- Starting price
- Free · website says all features included
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- iPhone · iPad · Android · Apple-silicon Mac
- Developer
- Concierge Contacts PTY LTD
- Launched
- 2023
- Updated
- Aug 2, 2026
The verdict
Bible Notes has one genuinely useful idea: type a reference during a sermon and let the app insert the passage, then tie the note to a timestamp in the recording. The current official page says the app is free, but older partner language still describes monthly or annual subscriptions and the site says shared-note recipients need a subscription. More important, users report unwanted Auto-Verse changes, offline limitations and lost or inaccessible notes. Do not make it the only home for years of sermons until export, offline access, billing and recovery are demonstrably dependable.
Try Bible Notes ↗Opens biblenotesapp.com
Bible Notes is a mobile notebook designed around church services and personal devotion. Its signature Auto-Verse feature watches for a Bible reference while the user types and inserts the corresponding Scripture passage into the note. It can also record sermon audio, add timestamps that jump back to moments in the recording, organize material by preacher, tags and folders, customize Bible presentation, and create a structured personal devotion around reading, examination, application and prayer.
The idea solves a real interruption. Ordinary note apps force a listener to leave the page, search a Bible app, select the translation, copy a passage and return—or simply write the reference and look it up later. Auto-Verse promises to keep the listener in one workspace. Timestamped audio adds a second safety net: a short typed thought can point back to the part of the sermon that supplied its context. For students and careful sermon listeners, those are useful mechanics rather than decorative Christian branding.
The evidence around the mechanics is not yet reassuring. The exact US App Store rating was about 2.3 from 16 ratings, and Google Play was around 3.2 from 28 reviews. Store reviewers describe Auto-Verse altering notes when they did not want it, loss of formatting options, online dependence at church and an account error that made notes inaccessible after an attempted export. Tiny samples can be noisy, but both platforms are weak enough that a long-term archive should be treated as at risk until personally tested.
This researched review uses the current official website, mobile privacy policy, terms, exact Apple and Google listings, release histories, public store feedback and faith.tools. We did not create an account, record a sermon, obtain speaker permission, compare inserted verses against every translation, test offline mode, purchase or cancel a subscription, share a note, export and restore a library, submit a deletion request, or conduct accessibility, security, privacy or source-code testing.
✓ The good
- Auto-Verse reduces context switching - a typed Scripture reference can become the complete passage inside the note
- Audio-linked timestamps preserve context - users can revisit the exact sermon moment behind a short observation
- Church-oriented organization - preacher names, tags and folders fit sermon archives better than a blank generic notebook
- Personal devotion framework - reading, examination, application and devotion prompts encourage more than passive collection
- Custom Bible display - fonts, colors, highlighting, versions and supported languages provide reading flexibility
- Current free claim - the official pricing section says Bible Notes is free and lists the core feature set without a paid tier
✗ Watch out
- Very weak store results - about 2.3 on iOS and 3.2 on Android are material warnings even with small samples
- Archive reliability concerns - a reviewer reported an export error, forced sign-out and inability to fetch the account containing notes
- Auto-Verse can become intrusive - users report distorted notes and want a clear option to disable automatic insertion
- Offline behavior appears limited - at least one recent reviewer says existing notes were unavailable in church without internet
- Pricing language conflicts - the homepage says free while sharing and partner pages still refer to subscribers and monthly or yearly service
- Broad privacy posture - the policy allows collection of contact, personal-affairs, financial, survey and support information beyond the smallest note app footprint
Best for
- Sermon listeners who want to test rapid Scripture insertion without migrating their master archive
- Bible-study participants willing to maintain a separate export or backup after each important session
- Users who have permission to record and value audio-linked timestamps more than offline-first storage
- People prepared to verify the inserted translation and manually correct Auto-Verse output
Avoid if
- Your notes must remain available offline, portable, encrypted end to end or recoverable without the vendor account
- You cannot risk losing pastoral, academic, counseling or years-long study records
- You need transparent current subscription, cancellation, export, deletion and retention documentation before signup
- You record services where the church, speaker, attendees or local law have not granted permission
What Bible Notes is
Bible Notes combines a Bible reader, a structured note editor and an audio recorder. During a sermon, the user can type a reference such as John 3:16 and have the verse inserted automatically. Recording timestamps associate notes with positions in the audio. Preacher fields, folders and tags organize the archive, while sharing turns a finished note into a link for other users.
The app is not a commentary library or original-language research environment. Its value is capture: getting the passage, spoken context and personal application into one record while the service is happening. That also makes reliable storage, export and offline access core product requirements. If those fail, the very integration that creates convenience concentrates the user’s risk.
Why sermon note-takers may prefer Bible Notes to a blank document
A blank note app is flexible but does not understand biblical references or sermon time. Bible Notes can transform a reference into readable Scripture and a timestamp into a replay point. The listener writes less transcription and can spend more attention evaluating the preacher’s argument, recording questions and applying the text. Preacher and sermon-oriented metadata also make later discovery more natural than a folder full of dates.
Automation must remain subordinate to the listener. A verse inserter can select the wrong chapter, range, translation or language; it can also expand shorthand that was meant to remain shorthand. The app should provide an obvious global off switch, per-note control, undo and visible translation label. Until those controls are confirmed, test with disposable notes and compare every inserted text with a trusted Bible before quoting it publicly.
Auto-Verse is the best reason to install the app—and the first feature to stress-test
Auto-Verse detects a biblical citation in typed notes and inserts the corresponding passage. The official description presents it as instant completion, while the site markets multiple translations and languages. In a rapid sermon, that can eliminate a chain of app switches and preserve the surrounding wording for later review.
A May 2026 Google reviewer said the function distorted notes and wanted the ability to turn it off. Before relying on it, test single verses, ranges, abbreviations, books with numbers, punctuation, multiple references in a line and the exact translation you expect. Confirm that undo is lossless and that disabling automation persists. A convenience feature should never silently rewrite a user’s record.
Sermon recording and timestamps add context but create consent and storage duties
The recorder can associate written observations with points in the sermon audio, so tapping a timestamp returns to the relevant moment. This is useful when a listener records an outline rather than a transcript, wants to verify a quotation or revisits the reasoning behind an application note.
Audio can capture congregants, prayer requests, children, copyrighted music or pastoral information beyond the sermon. Ask whether recording is permitted, keep the microphone focused, stop before private conversation and never share by default. Apple’s disclosure says audio and billing/contact information may be linked to app functionality. The privacy policy should state audio location, encryption, access, retention, sharing and deletion far more precisely.
Account storage, sharing and export are more important than decorative formatting
Folders, tags, preacher attribution, fonts, colors and highlights make a library easier to browse. Shared links could help a small group distribute a clean outline. Yet the value of every organizational feature depends on being able to open the same note years later, export it in a standard format and restore it after a lost device or account problem.
One App Store reviewer reported losing access after an export error and sign-out; another Android reviewer said notes were not accessible without internet. We cannot verify the circumstances, but the vendor should publish backup frequency, version history, offline cache behavior, export formats, complete-library export, restore testing, account recovery, status history and recovery objectives. Until then, copy important notes to a second system.
Pricing
Bible Notes app
$0
The current official pricing block says the app is free and lists Bible access, multiple languages and versions, notes, Auto-Verse, devotion, sermon recording, timestamps and sharing.
Shared-note access
Unclear
The feature page says a shareable link can distribute notes to other people who have a subscription. That language conflicts with the all-free pricing block and needs clarification.
Legacy or partner subscription
Not publicly stated
A current partner page still describes users continuing through monthly or annual subscriptions, but no amount or active consumer plan is displayed on the main pricing section.
The homepage now says “BibleNotes App is Free” and places the interactive Bible, five study languages, version choice, smart notes, devotion, Auto-Verse, recording, timestamps and sharing in that free offer. Apple and Google show free installation, and the latest store copy says the Bible will always be free.
Other live pages have not fully caught up. The sharing description refers to recipients with a subscription, and the partner program says affiliates are rewarded if clients continue through monthly or yearly subscription service. These could be outdated, refer to a future plan or apply to non-Bible services, but users should not have to guess.
Before entering payment details, ask for the exact plan name, amount, billing interval, trial length, auto-renewal date, refund rule, feature entitlement and cancellation path in writing. If no payment screen appears, do not infer that every future feature must remain free; export before major terms or pricing changes.
The bigger economic issue is switching cost. A free app becomes expensive when thousands of notes and recordings cannot be moved. Standard exports and tested backups matter more than saving a few dollars per month.
Where Bible Notes falls behind
Offline-first access. Existing notes and downloaded Bible text should open reliably in airplane mode, with a documented conflict-resolution model when the connection returns.
Complete export and restore. Offer standard formats for text, metadata and audio, one-click full-library export, version history and a public restore guide.
Transparent pricing. Remove or explain every subscription reference and publish one authoritative plan, trial, renewal, refund and cancellation page.
Auto-Verse controls. Add a global toggle, per-note toggle, visible translation, preview, precise undo and diagnostics when a reference is ambiguous.
Trustworthy privacy documentation. Narrow the broad template, map each collected field to a feature, list processors and retention, and explain recordings, shared links and deletion.
Reliability communication. Publish supported versions, status incidents, backup objectives, known issues and response targets instead of leaving low-rating reports unanswered.
Bible Notes vs. Sermonary vs. a general note app
Bible Notes is optimized for the listener: capture a sermon, insert passages and connect observations to audio. Sermonary is built primarily for the preacher who writes and delivers a sermon. A general tool such as Apple Notes, OneNote, Obsidian or Notion offers broader organization and export but usually requires manual Bible links and a separate recorder.
Choose Bible Notes only when Auto-Verse and audio timestamps save enough effort to justify a smaller, less proven platform. Choose a mature general note app when offline reliability, platform breadth, collaboration or portable exports matter more. Choose a local Markdown system when long-term ownership is the priority, then link Bible references instead of embedding every passage.
A practical hybrid is safest: use Bible Notes during a few services, then export or copy the final outline into the durable archive you already trust. If that workflow feels burdensome, the app has not solved the whole note-taking problem.
The bottom line
Bible Notes targets a real church workflow and Auto-Verse is more than a gimmick. Fast passage insertion plus audio-linked timestamps could make sermon notes much more useful. The present trust signals are too weak for exclusive storage: about 2.3 stars on iOS, about 3.2 on Android, reports involving unwanted verse changes, offline failure and inaccessible notes, plus public pricing and privacy text that does not form one coherent promise. Pilot it with noncritical material, obtain recording permission, verify every inserted passage, test airplane mode, export and restore before migrating, and keep an independent backup. The developer can turn a clever capture tool into a dependable study archive, but it must prove the archive part.
Alternatives to Bible Notes
SermonaryA sermon-writing and delivery platform for preachers rather than a listener-first audio note archive.
YouVersionMature Bible reading, highlights, notes and plans with broad platform support, but without Bible Notes’ sermon-audio timestamp workflow.
Olive Tree BibleDeeper study resources, split-screen notes and offline libraries for users who prioritize Bible research over recording sermons.ObsidianLocal Markdown notes, backlinks and portable files for long-term ownership; Bible reference automation requires plugins or manual setup.Frequently asked questions
What is the Bible Notes app?
It is a Bible and sermon note-taking app from Concierge Contacts PTY LTD. Its Auto-Verse feature inserts Scripture when a reference is typed, and sermon recordings can be linked to timestamped notes.
Is Bible Notes free?
The current homepage says it is free and lists the main features. However, live sharing and partner pages still mention subscribers or monthly and yearly subscription service. Confirm any payment screen before agreeing.
Can Bible Notes work offline?
The public marketing does not clearly promise a complete offline-first experience, and one recent Android reviewer said notes could not be opened at church without internet. Test existing notes and Bible text in airplane mode before depending on it.
Can I turn off Auto-Verse?
A reviewer specifically requested that capability after Auto-Verse altered notes. We could not verify a clear persistent toggle from public documentation, so test the current version before migrating important material.
Is it safe to record a sermon?
Only when the church, speaker and applicable law permit it. Recordings may also capture worship music, prayer requests and people nearby, so minimize collection and do not share without permission.
How should I back up Bible Notes?
Use the available export, verify that the exported files actually open, and keep a second copy outside the app. Because a user reported an export/account failure, test both export and restoration with disposable notes first.
Why is the rating low?
The exact US App Store aggregate was about 2.3 from 16 ratings and Google Play about 3.2 from 28 reviews during research. Public complaints include reliability, lost access, automatic verse behavior, formatting and online dependence. The samples are small but cannot be ignored.
Sources & further reading
More Bible Study Software
ARMA CoursesARMA makes serious Bible and theology teaching approachable through short, energetic courses—valuable for guided learners, but narrower and less transparent than a seminary library.
Storyverse InstituteStoryverse makes Bible, theology, soul care and ministry training approachable through 200+ videos, community and cohorts—but its age, collection and deletion disclosures conflict too sharply for informed enrollment.
The Word One to OneA polished, completely free guide for reading John and Acts with a friend—excellent for a trusted conversation, but narrow in scope and incomplete on app privacy and safeguarding.
Waha: Discovery Bible StudyA free audio facilitator that lets an ordinary person lead Scripture discussion in 63 languages—even offline or in a restricted nation—with a strong multiplication method and privacy documentation that has not kept pace with its security claims.
The Study BibleGrace to You puts three Bible translations and more than 3,000 John MacArthur sermons in a genuinely useful free app, then sells the complete Study Bible notes once for $5.99—not another subscription.
Catena Bible & CommentariesCatena puts the Church Fathers underneath every verse of a 76-book Bible and charges nothing for it. It does the job of a $1,454.72 print set on a phone screen - provided you stay in the Gospels and the Epistles.