InPrayer by CPH 4+

Some reviewers have complained about the subscription price. But that's pretty trivial per year, so I don't have a problem with it per se. Still, compared with the arguably better (free) app this replaces -- PrayNow -- it's pretty weak. PrayNow has much more material. And for design comparison, the Anglican Church in North America's Daily Office app is more complete and flexible than both. And free.

The app presents a very few CPH publications for purchase (e.g. Lenten reflections) or subscription (e.g. Portals of Prayer). And there are also links to additional books to buy from CPH. I'm not sure how useful this is.

Graphically, it looks very nice, for what that's worth, and is fool-proof to use (being so limited). It does have the text of suggested readings from the Book of Concord, where PrayNow only gives the cite. But InPrayer entirely omits the "Writing" for the day, which InPrayer includes. It looks like this is in line with a purpose to streamline (uncharitably "dumb down") the app.

As it stands, PrayNow is better unless you're only interested in the daily readings and might like the convenience of a purchase/subscription point inside an app. The subscription model isn't a terrible thing, but needs to be much more attractive. I hope PrayNow continues to be availabl.

Maybe they could rename this one "PayNow."

How fitting that on the day our reading from the 3 year lectionary was Jesus throwing the money changers out of the temple in John 2, I learn that the reason I cannot recommend the “Pray Now” app to friends anymore is that CPH has abandoned a wonderful app that worked so well for family devotions. For the utility that was available for a one time cost of the previous app, CPH will exact the same amount for about a year and a half subscription to “In Prayer”. One would think that a non-profit organization interested in spreading the Word of God would receive enough support from Christian app builders that they could arrange public domain material in a way that places the least burden on the faithful and those seeking the Word. I understand that CPH needs to stay financially viable, but to go to a subscription model to share God’s word is appalling. I will also be canceling my “Portals of Prayer” subscription - a price I once thought small enough to justify; I can no longer accept this horrid business practice. This subscription based model is reminiscent of Tetzel.

My wife and I have loved the PrayNow app, but I thought I would give this new version a try. Was very disappointed to find out that it is missing all the Orders of Daily Prayer, Short Orders of Service, and other content that was available under the Table of Contents section of the PrayNow app. It is also missing the tune feature if you like to chant the Psalmody. The only reason to upgrade to this is that it includes the Suggested Reading from the Book of Concord, so that you don’t have to have a hard copy with you or the e-version. Also very disappointed that there is little to know preview of this new version or a free trial available online so you are forced to pay for the subscription to find out. Very questionable for a Christian publishing company.