# The MacArthur Study Bible vs Anchored Bible Memory

The MacArthur Study Bible and Anchored Bible Memory both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Anchored Bible Memory's written reviews are positive against 66% of The MacArthur Study Bible's. Anchored Bible Memory also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly). The MacArthur Study Bible's advantage is ratings volume (18K vs 8) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ads 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 Anchored Bible Memory sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. 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 4.9 for Anchored Bible Memory. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The MacArthur Study Bible has 18K ratings behind it against 8, 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 Anchored Bible Memory's.

The MacArthur Study Bible ships an update monthly, Anchored Bible Memory every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The MacArthur Study Bible | Anchored Bible Memory |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-macarthur-study-bible/id992237916/reviews) | **[4.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anchored-bible-memory/id6778095227/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 65.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 112 MB | 195 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Grace to You](https://appshunter.io/developer/992237915) | [Garrett Crane](https://appshunter.io/developer/6778095229) |

## 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


### Anchored Bible Memory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anchored-bible-memory/id6778095227)

This app helps you memorize Bible passages, chapters, and books through guided steps and spaced repetition reviews. It offers multiple Bible versions and various learning methods like flashcards and voice recitation. Premium features unlock unlimited content and advanced tools.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step memorization, Spaced repetition reviews, Multiple Bible versions, Flashcards and typing exercises, Voice recitation, Progress tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $79.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The MacArthur Study Bible free?

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

### Is Anchored Bible Memory free?

Anchored Bible Memory is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

Anchored Bible Memory is rated higher. The MacArthur Study Bible averages 4.9 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while Anchored Bible Memory averages 4.9 from 8 ratings.

### Do The MacArthur Study Bible or Anchored Bible Memory have ads?

Neither The MacArthur Study Bible nor Anchored Bible Memory shows ads.

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

The MacArthur Study Bible ships an update monthly, and Anchored Bible Memory every 8 days. Most recently, The MacArthur Study Bible was updated on November 1, 2026 and Anchored Bible Memory on October 31, 2026.

---

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