# iPieta vs Catena

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Catena at 5.1K against iPieta's 516. Catena also leads on review sentiment (98% vs 88%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Catena holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Catena has 5.1K ratings behind it against 516, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of iPieta's written reviews are positive against 98% of Catena's.

iPieta ships an update fortnightly, Catena monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iPieta | Catena |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (516 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipieta/id311106959/reviews) | **[4.9 (5.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catena-bible-and-commentaries/id1218663640/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 516 | **5.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 88.2% of reviews | **97.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 12 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iVerbum](https://appshunter.io/developer/311106962) | [AD30 Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/6812890812) |

## What reviewers say

### iPieta

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipieta/id311106959)

Access a comprehensive collection of Catholic resources, including Bibles, catechisms, prayers, and spiritual works. Explore liturgical calendars, papal documents, and writings from Church Fathers. Features include search, history, bookmarks, and downloadable audio for select content.

**Highlights:** Catholic Bibles (Douay-Rheims, Clementine Vulgate), Multiple Catechisms (Baltimore, Roman, St. Thomas Aquinas), Ordinary & Extraordinary Liturgical Calendars, Extensive Devotions and Prayers, Spiritual Works from Church Fathers, Papal Encyclicals and Conciliar Documents, Search, History, Bookmarks, Highlights

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🙏 Best Catholic Prayer and Devotion App
- 📚 Wonderful resource for prayers, readings, and spiritual content
- 🕰️ Comprehensive coverage of traditional and modern Catholic practices
- 🔍 Extensive library of prayers, Bible translations, and Church documents
- 🌟 Invaluable tool for prayer life and spiritual growth

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Difficult to navigate and find desired content
- 🆕 Recent updates have made the app less user-friendly
- 🔇 Audio playback issues and missing features
- 🔄 Inconsistent user experience across updates
- 📱 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Reported bugs**

- Blank screen issues after recent updates
- Disappearing bookmarks and notes
- Stability problems and frequent crashes
- Incorrect calendar and liturgical information

**Requested features**

- More Bible translations and liturgical versions
- Improved search and browsing functionality
- Better organization and categorization of content
- Customizable audio playback controls
- Offline access and download options


### Catena

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catena-bible-and-commentaries/id1218663640)

Access scripture with verse-by-verse commentary from early Christian theologians. Gain insights into the roots of authentic faith and apply God's word to your spiritual life. This resource offers authoritative guidance for interpreting scripture and understanding the early church.

**Highlights:** Verse-by-verse commentary, Insights from church fathers, Early Christian theologian perspectives, Scripture interpretation guidance, Spiritual life application, Understanding the early church

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🙏 Thank you for your hard work
- 👍 Helpful commentaries and insights
- 🔍 Great for Bible study and learning
- 🕰️ Useful daily quotes from Church Fathers
- 🧭 Easy to navigate and use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔍 Missing some commentaries or translations
- 🔌 Offline functionality could be improved

**Reported bugs**

- Verse navigation sometimes gets stuck
- Difficulty accessing certain Bible versions
- Occasional freezing or white screen issues

**Requested features**

- Add more Bible translations
- Improve sharing and note-taking features
- Include Orthodox lectionary and liturgical calendar
- Provide source links for commentaries


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iPieta free?

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

### Is Catena free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iPieta or Catena?

Catena is rated higher. iPieta averages 4.7 out of 5 from 516 ratings, while Catena averages 4.9 from 5.1K ratings.

### Do iPieta or Catena have ads?

Neither iPieta nor Catena shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iPieta or Catena?

iPieta ships an update fortnightly, and Catena monthly. Most recently, iPieta was updated on October 31, 2026 and Catena on November 2, 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.*