Rank #29 of 37
BibleTime review
Sources checked 2026-08-30. We did not test the app on a device.
At a glance
Best for open-source desktop bible study with sword modules and a real android companion
BibleTime is a free open-source Bible study app built on SWORD. Its main app runs on Linux, BSD, Windows, and Mac. BibleTime Mobile adds Android support. Local files and module control aid offline study, but setup, sync, and phone reach lag behind the leading apps.
Key facts
- Editorial rank
- #29 of 37
- Editorial score
- 65.3/100
- Developer
- BibleTime contributors / Gary Holmlund for BibleTime Mobile
- Price model
- Free and open source
- Evidence date
- 2026-08-30
Quick read
BibleTime in plain English
BibleTime is a free open-source Bible study app built on SWORD. Its main app runs on Linux, BSD, Windows, and Mac. BibleTime Mobile adds an Android app through the Google Play store. Users add Bibles, study books, and word books from module sources. Once saved, those files give the user strong local control. The Bookshelf Manager helps find, add, update, and remove modules. That setup takes more work than in simple phone apps.
Desktop study is stronger than its daily phone habit tools. No iPhone, iPad, or cloud note sync appears in current pages. No AI or broad guided sound system forms part of the offer. The app sells no plan and has no ad-led book feed. Its open code and local files support a clean privacy model. BibleTime ranks twenty-ninth because its setup and phone reach are limited. It best fits users who know classic open-source study tools.
Original synthesis
Who should choose BibleTime?
BibleTime is worth covering because it is one of the more credible open-source desktop Bible study options still active in 2026. It ranks low in the general table not because it lacks seriousness, but because mainstream readers usually need easier onboarding, better sync, and stronger mobile parity than BibleTime currently documents.
What the sources show
- Free and open source remains a major advantage for inspectable local study.
- Linux, Windows, macOS, and Android coverage is good for an open-source project.
- The SWORD module ecosystem brings many Bibles, commentaries, and dictionaries.
- Core use does not depend on ads, subscriptions, or a large cloud account.
Limits to know first
- No iPhone or iPad route is documented in the current project records.
- The interface and setup flow are much more technical than mainstream consumer apps.
- There is no major sync, community, habit, or AI story.
- The Android companion is useful, but the desktop-first DNA still dominates.
Plain definitions
Three terms in this review
Open source means software whose source code is publicly inspectable and reusable under its license.
SWORD module means a Bible or reference package built for software using the CrossWire SWORD engine.
Local-first study means a workflow where the main reading and research tasks stay on the device after setup.
For example, a reader can install BibleTime on Linux, Windows, or Mac, use the Bookshelf Manager to add SWORD modules, search the text and reference works locally, and then use BibleTime Mobile on Android for a smaller companion experience. That is a legitimate open-source workflow. The official sources do not document a similar Apple-mobile route or a broad cloud-sync layer.
Original scoring data
Why BibleTime scores 65.3/100
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and translations | 15% | 8/10 | 12.0 points |
| Cross-platform and sync | 15% | 7/10 | 10.5 points |
| Study, search, and notes | 15% | 8.2/10 | 12.3 points |
| Offline text and audio | 15% | 8.5/10 | 12.8 points |
| AI usefulness and citations | 10% | 0/10 | 0.0 points |
| Plans, habits, and community | 10% | 4.8/10 | 4.8 points |
| Usability and accessibility | 10% | 6.7/10 | 6.7 points |
| Price, privacy, support, and updates | 10% | 6.2/10 | 6.2 points |
| Total | 100% | 65.3/100 |
Score note. Initial 2026 baseline. Current records support desktop coverage, the Android companion, and local open-source study strengths. The score stays low because iOS, sync, AI, and consumer polish are missing. See how we score each app.
Reading and translations
What the reader and catalog cover
BibleTime inherits reading breadth from the SWORD ecosystem rather than from a single publisher catalog. That means readers can build a substantial local library. It also means setup is less immediate than with mainstream apps that surface everything through one cloud picker.
Proof for this section: BibleTime project home. Checked 2026-08-30.
- Open-source desktop Bible study
- SWORD modules for Bibles and reference works
- Bookshelf manager and search tools
- Android mobile companion
- Local offline workflow
Study, search, and AI
Study tools and proof
Study is the core value. BibleTime is a real desktop research tool with modules, search, and reference management. It is not a chat layer or a habit feed. Users willing to work in a classic open-source environment get more depth than the small public profile might suggest.
Proof for this section: BibleTime handbook. Checked 2026-08-30.
Audio and offline use
What works with no internet
Offline use is a major strength because BibleTime is fundamentally installed local software. Audio is not what makes the product important, so it scores on local study rather than on polished listening.
Proof for this section: BibleTime releases. Checked 2026-08-30.
Documented limitations
- No iOS support in the reviewed August 2026 records.
- No cloud sync or guided habit system.
- No AI or polished mobile-first onboarding.
- Best suited to motivated desktop study users.
Devices and continuity
Device support and sync
BibleTime covers Linux, Windows, macOS, and Android. That is respectable. The main gap is Apple mobile support plus the kind of note and progress sync that mainstream readers now expect. This remains a desktop-first ecosystem.
Cost and privacy
Cost and data use
BibleTime avoids the usual commercial tradeoffs because the software is free and open source. The cost is paid in setup complexity and smaller support expectations rather than in subscriptions or aggressive data collection. For some readers that trade is excellent.
The computer app is free and open source. BibleTime Mobile is also free in the Google Play store.
BibleTime has one of the cleaner privacy positions in the whole catalogue because the desktop program is open source, local, and built around downloadable modules rather than around a monetized account graph. The trade is usability. What users gain in control, they often lose in onboarding simplicity and modern cross-device continuity.
Two different numbers
Our score and the store score
Our 65.3/100 score comes from our public rules and the proof on this page. A store score comes from users in one store and country. For example, Google Play may show a new score when more people vote. Scores may also vary by country or device. We do not use store scores in our own score.
Source record
Official evidence checked on 2026-08-30
Every changing product claim in this review is bounded by the records below. Store descriptions and privacy labels are publisher declarations. They prove what was published, not how every device behaves.
- BibleTime project homeBibleTime · official product page
Open-source positioning, desktop platforms, SWORD use, and downloads
Open source - BibleTime handbookBibleTime · official help page
Bookshelf manager, search, and usage documentation
Open source - BibleTime releasesBibleTime · official product page
Current release history and packaged builds
Open source - BibleTime Mobile on Google PlayGoogle · official store listing
Android companion, rating snapshot, and current listing evidence
Open source - The SWORD ProjectCrossWire Bible Society · official product page
Underlying module ecosystem and study-engine context
Open source
Next step
Check the current listing before you install
Prices, ratings, privacy labels, device support, and release notes can change after our evidence date.