Using API.Bible in a Commercial App
Commercial use includes using API.Bible or its content as part of a business or a product or service that generates revenue. Examples include paid downloads, subscriptions, in-app purchases, advertising, sponsorships, freemium features, and paid access. A project does not have to charge users directly to qualify as commercial. If you are unsure whether your use qualifies, contact support@api.bible before launching.
What a Pro Commercial plan covers
Pro plan for commercial use allows you to use eligible translations that you have selected and licensed through API.Bible, subject to the applicable Terms of Service and translation-specific requirements. Some translations require separate approval or an agreement directly with the rights holder.
Not every translation is available for commercial use
Commercial availability varies by translation and rights holder. Some translations can be licensed through API.Bible, some require separate permission, and others are not available through API.Bible for commercial use. Additional restrictions may apply depending on the translation and intended use. Creative Commons translations should not automatically be assumed to permit commercial use.
- Available commercially under Pro: NKJV, NASB, CSB, NLT, CEV and others.
- Not available commercially through API.Bible: the NIV. For commercial NIV, see this article.
- Not available at all: ESV (see api.esv.org).
- Not available commercially: Biblica’s non-English translations, including the Biblica Global Bible Bundle. These are non-commercial only.
Check current availability per translation at api.bible/bibles before you build.
Commercial and non-commercial licenses are separate entries
Some translations appear as separate commercial and non-commercial license entries. If a translation appears to be missing after you change your plan, check whether you selected the correct commercial license and whether the applicable license is active for your app. Do not assume that a previously selected non-commercial license automatically covers commercial use.
How commercial pricing works
In addition to the Pro plan subscription, commercial use of some copyrighted translations carries an additional monthly licensing fee. The fee depends on the translation, the rights holder’s pricing, and the number of monthly end users specified for your app. Some translations may have additional eligibility limits or requirements.
Audience is measured by how many unique users you expect to be using your website and/or app on a monthly basis. The tiers are: 0-1K, 1K-5K, 5K-25K, or 25K-100K. For more than 100,000 users, inquire about a custom or enterprise plan.
To see the current price for your use case, select commercial use in the plan setup process, enter your expected monthly end users, and add the translations you need. Review the resulting charges and licensing terms before completing checkout.
Custom or Enterprise plan
If your product serves multiple organizations, is resold or white-labeled for other organizations, or distributes Scripture through a platform used by many separate customers, contact support@api.bible to discuss the appropriate plan and licensing requirements. These use cases may require a Custom or Enterprise arrangement, depending on the business model, distribution model, expected usage, and applicable translation licenses.
When contacting us, include a description of your product, how Scripture will be used and distributed, your expected launch date, anticipated monthly end users, and whether you serve churches or other organizations.