Before there was an "app for that," there was Bible Gateway. Founded in 1993 by Nick Hengeveld — a student at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan — it began as a humble database tool to help fellow students look up Scripture online, back when the Internet was barely a thing.^1 Over three decades later, it's grown into the most-visited Christian website in the world, serving more than 28 million 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 The app recently received a refreshed reading experience in early 2026 with updated highlights, dark mode, and emoji reactions to verses that stand out.^4
For those who want to go deeper, Bible Gateway Plus unlocks an ad-free experience and access to 60+ 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.^3
"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."^5 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.
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
