FAQ Friday: “Why do you charge for your software?”

Covenant Eyes has been providing accountability software for over two decades now. Early on we learned that the more people discovered the temptations of pornography on their devices, the more a service like ours was in high demand. Our business was founded on Christian principles of accountability, and the majority of our members come from faith backgrounds, so some wonder why Covenant Eyes isn’t a nonprofit organization.

Why do we charge for our service?

That’s a good question. Making our software affordable has, of course, been a concern since we began. We contemplated making Covenant Eyes a nonprofit organization in the beginning, but we decided against this for a number of reasons.

1. The Cost of Quality

When we pioneered the concept of accountability software, a problem we noted early on was the heavy cost of software development. The digital world is fast-paced and constantly changing. New technology is constantly being developed which quickly renders old technology obsolete. We desire to provide a high-quality product and not just band-aid solutions.

When I bought my new Bible, I did not expect it to be free. Publishing companies needed to be paid. Translators and editors needed to be paid. The copious study notes were written by a team of theologians who needed to be paid for their time and expertise. While I am a big believer that the Word of God needs to be made available to everyone, I also understand that someone must incur the cost. Likewise, a service like Covenant Eyes costs money to provide.

2. Covenant Eyes Is Committed to Innovation

Data shows that most tech companies fizzle out within five years. The technical and logistical costs to maintain our service are high. Our software requires highly proficient programmers (each of which has families to support). Product research and development also have high costs. We’ve also committed to providing world-class member care to ensure that anyone who reaches out to us can quickly connect with an understanding professional who can assist them.

In a fast-paced world of technology, Covenant Eyes has shown remarkable longevity because we’re continually adapting to the needs of our members to provide the best service possible. That’s why, 19 years after we invented the concept of Internet Accountability, we developed AI-powered Screen Accountability.

2. Where Your Treasure Is . . .

When Covenant Eyes was first founded, a number of experienced ministers convinced us that a majority of people must pay for something to realize that what they are getting is worth it. Ask someone to invest in something financially, and they are more likely to maximize their use of it.

The nature of our software is that it doesn’t offer an “easy fix” to temptations online. The quality of one’s Covenant Eyes experience is determined in large part by the quality of the relationship between the member and his or her ally. When members are paying for their service, we have found that they are more likely to want to maximize the effectiveness of their accountability relationships.

Men or women who have struggled deeply with porn online, in particular, need to take radical steps in their lives to leave that life behind. We’ve found, talking with various counseling ministries, that when a person makes a financial commitment in the counseling process, they are more likely to try to get the most out of their rehabilitation.

3. What Is It Worth to Be Porn-Free?

For many of our members, the small price tag we put on our software is nothing compared to the value of the freedom they feel when they use our service. For example, we received this email from a woman whose husband used to struggle with internet pornography:

“As a wife of merely three years, I love this program, and plan to subscribe ’til death do us part.’ I love my husband, and I know he loves me too, but temptation has its name for a reason, and I’ve never felt betrayal hurt so badly. I just want to thank you for Covenant Eyes, I feel so safe now. I can go and read while he’s online, and not wonder what he’s viewing . . . and he can fire up our laptop without feeling like a failure as a man of God. I truly can’t thank you enough! I can’t wait to meet you, in this world or the next, and shake the hand of the person who made such relief a reality for our very young family.”

Some have asked us why we don’t charge MORE for our software because they realize the value of the service. For more powerful testimonies, check out our Victory Stories page.

4. Commitment to Growth

Digital pornography is like the crack cocaine of sexual stimuli. Porn has been one of the leading causes of sexual addiction among people of faith, and among those of no faith at all, and it’s fueled by a multi-billion dollar industry that profits from sexual exploitation.

Covenant Eyes exists to change the world by enabling people to overcome porn and be restored and transformed. As Covenant Eyes has grown, we have continued to reinvest our resources to further this mission.

When someone signs up for Covenant Eyes, they not only take a step to overcome pornography for themselves, but they are joining a worldwide community that is helping other people find the same freedom.

5. Oh Yeah, Our Victory App Is Free!

We believe that our service is worth every penny. But we also understand that not everyone is ready for a paid subscription. Covenant Eyes has always offered hardship assistance to members in need, but in recent years, we’ve recognized a growing need to do more.

In 2022, Covenant Eyes released a ground-breaking new app to help people quit porn. The Victory app has courses and content created by qualified experts, to help people walk the journey to freedom from pornography.