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When God Shows Up vs. YouVersion and free Bible apps
Free Bible apps like YouVersion are wonderful, and I use them too. Here is honestly what you get in these books that a free app reading plan doesn’t give you, and when a free app is the better choice.
| When God Shows Up | Free Bible apps | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to try; $4.99 a book, or about 11 cents a day for all 8 | Free |
| What you read each day | One Bible story retold in plain words, then the passage to read yourself | Depends on the plan you pick |
| Bible version | King James key verse every day | Many versions |
| Journal prompts | Three every day, with printable lines | Varies by plan |
| Small groups | Free six-week leader guide for each book | Varies |
| Works without a phone | Yes, print the PDF | No |
When a free app is the better choice
If you want to read whole books of the Bible, compare translations, or follow a long reading plan, a free app is a great tool. These books don’t replace your Bible; every day sends you to the passage to read for yourself.
When these books help more
If you keep meaning to read and the days keep slipping by, a short story with one verse, a prayer and three questions is easier to keep up with than a long reading. And you can try it free: 240 stories are on this site and the first 7 days are free.
Questions
- Is When God Shows Up a replacement for a Bible app?
- No. Each day points you to the passage to read in your own Bible or app. The books add a plain-language retelling, a KJV key verse, a reflection, a prayer and journal prompts.
- Why pay when there are free devotionals?
- You don’t have to. The 7-day devotional, the daily app and all 240 stories on this site are free. The books are for people who want all 30 days in one place, with printable journal pages and a leader guide.
- Which Bible version do the books use?
- The key verses and quotations are from the King James Version.
Try the free 7-day devotional See all prices
Also compare: free Bible apps · devotional apps and personalized studies · a reading plan and a notebook