Online safety and responsibility are paramount because the internet is a window to what we consume. As a parent, I am always concerned about what my children might see online. The digital realm can be quite a place where, along with useful content, lies immense dangers, including but not limited to porn and cyberbullying. So, it is essential to look for options that can keep your loved ones safe. This is where accountability tools like the Covenant Eyes app come in, which gives you an extra hedge of protection.
Covenant Eyes works as a porn accountability app. It is not your standard parental controls app but an accountability tool to bring honesty and responsibility back into the conversation about internet usage. In this article, we are going to discuss all of its features and working capabilities. This detailed Covenant Eyes review is what you need to find out if it suits your family or not.
What does the Covenant Eyes app do?
The Covenant Eyes phone app is designed to monitor a loved one’s internet activity. It blocks explicit content and creates an atmosphere of transparency and integrity, which are necessary for creating a better and safer online world.
It has a variety of features that are designed for developing relationships, including friends, couples, families, and individuals. For example, those in recovery from social media addiction have activity reports they can send to their accountability trust person.
With teens being the most at-risk people for online dangers, this app will track their internet use and flag any concerning behavior. These reports allow the parents to better understand what their child is doing online and ensure proper behavior.
This app serves a wide variety of needs by offering:
- Screen accountability: This service provides regular screen reports to ensure that the users are not engaged in any content marked as offensive or pornographic. Before the images are processed in a mobile device, each one is reviewed by the app for any explicit content and if there is any, then they will be reported.
- Web reports: Sends detailed activity reports to accountability partners via the app. Internet activity reports, including websites visited, searches made, and any flagged content.
- Tailored filters: When asked what type of content is suitable for viewing, parents can set up various age restrictions. This feature offers a custom solution to cut off connecting with toxic content so that the app can be perfectly molded for each family.
Covenant Eyes is a custom accountability solution for countless individuals. Moreover, parents can also use this app to keep an eye on their kids. So, consider it a hybrid between a parental control app and an accountability filter.
How does Covenant Eyes work?
Covenant Eyes is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
The underlying tech for the app tracks users’ browsing history and takes snapshots at timed intervals to help keep individuals honest about what they get up to online. The app then uses complex algorithms to break down these screenshots and identify offending material. When explicit content is discovered, it gets flagged and appears in the accountability partner’s activity report.
How to get Covenant Eyes on your phone?
Before you proceed with the installation or setup of Covenant Eyes on your mobile device, you need to check a few boxes.
First, you need to make sure that your device is updated. Next, you need to ensure that the Content & Privacy restrictions within Screen Time controls are set to 17+ if yours is an iOS device. Lastly, you need to ensure that you’re not using any VPNs or any foreign Apple ID.
Ignoring any one of these boxes will create setup issues, especially when you have never used the Covenant Eyes app before. With that out of the way, here are the steps you can follow to install this app and connect with the companion app – Victory.
- Download the Covenant Eyes app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Next, sign up with Covenant Eyes after you install the app.
- Tap on the “Get Started” button after you sign in.
- Allow VPN configurations.
- Allow Notifications permissions.
- Enable Background App Refresh.
- Close the Covenant Eyes app and open your iOS settings.
- Go to Safari > extensions.
- Turn on the Covenant Eyes extension.
- Launch the Covenant app again. Check if the app is working accordingly by following in-app instructions.
The app will guide you through each step of the way. So, don’t worry about getting lost at any particular step when setting up this accountability tool. Moreover, the support team from the Covenant Eyes app is always available to help out if you need help getting stuck in the initial setup.
Can someone turn off Covenant Eyes?
The possibility of the child easily disabling this app is among the commonly asked questions. Covenant Eyes has tamper-resistant features to keep it from being shut off. However, no app is foolproof, and there are some ways around monitoring for any tech-savvy user.
Every disable attempt is reported: If a child attempts to delete the app or change the settings of the application, the parent will be notified about that. With this capability, parents are guaranteed the trustworthiness of the monitoring functions. So, don’t worry about missing out on any event when tracking your child with this app.
How much does the Covenant Eyes app cost?
Pricing plans for Covenant Eyes are varied to suit any situation. These accountability plans are meant to be comprehensive, high-value, and flexible. Hence, families and individuals can adopt a plan based on their budget & needs.
- Monthly plan – $17
All the features like screen accountability, activity reports, and content filtering are part of this plan, making it perfect for those looking for personal accountability. If you don’t wish to make any long-term commitments, then it is a good place to start.
- Yearly plan – $184
You’ll get all the monitoring and tracking features but at a better price. If you’re planning on sticking with the Covenant Eyes app in the long run, then making such a commitment can save you a couple of bucks each year.
- Lifetime plan – $750
This plan might seem pricey at first, but you’ll get your money back in less than four years. From there, the Covenant Eyes app will keep serving your family for free!
Each plan above will support unlimited devices and you can add up to 10 users at a single time. Still, I won’t deny that Covenant Eyes is a bit pricier than some other options, but for the peace of mind it offers and everything that comes with its service it is worth every penny. So, depending on your safety needs, you can test out any of the plans I’ve listed above.
Pros & cons of Covenant Eyes
If you’re still on the edge about this app, you should consider the pros and cons before closing in on the app’s subscription plans
Pros
- Total monitoring: It provides both activity reports and screen accountability, which is an excellent way to have strong oversight over your internet activities. It helps to ensure that users are staying on the right track.
- Customizable content filters: Parents may filter explicit content, depending on their kid’s age. This feature is ideal for a house with children of different ages, as it can set filters according to age.
- Multiple platforms: With the availability of Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, Covenant Eyes can be used on a diverse range of systems. That way, you’re covered no matter what device you have.
Cons
- Cost: Compared to some other options, Covenant Eyes can be one of the more expensive apps out there. Most of its competitor apps are available for free or under 10 dollars, but these free or cheap solutions can be unreliable.
- Complexity: Initial configuration might be tricky for non-tech users. The app does include thorough instructions on how to make the process easy, but it can still look overwhelming.
- Screenshots: Sometimes, the screenshots taken by the app can be slightly blurry, so you will have to struggle a bit to recognize what it is. This could be a disadvantage while trying to track certain activities online.
Now, I am not saying that the Covenant Eyes app is the one-stop accountability tool, but it is still better than most options on the market. Still, if you’re not willing to compromise on the cons of this app, then a few better options exist in the market.
Why do you need a better parental control app?
It is pretty common for people to look for a Covenant Eyes’ free alternative. However, these people don’t realize that the free apps are often glitchy and bombard the user with ads. Moreover, it is pretty easy for kids to bypass such apps. So, if you’re in the same boat and want a free solution, I’d suggest that you change your mind.
Still, I am not saying that you only stick with the Covenant Eyes app. There are some cheaper and better solutions in the market when it comes to parental control. In the past years, many newer apps have surpassed the value you’ll get from this tool.
For example, you can rely on tools like FlashGet Kids to stay under the 10-dollar monthly expense. This app costs half as much as the Covenant Eyes app, and it has more advanced features. Check out the quick overview of FlashGet Kids below.
Quick overview of FlashGet Kids
Consider FlashGet Kids as the latest one-stop parental control solution that won’t break your monthly budget. This app is designed to help concerned parents monitor their kids’ online activity details. It is equipped with advanced features like an app blocker, screen mirroring, screen time limits, and keyword detection.
Furthermore, it is very difficult for tech-savvy kids to bypass its monitoring and tracking features. With its stealth mode, you can peacefully receive reports and feedback when FlashGet Kids runs in the background.
The comparison table
| Key Factors | Covenant Eyes | FlashGet Kids |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring capabilities | Offers detailed app activity reports and remote snapshots. | Offers a comprehensive set of real-time tracking and restrictive features like screen mirroring and an app blocker, along with detailed activity reports. |
| Setup process | Somewhat complex but the app will guide you through each step. | Relatively simple and won’t take you more than five minutes. |
| Pricing | $17 per month | $8.99 per month |
| Compatibility | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Free trial | 14 days | 7 days |
If your children are curious about mature content or are addicted to social media, your only bet is to stick with FlashGet Kids. The Covenant Eyes app doesn’t offer any features to help you block and restrict your child’s mobile usage, so it is only natural to choose FlashGet Kids to have more control over your child’s digital activities.
Conclusion
Overall, Covenant Eyes is a fantastic tool to help you stay honest and safe on the internet. It is a great tool that you can use to keep your kids on the right track. However, for all of its functionality, there are some more worthwhile and comprehensive solutions that give tighter protection.
Like, FlashGet Kids can give you the same experience in a more user-friendly package and at a lower cost. This parental control tool is just better when it comes to protecting your child in the current digital atmosphere. So, test it out if you’re not that sold on the Covenant Eyes app.
FAQs
Does Covenant Eyes work without the internet?
Covenant Eyes works by uploading activity reports that include screenshots and cashed data to the accountability partner. In the absence of an internet connection, this app will not be able to send any real-time reports.
Can you get Covenant Eyes for free?
There is no free version of Covenant Eyes. However, they sometimes offer trial programs for new users.
Can Covenant Eyes see search history?
Covenant Eyes not only monitors it but also reports the browsing history and prevents one from finding a loophole in opening an adult site.
Does Covenant Eyes drain the phone battery?
The app will consume some amount of battery, but it has been built to be lightweight and operates mostly in the background. Although that will still use a bit more of your battery life.
Why are Covenant Eyes screenshots blurry?
Screenshots may be low quality as a result of privacy and data source compression features. This compression scheme, however, still allows for the monitoring of web traffic, just in less detail, and keeps the private data protected.
