# PocketBible Bible Study App — user reviews > 174 indexed App Store user reviews of PocketBible Bible Study App by Laridian, rated 4.40/5 from 381 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketbible-bible-study-app/id436998224/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketbible-bible-study-app/id436998224.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 288 · 4★ 31 · 3★ 20 · 2★ 22 · 1★ 20 ## Newest reviews (19 of 174) ### 4/5 — My go to Bible *2026-07-31, version 4.18.2* I bought Pocket Bible for my Palm Pilot a couple of decades ago. It has been my Bible app ever since. I started with the 1984 NIV Bible. Now I have about a dozen different versions of the Bible. I let the app read me a version of the Bible and once we get to the end of Revelation, I have the app start again with a different Bible version. My church does a deep dive every year on a couple books of the Bible. With Pocket Bible, I can read the passages, take notes, and highlight verses in multiple colors. For further study, I have purchased several commentaries in the app. I can switch between the Bible and the commentaries. A favorite attribute is that the commentary will open to the same passage I am reading in the Bible. Pocket Bible has all the top commentaries available to buy in the app. It is a terrific app, but I have two complaints. One complaint with the app is that adding notes, highlights, and bookmarks to the commentaries is not as good as it is for the app Bibles. My second complaint is that the app requires an entire verse of a bible be highlighted or have the note attached. Often I just want to highlight or add a note for one sentence or some words. However, there is no way I will ever give up this app. ### 4/5 — Great bible app *2025-09-08, version 4.18.2* Overall great app. Love the ability to simultaneously view and scroll between two different versions. Like the display customization options. My only criticism is that more accurate translations such as NRSV are not available to download. ### 4/5 — Highlighter not working *2025-05-26, version 4.18.2* I have used this app for years and love it but recently discovered the highlighter feature doesn't work on mine or my husband's phone which is so very frustrating for several reasons. Can anyone help with this PLEASE! ### 4/5 — I really like this *2025-05-02, version 4.18.2* But I simply can’t sync between the iPhone and the iPad. Nothing syncs. ### 5/5 — Superb Resource *2025-02-07, version 4.18.2* I have used PocketBible for several years and love it. The variety of features are easy to use, my personal notes on certain scriptures kept secure, split screen and highlighting available, simple search options with fast results, many bibles and books to choose from. ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2025-02-06, version 4.18.2* I have been using PocketBible for over twenty years and I find that it is an awesome tool to draw closer to G-d with. ### 5/5 — Excellent Platform to Study Bible *2025-01-31, version 4.18.2* One of my favorite Bible study apps. It’s easy to work with and the feature “auto study”, is fantastic!! Excellent Platform to Study Bible. ### 5/5 — Amazing and inspiring *2025-01-09, version 4.18.2* I first used PocketBible some 25 years ago and was part of the crowdfunding project that saw the app transformed into the comprehensive programme that it is today. It is such a wonderful service to the church family that Laridian offers with this. I now have thousands of notes appended throughout the Bible and couldn’t imagine being without it. I especially love the split panes to pull in commentaries, Greek and the like. Wonderful! ### 5/5 — One of the best Bible apps *2024-11-11, version 4.18.2* I have been using PocketBible since its conception when it was written for the Palm Pilot and Windows CE (I used both). At that time, there were very few Bible apps, if any, that could match what PocketBible offered. The app has never disappointed me ever since. While there are now some well-written competing apps available, the company still provides the best value in terms of the selection and costs for Bibles, commentaries, and other resources. Keep up the good work! ### 5/5 — PocketBible is just superb *2024-10-29, version 4.18.0* I have used PocketBible virtually daily for almost 10 years. It has never stagnated but continues to be significantly enhanced and now has AI built in! PB support responsiveness is always very swift and accurate. Pricing of the add-ons is very reasonable and sales are frequent. ### 5/5 — Awesome app *2024-05-19, version 4.17.0* I love this app. I have had it sense 2014. I would love to see AI ADDED. ### 5/5 — THE BEST Bible App "ever"!!! *2024-05-19, version 4.17.0* I have installed, over the years, ALL of the Bible translations they have available. The only one missing is the "Jamaican Pigeon Bible", one I would love to have! I even have the desktop version for macOS, and I use it on my Apple Notebook as well! I have used Pocket Bible since it first came out for the then popular "PalmPilot" ... they don't milk you with yearly fees. Buy it. It's yours ... forever!! ### 5/5 — Excellent, Powerful, Easy to Use *2024-03-21, version 4.17.0* I have been using PocketBible for many years on my iPhone, iPad, Mac, and PC. It has an excellent and easy to use search feature and I can easily add notes and highlights that sync across platforms. One big advantage that is has over some other software programs is that it works great even when I do not have internet access, which is common when I am on a plane or traveling overseas. My only disappointment is that I cannot load any French Bibles (though I can get what I need in Spanish). ### 5/5 — My refuge *2024-02-19, version 4.17.0* A constant companion for me; reminds me that I am loved & blessed. The app interface has been refined through the years and its now better than ever.🙏 ### 5/5 — Best for Sunday sermons *2024-01-15, version 4.17.0* For years this has been my go to application for devotional, and listening to sermons. During a sermon, one usually needs to navigate through several verses in the Bible referenced by the pastor. This application is by far the easiest to do that with, and also the easiest to take notes with. it is also the easiest to view references within Verses. I use several Bible apps, but this one is the one I use the most as it is the most versatile. ### 5/5 — Love the new update *2023-12-25, version 4.17.0* The new update works great. I have purchased the AFS version and I like the functions. ### 5/5 — My old worn edge iPhone *2023-11-26, version 4.17.0* I have been using PocketBible for nearly 15 years. It is aided my study, preaching prep and daily devotion. All my notes are in one place. It has replaced two bookshelves worth of Bibles, commentaries and dictionaries. What a wonderful resource may God continue to bless you richly as you continue adding additional value. Blessings Dr. I. David. Byrd ### 5/5 — Books *2023-11-26, version 4.17.0* I love it. Please add amplified classic!!!! ### 4/5 — I embrace my personalized word of God! *2023-11-20, version 4.17.0* I enjoy the personalized bible, I don’t appreciate the way it cut off when I click on a new text through audio after it starts especially after it worked previously! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — poorly done *2026-01-14, version 4.18.2* PocketBible is a perfect 5 star app on the phone and a 1 star app on the Mac desktop. The layout and gestures are not intuitive and the whole experience is frustrating. I would only recommend the phone version. ### 1/5 — Dreadful *2023-09-26, version 4.14.2* My version of PocketBible froze. So I removed the App & reinstalled PocketBible. Half my screen has the help program & I can’t seem to remove it. When I put a word in to check a reference , it will not bring it up but goes to the menu program which goes on forever. My original version was NIV, but now I have KJV, which I don’t want. I’ve spent considerable time trying to get the program to work & while I like PocketBible, I’m going to have to find another provider. Can someone help me? ### 1/5 — Immediately Uninstalled *2023-08-21, version 4.14.2* After installing I immediately uninstalled because the app required me to create an account even for the free stuff like other Bible translations. I have a book full of accounts because everyone wants one and I’m done with creating accounts unless absolutely necessary. I just want a simple Bible app. Don’t force a user to create an account for downloading free versions of the Bible. Require an account for personalized features such as notes, or for purchases. ### 1/5 — Favorite Bible has fallen from grace *2018-01-18, version 4.0.3* I have been a long time user of this Bible app. So frustrated by the latest revision. Performance on my iPad is ridiculously slow. Access to notes almost unusable, as delay “searching” for just my simple list of notes runs away resulting in long waits. And, to make matters worse, the design layout makes it too easy to hit a button on the left while editing, which takes me back to square one trying to find my note to edit. Then editor starts at front of document. And on and on and on... performance and design is sooooooooo bad. Please, return to your roots with innovation and a return to a compelling user experience!!!!! ### 1/5 — Update is horrible!!!! *2017-12-29, version 4.0.1* Lost all kinds of functions!!! Took me a LONG time to figure out how to adjust text size or fonts, etc. Lost all toggle controls (can’t move from book to book anymore without having to go to a menu button and select a different book!!!!). I really love and use that function, now you’ve taken it away, and even seem to proud about it. You shouldn’t have taken that out. PLEASE put it back!!! 😢 Why does everybody think its a good idea to totally change interface, making experienced users feel stupid and frustrated? I’m sure you all worked hard on this upgrade, but you’re now no better than Microsoft in succeeding to totally redo the program while totally frustrating you’re previously happy users! Oh bother! As you might see, I’m not happy!!!! ### 1/5 — User interface badly needs an update. *2016-06-14, version 3.4.0* I have been using this app since the pocket pc days. It's great all the books I bought are still available at no charge, but it feels like the interface hasn't been updated in that time. It is not intuitive, and doesn't make using of the scrolling and gestures that iOS provides and are now second nature. Every time I try to use this app I have to re-learn how to navigate. I would happily pay for a new app by laridian if it had a modern user interface. ### 1/5 — NIV is NOT included. *2015-12-02, version 3.4.0* The description uses language suggesting that the NIV is included, it's not. You have to pay I think it was $12 for it. And they force you to register to find that out. Not cool at all. Description should have been far more clear. ### 1/5 — Complicated! *2014-10-20, version 3.1.0* I downloaded this as I'd seen an advert on Twitter and it looked great. However, I have not been able to see any versions of the Bible, only a whole lot of notes on how to use the App. (I'd followed the instructions on downloading a Bible version). I will stick to the other Apps I have and my paper versions, for now. It's a shame. ### 1/5 — E-mailing your account details to the world *2014-01-02, version 3.0.26* Not bad Bible software in itself, but Laridian e-mail you your account login and password every month, in plain text. If you use your iTunes account they will email this, with the password, in plain text, across the Internet every month. If you want to distribute your iTunes account details as widely as possible, this is the software for you. I have had a lengthy discussion with Laridian about this, but they can't see anything wrong with what they are doing. ### 1/5 — Unhappy *2012-04-16, version 2.0.4* If there would have been the NIV & NLT included in the free version this would be a great app. You have to purchase these Bibles and they're not cheap. Better to stick with YouVersion. Afterall, it's free. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — THANK YOU! I LOVE IT! *2026-06-22, version 4.18.2* I use it every day for personal bible study, sermons and group study’s. I love having version of my choice, commentary and my notes all alongside each other. I have 100s of hours of notes in mine! Recently however when I close it, it doesnt open in the same place but many verses earlier. Frustrating. Also at least once a week it freezes. But I still use it daily and still love it ### 5/5 — Reliable and helpful *2026-04-22, version 4.18.2* Allows you to read the Bible with a lot of free resources, like devotionals. If you buy the maps and timeline, it will enrich your reading of the Bible. Or you could have two or more books side by side. I’ve had this app for years, I can always access my purchases, and this just works reliably. ### 5/5 — Elegant, great app *2026-01-30, version 4.18.2* I have used PocketBible since 2003. Started with PocketPC, then desktop, then iPhone and iPad. The developer does not let the app get stale. It’s reliable and it’s great to have a Bible always with me. Plenty of resources to choose from and able to search across all of them. It’s intuitive to use and nice to sync everything. It’s what all apps should strive to be. ### 5/5 — Best App *2025-12-01, version 4.18.2* I have used PocketBible for years. Adding more books and translations is such a blessing for deep bible study! ### 5/5 — Add a new bible *2025-11-02, version 4.18.2* Love to see you add the NRSVUE ### 5/5 — Still going strong *2025-10-26, version 4.18.2* I love this App. I also have had since the Palm pilot days. What I like is the search function that keeps you in the same place in any open book. You can go between multiple open texts. I used it quickly copy text and export to sermons and teaching. As for value for money it is fantastic. Once purchased it is well supported and you can add material like Strongs numbers to Greek & Hebrew words. It is fast and never crashes. Easy to navigate as well. I keep recommending the app to anyone looking for the best interface with Scripture or Cristian study materials. ### 5/5 — Superb Resource *2025-09-28, version 4.18.2* I have used PocketBible for several years and love it. Features are easy to use. I especially like adding notes, highlights, copy paste and split screen options. Searching is simple and fast results, with choice to add various bibles and books. ### 5/5 — The best app EVER!! *2025-08-08, version 4.18.2* This is an amazing app. Once you purchase different books, they work seamlessly together. You can setup multiple panes and switch between all your commentaries, dictionaries, and maps. The reading programs keep you on track. Note taking is amazing. I love going back to old notes from years ago to reminisce. I have never had a problem with this program. The owner of the app is very receptive and he really tries to accommodate. I can’t say enough good things about this program. I have used this app since I had a pocket pc. I will use it till I die. ### 5/5 — More than a resource - Everything you need! *2025-03-23, version 4.18.2* To the best of my knowledge, I have been using PocketBible for over 20 years. I have grown my collection of Bibles, Commentaries, Dictionaries, Devotionals, and other books to include over 340 installed books. Many books were free, so many at deep, deep discounts. My collection of books would cover a wall bookshelf. What is so great about this program is that I can type in a word, or sentence and then search all 340+ books simultaneously! My research ability is amazing; studying becomes fun and exciting. The multi-platform use is sweet, I have this on my ipad, iphone, Windows desktop and Macbook, all my notes, highlights etc are saved across all my platforms. This is a MUST HAVE for those who wish to learn and study the Word of God! ### 5/5 — Long time user (TheMessage thru PocketBible) the Best Bible App! *2025-03-04, version 4.18.2* It’s interesting that I’ve been using this App (PocketBible) since its inception when it first appeared in the late 1990’s as, “The Message”, for Apple Newton MessagePad (NewtonOS) which I used on an MP2100 which included the KJV, a purchased licensed copy of NIV, along with RSV which at the time needed a request for permission to use. When it transitioned to, “MyBible”, for Palm Pilot (PalmOS) and Dell Axim X5 (WindowsCE). To present day using it on my current iPhone, iPad Pro M2 (iOS) and my MacBook Pro 2012 and 16” M2 Pro (MacOS). Through the years one thing has always occurred. The developer started out with an App that got the Bible into the hands of users. Making it easier to read the word of God, do searches, study it, and understand it. This started out with three versions KJV, NIV, and RSV. Now we have numerous other Bible versions like The Message, NLT, and etc. There are Dictionaries, Study Guides, and Devotionals to help grow your faith. Continually the developer has written code to enhance the User Interface. View multiple Bibles at the same time to compare texts. Highlight text, copy and paste, add notes, and numerous other features. It’s my opinion this App has continuously been developed to benefit the End User. With a simple theme, easy of use, great features, awesome support, listens to end user issues, and widens the breath and reach of the Word of God to the ends of the earth. One final note, though right now the trend is to rent the software through a subscription model led by major software vendors this programs model has been to been FREE. You just need a license for the Bible’s and other reading materials you are interested in. All the basic need features in the app are present. A small minimal subscription special features package is offered for additional features some might feel worth while to pay for is offered an even at that he occasionally will offer a life time package for special features at differing levels that cover one platform to all platforms (and that all platform model offers even new upcoming platforms) when I’ve saved up enough I’m going to buy the top tier offering personally. --- *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 2026-09-03.*