# ESV Bible* vs Message Bible (MSG) Audio*

The clearest difference is update cadence: ESV Bible* at every 4 months against Message Bible (MSG) Audio*'s every 42 months. Message Bible (MSG) Audio*'s advantage is ratings volume (2.9K vs 952). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ESV Bible* sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Message Bible (MSG) Audio* sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.49 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Message Bible (MSG) Audio* holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 952 and 2.9K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of ESV Bible*'s written reviews are positive against 46% of Message Bible (MSG) Audio*'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ESV Bible* ships an update every 4 months, Message Bible (MSG) Audio* every 42 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ESV Bible* | Message Bible (MSG) Audio* |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (952 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esv-bible/id988485030/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/message-bible-msg-audio/id1570435369/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 952 | **2.9K** |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 46.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 42 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 288 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RAVINDHIRAN SUMITHRA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571016391) | [RAVINDHIRAN ANAND](https://appshunter.io/developer/1479882196) |

## What reviewers say

### ESV Bible*

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esv-bible/id988485030)

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.

**Highlights:** Faithful translation of original texts, Word-for-word accuracy, Modern English accessibility, Ideal for Bible study, Preserves original meaning and style

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Three Months | $7.99 | one-time |
| ESV Ads Free Version | $12.99 | one-time |
| One Year | $24.99 | one-time |
| Two Years | $34.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Offline availability
- 💡 Highlight and share verses
- 👍 Clear and concise layout
- 👍 Convenient for studying

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Grammatical errors
- 🐛 Formatting issues (words running together)
- 🔍 Difficulty navigating to specific books
- 💰 Distracting ads
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- Add note-taking functionality
- Improve navigation between chapters and verses
- Fix audio discrepancies with scripture


### Message Bible (MSG) Audio*

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/message-bible-msg-audio/id1570435369)

Access and study the Message translation of the Holy Bible with audio playback, reading plans, and customization options.  Features include offline access, shareable verse images, and note-taking capabilities.

**Highlights:** Offline reading, Audio Bible playback, Customizable fonts and text size, Verse image creation, Highlighting and bookmarking, Verse sharing, Note-taking

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ads Free Version - AutoOneYear | $5.49 | per year |
| Ads Free Version - One Year | $4.99 | one-time |
| Ads Free Version - Life Time | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for staying connected to God

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Malfunctioning app
- 🐛 Navigation issues
- 🐛 Incorrect Bible verse
- 🐛 Daily verse not updating

**Reported bugs**

- Audio reading from different Bible version
- App gets stuck on cover page
- Verses showing future dates
- Feedback page not working

**Requested features**

- Fix difficulty creating images
- Add copy-paste option for verses
- Improve text formatting and wrapping


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ESV Bible* free?

ESV Bible* is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Message Bible (MSG) Audio* free?

Message Bible (MSG) Audio* is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ESV Bible* or Message Bible (MSG) Audio*?

Message Bible (MSG) Audio* is rated higher. ESV Bible* averages 4.7 out of 5 from 952 ratings, while Message Bible (MSG) Audio* averages 4.8 from 2.9K ratings.

### Do ESV Bible* or Message Bible (MSG) Audio* have ads?

Both ESV Bible* and Message Bible (MSG) Audio* show ads.

### Which is updated more often, ESV Bible* or Message Bible (MSG) Audio*?

ESV Bible* ships an update every 4 months, and Message Bible (MSG) Audio* every 42 months. Most recently, ESV Bible* was updated on October 23, 2026 and Message Bible (MSG) Audio* on October 24, 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.*