Ever Accountable vs Covenant Eyes: Battle of the Accountability Apps

When it comes to digital accountability and quitting porn, willpower alone often isn't enough. This is why you may be considering accountability apps like Ever Accountable or Covenant Eyes.

Though both apps are built around accountability, they are slightly different. In this 'battle of the apps,' we'll break down which one truly deserves a spot on your device.

TL;DR: Who Should Choose Which App

Short on time? Here's the quick takeaway.

Choose Ever Accountable If You:

• Prefer clear screenshot accountability
• Want detailed phone usage tracking, like app and web reports
• Don't need heavy website blocking

Choose Covenant Eyes If You:

• Are just starting your journey and willpower isn't enough yet
• Want built-in web filtering alongside accountability
• Are a privacy sensitive user
• Value community support for encouragement

In-Depth Comparison: Features, Performance...

I tested both apps in these aspects. And all testing in this section was conducted on the Samsung Galaxy S21+ or iPhone 14 to reflect real-world usage.

1Key Features: Which One Wins?

In this section, I break down the core features of Ever Accountable and Covenant Eyes and compare how they work in practice.

Screen Accountability

This is an accountability method that uses periodic screenshots to show partners what's happening on a device. Once a concerning screen activity, it flags and reports to the partner.

Both Covenant Eyes and Ever Accountable offer screen accountability features, but they vary in terms of:

Website Blocking

Website filtering is designed to prevent access to adult or risky websites. When it comes to web blocking, Covenant Eyes and Ever Accountable take very different approaches:

• Covenant Eyes offers two blocking levels to block known adult sites, VPN domains, or enforce SafeSearch, depending on how strict you want the protection to be. Plus, it allows you to customize URL lists for blocking.



• Ever Accountable, on the other hand, only supports web blocking for Android devices. It uses DNS filtering to block porn and malware sites. That is, there is no customizable option.

Report Detail

Reports are where accountability really happens. In addition to screenshots, the report should include the app and internet usage, and the activity timeline. They decide whether your partner can get a clear glance at your online behaviour.

• As we mentioned earlier, Ever Accountable captures the phone screen more clearly. Meanwhile, it tracks daily web browsing activities and app usage.
• In contrast, Covenant Eyes doesn't tell the partner what websites you visited or apps you used.

Recovery System

This refers to the educational resources or support provided. Recovery is rarely just about installing an app; it requires a change in long-term behaviour.

Then, how do the two accountability apps help you "rewire your brain"?

• Covenant Eyes offers a "Grow" tab, which contains free, educational content and courses about quitting porn. Besides, it has built a massive community where you can get and share confessions and successes.
• While Ever Accountable develops a 30-day online porn recovery program, called Ascend. It works with two clinical psychologists to offer full lessons and tasks focused on overcoming porn use.

2Ease of Use

The user experience is also important. If the experience is too confusing or overwhelming, users are more likely to quit it. Here is my own hands-on experience:

Covenant Eyes: Not Easy to Use

• Requires installing two apps (Victory and Victory Shield)
• Presents reports as a scrollable image feed
• Key features like App Locking and certain filtering settings are hidden in secondary menus
• Very cumbersome to cancel subscription (need to contact support and answer security questions)

Ever Accountable: More Intuitive

• Requires only one app on the monitored and the accountability partner's device
• Offers "Quick Review" that turns screenshot reports into a video for reviewing
• Reports are more visual and easier to understand at a glance

3Cost & Value

Both apps are subscription-based. What are the actual differences?

4Data Security and Privacy

Both apps encrypt user data and follow standard security practices, but their privacy approaches reflect different regulatory backgrounds.

Covenant Eyes is U.S.-based, and its privacy policy mainly follows U.S. legal standards. That is, user data (including accountability screenshots and browsing data) is processed or stored in the United States, even for users in other regions.

Ever Accountable is more upfront about global privacy standards. Its privacy policy highlights certifications like ISO 27001 / ISO 27701, and explicit compliance with GDPR and CCPA. This makes it a safer bet for users in the EU, UK, or California (CCPA).

5Users Review and Reputation

Well, after checking all my testing experience and reviews on the two apps. Let's see how users rated these accountability apps.

Store Ratings

Negative Feedback:

The negative feedback below is based on real user comments from Reddit discussions and app store reviews, highlighting commonly mentioned issues. With this, you can make a more informed choice.

Limitations & Other Considerations

While accountability apps are valuable tools, they are not a "silver bullet." Here are some things to consider before purchasing either app:

The Privacy Trade-off

You often have to choose between total privacy and total truth; it is hard to get both.

Clear screenshots (Ever Accountable) provide better context and make reports easier to understand, but they also capture more sensitive personal information.

Blurred screenshots (Covenant Eyes) offer stronger privacy protection, yet they can miss details or lead to false flagging.

Over Blocking Issue

Despite using different technologies, both apps can be overly aggressive at times.

In my testing, even non-explicit content, such as images of people in swimsuits, may be flagged or marked as concerning. This can lead to awkwardness and unnecessary tension, especially when the content isn't actually inappropriate.

Realistic Effectiveness Expectations

Technology is a tool, functioning as a deterrent and behavior trackers. That is to say, the ultimate success of the tool depends on the user's motivation and self-control. If someone is determined to view restricted content, they will find a way.

This is exactly what one Reddit user said:

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