Thursday, January 7, 2010

iPhone Bible App Comparison

I thought it might be useful to have a feature comparison of all the major Bible apps available for the iPhone. I've attempted to be unbiased, but I do work for Logos on Logos Bible Software for iPhone so take that for what it's worth. If I've made a mistake, please let me know and I'll correct it. If I've omitted a feature that is significant and distinctive, please let me know and I'll add it to the matrix.

(Updated 1/10/2010 8:51 AM PST)


Logos BibleReader PocketBible YouVersion Paul Avery Bible Mantis
Free books
61 150
39
41
20
43
Available books ~3000 500+ 256
41
20
190
Free modern translations x

x

Commentaries x x x

x
Dictionaries x x x

x
Maps/Media
x

x

x
Bookmarks x x x
x
x x
Notes
x x
(read-only)
x x
Notes syncing

Evernote

YouVersion.com


Highlighting

x

x x
Search x x x x x x
Reading plans
x

x
x
x
x
Original language tools* x x



Works offline reader only x x some books x x
Social sharing
x


x


Events



x


Split screen

x


x

Passage Guide* x




Paging/scrolling Paging Either Paging Scrolling Scrolling Scrolling

* Original language tools are tools to get more information out of original language books or original language data in English books, not just having original language resources. E.g., Logos' Bible Word Study can bring up a lot of information about the original word used from a modern Bible translation. Logos' Passage Guide and Greek and Hebrew word study tools are very powerful study tools that you need really need to see to appreciate.

7 comments:

Michael A. said...

Useful comparison, thanks Dave! I'm now trying out the Logos app for the first time and I love the navigation features.

Unknown said...

Next time you run your comparison, take a look at Mobilize Faith's (mobilizefaith.com) new iPhone/iPod touch app called Bible Memory. It's a very cool Bible verse memorization tool. We are very proud of it and would love to have it reviewed and considered in the next comparison! Thanks for your great work!

Anonymous said...

Good summary Dave. I use Bible Reader, Logos & Tecarta which has a cool built in notes facility

souper said...

It would be useful to get a better understanding of what works offline and what doesn't. I posted in the forums at logos as well. I only have an iPod Touch....not an iPhone...

Cheri said...

Thank you for this chart. It is exactly what I have been looking for.

I did find that the BibleReader has added highlighting.

Thanks

Unknown said...

I would also encourage serious students of the Bible to check out 'The Bible Scholar iPhone App.' It has over 14,000 pages of Church History, Commentaries,Bible Dictionaries, and the Updated KJV Bible.

Check out this site is:http://www.thebiblescholar.com/

Ocean Ng said...
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