Why BibleGateway Is Not Available in the UK & Europe—and the Best Alternatives for Bible Study

Many Christians rely on online resources and apps for daily Bible reading, study, and devotionals. One of the most popular tools is BibleGateway, known for its multiple translations, audio Bibles, reading plans, and devotionals.

But if you’re in the UK or Europe, you may have noticed that BibleGateway is not accessible in your region. Don’t worry, there are excellent alternatives that can help you continue your Bible study online without interruption. In this post, we’ll explore what BibleGateway offers, why it’s restricted in the UK/Europe, and the best alternative Bible apps and websites available today.

What is BibleGateway?

BibleGateway is a digital Bible platform that allows users to read, search, and study the Bible online or through its app. It is a great tool that is widely used by pastors, students, and everyday Christians for personal study and ministry preparation.

Key Features of BibleGateway:

• Multiple Bible translations (ESV, NIV, KJV, and more)

• Audio Bibles for listening on the go

• Daily reading plans and devotionals

• Search tools by keyword, verse, or topic

• Study resources, including commentaries and dictionaries (premium)

  
  

Benefits of BibleGateway:

• Compare translations side by side.

• Access Scripture from any device, anywhere.

• Ideal for personal study, sermon prep, or Bible teaching.

• Convenient for reading plans, topical studies, and devotionals.

Here's what you will see if you visit their website today:

Why BibleGateway Is Not Available in the UK & Europe

Unfortunately, BibleGateway is not officially accessible in the UK or most of Europe. They have not said why ("technical issues" is vague), but the main reasons an online resource is restricted by location are licensing and copyright.

Many Bible translations are copyrighted, and publishers grant digital rights for specific regions, often the US only. App stores may block downloads where rights are not cleared. This could explain why UK and European users can’t access BibleGateway, even though it’s widely available elsewhere.

This all means UK and European users must seek alternative platforms for Bible study online or on mobile devices.

Best Alternatives to BibleGateway in the UK & Europe

Now you know why BibleGateway is not available in the UK & Europe, so what are the alternatives?

Different platforms serve different needs. Some are best for daily devotionals and consistent reading, while others are designed for in-depth Bible study and teaching prep. Here are several Bible study apps and websites that provide similar, and sometimes even better, functionality than BibleGateway.

Best Devotional Apps (Great for Daily Reading and Consistency)

1. YouVersion / Bible App (by Life.Church)

Overview: The Bible App is one of the most popular Bible apps worldwide. It's free to use and very user-friendly.

Features:

• Multiple translations, including ESVUK, NIVUK, and more

• Audio Bibles and offline reading

• Reading plans and devotionals (short and long-term)

• Highlighting, note-taking, and verse sharing

• Makes use of a range of media such as Bible verse graphics and video content

My favourite feature in the app is the ability to compare translations of your choice. Because I can play around with the order of the translations, it can be helpful to group them according to translation type.

Why It’s Great: YouVersion is perfect for personal devotions, Bible study, and community engagement at home or on the go. The Bible verse phone screen widget, ability to share your devotional plans, and the Bible App for Kids content make it a great all-rounder.

Best Study Tools

2. Blue Letter Bible

Overview: The Blue Letter Bible website and app are focused on in-depth Bible study and research.

Features:

• Original Hebrew and Greek tools

• Commentaries, dictionaries, and Strong's Concordance

• Parallel translations for comparison

I like being able to easily see where a Greek or Hebrew word appears elsewhere in the Bible.

Why It’s Great: The Blue Letter Bible is ideal for serious or in-depth Bible study by anyone — not just Bible school students or teachers. Useful for or sermon preparation

3. BibleHub

Overview: A free web-based platform for Bible study online.

Features:

• Parallel translations for side-by-side study

• Extensive commentaries, concordances, and other reference tools

• Interlinear Bibles for exploring original languages

Why It’s Great: Excellent for topical research and in-depth study without downloading an app

4. Logos Bible Software (Free & Paid Versions)

Overview: Logos is professional Bible study software for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

Features:

• Extensive study library with commentaries, dictionaries, and maps

• Original language tools for Greek and Hebrew study

• Reading plans and devotional content

Why It’s Great: Perfect for pastors, teachers, and serious students; the free basic version is sufficient for many users

5. Biblia.com

Overview: Biblia is a powerful online Bible study platform by Faithlife, the makers of Logos.

Features:

• Multiple Bible translations

• Integrated study tools including commentaries and dictionaries

• Parallel Bible views for side-by-side comparison

• Searchable topics and Scripture references

Why It’s Great: Biblia.com is excellent for in-depth Bible study or sermon preparation, with a clean, web-friendly interface.

Tips for Choosing the Best Alternative

BibleGateway is a great resource that I hope will be back soon. In the meantime, here are some things to consider for choosing the best alternative to BibleGateway.

1. Identify your needs: Casual reading, devotional time, or deep study.

   • Want daily devotionals and reminders? → Try YouVersion or Bible.com.

   • Want deeper study with commentaries and languages? → Go for Blue Letter Bible or BibleHub.

   • Need a sermon prep powerhouse? → Explore Logos or Biblia.com.

2. Check available translations: Ensure your preferred UK/European translations are included.

3. Offline access: Consider whether you need this. It is useful if you don’t always have an internet connection.

4. Cross-device sync: Keep your notes, highlights, and reading plans consistent across devices. If you make use of these features, check whether they sync across devices.

Explore the Alternatives

While BibleGateway is not currently accessible in the UK and Europe, many excellent alternatives exist. Platforms like YouVersion, Blue Letter Bible, BibleHub, Logos, Bible.com, and Biblia.com offer powerful tools for Bible reading, study, and devotionals.

Explore these alternatives to find one that suits your study style, and continue growing in your understanding of God’s Word.

Try one of these alternatives today and share your favourite Bible study app, website, or feature in the comments!