Comparison

The MacArthur Study Bible vs Focus Bible

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

Head to head
About

The MacArthur Study Bible

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
Read full description

For over half a century, Pastor John MacArthur devoted himself to helping you know and love God by helping you understand His Word. Now, imagine a Bible that gives you instant access to all of John’s insights on the passage you’re reading—one you can carry in your pocket. The MacArthur Study Bible app makes that a reality. - Read or listen to Scripture in trusted translations like the NAS, LSB, ESV, or KJV - Go deeper with John’s study guides, articles, related sermons, and daily devotionals - Highlight Bible passages, add your own notes, and bookmark verses - Customize your reading experience with font and display options - Synchronize your progress and data on multiple devices And now, with your free Grace to You account, you’ll also have access to John’s Notes from The MacArthur Study Bible, including nearly 25,000 detailed comments that help explain virtually every passage in the Bible. Along with the notes are dozens of articles, charts, maps, and helpful introductions to each book of the Bible—all designed to help you understand God’s Word more clearly. For more information about Grace to You, the Bible-teaching ministry of John MacArthur, please visit gty.org.

About

Focus Bible

This app provides in-depth Bible study tools, offering scholarly commentary, historical context, and original language insights. It presents a clear summary of theological viewpoints, highlighting agreements and differences among trusted scholars and pastors. A significant portion of its features are available for free to all registered users.

Highlights
  • Scholarly commentary on every verse
  • Historical and cultural context
  • Original Hebrew and Greek previews
  • Video clips from pastors and teachers
  • Personal notes syncing across devices
  • Powerful topic and theme search
Features
Read full description

WHAT MAKES FOCUS BIBLE DIFFERENT? Other apps give you surface-level devotional content or overwhelm you with raw info to piece together yourself. Focus Bible does the work for you. We show you what matters, in plain language, without assuming you already know everything. No ads. No merch store. Just the Bible, with the depth it deserves. Focus Bible gives you real Bible study tools. The kind that used to cost hundreds of dollars or require a seminary library. We give most of it away for free. --- BUILT ON TRUSTED SCHOLARSHIP, NOT OPINIONS Focus Bible doesn't invent its own take on the Bible. Everything we show you is grounded in theologians who have been read, trusted, and loved for generations. We draw on 200+ scholars and theologians, from the Reformation to today. Nearly 500 years and multiple Christian traditions, including some of the most beloved names in church history: John Calvin, Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon, John Wesley, John Gill, Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, Keil and Delitzsch, Jamieson Fausset and Brown, A.T. Robertson, and more. We pair them with pastors preaching these same verses today. For every verse, we show you where they agree and where they differ. Then we connect it to history, to the original Hebrew and Greek, and to the world you live in today. You're not getting our opinions. You're standing on the shoulders of the scholars the church has trusted for centuries. --- WHAT YOU GET FOR FREE Not a free trial or a limited preview. This is what Focus Bible gives every registered user: • The full Bible in multiple translations. • What trusted scholars say about every verse. A clear summary of where these classic and modern voices agree, and where they see things differently. • The historical and cultural context behind each passage. • Related passages that connect across Scripture. • A preview of the original Hebrew and Greek behind every verse. • Short clips from pastors and teachers exploring the same passages you are reading. • Personal notes that sync across your devices. • Foundational reading plans. • Two reading modes: verse-by-verse study or continuous reading. • Powerful search that understands topics, themes, and ideas. We built Focus Bible because everyone deserves deep Bible study, not just those who can afford it. --- FOR THOSE WHO WANT EVEN MORE Some people want to go further: full original-language word studies, complete commentary texts, study questions for every verse, and analysis across Christian traditions. For them, we offer optional subscriptions: Study Membership ($79.99/year or $7.99/month) Full commentary texts from classic and modern sources. Complete original language word studies with multiple lexicons. Perspectives across traditions: Reformed, Catholic, Orthodox, and more. Our full encyclopedia of 4,400+ biblical people, places, and things. Custom reading plans that adapt to your daily feedback. But the free experience is not missing anything essential. --- WHO THIS IS FOR • If you are new to the Bible and want to understand what you are reading. • If you have read the Bible for years and want fresh perspective on familiar verses. • If you lead a small group and need to prepare each week. • If you are a pastor looking for efficient sermon research. • If you are studying theology and need scholarly sources. Focus Bible meets you where you are. --- Questions? support@focusbible.com We read every message. Subscriptions auto-renew at the listed price each billing period unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.focusbible.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.focusbible.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

The MacArthur Study Bible4 screens
Focus Bible4 screens

Verdict

The call

The MacArthur Study Bible and Focus Bible both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Focus Bible's written reviews are positive against 66% of The MacArthur Study Bible's. Focus Bible also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). The MacArthur Study Bible's advantage is ratings volume (18K vs 2). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. The MacArthur Study Bible sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Focus Bible sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for The MacArthur Study Bible against 5.0 for Focus Bible. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The MacArthur Study Bible has 18K ratings behind it against 2, 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 100% of Focus Bible's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The MacArthur Study Bible ships an update monthly, Focus Bible fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
The MacArthur Study Bible versus Focus Bible: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe MacArthur Study BibleFocus Bible
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (18K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings18K — better2
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB40 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGrace to YouHidden Planet

Customer experience

The MacArthur Study Bible

All ratings17,640 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral1.3%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews510 reviews
Positive65.7%
Neutral11.6%
Negative22.7%

Focus Bible

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

The MacArthur Study Bible

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Focus Bible

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

The MacArthur Study Bible

One-time1
  • John MacArthur’s Study Bible NotesFree
3 purchases

Focus Bible

Subscriptions2
  • Scholar3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Scholar3 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time1
  • Founding Member$99.99

Questions

Is The MacArthur Study Bible free?
The MacArthur Study Bible is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Focus Bible free?
Focus Bible is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, The MacArthur Study Bible or Focus Bible?
Focus Bible is rated higher. The MacArthur Study Bible averages 4.9 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while Focus Bible averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do The MacArthur Study Bible or Focus Bible have ads?
Neither The MacArthur Study Bible nor Focus Bible shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The MacArthur Study Bible or Focus Bible?
The MacArthur Study Bible ships an update monthly, and Focus Bible fortnightly. Most recently, The MacArthur Study Bible was updated on November 11, 2026 and Focus Bible on November 9, 2026.

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