Apps for listening to the Bible in audio: the Word narrated on your cell phone.
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Traffic is at a standstill. The dishes are in the sink. Sleep just won't come. These are three moments when the Bible doesn't fit in your hand, but fits perfectly in your ear. All it takes is headphones and an app to transform your commute into a chapter of Psalms and insomnia into a Gospel narrated from beginning to end.
Listening to the Bible via audio has become a habit for millions of people, from all churches and on every continent. In this guide, you'll see the best apps for listening to the Bible via audio, how to start the first chapter, and how to fit the Word into your routine without interrupting your day.
Bible (YouVersion): the most popular Bible app on the planet.
The YouVersion Bible app is the go-to app for mobile Bible reading. On Google Play, it has over 100 million downloads and a 4.9 rating, with more than 9 million reviews. On the App Store, it also has a 4.9 rating.
- Narrated Bible: Many versions have full audio. You tap the audio icon and listen to the entire chapter, with a narrator's voice.
- Hundreds of languages: Portuguese, Spanish, English, and a huge list of other languages, each with multiple translations.
- Reading plans: Short segments each day, covering topics such as anxiety, family, and faith, which you can also listen to.
- Verse of the day: A fresh passage every morning, ready to share.
- Free: The app is free and has no ads.
How to listen to the Bible in audio format using the Bible app.
- Install the app using the button at the top of this page, on Google Play, or on the App Store.
- Open the tab Bible Tap the version name at the top of the screen to choose the translation. If the audio icon doesn't appear in the chapter, switch to another version in the same language.
- Choose the book and chapter. To begin, Psalm 23 and the Gospel of John are excellent entry points.
- Tap the audio icon, the speaker at the top of the chapter. The player will appear at the bottom of the screen.
- Use the controls to pause, rewind, or advance to the next chapter.
- Create a free account to save your progress, highlights, and plans that you start.
Bible.is: the dramatized Bible, with voices and soundtrack.
Bible.is is the app from Faith Comes By Hearing, an organization dedicated to recording the Bible in audio. In many recordings, each character has their own voice, with soundtrack and effects: the crossing of the Red Sea becomes a scene, not a reading. The app has a 4.5 rating on Google Play, more than 5 million downloads, and a 4.8 rating on the American App Store.
- A huge list of languages, including languages that almost no other app has.
- Text and audio together: Follow along with the reading while you listen.
- Free: Access to the recordings is free.
Hallow: Audio Bible and guided prayer for Catholics
Hallow brings together Bible readings, guided rosaries, meditations, and narrated prayers, all designed for Catholics who want to pray using their cell phones. It has a 4.8 rating on Google Play, over 10 million downloads, and a 4.9 rating on the Brazilian App Store. Some content is free, and the rest is available by subscription, with a trial period to try it out.
The Bible narrated through music apps.
If you already use Spotify, Deezer, or YouTube Music, the audio Bible may be just a search away. Type "narrated Bible" or "audio Bible" and podcasts and albums with entire books read aloud will appear. Follow the program and new episodes will automatically arrive in your library.
How to fit the audio Bible into your routine
- One chapter per journey: Most chapters are only a few minutes long. The commute to work is enough for a short book to read in just a few days.
- Before going to sleep: On your iPhone, open the Clock app, go to Timer, tap on Upon Completion and choose Stop Playback. The narration stops on its own when the time runs out.
- Annual plan: Choose a Bible reading plan for a year and listen to that portion of the day while doing another task.
- In the family: Connect your phone to a speaker and listen to a chapter together with the children before bedtime.
Which app to choose?
| Application | Best for | Note on Google Play | Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bible (YouVersion) | Listen in multiple versions and languages, with reading plans. | 4,9 | 100 mi+ |
| Bible.is | Dramatized Bible, with voices and soundtrack. | 4,5 | 5 mi+ |
| Hallow | Catholics: Readings, Rosary, and Guided Prayer | 4,8 | 10 mi+ |
To get started today, try the Bible app: it's free, ad-free, and puts the Word narrated in your ear in just two taps. Install it using the button at the top of this page and start playing the first chapter today.
