Smartphones shape much of how we live, and a Chicago-based startup has found its place by blending faith with technology to connect with millions. Hallow, a Christian and Catholic prayer and meditation app, offers a way for people to seek comfort and peace through their phones.
Since its launch in December 2018, Hallow has grown from a small idea to a global name, reaching over 22 million downloads in 150 countries and recording more than 600 million prayers by August 2024. But as Hallow expands, it faces real hurdles.
The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) could see the app banned, while it’s already blocked in China. These issues raise concerns about the future of religious apps in areas with strict regulations.
How Hallow Began
Hallow started with Alex Jones, its co-founder and CEO, who is not to be confused with the media figure of the same name. Jones’ personal story shaped Hallow’s vision. Raised Catholic, he stopped practising as a teenager and identified as an atheist for a while. He later found his way back to faith through meditation, which led him to explore Catholic contemplative prayer.
A key moment for Jones was experiencing lectio divina, a style of meditative Scripture reading. When he came across the word “hallow” in the Lord’s Prayer, it changed how he saw faith. Jones described feeling a deep sense of peace that he never found in secular meditation.
Together with Erich Kerekes and Alessandro DiSanto, Jones set out to create an app offering audio-guided prayers, meditations, Bible readings, and Christian music. Hallow features practices such as lectio divina, the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, and daily Mass readings.
While designed for Catholics, it has attracted people from other backgrounds too. The app is available on iOS and Android, with a free trial and paid options starting at $8.99 a month, making it accessible to many.
Hallow focuses on staying true to Catholic teaching, working with Church leaders to ensure its content is appropriate. Collaborations include Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades and Women of Grace’s New Age division. In April 2025, Hallow received official backing from the Catholic Church in Scotland, strengthening its reputation in the faith community.
Support from Well-Known Figures
Hallow’s rise has been helped by partnerships with celebrities who believe in its purpose. Actors like Mark Wahlberg, Jonathan Roumie (who plays Jesus in The Chosen), and Mario Lopez have all contributed by leading prayers and sharing the app with their followers.
Wahlberg, a committed Catholic, worked with Hallow in 2022 to produce exclusive content linked to his film Father Stu. Roumie has said that using Hallow has deepened his own prayer life, highlighting the app’s focus on genuine spiritual practice.
A big boost came from a Super Bowl LVIII advert in 2024 featuring Wahlberg, which pushed Hallow to the top of Apple’s App Store in February 2024. This was the first time a religious app achieved such a high ranking.
People from many backgrounds, including Jewish, Muslim, and non-religious users, have found value in Hallow’s meditation content. Backing from investors like Peter Thiel and Narya Capital (run by J.D. Vance) has also supported Hallow’s growth, with a $40 million funding round in 2021 and the company valued at $100 million.
Troubles in China
Despite its success, Hallow faces big challenges in countries with strict controls. In July 2024, China’s Cyberspace Administration ordered Hallow to be removed from the Apple App Store, citing “illegal content” without giving details. Jones expressed regret over the move and promised to keep supporting Chinese users through the web and social media.
This ban is part of broader restrictions on religious activity in China, where the Catholic community, estimated at 12 million in 2005, continues to face limits.
Jones posted on X about the impact, saying he was praying for Christians in China who lost access to the app. The situation shows how difficult it is for faith-based platforms to operate in places where censorship is common.
Facing the Digital Services Act in the EU
Hallow has also run into problems in the European Union after the DSA came into effect in February 2023. The DSA brings in strict rules for online platforms, asking for detailed public reports on user numbers and how they handle data and moderation. It also treats data showing religious beliefs as “sensitive” and bans its processing without clear user consent.
In January 2025, Jones said on X that the EU’s rules were making it nearly impossible for Hallow to keep going there. He suggested that the regulations may be unfairly tough on religious apps. The news was a setback just as Hallow planned to expand into new languages like Polish, French, German, and Italian to reach more Catholic users in Europe.
While the EU has not commented publicly on Hallow’s future, many believe that the DSA’s strict privacy laws are the main barrier. The law’s broad definition of “illegal content” covers hate speech and false information, but critics worry it could also be used to restrict religious content that doesn’t align with mainstream views. This has sparked debate among supporters of religious freedom, who fear the DSA could push faith-based apps to the sidelines.
What This Means for Faith and Technology
ADF International, a group focused on religious freedom, has offered to help Hallow prepare a defence if needed. Some critics on X have suggested that Europe’s move away from religion, shown in a 2021 UK census where only 46.2% identified as Christian, may add to a tougher climate for religious apps. A 2024 report also found a rise in anti-Christian incidents in Europe, with many reportedly involving government action.
Hallow’s current struggles highlight bigger questions about how faith fits with technology. As Europe’s Christian population is set to fall by 100 million by 2050, tools like Hallow may help keep spiritual practice alive. At the same time, regulations like the DSA could make it much harder for religious voices to reach people, possibly discouraging new faith-based projects.
Some Catholic groups say that unclear terms in the DSA, such as “harmful content,” could be used to censor religious material under the cover of protecting users. The debate over Hallow’s future is just one example of the challenges faith-based technology faces as rules grow stricter across the globe.
