e-Sword
e-Sword is a free, multi-platform Bible study application (Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android) developed by individual developer Rick Meyers since circa 2000, serving individual Christians worldwide with Bible translations, commentaries, search, study-note tools, and third-party premium modules.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- Headquarters—
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What e-Sword does
e-Sword is a free, multi-platform Bible study application developed and owned by Rick Meyers as an individual software project, with copyright held personally since its launch circa 2000. The product suite comprises five apps: the flagship Windows PC application (e-Sword), e-Sword X for macOS, e-Sword HD for iPad, e-Sword LT for iPhone, and e-Sword for Android. Core capabilities include parallel Bible viewing, Strong's number tooltips with Hebrew/Greek definitions, verse-by-verse translation comparison, a Gospel Harmony view, geographic location maps for biblical places, a WYSIWYG integrated editor for sermons and study notes, customizable search with Regular Expression support, an audio Bible reader, and a Scripture Memory feature built on retention algorithms. A Module Conversion Utility allows PC resource modules to be ported to mobile versions, and cross-device cloud synchronization backs up user notes, bookmarks, highlights, and preferences across all platforms.
The business model is unusual: the application is offered free of charge and the developer operates it explicitly as a ministry, accepting voluntary user contributions (with the disclosure that these are not tax-deductible) and noting that less than 1% of downloaders return to contribute. The primary commercial monetization runs through third-party publishers — most prominently eStudySource as the exclusive distribution partner — who sell premium locked modules (Bibles, commentaries, dictionaries, lexicons) unlocked by product keys within the e-Sword apps. Premium module keys purchased for any e-Sword version work across all other versions at no additional cost, reinforcing cross-platform usage. Distribution is multi-channel: direct website download for PC, Apple App Store for iOS/macOS, and Google Play for Android, with the mobile stores also supporting in-app module purchases. e-Sword reports downloads across 235 countries and territories, positioning itself as the world's most popular PC Bible study software, and the customer base consists entirely of individual Christian users (clergy, laypeople, students) using the tool for personal devotion, sermon preparation, teaching, journaling, and Scripture memorization.
e-Sword firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- e-Sword
- Legal name
- Rick Meyers (Individual Developer)
- Website
- https://e-sword.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- e-Sword is a free, multi-platform Bible study application (Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android) developed by individual developer Rick Meyers since circa 2000, serving individual Christians worldwide with Bible translations, commentaries, search, study-note tools, and third-party premium modules.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
e-Sword industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bible Study Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Religious Reference & Study Tools Publishing (Commentaries, Concordances, Lexicons) (MPAJAHAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sacred Texts & Scripture Publishing (Bibles, Qur’ans, Vedas, Torah, Sutras) (MPAJAHAA), Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC)
Keywords
e-Sword business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: The primary revenue model is voluntary contributions from users. The developer notes that less than 1% of people who download e-Sword return to contribute financially. Donations are described as a ministry support rather than a commercial transaction and are explicitly stated as not tax deductible.
- Premium Module Sales: Third-party publishers sell premium locked modules (Bibles, commentaries, dictionaries) with product keys that unlock content in e-Sword. Users who previously purchased modules for any e-Sword app can use them at no additional cost in other e-Sword versions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free tier - core application and basic resources |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
e-Sword product offering
Product offeringCore offering
e-Sword is a free, feature-rich Bible study application suite available across PC (Windows), Android, Mac, iPad, and iPhone. It provides access to multiple Bible translations, commentaries, dictionaries, and lexicons, with integrated search (including Strong's numbers and REGEX), parallel Bible viewing, Gospel Harmony, location maps, an integrated editor for sermons and study notes, audio Bible playback, Scripture memory tools, and cross-device synchronization of user content. Premium third-party modules (Bibles, commentaries, dictionaries) are sold separately through eStudySource with product key activation.
Product overview
e-Sword is a suite of free Bible study applications available across multiple platforms: PC (Windows), Android, Mac, iPad, and iPhone. The core product is the PC version (e-Sword), with companion mobile apps for Android (e-Sword), Mac (e-Sword X), iPad (e-Sword HD), and iPhone (e-Sword LT). The software provides access to Bibles, commentaries, dictionaries, lexicons, and reference books. Key features include parallel Bible viewing, Strong's definitions, Bible comparison, powerful search capabilities with Regular Expressions, Gospel Harmony, location maps, integrated editor for creating sermons and study notes, Scripture memory tools, and audio Bible playback. The mobile apps support offline functionality after downloading resources, with cloud backup capabilities for user files across devices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- e-Sword LT: Bible Study app for iPhone - the little brother of e-Sword HD, designed with many powerful features in a slimmer design for the iPhone.
- e-Sword HD
- e-Sword X
Products and services
- e-Sword (PC) Free Bible study software for Windows PCs, providing access to multiple Bible translations, commentaries, dictionaries, and lexicons in a single integrated application with parallel Bible viewing, Strong's number Hebrew/Greek tooltips, powerful search (including Strong number search), integrated WYSIWYG editor with spell checking and thesaurus, and reference library features.
- e-Sword (Android) Bible study application for Android devices (requiring Android 10 or later), offering offline functionality for downloaded modules, parallel Bible viewing, Gospel Harmony, Strong's Hebrew/Greek definitions, location maps for biblical places, Scripture memory tools, audio Bible playback, and cloud backup/import of user files.
- e-Sword X (Mac) Mac-native Bible study application requiring macOS 11 Big Sur or later, featuring parallel Bible viewing, Bible comparison, Gospel Harmony, Strong's definitions, audio sermons, location maps, and Dark Mode.
- e-Sword HD (iPad) Feature-rich Bible study application for iPad (iPadOS 15.0+) with an integrated editor for creating study notes with images, rich text notes linked to the Bible for popup tooltip viewing, parallel Bible, Gospel Harmony, location maps, reading plans, and formatted emails.
- e-Sword LT (iPhone) Bible study application for iPhone providing a slimmer version of the iPad edition, featuring Strong's definitions, Scripture references, Bible comparison, location maps, tagged verses, reading plans, and formatted emails.
Companies that use e-Sword
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
e-Sword technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature14 records
e-Sword partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- eStudySourcecoreeStudySource is described as the exclusive source for bestselling e-Sword Bibles, commentaries, and more. They serve as the primary distribution channel for premium third-party modules that can be unlocked with product keys within e-Sword applications.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
e-Sword competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
e-Sword financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
e-Sword leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
e-Sword funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
e-Sword M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about e-Sword
What does e-Sword do?
e-Sword is a free, feature-rich Bible study application suite available across PC (Windows), Android, Mac, iPad, and iPhone. It provides access to multiple Bible translations, commentaries, dictionaries, and lexicons, with integrated search (including Strong's numbers and REGEX), parallel Bible viewing, Gospel Harmony, location maps, an integrated editor for sermons and study notes, audio Bible playback, Scripture memory tools, and cross-device synchronization of user content. Premium third-party modules (Bibles, commentaries, dictionaries) are sold separately through eStudySource with product key activation.
Is e-Sword a public or private company?
e-Sword is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was e-Sword founded?
e-Sword was founded in 1996.
How does e-Sword make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are premium Module Sales.
Does e-Sword have an API?
No public API is recorded for e-Sword.
What industry is e-Sword in?
e-Sword's product category is Bible Study Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAHAL, Religious Reference & Study Tools Publishing (Commentaries, Concordances, Lexicons), with a secondary code of MPAJAHAA, Sacred Texts & Scripture Publishing (Bibles, Qur’ans, Vedas, Torah, Sutras). Its NAICS code is 5132.