Back on the 23rd of Feb this year, Paul wrote a short (one of the shortest) posts called Bible for iPhone and iPod Touch. Turns out this is one of the most popular posts on iTalk Magazine to date.

Now, when I won my iPhone (oh yeah, I won it!) one of the first things I started looking for was a bible for my iPhone that I could use quickly and easily. I hit up the iTunes app store to look for a bible. There are (at writing) 30 applications ranging in price from $0.00 through $30 (well $30 NZD anyway).

Holy bible by Paul Avery

This is a very simple bible, that downloads quickly and has a clean (if not simplistic) interface. With the ability to flick through the books, and has a simple search.

Pros: it’s free, clean interface, quick search & bookmarks
Cons: it’s only using non-copyright bibles, that means no NIV, The Message etc

Bible Reader by Olive Tree Bible Software

A very similar interface to Holy Bible, with a similar set of bibles included. With a slightly better word search, and inter linked verses it’s a quick and useful app. Within 3 touches you can find any verse in the bible, which is nice. This reader is quite customisable and can be configured to suit – which again is a nice touch.

However again this is missing the popular translations – although you can buy extension packs for these bibles which range in price from a few dollars to upwards of $20 (USD)

Pros: free reader, customisable
Cons: limited free bibles, expensive extensions for other bibles

Bible by ReadScriptures.com

This bible is not cheap and to be right up front, it’s not worth it. Here you are paying for a small set of bibles, and a very limited app. The developers promise cross reference, highlighting etc is coming, but sorry my favourite bible does all that an it’s free. I couldn’t really find anything to sing about with this one sorry the only thing they really have going for them is offline support.

Pros: offline support
Cons: cost, limited app, limited bibles

CCEL NSRV Devotional Bible by Christian Classics Ethereal Library

Currently in version 1.0 this app is slightly different in that its actually a devotional bible – its a bible reading guide. You may recognise the daily readings in this app from CH Spurgeon, time honored (err read: old?).

Pros: reading guide
Cons: cost, single translation

My Pick?

After looking around and getting frustrated I finally stumbled upon what is now my favourite, while I think the icon sucks, the application is brilliant. The interface is well thought out and has a great “low light” version which I use all the time.

Holy Bible by LifeChurch.tv: built by the guys behind youversion.com and powered by that site, this application is great. A huge range of bibles when online, and the usual 9 (the other apps use the same) when offline – (you do have to manually download these). The speed is good, I can quickly find the verses I want, I can switch translations quickly on 3G and really fast on WiFi. You can bookmark your fav verses, and there is a daily reading guide. There is now even a BlackBerry Holy Bible too.

Pros: best interface, best range of bible, free, best bookmarking, easy to read
Cons: not all bibles can be downloaded, downloading bibles really needs to be done on WiFi

Summary

Who said you can’t get a free lunch? As much as I’d love to suggest buying an app so we can raise funds for iTalk Magazine (I’ve a big hosting bill coming up), I simply have to say the best iPhoneBible software is HolyBible by LifeChurch.tv – its FREE, so go install it.