# NIV Bible App + vs The MacArthur Study Bible

NIV Bible App + and The MacArthur Study Bible both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 91% of NIV Bible App +'s written reviews are positive against 66% of The MacArthur Study Bible's. NIV Bible App + also leads on ratings volume (159K vs 18K) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). The MacArthur Study Bible's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NIV Bible App + sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and The MacArthur Study Bible sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for NIV Bible App + against 4.9 for The MacArthur Study Bible. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NIV Bible App + has 159K ratings behind it against 18K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of NIV Bible App +'s written reviews are positive against 66% of The MacArthur Study Bible's.

NIV Bible App + ships an update fortnightly, The MacArthur Study Bible monthly. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | NIV Bible App + | The MacArthur Study Bible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (159K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niv-bible-app-plus/id291270748/reviews) | **[4.9 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-macarthur-study-bible/id992237916/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **159K** | 18K |
| Positive reviews | **90.9% of reviews** | 65.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#177** | #210 |
| Size | 100 MB | 112 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gospel Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1531548977) | [Grace to You](https://appshunter.io/developer/992237915) |

## What reviewers say

### NIV Bible App +

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/niv-bible-app-plus/id291270748)

**Currently charting:** #177 Top Free · Reference (US App Store)

This app provides tools for reading, studying, listening to, and watching biblical content. It offers free Bible translations and resources, with options to purchase additional study materials or subscribe to curated packs. Access to videos and audiobooks enhances the study experience.

**Highlights:** Read Bible translations, Study resources, Audio Bibles and books, Watch biblical videos, Devotional reading plans, Subscription study packs

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starter Pack Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| ESV Study Pack Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| NIV Study Pack Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| NKJV Study Pack Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| NLT Bible Study Pack Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| NIV Study Pack Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| NIV Bible | Free | one-time |
| New Living Translation - NLT | $9.99 | one-time |
| The Message - MSG | $11.99 | one-time |
| NIV Study Bible Notes | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient to have Bible on phone
- 🚀 Helpful features like notes, highlights, and search
- 🚀 Ability to switch between translations
- 🚀 Offline access to Bible

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🐛 Difficulty with highlighting and note-taking
- 🔒 Concerns about subscription/payment model
- 🔒 Issues with login and account creation

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes or freezes when trying to access certain features
- Inability to update or change Bible version
- Verse references not displaying correctly

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved highlighting and note-taking functionality
- More customization options
- Ability to select specific Bible versions
- Better integration with other Bible study tools


### The MacArthur Study Bible

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-macarthur-study-bible/id992237916)

**Currently charting:** #210 Top Free · Reference (US App Store)

Access a vast library of biblical resources, including multiple scripture translations and over 3,000 sermons. Enhance your understanding with study notes, articles, and daily devotionals. Synchronize your personal data across devices for a seamless study experience.

**Highlights:** Multiple Bible translations (ESV, NAS, KJV), Extensive sermon archive, Highlighting and note-taking, Daily Bible reading plan, Study guides and articles, Cross-device data synchronization

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| John MacArthur’s Study Bible Notes | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🙏 Excellent study resource
- 📚 Helpful commentary and notes
- 🔍 Useful cross-references
- 🎧 Convenient audio Bible
- 🕰️ Daily devotionals and sermons

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent freezing and crashes
- 🔀 Jumping to wrong chapters/verses
- 💤 Slow performance and unresponsiveness
- 🔍 Highlighting issues (can only highlight one verse at a time)
- 🔗 Broken links and navigation problems

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to create account
- Inability to access saved notes and highlights
- Incompatibility issues with newer iOS devices
- Devotionals not updating regularly

**Requested features**

- Support for more Bible translations (e.g. NIV, NLT)
- Improved highlighting and note-taking capabilities
- Seamless syncing across devices
- Customizable font and theme options
- Better integration with other Bible study tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NIV Bible App + free?

NIV Bible App + is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is The MacArthur Study Bible free?

The MacArthur Study Bible is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NIV Bible App + or The MacArthur Study Bible?

The MacArthur Study Bible is rated higher. NIV Bible App + averages 4.8 out of 5 from 159K ratings, while The MacArthur Study Bible averages 4.9 from 18K ratings.

### Do NIV Bible App + or The MacArthur Study Bible have ads?

Neither NIV Bible App + nor The MacArthur Study Bible shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NIV Bible App + or The MacArthur Study Bible?

NIV Bible App + ships an update fortnightly, and The MacArthur Study Bible monthly. Most recently, NIV Bible App + was updated on November 6, 2026 and The MacArthur Study Bible on November 6, 2026.

### Which is more popular, NIV Bible App + or The MacArthur Study Bible?

NIV Bible App + currently peaks at #177 in the App Store charts, and The MacArthur Study Bible at #210. 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.*