I Ching Lite vs SGI
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
I Ching Lite
This app provides access to the ancient Chinese oracle, the Book of Changes, for guidance on life's challenges. It offers an elegant and accessible way to consult its wisdom, helping users find balance, perspective, and peace of mind.
- I Ching consulting tool
- Complete odd-numbered passages
- Coin tossing simulation
- Elegant and easy-to-use interface
- Access to ancient Chinese wisdom
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For years the #1 I Ching app in the world, and perhaps the most elegant, distilled version of the I Ching there is. For centuries, the Book of Changes has been consulted for sage advice at life's turning points. When its wisdom is sought with sincerity and sensitivity, this ancient Chinese oracle will promote success and good fortune and impart balance and perspective to your life. Its lasting popularity lies in the profound lessons it teaches about how reliance on one's higher qualities leads to life's greatest rewards: well-being, understanding, and peace of mind. Now available as an elegantly designed and easy to use iOS app, it is both highly accessible to new users and a revelation to those long familiar with the text. Throw your own coins, or let the app cast for you, and make the wisdom of the sages your own. This lite version contains the I Ching consulting tool and complete odd-numbered passages. Additional content and emailing feature is available through an In App Purchase. Brian Browne Walker is the author of celebrated contemporary translations of the I Ching, Tao te Ching, Hua hu Ching, and Art of War which are published by Harper and St. Martin's Press and translated into over a dozen languages around the world. His "I Ching, or Book of Changes", long beloved for its clarity and accessibility, has received five star reviews on Amazon consistently for over a decade.
SGI
Support your daily Buddhist practice with tools for chanting, recitation, and goal tracking. Find local facilities and access Buddhist resources.
- Chanting calculator with target tracking
- Audio guide for daily recitation
- Goal setting and progress monitoring
- SGI-USA facility locator
- Links to World Tribune website
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This app provides resources to support your daily practice of SGI Nichiren Buddhism. First, there is a chanting calculator that allows you to set and track chanting targets (campaigns). There is also an audio guide useful as an aid in learning the daily recitation of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and the Lotus Sutra. You can set your goals and watch your progress! There are several other useful tools such as a location finder for SGI-USA facilities and links to the new World Tribune website.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: I Ching Lite at 4.9 against SGI's 4.1. I Ching Lite also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 50%). SGI's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. I Ching Lite sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. SGI asks for nothing beyond the download.
I Ching Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 742 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of I Ching Lite's written reviews are positive against 50% of SGI's.
I Ching Lite ships an update every 3 months, SGI every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | I Ching Lite | SGI |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (1.1K ratings) — better | 4.1 (742 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 82.5% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | 742 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 42 MB | 63 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Brian Walker | Soka Gakkai International - USA |
Customer experience
I Ching Lite
SGI
User reviews
I Ching Lite
From 1.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Excellent translation and interpretation
- 🔍 Insightful and wise guidance
- 📓 Helpful journaling feature
- 🔄 Easy to use and navigate
- 🕰 Useful for daily reflection
Room to improve
- 🐛 App crashes or freezes
- 💰 Incomplete content without paid upgrade
- 📱 Font size too small, difficult to read
- 🔌 Issues with app updates and compatibility
SGI
From 742 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Helpful for practice
- 🚀 Comprehensive app with many features
- 💡 Ability to chant with audio
- 💡 Access to publications and study materials
- 👍 Great for beginners and experienced users
Room to improve
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches after updates
- 🔒 Login issues and need to log in frequently
- 🔋 Timer/stopwatch issues when phone is locked or app is closed
- 👎 Slow chanting/gongyo speed options
- 👎 Difficulty navigating and finding content
Bugs and requests
I Ching Lite
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes when trying to save journal entries
- Paid upgrade not working as expected
- Inconsistent or incomplete hexagram readings
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to save and review past journal entries
- Option to adjust font size and background
- Support for multiple translations or versions
- Sharing capabilities to connect with others
SGI
Reported bugs
4 issues- Daimoku count not updating accurately
- Writings of Nichiren Daishonin not loading
- Crashes or freezes when using certain features
- Incorrect or outdated content displayed
Requested features
6 requests- Ability to adjust chanting/gongyo speed
- Seamless looping of chanting audio
- Sync daimoku counts across devices
- More customization options (e.g. font size, themes)
- Improved navigation and organization of content
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- Ability to maintain active campaigns/goals across updates
In-app purchases
I Ching Lite
- I Ching: Book of Changes$5.99
- Wei Wu Wei Ching$5.99
SGI
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is I Ching Lite free?
Is SGI free?
Which has better reviews, I Ching Lite or SGI?
Do I Ching Lite or SGI have ads?
Which is updated more often, I Ching Lite or SGI?
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