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 A May 2026 update consolidated all notes, favorites, highlights, and reactions into a single Account tab for easier access.^5
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.^6 A free trial lets you explore without pressure. Bible Gateway also offers a separate Bible Audio App for focused listening across multiple translations and narrators.^7
"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."^8 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.
In May 2026, Bible Gateway announced it is expanding into original Bible news reporting under editorial director Jacob Edson, covering archaeological discoveries, academic research, and cultural events related to Scripture from around the world.^9 Psalm 23:4 was the most-searched Bible verse on Bible Gateway in 2025.^10 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
