How do you get a newly translated Bible into the hands of people who need it — especially in communities with limited internet, complex scripts, or oral traditions? Scripture App Builder (SAB), a free desktop tool from SIL Global, lets Bible translators, church leaders, and missionaries create fully customized Android and iOS Scripture apps without writing a single line of code.^1
SAB takes raw Paratext translation files and packages them into polished mobile apps complete with synchronized audio that highlights each verse as it is read aloud — a powerful feature for communities still learning to read in their own language.^2 App creators control everything: fonts, colors, icons, splash screens, and even right-to-left script support. Apps can include glossaries, song books, picture story books, Bible study questions, verse-of-the-day notifications, reading plans, and a verse-on-image editor for sharing on social media.^2 An optional AI Assistant offers guided prompts like "explain this passage" or "suggest ways to apply this to my life," with carefully crafted system prompts to ensure biblically faithful responses — app creators configure the prompts, AI provider, and model themselves.^3
The tool impact is remarkable: over 2,500 apps have been published for 1,960 languages across more than 140 countries, with over 65 million app installs worldwide.^3 Finished apps need no internet connection and can be shared phone-to-phone via Bluetooth or microSD card — critical for reaching remote communities. For broader distribution, apps can be published to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store through SIL Scriptoria service.^4
Why Christians Love It"On the same day that we dedicated the printed copy of the Komba New Testament, we were able to distribute the Komba New Testament app!" — Paul Federwitz, Lutheran Bible Translators^5
"I am very grateful for the app of our culture, the New Testament app. I love this because God gives each ethnic group their culture to value." — Pastor Arcesio, Guahibo People Group^6
"SAB is a must have for anyone wanting to get translated Scripture into the hands of the people." — LingTranSoft reviewer^7
Notable- Built and maintained by SIL Global Language Technology team; Richard Margetts serves as Scripture Engagement consultant and team member based in West Africa^1^3
- Free to download and use — part of SIL suite alongside Dictionary App Builder and Reading App Builder^1
- Active release cadence: 7 releases from July 2025 through February 2026 (v13.0–v13.4), including enhanced contents menus with carousel/grid layouts, onboarding screens for new users, and AI Assistant support for GPT-5, Claude, and Gemini models^8
- Used by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Faith Comes By Hearing, Biblica, and dozens of Bible translation organizations worldwide^9
- Integrates with Paratext (the industry-standard Bible translation tool) and the Digital Bible Library^2
- Can also export Scripture as EPUB e-books with read-aloud synchronization^2
- Android apps now comply with Google Play 16KB page size requirements for next-generation devices^8
