AppCorpus
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ESV Bible

A Bible study app

by Crossway

iPhone · iPad

Active Last checked 31 Jul 2026

Quick verdict

What it is
The ESV Bible app allows users to read, study, and engage with the Bible. It features audio Bibles, reading plans, and study resources. Users can also highlight and bookmark favorite portions of Scripture and sync their content across devices.
Best for
  • someone who wants to study the Bible
  • someone who wants to read the Bible on their phone
At a glance
  • Free to download
  • In-app purchases

Categories and search queries

Official categories

AppCorpus categories

Key functions

Function Availability Access Scope Evidence
Family Sharing Yes Unknown App Store Store published
Free app Yes Free Store published
In-app purchases Yes Limited free Store published

Screens

App Store

14 store screenshots

ESV Bible ipad screenshot 1
ESV Bible ipad screenshot 2
ESV Bible ipad screenshot 3
ESV Bible ipad screenshot 4

Pricing & paywalls

App Store

  • Free to download
  • In-app purchases

Ratings & reviews

App Store

4.7 9741 ratings · App Store

  1. 5/5Cross reference problem

    The links to cross references in the ESV Study notes send you to the verses cited, but then you are left there with no “back to where you were” option . This is very frustrating. I have to manually go find where I was to return to the passage I was reading. This defeats the purpose of having cross references. It seems the new app version removed the “back to” option. Please fix this! Other users have been complaining about this. The responses from the app developers are disturbing… they act as if they cannot understand what the users are experiencing. They ask the users for more specifics to be sent to them in emails, and then give users instructions that clearly cannot be the solution (click on an X that doesn’t exist, click outside the reference box, etc). It seems that the developers do not appreciate the disappointment and consternation that is happening with this app update. I rarely ditch apps. It seems that the ESV app has become so dysfunctional that it is time to find a much better Bible study app.

    Slacker fan · 31 Jul 2026

  2. 4/5New update has issues

    Update: Thank you for fixing both the issues that I mentioned in my last review. For me this app is almost perfect. I don’t love the subscription model but it doesn’t affect the way I use the app. I wish the “To the Word” Bible reading challenge was available in your reading plans but that’s not a huge deal. I also wish that in addition to the subscription model you would add one-time purchases. We would gladly buy Kristyn Getty’s voice but can’t pay a subscription just for that. I’m old school. I prefer to own things rather than rent them. This is not a slight to those who like the subscription model. I’m just saying that you’re missing out on financial support by not having any offerings for people like me. I still love the app though and use it every day. These are just suggestions. Thank you! I use this app multiple times a day everyday. It is one of the most used apps on my phone. The new update is very frustrating. You close the app, it starts you back over at Genesis 1. Why won’t it just open back up to where I was when I closed it??? Also when go to a chapter the audio starts in the previous chapter. Why won’t it start in the chapter so selected? In psalms it starts at the beginning of the psalm prior to the one I selected!?! I’m not sure what’s going upon but this major update is majorly glitchy. I loved this app. Please fix these and other issues asap and I will return to review to 5 stars.

    scttnrrs · 31 Jul 2026

  3. 4/5Just started using

    I am trying out a new app because the You version Bible app has become bogged down with countless features and too many gimmicks that don’t really enhance the read of Gods word. It is hard to navigate with all the different things it does. It’s fine for some people just not me. I needed something simple so I found this app. So far I like the simplicity of the app and the features are easy to figure out with a little playing around with them. The one thing I feel like I will miss however is notifications with the verse of the day and widgets that can place on my phone to see the verse of the day without having to open up the app. The widget serves as a reminder to me to read and to contemplate on Gods word. I’m not sure if those are features in the subscriptions which I can tell you in a world of subscriptions I am not fond of nor can I afford another one. I would be willing to pay a 1 time fee for more features like notifications and widgets as well as the option to share verses or study plans with others via text, email etc. other than this I am excited to try this app out and come closer to God.

    Mhbeanstalk22 · 31 Jul 2026

  4. 5/5New version has problem

    Updated: thanks for the follow-up! It appears that my problem with the update has been resolved. I may have had to delete the digging deep into the Bible plan and the reload it into the new version of the app to get it resolved. Or they fixed it. Either way I like the updated app now it tracks my daily reading. And while I don’t like having to pay for something I used to get for free (Kristyn Getty reading) I do believe “a worker deserves their wages” so I paid. I hope they keep improving the app with the funding. It is a really good way to get your Bible study in daily. And the ESV Bible is the best translation in my view. ——- old review: One star for the app update. I’ve used this app for years and was using the “digging deep into the Bible plan” that allowed me to go through the Bible in a year. It has a problem now that it checks off the days readings without ever doing the readings. It would be nice if it stopped doing that. Also I don’t like how I have to pay for a voice. Used to be free. Oh well. Everyone has to make money I suppose. At least one voice is free.

    Rhumba Jones · 31 Jul 2026

  5. 3/5If something works, why do you have to change it or delete it?

    I like a lot of people have used this app for years and would even pay for using it. But like a lot of people, I agree if you are looking in one book in chapter and then you go to another why can’t you go back to the other one and not to the main menu to select the book and the verse all over again. And the new one I found it’s really annoying if you want to highlight a verse or passage worse yet you have to click on one of the verses and then you have to select what color you want highlight in then you have to click the window to go away and then if you’re doing a whole passage, you have to do that for each first used to be able to just drag to select passage . Probably no one else but may use, but I really do miss on the audio. You could slow down the narration. I love that I was sick for a long time and didn’t sleep well and I could turn that on and it was Isaiah or a couple of other books and I would just start from verse one and slow down the narration, turn the very low and usually put my phone on my chest and go back to sleep and then I woke many times during the night I could hear or tap on the phone to see what they passage they were reading and go back to it in the morning if I wanted to read that specific passage. It’s kind of the reading sometimes is faster than you would read it if you were reading your own Bible.

    dianathegreat13 · 31 Jul 2026

Privacy & accessibility

App Store

Privacy

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Accessibility

No accessibility labels collected yet.

Versions

App Store

  • 4.2.7

    • Fixed a bug in Plans where readings could shift to previous calendar days. • Several minor design improvements.

  • 5.0.0

    • 50+ playlists offer collections of thematic verses • New ESV Bible narrators • Background music is now available as you read or listen to Scripture • Individual volume controls allow you to adjust music and Bible audio separately • Sleep timer allows you to pause your Bible reading at a preset time • Home page now collects user annotations, displays a home verse, and allows users to interact with reading plans and playlists directly • New text settings • General design tweaks and updates

  • 5.0.1

    Fixes: • Fixed an issue that would cause to app to not show the last passage viewed on subsequent launches. • Fixed an issue that would cause the app to freeze when selecting the Auto theme. • Fixed an issue that would immediately dismiss the tour upon launching the app. Previous Release Notes: • 50+ playlists offer collections of thematic verses • New ESV Bible narrators • Background music is now available as you read or listen to Scripture • Individual volume controls allow you to adjust music and Bible audio separately • Sleep timer allows you to pause your Bible reading at a preset time • Home page now collects user annotations, displays a home verse, and allows users to interact with reading plans and playlists directly • New text settings • General design tweaks and updates

  • 5.0.3

    Fixes: • Fixed an issue that would prevent signing in after resetting password. • Fixed an issue that could cause text to overlap when vertical scrolling was turned off. • Fixed several issues that could cause the app to crash. Previous Fixes: • Fixed an issue that would cause to app to not show the last passage viewed on subsequent launches. • Fixed an issue that would cause the app to freeze when selecting the Auto theme. • Fixed an issue that would immediately dismiss the tour upon launching the app. Previous Release Notes: • 50+ playlists offer collections of thematic verses • New ESV Bible narrators • Background music is now available as you read or listen to Scripture • Individual volume controls allow you to adjust music and Bible audio separately • Sleep timer allows you to pause your Bible reading at a preset time • Home page now collects user annotations, displays a home verse, and allows users to interact with reading plans and playlists directly • New text settings • General design tweaks and updates

  • 5.0.4

    Fixes: • Fixed an issue that would cause the app to crash on startup when upgrading from app versions before 4.2.3. Previous Fixes: • Fixed an issue that would prevent signing in after resetting password. • Fixed an issue that could cause text to overlap when vertical scrolling was turned off. • Fixed an issue that would cause to app to not show the last passage viewed on subsequent launches. • Fixed an issue that would cause the app to freeze when selecting the Auto theme. • Fixed an issue that would immediately dismiss the tour upon launching the app. • Fixed several issues that could cause the app to crash. Previous Release Notes: • 50+ playlists offer collections of thematic verses • New ESV Bible narrators • Background music is now available as you read or listen to Scripture • Individual volume controls allow you to adjust music and Bible audio separately • Sleep timer allows you to pause your Bible reading at a preset time • Home page now collects user annotations, displays a home verse, and allows users to interact with reading plans and playlists directly • New text settings • General design tweaks and updates

  • 5.0.5

    Fixes: • Fixed an issue that could cause the app to crash on startup. Previous Fixes: • Fixed an issue that would prevent signing in after resetting password. • Fixed an issue that could cause text to overlap when vertical scrolling was turned off. • Fixed an issue that would cause to app to not show the last passage viewed on subsequent launches. • Fixed an issue that would cause the app to freeze when selecting the Auto theme. • Fixed an issue that would immediately dismiss the tour upon launching the app. • Fixed several issues that could cause the app to crash. Previous Release Notes: • 50+ playlists offer collections of thematic verses • New ESV Bible narrators • Background music is now available as you read or listen to Scripture • Individual volume controls allow you to adjust music and Bible audio separately • Sleep timer allows you to pause your Bible reading at a preset time • Home page now collects user annotations, displays a home verse, and allows users to interact with reading plans and playlists directly • New text settings • General design tweaks and updates

  • 5.0.6

    Fixes: • Fixed an issue that could cause the app to crash on startup. Previous Fixes: • Fixed an issue that would prevent signing in after resetting password. • Fixed an issue that could cause text to overlap when vertical scrolling was turned off. • Fixed an issue that would cause to app to not show the last passage viewed on subsequent launches. • Fixed an issue that would cause the app to freeze when selecting the Auto theme. • Fixed an issue that would immediately dismiss the tour upon launching the app. • Fixed several issues that could cause the app to crash. Previous Release Notes: • 50+ playlists offer collections of thematic verses • New ESV Bible narrators • Background music is now available as you read or listen to Scripture • Individual volume controls allow you to adjust music and Bible audio separately • Sleep timer allows you to pause your Bible reading at a preset time • Home page now collects user annotations, displays a home verse, and allows users to interact with reading plans and playlists directly • New text settings • General design tweaks and updates

  • 5.0.7

    New: • The Bible navigation menu will now open to the previously selected location. • Added the ability to hide the sidebar in landscape orientation on iPad. • Added support for displaying the full range of highlight colors from ESV.org. Fixed: • Improved the experience related to subscribing. • Improved the experience related to downloading content in the Library. • Fixed an issue that would cause text settings changes to not take effect. • Fixed an issue that could cause the app to crash. • General design tweaks and updates.

  • 5.0.8

    New: • Cross references now display in a sheet allowing for full-screen reading. • Search now includes filtering by testament and a history of recent searches. • Search now preserves the most recently viewed results upon returning. Fixed: • Improved the accuracy of search results. • Fixed an issue related to text formatting in personal notes. • General design tweaks and updates.

  • 5.1.0

    New: • The ESV Subscription is now available in a monthly billing option. • Previous purchases can now be restored from your Profile in Home. • ESV Voice audio can now be played at .5x and 2x speed. • External bible:// URLs will once again open the relevant scripture passage. Fixed: • Audio chapters could sometimes repeat. • Tapping a passage reference could navigate incorrectly to Genesis 1. • The Library was unable to be dragged down from full height. • The automatic light and dark theme would not switch in all instances. • General design tweaks and updates.

  • 5.1.1

    New: • The Playlist Read Along mode will now automatically scroll as each passage is read. • A list of all Playlist themes is now available. • Previously viewed content should now persist when navigating back to Explore. • Previously viewed content should now persist when showing or hiding the sidebar on iPad. Fixed: • Fixed several issues where tapping a link could navigate inconsistently. • Fixed an issue where Plan start dates could be moved to the far future. • Fixed an issue where the verse menu could display off screen. • Fixed an issue where videos in Plans were not able to load. • Fixed an issue where sampling a Voice or Music option would overlap currently playing audio. • General design tweaks and updates.

  • 5.1.10

    Fixed: • Fixed an issue causing volume settings to not be functional. • Fixed an issue in Search for queries containing apostrophes. • Fixed a crash that could occur on iPad.

  • 5.1.11

    Fixed: • Fixed an issue with the audio previous/next controls in Plans. • General design tweaks and updates.

  • 5.1.12

    Fixed: • General design tweaks and updates.

  • 5.1.13

    New: • Added the ability to unlock premium features via access codes.

  • 5.1.14

    Fixed • Videos in Plans could play with no audio.

  • 5.1.15 · 11 Sep 2025

    Fixed display issues for devices running iOS 26.

  • 5.1.2

    Fixed: • Fixed an issue where the note editor could be dismissed with unsaved changes. • Fixed an issue where the setting for Plan emails could be enabled incorrectly. • Fixed an issue where selecting a scripture passage from the Bible menu could sometimes fail to navigate. • Fixed an issue where navigating to new scripture passages would not update History. • Fixed an issue that could cause the app to crash when editing a note on iPad. • General design tweaks and updates.

  • 5.1.3

    Fixed: • Fixed an issue where the note editor could be dismissed with unsaved changes. • Fixed an issue where the setting for Plan emails could be enabled incorrectly. • Fixed an issue where selecting a scripture passage from the Bible menu could sometimes fail to navigate. • Fixed an issue where navigating to new scripture passages would not update History. • Fixed an issue that could cause the app to crash when editing a note on iPad. • General design tweaks and updates.

  • 5.1.4

    Fixed: • Fixed an issue where the Bible navigation menu could display incorrectly on iPad. • Fixed several issues affecting search results. • Fixed an issue that could cause the app to crash upon launch. • General design tweaks and updates.

  • 5.1.5

    Fixed: • Fixed an issue where the Bible navigation menu could display incorrectly on iPad. • Fixed several issues affecting search results. • Fixed an issue that could cause the app to crash upon launch. • General design tweaks and updates.

  • 5.1.6

    Fixed a crash that could occur on iOS 18.

  • 5.1.7

    Fixed: • Fixed several issues related to the display of multiple Bible passages concurrently, including text selection and audio text tracking. • Fixed an issue that could cause the app to crash when downloading content in the Library. • General design tweaks and updates.

  • 5.1.8

    Fixed: • Fixed several issues related to the display of multiple Bible passages concurrently, including text selection and audio text tracking. • Fixed an issue that could cause the app to crash when downloading content in the Library. • General design tweaks and updates.

  • 5.1.9

    Fixed: • Fixed a crash that could occur at certain font and screen sizes. • Fixed a crash that could occur when running on a Mac.

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Data quality & evidence

Page completeness
Independent summary published
Last verified
31 Jul 2026
Sources
App Store

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