# SBN NOW vs CalPenTab

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SBN NOW at 93% against CalPenTab's 50%. SBN NOW also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 15 months). CalPenTab's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SBN NOW holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SBN NOW has 1.4K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of SBN NOW's written reviews are positive against 50% of CalPenTab's.

SBN NOW ships an update every 6 weeks, CalPenTab every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SBN NOW | CalPenTab |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sbn-now/id1086730150/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calpentab/id1605820011/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.4K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **93.1% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 85 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Jimmy Swaggart Ministries](https://appshunter.io/developer/839561928) | [churchme LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1384209471) |

## What reviewers say

### SBN NOW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sbn-now/id1086730150)

Stream live and on-demand Christian content from the Sonlife Broadcasting Network in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Enjoy original programming, search by speaker or singer, and download content for offline viewing.

**Highlights:** Live streams in multiple languages, Video on demand library, Search by speaker or singer, Closed captioning, Offline viewing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🙌 Powerful preaching and anointed worship
- 🕍 Church experience at home
- 🙏 Spiritual nourishment and growth
- 🎶 Excellent music and singing
- 📚 Comprehensive Bible teaching

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Technical issues with app (login, donating, etc.)
- 🙍‍♀️ Lack of personal response from ministry

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen issues
- Inability to change account information
- Donating and purchasing functionality problems

**Requested features**

- Sleep timer for overnight listening
- Ability to save password in app
- Separate section for Loren Larson sermons
- Music-only audio option
- Grouping of programs by Bible topic or book


### CalPenTab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calpentab/id1605820011)

Connect with your community and stay updated on all events and conversations. Watch videos and engage with content relevant to your interests. This app keeps you informed and involved.

**Highlights:** Join conversations, Stay updated on events, Watch videos, Community engagement

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SBN NOW free?

SBN NOW is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CalPenTab free?

CalPenTab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SBN NOW or CalPenTab?

SBN NOW is rated higher. SBN NOW averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while CalPenTab averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do SBN NOW or CalPenTab have ads?

Neither SBN NOW nor CalPenTab shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SBN NOW or CalPenTab?

SBN NOW ships an update every 6 weeks, and CalPenTab every 15 months. Most recently, SBN NOW was updated on October 29, 2026 and CalPenTab on October 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*