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YouVersion Bible
YouVersion Bible (The Bible App) is a free Scripture platform by Life.Church that lets users read or listen to the Bible in over 3,500 versions across 2,300 languages. It includes daily verse of the day, guided reading plans from organizations like Bible Project and Our Daily Bread, highlights, notes, prayer tracking, and a friend study feature for group engagement with Scripture.
The app is designed for anyone who wants to engage with the Bible daily, from new believers to lifelong readers. It runs on iOS, Android, and the web with no ads, no in-app purchases, and no paid tier. The platform has surpassed one billion installs and serves over 17.5 million daily users worldwide.
Screenshots
Our verdict
YouVersion is still what most people mean by the Bible app. Life.Church's free reader lists 3,500 versions in 2,300 languages, audio, thousands of reading plans, a Verse of the Day widget, and notes that sync. The official site now puts Bible App installs at 710 million, daily users in 2026 at 17.5 million, and plan completions at 630 million. There are no ads and no paid tier. For daily reading, that combination is still unmatched.
The growth loop is still friends, not ads. The app's own share button, Hey I love using YouVersion, is all over X every morning. So are day-240 plan check-ins and Plan Subscription badges. Pastors put the Verse of the Day on the iPhone home screen so Scripture beats the news. That is the product doing what it was built to do.
The honest friction is inside the app. One user sitting in church got four in-app notifications in five minutes and could not just read. Offline works if you download a version first. Some licensed translations, and a lot of the audio, still need a connection. There are still no commentaries or original-language tools. For daily reading it remains the easiest yes in the category. For study, pair it with something heavier.
How we scored it
Standout features
Vast Library
3,800+ versions in 2,400+ languages, free to read.
Reading Plans
Thousands of guided plans and devotionals for any topic.
Audio Bibles
Listen hands-free with full playback controls.
Prayer & Community
Track prayers and read plans alongside friends.
Verse of the Day
A daily verse with beautiful, shareable images.
Cross-Device Sync
Notes and highlights follow you everywhere, for free.
Pros & cons
✓ Pros
- Completely free with no ads and no in-app purchases
- Official library: 3,500 versions across 2,300 languages
- Thousands of reading plans; people still post day-240 check-ins and Plan Subscription badges
- Verse of the Day widget that actually gets used as a morning habit
- Notes, highlights, and bookmarks sync free across devices
– Cons
- Study depth is shallow: no built-in commentaries, lexicons, or original-language tools
- In-app notifications can interrupt reading, including in church, and some cannot be dismissed without opening them
- Offline is per-version; some licensed translations and much of the audio still need a connection
Best for
Anyone who wants a warm, free Bible for daily reading, plans, and sharing verses with friends, especially readers who need many translations or a home-screen widget.
Look elsewhere if
You want serious study tools like commentaries, lexicons, and original-language resources, or a quiet reader that will not nudge you with in-app notifications.
Pricing
How it compares
| YouVersion Bible | Bible Gateway | Olive Tree | ESV Bible | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our score | 9.1 | 8.4 | 8.6 | 8.0 |
| Translations | 3,800+ | 200+ | 150+ | ESV only |
| Reading plans | Thousands | ✓ Many | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audio Bible | ✓ | ✓ (Plus) | ✓ (paid) | ✓ |
| Price | Free | Free / Plus | Free app, paid books | Free |
FAQ
Is the YouVersion Bible App free?
Yes, completely. It has no ads and no in-app purchases; all versions, audio, and reading plans are free.
How many Bible translations does it include?
The official site lists 3,500 Bible versions in 2,300 languages, including most major English translations.
Can I read the Bible offline?
Yes for many versions: download a translation once and read without a connection. Licensing means some popular translations still need the internet, and Play Store notes that audio is often not available offline.
Does it have an audio Bible?
Yes. Many versions include audio you can listen to hands-free, though not every translation has narration, and offline audio is limited.
What are reading plans?
Guided, day-by-day journeys through Scripture or a topic. There are thousands to choose from, you can invite friends, and the app awards Plan Subscription badges as you keep going.
