# BibleRef vs Bybel

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BibleRef at none against Bybel's 2. BibleRef also leads on ratings volume (180 vs 22). Bybel's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bybel sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. BibleRef asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bybel holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BibleRef has 180 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of BibleRef's written reviews are positive against 100% of Bybel's.

BibleRef ships an update every 4 months, Bybel every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BibleRef | Bybel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (180 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bibleref/id1596177226/reviews) | **[5.0 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bybel/id6759180288/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **180** | 22 |
| Positive reviews | 87.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 171 MB | 135 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Got Questions Ministries](https://appshunter.io/developer/366553553) | [Mashly LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1874024061) |

## What reviewers say

### BibleRef

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bibleref/id1596177226)

Access verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter Bible commentary with extensive cross-references and context explanations. Understand scripture with easy-to-read explanations and multiple Bible translations.

**Highlights:** Verse-by-verse commentary, Chapter-by-chapter commentary, Extensive cross-references, Context explanation, Six Bible translations, Regularly updated content

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Comprehensive verse-by-verse commentary and explanations
- 👍 User-friendly and intuitive interface design
- 🆓 Completely free with no paywalls or subscriptions
- 📖 Multiple Bible translations available for comparison
- 🎯 Helpful context and summary sections for each chapter

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ Incomplete coverage of Old Testament books
- 🔄 Many sections marked 'Coming Soon' throughout app
- 🐛 App freezes and won't download updates
- ❌ Missing features compared to other Bible apps
- 📊 Inconsistent commentary availability across books

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes and won't download updates
- Crashes after iOS updates
- Performance issues with certain devices
- Inconsistent loading of commentary sections

**Requested features**

- Highlighter and font size adjustment options
- Audio/text-to-speech functionality for commentary
- iPad version of the app
- Bookmark or reading progress tracker
- Search function for verses and topics


### Bybel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bybel/id6759180288)

Engage with Scripture daily through curated passages, cinematic videos, narrated readings, and guided meditations. Track your progress, revisit content, and explore biblical locations. Offers two Bible translations and customizable reading experiences.

**Highlights:** Daily curated Bible passages, Cinematic videos and narrated readings, Interactive infographics and guided meditations, Progress tracking and journaling, Two Bible translations (KJV, WEB), Customizable font size and narration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bybel Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Bybel Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BibleRef free?

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

### Is Bybel free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BibleRef or Bybel?

Bybel is rated higher. BibleRef averages 4.6 out of 5 from 180 ratings, while Bybel averages 5.0 from 22 ratings.

### Do BibleRef or Bybel have ads?

Neither BibleRef nor Bybel shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BibleRef or Bybel?

BibleRef ships an update every 4 months, and Bybel every 5 days. Most recently, BibleRef was updated on November 3, 2026 and Bybel on November 5, 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.*