The Best Text Spy Apps in 2024 – How to Read Someone’s Messages

Concerned about your child’s online safety? Text spy apps could be a good option for your parental control needs. While monitoring their conversations without them knowing is a morally grey area, keeping tabs on their activity lets you know they’re safe.

By monitoring messages, you can safeguard your child from potential dangers and ensure they steer clear of risky behavior. Unfortunately, many mobile SMS spy apps and other parental control solutions can be expensive and difficult to use.

In this text spy app review, we go over ten accessible and reliable options to help you find the best text spy app for you.

The Top 10 Best Text Spy Apps in 2024

We conducted multiple text message spy app reviews to identify those solutions that provide the best bang for your buck. Overall, mSpy is a top pick thanks to its reliable features, versatility, and price.

However, any of these apps could make a good option, depending on your specific needs and budget.

1. mSpy – Overall, the best spy mobile app with text, call & social media monitoring
2. Spynger – Best text spy app with an automatic screen recorder
3. Eyezy – Best text & social media spy app with automatic alerts
4. uMobix – Best text spy with remote app restrictions
5. Cocospy – Best iOS spy app for ease of use & no jailbreaking requirements
6. Hoverwatch – Best text spy app for tracking multiple devices
7. Spyic – Most affordable text spy app with additional SIM tracking features
8. XNSpy – Best text & social media spy app with activity analytics
9. Phonsee – Best text & email spy app to see their contacts list
10. Haqerra – Best text & social media spy app for phones and iPad

Reviews of the Top Best Text Spy Apps in 2024

Not all text spy apps are the same, though many good products provide similar features. To make the best choice, learning more about your options and how they compare is important.

Let’s examine each product to see its specific features, best use cases, and pros and cons.

1. mSpy – Overall, the Best Spy Mobile App With Text, Call, & Social Media Monitoring

mSpy is a well-established spy app with over a decade in the industry and a proven track record of satisfying over 1 million users. Whether you’re a parent looking to monitor your child or a partner going through a rough patch, mSpy has got you covered.

With mSpy, you’ll never miss a single text – the software will show you all the texts on the target phone, timestamps, and information on who’s sending each text.

mSpy even lets you view images sent via text and look at any multimedia files on the target phone.

You can also set up trigger words and phrases, so you’ll receive alerts when someone searches or texts about certain topics. This way, you don’t have to constantly monitor their activity, but you’ll still know immediately if something’s going on.

Nowadays, a lot of texting, especially among teenagers, happens over social media.

mSpy has some of the most in-depth social media spying features out there, being able to spy even on disappearing media like Snaps on Snapchat or Stories on Instagram.

This lets you have a complete picture of what your child is up to on social media and is part of what makes mSpy the best parental spy app. And, if you’re still concerned with their activities after that, you can outright record their screen.

The app also gives you access to your loved ones’ location. Thanks to mSpy’s excellent GPS monitoring features, you’ll get real-time location updates so you always know their whereabouts.

You can also set up geofencing alerts so you’ll know when they leave a given location. This tracking feature is also great for securing devices against theft, as you can track a lost or stolen phone through GPS.

Pricing

You can choose between three mSpy pricing plans, the main difference being the length of the subscription. Each plan includes all the premium features.

For $69.99 (normal price), you can try the full mSpy package for one month. New users also typically get a hefty discount, so it could end up being much cheaper.

Though the three-month plan is the most popular, the 12-month subscription gives you the best bang for your buck – uninterrupted year-round access to all mSpy monitoring features for $16.67/month.

2. Spynger – Best Text Spy App With Automatic Screen Recorder

Spynger is another affordable, multi-purpose text spy app. Although it’s marketed as a cheating monitoring app, we think its versatile features make it suitable for various use cases, including parental control or employee monitoring.

This app lets you monitor someone’s texts and iMessages through various means. You can use a keylogger to catch anything they type, including deleted messages or searches.

Another standout feature of Spynger is the ability to view deleted messages, which is likely to come in handy if you have a partner acting suspiciously.

With this nifty feature, you can find any incoming or outgoing messages on the device that have previously been deleted, all without the need for a rooted or jailbroken device.

Thanks to the app’s automatic screen recorder, you’ll also get a direct glimpse into your teen’s online activity on any platform. This feature is great, especially if they are secretly using a dating app or IM platform with disappearing messages like Snapchat.

Beyond text monitoring, you can also see someone’s shared multimedia files and location history. This allows you to know where the target phone is and what files are being shared.

For other intended uses, know that monitoring an adult’s private conversations without their consent is illegal and could be classified as cyberstalking. Spynger’s disclaimer also states the software is for legal use only.

Pricing

Spynger has three subscription plans, with the quarterly plan being the most popular and costing $39.99/month (roughly $480/year).

The annual plan is the cheapest in the long run, costing $14.27/month or $171.24/year. However, all the plans contain the same features.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on how long you plan to use the app. Using Spynger for just one month will cost you $68.56/month.

New customers also benefit from a substantial discount in the first month of their subscription.

3. Eyezy – Best Text & Social Media Spy App With Automatic Alerts

Eyezy monitors SMS and all popular social media and messaging platforms, including iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, Tinder, and Instagram. It’ll also show you any multimedia files, like pictures or videos featured in the texts.

Moreover, Eyezy’s magic alert feature automatically notifies you of suspicious texts, searches, or visited locations. This way, you’ll always be in the loop and you don’t have to spend all day worrying you’ll miss important details.

Eyezy’s clean and responsive user interface perfectly balances ease of use and functionality. This gives you a quick overview of all the target’s activities without navigating through multiple menus.

Like mSpy, Eyezy has an advanced keylogger that records everything typed on the target device. Thanks to this, you can even find out about deleted texts or searches. You can even set Eyezy to block inappropriate texts from being sent.

With such advanced remote control features, you could prevent potentially dangerous online interactions.

Outside of this, EyeZy has one of the most robust browser-use monitors on the market, giving you a detailed breakdown of their searching habits, including how many times and when they visited certain sites.

You’ll also get to see bookmarks, their most-visited sites, and other statistics. With this, you can rest easy knowing that you can always look at what kinds of sites your loved ones are visiting.

Pricing

Eyezy has three subscription plans. The three-month plan is the most popular and provides all the spy features you need for $39.99/month.

As all the plans come with a full feature package, the 12-month plan gives you the best value for just $14.27/month if you know you’ll be using the app for a while.

New customers may also get a discount on their first billing cycle, so you could potentially save 30% on your purchase.

4. uMobix — Feature-Full Generalist Text Message Spy App

uMobix is a great choice for overall parental monitoring. The app lets you view text messages and all social media activity, including dating apps. It works with any social media platform, including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Tinder.

The app also displays all the information with accompanying timestamps and contact names to help you identify who’s behind all received texts.

Beyond its monitoring features, uMobix lets you remotely restrict or block unauthorized apps. With this feature, you can keep your child safe from inappropriate content and protect their data from potentially shady apps.

This is an active concern for many parents, considering the growing number of minors on dating apps.

uMobix is also among the best geofencing apps, so you’ll benefit from its advanced GPS tracking features. These features give you real-time information about your child’s location and movements throughout the day.

Pricing

Like other apps on the list, uMobix has three subscription plans. If you want to try the app for one month, you’ll pay $49.99/month.

The 12-month plan is considerably cheaper at $12.49/month, so you’ll get the best value if you plan on using the app for a while.

5. Cocospy – Best iOS Spy App For Ease of Use & No Jailbreaking Requirements

Cocospy is one of the best phone spy apps across the board, especially for iOS devices.

While other spy apps require jailbreaking, Cocospy lets you start monitoring without installing an app or enabling device permissions. However, you will need the target phone’s iCloud credentials. You’ll also have to ensure the iOS device has enabled backup.

Although Cocospy’s Android version has a more feature-rich package, it still provides good functionality for iPhone monitoring. This is impressive, considering how easy it is to start spying without installing or jailbreaking the target phone.

As well as SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram monitoring, the iOS version lets you see call logs, contacts, photos, and videos on the device. These features give you more than enough information to identify risky online behavior.

On Android, Cocospy gives you additional features like keylogging, app use analytics, browser history, and monitoring access to an extensive list of messaging and social media apps (like Telegram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Tinder).

Pricing

The Android and iOS versions have the same price tag—$49.99/month for a one-month plan.

This pricing may seem unfair, considering the iOS version has fewer features but costs the same as the Android version. However, considering its ease of setup and use, Cocospy could be worth the price.

You could also save quite a bit if you opt for the 12-month plan, which currently costs $12.49/month.

6. Hoverwatch – The Best Text Spy App For Tracking Multiple Devices

Hoverwatch is one of the most versatile message spy apps we’ve come across. It’s not only available on Android mobiles but also works on Mac and Windows computers, a level of compatibility you won’t see in all monitoring apps.

Moreover, unlike other spy apps we’ve reviewed, you don’t need separate subscriptions to monitor multiple devices.

Whether you’re trying to protect your child from cyber danger or secure valuable company data and equipment, Hoverwatch is equipped to tackle all your monitoring needs.

Its extensive suite of Android spy features goes beyond SMS and messenger platform tracking. The app also lets you track the target’s location, record calls, view their contacts, monitor their search history, and take screenshots of their activity.

The app’s desktop version includes additional productivity and safety monitoring features. These features let you track a laptop’s location, take screenshots and webcam shots, and record every keystroke or text saved in the clipboard.

Thanks to Hoverwatch’s multiple text and activity monitoring functionalities, you can always be sure that your loved ones are safe in their online interactions.

Pricing

Hoverwatch has three subscription plans. The Personal plan is the cheapest, at $99/year, but it only allows monitoring for one device.

The Professional plan provides the best value for those interested in parental control. For $199.95/year (roughly $16.66/month), you can spy text and messages on up to five devices, including smartphones, laptops, and PCs.

The Business plan is the most expensive at $499.95/year. While it lets you track up to 25 devices, it has no additional features. Ultimately, the most cost-effective option will depend on your intended use case.

7. Spyic – Most Affordable Text Spy App With Additional SIM Tracking Features

Spyic’s monitoring features are similar to those of the other apps on our list. First, you’ll see text messages, call logs, and contacts on the target phone, which gives you a general idea about your loved ones’ interactions.

However, Spyic’s SIM card tracking feature also gives you a deeper insight into their device information. With this feature, you can check their SIM card details, so you’ll know if they’re using a different phone number behind your back.

Beyond the app’s text monitoring and SIM tracking features, you’ll also get access to their social media interactions across multiple platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok.

Spyic’s keylogger feature catches any suspicious conversations and internet searches, even deleted ones. If you’re worried about your child’s or loved one’s online activity, you can remotely restrict dangerous apps or block unwanted websites.

Unfortunately, most of these advanced parental control features are currently available only on Android.

Pricing

All Spyic subscriptions include the app’s full feature package, so the 12-month plan offers the best bang for your buck. This option costs $12.49/month, and you get up to 180 days of data storage on Android.

If you only want to try the app for a while, the one-month plan costs $49.99/month, with the possibility of a full refund within 14 days of purchase.

8. XNSpy – Best Text & Social Media Spy App With Activity Analytics

Like other text message spy apps on this list, XNSpy lets you remotely view SMS messages, emails, and IM chats across multiple platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Signal, and Snapchat.

You can also see the multimedia files shared in chats or on your child’s phone, so you’ll know if they are exposed to inappropriate content. If you deem extra precautions necessary, XNSpy’s keylogger lets you set 24/7 instant alerts on specific words.

Beyond automatic alerts, you can save time and stress when monitoring with XNSpy’s analytics feature.

You won’t have to constantly check on them to get a general idea about their activity, as XNSpy automatically collects and categorizes the data for you.

Thanks to the analytics feature, you can see their web browsing routine, favorite contacts, and call-time activity in a neat, easy-to-interpret format.

And if you think someone could be lying about their whereabouts, XNSpy’s Wi-Fi and GPS tracking features could come in handy.

XNSpy lets you monitor Wi-Fi connections, including the location and name of new networks they connect to. Moreover, the GPS tracking feature gives you a list of their locations, and you can even set up automatic alerts for new check-ins.

Pricing

Each subscription plan comes with all the features, and the pricing is the same for Android and iOS versions. So, a 1-month plan and a 12-month plan give you the same functionality, with pricing being the only difference.

The 12-month plan provides the best value for long-term use, as it costs $12.49/month (a little under $150/year). If you plan to use XNSpy only for one month, the subscription costs$49.99/month.

The Android version has more features than the iOS version. The full package for Android includes GPS monitoring, keylogger, and remote control features.

The iOS version mainly lets you monitor calls, contacts, SMS, multimedia files, and WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger conversations.

9. Phonsee – Best Text & Email Spy App To See Their Contacts List

Phonsee is easy to use and has excellent monitoring features.

A combination of social media, messages, and location monitoring gives you valuable insight into your loved ones’ online and offline activity so you know they’re protected from danger at all times.

This text spy solution is compatible with all popular messaging apps and social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Kik, Facebook, Discord, and Viber.

Additional features like automated screenshots and keylogging ensure no activity goes untracked, even when it comes to incognito searches or more niche apps with disappearing messages.

Beyond that, Phonsee makes it easy to see your loved ones’ online circle of friends. The app delivers all the recorded data in a convenient chat format with timestamps, the contacts’ names, numbers, and avatars.

This way, you’ll know who’s behind incoming texts and shared files. If you notice any potentially harmful activity, you can also remotely block suspicious apps, inappropriate websites, or unwanted Wi-Fi connections.

Pricing

Phonsee has three pricing plans. A one-month subscription normally costs $68.56/month, but first-time buyers get a 38% discount on the first billing cycle.

The first month of a yearly plan costs $8.85, and the pricing increases to $14.27/month after that.

If you don’t plan to use Phonsee for a full year, the three-month plan gives you enough time to get an idea about your child’s online activity for $39.99/month.

10. Haqerra – Best Text & Social Media Spy App For Phone and iPad

Haqerra is one of the easiest apps to install for iPhone and iPad monitoring. You can remotely install the app via iCloud as long as you know the credentials. Once installed, you’ll get access to all backed-up messages and files.

For Android phones, you’ll need access to the target device, as you have to download and run the installation file manually.

With Haqerra, you can see someone’s chats on various social media and messaging platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tinder. Beyond sent and incoming texts, you’ll see shared multimedia files, including hidden or deleted ones.

The app also allows you to monitor other online activities, such as comments, likes, and shares, so you have all the information you need in one convenient place.

If you’re curious about a loved one’s calls and contacts, Haqerra also covers that. The app lets you see someone’s contact list and call history, including deleted calls.

Pricing

Haqerra’s one-month plan costs $69.99, though first-time customers can get their first month for $41.99.

Longer subscriptions cost less. A three-month plan, for example, costs $40/month (the first month costing $24/month).

If you plan to use Haqerra indefinitely, the yearly plan would be the best option at $16.67/month (roughly $200/year).

Best Text Spy Apps Compared

With ample options, choosing a spy app that best suits your requirements can be hard without a head-to-head comparison.

Now that you’ve learned the ins and outs of each one, here’s a handy table to help you narrow down your options.

How We Test Spy Apps

Given the large number of text spy apps available, it’s understandably difficult to figure out which ones are worth your money. For this reason, we compiled a checklist of the must-haves that any good app should cover.

The apps that meet most or all of these requirements make it to our top picks list.

How to Set Up a Text Message Spy App

Now, let’s look at how to install and use the best spy app to see text messages: mSpy. We’ll be using Android here, although the process is similar on iOS as well.

1. Go to the mSpy Website

Click on the button below and press “Try Now” to begin the account creation process. Here, you’ll want to pick the monitored device’s OS and your desired subscription plan.

When you’re done with that, mSpy should send an email with your new Username, Password, Installation URL, and Control Panel link. Make sure to save it.

2. Turn Off Play Protect

Play Protect stops you from downloading apps like mSpy, so we’ll need to disable it on the target phone. Navigate to the Play Store settings and tick off “Improve harmful app detection,” like in the image below.

3. Download mSpy

Open Google Chrome or a different web browser, then paste in the Installation URL from the mSpy email. Next, accept all permissions and navigate through the installation wizard. In the end, simply click “Complete Installation.”

Finally, go to your device and paste in your Control Panel URL. Using your password and username to log in will take you to your dashboard, where you can start spying in real time.

The process is fairly similar on iOS. The only big difference is that you’ll need to download and install Cydia on the target phone and put in the installation link there.

Conclusion | The Best Text Spy App in 2024

There are countless text message spy apps out there claiming to be the best. Today, we’ve tested many such claims.

Whether you’re looking for robust text message spying features, the ability to control your child’s access to the internet or a full-blown remote spying solution, mSpy has you covered.

It’s an incredibly versatile tool that allows you to do all of this and more, ensuring your complete peace of mind. Test out mSpy risk-free now with its 14-day money-back guarantee, or just try its free demo below.

Text Spy Apps FAQs