Comparison

Simple Bible in Basic English vs New International Version

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

Head to head
About

Simple Bible in Basic English

This app offers the Bible translated into Basic English, simplifying the text with a limited vocabulary for easier understanding. It aims to make scripture accessible to a wider global audience.

Highlights
  • Basic English translation
  • Simplified vocabulary
  • Easy to understand text
  • Accessible scripture
  • Professor S. H. Hooke translation
Features
Read full description

Bible In Basic English. The Bible In Basic English (BBE) is a translation of the Bible into Basic English. The BBE was translated by Professor S. H. Hooke. In an effort to simplify and make easy to understand the text he and his team limited the vocabulary to the standard 850 Basic English words. 100 words that were helpful to understand poetry were added along with 50 "Bible" words. The Bible in Basic English strives to simplify the Bible so that more people worldwide can read and understand the text. By using the Basic English vocabulary, this goal is accomplished. The BBE is certainly straightforward and simple.

About

New International Version

Access a popular modern English translation of the Holy Bible, known for its clarity, accuracy, and faithfulness to original texts. This digital version is ideal for personal study, group discussions, teaching, and worship, making scripture accessible to millions.

Highlights
  • Modern English translation
  • Clear and accurate scripture
  • Faithful to original texts
  • Ideal for personal study
  • Suitable for study groups
  • Contemporary language
Features
Read full description

The New International Version (NIV) Bible is a widely loved English translation first published in 1978. It was created to make the message of the Scriptures clear and accessible while staying true to the original biblical texts. Over the years, it has been revised to better serve modern readers while preserving the meaning of the Scriptures. Today, the NIV continues to help millions of people connect with God’s word in a clear, meaningful, and relatable way. Features: Daily Verse: Set reminders for daily Bible verse notifications. MY LIBRARY: Access your highlights, notes, and bookmarked verses. Old & New Testaments: Read both Testaments in one app. Verse Editor: Create beautiful verse posts with backgrounds and share them. Nearby Churches: Find churches near your location. Books: Explore a collection of Christian eBooks. Wallpapers: Browse beautiful and inspiring wallpapers. Videos: Watch videos on Jesus, Hope, Wisdom, Motivation, Gratitude, Healing, and more. Festive Calendar: Explore Christian festivals and feast days. Popular Verse: Discover verses by topics like love, fear, and peace. Customise Your Bible: Adjust fonts and text colors for comfortable reading. 1000 Praises: Explore a devotional collection honoring God’s names and attributes. Bible Quotes: Share Bible quotes in image and text formats. Bible Quiz: Test your Bible knowledge with engaging quizzes. Bible Stories: Read timeless and inspiring Bible stories for all ages. Bible FAQ: Find quick answers to common Bible and Christian life questions. Verse Comments: Share thoughts and engage in community discussions. Help Desk: Submit support requests with photo attachments. Dictionary: Access a Bible-based dictionary with easy search. Dream Meanings: Explore Biblical and Christian perspectives on dreams. Word Highlights: Highlight words or letters for deeper reflection. App Activity: Track reading streaks, time spent, refreshes, and app usage. Search: Quickly find verses, chapters, and topics. Products: Explore Bible-related products within the app. VerseBot: Get AI-powered verse explanations with easy copy and sharing. Notification History: Access your past notifications in one place. Did You Know?: Discover daily facts about the Bible and Christian faith. Bible Verse Clips: Enjoy short, inspirational Bible clips from the community. Prayer Request: Submit prayer requests and receive community support. Nearby Events: Discover Christian events and gatherings near you. Chapter-Wise Video Learning: Watch videos for deeper chapter understanding. Interactive Bible Games: Enjoy scripture-based games like SlideScript and VerseHunt. Bible Clips: Watch short, inspiring Biblical clips from the faith community. Bible Streaks: Maintain your daily Bible reading streak. Background Music: Enjoy calming music while reading the Bible. Mark as Read – Quiz: Take quizzes based on the verses you’ve read. Audio Bible – Speed Control: Adjust audio speed for faster or slower listening. Alarm: Set timely alarms and reminders for scheduled activities. Worship Songs: Praise and connect with God through uplifting songs and lyrics. Daily Prayer Reminder: Stay connected with God through daily prayer reminders. Audio Bible Experience: Listen to reading plans with text-to-speech audio and soulful background music.

Screenshots

Simple Bible in Basic English4 screens
New International Version4 screens

Verdict

The call

Simple Bible in Basic English and New International Version both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 97% of Simple Bible in Basic English's written reviews are positive against 47% of New International Version's. Simple Bible in Basic English also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4). New International Version's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (7.5K vs 1.3K). On price, rating, 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. New International Version sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Simple Bible in Basic English asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Simple Bible in Basic English against 4.7 for New International Version. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: New International Version has 7.5K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 97% of Simple Bible in Basic English's written reviews are positive against 47% of New International Version's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simple Bible in Basic English ships an update every 8 months, New International Version every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Simple Bible in Basic English versus New International Version: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple Bible in Basic EnglishNew International Version
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (1.3K ratings) — better4.7 (7.5K ratings)
Positive reviews97.1% of reviews — better46.5% of reviews
Number of ratings1.3K7.5K — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB281 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOleg ShukalovichRAVINDHIRAN SUMITHRA

Customer experience

Simple Bible in Basic English

All ratings869 ratings
Positive98.6%
Neutral0.7%
Negative0.7%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive97.1%
Neutral2.9%
Negative0.0%

New International Version

All ratings7,479 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral2.6%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews101 reviews
Positive46.5%
Neutral8.9%
Negative44.6%

User reviews

Simple Bible in Basic English

From 1.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to read and understand
  • 👍 Simple and user-friendly
  • 👍 Helpful for Bible study
  • 👍 Provides daily encouragement
  • 👍 Organized and well-structured

Room to improve

  • 🔊 Robotic or annoying voice
  • 💰 Presence of ads

New International Version

From 7.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to read and understand
  • 🙏 Helps with daily Bible reading
  • 💡 Ability to highlight and bookmark verses
  • 🎨 Refreshing and modern format

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Verses/chapters displayed incorrectly
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find books/chapters
  • 💸 Ads disrupt reading experience
  • 🔄 Resets to Genesis when reopening app

Bugs and requests

Simple Bible in Basic English

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Voice playback issues
  • App crashing or freezing

Requested features

3 requests
  • Audio or podcast-like functionality
  • Ability to take notes and highlight text
  • One-time payment to remove ads

New International Version

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incorrect verse/chapter content displayed
  • App crashes or freezes when opening certain books
  • Purchased ad-free version still shows ads

Requested features

4 requests
  • Display book names instead of chapter numbers
  • Add option to disable ads or purchase ad-free version
  • Improve bookmarking and resume reading functionality
  • Provide more intuitive navigation between books and chapters

In-app purchases

None

Simple Bible in Basic English

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

New International Version

One-time4
  • Three Months$7.99
  • Ads Free Version - Life Time$12.99
  • One Year$24.99
Show 1 more
  • Two Years$34.99

Questions

Is Simple Bible in Basic English free?
Simple Bible in Basic English is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is New International Version free?
New International Version is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Simple Bible in Basic English or New International Version?
Simple Bible in Basic English is rated higher. Simple Bible in Basic English averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while New International Version averages 4.7 from 7.5K ratings.
Do Simple Bible in Basic English or New International Version have ads?
Both Simple Bible in Basic English and New International Version show ads.
Which is updated more often, Simple Bible in Basic English or New International Version?
Simple Bible in Basic English ships an update every 8 months, and New International Version every 3 months. Most recently, Simple Bible in Basic English was updated on November 5, 2026 and New International Version on November 6, 2026.

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