Bible Software: 7 Free Options For Newbies and What’s Worth it
Free Bible Study Software is a great alternative to the more costly options. I mean, some Bible study software can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars. But not every free alternative is worth it. So, let’s look at some free options and see which ones are really worth it.
As a general rule, the more well known a free Bible study software or website is, the more it is going to be worth it. So, the best free Bible study software is eSword or the Logos Free Edition. The best free online Bible Study resource is Blue Letter Bible.
Let’s see why these options are the best for beginners, and worth not robbing a bank. And we’ll see where the others lack as well. So, you can find the best free Bible study software or resource for you.
And if you ever get ready to invest some money into a Bible study software, consider checking out this article. In it, I compare the leading Bible Study software to discover the best one for beginners. The basic packages will run you $59.99/yr or $49.99 for a basic package depending on the software you choose.
But, right now let’s stick with free.
eSword Bible Software
In the dynamic landscape of Bibe study software, eSword emerges as one of the best places to start on the journey of experiencing Bible study software. It offers an accessible and a user-friendly interface. Plus, it’s free! It is the best free Bible study software available.
Features for Beginners
eSword welcomes beginners with a clean and intuitive interface. The layout is brilliantly designed to minimize complexity and allow users to focus on their studies without being overwhelmed.
The menu structure is logical, and the toolbar provides quick access to essential tools, ensuring a simple and smooth learning curve to those new to studying the Bible digitally.
eSword also offers an extensive library of public domain works, Bibles, commentaries, and dictionaries. This is perfect for beginners because they have a place with all their BIble study tools in one convenient spot. All these resources are high quality works.
Getting Started
Navigating the initial steps is crucial for beginners, and eSword makes this process super friendly. Simply.
- Visit the eSword Website: Head to the official eSword website to initiate the download process.
- Download the Software: Follow the simple instructions to download the software onto your computer.
- Installation Steps: Walkthrough the installation steps, which are typically straightforward and well-guided.
- Resource Installation: After installing the software, eSword guides users through adding additional resources like Bible translations and commentaries. They can be found in the “download” tab at the top.
It really is that simple to start using eSword. It’s fast and a perfect resource for beginners to get familiar with Bible study software. So, here are some tips for navigating the eSword Software once you get it installed.
- Tabbed Interface: Familiarize yourself with the tabbed interface for simultaneous viewing of different resources. Once opened eSword opens with four different zones open. A Bible, Commentaries, Dictionaries, and Notes. Your various commentaries are in different tabs in the commentary zone, etc. This makes it easy to read and study the Bible side by side.
- Search Functionality: Explore the powerful search functionality for quick access to specific verses, words, or topics. I was very surprised by how fast the search feature is in eSword. It’s one of the fastest I’ve used in a Bible study software. This makes finding that verse you’re thinking of super easy.
- Resource Panels: Learn to customize resource panels for personalized study layouts.
- Highlight and Note Features: Discover how to use highlighting and note-taking features for effective study organization. With the note tab convienently open it makes it easy to take notes and highlight. Though, highlighting features are very basic.
Overall, eSword stands out as a welcoming entry point for beginners in the world of digital Bible study. It’s user-friendly interface, coupled with its cost (Free!) makes it a great resources for those taking their first steps into the world of Bible study Software.
Blue Letter Bible
Blue Letter Bible is a unique website that not only caters to beginners, but also opens doors for those seeking deeper insights into the Bible through language study and commentaries.
With a core focus on Bible study tools, Blue Letter Bible becomes an indispensable resource for anyone eager to delve into the richness of Scripture.
Personally, it is one of the first places I go to study the Bible online. Because it is simple to use and navigate. Plus, it has many great resources, like Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
Blue Letter Bible excels in providing fundamental, yet powerful tools that serve as a solid foundation for beginners. From easy navigation to intuitive features, Blue Letter Bible ensures that newcomers are equipped and can comfortably engage with the content they offer without feeling overwhelmed.
Features For Beginners
Blue Letter Bible has many great features. Right next to the verse you search for, or you are reading, there is a “tools” button. Click that and you open up free access to interlinear Bibles, commentaries, dictionaries, sermons, images and so much more about that verse.
Blue Letter Bible does an excellent job of introducing beginners into the world of interlinear Bible tools, they provide a side-by-side presentation of the original Greek or Hebrew text alongside an English translation. This allows users to explore the nuances of the original languages if they desire.
They also offer a library that encompasses a great collection of commentaries and sermons, offering diverse perspectives and insights.
This is great for both pastors and beginners. Beginners can access these resources, gaining valuable context and encouragement. Pastors can find inspiration for their lesson or sermon.
Getting Started
Blue Letter Bible is a website, so there is not software to download. That said, here are some great ways that you can use Blue Letter Bible to enhance your understanding of a passage of Scripture:
- Language Study: Use the interlinear Bible tools to compare English translations with the original Hebrew or Greek text, helping you grasp the intricacies of language. You can click on a Hebrew or Greek word to learn more about it and elsewhere it is used in Scripture.
- Commentary Exploration: Commentaries are helpful to read alongside your passage of Scripture as you are studying. They can provide insights into the history, culture, or language of the Bible. Or offer more practical insight. My favorite on Blue Letter Bible is Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
- Sermon Integration: There are numerous sermons that you can listen to about a specific passage. These are from some well known pastors like John MacArthur, A.W. Tozer, Alistair Begg, Paul Washer, and more.
Overall, Blue Letter Bible is a great resource for beginners as it focuses on basic study tools, including interlinear bibles, commentaries, and sermons. As you use Blue Letter Bible you may find encouragement and inspiration as you dive deeper into experiencing the Bible, I know I have.
NETBible.org
The NET Bible stands for the New English Translation. It’s known for being completely transparent about its translation process. It includes detailed translator notes.
The heart of the NET Bible lies in its commitment to transparency, allowing users to see how the sausage was made, so to speak. Translator notes have become a crucial companion, offering insights into word choice, cultural nuances, and historical context.
This can help beginners take a peak behind the curtain of the Biblical text. That said, often, I find these translator notes a little challenging to read.
This is what makes NETBible.org so unique. They offer these translators notes parallel, side-by-side, the Biblical text. Reading them this way, rather than in a footnote makes them easier to understand.
NETBible.org also offers other notes, like Dr. Constable’s Notes, Matthew Henry’s Commentary, and Maclaren’s notes. All of these men are renowned scholars and pastors.
Using NET Notes as a Beginner
While these notes are extremely helpful for beginners and makes NETBible.org a place I go frequently, what makes it so unique is the NET notes.
These NET notes, can help beginners wrestle with the complex passages of Scripture easily. Why? Because these notes provide linquistic clarity and cultural insights.
For example, in Matthew 4 where Jesus is going around preaching in synagogues, the NET note explains what a synagogue is,
Synagogues were places for Jewish prayer and worship, with recognized leadership (cf. Luke 8:41). Though the origin of the synagogue is not entirely clear, it seems to have arisen in the postexilic community during the intertestamental period.
A town could establish a synagogue if there were at least ten men. In normative Judaism of the NT period, the OT scripture was read and discussed in the synagogue by the men who were present (see the Mishnah, m. Megillah 3-4; m. Berakhot 2).
NETBible.org study note, Matthew 4:23
This is an amazingly helpful cultural insight that can be a great benefit to beginners who are new to studying the Bible. Likewise, in couple of verses later, when people are bringing the sick to Jesus, those with disease, seizures, paralytics, etc. The NET note explains the Greek behind the translation seizures,
Grk “those who were moonstruck,” possibly meaning “lunatic” (so NAB), although now the term is generally regarded as referring to some sort of seizure disorder such as epilepsy (L&N 23.169; BDAG 919 s.v. σεληνιάζομαι).
NETBible.org, study note, Matthew 4:24
As you can see these notes are extremely helpful in bringing a deeper understanding of the Bible and helping you experience it in new ways. These NET notes along with the notes available on NETBible.org makes it an invaluable resource for beginners.
Logos Free Edition
Logos is an extremely powerful Bible study software, that offers a free edition with essential resources and features. This can provide beginners with a glimpse into more advanced BIble study software without feeling overwhelmed.
Logos is at the top of BIble study resources as it offers comprehensive resources and powerful features for users to better understand the Bible. Logos is in many ways seen as the best Bible study software available.
The free edition of Logos opens the door for users to experience the powerful capabilities of the software entirely for free. While, it is a scaled down version compared to editions that cost, the free version still offers amazing resources and features to deepen your study and experience the Bible in new ways.
Logos Free Edition comes with,
- Lexham English Bible
- Faithlife Study Bible
- Lexham Bible Dictionary
- Revised Common Lectionary
- English Standard Version
- King James Version
- Christian Standard Bible
- Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
- Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
- Maps, Images, Infographics
- etc.
Features for Beginners
One of my favorite features of Logos for beginners is the Factbook. The Factbook is my favorite feature of Logos. Period. Think of it like a personal Bible encyclopedia. It allows users to explore detailed information about biblical people, places, events, and concepts mentioned in the Bible.
You simply type in what you are searching for (just like Google) and the Factbook will draw from your Logos Library and datasets, providing you with articles, maps, media, and links to related sources about the topic you searched for.
Another great feature is the Workflows. These are like guided study plans that will walk you step by step through studying the Bible. The free edition comes with a Basic Bible study and a Devotional Workflow. They provide the resources you need and ask you questions to help you get the most out of your Bible.
Getting Started
Navigating the inital steps of Logos is fairly simple. Though, Logos has a steeper learning curve than other free resources on this list. Here’s how to get started with Logos the right way.
- Visit the Logos Website: Head to the official Logos Website to initiate the download process of the free edition.
- Download the Software: Follow the simple instructions to download the software onto your computer.
- Installation Steps: Walkthrough the installation steps, which are typically straightforward and well-guided.
- Watch the Quickstart Guide: One of the resources that will be in your library is a Quickstart Guide. This is a must watch if you want to get the most out of using Logos as a beginner. If you can’t find it in your library once you download the app, here is the link to the Quickstart Guide on YouTube.
Logos Bible Software is my Bible study software of choice. The Free Edition is how I got started. It’s an invaluable tool as you begin building a Bible study habit.
But it’s also a tool that can grow with you. If you desire, down the road you can purchase Bible study collections with more resources or features. Or you can shop for individual resources you’ll use.
The free edition of Logos is great, but if you are curious about which one I recommend for beginners and why, check out this article. It will compare three different Packages of Logos and help you decide which one is best for you, no matter what I think.
Overall, the Logos Free Edition is a great resource to introduce beginners to Bible study software and provide them with essential and high quality resources that will take them far.
It will empower you to delve deeper into the Bible, and bridge the gap between a basic understanding and a deeper experience with the Word of God.
STEP Bible: Beginners Tool For Word Studies
STEP Bible is a great resource for beginners to get into exploring and experiencing the original languages of the Bible in a user-friendly and simple way. STEP Bible stands out for its dedication to linguistic analysis and exploration of the Bible in its original languages.
Understanding the original languages of the Bible can be a great benefit to your Bible study. With STEP Bible you don’t need to learn Hebrew or Greek. Let me show you how it works.
This is what it looks like when you first go to the website. You can use the navigation bar to choose your preferred translation and go the reference you are studying.
Now, you’ll notice that quite a few words are blue. These are hyperlinked words that you can hover over to learn a little more about in the original language. Or you can click on them to get a more detailed look at them in their original language.
For example, when I clicked on “expanse” in Genesis 1, it pulls up a word analysis sidebar. It shows how frequently the word is used, its meaning, and related words.
So, STEP Bible is a great resource for people who want to do word studies of the original Greek and Hebrew, but are intimidated, scared, or don’t know where to start.
Overall, STEP Bible’s focus on linguistic analysis and original language makes it a great resources for those interested in exploring and experiencing the original languages of the Bible without any prior knowledge.
It empowers you to discover the depth and richness of the original language, and enhances your appreciation for the Word of God.
SWORD Project
The SWORD Project is a free Bible software with open-source tools that not only help people study the Bible, but create their own Bible software if they want. It is highly flexible and customizable. This flexibility makes it a versatile platform for a wide range of users.
The SWORD Project thrives on a community driven development that allows users to contribute and expand the platform by creating additional module. There are also module add-ins that allow you to expand the features of your software. For example, these module add-ins include,
- Bible Texts
- Commentaries
- Lexicons/Dictionaries
- Glossaries
- Devotionals
- General Books
Beginners can find some valuable resources within these modules like works by GK Chesterton, EM Bounds, Thomas Aquinas, John Bunyan and many more.
Overall, the SWORD Project, with it’s open-source philosophy, flexibility, and community-driven approach offers a unique Bible study experience. That said, it may not be ideal for everyone, so if it’s not for you consider one of these other alternatives, like eSword or One Touch Light.
One Touch Light
One Touch Light is the free version of Biblesoft’s Bible study software and program. It is specifically designed for new users and beginners in mind. It offers a straightforward and user-friendly platform that is simple to navigate between essential tools without being overwhelming.
It offers a clean interface and basic search features without the unnecessary complexity found in other Bible software programs. As such, it is ideal for someone new to using digital resources to study the Bible. Here are some of the resources that comes with One Touch Light
- Bibles: ASV, Berean Study Bible, Berean Literal Bible, Berean Greek Bible, KJV, YLT, etc.
- Commentaries: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament, Gray’s Concise Bible Commentary, Geneva Notes (Commentary from Calvin, Knox, and More), Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
- Encyclopedias: Easton’s Bible Dictionary, Smith’s Bible Dictionary, Nave’s Topical Bible
- Lexicons: Exhaustive Strong’s Hebrew/Greek Dictionary, Thayer’s Greek definitions
- Sermons: Selected Sermons of George Whitefield, Sermons of John Wesley
- Multimedia: Biblesoft Photo Collection, Hymnal, maps of the Holy Land
- General Books: Selected works of Bunyan, Calvin, The Imitation of Christ, Journal of John Wesley, The Training of the Twelve, Spurgeons’s Morning and Evening Devotional, Inductive Bible Study, etc.
Getting Started
I’ll be honest and share with you what I can regarding how to get started with One Touch Light from personal experience.
Installing the software is easy, simply click the download button on the official Biblesoft website. After that you go through the installation process, you’ll be asked to register an email with Biblesoft. This is normal for some Bible software companies.
They will send you an email with a registration code. Which you will need to enter. This is where I ran into trouble. I entered numerous different emails. And never received an email with a registration code. I checked the spam folder the junk drawer, anywhere it may be and it was no where to be found.
So, honestly, if you want to give One Touch Light a try, then go for it, but I’d recommend you go with another Bible Study Software alternative. Like the Logos free edition, Blue Letter Bible, eSword.
Key Takeaways
So, we’ve covered some alternatives to high priced Bible study software. But are they worth it? Here are the key takeaways you need to know when considering each alternative,
- eSword Bible Software:
- Verdict: Worth it for beginners.
- Reasons: Free, user-friendly interface, logical menu structure, extensive library of high-quality resources, simple installation process, and useful features like tabbed interface, powerful search functionality, and customizable resource panels.
- Blue Letter Bible:
- Verdict: Worth it for beginners.
- Reasons: Simple to use and navigate, offers fundamental yet powerful tools, focuses on basic study tools such as interlinear Bibles, commentaries, and sermons, provides diverse perspectives and insights, and is a great resource for both pastors and beginners.
- NETBible.org:
- Verdict: Worth it for beginners.
- Reasons: Stands out for transparency in translation process, provides detailed translator notes, offers insights into word choice, cultural nuances, and historical context, and includes other helpful notes for beginners.
- Logos Free Edition:
- Verdict: Worth it for beginners.
- Reasons: Extremely powerful Bible study software, offers a free edition with essential resources and features, provides a glimpse into more advanced Bible study software, features a Factbook for detailed information, and includes guided study plans through Workflows.
- STEP Bible:
- Verdict: Worth it for beginners.
- Reasons: User-friendly and simple, focuses on linguistic analysis and exploration of the Bible in its original languages, allows users to explore original languages without the need to learn Hebrew or Greek, and provides insights through hyperlinked words and word analysis.
- SWORD Project:
- Verdict: Maybe worth considering.
- Reasons: Free, open-source Bible software with flexible and customizable features, community-driven development, allows users to create their own Bible software, and offers valuable resources within modules.
- One Touch Light:
- Verdict: Not recommended for beginners.
- Reasons: Free version of Biblesoft’s Bible study software, specifically designed for new users, offers a straightforward and user-friendly platform, includes various essential tools and resources, but potential issues with registration process might be a drawback.
