Comparison

ESV Bible vs Bible Audio

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

Head to head
About

ESV Bible

Easily read, study, and engage with scripture on your mobile device. Features audio Bibles, customizable reading plans, and in-depth study resources. Sync your notes and highlights across devices.

Highlights
  • Distraction-free reader mode
  • Search by reference, keyword, or phrase
  • Listen to audio Bibles with background music
  • Over 50 Bible reading plans
  • Access to study Bibles and commentaries
  • Personal notes and highlighting
  • Cross-device syncing
Features
Read full description

The ESV Bible app allows you to easily read, study, and engage with God’s Word wherever you go, making it the best possible Bible reading experience for your phone or tablet. Listen to Scripture with audio Bibles and meditate on God’s Word with instrumental background music. Customize your experience with a wide variety of reading plans and thematic playlist options, helping you make daily Bible reading a habit every day. READ THE BIBLE WHEREVER YOU GO • Toggle display options to a streamlined, distraction-free reader's mode • Search tools allow you to quickly search the Bible by reference, keyword, or phrase • Quick access to cross-references LISTEN AND MEDITATE • Listen to the Bible read aloud by acclaimed Christian artists, pastors, and Bible teachers • Voices include Kristyn Getty, Ray Ortlund, Jackie Hill Perry, Michael Reeves, and more • Instrumental background music to help you meditate as you listen • A diverse selection of musical styles, artists, and genres • Individual volume controls allow you to adjust the music and Bible audio separately MAKE A HABIT OF BIBLE READING • Choose from over 50 Bible reading plans • One-year, devotional, and topical plans offer a wide variety of options to fit your lifestyle and reading goals DIVE DEEPER INTO GOD’S WORD • Access the ESV Global Study Bible for free • Subscribe to unlock a full library of study resources, including the ESV Study Bible, ESV Archaeology Study Bible, Preaching the Word commentary series, ESV Expository Commentary series, and more ENGAGE WITH SCRIPTURE • Record your personal reflections using the easy-to-use notes feature • Highlight and bookmark favorite portions of Scripture • All content saved via a free account is synced with ESV.org—giving you access to personal notes, bookmarks, and highlights from any device • Adjust dozens of layout and text settings including font size, red letter, background color, and more UNLOCK PREMIUM FEATURES • Access to the full range of study Bibles, commentaries, and playlists available online and in the app • Over 50 playlists compile thematic verses to guide you through a particular mood, topic, or season Deepen your time in God’s Word with customizable study and audio features available with the ESV Bible app. Download for free today! EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Bible Audio

Listen to and read the Bible with various translations and narration styles. Features include text-audio synchronization, quick navigation, memorization tools, and sleep timers. An optional subscription unlocks offline access, additional translations, and an ad-free experience.

Highlights
  • Listen to multiple Bible translations
  • Synchronized text and audio playback
  • Customizable narration styles
  • Scripture memorization tools
  • Adjustable playback speed
  • Offline access with subscription
Features
Read full description

Listen to the Bible while commuting to work or school, doing chores around the house, or as you drift off to sleep. You can now listen and read along with the Bible wherever you have an Internet connection. Bible Gateway’s Bible Audio App is FREE and easy to use. And for additional translations and offline access, simply upgrade to a Bible Audio Gold subscription. • Listen to a variety of Bible translations, including the New International Version (NIV), the King James Version (KJV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), and the Spanish Nueva Versión Internacional (NVI). All versions are available in both text and audio. • Choose from multiple audio narration styles for the NIV, KJV, and NVI, including Dramatized and Voice-only. • Follow along as you listen with text and audio synchronization. • Navigate quickly anywhere in the Bible. • Memorize Scripture more effectively by setting chapters or verses to repeat. • Set a timer so that you can establish goals to spend more time in the Word of God, or so that you can fall asleep while listening. • Speed up or slow down playback to listen to the Bible at your own pace. Immerse yourself in the Bible with a Bible Audio Gold Subscription: • With the Gold subscription, you can download your favorite translations to listen without data plan limits. Anytime. Anywhere. • On top of the NIV, KJV, NIrV and NVI, add the New King James Version (NKJV) and International Children’s Bible (ICB) translations to your library and listen to any of 10 audio Bible recordings. • Experience the Bible uninterrupted—enjoy listening to God's Word without audio or banner ads. • Subscribe today for an introductory price of $1.99 USD per month or $19.99 USD per year. In subscribing to the Bible Audio App for $1.99 USD per month or $19.99 USD per year, you will have offline, ad-free access to 10 different audio recordings. Subscribing through iOS, you will be charged via your iTunes account, and confirmation of your purchase can be found there. Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew each month if on the monthly plan, or each year if on the yearly plan. If you would like to cancel renewal, you will need to turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of your current period. At time of renewal, your iTunes account will be automatically charged $1.99 USD on the monthly plan or $19.99 USD on the yearly plan. To manage your subscription, visit your iTunes Account Settings after purchase to manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal. Bible Gateway’s Terms of Use are available at https://www.biblegateway.com/legal/terms/?interface=print

Screenshots

ESV Bible4 screens
Bible Audio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ESV Bible at 4.7 against Bible Audio's 3.1. ESV Bible also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 29%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. ESV Bible sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Bible Audio sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.59 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ESV Bible holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ESV Bible has 11K ratings behind it against 556, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of ESV Bible's written reviews are positive against 29% of Bible Audio's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ESV Bible ships an update monthly, Bible Audio every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
ESV Bible versus Bible Audio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterESV BibleBible Audio
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (11K ratings) — better3.1 (556 ratings)
Positive reviews70.9% of reviews — better29.3% of reviews
Number of ratings11K — better556
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#99 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB149 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCrosswayHarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

Customer experience

ESV Bible

All ratings10,593 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral2.9%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews700 reviews
Positive70.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative18.0%

Bible Audio

All ratings540 ratings
Positive47.0%
Neutral10.7%
Negative42.2%
Written reviews198 reviews
Positive29.3%
Neutral17.2%
Negative53.5%

User reviews

ESV Bible

From 11K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth functionality
  • 👍 Elegant, minimal design
  • 👍 Uncluttered reading experience
  • 👍 Variety of narrators and audio options
  • 👍 Useful study resources and commentary

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy highlighting and note-taking
  • 🐛 Inconsistent reading plan tracking
  • 🐛 Audio playback issues
  • 🔒 Concerns about data collection
  • 💰 Subscription model for full access

Bible Audio

From 556 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎉 Fantastic free app
  • 🎶 Great voices and narrators
  • 📖 Helps with daily Bible reading
  • 🙏 Anointed and blessed app
  • 💕 Love the app and its features

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy, freezes, and crashes frequently
  • 🔁 Repeats chapters and verses unexpectedly
  • 🔍 Offline functionality not working as expected
  • 🚫 Subscription issues, not recognizing purchases
  • 🔈 Audio issues, stops playing or has poor quality

Bugs and requests

ESV Bible

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashing and freezing issues
  • Verses missing from the text
  • Incorrect chapter/verse navigation
  • Disappearing highlights and notes

Requested features

6 requests
  • Ability to customize font size and style
  • Offline audio download option
  • Improved navigation between books and chapters
  • Verse-level highlighting and note-taking
  • Syncing of bookmarks and notes across devices
Show 1 more
  • Verse of the day widget or notification

Bible Audio

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App gets stuck on loading screen
  • Verses don't advance with audio
  • Subscription not working properly
  • Keeps asking to upgrade despite being paid
  • Reverts to free version after updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more Bible versions like ESV and NASB
  • Improve sync across devices and save progress
  • Provide font size and night mode options
  • Add chapter/verse navigation and selection
  • Fix continuous play and looping issues

In-app purchases

2 purchases

ESV Bible

Subscriptions2
  • ESV Bible App Subscription7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • ESV Bible App Subscription7 Days trial$39.991 Year
4 purchases

Bible Audio

Subscriptions4
  • Bible Audio Monthly$1.591 Month
  • Bible Audio Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Bible Audio Yearly$15.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Bible Audio Yearly$19.991 Year

Questions

Is ESV Bible free?
ESV Bible is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bible Audio free?
Bible Audio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ESV Bible or Bible Audio?
ESV Bible is rated higher. ESV Bible averages 4.7 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while Bible Audio averages 3.1 from 556 ratings.
Do ESV Bible or Bible Audio have ads?
Neither ESV Bible nor Bible Audio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ESV Bible or Bible Audio?
ESV Bible ships an update monthly, and Bible Audio every 3 months. Most recently, ESV Bible was updated on November 13, 2026 and Bible Audio on November 11, 2026.

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