Haven vs Ascension
Haven vs Ascension: daily reflection or in-depth Catholic Bible study?
Ascension is a Catholic Bible and study app from Ascension. Haven is a small daily prayer routine. They answer different questions — here is how, with sources for every claim about Ascension.
The short answer
Ascension is built for going deep: the full Bible and Catechism, study plans, the Bible Timeline and Fr. Mike Schmitz’s “in a Year” series. Haven is built for showing up daily in a few minutes: the Gospel of the day, one verse to carry through the day (on your home screen with a Premium widget), a short reflection and an evening examen. Haven is not a replacement for a study library like Ascension’s.
Claims about Ascension were last checked on September 24, 2026 against its official website and store listings. Features and prices change — please check the source links below. We make Haven, so we have tried hard to be fair; if something here is out of date, tell us at contact@try-haven.app.
Side by side
| Haven | Ascension | |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic or general Christian | Catholic, built on the General Roman Calendar | Catholic, from Ascensionsource · checked 2026-09-24 |
| Gospel / daily readings | Gospel of the day with a reflection (free). The other Mass readings are not included. | Official daily Mass readings with reflectionssource · checked 2026-09-24 |
| Bible and study | The Gospel of the day and verses in context — not a full study Bible | Full Bible (Great Adventure Catholic Bible) and Catechism, study plans and Bible questions answeredsource · checked 2026-09-24 |
| Verse widget | Verse of the day from today’s Gospel; home-screen widgets on iPhone and Android, lock-screen widgets on iPhone (Premium) | Not listed on the official pages we checkedsource · checked 2026-09-24 |
| Audio | A short daily audio reflection, written with AI and read with text-to-speech (free preview, full audio in Premium). No audio Bible. | Bible in a Year, Catechism in a Year and Rosary in a Year podcasts; Rosary audio with Fr. Mike Schmitz and otherssource · checked 2026-09-24 |
| Examen | Five-movement evening examen with optional reminder (free) | Not listed on the official pages we checkedsource · checked 2026-09-24 |
| Confession preparation | Guided examination of conscience, 61 questions; nothing you mark is saved (Premium) | Not listed on the official pages we checkedsource · checked 2026-09-24 |
| Price | Free core app; optional Premium subscription (price shown in the store, varies by country) | Generous free tier; premium listed at $8.99/month or $59.99/year in the App Store (the Ascension website lists $8.95/$59.95) — the two official pages differsource · checked 2026-09-24 |
| Platforms | iPhone and Android | iPhone, Android and websource · checked 2026-09-24 |
When to choose Ascension
- You want to study Scripture and the Catechism in depth, with plans and teachers.
- You follow Bible in a Year or Catechism in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz.
- You want the full text of the Bible in a Catholic translation.
When to choose Haven
- You want a few quiet minutes each day rather than a study programme.
- You want today’s verse on your home or lock screen as a reminder to pray.
- You want an evening examen and a private examination of conscience before confession.
See Haven’s practices for yourself: the Gospel of the day, the evening examen and the examination of conscience.
Questions people ask
- Is Haven a Catholic Bible app like Ascension?
- Not really. Haven shows the Gospel of the day and lets you read verses in context, but it is a daily prayer routine, not a full study Bible with the Catechism and courses.
- Can I use Haven alongside Bible in a Year?
- Yes. Many people keep a study plan for longer reading and use Haven for the short daily Gospel and the evening examen.
Other comparisons
- Haven vs HallowAn honest comparison of Haven and Hallow: a large library of guided audio prayer versus a short daily rhythm with the Gospel, a widget and an evening examen.
- Haven vs AmenHaven vs Amen (Augustine Institute): a free Catholic audio library with Mass readings versus a short daily rhythm with the Gospel, a verse widget and an evening examen.
- Haven vs YouVersionHaven vs the YouVersion Bible App: a free, huge Bible app with Verse of the Day widgets versus a Catholic daily rhythm with the Gospel of the day and an evening examen.
- Haven vs LaudateHaven vs Laudate: a free, very broad Catholic reference app with readings, the Liturgy of the Hours and confession tools versus a short guided daily routine.
- Haven vs GlorifyHaven vs Glorify: a polished general Christian devotional app with worship music and community versus a Catholic daily routine with the Gospel of the day and an evening examen.
Try Haven’s daily rhythm
The Gospel of the day, a verse and a short reflection, and a free evening examen.