How to Try Accordance Bible Software Before Buying

Updated

You can try Accordance Bible Software free for 90 days through the Accordance Basic Starter. The trial is a fully functional version of the software bundled with over 60 resources valued at $239. After 90 days, you can pay $49 to permanently own the software and that library. If you want more than the starter library, the site's Purchase Options page is the next place to look.

What the free trial includes

According to Accordance's homepage, the Basic Starter trial gives you:

  • A fully functional version of Accordance Bible Software
  • Over 60 resources
  • A stated value of $239 for those resources
  • A 90-day window before payment is required

"Fully functional" matters here: this is not a stripped-down demo with locked features. You are evaluating the same software platform that pastors, students, professors, and laypersons use, just with a starter library rather than a large one.

How to start the trial

  1. Go to accordancebible.com.
  2. Look for the "New to Accordance?" section on the homepage.
  3. Choose the option to try the Accordance Basic Starter free for 90 days.
  4. Download and install the software for your platform (desktop or mobile).
  5. Use it normally for 90 days — study, search, and work through the included resources.

The expected result: after installation you have a working Accordance installation with the starter library, with no payment due during the trial period.

What happens after 90 days

At the end of the trial, you pay $49 to permanently own the software and the library you have been using. This is a one-time ownership payment for the Basic Starter package, not a subscription — the homepage describes it as paying "$49 to permanently own your software and library."

If $49 for 60+ resources is not the right fit, the site's Purchase Options page (accordancebible.com/purchase-options/) lists other ways to buy into Accordance, including larger libraries and collections.

A macOS compatibility warning worth reading first

The homepage carries a specific notice for Mac users: macOS 27 "Golden Gate" is available, and Accordance is still working to ensure full compatibility with that operating system. The site advises users to wait before updating their devices until Accordance version 14.2 is released.

If you are on a Mac and plan to start the trial, this is the one practical step to take first: check your macOS version and hold off on updating to Golden Gate until Accordance 14.2 ships. Otherwise you may install the trial onto an OS the software does not yet fully support.

Is the trial the right way to evaluate Accordance?

The trial makes sense if you want to test the things Accordance is known for — speed, ease of use, and flexibility — against your actual study habits before committing money. The homepage frames the software around keeping the Bible central to study, moving from preparation to delivery for preaching, and carrying a digital library on mobile, so the trial period is your chance to check whether those workflows fit how you work.

It is less useful if you already know you need a large scholarly library beyond the 60+ starter resources; in that case, compare the Purchase Options page directly rather than spending the trial on a library you will outgrow.

Common sticking points

  • Assuming the trial auto-converts to a charge. The homepage describes a 90-day free period followed by a $49 ownership payment. Treat the 90-day mark as the decision point.
  • Updating macOS before checking compatibility. As noted above, Accordance asks Mac users to wait for version 14.2 before moving to macOS 27 Golden Gate.
  • Confusing the starter library with the full catalog. The trial's 60+ resources are a starting point; the Purchase Options page is where larger libraries are handled.