Comparison

GM28 vs The MacArthur Study Bible

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

GM28

Share the gospel with people who don't speak English using pre-recorded messages in twelve languages. This app simplifies cross-cultural evangelism with interactive questionnaires and open-air preaching features.

Highlights
  • Gospel messages in 12 languages
  • Interactive questionnaire format
  • Open-air preaching feature
  • Downloadable messages
  • Simplified cross-cultural communication
Features
Read full description

GospelMate 2:8© Have you ever met someone with whom you wanted to share the gospel, but you couldn’t because they didn’t speak English? You can now (with the touch of your finger) present a clear biblical gospel in twelve different languages. We have compiled three two-and-a-half-minute gospel messages in twelve languages that can be downloaded onto your iPod in the form of a questionnaire, a straight gospel presentation, and an open air preaching message. No longer do you (or any missionary) have to actually learn a language before you can use it to present the message of everlasting life. This simple application will help you to communicate the gospel to those who don’t speak English (the “2:8” is from Acts 2:8: “And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?” ). How does it work? Imagine you wish to witness to a French person but you don’t speak French. You simply touch the French icon on your iPod screen, and it will say (in the French language) the words: “I’m doing a quick questionnaire. Do you have a few moments? All you have to do is answer Yes or No.” The French person answers “Oui” [Yes]. Then the Christian touches “Continue” on his screen, and he hears in French, “Do you think there’s a Heaven? Yes or no.” Whether he answers “Yes or no” he hears “If there IS one, do you think that you are good enough to go there--are you a ‘good’ person? Yes or No?" Then the GM 2:8© presents the entire gospel in a questionnaire form in his language, over the next few minutes. It does this in French (Parisian and Canadian), English, German, Spanish (Neutral and Castilian), Dutch, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin) and Turkish. GM 2:8© also has an open air preaching feature, where you can either repeat each foreign phrase or let it do the preaching for you. The Christian simply plugs his iPod into a larger amplifier, touches the applicable icon and an entire three-minute Gospel message is presented in any one of the twelve languages. Again, no longer will Christians have to spend years learning the language of the country in which they wish to witness. GM 2:8© does it all for them. It can also be used for those who want to share the gospel, but are fearful and don’t know what to say: www.100Languages.com

About

The MacArthur Study Bible

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
Read full description

For over half a century, Pastor John MacArthur devoted himself to helping you know and love God by helping you understand His Word. Now, imagine a Bible that gives you instant access to all of John’s insights on the passage you’re reading—one you can carry in your pocket. The MacArthur Study Bible app makes that a reality. - Read or listen to Scripture in trusted translations like the NAS, LSB, ESV, or KJV - Go deeper with John’s study guides, articles, related sermons, and daily devotionals - Highlight Bible passages, add your own notes, and bookmark verses - Customize your reading experience with font and display options - Synchronize your progress and data on multiple devices And now, with your free Grace to You account, you’ll also have access to John’s Notes from The MacArthur Study Bible, including nearly 25,000 detailed comments that help explain virtually every passage in the Bible. Along with the notes are dozens of articles, charts, maps, and helpful introductions to each book of the Bible—all designed to help you understand God’s Word more clearly. For more information about Grace to You, the Bible-teaching ministry of John MacArthur, please visit gty.org.

Screenshots

GM284 screens
The MacArthur Study Bible4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GM28 at none against The MacArthur Study Bible's 1. GM28 also leads on review sentiment (98% vs 66%) and iOS requirement (10.3 vs 15.1). The MacArthur Study Bible's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and update cadence (monthly vs every 47 months). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. The MacArthur Study Bible sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. GM28 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The MacArthur Study Bible holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The MacArthur Study Bible has 18K ratings behind it against 76, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 98% of GM28's written reviews are positive against 66% of The MacArthur Study Bible's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GM28 ships an update every 47 months, The MacArthur Study Bible monthly. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
GM28 versus The MacArthur Study Bible: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGM28The MacArthur Study Bible
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (76 ratings)4.9 (18K ratings) — better
Positive reviews98.5% of reviews — better65.8% of reviews
Number of ratings7618K — better
Update frequencyEvery 47 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.3 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB112 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLiving Waters PublicationsGrace to You

Customer experience

GM28

All ratings76 ratings
Positive82.9%
Neutral3.9%
Negative13.2%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive98.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.5%

The MacArthur Study Bible

All ratings17,640 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral1.3%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews506 reviews
Positive65.8%
Neutral11.7%
Negative22.5%

User reviews

GM28

From 76 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✝️ Effective gospel sharing tool
  • 🌐 Breaks language barriers
  • 🗣️ Audio gospel presentation
  • 💡 Innovative witnessing approach
  • 👍 Easy to use

Room to improve

  • 🪲 Needs app updates
  • 📱 Incompatible with newer iPhones
  • 🌐 Limited language availability
  • 🖼️ Reversed images in older versions
  • ⏳ Outdated UI for modern screens

The MacArthur Study Bible

From 18K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Bugs and requests

GM28

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App not functioning with new iPhone updates
  • Living Waters image is reversed
  • Not updated for 4" screens or iOS versions

Requested features

19 requests
  • Arabic language support
  • Hindi language support
  • Syrian language support
  • Romanian language support
  • Tagalog language support
Show 14 more
  • Lao language support
  • Vietnamese language support
  • Lebanese Arabic support
  • Egyptian Arabic support
  • Brazilian Portuguese language support
  • More Way of the Master content
  • Tips and answers to tricky questions
  • Evidence Bible-like features
  • Make available for non-Apple smartphones
  • Add important verses section
  • Add Ten Commandments section
  • Support for air speakers
  • Gospel Questionnaire in Korean
  • More languages like Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian

The MacArthur Study Bible

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

In-app purchases

None

GM28

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

The MacArthur Study Bible

One-time1
  • John MacArthur’s Study Bible NotesFree

Questions

Is GM28 free?
GM28 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is The MacArthur Study Bible free?
The MacArthur Study Bible is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, GM28 or The MacArthur Study Bible?
The MacArthur Study Bible is rated higher. GM28 averages 4.4 out of 5 from 76 ratings, while The MacArthur Study Bible averages 4.9 from 18K ratings.
Do GM28 or The MacArthur Study Bible have ads?
Neither GM28 nor The MacArthur Study Bible shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GM28 or The MacArthur Study Bible?
GM28 ships an update every 47 months, and The MacArthur Study Bible monthly. Most recently, GM28 was updated on October 23, 2026 and The MacArthur Study Bible on October 23, 2026.

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