Free Dwell alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

6 of the 6 Dwell alternatives we track can be used for free (free, open source, or with a free plan). YouVersion Bible App, Bible Gateway and Olive Tree Bible App rank highest, with facts last verified Nov 8, 2026.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Verified price	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	YouVersion Bible App	Free	—	No	iOS, Android, Web	4 of 4	68.8
2	Bible Gateway	Free plan + paid	$6.99 a month (Plus, billed monthly)	No	Web, iOS, Android	8 of 8	64.8
3	OlOlive Tree Bible App	Free plan + paid	—	No	iOS, Android, macOS +1	5 of 5	61.8
4	BibleProject	Free	—	No	Web, iOS, Android	5 of 5	59.4
5	Abide	Free plan + paid	$39.99/year	No	iOS, Android	4 of 4	52.6
6	Hallow	Free plan + paid	$9.99/month or $69.99/year (US)	No	iOS, Android, Web	5 of 5	50.0

1. YouVersion Bible AppTop pick
Best for: Everyday readers and church groups who want a free Bible with plans, audio and offline reading
FreeiOS, Android, Web
68.8
score / 100
Why switch from Dwell
Free, with audio recordings for many translations plus reading plans, so listening costs nothing.
Pros
Completely free with no ads or paid tier
Very wide choice of translations and languages
Reading plans, prayers and shared plans with friends
Offline reading and audio Bibles
Cons
Few in-depth study tools such as commentaries or Greek and Hebrew lookups
Requires an account for syncing notes and social features
Plans and content lean toward a devotional, evangelical style
Visit YouVersion Bible App Compare with Dwell Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is YouVersion Bible App a good Dwell alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Price
Free
Checked Nov 8, 2026youversion.com(opens source in a new tab)
Bible versions
3,500 versions in 2,300 languages
Checked Nov 8, 2026youversion.com(opens source in a new tab)
Offline mode
Yes
Checked Nov 8, 2026youversion.com(opens source in a new tab)
Installs
700 million+
Checked Nov 8, 2026youversion.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Bible Gateway
Best for: Readers who want fast passage search and translation comparison, with optional commentaries
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
64.8
score / 100
Why switch from Dwell
Free website and app with audio Bibles in several translations and dramatized readings alongside the text.
Pros
Fast search and side-by-side comparison across many translations
Includes many modern English versions
Plus adds 70+ commentaries and study resources for a monthly fee
Audio Bibles and reading plans in the free tier
Cons
Free site and app show ads
The study library requires an ongoing subscription rather than a one-time purchase
Fewer languages than YouVersion
Visit Bible Gateway Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Bible Gateway a good Dwell alternative?
Verified facts
8 of 8 verified
Translations
200+
Checked Nov 8, 2026biblegateway.com(opens source in a new tab)
Plus (monthly)
$6.99 per month
Checked Nov 8, 2026biblegateway.com(opens source in a new tab)
Plus (yearly)
$69.99 per year
Checked Nov 8, 2026biblegateway.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
7 days
Checked Nov 8, 2026biblegateway.com(opens source in a new tab)
Plus library
70+ premium resources
Checked Nov 8, 2026biblegateway.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
$6.99 a month (Plus, billed monthly)
Checked Nov 8, 2026biblegateway.com(opens source in a new tab)
Plus yearly plan
$69.99 a year ($5.83 a month)
Checked Nov 8, 2026biblegateway.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free plan
Yes, free account
Checked Nov 8, 2026biblegateway.com(opens source in a new tab)
Ol
3. Olive Tree Bible App
Best for: Pastors, teachers and serious readers who want commentaries and word study offline on every device
Free plan + paidiOS, Android, macOS, Windows
61.8
score / 100
Why switch from Dwell
Bible reader where audio Bibles sit next to study notes and commentaries you can buy one by one.
Pros
Resource Guide shows related commentary for the passage you are reading
Full offline use once books are downloaded
Strong's, interlinear and parsed Greek and Hebrew texts
Purchased books stay in your account across devices
Cons
Most commentaries and study Bibles are paid add-ons
Store-centric layout can feel busy for casual readers
No web app; you need to install it
Visit Olive Tree Bible App Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Olive Tree Bible App a good Dwell alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Platforms
iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
Checked Nov 8, 2026olivetree.com(opens source in a new tab)
Offline mode
Yes
Checked Nov 8, 2026olivetree.com(opens source in a new tab)
Library size
35,000+ books
Checked Nov 8, 2026olivetree.com(opens source in a new tab)
Bible translations
100+
Checked Nov 8, 2026olivetree.com(opens source in a new tab)
In business since
1998
Checked Nov 8, 2026olivetree.com(opens source in a new tab)
4. BibleProject
Best for: New readers, students and small groups who learn better from video and podcasts than from commentaries
FreeWeb, iOS, Android
59.4
score / 100
Why switch from Dwell
Free videos, podcasts and reading plans that explain each book, for listeners who want context rather than just narration.
Pros
Everything is free with no ads or paywall
High-quality animated overviews of every book of the Bible
App keeps videos, podcasts, classes and progress in one place
Cons
App is English-only for now
No commentaries, original-language tools or personal notes
Not optimised for tablets
Visit BibleProject Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is BibleProject a good Dwell alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Price
Free
Checked Nov 8, 2026bibleproject.com(opens source in a new tab)
App platforms
iOS 15.5+, Android 8+
Checked Nov 8, 2026bibleproject.com(opens source in a new tab)
App language
English only
Checked Nov 8, 2026bibleproject.com(opens source in a new tab)
Organisation
Nonprofit, crowdfunded
Checked Nov 8, 2026bibleproject.com(opens source in a new tab)
First videos
2014
Checked Nov 8, 2026bibleproject.com(opens source in a new tab)
5. Abide
Best for: Christians who want Scripture-based meditation and bedtime stories instead of secular mindfulness
Free plan + paidiOS, Android
52.6
score / 100
Why switch from Dwell
Includes a free full audio Bible alongside Christian meditations and sleep stories.
Pros
Biblical sleep stories for winding down at night
Free full audio Bible and reading plans
Content grouped by needs like anxiety, grief and stress
Cons
Most meditations and sleep stories need Premium
No study tools beyond reading plans
Mobile only
Visit Abide Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.346
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Abide a good Dwell alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Free trial
7 days
Checked Nov 8, 2026abide.co(opens source in a new tab)
Yearly price
$39.99/year
Checked Nov 8, 2026abide.co(opens source in a new tab)
Owner
Guideposts
Checked Nov 8, 2026abide.co(opens source in a new tab)
Free content
Audio Bible and reading plans
Checked Nov 8, 2026abide.co(opens source in a new tab)
6. Hallow
Best for: Catholics and Christians who want guided daily prayer, Scripture and faith-based meditation
Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web
50.0
score / 100
Why switch from Dwell
Prayer app with narrated daily Scripture and Bible-in-a-year audio, aimed at Catholic listeners.
Pros
Large library of guided Catholic prayers and Bible content
Free version includes Bible in a Year and the daily Rosary
Parish and school community features
Family plan covers up to six people
Cons
Much of the library sits behind a paid subscription
Content is centred on Catholic tradition, less suited to other faiths or secular users
Subscriptions auto-renew after the trial unless cancelled
Visit Hallow Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.338
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Hallow a good Dwell alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Free plan
Yes, hundreds of sessions
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.hallow.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
$9.99/month or $69.99/year (US)
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.hallow.com(opens source in a new tab)
Family plan
$119.99/year for up to 6 members
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.hallow.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
Yes, on individual plans
Checked Nov 8, 2026help.hallow.com(opens source in a new tab)
Launched
End of 2018
Checked Nov 8, 2026hallow.com(opens source in a new tab)

Quick comparison

1. YouVersion Bible AppTop pick

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

2. Bible Gateway

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

3. Olive Tree Bible App

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

4. BibleProject

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

5. Abide

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

6. Hallow

Pros

Cons

Verified facts