# RootsMagic vs Scripture Notes

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RootsMagic at none against Scripture Notes's 1. RootsMagic also leads on ratings volume (257 vs 64) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). Scripture Notes's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and rating (4.3 vs 3.9). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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.

Scripture Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 257 and 64 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of RootsMagic's written reviews are positive against 56% of Scripture Notes's.

RootsMagic ships an update every 3 months, Scripture Notes every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RootsMagic | Scripture Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (257 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rootsmagic/id583724503/reviews) | **[4.3 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scripture-notes/id1611795202/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **257** | 64 |
| Positive reviews | 34.9% of reviews | **55.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 24 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [RootsMagic, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/583724506) | [Living Tree Software, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1611795204) |

## What reviewers say

### RootsMagic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rootsmagic/id583724503)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔌 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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Scripture Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scripture-notes/id1611795202)

Enhance your scripture study with a personal research assistant. This app helps you discover deeper meaning and record insights quickly. Access a vast library of resources and advanced search tools to gain more revelation.

**Highlights:** Instant note system for verse inspiration, Boolean search for complex queries, Access to external resources (dictionaries, translations), LDS Citation Index and Joseph Smith Translation access, Expanding library of religious texts, Collection Notes feature

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SN Pro Monthly | $5.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked 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 3.9 out of 5 from 257 ratings, while Scripture Notes averages 4.3 from 64 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 2 weeks. Most recently, RootsMagic was updated on October 4, 2026 and Scripture Notes on October 8, 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.*