# Bible Gateway vs Theophilus

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Theophilus at 100% against Bible Gateway's 18%. Theophilus also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 9). Bible Gateway's advantage is ratings volume (10K vs 3) and chart position (#96 vs unranked). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bible Gateway sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Theophilus asks for nothing beyond the download.

Theophilus holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bible Gateway has 10K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Bible Gateway's written reviews are positive against 100% of Theophilus's.

Bible Gateway ships an update every 3 weeks, Theophilus every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bible Gateway | Theophilus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bible-gateway/id506512797/reviews) | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theophilus/id6761641333/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **10K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 18.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#96** | — |
| Size | 113 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/444535393) | [Brandon Brown](https://appshunter.io/developer/1868861497) |

## What reviewers say

### Bible Gateway

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bible-gateway/id506512797)

**Currently charting:** #96 Top Free · Reference, #117 Top Grossing · Reference (US App Store)

Access over 200 Bible translations and audio Bibles in multiple languages. This app allows you to highlight verses, take notes, and sync your progress across devices. An optional subscription unlocks advanced study tools and an ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** 200+ Bible translations, 30+ Audio Bibles, Keyword and verse search, Highlighting and note-taking, Reading plans and progress tracking, Side-by-side Bible view, Verse of the Day

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bible Gateway Plus Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Bible Gateway Plus Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Bible Gateway Plus Yearly | $58.99 | per year |
| Bible Gateway Plus Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| Bible Gateway Plus Yearly | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent Bible study tool
- 🔍 Wide range of translations and languages
- 🎧 Useful audio Bible feature
- 📚 Comprehensive Bible resources
- 🗓️ Helpful reading plans and reminders

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 📱 Compatibility issues with newer devices
- 💤 Audio playback issues and resets
- 🔍 Inconsistent search functionality
- 📝 Limited note-taking and highlighting options

**Reported bugs**

- Verses not displaying correctly
- Inability to navigate to specific chapters/verses
- Saved notes and highlights not persisting
- Audio playback issues and resets

**Requested features**

- Offline Bible downloads
- More translation options (e.g., NRSV, Good News)
- Improved note-taking and highlighting capabilities
- Customizable font and layout options
- Seamless syncing across devices


### Theophilus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theophilus/id6761641333)

This app offers a deep dive into scripture with multiple translations, historical context, and ancient writings. It includes commentaries, biblical dictionaries, and tools for journaling, memorization, and prayer. Users can also connect with others for community study and encouragement.

**Highlights:** Multiple Bible translations (BSB, KJV, WEB), Instant verse context and historical information, Access to 30 public domain commentaries, Writings from 1st-century church fathers, In-depth study of people, places, and archaeology, Journaling with verse detection and prayer tracking, Community features for sharing and group study

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bible Gateway free?

Bible Gateway is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Theophilus free?

Theophilus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Bible Gateway or Theophilus?

Theophilus is rated higher. Bible Gateway averages 3.7 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while Theophilus averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Bible Gateway or Theophilus have ads?

Bible Gateway shows ads; Theophilus does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bible Gateway or Theophilus?

Bible Gateway ships an update every 3 weeks, and Theophilus every 11 days. Most recently, Bible Gateway was updated on November 12, 2026 and Theophilus on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*