# Access to Insight — Readings in Theravada Buddhism

> Offline library of Theravada Buddhist texts and scholarly essays. (iPhone/iPad app by Bill Parousis.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/access-to-insight/id349225338 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Bill Parousis](https://appshunter.io/developer/667779414)
- Category: Books, Reference
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 59 App Store ratings · 145 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 10.0 · 279 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2010-01-09
- Data updated: 2026-08-19
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/access-to-insight/id349225338/reviews.md

## What is Access to Insight?

Not so much "an eBook" as a huge library of eBooks, this might just be the best application about Buddhism on the App Store!

This is the entire offline version of John Bullitt's widely recognized and highly recommended Access to Insight (www.accesstoinsight.org) web site, a massive compilation of material about Theravada Buddhism and Buddhism in general.

Herein are contained  over 1,000 *actual suttas* (skt: 'sutras') from the Tipitaka (body of Buddhist canonical texts) translated into contemporary English with scholarly rigor and precision by recognized subject domain experts. Suttas are not simply modern essays and interpretations; they are actual written discourses historically attributed to Siddhartha Gotama, the Buddha, who founded Buddhism nearly 2,500 years ago.

A massive and thorough collection of essays by world-renound monks and scholars on the subjects of Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and practice is also included.

This is high quality material that is suitable reading for personal interest or academic study. Much of the material has also been published in printed form.

To aid the reader, indexes are available by subject, author, title, sutta title, proper name of historical figure, simile/metaphor, and even traditional numerical association. 


Usability Features of the Software

The reader works much like a web browser. Double tap on the screen to hide or show the toolbar and status bar. Landscape and portrait modes are supported, as are bookmarks which save the current scroll position of the current page.


Network access not required!

Except for the search and audio features, network access is not required. The full text is stored locally on your device.


Audio

Many of the sutta translations also link to iPhone accessible online audio readings on suttareadings.net. 


Excerpts from "What is Access to Insight?" by site owner John T. Bullitt:

"Access to Insight is an Internet website dedicated to providing accurate, reliable, and useful information concerning the practice and study of Theravada Buddhism, as it has been handed down to us through both the written word of the Pali canon and the living example of the Sangha."

"The readings assembled here represent just a selection of the Buddha's teachings. These are the ones that, over the years, I've personally found to be helpful in deepening an understanding of Dhamma practice. This collection is not meant to be an exhaustive archive of Theravada Buddhist texts."

"Everything available at Access to Insight is offered in full cooperation with the authors, translators, and publishers concerned, with the clear understanding that none of it is to be sold. Please help yourself to whatever you find useful."

## Key features

- Offline library of Buddhist texts
- Over 1,000 suttas
- Scholarly essays on Buddhist philosophy and practice
- Indexes by subject, author, and title
- Web browser-like reader
- Bookmarks and search functionality

## What do users think of Access to Insight?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🙏 Invaluable resource
- 🌟 Comprehensive collection
- 🤲 Generous sharing of teachings
- 📱 Convenient mobile access
- 🧠 Deepens understanding of Buddhism
- 🙌 Helpful for practice and study

**Cons**

- 🔍 Small text size
- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Compatibility issues with older devices
- Bookmarking feature not always reliable

**Most requested features**

- Search function
- Ability to highlight and annotate
- Night mode or adjustable font size

## Recent user reviews (10 of 145)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/access-to-insight/id349225338/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Insightful and Uplifting

*2024-10-10*

The website has been around for many years, and the teachings found here have been influential in my life. I started learning dhamma while in my teens, 25 years ago, and it truly helped me to find myself. 

The detail, authenticity, and presentation help to make the teachings sink in. Although I am not a practicing Buddhist, but a Christian, I recommend anyone seeking balance in their lives to study the principles found here and they will improve their lives.

### 5/5 — A Wonderful Treasure

*2024-04-18*

Thank you for your commitment to the Dharma. This app with the words of Buddha is so valuable. 🙏🏼

### 5/5 — Thank you

*2023-11-27, version 4.1.1*

Very grateful for this.

### 5/5 — Buddha Dhamma Sangha

*2022-07-22*

Large collection of incredible teachings. May all gain insight and be happy!

### 5/5 — Simply amazing

*2021-03-07*

This is an incredible resource and we are fortunate to have it. The inclusion of dark mode is awesome! Many thanks

### 5/5 — Extremely grateful for the countless Dhamma made available

*2021-03-03, version 4.1.0*

I, myself, often refer back to the teachings made available by the ATI team to further my meditation practice. May these teachings benefit even more beings toward the path of Nibbana 🙏

### 5/5 — A mountain of merits to you

*2020-06-03, version 4.0.0*

Thank you for bringing this app to us. This will help me read the Suttas when I am on my phone with ease. May the Triple Gem Bless all involved. 🙏🏽

### 5/5 — Great work

*2020-03-27, version 4.0.0*

Thank you so much for all the Access to Insight work on the website and for making it in an app. Would be really cool if there was a ‘random Sutta” button on the app too!

### 1/5 — Text size isn’t working

*2020-01-29, version 4.0.0*

Thank you for the response. I’ve had the app for a long time but I just can’t use it if the text is so small

### 5/5 — Authentic Buddhism at its Core

*2019-08-01*

The Dharma in this app helped me learn fluent German, obtain a 68k scholarship, and race in a track state championship against someone who went on the play for the NFL. Practicing Dhamma is work, but it’s the most fulfilling and rewarding work I found in my years on this earth.

## Frequently asked questions about Access to Insight

### What is Access to Insight?

Access to Insight is a comprehensive offline library of Theravada Buddhist texts. It includes over 1,000 suttas, which are discourses attributed to the Buddha, translated into English. The app also contains a large collection of essays by renowned monks and scholars on Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and practice.

### What are the key features of the app?

The app functions like a web browser, allowing users to navigate through a vast collection of Buddhist texts. Key features include offline access to the full text, support for landscape and portrait modes, bookmarks to save scroll positions, and a search function. It also provides indexes by subject, author, title, and more.

### Is this app free to use?

Yes, the application is offered for free. All the material available within the app is provided in cooperation with authors, translators, and publishers, with the understanding that none of it is to be sold. You can access and use the content freely.

### Does the app require an internet connection?

No, network access is generally not required for this app. The full text of the library is stored locally on your device, allowing for offline reading. The only features that may require network access are the search functionality and links to online audio readings.

### Who is this app intended for?

This app is designed for anyone interested in the study and practice of Theravada Buddhism. It is suitable for individuals seeking personal enrichment, as well as for academic study. The high-quality material makes it valuable for both beginners and those with a deeper understanding of Buddhist teachings.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.1.1 — 2021-05-17

Fixed text resizing issue on iPad.

### 4.1.0 — 2020-11-23

- Fixed links to Pali translations on Sutta pages.
- Scrolling to top when selecting random article/sutta.
- Other minor bug fixes/improvements.

### 4.0.0 — 2019-12-01

- For iOS 13+ using system settings to determine whether to use dark mode or not.
- Update icons for iOS 13+.
- Remembering last position on page when quitting app.
- Bug fixes.

*** Please note: Text size adjusting isn't working for iPads using iOS 13 due to following WebKit bug:
*** https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=201404

### 3.1.0 — 2019-08-18

- Fixed issue with remembering last page visited.
- Minor UI improvement.

### 3.0.1 — 2018-10-15

- Fixed issues with iPhone X layout.
- Added icon to launch screen.

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## More apps by Bill Parousis

- [DhammaTalks Mobile](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dhammatalks-mobile/id1602298092)

All apps by Bill Parousis: https://appshunter.io/developer/667779414

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-19.*