For most of history, the Bible wasn't read — it was heard. Dwell exists to reclaim that ancient practice for the smartphone age, turning your commute, your workout, and your bedtime routine into encounters with Scripture.^1
Built by twin brothers Jonathan and Joshua Bailey, Dwell started as a Kickstarter campaign in 2018 that raised over 250% of its $50,000 goal — making it the fourth most-funded app in Kickstarter history at the time.^2 The Baileys noticed that while Bible apps were plentiful, none were truly audio-first. So they set out to create something beautiful for the ear: professionally narrated Scripture with cinematic background music, designed to make hearing God's Word a delight rather than a chore.^3
Today, Dwell offers 20+ narrators across 14 Bible versions (including ESV, NIV, KJV, NKJV, CSB, NLT, NASB, NVI, and The Message), with voices spanning American, British, Australian, and Kenyan accents — intentionally reflecting the breadth of the global Church.^4 The Read Along feature synchronizes on-screen text to the narrator's voice, and a Repeat and Reflect mode helps users meditate on and memorize specific passages. With 75+ listening plans, 260+ curated passages, 60+ themed playlists, and a dedicated kids' Bible (ICB), there's a path into Scripture for everyone — from brand-new believers to lifelong students of the Word.^5
Dwell is also built by creators with deep roots in the Christian creative community — the Bailey brothers are the team behind Lightstock, a faith-based stock media platform. Their About page affirms the Nicene Creed and a commitment to "Mere Christianity" in the spirit of C.S. Lewis, celebrating Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox streams.^3
Why Christians Love Dwell: "I read my Bible daily, but this app — I've LOVED being able to listen to my Bible aloud. There are people in the Bible whose stories I've never much thought about, but hearing their stories read aloud has brought me to tears."^5 A pastor and theologian wrote: "Dwell is my favorite to date — you can search for and listen to a specific set of verses, and do so on repeat! If you're studying or memorizing John 3:14-19, you can listen to only those verses over and over. Daily Dwell is one of my number one tools in my tool box for spiritual formation."^5 Another user shared how the app became a lifeline through trauma: "This app has helped me through a very traumatic experience. Dwell is simple, yet offers tremendous comfort and healing."^5
Christianity Today featured Dwell in a 2024 piece on the rise of audio Bibles, with cofounder Jonathan Bailey explaining: "What's special about listening is it makes it easier to just marinate on those big themes of Scripture. It makes it easier to have the Scriptures wash over you and just be in a posture of soaking or dwelling."^6 The app also enjoys endorsements from Matt Chandler ("One of my favorite apps out there"), Ann Voskamp ("I can't begin to rave enough about Dwell"), and Shane & Shane.^1
With 3 million installs, 40,000+ daily listeners, and 5.1 million hours listened in 2024 alone, Dwell has become a quiet movement — helping Christians make the Bible the soundtrack of their lives.^3
Platforms: iOS, Android, Alexa, Apple Vision Pricing: Freemium (7-day free trial, then subscription; lifetime option available)
