ESV Bible* vs JSM
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ESV Bible*
This app provides the English Standard Version of the Bible, a modern translation focused on word-for-word accuracy to the original texts. It's designed for faithful study, teaching, and reading, preserving the original meaning and style of scripture.
- Faithful translation of original texts
- Word-for-word accuracy
- Modern English accessibility
- Ideal for Bible study
- Preserves original meaning and style
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The English Standard Version (ESV) is a modern English Bible translation known for its accuracy and faithfulness to the original Scriptures. Based on the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts, it follows a word for word approach while remaining clear for modern readers. Widely used for Bible study, teaching, and personal devotion, the ESV seeks to preserve the meaning and style of the original text. Its balance of accuracy and readability has made it a trusted choice for readers seeking a deeper understanding of God's Word. 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.
JSM
Access an interactive and audio version of "The Expositor’s Study Bible" with in-depth commentary. Explore "The Evangelist Magazine" and gain a deeper understanding of scripture through detailed notes from Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart.
- Interactive study Bible
- Audio Bible version
- Expository notes
- Searchable text
- Highlighting and bookmarking
- Commentary toggle
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Jimmy Swaggart Ministries This app contains an interactive version of “The Expositor’s Study Bible” by Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, an audio version of “The Expositor’s Study Bible” as well as “The Evangelist Magazine” – the monthly publication of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart is the author of The Expositor’s Study Bible (ESB). To date, the ESB has been translated from its original English version into Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish, and has sold more than 1.8 million copies. In the 1990s, the Lord impressed upon Brother Swaggart to produce a study Bible that would be easy for preachers and laypeople alike to read and understand. In the latter part of that decade (1997), the Lord revealed to him the Message of the Cross, which revolutionized the evangelist’s life and ministry. As understanding of “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” continued to unfold, Brother Swaggart knew this message would serve as the cornerstone for the study Bible he had been instructed by the Lord to produce, as well as for his worldwide ministry. In 2001, the Holy Spirit showed Brother Swaggart the format of how this Bible would be presented, which he and his staff followed to the letter, making the ESB one of the most unique Bibles in the world today. All Scripture text inside the ESB is typeset in black, making the Word of God stand out against the red expository notes that follow nearly every verse. This user-friendly format seems to please readers who appreciate the in-depth commentary so visually close to the sacred text. Since the primary goal of this project was to help explain the Scriptures, the word expositor was chosen for its title. Each expository note draws from six decades of Brother Swaggart’s personal Bible study and the insights he’s collected from some of the finest Hebrew and Greek scholars in the world. This single resource, just under 2,500 pages, gives readers the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the Word of God in a way, according to the evangelist, that the Holy Spirit desires. FEATURES This interactive app makes the navigation from Book, Chapter and Verse much easier than traditional e-Book versions. As well, the reader is able to search, highlight, comment, bookmark and turn Brother Swaggart’s commentary notes off and on at one simple touch.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: ESV Bible* at Free against JSM's $39.99. ESV Bible* also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.1) and ratings volume (952 vs 14). JSM's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence and iOS requirement 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
ESV Bible* is free to download; JSM costs $39.99 up front. ESV Bible* sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. JSM asks for nothing beyond the download.
ESV Bible* holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ESV Bible* has 952 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of ESV Bible*'s written reviews are positive against 31% of JSM's.
ESV Bible* ships an update every 4 months, JSM every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ESV Bible* | JSM |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $39.99 |
| Rating | 4.7 (952 ratings) — better | 3.1 (14 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 30.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 952 — better | 14 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 288 MB | 309 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RAVINDHIRAN SUMITHRA | Jimmy Swaggart Ministries |
Customer experience
ESV Bible*
JSM
Bugs and requests
ESV Bible*
Reported bugs
3 issues- Books disappearing with only page numbers visible
- Inability to access certain books due to ad placement
- Incorrect book ordering (New Testament starting at 2 Corinthians)
Requested features
3 requests- Add note-taking functionality
- Improve navigation between chapters and verses
- Fix audio discrepancies with scripture
JSM
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ESV Bible*
- Three Months$7.99
- ESV Ads Free Version$12.99
- One Year$24.99
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- Two Years$34.99
JSM
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ESV Bible* free?
Is JSM free?
Which has better reviews, ESV Bible* or JSM?
Do ESV Bible* or JSM have ads?
Which is updated more often, ESV Bible* or JSM?
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