# ESV Bible vs The Bible Memory App

ESV Bible and The Bible Memory App both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 86% of The Bible Memory App's written reviews are positive against 71% of ESV Bible's. The Bible Memory App also leads on device support (5 vs 2) and ratings volume (33K vs 11K). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ESV Bible sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and The Bible Memory App sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for ESV Bible against 4.8 for The Bible Memory App. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11K and 33K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 71% of ESV Bible's written reviews are positive against 86% of The Bible Memory App's.

ESV Bible ships an update every 4 weeks, The Bible Memory App monthly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ESV Bible | The Bible Memory App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esv-bible/id361797273/reviews) | **[4.8 (33K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-bible-memory-app/id496790833/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11K | **33K** |
| Positive reviews | 70.9% of reviews | **86.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#106** | #126 |
| Size | 34 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Crossway](https://appshunter.io/developer/361797276) | [Millennial Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/817220893) |

## What reviewers say

### ESV Bible

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esv-bible/id361797273)

**Currently charting:** #106 Top Grossing · Reference, #144 Top Free · Reference (US App Store)

Engage with scripture through reading, listening, and in-depth study. This app offers customizable reading plans, audio Bibles with background music, and tools for reflection and annotation. Unlock premium study resources for a deeper understanding of God's Word.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free reader's mode, Search by reference, keyword, or phrase, Audio Bibles with instrumental music, Over 50 Bible reading plans, Free ESV Global Study Bible access, Notes, highlighting, and bookmarking, Sync content with ESV.org

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ESV Bible App Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| ESV Bible App Subscription | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### The Bible Memory App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-bible-memory-app/id496790833)

**Currently charting:** #126 Top Grossing · Reference, #184 Top Free · Reference (US App Store)

This app offers a comprehensive system for memorizing, organizing, and reviewing Bible verses. It utilizes various cognitive techniques and allows for customizable review schedules. The app also integrates with a Bible reader for a complete study experience.

**Highlights:** Active memorization techniques (kinesthetic, visual, auditory), Customizable verse organization and collections, Spaced repetition review system, Cross-device synchronization, Integrated Bible reader (in-app purchase), Verse import from multiple translations

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bible Memory PRO Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Bible Intelligence Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Bible Memory PRO +Intelligence | $5.99 | per month |
| Bible Memory PRO Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Bible Memory Unlimited Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Bible Intelligence Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Bible Memory Bible - ESV® | $4.99 | one-time |
| Scripture Memory Bible - NASB® | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bible Memory PRO | $9.99 | one-time |
| Scripture Memory Bible - ESV® | $9.99 | one-time |
| Scripture Memory Bible - NIV® | $9.99 | one-time |
| PRO + NASB | $15.99 | one-time |
| Memory Bible - ESV® + PRO | $15.99 | one-time |
| PRO + ESV | $15.99 | one-time |
| PRO + NIV | $15.99 | one-time |
| PRO + NKJV | $15.99 | one-time |
| Bible Memory PRO Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Effective memorization tool
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly
- 💡 Flexible review scheduling
- 👍 Helpful for spiritual growth
- 🚀 Efficient typing/first-letter mode

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional app crashes
- 🐛 Syncing/account issues
- 🔒 Concerns about cost of upgrades
- 👎 Limited Bible version options
- 👎 Frustration with strict accuracy requirements

**Reported bugs**

- Verse progress/history data loss
- Compatibility issues on certain devices
- Inconsistent behavior with dark mode

**Requested features**

- Customizable review schedules
- Verse reference testing mode
- Support for more Bible translations
- Ability to delete verses in bulk
- Audio playback/listening feature


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ESV Bible free?

ESV Bible is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is The Bible Memory App free?

The Bible Memory App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ESV Bible or The Bible Memory App?

The Bible Memory App is rated higher. ESV Bible averages 4.7 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while The Bible Memory App averages 4.8 from 33K ratings.

### Do ESV Bible or The Bible Memory App have ads?

Neither ESV Bible nor The Bible Memory App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ESV Bible or The Bible Memory App?

ESV Bible ships an update every 4 weeks, and The Bible Memory App monthly. Most recently, ESV Bible was updated on October 31, 2026 and The Bible Memory App on October 31, 2026.

### Which is more popular, ESV Bible or The Bible Memory App?

ESV Bible currently peaks at #106 in the App Store charts, and The Bible Memory App at #126. 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.*