# Lifeway Reader — user reviews > 29 indexed App Store user reviews of Lifeway Reader by Lifeway Christian Resources, rated 2.20/5 from 24 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifeway-reader/id1594430709/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifeway-reader/id1594430709.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 4 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 13 ## Newest reviews (13 of 29) ### 1/5 — Nothing against Lifeway! *2023-03-15* Nothing against the organisation at all, I am just flagging that there is no point in downloading the app as it has the same functionality as the website. It doesn’t keep you signed in, so you have to re-log in each time which is frustrating…so there is no point in the app really I don’t think! ### 1/5 — Profoundly disappointing *2023-02-27* This is one of the worst apps I've ever had the unfortunate experience of using. I paid good money for a study guide that I can barely use and will never be able to go back to easily. Text disappears as I fill in the cumbersome text box below the actual "fill in the blanks" question, therefore rendering multiple question sentences unintelligible. There is nowhere to make side notes as the speaker implies us to do. I certainly don't have the luxury of a "margin" to take notes in, as many teachers suggest. I was under a time contstraint and HAD to use this as my only option under protest. I used this years ago and it was horrible. It has not improved one iota. Once again Lifeway, you suckered me in to spending money on an 'e-book' study guide that is not an e-book, and has left me thoroughly disappointed. ### 1/5 — Awful *2023-01-13* I can’t even get over the number of issues I have with this app. First off, it never remembers the last page you were on so I have to screen shot it before I close the app. If you have questions with answer boxes, sometimes they load, sometimes they don’t. I will never purchase a book from Lifeway again. ### 1/5 — PLEASE HIRE SOME CODERS TO FIX THIS OR START OVER *2022-11-28, version 1.0.4* The old Explore the Bible app and Bible Studies for Life app were actually pretty stable. You could purchase literature in the app, which was convenient. What happened? The Lifeway Reader app is buggy and unstable with too many issues to chase; however, here is a short list. -Almost every time I open the app, I am no longer signed in. -Workspace does not keep the last opened item. -Library needs a “Recents” tab or search. -Purchasing in app is a must fix. Having to go to Lifeway online store to purchase literature to use in the app is probably the most convoluted process I’ve come across. The bottom line is that individuals like me and churches that want to go digital can’t depend on Lifeway for a stable app. ### 1/5 — Not reliable *2022-11-03, version 1.0* I have to redownload the app every time I use it. Please fix this issue. ### 1/5 — Please address the problems *2022-10-28* I have purchased several e-book Bible studies from Lifeway and continue to have the same problems I see that other reviewers have had. I have to delete and re-install the app every morning before I am able to access the ebook properly. It gets frustrating given that it’s probably not a difficult fix and Lifeway is such a large and i suspect profitable company. ### 1/5 — Disappointing app *2022-09-24* Every day I have to delete this app and reinstall it if I want it to work properly for my ebook. What a disappointment and discouragement. I truly hope that Lifeway will fix this problem. ### 1/5 — Poor App *2022-07-24* As a support for Christian ministries, this App is embarrassing. For goodness sake, go outside of Lifeway if you have to and find someone who can build a functional App. An App that can be used while Online and Offline would be most helpful to many of us in rural areas….. you know, where the bulk of Baptist Churches are located. ### 1/5 — This app should be taken down! *2022-06-04, version 1.0* Absolutely dysfunctional. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t allow you to work on it *2022-05-26, version 1.0* Mostly can just read on it but the workspace for the questions keep disappearing. Very sad. ### 1/5 — App doesn’t work *2022-04-04* I’ve tried numerous times to load, reload, restart device, etc.. I’m afraid to delete the app and add back for fear of losing my progress in my Bible study. So frustrating. :( ### 1/5 — Needs all of God’s grace & love 😬 *2022-02-15* i have downloaded, deleted, re-downloaded, & cleared my cache. this app fails to consistently allow for working on your ebook for bible studies - more times than not, it is only reader friendly, not workspace friendly. i pray that the developers of this app fix all the kinks out so that this is truly a useful tool during what should be a peaceful & growth situation for the user. i know better than to pray for patience, but bruh… this app & using the workspace on safari 😳😬😅 ### 1/5 — Terrible app! *2022-02-14, version 1.0* I have been trying to use this app for a Bible study and will never make that mistake again. You cannot maneuver around the app.my purchased book only halftime shows up in library. Last week I could not get the answers I had written to load now this week it will only display the week ahead of what I’m working on and when I try to go back to the chapters list it is dead. Bible study is suppose to be peaceful and this has caused anger every time I try to have quiet time! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work; frustrating. *2026-05-24* After a tremendous amount of effort, both on my part and on the part of the church secretary, I was finally able to briefly access the literature for the Bible study class of which I am a member. But, halfway through the study, I am no longer able to access the material. It still shows in my digital library, which was set up through the church’s account rather than through mine; but, when I click the link for the book, I am directed to LifeWay On Demand, which a customer support agent at LifeWay insisted I also install. Both the current ebook and the following one, both of which were ordered, appear in LifeWay Reader; but, when directed to LifeWay on Demand, it doesn’t even show the current book, but only the upcoming one. However, the upcoming book (the only one that appears in LifeWay On Demand) doesn’t come up, either, since it was initially ordered and accessed through LifeWay Reader. Now, this is preventing me from accessing the material, and I’m falling behind. Terrible app! Apparently, LifeWay On Demand is better; but I am currently unable to transfer the study material to it. Bummer! ### 1/5 — Awful app *2025-10-09* this is my first time using and it’s horrible. First, I always have to re-login with a pain. Also, I would like to take notes and there’s no place to take notes. Says workspace, but when I push it, there’s no way to take a note. Also, I would like to change the default Bible, and it has no way to do that so I have to change it every time I pull the Bible up. Thankfully, this Bible study is only five more weeks and I will be done with it. I was really hoping to enjoy not having another book on my shelf. ### 1/5 — Filled with rage *2025-09-05* I feel strongly that Jesus would have flipped tables if he had to use this app. If he used the desktop version legions of angels would be called down. ### 1/5 — Lifeway doesn’t care *2025-06-29* With all of the issues that this app has and features that it doesn’t, it’s obvious that Lifeway doesn’t care about. Ebooks are not a profitable item for them, so this gets zero support or attention. ### 1/5 — Difficult to use *2024-11-12* The Lifeway Reader app is the worst app in the App Store. Have used it for several years and I still find it a 30 minute exercise is trying to get my library to open up. ### 1/5 — I hate to leave a negative review but *2024-08-14, version 1.0.8* This Lifeway reader app is frustrating and very difficult to move around in…I feel like it’s taken us back in time it is so unfriendly to use. I have spent years studying using the Kindle app on my iPad and it is easy to use. After downloading a book from lifeway that I wanted to study, I was so frustrated with this app that I went to Amazon and ordered the book format. And only because it’s a study I really want to do. I like ebooks because it’s an excellent way for me to study. Lifeway produces so many wonderful study materials but do not offer them in Kindle or provide a user friendly app to read and study with. This seriously limits the number of books I can purchase from Lifeway. ### 1/5 — Worst! Bad optics… *2024-05-18* Not even worth having an app if you are going to execute this poorly. Makes your company look even worse to have such a lackadaisical approach. Fix it or pull it. ### 1/5 — Crashes - can not open. *2024-04-28, version 1.0.8* This is the most useless app I've ever tried. And I have books I've bought in it. I will never buy a book from lifeway again. ### 1/5 — Agree! Terrible app. *2023-06-24* Agree with previous reviews. I don’t understand how Lifeway could publish such a bad app. They could use something like Kindle or Nook. I teach Sunday School and travel a lot so I will prepare for my lesson in a place where internet is not always available, like on a plane flight. Since the lesson can’t be downloaded to your computer, I copy and paste a lot of it since I can read on a plane. You have to sign in quite often in order to be able to view the lesson and they do there best to hide the sign in procedure. You can’t adjust font size of the lesson or expand the screen, so I hope you like font size 6 or 8. Terrible app! ### 1/5 — Yup it’s terrible *2023-06-07* Yup it is terrible. No way to download for offline use and you CANT RETURN ANY DIGITAL PURCHSES! So hope you aren’t like me who had never bought a digital book from Lifeway and learned all this after purchasing ## Most praised reviews (6 highest-rated) ### 4/5 — Does what it says *2025-02-26* Very simple, no frills, no fuss, just to read your purchases & other good, available reading material, & I think make notes..! I just got this app, a bit frustrating to figure it out, some hints or directions might be nice. But if you’re interested in just reading your daily devotional & supporting material, its not that hard to figure to type in search, “Daily Devotional” & stop finding excuses in this very basic non intrusive little app. I love Lifeway daily devotionals, Blessings ### 3/5 — Small font, needs offline mode *2025-02-24* Even at the highest font size setting the text is too small. Also I should not need internet access to see my content. ### 2/5 — Much room for improvement *2025-03-21* Giving this app 2 stars. Please note that once you login, you need to remain logged in. Its very inconvenient having to login in multiple times throughout your study, if you navigate to other apps or pages. Also need for it to pick up where you leave off and need for it to remember my settings. Please provide a link for the lifeway podcasts. This app has so many possibilities, but right now, its terrible. ### 2/5 — Very unreliable *2024-10-07* I got this app for my mom to read her devotions but the profile won’t stay logged in. Very frustrating! Please fix this! ### 2/5 — So many things it doesn’t do. Why? *2023-10-09* I have used this app for years because it is my only digital option for Lifeway materials. I have prayed and begged for revisions to this app to make it usable. Apparently that will never happen. PLEASE allow me to export my purchase to a useable app! I beg you. There are many other apps that will let me use my pencil or stylus to write my answers. There are many other apps that will let me STAY SIGNED IN. Above all, there are many other apps that will let me use my purchased material offline. If you can’t do these things (and we know you can’t because you haven’t) PLEASE let us export the books that we PAID FOR to apps that we can use. Thank you. ### 2/5 — No offline use *2022-07-05* I don’t always have cell or internet access so until one can download purchased items for offline use this app is not useful and I won’t purchase ebooks from Lifeway. --- *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 2026-08-26.*