The short answer
The best app to get closer to God depends on the practice you want to build. Bible Studies for Women is best for understanding a passage and carrying it into prayer and writing, and YouVersion is the best free app for reading Scripture. For prayer, Lectio 365 and Pray as you go are free, and Hallow suits Catholics. An app can support a habit, but it does not replace a church.
- Best for understanding Scripture and praying it: Bible Studies for Women, which pairs plain-words studies with prayer and a private journal ($7.99 a month).
- Best free for Scripture: YouVersion, with thousands of free reading plans and simple prayer lists.
- Best free prayer rhythm: Lectio 365 for morning, midday and night prayer, or Pray as you go for a daily 10-13 minute audio prayer.
- Best for Catholics: Hallow, with guided audio prayer including the rosary ($9.99 a month or $69.99 a year).
- Best for silence: Centering Prayer, a free timer and guide for contemplative prayer.
Members of the Word makes Bible Studies for Women, one of the apps in this guide. We checked every other app's price and features on its App Store listing, Google Play listing or official site on September 29, 2026. Prices are in US dollars and can vary by country.
Most lists of apps to get closer to God were written in 2018 or 2019, and many of those apps have changed since. They also tend to list apps without saying what each one actually helps you do.
Getting closer to God is not a feature an app can deliver. Christians have long pointed to a few simple practices: reading Scripture, praying, quiet reflection and belonging to a church, and an app can help you keep a habit in any of them.
So this guide groups nine apps by the practice they support and says plainly what each one costs. We checked every app on the App Store, Google Play and its own website on September 29, 2026.
At a glance
| App | Practice | How you use it | Tradition | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bible Studies for Women | Scripture, prayer, reflection | Read, pray and write | Notes where traditions differ | $7.99/mo or $79.99/yr |
 YouVersion Bible App | Scripture | Read plans, with audio for some versions | Not stated; many translations | Free |
 Lectio 365 | Prayer | Read or listen, three times a day | Interdenominational | Free |
 Pray as you go | Prayer | Listen, 10-13 minutes a day | Catholic, Ignatian (Jesuit) | Free |
 Hallow | Prayer | Listen, then journal | Catholic | Some free; $9.99/mo or $69.99/yr |
 Echo Prayer | Prayer list | Keep, share and mark requests answered | Not stated | Free; Echo Plus+ optional |
 Glorify | Reflection | Read, listen and journal | Not stated | Free download; Plus prices vary |
 Abide | Meditation | Listen | Not stated | $39.99/yr or $9.99/mo on its site |
| Centering Prayer | Contemplative prayer | Silent prayer timer | Christian contemplative | Free; paid programs on iOS |
Our app
Members of the Word
1. Bible Studies for Women
Best for understanding Scripture and bringing it into prayer and writing
Bible Studies for Women helps you understand a passage of Scripture, then carry what you read into prayer and a few written lines.
Each study session explains the passage in plain words in The Breakdown, asks reflection questions in The Spark, turns to prayer in Pray it through, and ends with one small response in Walk It Out. Writing is always optional.
The Prayer tab has guided prayers drawn from Scripture, prompts, quiet prayer, praying with today's verse, and prayer requests you can mark answered. The Today screen brings a verse of the day with its context, a reflection and a prayer.
You choose your study days and a reminder time, and everything you write stays on your phone in My Journal, linked to the passage that prompted it.
- Best for
- understanding Scripture and bringing it into prayer and writing
- Price
- $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year. No free trial
- Platforms
- iPhone and Android
What stands out
- Twelve seven-session plans, including Held (grief and lament), In the Waiting and The Practice of Rest
- A verse of the day with context, reflection and prayer
- Guided prayers from Scripture, prompts and quiet prayer
- Prayer requests with ongoing and answered states
- A private journal on your phone that exports any time
- Study daily, twice a week, weekly or every two weeks, at about 5, 10 or 20 minutes
Worth knowing
- It is a paid app: $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year, with no free trial.
- There is no audio and no community or group feature. It is built for reading, praying and writing on your own.
- Your writing stays on your phone with no account, so export it from time to time to keep a copy. We make this app, so weigh our ranking with that in mind.
Make room for the Word.
Guided studies, the full Bible, a private journal and prayer, in one quiet place.
2. YouVersion Bible App
Life.Church
Best for a free Bible with reading plans and simple prayer lists
YouVersion is completely free and has 100M+ downloads on Google Play. If you want to start reading Scripture today at no cost, it is a simple place to begin.
Thousands of reading plans and devotionals cover almost any book or need, and prayer cards and lists let you keep track of what you are praying for, including answered prayers.
- Best for
- a free Bible with reading plans and simple prayer lists
- Price
- Free
- Platforms
- iPhone and Android
What stands out
- 3,500+ Bible versions in 2,300+ languages
- Thousands of reading plans and devotionals
- Prayer cards and lists, private or shared, with answered prayers
- Highlights, bookmarks and private or public notes
- Audio Bibles for select versions
Worth knowing
- Plans come from many different publishers, so their depth and theology vary from plan to plan.
- Sync and social features need a free YouVersion account.
YouVersion Bible App on App Store YouVersion Bible App on Google Play YouVersion Bible App on Website
3. Lectio 365
24-7 Prayer
Best for a free, Scripture-led rhythm of prayer three times a day
Lectio 365 gives you a short time of prayer in the morning, at midday and at night. The morning devotional follows a P.R.A.Y. rhythm inspired by Lectio Divina, and night prayer is inspired by the Ignatian Examen.
It is completely free, made by the interdenominational prayer movement 24-7 Prayer, and you can read each prayer or listen to it.
- Best for
- a free, Scripture-led rhythm of prayer three times a day
- Price
- Free
- Platforms
- iPhone and Android
What stands out
- Morning, midday and night prayer times
- Morning devotional in the P.R.A.Y. rhythm
- Night Prayer inspired by the Examen
- Read or listen
- Download a week of prayers in advance
Worth knowing
- It follows a set daily devotional rather than letting you build your own prayer list.
- It is written from a UK base with some British spelling, and the iOS app is for iPhone only.
Lectio 365 on App Store Lectio 365 on Google Play Lectio 365 on Website
4. Pray as you go
Jesuits in Britain
Best for free daily audio prayer in the Ignatian tradition
Pray as you go offers a new guided prayer every day, 10 to 13 minutes of music, Scripture and reflection questions. It draws on Ignatian spirituality from the Jesuits.
It is free with no subscription or registration, and its listing says its audience is about half Catholic and half Protestant.
- Best for
- free daily audio prayer in the Ignatian tradition
- Price
- Free, supported by donations
- Platforms
- iPhone and Android
What stands out
- Daily guided audio prayer of 10-13 minutes
- Music, Scripture and reflection questions
- Examen prayers and imaginative contemplations
- Sleep prayers and mental health prayer guides
- No account needed
Worth knowing
- It is audio first: the daily session is a recording to listen to.
- No journal or prayer list features are described.
Pray as you go on App Store Pray as you go on Google Play Pray as you go on Website
5. Hallow
Hallow, Inc.
Best for Catholics who want guided audio prayer every day
Hallow is a Catholic prayer app with guided audio sessions, from the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet to Lectio Divina on the daily readings and the Examen.
You can choose session lengths, typically 5, 10 or 15 minutes, and write in a journal after each prayer. Daily prayers, including the rosary, are free.
- Best for
- Catholics who want guided audio prayer every day
- Price
- Free daily prayers. Full library $9.99 a month or $69.99 a year (US)
- Platforms
- iPhone and Android
What stands out
- Guided audio prayer and meditation sessions
- Rosary, Lectio Divina, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Examen
- Journal after every prayer
- Night Prayer and sleep content
- Hallow Family for sharing prayer intentions
Worth knowing
- It is Catholic in focus: the rosary, novenas, saints and the Liturgy of the Hours are central.
- Most of the library needs the $9.99 a month or $69.99 a year subscription, and sessions are mainly audio.
6. Echo Prayer
The Parable Group, Inc.
Best for keeping a prayer list and seeing prayers answered
Echo Prayer is a clean prayer list. You add the people and needs you are praying for, get reminders to pray, and mark prayers as answered.
A Pray Now mode gives you a focused time to pray for what you choose, with an optional timer, and you can let people know you have prayed for them.
- Best for
- keeping a prayer list and seeing prayers answered
- Price
- Free. Optional Echo Plus+ subscription ($15 a year on its site; App Store prices vary)
- Platforms
- iPhone and Android
What stands out
- Unlimited prayer list with categories
- Mark prayers as answered
- Share requests with people or groups
- Push or email reminders
- Pray Now focus mode with an optional timer
Worth knowing
- It is a list and reminder tool, with no guided prayers or audio.
- Creating groups and feeds needs Echo Plus+, and the site and App Store give different trial lengths (7 and 14 days).
Echo Prayer on App Store Echo Prayer on Google Play Echo Prayer on Website
7. Glorify
TUPOE LTD
Best for a daily devotional with meditation and worship music
Glorify builds a daily quiet time around a quote, a Bible passage and a short devotional. Guided meditation, audio courses of 5 to 10 days and worship music sit alongside.
An in-app journal and community groups with shared prayer requests make it an all-in-one routine.
- Best for
- a daily devotional with meditation and worship music
- Price
- Free download. Glorify Plus prices vary: $6.99 or $9.99 a month, $41.99 or $69.99 a year on the App Store
- Platforms
- iPhone and Android
What stands out
- Daily quote, Bible passage and devotional
- Guided Christian meditation and sleep content
- Audio courses of 5 to 10 days
- In-app Bible journal
- Worship music and community groups
Worth knowing
- Many features need Glorify Plus, and the App Store lists several different Plus prices.
- It combines many kinds of content, so it is busier than a single-purpose prayer app.
Glorify on App Store Glorify on Google Play Glorify on Website
8. Abide
Guideposts
Best for calming Scripture meditations, especially at bedtime
Abide offers guided Christian meditations built on Scripture, with bedtime Bible stories for sleep and audio guides on Bible topics.
It suits anxious moments and the end of the day, when listening is easier than reading. You can also write daily journal entries.
- Best for
- calming Scripture meditations, especially at bedtime
- Price
- 7 days free, then $39.99 a year or $9.99 a month on its site. App Store prices vary
- Platforms
- iPhone and Android
What stands out
- Guided Christian meditations
- 365+ bedtime Bible sleep stories
- NIV audio Bible and 50+ audio guides on Bible topics
- Daily devotionals and prayer plans
- Daily journal entries
Worth knowing
- Almost everything is audio, so it suits listening more than reading or writing.
- Premium content needs a subscription after the 7-day trial.
9. Centering Prayer
Contemplative Outreach Ltd.
Best for learning silent, contemplative prayer
Centering Prayer is a simple timer and guide for a silent, contemplative way of praying, adapted for modern times by Fathers Thomas Keating, William Meninger and Basil Pennington.
You set the length, read an opening prayer, sit in silence, and close with a prayer.
- Best for
- learning silent, contemplative prayer
- Price
- Free. Optional paid programs on iOS
- Platforms
- iPhone and Android
What stands out
- Adjustable silent prayer timer
- Opening and closing prayers
- Choice of sounds and backgrounds
- Short instructions for learning the practice
- Optional paid programs, including one on Lectio Divina
Worth knowing
- The practice is silence, so there is little guided content in the free app.
- It recommends two 20-minute sits a day, a bigger commitment than most prayer apps.
Centering Prayer on App Store Centering Prayer on Google Play
How can you get closer to God?
There is no technique that guarantees it, and no app that can do it for you. Christians across traditions have long pointed to a few ordinary practices, kept up over time.
Catholic and Orthodox Christians also point to the sacraments and the liturgy, while many Protestants put more weight on personal Bible reading. Whatever your tradition, an app is a tool for keeping a habit, not a substitute for faith or for a church.
- Read Scripture regularly, a passage at a time, and try to understand it rather than rush through it.
- Pray in your own words, honestly, including when God feels distant.
- Reflect. Leave a few quiet minutes to notice what you read and what is on your heart, in writing if that helps.
- Belong to a church. Worship, teaching and friendship with other Christians cannot be downloaded.
- Serve others. Faith grows as it is lived out, not only studied.
When your phone is the distraction
It is worth being honest: the phone that holds your Bible app also holds everything else. Many people open a prayer app and find themselves somewhere else ten minutes later.
A few simple habits help, and none of them need a special app.
- Choose a set time and place, such as before you check messages in the morning.
- Open the app you mean to use first, before anything else on the phone.
- Silence notifications for that time.
- Set one reminder at the time you picked. Bible Studies for Women, Hallow and Echo Prayer all let you set reminders.
- Keep it short and regular. Ten minutes most days does more than an hour once a month.
- Put the phone down to pray once you have read the passage, or write on paper if that keeps you present.
Apps grouped by practice
If you are not sure where to start, choose the practice you most want to grow in, then one app for it. Using one app well is better than trying five.
- Scripture: YouVersion for free reading plans, or Bible Studies for Women to understand a passage and pray it through.
- Prayer: Lectio 365 and Pray as you go for free daily prayer, Hallow for Catholic guided prayer, and Echo Prayer or PrayerMate for keeping a prayer list. Our guide to the best prayer apps compares more.
- Reflection and meditation: Glorify for a daily devotional with music, and Abide for Scripture meditations and sleep.
- Contemplative prayer: Centering Prayer for silent prayer with a timer.
Which one should you choose?
You want to start reading the Bible, for free
YouVersion Bible App. Thousands of free plans, and simple prayer lists in the same app.
You want to understand what you read and pray it through
Bible Studies for Women. Plain-words studies lead into prayer and a private journal.
You want a short, free rhythm of prayer through the day
Lectio 365. Morning, midday and night prayer, read or heard.
You want to listen to a guided prayer each day, free
Pray as you go. A 10-13 minute Ignatian prayer, no account needed.
You are Catholic and want guided prayer
Hallow. The rosary, Examen and Lectio Divina as guided audio.
You want to keep track of what you are praying for
Echo Prayer. A clean prayer list with reminders and answered prayers.
You want calm, Scripture-based audio at night
Abide. Meditations and bedtime Bible stories.
You want to learn silent prayer
Centering Prayer. A simple timer and guide to contemplative prayer.
How we chose
We started from the apps people mention when they search for ways to get closer to God, then checked each one on the App Store, Google Play and its own website on September 29, 2026.
We grouped them by the practice they support and compared how you use each one, its tradition where the developer states it, and its price in the US on the day we checked.
We make Bible Studies for Women and placed it first because it is the app here built to help you understand a passage and bring it into prayer and writing. We have tried to describe every other app as fairly as we would want ours described.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get myself closer to God?
Christians have long pointed to reading Scripture, praying honestly, taking quiet time to reflect, and belonging to a church. Start small and regular: a passage and a prayer most days, in an app like YouVersion or Bible Studies for Women, or on paper.
Can an app help you get closer to God?
An app can help you keep a habit: it reminds you, gives you a passage or a prayer, and keeps what you write. It cannot replace prayer in your own words, a church community or a pastor you can talk to.
What is the #1 prayer app?
Among the prayer apps in this guide, Hallow has the most App Store ratings (378K), and it is Catholic. For free prayer apps across traditions, try Lectio 365 or Pray as you go, and see our guide to the best prayer apps.
What is the #1 Bible app?
YouVersion is the most widely used, with 100M+ downloads on Google Play, and it is free. For guided studies that explain each passage, see Bible Studies for Women.
Is the Glorify app free?
Glorify is free to download, but many features need Glorify Plus. The App Store lists several Plus prices ($6.99 or $9.99 a month, $41.99 or $69.99 a year), so the price you see may vary.
Are there free apps to get closer to God?
Yes. YouVersion, Lectio 365 and Pray as you go are completely free, and Centering Prayer is free apart from optional paid programs on iOS. Echo Prayer is free with an optional subscription.
How do I get closer to God when I feel distant?
Many Christians go through seasons like this, and the Psalms give words for it, as in Psalm 13 and Psalm 42. Keep praying honestly, stay close to your church, and talk to a pastor or trusted friend.
