BibleTime Review, Pricing & Features

BibleTime is a free, open-source Bible study app built on the SWORD Project. Access 200+ texts on Linux, Windows, and macOS.

Category
Online Learning
Pricing
open-source, from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2006
Open Source

What Is BibleTime

BibleTime is a free, open-source Bible study application built in C++ with the Qt GUI toolkit. Its development dates back to at least 2006, and it remains one of the primary desktop front ends for the CrossWire Bible Society's SWORD Project.

Rather than shipping its own proprietary text library, BibleTime uses the SWORD library to access a shared collection of more than 200 free Bible texts, commentaries, dictionaries, and books covering more than 50 languages, maintained by CrossWire and affiliated Bible societies.

The application is licensed under the GNU General Public License and is available for Linux, Windows, macOS, and FreeBSD, maintained by a community of volunteer developers rather than a commercial company.

Key Features

BibleTime lets users open multiple Bible translations, commentaries, and reference books side by side for comparative study, and includes full-text search across all installed modules to locate verses, terms, or topics quickly.

Users can write and save personal notes and highlights directly within the application, and print or export study material as needed.

A built-in module manager connects to CrossWire's repositories, letting users browse, download, and install additional Bible texts, commentaries, and dictionaries directly from within BibleTime.

Pricing

BibleTime is completely free to download and use, consistent with the CrossWire Bible Society's mission of providing free, open-source Bible software.

There are no subscription fees, in-app purchases, or paid tiers; the application and the vast majority of texts distributed through the SWORD module system are free.

Because BibleTime is open source under the GPL, its source code can also be freely inspected, modified, and redistributed by anyone.

Key Features

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Completely free with no ads or subscription requirements
  • Large open library of Bible texts, commentaries, and dictionaries
  • Works fully offline once modules are downloaded
  • Actively maintained by the CrossWire open-source community
  • Available on Linux, Windows, and macOS
  • No account creation or sign-in required

Cons

  • Interface feels dated compared to modern commercial Bible apps
  • No official BibleTime mobile app, though other SWORD front ends exist for mobile
  • Module installation and management can be confusing for new users
  • Available texts depend on what CrossWire and partner societies have digitized
  • Development pace is slower than well-funded commercial Bible software

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BibleTime free?

Yes. BibleTime is free, open-source software with no subscription fees or paid tiers.

What is the SWORD Project?

The SWORD Project is the CrossWire Bible Society's open-source library that provides access, search, and utility functions for a large collection of digitized Bible texts, which BibleTime uses as its content engine.

How do I add more Bible translations to BibleTime?

BibleTime includes a built-in module manager that lets users browse and download additional texts, commentaries, and dictionaries from CrossWire's repositories.

Does BibleTime work offline?

Yes. Once the desired SWORD modules are downloaded, BibleTime can be used fully offline.

Is there a BibleTime app for iPhone or Android?

BibleTime itself is a desktop application for Linux, Windows, and macOS; other SWORD Project front ends are built separately for mobile platforms.

What license does BibleTime use?

BibleTime is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), consistent with the SWORD Project's open-source licensing.

Is BibleTime open source?

Yes. Its source code is publicly hosted on GitHub under the BibleTime organization and licensed under the GPL.

How many texts does BibleTime give access to?

Through the SWORD library, BibleTime provides access to more than 200 free texts covering more than 50 languages, including Bibles, commentaries, and dictionaries.

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