Cross+Reference vs BibleWise
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cross+Reference
Read full descriptionHide full description
Cross+Reference is a new way to Study the Bible. Read+Research+WriteItDown The App focuses on having a selected verse. This Sync verse gives context to what you are reading. The Sync Verse updates the content in other panels allowing them to be updated in the context of the Verse. Are you a Diligent Seeker? Cross+Reference is designed to help both the novice and experience Bible Scholars in research and improving their understanding of scriptures. You may display content to fill from one to ten Panels. Each Panel contains any of several content types from Bible verses to Notes and Videos. The full list of Panels is listed below by category. The Panel layouts are highly customizable and may be saved and recalled for quick access. Automatically Sync your Study (collection of notes, videos, etc.) between iPhone and iPad. Key Concepts: - Reading - Using the sync verse (see above) gives the Cross+Reference user the ability to quickly lookup a person or location without going to another App or the Web to get the details. The cities and kings of Israel are very important to understanding the deep details of how and why certain things happened the way they did through out the Bible. Using a research tool like the built in Easton Dictionary allows you to get context for the people and places of the selected verse. Cross+Reference quickly looks up each word in the selected verse and displays the found entries in a list. Selecting an entries displays the details. Additionally, Naves and Thompson concordances give similar ability with their content. - When taking notes simply typing a Book:Chapter:Verse reference (1Sam:16:15 for example) highlights as a link that when tapped immediately updates the Primary Bible sync verse to that verse. These links can even be copied into other Applications such as Apple Notes and can be tapped on there and opened in Cross+Reference - The Study - A Cross+Reference Study is a user document that contains Notes, web pages, documents, Videos links and a variety of other content that relates to a specific Bible topic. Whether it is for a personal study, Bible Study notes or the outline for an upcoming sermon, Cross+Reference provides many of the tools to aid in reading and research. Loads of features with lots to explore With 14 different Panel Types (see panel help for details) Reading Panels Primary Bible Panel - the Bible version that updates the Sync verse. It has 3 variations - Primary Bible - Select the Header to select the Version, Book Chapter and verse - Alternate Bible - Same as Primary but displays two Bible version side by side - Verse Selection - Same as Primary but the Version, Book Chapter and verse overlay remains available while scrolling the Bible Standalone Bible - same as Primary Bible except it does not update the Sync Verse Reader Version - Chapter based instead of verse base. allows reading in a more traditional way Multiple Bible Version - Allows displaying a the current Sync verse for Bible Version available Favorite - Create and maintain favorite verses for easily recalling the verse text. Research Panels Chapter Overview - provides a short write up for quick access to the major events and topics in a chapter. Based on the Westminster Reference Bible summaries. Search - Detailed search for finding specific word searches topics within the Bible. Also provides a convenient Web Search tab for searching the Web for a topic. Verses Reference - See all the text related to the sync verse Easton Dictionary Thompson Topics Naves Topical Concordance WriteItDown Panels Tag Bookmarks - Tag verses and research tools search terms for a Study Notes - with Bible verse link detection Notations - Notes Notation - Note taking - Bible Link Notation - A verse - Image with Note Notation - Web Notation - Web page - Document Notations - PDF, Office, iWork Docs, and other doc types - Video Notations - YouTube Video Links, Web Video URLs, video files from Photos and Files
BibleWise
Engage deeply with scripture through daily guided readings, verse explanations, and reflection prompts. Explore biblical concepts through conversation, create art from passages, and discover your purpose with goal-setting and habit-building tools.
- Daily verse explanation and context
- 90-day Bible reading journey
- Interactive scripture exploration
- Personal reflection saving
- Purpose Finder tool
- Goal setting and habit tracking
- Customizable themes
Read full descriptionHide full description
BibleWise: Live Your Faith Scripture was never meant to just sit on a shelf. It's meant to steady you, shape your days, and draw you closer to God. BibleWise helps you actually live it, a few minutes at a time. A daily verse chosen for your season, made personal to what you're carrying, with everything you need to understand it and carry it into your day. A quiet, contemplative space to journey through the whole Bible at a pace that fits your life. Read it your way • Choose your translation and edition: the World English Bible or the King James Version, in the Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox canon. Your place is always kept when you switch. • Move through the whole Bible in 90, 180, or 365 days, with milestone celebrations at 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and completion. • Tap any word for a clear, in-context definition, right where you're reading. What you receive each day • A daily verse with clear explanation, thoughtful context, practical application, and reflection prompts to help you engage more deeply with the passage. • A daily affirmation drawn from the verse, to carry its truth with you and speak over your day, saved to revisit whenever you need it. • A daily prayer inspired by the passage and shaped around what you're walking through, to close your time in stillness. Go deeper whenever you want • Explore Scripture through conversation. Ask about meaning, context, symbolism, difficult passages, or how a verse connects to your everyday life. • Turn any passage into a beautiful, original piece of artwork, from lilies of the field to dry bones to the road to Emmaus, all saved alongside your verses and reflections. • Personal reflections that save automatically as you write, so you can return to them anytime or share them with a friend. Practice your faith every day • Live: one small practice to carry into your day, the cornerstones of the faith explained plainly, and a gratitude journal that asks better questions than "what are you thankful for". • Learn: daily Bible trivia, a daily word puzzle called Manna, and short discoveries from Scripture you would never expect. • Lift: a guided breath prayer to steady you, comfort for eight of the hardest feelings, and an evening review to close the day well. Grow with intention • A guided Purpose Finder that helps you name your core values and shape a personal purpose statement to live by, in just a few unhurried minutes. • Goals you can set across the seasons of life, from the coming month to the next five years, with the quiet satisfaction of checking them off as you grow. • A simple habit practice to add one thing that draws you closer and release one that holds you back, tracking the days you stay faithful to it. Designed to stay with you • Save favorite verses and revisit them anytime, with beautifully made share cards you can send in one tap. • Set any verse or your daily artwork as a phone wallpaper, so Scripture meets you through the day. • Gentle daily reminders that help you return consistently without feeling distracting or overwhelming. • Light and dark themes crafted for calm reading, including a warm parchment mode for long, reflective sessions. • Made for phones and tablets. Privacy Policy: https://getbiblewise.com/privacy-policy.html Terms of Use: https://getbiblewise.com/terms-of-use.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cross+Reference at none against BibleWise's 6. BibleWise's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. BibleWise sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Cross+Reference asks for nothing beyond the download.
Cross+Reference ships an update every 5 months, BibleWise every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cross+Reference | BibleWise |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.9 (24 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 24 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 16.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 153 MB | 72 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Odeon Software Inc. | PetRhino LLC |
In-app purchases
Cross+Reference
No in-app purchases
BibleWise
- BibleWise Plus3 Days trial$3.997 Days
- BibleWise Plus7 Days trial$4.997 Days
- BibleWise Plus3 Days trial$8.991 Month
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- BibleWise Plus7 Days trial$11.991 Month
- BibleWise Plus3 Days trial$39.991 Year
- BibleWise Plus7 Days trial$64.991 Year
Questions
Is Cross+Reference free?
Is BibleWise free?
Do Cross+Reference or BibleWise have ads?
Which is updated more often, Cross+Reference or BibleWise?
Other comparisons















