Bible Study Tools vs Focus Bible
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Bible Study Tools
Access a vast library of Bible translations, commentaries, and study tools. Personalize your reading experience with notes, highlights, and customizable themes. Engage with daily reading plans and explore verses by topic.
- Multiple Bible translations
- Personalized notes and highlights
- Daily Bible reading plans
- Commentaries and concordances
- Verses by topic
- Customizable themes and font sizes
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The BibleStudyTools.com Bible app gives you free access to the largest library of study Bible versions including the King James Bible (KJV), New International Version (NIV), The Message (MSG), English Standard Version (ESV) and more. As well as various language translations, commentaries, concordances and more. Download this Bible app to begin using all the amazing Bible study resources at BibleStudyTools.com, in an easy to use mobile version! In addition to your basic Bible search function, the Bible app from BibleStudyTools.com also allows for personalization of your Bible study on your device. Highlight verses and take notes on your favorite Scripture! A great way to challenge your personal Bible study time is with Bible reading plans – choose from different daily reading plans to fit your schedule! Features: READ YOUR FAVORITE TRANSLATION - Easy to use Bible search functions for all available Bible versions including the popular New International Version (NIV), King James Version (KJV), English Standard Version (ESV), American Standard Version (ASV), the Message (MSG), New Living Translation (NLT) and more. - Translations of the Bible in different languages like Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, Italian and others. PERSONALIZE YOUR STUDY BIBLE - Save Bible notes - Highlight Bible verses or passages - Change font size for easier reading - Select the font of your choice - Change the app color theme to your liking - Change to night theme for lowlight conditions - Access and sync your personal account from BibleStudyTools.com for use on the Bible app DAILY READING PLAN - Bible verse of the day - Start a daily Bible reading plan and track your progress - Free Bible reading plans by topic, Book of the Bible, Chronological and more. - Bible reading plans for 90 days, yearly or at your own pace. FREE BIBLE STUDY LIBRARY - Engage with the Scriptures by accessing the Libraries with each verse with Commentaries, Reference notes, Encyclopedias, and Study Bibles. - Get a deeper understanding of the Bible with free Commentaries from Matthew Henry, Scofield, Jon Wesley, Martin Luther and others. - Free well know Concordances like Strong’s, Torrey’s, Nave’s & the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. - Explore the meaning of the of the text with dictionaries like Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary, Easton’s Bible Dictionary, King James Dictionary amongst others. - Learn about the historical facts surrounding the Bible with Fox’s Book of Martyrs, The Works of Flavius Josephus and more. - Start Bible word studies with Lexicons for the New Testament and Old Testament. - Read Hymns, Classics and timeless sermons VERSES BY TOPIC - Be inspired with Bible verses by topic with verses for encouragement, friendship, forgiveness, hope, love, strength, inspiration and more BIBLE STUDY COMMUNITY - Join in the community Bible study with notes focusing on specific topics and passages - Tap verses to share through social media like Twitter and Facebook or through email and text messages. Now available to install for free. Grow closer to Jesus Christ and in your Christian walk with the Bible Study Tools app from BibleStudyTools.com. Take your favorite Bible version, verse studies, devotional notes, and daily reading plans on the go!
Focus Bible
This app provides in-depth Bible study tools, offering scholarly commentary, historical context, and original language insights. It presents a clear summary of theological viewpoints, highlighting agreements and differences among trusted scholars and pastors. A significant portion of its features are available for free to all registered users.
- Scholarly commentary on every verse
- Historical and cultural context
- Original Hebrew and Greek previews
- Video clips from pastors and teachers
- Personal notes syncing across devices
- Powerful topic and theme search
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WHAT MAKES FOCUS BIBLE DIFFERENT? Other apps give you surface-level devotional content or overwhelm you with raw info to piece together yourself. Focus Bible does the work for you. We show you what matters, in plain language, without assuming you already know everything. No ads. No merch store. Just the Bible, with the depth it deserves. Focus Bible gives you real Bible study tools. The kind that used to cost hundreds of dollars or require a seminary library. We give most of it away for free. --- BUILT ON TRUSTED SCHOLARSHIP, NOT OPINIONS Focus Bible doesn't invent its own take on the Bible. Everything we show you is grounded in theologians who have been read, trusted, and loved for generations. We draw on 200+ scholars and theologians, from the Reformation to today. Nearly 500 years and multiple Christian traditions, including some of the most beloved names in church history: John Calvin, Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon, John Wesley, John Gill, Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, Keil and Delitzsch, Jamieson Fausset and Brown, A.T. Robertson, and more. We pair them with pastors preaching these same verses today. For every verse, we show you where they agree and where they differ. Then we connect it to history, to the original Hebrew and Greek, and to the world you live in today. You're not getting our opinions. You're standing on the shoulders of the scholars the church has trusted for centuries. --- WHAT YOU GET FOR FREE Not a free trial or a limited preview. This is what Focus Bible gives every registered user: • The full Bible in multiple translations. • What trusted scholars say about every verse. A clear summary of where these classic and modern voices agree, and where they see things differently. • The historical and cultural context behind each passage. • Related passages that connect across Scripture. • A preview of the original Hebrew and Greek behind every verse. • Short clips from pastors and teachers exploring the same passages you are reading. • Personal notes that sync across your devices. • Foundational reading plans. • Two reading modes: verse-by-verse study or continuous reading. • Powerful search that understands topics, themes, and ideas. We built Focus Bible because everyone deserves deep Bible study, not just those who can afford it. --- FOR THOSE WHO WANT EVEN MORE Some people want to go further: full original-language word studies, complete commentary texts, study questions for every verse, and analysis across Christian traditions. For them, we offer optional subscriptions: Study Membership ($79.99/year or $7.99/month) Full commentary texts from classic and modern sources. Complete original language word studies with multiple lexicons. Perspectives across traditions: Reformed, Catholic, Orthodox, and more. Our full encyclopedia of 4,400+ biblical people, places, and things. Custom reading plans that adapt to your daily feedback. But the free experience is not missing anything essential. --- WHO THIS IS FOR • If you are new to the Bible and want to understand what you are reading. • If you have read the Bible for years and want fresh perspective on familiar verses. • If you lead a small group and need to prepare each week. • If you are a pastor looking for efficient sermon research. • If you are studying theology and need scholarly sources. Focus Bible meets you where you are. --- Questions? support@focusbible.com We read every message. Subscriptions auto-renew at the listed price each billing period unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.focusbible.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.focusbible.com/privacy-policy
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Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Focus Bible at 100% against Bible Study Tools's 26%. Focus Bible also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.1) and ads (none vs shown). Bible Study Tools's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (161 vs 2). On price, update cadence, monetization model 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. Focus Bible sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Bible Study Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.
Focus Bible holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bible Study Tools has 161 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Bible Study Tools's written reviews are positive against 100% of Focus Bible's.
Bible Study Tools ships an update monthly, Focus Bible fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Bible Study Tools | Focus Bible |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (161 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 26.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 161 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 68 MB | 40 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Salem Communications | Hidden Planet |
Customer experience
Bible Study Tools
Focus Bible
Bugs and requests
Bible Study Tools
Reported bugs
5 issues- Reading plans not loading properly
- Verses not displaying correctly
- Constant crashing on launch
- Login issues and account problems
- Incompatibility with newer devices
Requested features
5 requests- Dark mode option
- Ability to save notes and highlights
- Improved reading plan tracking
- Smoother integration with website
- Paid ad-free version
Focus Bible
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Bible Study Tools
No in-app purchases
Focus Bible
- Scholar3 Days trial$7.991 Month
- Scholar3 Days trial$79.991 Year
- Founding Member$99.99
Questions
Is Bible Study Tools free?
Is Focus Bible free?
Which has better reviews, Bible Study Tools or Focus Bible?
Do Bible Study Tools or Focus Bible have ads?
Which is updated more often, Bible Study Tools or Focus Bible?
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