A Powerful Accountability Tool
Victory App Accountability That Works
I want to share how Victory App accountability through Covenant Eyes has become a game-changer in my own life and leadership. It’s relational, safe, and rooted in grace.
What’s New and How It Helps
Covenant Eyes has been around for over a decade and has helped tens of thousands of people battle and recover from pornography addiction. Over the past couple of years, they’ve developed the Victory App.
It’s a companion tool that elevates relational accountability and support for those walking toward freedom from pornography. It delivers an activity feed, real-time alerts, and mini-courses to help you and an ally stay connected and encouraged.
What I appreciate most is that the app is designed to support (not shame) by placing trust and transparency at the heart of the journey. It’s relationship-first, not fear-based.
How It Works in Everyday Life
In my setup, Covenant Eyes monitors my devices, picking up potential explicit content. If there was something questionable, the software would share a lightly blurred screenshot and my browsing patterns with my ally through the Victory App. My wife and mentor get regular reports on any potentially questionable content.
Through my interface of the Victory app, I get an activity feed, alerts when something needs attention and check-in reminders. I also get access to counsellor-reviewed mini-courses that educate and strengthen.
Why Relational Accountability Matters
In case you didn’t know already, blocking alone falls short. The real breakthrough comes when I know someone I trust will walk with me and ask loving, clarifying questions. It’s a posture shaped by a key verse from the Book of Job.
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” – Job 31:1 (ESV)
Note that this covenant isn’t about fear. It’s about being faithful.
Victory App Accountability in My Daily Rhythm
We might not think about it at the time, but whenever we open a device, we have a choice: To inflame lust or protect our most important relationships with God, our spouse, and our children.
Having used Covenant Eyes for over a decade, I’ve experienced the benefits of accountability. Knowing that someone I love could glance at my activity keeps my navigation honourable. And every once in a while, some form of content triggers the app, which triggers a conversation. And I welcome that because it keeps me honest and humble.
Purity Is Worth the Investment
Full disclosure, this software (like all software worth using) does come at a cost of time and money. Covenant Eyes is $18 per month, or $184 per year (to save $32 annually), with an option for a Lifetime Membership at $850. (All prices are in USD, plus applicable taxes.)
So, it’s not free, and it does require intentionality. You’ll need to take the necessary time, setting it up, inviting an ally, and committing to those regular accountability conversations. That said, purity and integrity are always worth the investment.
Covenant Eyes and the Victory App offer a way to live out purity with courage, humility, and community.
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
- Have you or someone you know used tools like Covenant Eyes or the Victory App along with relational accountability?
- What’s helped you stay honest and humble in the face of digital temptation?
- Who could God be calling you to invite into a relational accountability journey?
Covenant Eyes is fantastic for accountability, if you have someone solid to walk by you in this matter. However, it is restricted by the number of locations it can be installed, and means that you have to worry about installing and maintaining however many locations. And ultimately, when your kids get old enough, they will find ways around it if they are determined.
In my time and journey struggling with porn, most resources I have seen do not recommend you use your wife as your accountability partner, but that’s not to say it can’t work. I know my wife did not want to be my accountability partner in this regard and asked me to find a man to work with who could relate better to the struggle.
But back to software: the limitations of a software solution caused me to look for a hardware option, and I found it: Skydog. http://www.skydog.com I can’t stop talking about how excellent it is as a solution that basically sits between your internet connection and everything on your wifi system. You create user profiles for each person on the system, and can limit their access by time, by site classification, or even blacklist or whitelist specific sites. You also assign devices to profiles and can set it up so that unassigned devices are completely blocked. This means I have control over not just all my family’s devices without having to worry about installed software, glitching out, or people working around my rules, but any guests who come over also abide by my rules. It’s more secure than even regular wireless access because it requires anyone trying to “hack” my wifi to have a user profile already in the system.
Also there is cost consideration. You don’t mention that Covenant Eyes is $13 per month, not a one time cost. Skydog is $150, including 3 years of updates. For the price of one year of CE I have a tool that requires less maintenance, is more secure and flexible, and scalable. After 3 years ongoing support is only $30 per year.
As you can tell I am over the moon with this tool. I tell everyone I know about it, and the company has sent me a code for friends and family if they want one, for $30 off. So if you or anyone reading this wants one, just email me and ask for the code. It only works until April 30 though, sadly. mr_cheevus@yahoo.ca. BTW I get nothing out of this except the knowledge that people are solving their internet problems once and for all.
Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to post your thoughts on this post. I’ll try to address the majority of statements in a few comment streams.
First, you said that Covenant Eyes is restricted by locations. Could you explain exactly what you mean by “locations”?
Second, though my wife is one of the people that receives my report, she is not my accountability partner. I believe in having godly men in my life as mentors and accountability partners. I just want to be open with Nicole to the extent I would be open to anyone else. Since we are one flesh. (Mk. 10:7-9)
I have to head out, but I will comment on the remaining statements in a few hours.
Thanks again for your comments Oliver!
Peace.
Hey, solid! If you have a guy you’re working with great. I was just laying down the caution for someone who reads and thinks, “I don’t need anyone but my wife in this fight.” That’s a dangerous road to walk.
Locations I just mean you have to go through installing it on every machine. It’s a software installation which is vulnerable to workarounds and system glitches, can be turned off or rendered inert in the OS if you know what you’re doing. Having been involved with network maintenance and system construction in an earlier chapter of my life, I saw firsthand how easy this is. Plus the maintenance factor of installing on individual machines is a pain – it becomes one more on a long to-do list of software installs on any new or refurbished machine, or if an OS is updated, or if there is an issue that requires the formatting of the hard drive… there are so many scenarios in my mind that make a software based system frustrating and a headache.
On the contrary, a hardware based system (or internet based for that matter – I understand OpenDNS might be a solution for some) forms its own chokepoint – or gateway – that all must pass through. It means if you can set up security there, it doesn’t matter what machines come on the network, they all have to play by the rules. And that appeals greatly to me, even for my kids’ friends. I can tell their parents with certainty, if they bring their tablets or laptops over for a gaming session or something, they are not getting into trouble on my network – and I don’t have to install anything to ensure it.
Thanks for your patience. I’ll now finish commenting on the first set of statements.
Third, I have never heard of Skydog.com. Though I’m content with CovenantEyes, I’m sure there are other valuable resources out there.
Fourth, I did mention the cost under the heading, “This resource is called Covenant Eyes.” Sorry that you missed it. Perhaps, I didn’t highlight it enough.
Fifth, thank you for sharing the discount to Skydog for other readers!
In His Service,
Jeremy
Sorry Oliver. Just noticed your second set of comments.
Absolutely, I believe husbands and wives need (same sex) mentorship and accountability.
So far Covenant Eyes has worked on every location (device). Then again, I only use Apple products. I really don’t have any experience with other devices or softwares.
Thanks again for continuing to read and comment! Your support and appreciation for my writing is a blessing.
Be well my friend!
Jeremy