# The Encounter vs Synaxis

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Synaxis at 100% against The Encounter's 59%. Synaxis also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5). The Encounter's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Encounter sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Synaxis sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Synaxis holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 55 and 63 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of The Encounter's written reviews are positive against 100% of Synaxis's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Encounter | Synaxis |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-encounter/id1596789782/reviews) | **[4.9 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synaxis-orthodox-calendar/id6780192283/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 55 | **63** |
| Positive reviews | 58.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 82 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Faithtree Resources](https://appshunter.io/developer/1596789784) | [Vytautas Jazbutis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1829284015) |

## What reviewers say

### The Encounter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-encounter/id1596789782)

This app provides daily Orthodox prayers, scripture readings, saint stories, and hymns to help users establish a consistent prayer rhythm. It offers guided prayers, a library for various occasions, and sacred music to foster a deeper connection with faith.

**Highlights:** Daily Morning, Noonday, and Evening Prayers, Guided prayers with text and audio, Daily Gospel and Epistle scripture readings, Prayer library for various occasions, Saint of the Day profiles, Orthodox chant and hymns, Book of Psalms

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Content | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium yearly subscription | $39.99 | per year |


### Synaxis

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synaxis-orthodox-calendar/id6780192283)

This app provides a reverent companion for Orthodox Christians, offering daily fasting rules, saints, readings, and prayers. It supports both New and Old calendars and includes a prayer rope feature. An optional one-time purchase unlocks advanced planning and tracking tools.

**Highlights:** Daily fasting rules and calendar, Saints and commemorations, Appointed daily readings, Daily prayer rule, Jesus Prayer rope, New and Old Calendar support, Home screen widget

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Synaxis Pro | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Encounter free?

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

### Is Synaxis free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Encounter or Synaxis?

Synaxis is rated higher. The Encounter averages 4.5 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while Synaxis averages 4.9 from 63 ratings.

### Do The Encounter or Synaxis have ads?

Synaxis shows ads; The Encounter does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Encounter or Synaxis?

The Encounter ships an update every 2 weeks, and Synaxis every 2 weeks. Most recently, The Encounter was updated on October 20, 2026 and Synaxis on October 28, 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.*