# ESV Bible* vs Biblica Study Bible

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Biblica Study Bible at 100% against ESV Bible*'s 50%. Biblica Study Bible also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). ESV Bible*'s advantage is ratings volume (952 vs 8). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ESV Bible* sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Biblica Study Bible asks for nothing beyond the download.

Biblica Study Bible holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ESV Bible* has 952 ratings behind it against 8, 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 100% of Biblica Study Bible's.

ESV Bible* ships an update every 4 months, Biblica Study Bible every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ESV Bible* | Biblica Study Bible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (952 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esv-bible/id988485030/reviews) | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/biblica-study-bible/id6462345807/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **952** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 288 MB | 177 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | +12 |
| Developer | [RAVINDHIRAN SUMITHRA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571016391) | [Biblica](https://appshunter.io/developer/578983252) |

## 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


### Biblica Study Bible

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/biblica-study-bible/id6462345807)

This app offers a clear and simple approach to understanding scripture, designed for any reader without requiring prior theological knowledge. It includes various study tools and resources to help interpret the Bible in the context of ministry.

**Highlights:** NIrV Bible (Old & New Testament), Study Bible (New Testament), Bible Dictionary, Historical Maps, The Bible Project Videos, Lumo Videos

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ESV Bible* free?

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

### Is Biblica Study Bible free?

Biblica Study Bible is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ESV Bible* or Biblica Study Bible?

Biblica Study Bible is rated higher. ESV Bible* averages 4.7 out of 5 from 952 ratings, while Biblica Study Bible averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do ESV Bible* or Biblica Study Bible have ads?

ESV Bible* shows ads; Biblica Study Bible does not.

### Which is updated more often, ESV Bible* or Biblica Study Bible?

ESV Bible* ships an update every 4 months, and Biblica Study Bible every 2 months. Most recently, ESV Bible* was updated on October 23, 2026 and Biblica Study Bible on October 30, 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.*