Comparison

ESV Bible vs NLT Study Bible Audio PRO

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

NLT Study Bible Audio PRO

Access the complete New Living Translation Study Bible with audio narration and an eBook. Features include AI-powered Q&A, commentaries, dictionaries, maps, and daily devotionals. Enjoy bonus content like Bible videos, kids' lessons, and worship radio.

Highlights
  • Complete NLT Bible Audio
  • Bible Chat AI Q&A
  • Commentaries and Dictionaries
  • Bible Maps Study
  • Daily Devotionals
  • Bible Videos and Movies
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

By popular demand, we proudly offer the ad-free PRO version of the New Living Translation Audio Bible (NLT) App. Eliminate ads and focus solely on the scripture. This ad-free option is yours for a minimal fee, directly supporting the work of independent app developers. This app includes the complete New Living Translation Study Bible Audio and eBook. A dramatic reading audio and the ebook Study Bible, and Bible Chat AI Q&A w/prompts. Listen to the Old and New Testaments by chapters or complete books. You can listen to the audio files or radio while reading the text.. Listen to the Bible as you enjoy your daily life. Listen in your car, on your phone when your on the go. Features Include: - Complete Audio of the NLT Bible - NEW Bible Chat AI Q&A w/Prompts [SEE Tutorials Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuiv8cSS7K2VBsB1Um35MS2676RKm6dul ] - Strong's Exhaustive Concordance for NLT - Matthew Henry and J.B. Lightfoot Commentaries - Bible Dictionaries - Bible Maps Study - Daily Bible verse devotionals and prayers - Bible questions and answers Bonus Features: - Watch Bible videos and Bible movies - Beginners Bible for kids included - Access to a handpicked selection of Praise and Worship Radio Stations - Christian & Gospel Ringtones (set them as ringtone, alarm or notification sound! Press to play and long press to see setting options) - NLT Bible Radio: Talk, Hymns, Bible Study Live Streams - Verses and scripture wallpapers - Verse-By-Verse NLT Study Videos Enjoy this Holy Bible New Living Translation Audio with all these features today. How to use Audio: You have the choice of either listening via audio streaming from the internet or you can download the files to your device. * All files are streamed from the internet (internet connection needed to listen!) * Audio (streamed and downloaded) stops automatically when you receive a call

Screenshots

ESV Bible4 screens
NLT Study Bible Audio PRO4 screens

Verdict

The call

ESV Bible and NLT Study Bible Audio PRO both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 71% of ESV Bible's written reviews are positive against 0% of NLT Study Bible Audio PRO's. ESV Bible also leads on price (Free vs $7.99) and ratings volume (11K vs 30). NLT Study Bible Audio PRO's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On rating, ads, chart position 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

ESV Bible is free to download; NLT Study Bible Audio PRO costs $7.99 up front. ESV Bible sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. NLT Study Bible Audio PRO asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for ESV Bible against 4.6 for NLT Study Bible Audio PRO. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ESV Bible has 11K ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 71% of ESV Bible's written reviews are positive against 0% of NLT Study Bible Audio PRO's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ESV Bible ships an update monthly, NLT Study Bible Audio PRO every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
ESV Bible versus NLT Study Bible Audio PRO: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterESV BibleNLT Study Bible Audio PRO
PriceFree — better$7.99
Rating4.7 (11K ratings) — better4.6 (30 ratings)
Positive reviews70.9% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11K — better30
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium — betterPaid
Best chart rank#96 — better#180
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB107 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperCrosswayChristopher Wilson

Customer experience

ESV Bible

All ratings10,593 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral2.9%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews694 reviews
Positive70.9%
Neutral11.2%
Negative17.9%

NLT Study Bible Audio PRO

All ratings29 ratings
Positive89.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.3%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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

NLT Study Bible Audio PRO

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
None

NLT Study Bible Audio PRO

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ESV Bible free?
ESV Bible is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NLT Study Bible Audio PRO free?
NLT Study Bible Audio PRO costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ESV Bible or NLT Study Bible Audio PRO?
ESV Bible is rated higher. ESV Bible averages 4.7 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while NLT Study Bible Audio PRO averages 4.6 from 30 ratings.
Do ESV Bible or NLT Study Bible Audio PRO have ads?
Neither ESV Bible nor NLT Study Bible Audio PRO shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ESV Bible or NLT Study Bible Audio PRO?
ESV Bible ships an update monthly, and NLT Study Bible Audio PRO every 2 weeks. Most recently, ESV Bible was updated on November 12, 2026 and NLT Study Bible Audio PRO on November 8, 2026.
Which is more popular, ESV Bible or NLT Study Bible Audio PRO?
ESV Bible currently peaks at #96 in the App Store charts, and NLT Study Bible Audio PRO at #180. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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