YouVersion Bible app hits one billion downloads, marks global bible month

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YouVersion, the creator of the world’s most popular Bible app, has reached one billion installs across its family of Bible applications, marking one of the most significant milestones in the history of digital Scripture engagement.

The announcement comes as YouVersion records its highest year of Bible interaction, with global app installs up by more than 12 percent compared to last year, and daily usage rising by 18 percent.

According to the company, users open the YouVersion family of apps one billion times every 39 days, underscoring a growing global appetite for Scripture through technology.

“We are seeing incredible global momentum around Bible engagement, and it’s humbling to be part of what is happening. Every day we hear stories of lives being changed—someone overcoming addiction, marriages being restored, people encountering Scripture in their own language for the first time,” said Bobby Gruenewald, founder and CEO of YouVersion.

Gruenewald, who also serves as a pastor at Life Church in the United States, said this milestone is a celebration of the Bible itself and what happens when people around the world work together to get it into the hands and hearts of more people.

Expanding Reach

Since its launch in 2008, YouVersion has grown to support more than 2,300 languages, including African languages such as Swahili, Afrikaans, Xhosa and Zulu.

In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, YouVersion apps have been installed more than 37.1 million times this year, with 27.7 million of those installs coming from the Bible App Lite — a version tailored for users with limited internet access and lower-end devices.

Through partnerships and localisation, the platform has built a global network of more than 31,000 partners, including over 25,000 churches and 7,224 content partners.

In Africa, YouVersion collaborates with more than 1,150 partners such as Doxa Deo, Christian Art Publishers, Compassion International, ICC Nairobi, Watoto Church, and Soma Biblia.

According to Gruenewald, these partnerships aim to make Scripture more accessible and relevant to diverse communities.

On his part, Joseph Gachira, YouVersion Hub Leader in Kenya, said there is a powerful movement happening across Africa with people deeply engaging with Scripture in their heart language.

“It is exciting to see how lives are being transformed through digital access to Scripture. With offline downloads and data-light features of Bible App Lite, people can connect with God's Word no matter where they are,” Gachira said.

Global Bible Month

To commemorate the one billion milestone, YouVersion said they will lead a worldwide initiative in November dubbed Global Bible Month.

The campaign is designed to encourage daily engagement with Scripture through a 30-Day Bible Challenge, inviting users to read the Bible every day in any format—digital or print.

“As we approach one billion installs, we are joining hands with others to reflect on the Bible’s impact,” the company said, noting partnerships with Glorify, Hallow, and The Bible Project.

Gruenewald added: “In a world where everyone is searching for what is real and true, we have seen one thing consistently transform lives, and that’s daily engagement with Scripture. That's why this November, we are simply inviting people to try something different: read the Bible for 30 days and see what happens. You might just find that the answer you were searching for has been there all along.”

The celebrations will culminate in a major international event at the Paycom Centre in Oklahoma City on November 17.

The gathering will bring together Christian leaders and Bible-centered organisations from across the world. It will feature worship performances by artists including Lauren Daigle, Phil Wickham, and Brooke Ligertwood, and messages from speakers such as Christine Caine and Craig Groeschel.

YouVersion’s Journey

YouVersion’s story began when founder Bobby Gruenewald had an idea while standing in an airport security queue, wondering how technology could help him read the Bible more consistently.

Initially launched as a website, the project gained traction when it became one of the first mobile apps available on Apple’s App Store in 2008, according to the company.

Seventeen years later, the company says the idea has evolved into one of the most downloaded and used mobile applications globally.

“Today, YouVersion offers more than 3,600 Bible translations across 2,300 languages, complete with reading plans, guided prayers, videos, and tools for both individual and group engagement. Additionally, the platform adds over 1,200 pieces of content each month, reflecting its continuous innovation and relevance,” Gachira said.

The YouVersion family includes three main applications: the original Bible App, the Bible App Lite that is designed for users in low-bandwidth areas—and the Bible App for Kids, created in partnership with OneHope to help children engage with Scripture through interactive animations and games.

“Our mission has always been to help people seek God throughout each day,” the company said in a statement, adding, “Technology has simply allowed us to do that at a scale we never imagined.”