Comparison

Focus Bible vs Examine the Scriptures

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

Head to head
About

Focus Bible

This app provides in-depth Bible study tools, offering insights from trusted scholars and historical context for every verse. It features multiple Bible translations, original language previews, and personal note-taking capabilities, all without ads.

Highlights
  • Verse-by-verse scholarly insights
  • Historical and cultural context
  • Multiple Bible translations
  • Original Hebrew and Greek previews
  • Personal note-syncing
  • Topic-based search
Features
Read full description

WHAT MAKES FOCUS BIBLE DIFFERENT? Other apps give you surface-level devotional content or overwhelm you with raw info to piece together yourself. Focus Bible does the work for you. We show you what matters, in plain language, without assuming you already know everything. No ads. No merch store. Just the Bible, with the depth it deserves. Focus Bible gives you real Bible study tools. The kind that used to cost hundreds of dollars or require a seminary library. We give most of it away for free. --- BUILT ON TRUSTED SCHOLARSHIP, NOT OPINIONS Focus Bible doesn't invent its own take on the Bible. Everything we show you is grounded in theologians who have been read, trusted, and loved for generations. We draw on 200+ scholars and theologians, from the Reformation to today. Nearly 500 years and multiple Christian traditions, including some of the most beloved names in church history: John Calvin, Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon, John Wesley, John Gill, Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, Keil and Delitzsch, Jamieson Fausset and Brown, A.T. Robertson, and more. We pair them with pastors preaching these same verses today. For every verse, we show you where they agree and where they differ. Then we connect it to history, to the original Hebrew and Greek, and to the world you live in today. You're not getting our opinions. You're standing on the shoulders of the scholars the church has trusted for centuries. --- WHAT YOU GET FOR FREE Not a free trial or a limited preview. This is what Focus Bible gives every registered user: • The full Bible in multiple translations. • What trusted scholars say about every verse. A clear summary of where these classic and modern voices agree, and where they see things differently. • The historical and cultural context behind each passage. • Related passages that connect across Scripture. • A preview of the original Hebrew and Greek behind every verse. • Short clips from pastors and teachers exploring the same passages you are reading. • Personal notes that sync across your devices. • Foundational reading plans. • Two reading modes: verse-by-verse study or continuous reading. • Powerful search that understands topics, themes, and ideas. We built Focus Bible because everyone deserves deep Bible study, not just those who can afford it. --- FOR THOSE WHO WANT EVEN MORE Some people want to go further: full original-language word studies, complete commentary texts, study questions for every verse, and analysis across Christian traditions. For them, we offer optional subscriptions: Study Membership ($79.99/year or $7.99/month) Full commentary texts from classic and modern sources. Complete original language word studies with multiple lexicons. Perspectives across traditions: Reformed, Catholic, Orthodox, and more. Our full encyclopedia of 1,500+ biblical people, places, and things. Custom reading plans that adapt to your daily feedback. But the free experience is not missing anything essential. --- WHO THIS IS FOR • If you are new to the Bible and want to understand what you are reading. • If you have read the Bible for years and want fresh perspective on familiar verses. • If you lead a small group and need to prepare each week. • If you are a pastor looking for efficient sermon research. • If you are studying theology and need scholarly sources. Focus Bible meets you where you are. --- Questions? support@focusbible.com We read every message. Subscriptions auto-renew at the listed price each billing period unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.focusbible.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.focusbible.com/privacy-policy

About

Examine the Scriptures

This app transforms Bible study into an interactive experience. Engage with lessons, answer questions, and explore scripture references directly within the app. Save your progress, add notes, and export your completed studies for offline review.

Highlights
  • Interactive verse-by-verse lessons
  • Answer study questions
  • Tap scripture references
  • Save answers offline
  • Highlight passages and add notes
  • Export printable PDF studies
  • Adjustable text size
Features
Read full description

Examine the Scriptures turns serious Bible study into something you do, not just something you read. Inspired by the Bereans, who "received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11), the app takes proven, verse-by-verse studies and makes them interactive. You read the lesson, answer every question in your own words, tap any reference to read the passage instantly, and finish with a complete, printable study you worked through yourself. WHAT YOU CAN DO - Browse a growing library of studies, organized by series and searchable. - Work through each lesson: read the introduction, respond to the Group Discussion and Personal Reflection prompts, and answer every Study Question in your own words. - Tap any Scripture reference to read the full passage in your chosen translation. - Save your answers automatically on your device — no account, no sign-in, nothing to remember. - Highlight meaningful passages, add personal notes, and bookmark lessons. - Export a clean, printable PDF of your completed study, with your own answers included. - Adjust the text size for comfortable, distraction-free reading. FREE, AND GENUINELY COMPLETE The free experience is not a trial. Every study, every question, PDF export, notes, highlights, and two full translations — the American Standard Version (ASV) and the World English Bible (WEB) — are included at no cost, and work fully offline. TEACHER EDITION (OPTIONAL) An optional Teacher Edition subscription unlocks the modern copyrighted translations — New American Standard Bible (NASB 2020), New King James Version (NKJV), and Christian Standard Bible (CSB) — along with a teacher's guide for every study: teaching aims, commentary, doctrinal notes, and discussion prompts. Any cost exists only to cover the licensing of these copyrighted translations. If you simply want to support the work, an optional tip jar is always appreciated and unlocks nothing on its own — the studies are for everyone. BUILT FOR REAL STUDY Calm, readable, and respectful of your time. Large tap targets, serif typography, and a quiet interface keep the focus on the Word. Your answers stay private on your device. Examine the Scriptures is a ministry-first project from Still Standing Studios, built on the studies at ChurchOfChristBibleStudies.com. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God." — 2 Timothy 2:15 — Teacher Edition is an auto-renewable subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. It renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; manage or cancel in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://stillstandingstudios.com/terms/examine-the-scriptures.html · Privacy Policy: https://stillstandingstudios.com/privacy/examine-the-scriptures.html

Screenshots

Focus Bible4 screens
Examine the Scriptures4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Focus Bible at every 4 days against Examine the Scriptures's every 2 weeks. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Focus Bible sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Examine the Scriptures sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Focus Bible against 5.0 for Examine the Scriptures. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Bible ships an update every 4 days, Examine the Scriptures every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Focus Bible versus Examine the Scriptures: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus BibleExamine the Scriptures
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size265 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHidden PlanetStill Standing Studios, LLC

Customer experience

Focus Bible

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Examine the Scriptures

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Focus Bible

Subscriptions3
  • Scholar$7.991 Month
  • Study$49.991 Year
  • Scholar$79.991 Year
One-time1
  • Founding Member$99.99
5 purchases

Examine the Scriptures

Subscriptions2
  • Teacher Edition (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Teacher Edition (Yearly)$49.991 Year
One-time3
  • Tip — Small$1.99
  • Tip — Medium$4.99
  • Tip — Large$9.99

Questions

Is Focus Bible free?
Focus Bible is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Examine the Scriptures free?
Examine the Scriptures is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Focus Bible or Examine the Scriptures?
Focus Bible and Examine the Scriptures are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Focus Bible or Examine the Scriptures have ads?
Neither Focus Bible nor Examine the Scriptures shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Bible or Examine the Scriptures?
Focus Bible ships an update every 4 days, and Examine the Scriptures every 2 weeks. Most recently, Focus Bible was updated on September 22, 2026 and Examine the Scriptures on September 28, 2026.

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