# SparkBible vs Cross+Reference

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cross+Reference at none against SparkBible's 18. Cross+Reference also leads on ads (none vs shown). SparkBible's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SparkBible sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Cross+Reference asks for nothing beyond the download.

SparkBible ships an update monthly, Cross+Reference every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SparkBible | Cross+Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkbible-bible-study/id1483326425/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 82.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 82 MB | 153 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Spark Bible LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1483326424) | [Odeon Software Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/304855629) |

## What reviewers say

### SparkBible

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkbible-bible-study/id1483326425)

This app facilitates daily Bible reading and in-depth study with video commentary, devotionals, and AI-powered insights. It offers advanced tools like Greek and Hebrew interlinear studies, catering to both new and experienced readers seeking to deepen their faith.

**Highlights:** Daily Bible reading guidance, Video commentary for every chapter, AI study insights for complex passages, Greek, Hebrew, and interlinear word studies, Highlighting, notes, and bookmarking, AI-powered Bible search

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Plus Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Plus Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Plus Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Plus Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Plus Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Plus Half-yearly | $23.95 | per 6 months |
| Plus Half-yearly | $23.99 | per 6 months |
| Plus Quarterly | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| Plus Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Plus Quarterly | $30.99 | per 3 months |
| Plus Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Plus Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Plus Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Plus Yearly | $85.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Seamless navigation
- 💡 Excellent integration of video resources
- 👍 Helpful Bible study tools
- 🚀 Comprehensive Bible content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔍 Limited Bible version selection
- 🔍 Lack of customization options
- 🔍 Difficulty finding or accessing certain features

**Reported bugs**

- Locking up between Bible chapters
- Incompatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

- Larger text size option
- More Bible version options (NASB, CSB, NLT)
- iPad app version
- Improved audio playback functionality


### Cross+Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cross-plus-reference/id1664482014)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SparkBible free?

SparkBible is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Cross+Reference free?

Cross+Reference is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do SparkBible or Cross+Reference have ads?

SparkBible shows ads; Cross+Reference does not.

### Which is updated more often, SparkBible or Cross+Reference?

SparkBible ships an update monthly, and Cross+Reference every 5 months. Most recently, SparkBible was updated on September 24, 2026 and Cross+Reference on September 10, 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.*