# The MacArthur Study Bible vs SparkBible

The clearest difference is ads: The MacArthur Study Bible at none against SparkBible's shown. The MacArthur Study Bible also leads on ratings volume (18K vs 1.7K) and device support (3 vs 1). SparkBible's advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 66%). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The MacArthur Study Bible sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SparkBible sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for The MacArthur Study Bible against 4.8 for SparkBible. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The MacArthur Study Bible has 18K ratings behind it against 1.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of The MacArthur Study Bible's written reviews are positive against 83% of SparkBible's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The MacArthur Study Bible | SparkBible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-macarthur-study-bible/id992237916/reviews)** | [4.8 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkbible-bible-study-tools/id1483326425/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 1.7K |
| Positive reviews | 65.8% of reviews | **82.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 112 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Grace to You](https://appshunter.io/developer/992237915) | [Spark Bible LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1483326424) |

## What reviewers say

### The MacArthur Study Bible

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-macarthur-study-bible/id992237916)

Access a vast library of biblical resources, including multiple scripture translations and over 3,000 sermons. Enhance your understanding with study notes, articles, and daily devotionals. Synchronize your personal data across devices for a seamless study experience.

**Highlights:** Multiple Bible translations (ESV, NAS, KJV), Extensive sermon archive, Highlighting and note-taking, Daily Bible reading plan, Study guides and articles, Cross-device data synchronization

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| John MacArthur’s Study Bible Notes | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🙏 Excellent study resource
- 📚 Helpful commentary and notes
- 🔍 Useful cross-references
- 🎧 Convenient audio Bible
- 🕰️ Daily devotionals and sermons

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent freezing and crashes
- 🔀 Jumping to wrong chapters/verses
- 💤 Slow performance and unresponsiveness
- 🔍 Highlighting issues (can only highlight one verse at a time)
- 🔗 Broken links and navigation problems

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to create account
- Inability to access saved notes and highlights
- Incompatibility issues with newer iOS devices
- Devotionals not updating regularly

**Requested features**

- Support for more Bible translations (e.g. NIV, NLT)
- Improved highlighting and note-taking capabilities
- Seamless syncing across devices
- Customizable font and theme options
- Better integration with other Bible study tools


### SparkBible

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkbible-bible-study-tools/id1483326425)

This app facilitates daily Bible reading and in-depth study with video commentary, devotionals, and AI-powered insights. It offers advanced tools like Greek and Hebrew interlinear studies, catering to both new and experienced readers seeking to deepen their faith.

**Highlights:** Daily Bible reading guidance, Video commentary for every chapter, AI study insights for complex passages, Greek, Hebrew, and interlinear word studies, Highlighting, notes, and bookmarking, AI-powered Bible search

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

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Plus Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Plus Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Plus Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Plus Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Plus Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Plus Half-yearly | $23.95 | per 6 months |
| Plus Half-yearly | $23.99 | per 6 months |
| Plus Quarterly | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| Plus Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Plus Quarterly | $30.99 | per 3 months |
| Plus Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Plus Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Plus Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Plus Yearly | $85.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Seamless navigation
- 💡 Excellent integration of video resources
- 👍 Helpful Bible study tools
- 🚀 Comprehensive Bible content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔍 Limited Bible version selection
- 🔍 Lack of customization options
- 🔍 Difficulty finding or accessing certain features

**Reported bugs**

- Locking up between Bible chapters
- Incompatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

- Larger text size option
- More Bible version options (NASB, CSB, NLT)
- iPad app version
- Improved audio playback functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The MacArthur Study Bible free?

The MacArthur Study Bible is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SparkBible free?

SparkBible is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The MacArthur Study Bible or SparkBible?

The MacArthur Study Bible is rated higher. The MacArthur Study Bible averages 4.9 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while SparkBible averages 4.8 from 1.7K ratings.

### Do The MacArthur Study Bible or SparkBible have ads?

SparkBible shows ads; The MacArthur Study Bible does not.

### Which is updated more often, The MacArthur Study Bible or SparkBible?

The MacArthur Study Bible ships an update monthly, and SparkBible monthly. Most recently, The MacArthur Study Bible was updated on October 29, 2026 and SparkBible on October 26, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*