Rank #30 of 37
e-Sword review
Sources checked 2026-08-30. We did not test the app on a device.
At a glance
Best for low-cost, local bible study with classic reference modules
e-Sword is an old and well-known PC Bible study app, with phone and Mac apps sold on their own. It has Bibles, study notes, word books, Strong's numbers, side-by-side views, search, and notes. Low prices and offline use are strengths, but cloud sync is not.
Key facts
- Editorial rank
- #30 of 37
- Editorial score
- 63.9/100
- Developer
- Rick Meyers
- Price model
- Windows free; other platform editions sold separately
- Evidence date
- 2026-08-30
Quick read
e-Sword in plain English
e-Sword keeps Bible study books on the user's own device. The Windows app is free, while Mac and phone apps cost money. Each device type has its own price and store sale. Bibles, study notes, word books, and Strong's tools work offline. Search, side-by-side text, notes, and linked panes aid desk study. The iPhone page says the app needs no web link. Private notes can stay local since no cloud account is needed.
The pages do not prove note sync across different devices. Linked panes on one screen are not the same as cloud sync. No AI chat or plain-word search tool appears in the pages. The screen and sales model differ on each type of device. Low one-time prices help users who need more than Windows. e-Sword ranks twenty-third in the broad app list. It still suits low-cost, private, and offline Bible study.
Original synthesis
Who should choose e-Sword?
e-Sword remains useful because it is inexpensive, offline, and serious about reference material. Its overall position reflects separately purchased apps and a lack of modern sync, audio breadth, plans, and AI. Privacy-minded Windows readers may rank it much higher.
What the sources show
- The Windows edition is free and the paid mobile editions have low one-time prices.
- Bibles, commentaries, dictionaries, lexicons, Strong's data, and parallel search form a capable local workstation.
- The iPhone listing explicitly says no internet connection is required.
- Store privacy labels state that the app does not collect data.
Limits to know first
- Each operating system is a separate product and purchase.
- No proven cloud system keeps notes synchronized across devices.
- The word synchronization in product material often refers to aligned Bible and commentary panels, not account sync.
- No AI, web app, Linux edition, wearable, television, or car interface is documented.
Plain definitions
Three terms in this review
Local-first study means reading and research that run mainly from resources stored on the device rather than a continuous cloud service.
Reference module means an installable Bible, commentary, dictionary, lexicon, map set, or devotional formatted for the software.
Panel synchronization means keeping a commentary or dictionary aligned with the verse open in another panel. It is not cloud synchronization between devices.
For example, a Windows reader can install e-Sword, open a Bible beside a commentary and dictionary, inspect Strong's entries, search the library, and write notes without staying online. Buying the iPhone edition later does not prove those notes will appear there automatically.
Original scoring data
Why e-Sword scores 63.9/100
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and translations | 15% | 7.7/10 | 11.6 points |
| Cross-platform and sync | 15% | 6.8/10 | 10.2 points |
| Study, search, and notes | 15% | 8.8/10 | 13.2 points |
| Offline text and audio | 15% | 6.5/10 | 9.8 points |
| AI usefulness and citations | 10% | 0/10 | 0.0 points |
| Plans, habits, and community | 10% | 3.5/10 | 3.5 points |
| Usability and accessibility | 10% | 6.5/10 | 6.5 points |
| Price, privacy, support, and updates | 10% | 9.2/10 | 9.2 points |
| Total | 100% | 63.9/100 |
Score note. Initial 2026 baseline. Privacy and low one-time cost earn strong credit. Platform fragmentation and the absence of verified cross-device sync materially reduce the total. See how we score each app.
Reading and translations
What the reader and catalog cover
e-Sword works through modules. Readers install Bibles and reference books allowed by each publisher, then use search and parallel views locally. The choice can be broad, but it is less immediate than opening a cloud catalogue with thousands of licensed editions.
Proof for this section: e-Sword official website. Checked 2026-08-30.
- Bibles, commentaries, dictionaries, and lexicons
- Strong's numbers, search, and parallel views
- Study notes, topic notes, and journals
- Local offline use
- Separate Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android editions
Study, search, and AI
Study tools and proof
Commentaries, dictionaries, lexicons, Strong's numbers, topic notes, journals, and aligned panels make this a real study tool. The interface comes from a desktop-software tradition. Readers willing to learn it get more depth than the low price suggests.
Proof for this section: e-Sword LT on the App Store. Checked 2026-08-30.
Audio and offline use
What works with no internet
Offline text and reference work are excellent. The iPhone listing explicitly says no connection is required. Audio, video, guided plans, and streaming content are not the reason to choose e-Sword, so it loses ground in a broad consumer comparison.
Proof for this section: e-Sword HD on the App Store. Checked 2026-08-30.
Documented limitations
- Separate purchases and interfaces by platform.
- No documented cross-device note sync.
- Resource installation and management can feel technical.
- No AI or broad multimedia plan system.
Devices and continuity
Device support and sync
Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android each have a product. Prices and interfaces are separate. Official descriptions use synchronization for linked panes, but the reviewed pages make no dependable claim that personal notes stay synchronized through a cloud account.
Cost and privacy
Cost and data use
The Windows edition is free, and other editions use small one-time prices. Buying every platform costs more and still does not create one unified cloud service. Local operation and no-data-collected store labels make e-Sword the privacy winner in this initial group.
Published storefront prices were about $9.99 for Mac, $5.99 for iPad, $3.99 for iPhone, and $2.99 for Android when checked. Each platform is a separate purchase.
The mobile storefront labels say the app does not collect data, and its local-first design limits the need for an account. That is a clear advantage for private notes. Separate resource downloads and platform stores still have their own data practices.
Two different numbers
Our score and the store score
Our 63.9/100 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.
We did not save a store score for this app. Use the links above to see its score now. This does not change our 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.
- e-Sword official websitee-Sword · official product page
Windows product, modules, study features, offline design, and platform links
Open source - e-Sword LT on the App StoreApple · official store listing
iPhone price, offline use, functions, and privacy label
Open source - e-Sword HD on the App StoreApple · official store listing
iPad price, functions, and privacy label
Open source - e-Sword X on the Mac App StoreApple · official store listing
Mac price, functions, and privacy label
Open source - e-Sword on Google PlayGoogle · official store listing
Android price, functions, offline model, and data-safety panel
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.