# Pencil Bible vs ScriptureWriter

The clearest difference is rating: ScriptureWriter at 5.0 against Pencil Bible's 4.2. ScriptureWriter also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 15). Pencil Bible's advantage is ratings volume (1.5K vs 1) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.6). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pencil Bible sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. ScriptureWriter asks for nothing beyond the download.

ScriptureWriter holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pencil Bible has 1.5K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Pencil Bible ships an update every 8 days, ScriptureWriter fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pencil Bible | ScriptureWriter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-bible-journal-and-study/id1612587185/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scripturewriter/id6755567704/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 58.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 279 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Launch Round](https://appshunter.io/developer/1580265297) | [www.GraceSelah.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/424711935) |

## What reviewers say

### Pencil Bible

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-bible-journal-and-study/id1612587185)

This app allows users to write notes, highlight scripture, and draw directly on Bible pages, enhancing spiritual study and reflection. It supports various Bible translations and offers a free tier with limited annotation, with an option to upgrade for unlimited access.

**Highlights:** Write notes on scripture, Highlight verses, Draw directly on Bible pages, Support for multiple Bible translations, Annotation on iPad and iPhone, Dark Mode

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly 2026 | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| 2025 Easter Special | $18.99 | per year |
| Christmas Discount | $19.99 | per year |
| 2025 Christmas Sale | $28.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| NVI Santa Biblia (NIV Spanish) | $4.99 | one-time |
| NVIP | $4.99 | one-time |
| ESV | $8.99 | one-time |
| CSB | $9.99 | one-time |
| NLT (New Living Translation) | $9.99 | one-time |
| New King James Version | $9.99 | one-time |
| TPT | $12.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent concept and idea
- 👍 Sleek and appealing design
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 👍 Customizable layout and settings
- 👍 Ability to write, highlight, and annotate

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Laggy and glitchy writing/drawing experience
- 🐛 Lack of palm rejection causing unintended input
- 🐛 Scrolling issues and limitations
- 🐛 Inconsistent behavior and bugs
- 💰 Expensive subscription model

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and app freezes
- Disappearing annotations and notes
- Misaligned or distorted writing
- Issues with Apple Pencil compatibility
- Inconsistent behavior across device types

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode support
- Split-screen/multi-tasking capabilities
- More Bible version options (e.g. NIV, NASB, CSB)
- Ability to add custom pages/sections
- Improved pencil/stylus functionality (e.g. pressure sensitivity, customizable tools)


### ScriptureWriter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scripturewriter/id6755567704)

This app transforms your iPad into a digital space for handwriting the Bible, verse by verse. It offers guided writing, multiple translation options, and personalization features to deepen your study and reflection.

**Highlights:** Handwrite Bible verses with Apple Pencil or finger, Multiple Bible translations and import options, Personalize font, text size, and background colors, Separate spaces for verses and personal notes, Export handwriting to PDF and create backups, Supports iPhone and iPad

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pencil Bible free?

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

### Is ScriptureWriter free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pencil Bible or ScriptureWriter?

ScriptureWriter is rated higher. Pencil Bible averages 4.2 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while ScriptureWriter averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Pencil Bible or ScriptureWriter have ads?

Neither Pencil Bible nor ScriptureWriter shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pencil Bible or ScriptureWriter?

Pencil Bible ships an update every 8 days, and ScriptureWriter fortnightly. Most recently, Pencil Bible was updated on October 30, 2026 and ScriptureWriter on October 12, 2026.

---

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