# Bible Gateway vs The MacArthur Study Bible

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The MacArthur Study Bible at 66% against Bible Gateway's 18%. The MacArthur Study Bible also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.7) and ads (none vs shown). Bible Gateway's advantage is chart position (#93 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bible Gateway sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and The MacArthur Study Bible sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The MacArthur Study Bible holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10K and 18K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Bible Gateway's written reviews are positive against 66% of The MacArthur Study Bible's.

Bible Gateway ships an update every 3 weeks, The MacArthur Study Bible monthly. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bible Gateway | The MacArthur Study Bible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bible-gateway/id506512797/reviews) | **[4.9 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-macarthur-study-bible/id992237916/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10K | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | 18.3% of reviews | **65.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#93** | — |
| Size | 100 MB | 112 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/444535393) | [Grace to You](https://appshunter.io/developer/992237915) |

## What reviewers say

### Bible Gateway

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

**Currently charting:** #93 Top Grossing · Reference, #135 Top Free · Reference (US App Store)

Access over 200 Bible translations and audio Bibles in multiple languages for free. Enhance your reading with features like highlighting, note-taking, and verse syncing. An optional upgrade offers an ad-free experience and access to extensive study tools.

**Highlights:** 200+ Bible translations, Audio Bibles, Search by keyword, verse, or topic, Highlighting and note-taking, Cross-device syncing, Reading plans, 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


### The MacArthur Study Bible

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-macarthur-study-bible/id992237916)

Access a vast library of biblical resources, including multiple scripture translations and over 3,000 sermons. Enhance your understanding with study notes, articles, and daily devotionals. Synchronize your personal data across devices for a seamless study experience.

**Highlights:** Multiple Bible translations (ESV, NAS, KJV), Extensive sermon archive, Highlighting and note-taking, Daily Bible reading plan, Study guides and articles, Cross-device data synchronization

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| John MacArthur’s Study Bible Notes | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🙏 Excellent study resource
- 📚 Helpful commentary and notes
- 🔍 Useful cross-references
- 🎧 Convenient audio Bible
- 🕰️ Daily devotionals and sermons

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent freezing and crashes
- 🔀 Jumping to wrong chapters/verses
- 💤 Slow performance and unresponsiveness
- 🔍 Highlighting issues (can only highlight one verse at a time)
- 🔗 Broken links and navigation problems

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to create account
- Inability to access saved notes and highlights
- Incompatibility issues with newer iOS devices
- Devotionals not updating regularly

**Requested features**

- Support for more Bible translations (e.g. NIV, NLT)
- Improved highlighting and note-taking capabilities
- Seamless syncing across devices
- Customizable font and theme options
- Better integration with other Bible study tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bible Gateway free?

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

### Is The MacArthur Study Bible free?

The MacArthur Study Bible is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bible Gateway or The MacArthur Study Bible?

The MacArthur Study Bible is rated higher. Bible Gateway averages 3.7 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while The MacArthur Study Bible averages 4.9 from 18K ratings.

### Do Bible Gateway or The MacArthur Study Bible have ads?

Bible Gateway shows ads; The MacArthur Study Bible does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bible Gateway or The MacArthur Study Bible?

Bible Gateway ships an update every 3 weeks, and The MacArthur Study Bible monthly. Most recently, Bible Gateway was updated on November 1, 2026 and The MacArthur Study Bible on November 1, 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.*