Yes! BibleWorks can run on a Mac. There are three options for running on a Mac:

• Native (a Mac port running on custom WINE libraries)
• Virtualized (using VirtualBox, Parallels, or VMware Fusion)
• Dual-boot (using Boot Camp)

If cost is your chief concern, the native version of BibleWorks 9 incurs almost no additional cost. The second cheapest option is to run Virtualized using VirtualBox. VirtualBox is free, but you still have to purchase a Windows license for this option.

If full compatibility is your chief concern, we recommend the Virtualized option. Parallels, VMware Fusion, and VirtualBox are all excellent products. Virtual Box is free. All three of these options require you to purchase a Windows license.

If performance is your chief concern, we recommend the Virtualized option for newer Macs. Parallels, VMware Fusion, and VirtualBox all run faster than the native version on our 2012 test MacBook.

Read below for details about the three options.

BibleWorks performance and compatibility are lower with this option. Searching is still fast, but it is slightly slower than the other options discussed here. Apart from buying BibleWorks 9 and a nominal fee of $6, there is no additional cost for this option--no VM software, no Windows license.

At present, the native version is still in a Public Preview mode. Registered BibleWorks 9 users can install and try the BibleWorks 9 Mac Public Preview but should be advised that it is still being developed. Current limitations are detailed below. To follow progress of the native Mac version, please subscribe to our mailing list (below).

Details

The native Mac version of BibleWorks 9 runs on OS X using customized compatibility libraries (WINE) by CodeWeavers. It runs directly on OS X without a virtual machine or machine instruction emulation. The underlying technology uses WINE and xQuartz libraries. The interface is the same as the Windows version of BibleWorks so in a classroom setting with Windows and Mac users students and instructors will all have the same program interface.

On a modern Mac with an Intel processor, it is slightly slower than the virtualized options (e.g. a word search might take a 1/5 of a second instead of a 1/20 of a second) but does not require you to purchase anything extra.

The native Mac version implements the features that most of our users need (we estimate 98%), but it is a continuing work in progress. All basic functionality is present (searching, viewing Bible text and resources, copying and pasting text from BibleWorks into your word processor, etc.). There are some known limitations of the native Mac version of BibleWorks. The following lists some of the features which do not yet work in the native Mac version of BibleWorks:

• Viewing and searching Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Cyrillic, Korean, Japanese, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Slavonic, Thai, and Turkish Bibles
• Text-to-speech (Bible text read aloud)
• Toolbar customization
• Running BibleWorks from a Windows Server in a site license setup
• Minor visual glitches

Cost

In addition to purchasing BibleWorks 9, there is a nominal fee of $6 for the BibleWorks 9 Mac Public Preview. No VM software is needed, and no Windows license is required. Click here to order it.

Installation

If your work will require full BibleWorks functionality, we recommend that you use the virtualized or dual-boot options. The support for the BibleWorks 9 Mac Public Preview version is limited as development is ongoing.

To install the BibleWorks 9 Mac Public Preview version, follow these steps here:

http://kb.bibleworksllc.com/kmp/index.php?/article/AA-02916 [updated 2013-05-08]

Once your installation is complete, we recommend the following:

1. Update your BibleWorks Executable from the program's main menu:
      Help | BibleWorks on the Internet | Check for updates
2. Keep up with Mac user discussion in our forums at http://www.bibleworks.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?91
3. Subscribe to our email list for official updates.

Screenshots

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BibleWorks performance and compatibility are very high with this option. There are no known compatibility issues with this option. Initial setup is a little more involved.

Details

When you run a virtualized version of BibleWorks, you install a virtual machine (VM) program on your Mac and install a full version of Windows onto the VM on your Mac.  This VM can then run BibleWorks and any other Windows program on your Mac.

We have tested three VM packages on the same MacBook: Parallels, VMware Fusion, and VirtualBox. Surprisingly, the virtualized solution is very fast and with Parallels and Fusion BibleWorks appears as an application in the Mac environment. Parallels and Fusion give full compatibility with BibleWorks. VirtualBox also works very well, but is not as seamlessly integrated with the OS X desktop. Virtualization is the solution we recommend if the additional cost is not a problem.

Copying and pasting text from all three VMs works well. Copying and pasting images from VirtualBox does not work as well as it does with Parallels and Fusion.

Cost

To run BibleWorks 9 in a virtual environment you need two things:

1. A virtual machine package. At the time of writing, Parallels and VMware Fusion cost between $40-$80. VirtualBox is free.
2. A Windows 7 license. In addition to installing a VM package, you will need to purchase and install Windows 7 on your VM. Installation and purchase of Windows is slightly easier with Parallels and Fusion. At the time of writing, Windows 7 Home Premium (recommended) is about $100-175.

Users running BW on a VM

For years BibleWorks has run well on a VM for many of our Mac customers.

Installation

For Parallels: To enable the Shift key to work properly, please read this.

VMWare Fusion Screenshots

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Parallels Screenshots

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VirtualBox Screenshots

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Running a dual-boot version of BibleWorks

BibleWorks performance and compatibility are very high with this option. You cannot cut and paste to other Mac applications with this option. You must purchase a Windows license.

Details

Apple released a free program called Boot Camp in OS X Lion and Mountain Lion. When Boot Camp is installed you restart your Mac and select between running Windows or OS X. If you select Windows, your Mac becomes a PC running Windows natively. You can run any Windows program (including BibleWorks), but you will not be able to simultaneously run Mac programs while running Windows. To run Mac programs, you will need to restart your Mac and select OS X.

Cost

Boot Camp is free (included with OS X Lion and Mountain Lion), but you will need to purchase and install Windows (we recommend Windows 7).

Please see this page for Mac system requirements.

Try it out

BibleWorks comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.  If you purchase BibleWorks directly from us but cannot get it to work with your virtualization software, you may return BibleWorks for a refund (shipping not included).

Our forums are a good source of information for people who want to hear from others who are running BibleWorks on Macs.