The BlockerThey solve different problems. Covenant Eyes, now called Victory, is an accountability service: an ally sees your activity and blurred Safari screenshots, and it blocks explicit domains in any app. It needs an account and costs $18 a month or $198 a year on its website; App Store prices differ. The Blocker is a private Safari blocker with no account and no partner; Safari applies its rules on your device. The core is free, and Pro is $4.99 a month, $29.99 a year or $49.99 once (US prices).
Written by the developer of The Blocker, so we have a bias. We are not affiliated with Covenant Eyes. Prices and features checked 28 September 2026 from each product’s website and US App Store listing; prices change.
At a glance
| Topic | The Blocker | Covenant Eyes (Victory) |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Safari content blocker; Safari applies the rules on the device | Accountability service; the Victory Shield app uses a VPN and a Safari extension |
| Coverage on iPhone | Safari and apps that open pages in a Safari view; not Chrome, Firefox or Brave | Explicit domains blocked in any app; screenshots from Safari only |
| Accountability | None; it doesn’t report to anyone | Core feature: an ally sees your activity and blurred screenshots |
| Privacy | No ads or advertising trackers; the content blocker can’t see which pages you open | Blurred screenshots and logged domains go to its servers for reports |
| Account | Not needed | Victory Account required |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad, iOS 17.2 or later | iOS, Mac, Android, Windows; Victory Shield needs iOS 16.6 or later |
| Price (USD) | Pro $4.99/month, $29.99/year or $49.99 lifetime; free trial on the yearly plan; US prices | Website: $18/month, $198/year or $950 lifetime; 7-day free trial. App Store: $19.99–$219.99 |
| Free tier | Yes: adult-site blocking, 10 custom sites, a 30-day challenge and more | Free check-ins, courses and community in the Victory app; blocking is for subscribers |
Privacy in detail
Covenant Eyes’ privacy policy says its system “randomly captures a screenshot and related metadata from the user’s screen”. The screenshot “is rated on the device for explicit content, reduced in size and blurred”, and blurred screenshots “are sent to our servers using 256-bit encryption”. The iPhone app “also logs internet domains accessed on the device, which are rated and used in Reports”. The policy allows internal use of images and domains to improve its AI, not tied to your name or account (privacy policy). On iPhone, screenshots come from Safari only (Covenant Eyes). Its App Store label lists browsing history and identifiers as data linked to you (App Store).
The Blocker works differently. The content blocker hands Safari a rule list and can’t see which pages you open. No account, no ads, no advertising trackers; your rules stay on your device. An optional Stats extension processes site names locally. Optional usage reporting uses a random installation identifier, does not include visited or blocked websites, can be turned off, and is kept for 180 days (privacy policy).
Coverage: where each one works
Here Covenant Eyes is stronger. Victory Shield blocks explicit domains “in any app” and can enforce YouTube Restricted Mode and device-wide Google and Bing SafeSearch (App Store). Covenant Eyes suggests pairing it with Screen Time app restrictions “for full protection”. It runs on iOS, Mac, Android and Windows, but not on Chromebooks, Kindle devices, smart TVs, VR headsets or Linux (Covenant Eyes).
The Blocker covers Safari only, plus apps that open pages in a Safari view. Chrome, Firefox and Brave are not covered, and no blocklist covers every unwanted page. So we suggest Screen Time’s Limit Adult Websites and removing other browsers. See the setup guide and blocking websites in Safari.
Accountability
This is Covenant Eyes’ core. You invite an ally, who “sees where you go online”. Allies install Victory for free and get notifications, daily check-ins and secure chats (Covenant Eyes). If knowing that someone will see your activity helps you, this is a real strength.
The Blocker has no accountability partner. A lighter option: ask someone you trust to hold your Screen Time passcode. They see nothing, but they need to agree before settings change. With Limit Adult Websites on, The Blocker’s setup notes that Safari extensions stay switched on, so switching it off also needs their passcode. The four-digit passcode can be reset with your Apple Account, so it adds friction rather than a lock (Apple). See how to make a porn blocker hard to turn off.
Price
Covenant Eyes’ website lists $18 per month, $198 per year or $950 once, with a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Plans cover unlimited devices for up to 10 people in a family, and the $18 price is for web checkout (Covenant Eyes). In the App Store, “Covenant Eyes Plan” prices run from $19.99 to $219.99, without billing periods shown (App Store).
The Blocker is free to start. Pro is $4.99 per month, $29.99 per year with a free trial, or $49.99 once. US prices shown; the App Store shows the price for your country (our site). For one person, The Blocker costs less. For a family that wants accountability, Covenant Eyes’ plan for up to 10 people is worth counting.
Who should choose which
Choose Covenant Eyes (Victory) if you want an ally to see your activity, you need blocking in other apps and browsers, you also use Mac, Android or Windows, or you value its Christian focus.
Choose The Blocker if you want blocking to stay private, with no account and no reports, you mainly use Safari, or you want a free start and a lower price.
Want privacy and a person involved? The Blocker plus a trusted person holding your Screen Time passcode is a middle path. For other tools, see the best porn blockers for iPhone.
A note on faith focus
Covenant Eyes describes Victory Shield on its App Store listing as “the best solution for Christians looking to break free from the temptation of explicit content” (App Store). The Victory app adds commitments, daily check-ins, mini-courses and community (App Store). If that framing fits your values, it can be a real plus. The Blocker’s extras are simpler: a 30-day challenge and a rescue page. Neither approach fits everyone.
Questions people ask
Is Covenant Eyes the same as Victory?
Yes. Covenant Eyes says its app “is now Victory by Covenant Eyes” (Covenant Eyes). The US App Store has two Covenant Eyes apps: Victory Shield, which blocks and monitors, and Victory by Covenant Eyes, the home app for check-ins, courses and your ally.
Does The Blocker send reports to a partner?
No. It doesn’t report to anyone and has no accountability partner. Safari applies the rules on your device, and no browsing history is sent to us. If you want someone involved, ask a trusted person to hold your Screen Time passcode, or choose an accountability service.
Which is cheaper?
For one person, The Blocker: the core is free, and Pro is $29.99 a year in the US, against $198 a year on Covenant Eyes’ website. Covenant Eyes’ plans cover up to 10 people in a family, and its App Store prices differ from its website. Prices change.
Can I switch from Covenant Eyes?
Yes. Install The Blocker, turn it on in Safari’s extension settings and tap Test it in the app; no account is needed. It covers Safari only, so also turn on Limit Adult Websites and remove other browsers. Tell your ally before you stop, since their reports will end. Cancel with whichever you paid through: Covenant Eyes’ website or your App Store subscriptions.