Comparison

Jesus Calling Devotional vs Through the Word

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

Head to head
About

Jesus Calling Devotional

This app offers a yearlong devotional experience designed to foster a deeper relationship with Jesus. It provides daily reflections, Scripture readings, and audio features to bring peace and encouragement. The content is written from the perspective of Jesus speaking directly to the reader.

Highlights
  • Daily devotional content
  • Scripture readings
  • Audio features
  • Personal reflections
  • Guidance and encouragement
  • Meditation based on God's Word
Features
Read full description

Jesus Calling is your yearlong guide to living a more peaceful life. The Jesus Calling App is the mobile version of the time-tested classic packed with digital and audio features that make this daily devotional more accessible than ever. Experience a deeper relationship with Jesus as you savor the presence of the One who understands you perfectly and loves you forever. With Scripture and personal reflections, New York Times bestselling author Sarah Young brings Jesus' message of peace—for today and every day. By spending time in the presence of the Savior with the much-loved devotions from Sarah Young, you will: • Feel comforted by a daily word of hope and encouragement • Be reassured of Jesus' unending blessings and love for you • Receive gentle guidance based on daily Scripture readings • Connect with Jesus further with reflection and meditation based on God’s Word Written as if Jesus Himself is speaking directly to you, Jesus Calling invites you to experience peace in the presence of the Savior who is always with you. These writings are personal reflections based on Jesus’ own words of hope, guidance, and peace within Scripture—penned by one who loved Him and revered His Word. The Bible is the only infallible, inerrant Word of God, and author Sarah Young kept her writings consistent with that unchanging standard during her lifetime. She wrote from the perspective of Jesus speaking, to help readers feel more personally connected with Him. So, the first person singular (“I,” “Me,” “My,” “Mine”) always refers to Christ; “you” refers to you, the reader. Jesus Calling’s Terms of Use are available at https://www.harpercollinschristian.com/terms/

About

Through the Word

This app offers a guided audio journey through the Bible, providing daily plans and chapter-by-chapter audio guides. It aims to make understanding scripture accessible in about ten minutes a day, with options for group study.

Highlights
  • Daily Bible plans
  • Audio guides for every chapter
  • 10-minute daily commitment
  • Group study features
  • Offline listening
  • Thematic Bible journeys
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE IN JUST TEN MINUTES A DAY, with plans for every book and audio guides for every chapter. Through the Word is a guided audio journey through the entire Bible, one chapter at a time - with no ads, no fees, ever. Every day, more than 150,000 people around the world trust TTW for their daily Bible habit. Read their stories below! YOUR DAILY BIBLE HABIT Simple. Bible. Habit. One chapter today, next chapter tomorrow. BIBLE ON YOUR SCREEN, TEACHER IN YOUR HEADPHONES Every audio guide walks you through one Bible chapter with clear explanation and insightful application. UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE TOGETHER New in 4.0! TTW Together is now available for every Bible book, journey, and topical plan. Start or join a group today! FREE FOREVER & 10 MINUTES A DAY No fees and no ads. TTW fits a busy schedule, making it easy to listen on the road, while you work out, or whatever fits your daily routine… anytime, anywhere, even offline. AUDIO GUIDES FOR EVERY CHAPTER From Genesis to Revelation, walk through all 1,189 chapters in about 10 minutes each with clear explanations for every chapter. 19 EPIC JOURNEYS THROUGH THE BIBLE The Bible can seem daunting, so TTW has broken it down into 19 journeys, guiding you step-by-step through books, themes, and chronology with a great balance between Old and New Testaments. THE CURE FOR LOST-IN-LEVITICUS SYNDROME Have you ever started a Bible reading plan, but got bogged down in Leviticus or Numbers? TTW’s simple plan keeps you moving, and our teachers even make the boring chapters interesting! GUIDES FOR BIBLE CURIOUS TO BIBLE PROS New to the Bible? Try the 26-day “Start” journey. Been reading for a while now? TTW has more than 1200 audio guides covering every Bible chapter, with insight and application for every level. THOUSANDS OF 5-STAR REVIEWS AND LISTENER STORIES “… Today (Oct 20, 2023) we officially completed 1,288 days straight going through each chapter of each book of the Bible… we have truly become a band of brothers. We’ve seen miraculous answers to prayer… we have become a band of brothers who rally daily around God's Word… You have been an anchor for us." –JD Hornbacher (and the "Bible with the Guys" group) (Oct 20, 2023) “… TTW has changed my life completely. It made the Bible come alive… Now that I listen before sleeping, I have no trouble keeping the Bible habit… ending the day with my head and thoughts resting and thinking about through the word.” –Christina Thorkildsen (October 9, 2023) “We do our homeschool Bible class with TTW… Always excellent! Always a blessing. We are die-hard TTW fans… And we love you all!” –Kate Russo Thompson (October 3, 2023) “I have been a Christian for many years… I learn something new every day. It’s awesome! So thankful Kris and company obeyed the Lord in this incredible undertaking.” –paigebontrager (September 15, 2023) “… never have I experienced the Bible in this kind of way! Since I downloaded and signed into the app… It feels really great to be excited about God's Word!” –Misty H (September 8, 2023) “I ran from God for a few years… I found through the word and it has helped God to change my lack of time in the Bible to a daily feeding and understanding… It is an awesome, helpful tool!” –Lispott11 (October 17, 2023) “In 2022, I invited some family members to do a Bible study in the Youversion Bible app… We love you all and your teachings and insights have helped all of our faith grow. God is using your ministry in a mighty way!” –Kim Conner (September 20, 2023) “Through the Word has been an absolute Godsend… Thank you so much! May God bless and keep you all at this incredible ministry!” –Fefe0428 (August 18, 2023) “I wanted to personally thank Pastor Kris… I finally found someone who was able to explain God’s Word to me… Now I want to be baptized… Again, thank you. You’ve made a huge impact on my life and I’m grateful.” –Lisa (August 28, 2023) Find lots more stories at https://throughtheword.org/stories/

Screenshots

Jesus Calling Devotional4 screens
Through the Word4 screens

Verdict

The call

Jesus Calling Devotional and Through the Word both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 88% of Through the Word's written reviews are positive against 41% of Jesus Calling Devotional's. Through the Word also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Jesus Calling Devotional's advantage is ratings volume (57K vs 5.1K). On price, rating, ads and monetization model 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. Jesus Calling Devotional sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Through the Word asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Jesus Calling Devotional against 4.8 for Through the Word. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Jesus Calling Devotional has 57K ratings behind it against 5.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of Jesus Calling Devotional's written reviews are positive against 88% of Through the Word's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Jesus Calling Devotional ships an update every 2 months, Through the Word every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Jesus Calling Devotional versus Through the Word: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJesus Calling DevotionalThrough the Word
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (57K ratings) — better4.8 (5.1K ratings)
Positive reviews41.3% of reviews88.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings57K — better5.1K
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#42 — better#76
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.416.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size87 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.Through the Word Inc.

Customer experience

Jesus Calling Devotional

All ratings56,725 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral0.7%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews446 reviews
Positive41.3%
Neutral10.5%
Negative48.2%

Through the Word

All ratings4,889 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral2.4%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews1,105 reviews
Positive88.1%
Neutral4.4%
Negative7.4%

User reviews

Jesus Calling Devotional

From 57K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🙌 Inspiring and meaningful devotions
  • 📚 Great companion for daily living and Bible studies
  • 🕰️ Timely messages that speak to current circumstances
  • 💗 Comforting and reassuring content
  • 🙏 Helps start the day with God's presence

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Restricted sharing functionality
  • 🔀 Inconvenient navigation and layout changes
  • 💰 Paid subscription required for full access
  • 📱 Glitchy and buggy app performance
  • 🔍 Difficult to read font and formatting

Through the Word

From 5.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💻 Easy to use and understand
  • 🙌 Helpful in understanding the Bible
  • 🎓 Excellent teaching and insights
  • 🤗 Engaging and relatable presenters
  • 🕰️ Bite-sized, manageable content

Room to improve

  • 🔑 Frequent sign-in issues
  • 🔀 Difficulty maintaining progress across updates
  • 🔊 Audio quality and volume inconsistencies
  • 🔍 Lack of search and navigation features

Bugs and requests

Jesus Calling Devotional

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Inability to access purchased content
  • Inconsistent behavior across app updates
  • Freezing and crashing issues
  • Incorrect date display and navigation
  • Broken audio playback feature

Requested features

5 requests
  • Restore previous app layout and functionality
  • Allow copying and pasting of devotional text
  • Maintain access for existing paid users
  • Improve accessibility for visually impaired users
  • Provide audio narration option

Through the Word

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Corrupted audio recordings
  • Unexpected app crashes and freezes

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to choose Bible translation
  • Option to bookmark progress and resume
  • Improved search and navigation
  • Customizable audio/visual settings

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Jesus Calling Devotional

Subscriptions3
  • Jesus Calling Standard$2.991 Month
  • Premium (Monthly)2 variants$4.991 Month
  • Premium (Yearly)$49.991 Year
One-time6
  • Dear Jesus$9.99
  • Jesus Always$9.99
  • Jesus Today$9.99
Show 3 more
  • Jesus Listens$9.99
  • Jesus Calling Extended Edition Audiobook$20.99
  • Jesus Calling Original Audiobook$21.99
None

Through the Word

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Jesus Calling Devotional free?
Jesus Calling Devotional is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Through the Word free?
Through the Word is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Jesus Calling Devotional or Through the Word?
Jesus Calling Devotional is rated higher. Jesus Calling Devotional averages 4.9 out of 5 from 57K ratings, while Through the Word averages 4.8 from 5.1K ratings.
Do Jesus Calling Devotional or Through the Word have ads?
Neither Jesus Calling Devotional nor Through the Word shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Jesus Calling Devotional or Through the Word?
Jesus Calling Devotional ships an update every 2 months, and Through the Word every 2 weeks. Most recently, Jesus Calling Devotional was updated on November 11, 2026 and Through the Word on November 11, 2026.
Which is more popular, Jesus Calling Devotional or Through the Word?
Jesus Calling Devotional currently peaks at #42 in the App Store charts, and Through the Word at #76. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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