s hard to find him sometimes one has to wait for things to show up or other things get sent to you that you may not want like all this buying and selling of material and all these other prophetic voices that may indeed be wonderful, but I am interested in one person right now and not being flooded going through pages to find the correct site. What I have recommended it to my friends they give up, trying to find it and sent her around the one thing. It’s too much of a great thing which makes it not very good to get around.. ### 1/5 — Cannot Contact to Cancel *2026-03-03, version 1.15.13* I no longer use this app, since I find another Catholic app more useful to me. However, I was charged $64 for my annual renewal, but when I tried to cancel that charge and get a refund, there is no way to contact Ascension to do so. ### 1/5 — Disappointed *2026-02-21, version 1.15.12* This is not designed for the hearing impaired. There are free programs out there that are. No printed guides available but took my money anyway. Disappointing on Several levels. ### 1/5 — Disheartening *2026-02-19, version 1.15.12* I bought the Cruz journal thinking I could watch the videos and participate with the journal. I am surprised to find I cannot watch the videos without signing up for the app. $60 a year Unfortunately I cannot afford that. I truly feel duped. The journal itself was expensive. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Ascension Catholic Bible *2026-08-07, version 1.15.20* Definitely recommend this app 100% I love it. Easy to use and has many options to do different things. Love the Bible in a year and the way it’s explained. So worth getting it. ### 5/5 — Best Hidden Rosaries *2026-07-30, version 1.15.20* Great app but the do really stupid things with it sometimes. Like now evidently requiring a decoder ring to find rosaries ### 5/5 — The Best *2026-07-29, version 1.15.20* The Bible in a Year and Father Mike have really brought goodness into my life. Thank you! ### 5/5 — Great for lots of reasons *2026-07-29, version 1.15.20* I enjoy this app because it has the daily readings, Bible in a Year, Catechism in a year and several religious books. And the app is free! I do donate each month because I know it’s not free to produce, but I can can make that donation according to my means. Also there are courses we have used in our church group for discussion. It’s a great app! ### 5/5 — On the path *2026-07-26, version 1.15.20* I use this app everyday. It helps me stay focused on the things that really matter, God, family, integrity, and my fellow human beings. ### 5/5 — LOVE this App *2026-07-23, version 1.15.20* This app offers a wide selection of biblical topics. I’m going through the Bible in a Year for the second time and also have a deeper understanding of the Mass and Rosary. The studies of individual Bible books are also excellent. Highly recommended! ### 5/5 — Love Everything *2026-07-19, version 1.15.19* We use it every morning to start our day, and add Catholic Classics to our routine. ### 5/5 — My favorite catholic app and favorite ministry *2026-07-19, version 1.15.19* This ministry helped me to find my Catholic faith. Great bible app too. ### 5/5 — bible in a year *2026-07-13, version 1.15.19* I think it’s wonderful how you can do the Bible here I really understand it in a deeper way. ### 5/5 — Wow *2026-07-13, version 1.15.19* Incredible Bible app --- *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 2026-08-29.*