Crossway's ESV Bible app is a portable reader for the English Standard Version, an "essentially literal" translation prepared by more than 100 evangelical scholars and pastors and published in 2001.^1 A free ESV.org account syncs notes, highlights, and bookmarks across the web, iPhone, iPad, and Android, with a distraction-free reader, search, and cross-references.^1^4
The whole ESV can be heard from artists, pastors, and teachers including Kristyn Getty, Ray Ortlund, Jackie Hill Perry, and Michael Reeves, with optional instrumental tracks from artists such as Josh Garrels and Antoine Bradford and separate volume controls for voice and music.^1 Dozens of thematic playlists gather verses by mood or doctrine, and over 50 reading plans cover one-year, devotional, and topical paths.^1
The ESV Global Study Bible is included for free. A subscription unlocks further study Bibles and commentaries, including the ESV Study Bible, the ESV Archaeology Study Bible, Preaching the Word, and the ESV Expository Commentary.^1 Greek and Hebrew tools remain on the website.^1
Crossway began as Good News Publishers, founded in 1938 by Clyde and Muriel Dennis to publish gospel-centered, Bible-based content, and Crossway itself was founded in 1978 by their son Lane Dennis and his wife Ebeth.^5 Lane Dennis served as publisher of the ESV, with J. I. Packer as general editor.^7 October 2026 marks 25 years since the ESV was first published in 2001.^7 Free ESV reading-plan podcasts are also on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.^6
One Google Play reviewer wrote: "I discovered long ago, it is easier to read the Bible if you listen to it and follow along," and praised the access to study Bibles and commentaries alongside the audio.^4
