# ESV Bible vs Bible Gateway

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ESV Bible at 71% against Bible Gateway's 18%. ESV Bible also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.7) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ESV Bible sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Bible Gateway sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ESV Bible holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11K and 10K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of ESV Bible's written reviews are positive against 18% of Bible Gateway's.

ESV Bible ships an update monthly, Bible Gateway every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ESV Bible | Bible Gateway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esv-bible/id361797273/reviews)** | [3.7 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bible-gateway/id506512797/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 10K |
| Positive reviews | **70.9% of reviews** | 18.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #105 | **#101** |
| Size | 34 MB | 113 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Crossway](https://appshunter.io/developer/361797276) | [HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/444535393) |

## What reviewers say

### ESV Bible

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

**Currently charting:** #105 Top Grossing · Reference, #109 Top Free · Reference (US App Store)

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:** 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


### Bible Gateway

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bible-gateway/id506512797)

**Currently charting:** #101 Top Free · Reference, #111 Top Grossing · Reference (US App Store)

Access over 200 Bible translations and audio Bibles in multiple languages. This app allows you to highlight verses, take notes, and sync your progress across devices. An optional subscription unlocks advanced study tools and an ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** 200+ Bible translations, 30+ Audio Bibles, Keyword and verse search, Highlighting and note-taking, Reading plans and progress tracking, Side-by-side Bible view, Verse of the Day

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bible Gateway Plus Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Bible Gateway Plus Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Bible Gateway Plus Yearly | $58.99 | per year |
| Bible Gateway Plus Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| Bible Gateway Plus Yearly | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent Bible study tool
- 🔍 Wide range of translations and languages
- 🎧 Useful audio Bible feature
- 📚 Comprehensive Bible resources
- 🗓️ Helpful reading plans and reminders

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 📱 Compatibility issues with newer devices
- 💤 Audio playback issues and resets
- 🔍 Inconsistent search functionality
- 📝 Limited note-taking and highlighting options

**Reported bugs**

- Verses not displaying correctly
- Inability to navigate to specific chapters/verses
- Saved notes and highlights not persisting
- Audio playback issues and resets

**Requested features**

- Offline Bible downloads
- More translation options (e.g., NRSV, Good News)
- Improved note-taking and highlighting capabilities
- Customizable font and layout options
- Seamless syncing across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ESV Bible free?

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

### Is Bible Gateway free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ESV Bible or Bible Gateway?

ESV Bible is rated higher. ESV Bible averages 4.7 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while Bible Gateway averages 3.7 from 10K ratings.

### Do ESV Bible or Bible Gateway have ads?

Bible Gateway shows ads; ESV Bible does not.

### Which is updated more often, ESV Bible or Bible Gateway?

ESV Bible ships an update monthly, and Bible Gateway every 3 weeks. Most recently, ESV Bible was updated on November 10, 2026 and Bible Gateway on November 10, 2026.

### Which is more popular, ESV Bible or Bible Gateway?

ESV Bible currently peaks at #105 in the App Store charts, and Bible Gateway at #101. 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.*