# Bible vs Bible Gateway

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Bible at 99% against Bible Gateway's 18%. Bible also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 9). On price, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bible Gateway sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Bible asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bible holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bible has 14M ratings behind it against 10K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 99% of Bible's written reviews are positive against 18% of Bible Gateway's.

Bible ships an update every 2 weeks, Bible Gateway monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bible | Bible Gateway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (14M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bible/id282935706/reviews)** | [3.7 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bible-gateway/id506512797/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14M** | 10K |
| Positive reviews | **98.9% of reviews** | 18.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#1** | #78 |
| Size | 172 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Life.Church](https://appshunter.io/developer/282935709) | [HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/444535393) |

## What reviewers say

### Bible

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bible/id282935706)

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Free · Reference, #116 Top Free (US App Store)

Access a vast library of Bible versions in multiple languages, listen to audio Bibles, and engage in daily study with friends. Create prayers, add notes, and customize your reading experience with themes and verse images.

**Highlights:** 3,500+ Bible versions, Audio Bibles, Thousands of Reading Plans, Create and organize Prayers, Study with Friends, Offline Bible access, Customizable themes and notes

**Features:** Apple Wallet, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🙏 Brings me closer to God
- 💡 Convenient access to the Bible
- 🚀 Seamless user experience
- 🤝 Connects me with a community of believers
- 📚 Vast selection of Bible versions and reading plans

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔄 Frustrating streak reset issue
- 🕰️ Slow performance on older devices
- 🔍 Difficulty finding specific verses or passages

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional app crashes or freezes
- Syncing issues with reading plans and notes

**Requested features**

- Offline Bible access without needing internet
- More customization options for the user interface
- Improved search and navigation functionality
- Integration with other Bible study tools and resources


### Bible Gateway

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bible-gateway/id506512797)

**Currently charting:** #78 Top Free · Reference, #94 Top Grossing · Reference (US App Store)

Access over 200 Bible translations and audio Bibles in multiple languages for free. Enhance your reading with features like highlighting, note-taking, and verse syncing. An optional upgrade offers an ad-free experience and access to extensive study tools.

**Highlights:** 200+ Bible translations, Audio Bibles, Search by keyword, verse, or topic, Highlighting and note-taking, Cross-device syncing, Reading plans, Verse of the Day

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bible Gateway Plus Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Bible Gateway Plus Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Bible Gateway Plus Yearly | $58.99 | per year |
| Bible Gateway Plus Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| Bible Gateway Plus Yearly | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent Bible study tool
- 🔍 Wide range of translations and languages
- 🎧 Useful audio Bible feature
- 📚 Comprehensive Bible resources
- 🗓️ Helpful reading plans and reminders

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 📱 Compatibility issues with newer devices
- 💤 Audio playback issues and resets
- 🔍 Inconsistent search functionality
- 📝 Limited note-taking and highlighting options

**Reported bugs**

- Verses not displaying correctly
- Inability to navigate to specific chapters/verses
- Saved notes and highlights not persisting
- Audio playback issues and resets

**Requested features**

- Offline Bible downloads
- More translation options (e.g., NRSV, Good News)
- Improved note-taking and highlighting capabilities
- Customizable font and layout options
- Seamless syncing across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bible free?

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

### Is Bible Gateway free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bible or Bible Gateway?

Bible is rated higher. Bible averages 4.9 out of 5 from 14M ratings, while Bible Gateway averages 3.7 from 10K ratings.

### Do Bible or Bible Gateway have ads?

Bible Gateway shows ads; Bible does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bible or Bible Gateway?

Bible ships an update every 2 weeks, and Bible Gateway monthly. Most recently, Bible was updated on September 27, 2026 and Bible Gateway on September 26, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Bible or Bible Gateway?

Bible currently peaks at #1 in the App Store charts, and Bible Gateway at #78. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*