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Religion · head to head

Bible Gateway vs Ministry Brands

Bible Gateway logo

Bible Gateway

Religion

Free online Bible access with multiple translations and reading tools

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ministry Brands logo

Ministry Brands

Religion

A church software holding company whose current product is the Amplify module suite

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; Ministry Brands the legacy acquired brands and Amplify are different software, so a church buying Shelby or Fellowship One today is buying a product line that is not receiving the development investment.
  • They diverge on capability: Bible Gateway covers Multiple Translations, Ministry Brands covers Amplify People.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bible Gateway and Ministry Brands actually diverge.

Attributes where Bible Gateway and Ministry Brands differ
AttributeBible GatewayMinistry Brands
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
Founded1993Unknown

Identical on both: platforms (Web, IOS, Android), 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
  • Email Integration
  • Mobile App
  • API Access

Only in Ministry Brands

  • Amplify People
  • Amplify Giving
  • Amplify Accounting
  • Amplify Websites and Streaming
  • Background screening
  • Amplify Service Planning

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 Ministry Brands
  • Personal notes, highlights and bookmarksnot Ministry Brands
  • Reading plans and daily devotionalsnot Ministry Brands
  • Study Bibles and commentaries on the Plus subscriptionnot Ministry Brands
  • Original language work through the NIV Reverse Interlinearnot Ministry Brands

Ministry Brands

  • A church that wants member records, giving, website and streaming from one vendor with one loginnot Bible Gateway
  • A congregation needing fund accounting that understands restricted funds rather than a general ledger adapted from business softwarenot Bible Gateway
  • Running volunteer background checks under a child protection policy without a separate screening vendornot Bible Gateway
  • A denominational office standardising several congregations on one records and giving platformnot 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

Ministry Brands

  • The legacy acquired brands and Amplify are different software, so a church buying Shelby or Fellowship One today is buying a product line that is not receiving the development investment.
  • Nothing is publicly priced at any level, so churches cannot compare modules against single-purpose competitors without running a full sales process.
  • Ministry Brands processes the giving, so the transaction rate is a large and negotiable part of the cost that is easy to overlook while comparing module subscriptions.
  • Module count creates upsell pressure, and churches often sign for a bundle then use three or four modules while paying for the rest.
  • Moving from a legacy brand onto Amplify is a full data migration with its own cost and risk, which weakens the argument that staying inside the family is the low-effort choice.

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

Ministry Brands

On request
  • Amplify$undefined/year
    • Modules bought individually or bundled
    • Priced by church size and modules selected
    • Giving processed by Ministry Brands at a negotiated transaction rate
  • Legacy products$undefined/year
    • Shelby Systems, Elexio, Fellowship One, easyTithe and others
    • Supported for existing customers
    • Not the go-forward investment line

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 Ministry Brands if

  • You need amplify people.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want amplify giving.
Ministry Brands review

Questions people ask

Is Bible Gateway or Ministry Brands better?
Neither clearly leads. Bible Gateway starts at Free and Ministry Brands at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bible Gateway or Ministry Brands?
Bible Gateway has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bible Gateway and On request for Ministry Brands.
Does Bible Gateway or Ministry Brands run on more platforms?
Bible Gateway runs on Web, IOS, Android. Ministry Brands runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Bible Gateway for free?
Yes. Bible Gateway has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ministry Brands 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 Ministry Brands is typically brought in for.
What can Bible Gateway do that Ministry Brands cannot?
Bible Gateway covers Multiple Translations, Verse Comparison, Search, Reading Plans. Ministry Brands covers Amplify People, Amplify Giving, Amplify Accounting, Amplify Websites and Streaming.

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
Ministry Brands: What do I actually buy from Ministry Brands?

Amplify, sold as modules. The older acquired brands are still supported but are not what new customers are sold.

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
Ministry Brands: Is pricing published?

No. Everything is quoted by church size and module selection, and the giving transaction rate is negotiated separately.

Ministry Brands: Are Shelby and Fellowship One discontinued?

They are supported but not the go-forward line. Ask for written end-of-support commitments before renewing.

Ministry Brands: Is Amplify Equip the same as Faithlife Equip?

No. Amplify Equip is an AI sermon preparation module. Faithlife Equip was a separate product that has been discontinued.

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