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Religion · head to head

Bible Gateway vs ChurchDesk

Bible Gateway logo

Bible Gateway

Religion

Free online Bible access with multiple translations and reading tools

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ChurchDesk logo

ChurchDesk

Religion

Church management and member portal platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bible Gateway has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bible Gateway study Bibles, commentaries and dictionaries all require Plus at $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year; ChurchDesk all subscription plans carry a one time setup fee of 655 GBP per parish for onboarding and training
  • They diverge on capability: Bible Gateway covers Multiple Translations, ChurchDesk covers Member Portal.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bible Gateway and ChurchDesk actually diverge.

Attributes where Bible Gateway and ChurchDesk differ
AttributeBible GatewayChurchDesk
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile
Founded19932010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Religion).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bible Gateway

  • Multiple Translations
  • Verse Comparison
  • Search
  • Reading Plans
  • Social Sharing
  • API Access
  • IOS support
  • Android support

Only in ChurchDesk

  • Member Portal
  • Announcements
  • Event RSVP
  • Volunteer Coordination
  • Calendar Systems
  • Giving Platforms
  • Mobile support

Both cover

  • Email Integration
  • Mobile App
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bible Gateway

  • Reading and comparing across more than 70 Bible translationsnot ChurchDesk
  • Personal notes, highlights and bookmarksnot ChurchDesk
  • Reading plans and daily devotionalsnot ChurchDesk
  • Study Bibles and commentaries on the Plus subscriptionnot ChurchDesk
  • Original language work through the NIV Reverse Interlinearnot ChurchDesk

ChurchDesk

  • Member managementnot Bible Gateway
  • Donation trackingnot Bible Gateway
  • Event planningnot Bible Gateway
  • Volunteer schedulingnot Bible Gateway
  • Communicationnot Bible Gateway

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bible Gateway

  • Study Bibles, commentaries and dictionaries all require Plus at $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year
  • The free tier carries advertising, removed only on Plus
  • The free account covers translations, notes and reading plans but no reference works

ChurchDesk

  • All subscription plans carry a one time setup fee of 655 GBP per parish for onboarding and training
  • Multi-Parish support is only available by contacting sales on the Small, Medium and Large plans
  • Payment Terminal add-on costs 456 GBP per year on top of the Basic through Medium plans

Pricing, plan by plan

Bible Gateway

Free
  • Free AccountFree
    • Highlight verses
    • Save favorites
    • Take notes
  • Bible Gateway Plus$5/month
    • 70+ trusted Bible study resources
    • Access beside every passage
    • Annual pricing under $5/month

ChurchDesk

On request
  • Starter$99/month
    • Basic features
    • Up to 500 members
  • Plus$299/month
    • All features
    • Unlimited members
    • Advanced portal

Which should you pick?

Choose Bible Gateway if

  • You need multiple translations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want verse comparison.
Bible Gateway review

Choose ChurchDesk if

  • You need member portal.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want announcements.
ChurchDesk review

Questions people ask

Is Bible Gateway or ChurchDesk better?
Neither clearly leads. Bible Gateway starts at Free and ChurchDesk at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bible Gateway or ChurchDesk?
Bible Gateway has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bible Gateway and On request for ChurchDesk.
Does Bible Gateway or ChurchDesk run on more platforms?
Bible Gateway runs on Web, IOS, Android. ChurchDesk runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Bible Gateway for free?
Yes. Bible Gateway has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ChurchDesk starts at On request.
What is Bible Gateway best used for?
Bible Gateway is most often used for reading and comparing across more than 70 bible translations, personal notes, highlights and bookmarks, reading plans and daily devotionals, study bibles and commentaries on the plus subscription. Of those, reading and comparing across more than 70 bible translations and personal notes, highlights and bookmarks are not what ChurchDesk is typically brought in for.
What can Bible Gateway do that ChurchDesk cannot?
Bible Gateway covers Multiple Translations, Verse Comparison, Search, Reading Plans. ChurchDesk covers Member Portal, Announcements, Event RSVP, Volunteer Coordination. Both handle Email Integration, Mobile App, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bible Gateway: How much does Bible Gateway Plus cost?

Less than $5 per month when billed annually; promotional pricing was available through September 14.

Source
ChurchDesk: What is ChurchDesk's pricing structure?

ChurchDesk offers four subscription plans billed annually: Basic at £54/month, Small at £97/month, Medium at £140/month, and Large at £239/month, excluding VAT.

Source
Bible Gateway: Is there a free version of Bible Gateway?

Yes, free account available that enables highlighting verses, saving favorites, and taking notes for future reference.

Source
ChurchDesk: What is included in ChurchDesk plans?

All tiers include the same core modules: Calendar, People, Forms, Website, Workflows, and Finance, plus attendance tracking, payments, booking enquiries, and studio access.

Source
ChurchDesk: What setup costs does ChurchDesk charge?

ChurchDesk charges a one-time setup fee of £655 per parish for 'Upstart & Training,' which covers initial configuration and onboarding.

Source
ChurchDesk: What ChurchDesk add-ons are available?

Add-ons include Studio (£57/month), Cookies & Analytics (£10/month), Additional Websites (£36/month), and Payment Terminal (£456/year for smaller plans). The Large plan includes one Payment Terminal.

Source
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