Introduction
This page is under development. As such it may not be helpful until it is near completion. For that reason, please don't link it on another page until then. To become complete it needs fair and balanced™ coverage of the SWORD programs.
Do feel free to edit this page to make it more complete and better organized.
The purpose of this page is to help an end user decide which SWORD program is the best for them. The first consideration is which programs are available for the user. This can be found at CrossWire's home page. Once the user has narrowed down which programs are available, the following can be used to focus on the best program.
It is recommended that each user try all the available programs. It is likely that one will resonate with the user and work best for that user.
Features Common to All SWORD Applications
For the most part all the SWORD programs have the same features.
- Use Unicode
- Released under an open source license
- powerful search syntax - wildcard, regex and often also clucene indexed searches (fuzzy and proximity searches + searches for Strong's, stemming etc) within preset and customised scopes.
- Strong's, morphological info, cross references and footnotes
- All frontends listed beleow are undergoing more or less active development.
- verse and block layout
Side-by-Side Comparison of Leading SWORD Applications
Module Support
| Application
|
Operating Systems
|
Unlock Locked Modules (via GUI)
|
RtoL Modules
|
Daily Devotions
|
Book/Chapter Introductions
|
User Editable Module Content
|
| Alkitab Bible Study
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
| BibleDesktop (JSword)
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes] (automatic)
|
no
|
no
|
| BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword)
|
Linux
|
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Personal Commentary
|
| BPBible (wxPython)
|
Windows, Linux
|
yes
|
no
|
yes (automatic)
|
Chapters but not books
|
no
|
| FireBible (JSword/FireFox)
|
Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux
|
no
|
yes
|
|
no
|
no
|
| MacSword
|
version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
|
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
|
| The SWORD Project for Windows
|
Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7)
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
Personal Commentary
|
| Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword)
|
Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes (automatic)
|
yes
|
Personal Commentary, Journal, all exportable
|
| SwordBible
|
Windows
|
|
yes
|
yes (automatic)
|
no
|
no
|
Module Manager Support
| Application
|
Operating Systems
|
Locked Modules (via GUI)
|
Multiple Repositories
|
Archiving
|
Indexing
|
New Content Immediately Available?
|
Other Features
|
| Alkitab Bible Study
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BibleDesktop (JSword)
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
|
|
| BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword)
|
Linux
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BPBible (wxPython)
|
Windows, Linux
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
|
zip installer, download from CrossWire only
|
| FireBible (JSword/FireFox)
|
Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
|
|
| MacSword
|
version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The SWORD Project for Windows
|
Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7)
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
yes
|
no
|
|
| Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword)
|
Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
yes
|
Show available updates, Show uninstalled modules.
|
| SwordBible
|
Windows
|
|
yes
|
|
no
|
|
no
|
Image Module Support
| Application
|
Operating Systems
|
Image GenBook Support
|
Other Image Module Support
|
Image Formats
|
Image Resizing
|
| Alkitab Bible Study
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
|
|
|
|
| BibleDesktop (JSword)
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
yes
|
no
|
|
no
|
| BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword)
|
Linux
|
|
|
|
|
| BPBible (wxPython)
|
Windows, Linux
|
yes
|
|
|
no
|
| FireBible (JSword/FireFox)
|
Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux
|
|
|
|
|
| MacSword
|
version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
|
|
|
|
|
| The SWORD Project for Windows
|
Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7)
|
yes
|
Images can be incorporated into all module types
|
png (in version 1.5.12+), jpg, bmp
|
|
| Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword)
|
Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs
|
yes
|
All modules
|
png, jpg, tiff, gif, bmp
|
yes
|
Windowing and Display
| Application
|
Operating Systems
|
Window Layout
|
Several texts open at same time?
|
Poetry Layout
|
Complex Scripts
|
| Alkitab Bible Study
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
| BibleDesktop (JSword)
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
| BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword)
|
Linux
|
Multiple windows with flexible arrangement and library navigation on left
|
|
|
|
| BPBible (wxPython)
|
Windows, Linux
|
1-7 tiled subwindows, repositioning/hiding of panes.
|
no
|
yes (two-level poetry, indented, verse numbers at side)
|
yes
|
| FireBible (JSword/FireFox)
|
Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux
|
1 or 2 panes (library navigation in Firefox sidebar)
|
|
yes
|
|
| MacSword
|
version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
|
Multi-window, each module gets it's window
|
yes
|
no
|
|
| The SWORD Project for Windows
|
Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7)
|
Three-pane with tabbed library navigation
|
only using Parallel display for Bibles
|
yes, but not indented
|
depends on Uniscribe
|
| Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword)
|
Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs
|
Four-pane with library navigation, verse lists, etc. on left, multiple tabs, separate dialogs, saved sessions
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
Search and Dictionary
| Application
|
Operating Systems
|
Indexed Search Features
|
Cross Verse Proximity Search
|
GenBook and Commentary search
|
several module search
|
Dictionary Look-up
|
| Alkitab Bible Study
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
Lucene
|
yes
|
|
|
|
| BibleDesktop (JSword)
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
Lucene
|
yes
|
|
|
Manual look-up
|
| BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword)
|
Linux
|
CLucene
|
|
|
|
Strong's + parsing (automatic)
|
| BPBible (wxPython)
|
Windows, Linux
|
Custom
|
yes (allowing phrases across verse boundaries)
|
yes
|
no
|
Strong's + parsing (automatic) full list of topics with topic entry box
|
| FireBible (JSword/FireFox)
|
Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux
|
Lucene
|
yes
|
|
|
Manual look-up
|
| MacSword
|
version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
|
grouping, Strong's, Morph, Apple SearchKit
|
|
|
|
Strong's, Morph (automatic)
|
| The SWORD Project for Windows
|
Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7)
|
CLucene
|
no
|
yes
|
no
|
Strong's + parsing (automatic) and glossary (on click)
|
| Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword)
|
Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs
|
CLucene
|
no
|
yes
|
yes (create lists of modules to search)
|
Strong's + parsing automatic, glossary (on click)
|
| SwordBible
|
Windows
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
no
|
Strong's, Morph and glossary on click
|
Bookmarking, Tagging, Listing and Notes
| Application
|
Operating Systems
|
Permanent Bookmarks, Tags or Verse Lists
|
Nestable
|
With Comments
|
Exportable
|
Study Notes
|
| Alkitab Bible Study
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
manual and search result
|
|
|
|
|
| BibleDesktop (JSword)
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
manual and search result
|
|
|
|
yes
|
| BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword)
|
Linux
|
|
|
|
|
yes
|
| BPBible (wxPython)
|
Windows, Linux
|
manual and search result
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
| FireBible (JSword/FireFox)
|
Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux
|
|
|
|
|
no
|
| MacSword
|
version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The SWORD Project for Windows
|
Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7)
|
manual and search result
|
yes
|
no
|
|
yes
|
| Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword)
|
Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs
|
manual and search result
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
| SwordBible
|
|
|
|
|
|
yes
|
Localization
| Application
|
Operating Systems
|
Localization Support
|
GUI RtoL Support
|
GUI Languages
|
| Alkitab Bible Study
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
yes
|
yes
|
English, Indonesian
|
| BibleDesktop (JSword)
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
yes
|
yes
|
English, German, Farsi, Chinese, Vietnamese
|
| BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword)
|
Linux
|
|
|
|
| BPBible (wxPython)
|
Windows, Linux
|
yes
|
no
|
English, Vietnamese
|
| FireBible (JSword/FireFox)
|
Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux
|
|
|
English
|
| MacSword
|
version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
|
|
|
|
| The SWORD Project for Windows
|
Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7)
|
yes
|
no
|
Afrikaans, Česky, Deutsch, English, Suomi, Magyar, Bahasa Indonesia, 日本語, Polski, Português, Slovenščina
|
| Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword)
|
Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs
|
yes
|
yes
|
English, German, French, Finnish, Farsi, Czech, Hebrew, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish
|
| SwordBible
|
Windows
|
|
|
English
|
Other
| Application
|
Operating Systems
|
Portable
|
Extramodular Content
|
Other
|
| Alkitab Bible Study
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
|
|
word-by-word comparison of Bible versions
|
| BibleDesktop (JSword)
|
Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
|
Portable version
|
Bible Reading Plan
|
word-by-word comparison of Bible versions
|
| BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword)
|
Linux
|
|
Bible Study HOWTO
|
|
| BPBible (wxPython)
|
Windows, Linux
|
PortableApps.com edition
|
gospel harmonies; Guess the Verse game;
|
display Strong's headwords;
|
| FireBible (JSword/FireFox)
|
Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux
|
|
|
|
| MacSword
|
version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
|
|
|
|
| The SWORD Project for Windows
|
Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7)
|
portable, but leaves data on host computer
|
|
parallel verse display, transliteration
|
| Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword)
|
Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs
|
|
|
Read Aloud, pseudo-interlinear display of Strong's/morphology, transliteration into Latin characters
|
| SwordBible
|
Windows
|
portable
|
Verse lists with prefilled topics, One year daily reading plans
|
|
