This is a Guest Post by Gavin Baker.
We’ve reviewed two accountability apps for the iPhone, first X3 Watch and then Covenant Eyes and in this post we’ll take them head to head to see who comes out on top.
After analysis the answer boils down to two questions.
- What’s the cost of accountability on your iPhone?
- What are you willing to pay for it?
With X3 the cost is convenience as it’s free to download and use. This app just allows you to browse the web one page at a time. As I reviewed, there are no tabs and no bookmarks and it’s probably best to say that this apps biggest feature is behind the scenes as the accountability feature set.
With Covenant Eyes the cost is $7.95/month and as I reviewed, it does offer the ability to browse in tabs and bookmark sites. It’s also worth noting that for the monthly cost you also get a desktop account which should as close to 360 degree coverage.
Something worth mentioning is that neither app has the ability to add a shortcut to the home screen, the ability to open up any links outside the app or share the page you’re viewing via email by built-in browser function.
For me, Covenant Eyes is easily the winner. The cost is decently high in dollars at almost $100/year, but you’re getting an app that includes most of the functionality in Safari while including the accountability system that is larger then just your iPhone.
Some other options that came up in the comments as alternatives are:
Mobicip ($4.99 one time)
SafeEyes Mobile ($19.99 one time)
As well as a non-app idea to have your accountability partner check your browser history each time you meet and if it has recently cleared then you’ve been to a site that you didn’t want to show up.
Thanks for the side-by-side review. I hope we can continue to improve our browser over time. I think the most important difference between our apps is not what the app's functions are, but how the accountability reports look, how accurate they are, and how usable the reports are in an accountability relationship. Without these reports, the apps are of little value anyway. Either way, we hope our app and x3watch helps many people stay pure on their iPhone!
Luke Gilkerson
Internet Community Manager
CovenantEyes.com
http://www.covenanteyes.com/blog/2008/02/14/x3wat…
Thanks for this!
Thanks for the side-by-side review. I hope we can continue to improve our browser over time. I think the most important difference between our apps is not what the app's functions are, but how the accountability reports look, how accurate they are, and how usable the reports are in an accountability relationship. Without these reports, the apps are of little value anyway. Either way, we hope our app and x3watch helps many people stay pure on their iPhone!
A shame that OpenDNS.com doesn't have an iPhone option.
What about the bsecure app for the iPhone?
http://www.bsecure.com/Products/Mobile.aspx
http://bsecure.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_...
I would say your review is a bit OFF. The reason we have accountabilty software is missed in your review. The idea of the products are not to duplicate a Safari experience.
You did not review the product or talk about the features. For example.
X3watch only works with Safari disabled. This is a HUGE FEATURE. Covenant eyes works alongside Safari. So you are only accountable on CE browser but can switch to Safari for porn.
X3watch tracks when you turn on and turn off Safari. THIS IS HUGE. You have a slip up and enable Safari the software will track that and tell your partner what time you did that.
The other features you talked about that CE and X3 don't have are because APPLE wont allow them right now cause everything has to go through Safari.
I feel you missed the point in your review. If you were reviewing who built a browser the most similiar to Safari then CE wins but that is not the point….
Thanks for your thoughts, it perhaps could have been assumed, but good reminder.
I have both apps on my phone, x3 watch was $2.99 when I bought it and NO subscription, the CE app I have as well because that’s what I use on my computer. However, if we are just talking iPhone apps, the x3 watch app is much better and does allow bookmarks, multiple pages, and also opens up copied web addresses from the clipboard which is nice rather than having to hit the CE browse bar and paste whatever you want to look at in there. Be careful what you believe, x3 is better than CE for the iPhone. x3 for the iphone total cost $2.99, CE for iPhone total cost = $7.99 per month, and the app isn’t as good. Just a normal non bias guys opinion.
Any chance you can provide an update on this article now that a year has passed?
Would like to know what is the current best options.
Thanks,
Jay