# Universalis vs Cursillo

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Universalis at 95% against Cursillo's 25%. Universalis also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.1) and ratings volume (9.6K vs 8). Cursillo's advantage is price (Free vs $9.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 11). On ads there is nothing between them.

Cursillo is free to download; Universalis costs $9.99 up front. Universalis sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Cursillo asks for nothing beyond the download.

Universalis holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universalis has 9.6K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 95% of Universalis's written reviews are positive against 25% of Cursillo's.

Universalis ships an update every 3 weeks, Cursillo every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universalis | Cursillo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (9.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universalis/id284942719/reviews)** | [3.1 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cursillo/id1322300979/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9.6K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **94.7% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#4** | — |
| Size | 78 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Universalis Publishing](https://appshunter.io/developer/284942722) | [Hold Me Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1214722925) |

## What reviewers say

### Universalis

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universalis/id284942719)

**Currently charting:** #4 Top Paid · Lifestyle, #81 Top Paid (US App Store)

This app provides the Liturgy of the Hours and Mass readings for every day, along with additional spiritual content. It offers offline access, customizable display options, and optional spoken audio. It's designed for daily prayer and spiritual enrichment.

**Highlights:** Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office), Daily Mass readings and prayers, Offline access, Customizable display (fonts, themes), Spiritual reading and commentaries, Optional spoken audio add-on

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Daily Mass Readings | $1.99 | per month |
| Daytime Hours | $2.99 | per month |
| All Hours | $2.99 | per month |
| Daily Mass Readings | $19.99 | per year |
| Daytime Hours | $29.99 | per year |
| All Hours | $29.99 | per year |
| Add-on translation: RSV Hours | $1.99 | one-time |
| Sung Latin Compline | $3.99 | one-time |
| Revelations of Divine Love | $5.99 | one-time |
| Journey into Light | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🙏 Wonderful Catholic app
- 🙌 Great app for Catholic devotions
- 📚 This is a wonderful app for the laity
- 🙏 Excellent resource for Mass and Liturgy of the Hours
- 🌟 Comprehensive and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Hymns selection could be improved
- 🤔 Navigation can be confusing
- 🤔 Kenyan version text does not match book
- 🤔 Difficult to navigate, missing menu buttons

**Reported bugs**

- Gospel readings sometimes incorrect
- App crashes when trying to change hymns or readings

**Requested features**

- Add Salesian saints and young saints
- Include NAB translation for US users
- Add option for 1962 liturgical calendar
- Improve hymn selection, especially for seasons
- Implement more inclusive language in prayers


### Cursillo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cursillo/id1322300979)

This app offers daily reflections for Cursillistas focused on piety, study, and action. It also allows users to track reconciliation, find ultreyas, and maintain a daily journal.

**Highlights:** Daily reflections on piety, study, and action, Track reconciliation, Find ultreyas, Daily journal, For Cursillistas

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universalis free?

Universalis costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Cursillo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Universalis or Cursillo?

Universalis is rated higher. Universalis averages 4.9 out of 5 from 9.6K ratings, while Cursillo averages 3.1 from 8 ratings.

### Do Universalis or Cursillo have ads?

Neither Universalis nor Cursillo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Universalis or Cursillo?

Universalis ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cursillo every 2 months. Most recently, Universalis was updated on October 15, 2026 and Cursillo on October 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.*