GM28 vs The MacArthur Study Bible
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Gospel messages in 12 languages
- Interactive questionnaire format
- Open-air preaching feature
- Downloadable messages
- Simplified cross-cultural communication
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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
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. The MacArthur Study Bible sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. GM28 asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
GM28 ships an update every 47 months, The MacArthur Study Bible monthly. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.
| Parameter | GM28 | The MacArthur Study Bible |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (76 ratings) | 4.9 (18K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 98.5% of reviews — better | 65.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 76 | 18K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 47 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 10.3 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 112 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Living Waters Publications | Grace to You |
Customer experience
GM28
The MacArthur Study Bible
User reviews
GM28
From 76 App Store ratingsWhat 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 ratingsWhat 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
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- 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
GM28
No in-app purchases
The MacArthur Study Bible
- John MacArthur’s Study Bible NotesFree
Questions
Is GM28 free?
Is The MacArthur Study Bible free?
Which has better reviews, GM28 or The MacArthur Study Bible?
Do GM28 or The MacArthur Study Bible have ads?
Which is updated more often, GM28 or The MacArthur Study Bible?
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