Comparison

Study by A1 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

Study by A1

Features
Read full description

Study by A1:8 is a free Bible study app for people who want to go deeper than a verse of the day. Read in five translations side by side. Pull up nineteen classic commentaries — Matthew Henry, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, Scofield and more — on the passage in front of you, without leaving it. Look up a word in any of twenty-five dictionaries. Follow a reading plan. Keep what you find. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Read five Bible translations, with parallel view • Study nineteen commentaries, verse by verse • Search twenty-five-plus Bible dictionaries and word studies • Take notes on any verse, and keep them • Highlight in multiple colours, and organise highlights into collections • Write longer thoughts and full messages in a proper editor • Bookmark passages and build collections • Follow reading plans and track your progress • Search across everything you have written WORKS OFFLINE Download translations, commentaries and dictionaries to your device and use them with no connection at all — on a plane, in a basement, anywhere. Notes, highlights and messages you write offline are saved on the device and sync the moment you are back. Nothing waits on a signal. EVERYTHING SYNCS Sign in once and your notes, highlights, bookmarks and messages follow you between your phone, your tablet and the web. Start a thought on your phone and finish it on a laptop. FREE, WITH NO PAYWALL The app is free. There is no subscription, no trial, no locked chapters and no ads. Everything described above is included. Study is part of the A1:8 family of tools for churches and the people in them. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses... to the end of the earth." — Acts 1:8

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

Study by A14 screens
Examine the Scriptures4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Study by A1 at none against Examine the Scriptures's 5. Study by A1 also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). 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. Examine the Scriptures sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Study by A1 asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Study by A1 ships an update daily, Examine the Scriptures every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Study by A1 versus Examine the Scriptures: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStudy by A1Examine the Scriptures
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlex SandersStill Standing Studios, LLC

In-app purchases

None

Study by A1

No in-app purchases

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 Study by A1 free?
Study by A1 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Examine the Scriptures free?
Examine the Scriptures is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Study by A1 or Examine the Scriptures have ads?
Neither Study by A1 nor Examine the Scriptures shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Study by A1 or Examine the Scriptures?
Study by A1 ships an update daily, and Examine the Scriptures every 3 weeks. Most recently, Study by A1 was updated on October 3, 2026 and Examine the Scriptures on October 13, 2026.

Other comparisons