Before there was an "app for that," there was Bible Gateway. Founded in 1993 by Nick Hengeveld — a staffer at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan — it began as a simple database tool to help people look up Scripture online, back when the World Wide Web was barely a thing.^1 Over three decades later, it's grown into the most-visited Christian website in the world, serving millions of unique visitors each month.^2
Bible Gateway offers free access to over 200 Bible translations in 70+ languages, making it one of the most comprehensive Scripture resources anywhere.^1 You can read, search by keyword or topic, listen to 30+ audio Bibles, highlight verses, take notes, and follow reading plans — all synced across your devices with a free account.^3 In February 2026, the app received a complete rebuild with a refreshed reading experience, emoji reactions to verses, and updated highlights designed for focus in Scripture.^4
For those who want to go deeper, Bible Gateway Plus unlocks an ad-free experience and access to 70+ trusted study tools — including the NIV Study Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, Believer's Bible Commentary, and Mounce's Expository Dictionary — aligned directly with every verse you read.^5 A 7-day free trial lets you explore without pressure.
"I've been reading from Bible Gateway for a few years. I couldn't afford to buy the audio Bible — I'm on Social Security. However, I'm now listening on Bible Gateway and so enjoying it so very much. I listened the other day from Acts to Revelation. Thank you so much for making this available. God is so good."^6 Stories like this are why Bible Gateway exists. Whether you're a seminary student cross-referencing Greek manuscripts, a new believer hearing Scripture read aloud for the first time, or a parent looking up a verse during small group — Bible Gateway meets you where you are.
Psalm 23:4 was the most-searched Bible verse on Bible Gateway in 2025: "Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me."^7 Now a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing (through Zondervan), Bible Gateway carries forward the same mission Nick Hengeveld started with in a college computer lab: making God's Word accessible to everyone, everywhere, for free.^1
