# Baptist Hymnal Free — user reviews

> 77 indexed App Store user reviews of Baptist Hymnal Free by Lifeway Christian Resources, rated 2.40/5 from 42 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/baptist-hymnal-free/id465294957/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/baptist-hymnal-free/id465294957.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 9 · 4★ 3 · 3★ 5 · 2★ 4 · 1★ 21

## Newest reviews (14 of 77)

### 3/5 — Needs forScore and pct integration

*2025-04-20, version 1.3.8*

For score supports copy protected music. Please look into adding integration with this app.

### 3/5 — Help with my purchase

*2024-03-13, version 1.3.8*

I previously purchased this in the app.  My iPad had to be reset and now the app wants me to pay for it again.  Do I actually need to purchase it again?

### 2/5 — Limited

*2024-01-30, version 1.3.8*

I purchased this. It shows in my “purchased” apps, but when I tried to locate a hymn it said “ purchase” and gave the price. There are no user settings so I can’t find a way to tell the app that I did purchase it.

### 3/5 — Side it sideways

*2021-01-14, version 1.3.8*

I just purchased the entire hymnal i just hope that you do an update where we can swipe it side by side not swiping going up its hard to swipe up to the nect pages please do it sideways

### 4/5 — Would add option to make notes

*2020-02-08, version 1.3.8*

Great app! I really need to be able to make handwritten notes with my apple pencil, but cannot. That would make a WORLD difference!

### 3/5 — Love the quality, but not feasible for pianists

*2019-04-09, version 1.3.8*

I love the clarity and quality of the hymns so far on my iPad Pro. However, unless the hymn is only a 1-page hymn, it cannot be used for pianists. Updates need to include an ability to turn pages with a touch or a pedal instead of scrolling up and down. I cannot stop playing in the middle of a song to scroll the screen up and down.

### 1/5 — Needs updating

*2018-09-29, version 1.3.8*

Great idea, poorly supported. Does need to page like a book, instead of being a fancy bookmarked skin for Adobe reader. Also needs to work in full-screen mode. It would be nice to have multiple set lists, shareable set lists, etc. Please update this.

### 2/5 — Needs flexscores option

*2018-07-16, version 1.3.8*

Why does this app not offer Flexscores, where you may transpose a hymn into a different key?

### 2/5 — Change swipe to a left to right swipe instead of a vertical swipe

*2018-06-30, version 1.3.8*

Not a bad app. Love having all the music in one place. But having to swipe vertically is not a natural action for musicians. I use the app a lot less than I thought I would specifically for that reason. Also, set list should move from song to song instead of having to go back to tap for the next song.

### 1/5 — Unusable with recent update

*2018-06-28, version 1.3.8*

I am not sure if iOS 11.4 caused this, or if the most recent update to the app did, but all I get when I open the app is a blank white screen with the menu on top. I cannot access any content. I have erased and re-downloaded twice. No dice.

### 2/5 — Syncing

*2018-01-11, version 1.3.8*

You pay for the app and then it will work across my devices, I wish they would make it work for my iPhone. Otherwise it’s fine.

### 1/5 — Reinstall

*2017-11-19, version 1.3.8*

Tried to reinstall but it no longer gives me the option to “repurchase” so I do not have to buy it again. Maybe if you had it where you could use Lifeway sign in for confirmation or stop trying to be like the world and get every penny you can which is what it seems to be doing. Not very user friendly similar to other reviewers.

### 1/5 — Search is horrible

*2017-07-01, version 1.3.8*

I cannot believe this cost 10 dollars. It cannot search at all and lots of the popular songs from the older version of the hymnal are missing.

### 3/5 — Good app but needs some small tweaks.

*2017-03-15, version 1.3.8*

I really enough having the hymnal on my tablet but one thing that frustrates me is that when I select a song then open back up the navigational menus (Title or Hymn Number) it starts me back at the top (the "A" titles or hymn number 1). Would appreciate an update that opens those menus at the hymn you currently have open and therefore fixes this issue. It would be the difference in a 3-star rating and a 5-star rating!

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Can’t get off Abide with Me

*2025-09-26, version 1.3.8*

No matter what menu button I choose, app remains on Abide with Me

### 1/5 — Misleading

*2024-12-22, version 1.3.8*

App has in-app purchases for many of the hymns but does not list it as having in-app purchases.

### 1/5 — Cannot restore purchase

*2023-07-28, version 1.3.8*

It seems like you have to pay all over again if you have a new iPad.  There is no button to restore purchase.

### 1/5 — Please update this Hymnal app

*2022-08-04, version 1.3.8*

I echo others comments here as well.
-Left to right swiping
-Better set list usage
-search function update
-expanded hymn list, we have them the cd rom but not here

### 1/5 — VERY Dissatisfied

*2021-12-26, version 1.3.8*

I understood this was a free app. EVERY HYMN I tried to open was, instead, a $10 purchase.
False advertising.

### 1/5 — No transfer of upgrsde

*2021-10-29, version 1.3.8*

Won’t download upgrade 
I paid 9.99 to upgrade this app on my other iPad. Unlike ThE Weather Channel auto updated to this iPad.  This app wants me to pay another 9.99.

### 1/5 — Updating dissatisfaction

*2020-12-06, version 1.3.8*

Why can't this be updated? Is Lifeway just ripping us off?

You would think that a Christian organization like Lifeway would deal more honestly. This app is pretty much a rip-off of those of us who paid 9.99 for it. Not to be updated in this length of time is unacceptable.

Nothing new here, I guess. I'd like to add my agreement to other reviews on several items. 1. Make the app more like a book where you can page from hymn to hymn. A right swipe should take you from 622 to 623, etc. 2. Selecting either TOC should open at the hymn that you are viewing, not the beginning of the list. 3. The Setlist should page from one hymn to the next, you shouldn't have to go back to the index each time. The search function is pretty hopeless. Really difficult to use. Typing "What" brings up a whole list of titles including, Abide with Me. Function needs some polishing.I hope you will update soon. Our church no longer uses hymnals (sadly) but as a musician, I hate to sing off a screen with no notation.

### 1/5 — Already purchased

*2020-02-18, version 1.3.8*

I purchased this app awhile ago and purchased the full songs for 9.99 but when something happened to my old iPad 
 and it could not be fixed I downloaded this on my new one and could not recover my purchase. I have deleted and down loaded again and again without any success. Very disappointed because I enjoyed using it.

### 1/5 — Songs won’t load on either of my iPads

*2019-10-08, version 1.3.8*

I made the $10 purchase on my iPad Pro running iPadOS 13, and it won’t load anything when I open the app. I decided to try to salvage the purchase by trying the app on my iPad mini, but there’s no way for the app to recognize my purchase on another device. I made the $10 purchase on the LifeWay Worship Hymnal app, and thankfully it works. I sure wish I could get my $10 back.

### 1/5 — Not impressed...

*2019-04-08, version 1.3.8*

Not happy at all with this app.  You need to be able to swipe left/right or simply tap the screen to turn pages.  The up/down page turning is awkward and often results in page resizing. Also, you can’t even view an entire page on the iPad Pro.   I prefer the actual hymnal to using this app.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Great App

*2024-03-09, version 1.3.8*

I love this app. It’s easy to use by selecting him number or title. And it really helps to be able to set up a set list of hymns. You know you will use in worship. I set up my set list as I sit down and look at my bulletin, and then I’m ready to shift from one him to the next. Being able to use the app on an iPad or reader is a big help for those with vision problems like presbyopia and for poorly lit sanctuaries.

### 5/5 — Worship resource

*2020-06-14, version 1.3.8*

This is a very powerful and helpful tool for personal and cooperate worship. I use it almost everyday. The search feature works very well.  It allows us to search by title, key words, or hymn number. It is very fast. The only thing missing is the ability to make multiple lists.  You will have to get the LifeWay worship hymnal for that.  This is a great app to have during covid 19 at church where hymnal use is discouraged and at any worship situation where hymnals are not available but hymns sung.

### 5/5 — PLEASE, PLEASE UPDATE

*2020-02-22, version 1.3.8*

Please update to work with iOS 13.3.  on iPad Pro 11 with face idea and NO home button.  Paid for all the extra hymns after the free ones.  It will not let you close screen. Other apps are updated regularly

### 5/5 — Great hymnal

*2019-08-12, version 1.3.8*

This hymnal has great hymns in it - classics, as well some of the best moderns.  Good, sound, Biblical doctrine.  It is fairly easy to use, and on an iPad the music is large enough to read.

### 5/5 — A great App

*2018-11-05, version 1.3.8*

This is a very nice app.

If you have problems reinstalling the app, don't complain about it here, simply go to app support in the product screen. The instructions are there.

 You wont be charged if you try to purchase it again. It remembers you from last time. I just did it.

Its a really good app.  It works well for me on my old Ipad 2.

### 5/5 — Wish I had known

*2017-02-19, version 1.3.8*

Wish I had known that all I had to do is type in my password again and it would give me the message that I had already purchased it.  I didn't want to spend the $9.99 again. Even called Apple support and they could not help me.  You are correct, once I agreed to purchase it again, it gave me the message that I owned the product and downloaded all the songs.  Thanks for writing that review.

### 5/5 — Bought, lost, found

*2015-08-15, version 1.2.8*

I agree this is a pricy app, but it has what I need without a ton of web searching.
I, too, lost the paid version and didn't want to have to re-purchase the whole version.  I went to the support page of the app and it talked me through re-installing it.  When it asks if you want to buy it, and you proceed, it can tell you already bought it and it updates the app.  I have a lot more new songs now.  Thanks for updating, but shame for not telling what to do up front!

### 5/5 — great app!

*2015-07-30, version 1.2.8*

I had no problem changing ipads and keeping this app.  Since buying this several years ago at least 2 times though I have had to reload the app. I did this by saying that I wanted to buy it again and it said that I had already paid for it once and would I like to reload it. I said "yes" and it did at no extra charge.

### 5/5 — Only rated five stars to get you to notice it

*2015-06-21, version 1.2.8*

I just downloaded this app and was very excited, until I opened it. Most songs you have to pay for to see the lyrics, most of which you can look up for free on Google. I was hoping to have them all in one place, but I guess not.

### 5/5 — Love This App!

*2015-02-01, version 1.2.8*

I love this app!  We have a limited number of the 2008 hymnal and this comes in handy when beefing to see the words and music.  I sing in our choir and this app allows me to practice upcoming selections during the week.  The set list is amazing that I can put the hymns in order and just click down the line to the next one in queue.  Highly recommend!

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*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 2026-06-08.*