# Coptic Reader vs Catena

The clearest difference is device support: Coptic Reader at 4 against Catena's 2. Coptic Reader also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Coptic Reader against 4.9 for Catena. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11K and 5.1K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of Coptic Reader's written reviews are positive against 98% of Catena's.

Coptic Reader ships an update fortnightly, Catena monthly. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Coptic Reader | Catena |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coptic-reader/id649434138/reviews) | **[4.9 (5.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catena-bible-and-commentaries/id1218663640/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 5.1K |
| Positive reviews | 91.7% of reviews | **97.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 218 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern USA](https://appshunter.io/developer/649434141) | [AD30 Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/6812890812) |

## What reviewers say

### Coptic Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coptic-reader/id649434138)

This app provides the liturgical texts, rites, hymns, and sacraments of the Coptic Orthodox Church. It dynamically generates services based on the current or selected day, offering customizable content and presentation modes.

**Highlights:** Liturgical text and rites, Dynamic service generation, Multilingual support (English, Arabic, Coptic), Customizable liturgical roles, Adjustable themes and text size, Presentation mode for projection, Complete Bible and Coptic texts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🙏 God-given effort
- 🙌 Comprehensive coverage of prayers and services
- 🤩 Excellent resource for Coptic Orthodox Christians
- 🙏 Blessed service
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Missing Coptic transliteration to English
- 🤔 Some issues with Arabic spelling and translation
- 🤔 Lack of copy/paste and bookmark features

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect handling of feast day readings on Sundays
- Removal of portions of the Creed during Holy Week

**Requested features**

- Add Coptic transliteration to English and Arabic
- Improve Arabic translation accuracy
- Implement copy/paste and bookmark features
- Add audio playback for readings and hymns
- Improve search functionality


### Catena

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catena-bible-and-commentaries/id1218663640)

Access scripture with verse-by-verse commentary from early Christian theologians. Gain insights into the roots of authentic faith and apply God's word to your spiritual life. This resource offers authoritative guidance for interpreting scripture and understanding the early church.

**Highlights:** Verse-by-verse commentary, Insights from church fathers, Early Christian theologian perspectives, Scripture interpretation guidance, Spiritual life application, Understanding the early church

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🙏 Thank you for your hard work
- 👍 Helpful commentaries and insights
- 🔍 Great for Bible study and learning
- 🕰️ Useful daily quotes from Church Fathers
- 🧭 Easy to navigate and use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔍 Missing some commentaries or translations
- 🔌 Offline functionality could be improved

**Reported bugs**

- Verse navigation sometimes gets stuck
- Difficulty accessing certain Bible versions
- Occasional freezing or white screen issues

**Requested features**

- Add more Bible translations
- Improve sharing and note-taking features
- Include Orthodox lectionary and liturgical calendar
- Provide source links for commentaries


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Coptic Reader free?

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

### Is Catena free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Coptic Reader or Catena?

Catena is rated higher. Coptic Reader averages 4.9 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while Catena averages 4.9 from 5.1K ratings.

### Do Coptic Reader or Catena have ads?

Neither Coptic Reader nor Catena shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Coptic Reader or Catena?

Coptic Reader ships an update fortnightly, and Catena monthly. Most recently, Coptic Reader was updated on October 21, 2026 and Catena on October 21, 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.*