Comparison

RootsMagic vs Scripture Notes

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

Head to head
About

RootsMagic

Access and explore your family tree on your mobile device. This companion app allows you to view your genealogy data, including media, notes, and sources, in various formats. It also provides helpful tools for research and organization.

Highlights
  • View actual RootsMagic files
  • Transfer files via iTunes/DropBox
  • Pedigree, Family, Descendant views
  • Search ancestors by name/record number
  • View media, notes, and sources
  • Relationship calculator
  • Perpetual calendar
Features
Read full description

Your family tree at your fingertips! Now you can easily take and show off your family history with you wherever you go. RootsMagic lets you carry your genealogy on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch! This viewer is designed as a companion product to RootsMagic, the award-winning desktop genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history easy. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced professional, RootsMagic is the perfect tool for you! Features include: Files: * Uses your actual RootsMagic files- no conversion needed * Easily put your family history files on your device through iTunes or DropBox * Keep as many files as you want right on your device * Use the free desktop software to convert other genealogy files including PAF, Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, and GEDCOM into viewable RootsMagic files. Views: * Pedigree, Family, Descendant, and Individual Views to quickly explore your family tree * Browse people by surname and given names * Search ancestors by name or record number * View media, notes, and sources for people, families, events, and facts Lists: * Source list * To-do lists * Research Logs * Media Lists * Address Book * Repository List * Correspondence List * Place List Tools: * Perpetual calendar * Date calculator * Relationship calculator * Soundex calculator Note: Requires RootsMagic desktop family tree software or the free RootsMagic Essentials software to create, edit, or add to your genealogy files.

About

Scripture Notes

Enhance your scripture study with a personal research assistant. Quickly record inspiration, perform deep searches with external resources, and access a growing library of texts. This cloud-based app requires an account for data saving.

Highlights
  • Instant note system for any verse
  • Boolean search for complex queries
  • Access to external resources (dictionaries, translations)
  • Includes Apocrypha and other works
  • Cloud-based data saving
  • Collection Note feature
Features
Read full description

Get More Revelation in Less Time. 10X Your Scripture Study with a Personal Research Assistant We all know what it feels like to read the scriptures and not feel fulfilled at getting the revelation you want. It's all too easy to get into a rut of reading a chapter and never digging for meaning because the tools available don't support finding patterns in the scriptures. This is why we created Scripture Notes to let you get more revelation in less time by searching the scriptures in deeper, more meaningful ways. Then when you record the revelation you receive, you show that you cherish it, and you receive more. Scripture Notes’ unique instant note system gives you the ability to quickly record all your inspiration on any verse, even inside search results. It features Boolean search for complex search queries, instant access to outside resources like Webster’s 1828 dictionary, Blue Letter Bible for Hebrew and Greek definitions, Bible Hub for 29 Bible translations, and for those in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, you can access the LDS Citation Index project and the complete Joseph Smith Translation. Our library is constantly expanding and now includes other works like the Apocrypha, Book of Jasher, Lectures on Faith, and more. In this initial stage of release, we are focused on key features so local storage is not active yet (but will be in the future). As a cloud-based app you will need to register for an account to save your data. This account is a modest subscription to continue to develop the software. Cancelling your subscription will put you on a free version of the app which is still very powerful but removes extra books in the library and a Collection Note feature. As early release software, Scripture Notes is a stable platform but has limited features when compared to the desktop version. It is already very powerful with Boolean searches and the ability to create Collection Notes, but we are working to make it the best mobile scripture study app available. There are many more features to come. Commenting on our desktop version: Dr. Brent Top, retired Dean of Religious Studies at BYU, said “I was blown away how good it is.” Brad Constantine, Retired Seminary & Institute Teacher, said “In my years of gospel and scripture study, I’ve never seen a study tool that is as easy to use yet as flexible and powerful as Scripture Notes. You can easily be the gospel doctrine scholar you’ve always dreamed of with this powerful tool. This is a very valuable gospel study resource.” Deb Malone saihttps://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/d, “When I first came across Scripture Notes I didn't see the value or use for them (sorry!), but I WANTED to. So I watched a few of the videos.... the more I watched, the more I was intrigued. It is the tutorials that come with the app that make the whole thing invaluable! Finally, for the first time in my life, I'm not just reading the scriptures.... I'm studying them! That is a huge blessing to me and I cannot wait to dig in further and learn sooo much more! Thank you so very much for your effort and work that has been put into this to make it such a blessing to those like myself!” Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

RootsMagic4 screens
Scripture Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Scripture Notes at 4.3 against RootsMagic's 3.8. Scripture Notes also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (57% vs 35%). RootsMagic's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (279 vs 65). On price, ads 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. Scripture Notes sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month. RootsMagic asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Scripture Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 279 and 65 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of RootsMagic's written reviews are positive against 57% of Scripture Notes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RootsMagic ships an update every 3 months, Scripture Notes every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
RootsMagic versus Scripture Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRootsMagicScripture Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (279 ratings)4.3 (65 ratings) — better
Positive reviews34.7% of reviews57.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings279 — better65
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB11 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperRootsMagic, IncLiving Tree Software, LLC

Customer experience

RootsMagic

All ratings257 ratings
Positive71.6%
Neutral7.4%
Negative21.0%
Written reviews147 reviews
Positive34.7%
Neutral12.2%
Negative53.1%

Scripture Notes

All ratings65 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral3.1%
Negative16.9%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral5.7%
Negative37.1%

User reviews

RootsMagic

From 279 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 📱 Ability to view genealogy data on mobile devices
  • 🔍 Convenient way to access family tree information
  • 🗓️ Useful for family gatherings and research trips

Room to improve

  • 🔌 Requires external services like Dropbox or iTunes to sync data
  • 🚫 Limited functionality compared to desktop version
  • 📤 Outdated instructions and compatibility issues
  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability problems

Scripture Notes

From 65 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Excellent scripture study tool
  • 💡 Powerful AI assistant for questions
  • 👍 Great for organizing thoughts/notes
  • 🚀 Fast search functionality
  • 💡 Integrates external resources

Room to improve

  • 😞 Deceptive billing/trial practices
  • 😞 Not free, hidden costs
  • 😞 Poor mobile/iPad experience
  • 😞 Clunky and difficult to use
  • 😞 Slow AI response times

Bugs and requests

RootsMagic

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incompatible with newer RootsMagic file formats
  • Inability to load or view database files
  • Crashing issues on various iOS devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Allow editing and adding data on mobile devices
  • Integrate with cloud storage services beyond Dropbox
  • Improve user interface and navigation

Scripture Notes

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • App crashes during lessons
  • Cannot delete trial/cancel easily
  • Keyboard pops up and won't disappear on mobile
  • Registration link broken
  • Cannot sign in/change password
Show 2 more
  • Immediate charge after entering credit card
  • App not working well on iPad landscape view

Requested features

8 requests
  • Native iPad app
  • Dark mode
  • Editable timeline and genealogy
  • Add more resources (Jewish encyclopedia, etc.)
  • Better mobile user experience
Show 3 more
  • Export notes to church app
  • Back buttons for navigation
  • Clarify free plan details

In-app purchases

None

RootsMagic

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Scripture Notes

Subscriptions1
  • SN Pro Monthly$5.991 Month

Questions

Is RootsMagic free?
RootsMagic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Scripture Notes free?
Scripture Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RootsMagic or Scripture Notes?
Scripture Notes is rated higher. RootsMagic averages 3.8 out of 5 from 279 ratings, while Scripture Notes averages 4.3 from 65 ratings.
Do RootsMagic or Scripture Notes have ads?
Neither RootsMagic nor Scripture Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RootsMagic or Scripture Notes?
RootsMagic ships an update every 3 months, and Scripture Notes every 10 days. Most recently, RootsMagic was updated on November 1, 2026 and Scripture Notes on October 30, 2026.

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