Jesus Says vs Hallow: Which Prayer App Fits You?

Choose Hallow if you want audio-guided prayer rooted in Catholic tradition: the Rosary, the Examen, Lectio Divina, and a large library of narrated sessions. Choose Jesus Says if you want a short daily Scripture reflection, where you speak or type what you’re carrying and receive Scripture, a short reflection, and a prayer. For Catholic devotions, Hallow is the fuller app.

How do Jesus Says and Hallow compare?

Jesus Says publishes this library, so read our view with that in mind. We’ve described Hallow from its own website and App Store listing, and we say plainly where it is the better choice.

Details checked September 2026. Features and prices change, so check each App Store listing before you subscribe.

What does Hallow do best?

Hallow is built for Catholic prayer, and it is thorough. The Hallow App Store listing describes a library of more than 10,000 sessions, and its daily prayers include Lectio Divina on the day’s readings, the Rosary, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Beyond those you’ll find the Ignatian Examen, litanies and novenas, Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, Bible stories read by voices such as Jonathan Roumie, and homilies from Fr. Mike Schmitz.

The experience is designed to lead you. You choose a guide and a length, press play, and follow along, with optional background chant or music. Hallow also lets you journal after each prayer, set reminders, download sessions for offline listening, and join a Hallow Family to share prayer intentions. Seasonal challenges such as Pray40 for Lent and Pray25 for Advent give the year a rhythm, and parishes can use Hallow together through a shared parish space and recordings from their own pastors; Hallow’s page for parishes, schools, and dioceses explains the options.

Hallow says its content is developed by Catholic theology and spirituality guides and reviewed by senior leaders in the Church. That matters if you want prayers that have been checked against Catholic teaching. Hallow calls itself a Catholic app but says it is meant as a resource for people of all faiths.

What does Jesus Says do differently?

Jesus Says is a daily Scripture reflection and prayer app rather than an audio library. Its center is Today with God, a daily card with one verse, one reflection, one prayer, and one step. When something specific is on your mind, you can speak or type it and receive Scripture, a short reflection, and a prayer you can come back to.

Beyond the daily card, Jesus Says includes a 7-day path through Scripture, Be Still quiet moments (Still Waters; Peace, Be Still; and Consider the Heavens), Listen Mode read-aloud, a private Verse Library, a private journal with a calendar view, and the full King James Bible. It runs on iPhone and iPad and is a free download with 7 days of full access, then a Plus subscription.

The trade-offs are real. There are no narrated sessions, no Rosary or other Catholic devotions, no community, and no Android app. And unlike Hallow’s reviewed library, Jesus Says generates its Scripture-based reflections; they are not reviewed by clergy and don’t replace your church or pastor.

Should you choose Jesus Says or Hallow?

• Choose Hallow if you pray the Rosary or other Catholic devotions, if you like being guided by a voice, or if your parish or family already uses it.
• Choose Jesus Says if you want a few quiet minutes that begin with Scripture and respond to what you’re carrying that day, and you prefer reading to listening.
• Use both if Hallow carries your regular prayer and you’d like a short written reflection and journal alongside it. They overlap less than you might expect.

If you’re still deciding, our guide to the best Christian prayer apps also covers Glorify and YouVersion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hallow only for Catholics?

Hallow describes itself as a Catholic app, and much of its library draws on Catholic devotions such as the Rosary and novenas. Its App Store listing also says it is meant as a resource for people of all faiths. Protestant readers may find its Christian meditation, Lectio Divina, and Scripture sessions helpful, even if some Marian prayers aren’t part of their tradition.

Is Hallow free?

Partly. Hallow’s daily prayers, including the Rosary, and its 9-day intro prayer challenge are free. The full library of sessions, guides, and challenges requires a monthly or yearly subscription. Check the App Store listing for current prices in your country, since they can change and differ by region.

Does Jesus Says include the Rosary or Catholic prayers?

No. Jesus Says is built around Scripture from the King James Version, a daily reflection, and a short prayer. It doesn’t include the Rosary, novenas, the Liturgy of the Hours, or a Catholic Bible translation. Catholic readers can still use it for Scripture reflection, but Hallow is the better fit for Catholic devotional prayer.

Who writes the prayers in Hallow and in Jesus Says?

Hallow says its sessions are developed by Catholic theology and spirituality guides, reviewed by Church leaders, and narrated by more than 50 guides. Jesus Says generates its reflections and prayers from Scripture in response to what you share, and they are not reviewed by religious authorities. Test anything you read against Scripture and your church’s teaching.

Which is better for night prayer and sleep?

Hallow, if sleep is the main goal. It offers Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours and sleep Bible stories, with calming chant or music. Jesus Says has Be Still, a set of quiet moments that each end with a verse, but it doesn’t offer sleep stories or long audio sessions.

Can I use Hallow and Jesus Says together?

Yes. You could pray with Hallow in the morning or evening and use Jesus Says for a short written reflection and journal entry during the day. Paying for two subscriptions isn’t necessary for most people, though, so try each app’s free options first and keep the one you actually return to.