Comparison

Handy Bible vs Rotherham Emphasized Bible

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

Head to head
About

Handy Bible

This app provides a fast and convenient way to read and study the Bible. It offers advanced search capabilities, rich text note-taking, and multiple Bible versions, all accessible offline. Customize your reading experience with adjustable fonts and backgrounds.

Highlights
  • Offline Bible access
  • Fast Bible search engine
  • Rich text note editing
  • Multiple Bible versions
  • Customizable text and background
  • Verse history and bookmarks
Features
Read full description

The Handy Bible gives you a Bible that is extremely useful in every aspect- it not only provides an easy and fast way(one of the fastest bible lookup/search apps - compared to other top selling apps) to read the Bible, but it also has various helpful features that allows for more convenient bible studies. Features: -------------------------------------- * Universal app (if you buy the app, you can install it for both the iPhone and the iPad); it also supports both the portrait and the landscape mode; no internet connection needed * Support iOS built-in Text-to-Speech feature, no need to download huge audio recording data(optional In-App purchase) * One of the fastest bible search engines, as it uses a powerful SQL database engine that allows you to lookup or load any bible verse almost instantly; also features an “instant search” setting that automatically starts searching even as you type * Ability to add/edit personal notes for every single verse (will show a NOTE icon next to that verse). This personal NOTE window is depicted as a floating, half-transparent, and movable window; this allows you to keep the window open as you read the Bible * One of the best rich text note editing: supports "rich text editing" including "Bold", "Italic", "Underline", "Strike Through", "Font color/highlight/size", "Ordered or unordered list", etc. Video demo: http://facebook.com/handybible * Includes ASV, BBE, DARBY, ISV, KJV, NHEB, WEB, YLT free domain bible text. Unlike other apps, need to go through several steps, with one single touch you can easily switch to the different Bible versions on the top navigation bar. * Uses a rolling wheel-Picker to quickly and easily pick or lookup various books, chapters, or verses; it can also let you type the first letter of a book, which then helps you instantly select that particular book * Powerful and rich search features: search for any text inside the Bible or any text in your own personal notes; it can also filter OT and NT books. Can also use "AND" or "OR" (words separated by space, or use begin-end double quotes to search as a whole phrase) to narrow down the search. * Unlike other apps, can only show search result page by page, Search Result will be presented with all scriptures found in order by a Book with Book Index for easy access and the frequency of that serach strings within each Book. * Easy navigation to the next or previous verse/chapter/book via a group of cursor buttons on the lower-right corner * The text of each bible verse or personal note can be copied or emailed to others * Will automatically store any verse you search or lookup as “History”. You can also add personal bookmarks. * Features customizable settings that allows you to change the primary Bible text, the Bible text font type/color/size, and the background image (can choose from built-in patterns or you can choose to add an image from your own iPhone Photo Albums library) * Tools-Store - Purchase Copyrighted Contents: can purchase authorized copyright contents like ESV, Message, NASB, NET, NKJV bible * The Chinese version is also available for purchase * Can purchase"Pro version" separately-"Handy Bible Pro" will include features like the Dictionary/Strong Number concordance search, KJV with Strong Number, Bible text parallel comparison, and Bible Commentary(MHCC, CLARKE, JFB) lookup. * Useful Tips/FAQ: http://vincentchiu.com/iphone_apps * Latest info: http://facebook.com/handybible

About

Rotherham Emphasized Bible

This app offers a unique Bible translation that helps readers understand original Greek and Hebrew contexts. It features a user-friendly interface, daily verses, topical scriptures, and study tools like bookmarks and notes. Back-up options are also available.

Highlights
  • Emphasized Bible translation
  • Greek and Hebrew context insights
  • User-friendly interface
  • Daily Bible verses
  • Topical scripture search
  • Bookmarks, notes, and highlights
  • Data backup functionality
Features
Read full description

Are you looking for a good emphasised Bible for your iPhone, iPad or iPad. Then you are in the right place. Reading the Word of God is vital and basic to our daily Christian walk. It is the food for our soul and the shield that protects and guards our mind and heart against the works of the flesh and of the devil. God’s Word is the Father’s love letter to all His children revealing His promises, His will and the keys to the Kingdom of God. Therefore, it is very important that as Christians, we should read God’s Word daily and meditate on it day and night and EBR Bible App is a must have on your cellphone or gadget. The Emphasized Bible (EBR) is one of the versions that you should acquire on your gadget for God’s Word daily. Created by Joseph Bryan Rotherham, the EBR is one of the unique translations of the Bible helping the readers parallel God’s Word in Greek and Hebrew contexts which were lost in the translations. This is beneficial for students of the Word who would like to study God’s Word deeper in line with the original Greek and Hebrew meanings and language. Some of the features of the EBR Bible App include: • A user friendly interface which is easy to select and find Old and New Testament books, chapters and verses. There are also options for full-screen and night mode. You can select full screen for easy reading and night mode which is best to use when reading the Scriptures during night time. • EBR Bible app also includes daily bible verses to encourage and feed you of God’s Word. You can also opt to share the bible verse for the day to share the Word of God to your family and friends in Facebook, Gmail, Message Text, etc. • There are also Topical bible verses for you to easily find Scriptures pertaining to the topic you desire to know such as Hope, Love, Peace, Praise, Adversity, Comfort, Time, and more. • You can also organize your study of God’s Word through bookmarks, notes and highlights. You can see all the list of your notes, highlighted and bookmarked Scriptures in separate categories which makes it easier for you to back track your selected Scriptures. • You also don’t need to worry about your app settings, notes, highlighted and bookmarked Scriptures, because the EBR Bible App has the option to create a back-up file of your data in your phone or SD card memory. Moreover, the EBR Bible App can also be optimized on bigger screen resolution which is beneficial for those who want to read on bigger screen. Download the EBR Bible App now and be filled with the Holy Spirit through the Word of God daily.

Screenshots

Handy Bible4 screens
Rotherham Emphasized Bible4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Rotherham Emphasized Bible at none against Handy Bible's 10. Rotherham Emphasized Bible also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.6). Handy Bible's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (90% vs 60%). On price, rating, update cadence 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

Both are free to download. Handy Bible sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Rotherham Emphasized Bible 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 Handy Bible against 4.6 for Rotherham Emphasized Bible. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 281 and 85 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of Handy Bible's written reviews are positive against 60% of Rotherham Emphasized Bible's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Handy Bible versus Rotherham Emphasized Bible: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHandy BibleRotherham Emphasized Bible
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (281 ratings) — better4.6 (85 ratings)
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews — better60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings281 — better85
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.611.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size202 MB72 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVincent ChiuWatchdis Group B.V

Customer experience

Handy Bible

All ratings280 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.9%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%

Rotherham Emphasized Bible

All ratings61 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral1.6%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Handy Bible

One-time10
  • NET Bible$0.99
  • Bible Note can add Audio Recording/Playing$0.99
  • Add Text-To-Speech$1.99
Show 7 more
  • Prayer Requests$1.99
  • The Message Bible$4.99
  • ESV Bible$4.99
  • NASB Bible$5.99
  • NKJV Bible$7.99
  • Donate-support our ministry$9.99
  • Donate-support our ministry$24.99
None

Rotherham Emphasized Bible

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Handy Bible free?
Handy Bible is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Rotherham Emphasized Bible free?
Rotherham Emphasized Bible is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Handy Bible or Rotherham Emphasized Bible?
Handy Bible is rated higher. Handy Bible averages 4.7 out of 5 from 281 ratings, while Rotherham Emphasized Bible averages 4.6 from 85 ratings.
Do Handy Bible or Rotherham Emphasized Bible have ads?
Rotherham Emphasized Bible shows ads; Handy Bible does not.
Which is updated more often, Handy Bible or Rotherham Emphasized Bible?
Handy Bible ships an update every 4 months, and Rotherham Emphasized Bible every 4 months. Most recently, Handy Bible was updated on November 1, 2026 and Rotherham Emphasized Bible on November 2, 2026.

Other comparisons