You want to study the Bible — not just read it, but really dig in. You want to look up the original Hebrew and Greek words behind the English text, compare translations side by side, and read what trusted commentators have said about a passage across centuries. But seminary-grade tools usually cost hundreds of dollars. Blue Letter Bible puts all of that in your hands for free.^1
Founded in 1996 by a group of Christians in Southern California, BLB launched with one simple vision: put the Bible online with a special set of digital tools to accelerate in-depth study, and make it all free. The name? Simply because all the Bible verse links were blue.^2 Thirty years later, that modest project has grown into one of the most comprehensive free Bible study platforms on the internet, serving over 40 million users annually across its website and mobile apps.^2
What makes Blue Letter Bible distinctive is the depth woven into every verse. Each passage links directly to Hebrew and Greek lexicons (including Strong's), an inline interlinear, cross-references via the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, and over 8,000 text commentaries from more than 40 authors — including Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon, David Guzik, and John MacArthur.^3 You can run concordance searches, browse Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias, view maps and timelines, and study parallel translations across more than 30 Bible versions (KJV, NKJV, ESV, NIV, NLT, NASB, CSB, and many more).^1 The free NIV and NKJV mobile downloads, added in 2025 through partnerships with Biblica and Thomas Nelson, make offline study even more accessible.^4
BLB was co-founded by Jim Milligan and Frank Rabinovitch and originally operated under Sowing Circle, a Christian ministry dedicated to spreading the Gospel. In 2015, BLB became its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit, funded primarily through individual donations.^6 The ministry holds to the historical, conservative Christian faith and affirms the inerrancy of Scripture, while featuring resources from a broad range of evangelical traditions.^7 BLB also runs the Blue Letter Bible Institute (study.bible), offering free video courses in partnership with Lancaster Bible College — courses that can even count toward an undergraduate degree.^2
Why Christians Love Blue Letter Bible: "This app is great!!! It has highlighters that one can use and you don't have to pay to use the multiple colors. You can also bookmark your page to know where you are in terms of reading. Plus, the ability to download other versions of the Bible for free is absolutely great!"^3 Another user wrote, "One of the best Bible study tools out there. I use it on my laptop regularly and it's really convenient to have it on my phone as well. I really enjoy all the study tools available. You have access to commentary, interlinear translation, parallel translations if you want to see the different translations side by side. Seriously, if you love the Word of God I cannot recommend this app enough. This app has been absolutely foundational to my study."^3 On Reddit, one believer shared: "It is not the best [looking], but it is free and has lots of good content, especially interlinears. Plus, it's something you can teach others to use."^8
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web Pricing: Free
