4 Fabulous Bible Apps I Recommend

ByRachel Wojo

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Have you tried using a Bible app? What's holding you back? Keep God's Word at your fingertips to read anytime! Check out the 4 Bible apps I enjoy the most!

Bible Apps are the best thing since sliced bread. Ok, better than sliced bread. Seriously, I love Bible apps and for the last five years, I’ve used them almost every day. Today I’m recommending 4 Bible apps that I think you will find helpful. These are the best Bible apps of which I am aware. In light of the Bible Reading Challenge, my hope is to continue to provide tools and resources that you will find beneficial, regardless of which version of the Bible you are reading or whether you like the feel of a Bible in your hand or you find an app the most accessible.


1. Olive Tree: This is my favorite of all the Bible apps. The main reason I love it is because you can download the entire Bible and you don’t have to be connected to WIFI or the internet in order to read. 🙂 This app is available for Mac, PC, Iwhatever, Android, Kindle and Nook. They’ve got their bases covered and then some.


2. YouVersion is available in over 100 languages. When it comes to taking the gospel to the world, YouVersion means business and I love that. However, for a tightwad frugal mom to 7 like me who uses an ipod touch and WIFI to save money, you have to be connected to the internet to have full access to reading. If I’m visiting a church or event stadium that doesn’t have WIFI, I have no access. So I love YouVersion…just not as much as Olive Tree, for said reasons. 😉 They do have a tad more versions of the app: Blackberry, Java, Windows Phone, and more. So if you have a smartphone and no worries about the amount of time you connect, this could very well be the app for you. (Additional note: Apparently there are more download options now than when I last checked it out, but not all versions are downloadable. See comments from readers.)

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3. Blue Letter Bible: I am on this website via the laptop every.single.day. I just love the way their versions are on the dropdown menu and I can read any verse in all versions with one click. The app is free and available for Iwhatever use, BUT some versions are available locally (on the device) and some require internet connection. The NIV is not available on this app at all. Because I love their site, I’m confident this app will grow in flexibility and user friendliness.


4. Bible Gateway: Another fabulous site that I frequently use for reading and studying the Bible. This app is great AND as of the writing of this post, the NIV is available on the app for download! Can I get a woohoo?! Available for IWhatever and Android, you won’t be disappointed in the way this app performs.

What Bible apps do you like to use? I’d love to hear your experiences and opinions in the comments below!

Oh and PS: All the above apps are FREE! 😉

26 Comments

  1. Stacey Hanrahan says:

    Have you seen Bible 360? It is really cool! Not only is the Bible on there (with a really wonderful overview of topics of the Bible) but there are videos, maps, tours amd art on there pertaining to the Bible. It is really fun and well done and it is free. Check it out!

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  3. On my phone, the Bible Study App costs $10, the only free part is the actual Bible download itself.

  4. I love logos bible app. It is free initially and for those who are willing to spend a little more additional resources can be purchased. The sky is the limit once you start buying though, lol.

  5. I’m relishing the Bible Reading Challenge. Thank you. I’d not read much of the Bible. Now each evening I look forward to lighting my candle and reading. It feels as if I’ve been thirsty for a long time and didn’t know it.

  6. I am new to the iPad world. I was wondering when you download the Bible from these apps, does it take up a ton of memory?

    1. It actually doesn’t, Dawn, because it is all text- no graphics. 🙂 So that’s pretty awesome, huh?

  7. Question about our reading….

    In Matthew, we are reading all about how Jesus heals many based on their having FAITH. In fact, in some instances he straight up asks if they believe, and upon their answer, because of their faith, he heals them.
    This seemed in stark contrast to what we read about in Acts regarding Saul. Saul doesn’t have the faith. He doesn’t believe. He wants the “powers” that he sees other men using, but he doesn’t believe. Saul is converted into a believer in Acts 9, but it is through Jesus essentially showing himself literally, then putting Saul through a struggle (blindness), and lastly having him healed himself.

    I just thought it was an interesting pairing of texts for today’s reading. I feel like church is made up of these two examples. Some people grow up in the church. They believe because they do. However, some do not grow up in church, in a Christian family. They have to “see” it in some way to become believers. The faith isn’t innate. I love the contrast and message–regardless of how they get there, they are all believers in Christ. And, regardless of how WE get there, we are all believers in Christ.

  8. I have all the recommended apps, but use mostly YouVersion. It’s easy to switch versions, has tons of reading plans, highlighter, connects to Facebook and twitter, and my church uses it for Sunday sermon notes.
    The app that I use second, for in depth inductive study is FaithLife. It’s got a great split screen study notes. If you go to the site there is a charge for the app but enter FREE in the coupon code and you should get it free.

    1. Thanks Kathy! I actually discovered FaithLife last week, but yes, I thought it needed to be paid for. 🙂

  9. Leslie Neumeyer says:

    I love “Bible.is” by “Faith Comes By Hearing” I believe you just search for Bible (it has a little cross symbal beside it but I can’t figure out how to type it on here.)
    “Bible.is” it allows you to listen to the Bible in a drama version. As far as I know, they don’t have NIV yet….so I listen to ESV. I have it playing while I’m getting ready in the morning. I totally recommend it!

    1. awesome! Thanks for pointing us to a new resource! (at least for me. 🙂 )

  10. Melinda T says:

    I downloaded YouVersion last month on my phone and earlier this month (I think) I received an email that you can download it for free for offline use, I believe its til the 21st of this month.

    Thanks for sharing the others, I haven’t heard of them before.

  11. I love you version. You do not need to be connected to read…only to use the notes. There are many versions to download, which I love.

    1. I think it depends on which version you want to read. There definitely are more downloadable options than when I last used YouVersion. 😉

  12. I love You Version and Bible Gateway. The reading plans for You Version are fab! Bible Gateway is perfect for helping me with my writing. However, the old-fashioned Bible I use is the New Inductive Study Bible because I like to mark it following the Precepts format by Kay Arthur. If there was an app that enabled me to do this I would be a very happy bunny!

  13. I love the YouVersion bible app. Not only can you download many translations for free (they offer each translation at different times) but you can also highlight verses, bookmark verses, and even make notes directly in the app. There are also several translations that offer the audio feature. My favorite feature, however, is that YouVersion offers many reading plans and will even send you reminders. The reading plans they offer can be for the whole bible, parts or books of the bible, topical, for teens, even seasons like Easter and Christmas.

    1. YES on the reading plans!!! I mentioned this in a post last week, but it certainly is worth repeating. Thanks!!

  14. Just fyi – you can download certain versions from YouVersion to make them available “offline.” Don’t know if you’ve tried that or not 🙂

    1. cool! So I have two readers telling me. Perhaps it has been updated since I sold myself on Olive Tree. 😉

  15. Not to diss Olive Tree at all (in fact, I love the fact that I can have all John Piper’s sermons to read offline), but you CAN download many versions of the Bible at YouVersion. I normally use the ESV, but just a few minutes ago, I downloaded the NIV, also. I do have an iPhone, but I only have the minimum data plan, so I like to use things that are available offline, too. My iPad is wifi only, so I have downloaded versions on it, too. One of the best things about YouVersion is Hear the Word, an audio version of the ESV. You do need wifi for this one, but I love doing my chronological Bible reading plan that way here at home.

    1. I did notice the audio. I think that’s a great feature, but for travelling purposes, it doesn’t work well for me. Time in the car would be when I would most listen to audio- and you have to be connected to the internet. Thanks for the info on the download though!! Appreciate the update!

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