Keeping children safe online is a top concern for most parents today. From social media to inappropriate content, the internet can expose kids to risks. This is why more families are turning to parental control software.
Two popular options are Covenant Eyes and Canopy. But they take different approaches to digital safety.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare Covenant Eyes vs Canopy to help you decide which platform best meets your family’s needs.
Key Takeaways:
- Covenant Eyes specializes in pornography blocking and accountability. Canopy offers well-rounded parental controls.
- Canopy has more robust screen time limits, content filters, and app blocking.
- Covenant Eyes provides detailed accountability features, focused on overcoming porn addiction.
- Both platforms are easy to set up but Canopy offers a more intuitive interface.
- Canopy is the better choice for most families seeking general online safety for kids.
- Covenant Eyes is ideal for parents concerned about pornography addiction specifically.
Below we’ll explore all the details on features, pricing, pros and cons, and more. Let’s dive in!
Canopy vs Covenant Eyes Overview
Covenant Eyes and Canopy both provide digital monitoring, filtering, and limits to protect children online. But here’s an at-a-glance look at how they differ:
Canopy
- Comprehensive parental control software
- Screen time limits and scheduling
- Custom content filters for websites and apps
- Location monitoring
- Intuitive interface and easy setup
Covenant Eyes
- Specialized accountability and porn blocking
- Detailed activity reports sent to “allies”
- Focus on overcoming porn addiction
- Robust website and image blocking
- Lacks broader parental control features
So Canopy takes a well-rounded approach that gives parents lots of control over their kids’ digital habits. Covenant Eyes zeroes in on pornography risks specifically.
Below we’ll break down their features, pricing, and more to help you decide which platform fits your family best.
Canopy Features and Subscription Plans
Canopy markets itself as a complete digital safety net for your family. It aims to help parents manage their kids’ screen time, block inappropriate stuff, and promote healthy tech habits.
Let’s look at some of the key features Canopy offers to meet those goals:
Content Filtering
- Blocks websites in categories like drugs, alcohol, explicit content and more
- Custom filters to block specific sites as needed
- Option to filter content within otherwise harmless sites
- “Suggestive content” blocking using AI
Screen Time Limits
- Set daily or weekly time limits for apps or total device use
- Schedule “Off Hours” when devices are blocked
- Gets reports on how time is spent and set limits accordingly
Location Monitoring
- See family members’ locations in real-time
- Get alerts when someone leaves or enters specific areas
App Blocking & Usage
- Block access to inappropriate apps
- View app usage patterns over time
- Limit time spent in specific apps
Other Core Features
- Profile management for each family member
- Remote approval for blocked access requests
- Tamper-proof settings to prevent child circumvention
In terms of pricing, Canopy offers several subscription options:
- Monthly: $7.99/mo for up to 3 devices, $9.99/mo for up to 5 devices, or $15.99/mo for up to 10 devices.
- Annual: $99.99/year for up to 5 devices.
All plans include a free 7-day trial. Their pricing is competitive for the parental control market.
Overall, Canopy provides a well-rounded set of parental control features while still keeping the interface clean and simple. For a more in-depth look at how it compares to Qustodio, see this guide on Qustodio vs Canopy.
Next let’s look at how Covenant Eyes compares for features and pricing.
Covenant Eyes Features and Pricing
Covenant Eyes focuses specifically on providing accountability for pornography use and overcoming addiction. So its features cater to that purpose:
Pornography Blocking
- Uses AI to detect and block porn sites and images
- Adds “NSFW” tags to questionable content
- Blocks proxy sites used to bypass filters
Accountability Tracking
- Monitors web activity including sites visited
- Shows attempted visits to blocked sites
- Tags potentially objectionable photos
- Alerts “allies” to concerning activity
Ally System
- Send activity reports to trusted friends/mentors
- Communicate within app for encouragement
- Leverage relationships to promote integrity
Educational Resources
- Courses and materials on risks of porn
- Science-based advice for breaking addiction
- Support community of members
For pricing, Covenant Eyes charges a simple flat rate rather than complex plans:
- Monthly: $17 per month
- Annually: $184 per year
This straightforward pricing reflects the singular focus of Covenant Eyes on accountability and porn addiction.
Now that we’ve explored the features and pricing of each platform, let’s compare some of the key pros and cons of each.
Canopy Pros and Cons
Canopy Pros
- Comprehensive parental controls
- Customizable content filters
- Screen time limits and scheduling
- App blocking and usage monitoring
- Location tracking of family members
- Intuitive interface and setup
Canopy Cons
- Cannot guarantee 100% porn blocking
- Encrypted/proxy content not caught by filters
- Can over-block legitimate content
- Not focused on accountability/motivation
Covenant Eyes Pros and Cons
Covenant Eyes Pros
- Specialized focus on porn addiction
- Powerful ally accountability system
- Educational resources on pornography risks
- Excellent pornography blocking
Covenant Eyes Cons
- Lacks broader parental control features
- Not ideal for general family monitoring
- Possible over-blocking concerns
- Reporting could feel invasive out of context
This overview of the pros and cons of each platform demonstrates how Canopy provides robust parental controls, while Covenant Eyes excels at targeted porn blocking and accountability.
Next let’s directly compare how Canopy and Covenant Eyes stack up across key factors:
Canopy vs Covenant Eyes Comparison
| Factor | Canopy | Covenant Eyes |
|---|---|---|
| Content Filtering | Broad, customizable filters | Focused on porn blocking |
| Screen Time Limits | Comprehensive | Minimal |
| Accountability | Basic location tracking | Specialized ally system + reports |
| Interface | Intuitive, user-friendly | More basic |
| Works On | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Same plus Chromebook |
| Price | $7.99+/mo – $99.99/yr | $16.99/mo – $184/yr |
In nearly every category, it’s clear that Canopy comes out ahead for general-purpose parental controls. The sole exception is Covenant Eyes provides superior accountability focused on porn addiction specifically.
Covenant Eyes takes a targeted approach to online accountability, especially related to pornography. To see how it differs from Qustodio’s broader controls, check out this Qustodio vs Covenant Eyes guide.
So for most families, Canopy is likely the better choice. But let’s explore a few factors in more detail:
Canopy vs Covenant Eyes for Content Filtering
Both platforms allow blocking sites by category, like drugs or explicit content. Canopy also lets you customize filters to block specific sites as needed.
Covenant Eyes is geared more exclusively towards pornography blocking. For that purpose, it uses advanced AI to detect porn sites and images.
So while Covenant Eyes offers robust porn blocking, Canopy provides more extensive content filters parents can customize.
Winner: Canopy
For more on how Canopy’s content filtering stacks up to Bark, read this Bark vs Canopy comparison.
Canopy vs Covenant Eyes for Screen Time Limits
Canopy gives parents extensive control over screen time. You can set daily or weekly limits for apps or overall device use. It also allows scheduling specific “Off Hours.”
Covenant Eyes focuses almost entirely on blocking and accountability related to porn. It does not provide comprehensive screen time limits.
Winner: Canopy
Canopy vs Covenant Eyes for Accountability
Covenant Eyes is designed specifically for accountability, via activity reports sent to “allies.” This creates motivation to avoid pornography.
Canopy keeps parents informed through location tracking of family members. But it lacks a structured accountability system.
For addressing porn addiction, the ally accountability and reporting of Covenant Eyes is superior. It’s ideal for spouses or teens who want help overcoming compulsive behaviors.
Winner: Covenant Eyes
For accountability focused on porn addiction, Covenant Eyes is a powerful choice. But how does it compare to Net Nanny’s offerings? Find out in this Covenant Eyes vs Net Nanny breakdown.
Canopy vs Covenant Eyes Ease of Use
Canopy offers a streamlined interface designed specifically for parents to protect their kids online. The dashboard makes it simple to set controls, limits, filters and more with just a few clicks.
Covenant Eyes provides a more basic interface tailored to accountability tracking and porn blocking. The experience centers on reports rather than broader controls.
For the purpose of flexible parental management, Canopy’s design wins out. But Covenant Eyes still offers a simple setup process given its singular focus.
Winner: Canopy
Which Should You Choose?
For the majority of families seeking general parental control software, Canopy is the best choice. It simply offers far more robust screen time management, filtering, and custom controls. The intuitive interface also makes Canopy easy for parents to implement.
On the other hand, Covenant Eyes is ideal for parents specifically concerned about kids or spouses accessing pornography. The powerful ally accountability system combined with proactive porn blocking provides excellent protection against compulsive sexual behaviors.
But Covenant Eyes lacks more general parental control features. It also requires that users are motivated in overcoming addiction. So it may not be the right solution for casual monitoring of kids online.
Ultimately, consider your specific needs and concerns about your kids’ digital safety. Both platforms make it easy to start a free trial to test them out firsthand before committing.
FAQ About Canopy, Covenant Eyes, and Parental Controls
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Canopy, Covenant Eyes, and choosing parental control software:
Does Canopy work on iPhones and Android?
Yes, Canopy offers apps for both iOS and Android mobile devices. This allows parents to monitor activity and set limits across all devices their kids use.
Can Covenant Eyes monitor WhatsApp or Snapchat?
Covenant Eyes cannot directly monitor activity within encrypted apps like WhatsApp or Snapchat. But its web monitoring will show time spent on these services. Parents rely more on motivation and conversation around usage than direct monitoring.
Is it easy to bypass Canopy or Covenant Eyes?
Both platforms are designed to prevent kids from circumventing the controls. However, tech-savvy teenagers could potentially find ways around the systems in some cases. But they provide robust protection for most younger children.
Does Canopy work on Mac laptops?
Yes, Canopy supports Mac OS, Windows, Chromebooks, iOS and Android devices. Parents can monitor and manage all devices through the centralized Canopy dashboard.
Can Covenant Eyes track porn on Reddit or Twitter?
Covenant Eyes monitors time spent on sites like Reddit and Twitter. Though it cannot read private messages, it will classify any pornographic images within your feed. Blocking also applies to these sites.
Does Canopy limit YouTube time?
Yes, Canopy allows parents to restrict the time spent on YouTube or block it entirely. You can also limit YouTube access to just the Kids app. However, kids could get around this by using a browser instead.
Can kids bypass Covenant Eyes with a VPN?
Because Covenant Eyes focuses on accountability rather than restriction alone, using a VPN to bypass the filters undermines the motivation to avoid pornography. But as with any filter system, technologically adept kids could circumvent restrictions if not committed to integrity.
Is there a Canopy family locator app?
Yes, location tracking of family members is a core feature of Canopy. Parents can view real-time locations, set home boundaries, and get alerts when kids leave or arrive places.
Does Covenant Eyes work on iPad and iPhone?
Covenant Eyes has iOS apps to monitor activity on iPhones and iPads. This syncs with its desktop dashboard to provide accountability across all devices. Unique mobile features include taking random pictures to deter inappropriate use.
Can parents read messages on Canopy?
No, Canopy does not allow parents to read private communications within apps and services. Its focus is more on limiting screen time, filtering inappropriate content, and setting healthy boundaries.
Final Thoughts on Choosing Parental Control Software
Making an informed decision about parental control software leads to greater online safety and peace of mind. Carefully consider your family’s needs and concerns before choosing Canopy, Covenant Eyes, or another option.
While Canopy provides the most well-rounded set of parental management tools, Covenant Eyes excels at targeted porn blocking and accountability. And you can always start with a free trial to experience the platforms firsthand.
Empowering kids to use technology wisely is an ongoing conversation. But parental control tools like Canopy and Covenant Eyes offer invaluable support.
The internet can be an amazing place for learning and fun if explored responsibly. With the right safeguards in place, you can protect your family while allowing appropriate independence online.
If you’re still exploring options, see how Covenant Eyes’ approach compares to Bark’s AI-driven controls in this Covenant Eyes vs Bark comparison.
