Do you ever wish that you could take a glimpse into your kids’ phones? Every modern parent feels this way. It’s only natural that you’d want to protect your children from cyberbullies, criminals, and malware.
That’s what phone tracking apps do – they give you access.
If you’re in the market for the best parental control software solution, one of the options listed below will definitely fit your needs.
Top 10 most popular phone tracking apps
There are multiple ways to keep your kids safe online, but monitoring their activity is the most proactive method. The following ten apps for phone tracking and parental control can help you to prevent bad things from happening.
- mSpy Most features available
- uMobix Extensive activity tracking
- eyeZy Good stealth mode tracking
- Hoverwatch Good affordable option
- Mobile Tracker Reliable free option
- Clevguard Set up alerts and geo-fencing
- Spyera User-friendly and easy installation
- FamiGuard Great video recording feature
- Cocospy Detects SIM changes
- FlexiSPY Can track computers and mobile devices
mSpy — Most features available
Many people have heard of mSpy, a mobile app that helps worried parents track their kids’ mobile activity. Another frequent use case for mSpy is the practice of employee tracking. This app is available for both iOS and Android.
Key features
- IM chat, SMS, and email tracking – view all private messages on WhatsApp and social media, plus texts and emails.
- Online activity monitoring – keep track of everything they do online.
- Manage and block – restrict access to harmful web content, apps, and phone calls.
Pricing
mSpy offers three pricing plans for both iOS and Android phones, with all features included:
Paid plan
-
$48.99
(1 month) -
$28.00 per month
(3 months) -
$11.67 per month
(12 months)
Subscribing to mSpy includes all premium features as well as the app’s signature invisible mode. Having a subscription allows you to monitor incoming and outgoing calls, view the device’s GPS location, screen messages, and website history, record the screen, and access popular social media apps.
uMobix — Extensive activity tracking
uMobix allows you to see everything that your kids do on their phones, save for social media events. You can block third-party devices and access the target phone’s camera, but there’s no screen recording.
uMobix is available for both iOS and Android, but it offers fewer features for iOS.
Key features
- IM chat, SMS, and call log tracking – read messages, analyze time stamps, and see call history.
- Online activity and social media monitoring – see where they go and what they do online.
- Direct access to the camera – turn on the phone’s camera to record its surroundings.
Pricing
For optimal convenience, uMobix offers three pricing plans:
Paid plan
- $49.99 per month
-
$29.99 per month
(3 month subscription) -
$12.49 per month
(12 month subscription)
This plan offers all available functionalities for Android, but it doesn’t offer much for iOS users. You can find the complete list of features here.
eyeZy — Good stealth mode tracking
Developed to help you “protect your family right now – and well into the future,” eyeZy is a monitoring app with many useful features that provide peace of mind regarding mobile activity.
Special points go to the Magic alerts feature, which allows you to put monitoring on auto-pilot.
Key features
- Social spotlight – view social chats, deleted messages, texts, calls, emails, and contacts.
- Web magnifier – see browser history and bookmarks.
- Pinpoint – track the phone’s GPS location and any Wi-Fi that it is connected to.
Pricing
eyeZe is currently available at a discounted price, so take notice of the price in brackets. The website states that you will be charged the full price “starting from the next subscription renewal.” There are three available plans, all of which offer the complete package.
Paid plan
-
$47.99 per month
1 month -
$27.99 per month
(3 month subscription) -
$9.99 per month
(12 month subscription)
Each plan will get you a complete package for the chosen term.
Hoverwatch — Good affordable option
Hoverwatch has a convenient scheduled screenshots feature, doesn’t require rooting, and doesn’t cause a device to heat up. However, it’s only available for Android.
Users complain about the complicated installation process, clunky dashboard, and some features that don’t really work, but on the upside, you can access a free trial version and the app offers 100% invisibility.
Key features
- Recording and screenshots – record calls and take scheduled screenshots.
- Internet history – access complete phone internet history to see what the user is doing online.
- Detects SIM card change – stay in the know even if the phone owner changes the SIM card.
Pricing
You can choose between three different tiers and three pricing plans for each tier:
Personal
- $27 for 1 month
- $65 for 3 months
- $108 for 12 months
Hoverwatch Personal includes all monitoring functions, but it allows you to track only one device over the period of your subscription.
Professional
- $54 for 1 month
- $108 for 3 months
- $215 for 12 months
The Professional plan gives you full access to all Hoverwatch features and the ability to track up to five devices. It includes the Android mobile app and the version for Windows PC or Mac Computer.
Business
- $160 for 1 month
- $323 for 3 months
- $538 for 12 months
You can track as many as 25 devices with the Business plan, which includes all available features, a mobile app, and PC software.
Mobile Tracker — Reliable free option
Mobile Tracker Free also offers two paid versions, but the $0 one is great if you don’t mind ads and daily caps. The free version includes all standard monitoring features, plus statistics and Excel reports.
Mobile Tracker is also surprisingly easy to use, but it’s an Android phone exclusive.
Key features
- Complete phone tracking – SMS, calls, GPS, IMs, files, calendar, contacts, and apps.
- Remote control – fully control the phone, take a picture, record audio, delete data, and more.
- Live viewing – view live what happens on the phone screen and around it.
Pricing
In addition to the free plan, Mobile Tracker offers two paid tiers for different numbers of devices and with varying limitations for data display and storage, calls, live viewing, and remote control.
Free
- Free of charge
This plan allows you to monitor one phone and use many powerful features, but it comes with ads and a weekly login requirement. It also provides only 3 days’ worth of storage, 5 files downloaded from File explorer, 5 live viewing sessions per day, and other limitations.
Basic
- $6 for 1 month
The Basic plan is also a single-device tier, but it removes all ads from the app. You don’t have to log in every week, and you can listen to up to 50 phone calls a day, have 40 live viewing sessions, and download 50 files from File explorer.
Premium
- $16 per month for 3 months
This plan allows you to track an unlimited number of phones. It has no ads, weekly log requirements, or usage limitations – aside from a live viewing cap of 100 sessions and a few other caps for remote control features.
Clevguard — Set up alerts and geo-fencing
Clevgard is fast and easy to use, and there’s an array of efficient features which vary depending on which product you choose.
Key features
- Social media and chat monitoring – full tracking for 30+ networks, IMs, SMS, calls, and more.
- Full access – see photos, videos, apps, and deleted files, plus iCloud data with KidsGuard iCloud.
- Keylogger with analysis – see everything that they type on their phone and browser.
Pricing
Clevguard has separate price plans for each product, meaning that you don’t have to pay for anything unnecessary. Other than their duration, there’s no difference between the 1-month, 3-month, and 12-month subscription plans.
KidsGuard Pro For Android
- $29.95 for 1 month
-
$16.65 per month
(3 month subscription) -
$8.32 per month
(12 month subscription)
KidsGuard Pro for Android offers full access to the target device, including geofence alerts and live screen recording.
KidsGuard for WhatsApp (Android only)
- $19.95 for 1 month
-
$13.31 per month
(3 month subscription) -
$7.49 per month
(12 month subscription)
KidsGuard for WhatsApp is a specialized tool for monitoring WhatsApp activity that doesn’t require that you have a WhatsApp account or password.
KidsGuard for LINE (Android only)
- $19.95 for 1 month
-
$13.31 per month
(3 month subscription) -
$7.49 per month
(12 month subscription)
KidsGuard for LINE allows you to stay on top of everything that happens on the LINE app, including messages, call logs, videos, audio, images, and more.
KidsGuard Pro for iOS (No jailbreak)
- $39.95 for 1 month
-
$19.95 per month
(3 month subscription) -
$9.16 per month
(12 month subscription)
This pricing plan for KidsGuard Pro for iOS is a bundle of useful features that allows you to see everything that your kids do on their iPhone without having to jailbreak the device.
KidsGuard Pro for iOS (Real Time)
- $49.95 for 1 month
-
$23.31 per month
(3 month subscription) -
$9.99 per month
(12 month subscription)
The RealTime version of KidsGuard Pro for iOS is relatively new and more expensive but offers the same capabilities as the older version, plus real-time tracking. However, it requires jailbreaking.
KidsGuard Pro iCloud (for iOS only)
- $29.95 for 1 month
-
$16.65 per month
(3 month subscription) -
$8.32 per month
(12 month subscription)
If you need unrestricted access to somebody’s iCloud, this ClevGuard product will provide it for a fraction of the price you’d pay for a complete iPhone monitoring package.
Spyera — User-friendly and easy installation
Spyera may seem like a versatile phone tracking app, but there are a few issues that make it less than efficient at stealth monitoring. For one, you have to install it manually, which can be a bit tricky. While user-friendly, the setup process also requires that you jailbreak the phone.
Key features
- All-around phone tracker – monitor calls, media files, IMs, SMS, email location, and app.
- Spy call – remotely control the microphone and listen in on the environment.
- Web history access – detailed log of websites accessed from the target phone.
Pricing
Spyera costs more than most phone tracking apps, with separate plans for tablets and computers, as well as an all-in-one package that allows you to spy on one of each type of device.
Smart Phone (iPhone or Android)
- $89 per month
- $389 per year
Spyera for a smartphone is on the expensive side and is used for one target device only, but you can change as many devices as you wish. If you didn’t have to do this manually, it would be a huge plus.
Tablet (iPhone or Android)
- $69 per month
- $279 per year
Computer (Windows or MAC)
- $49 per month
- $199 per year
ALL IN ONE (all compatible devices)
- $389 per year
FamiGuard — Great video recording feature
FemiGuard is an excellent phone tracking app that specializes in parental control. It boasts features such as advanced web content filtering and geofencing.
To unlock more advanced features, you can subscribe to FamiGuard Pro or choose a separate app for WhatsApp. However, you also need a companion app called FamiGuard Jr installed on your child’s device.
Key features
- Phone tracking – GPS tracking, call logs, messages, photos, calendar, social, and other apps.
- Take photos, record calls, & capture screenshots – access the camera to view the surroundings.
- Block & filter – block apps and web content, filter calls, and set screen time limitations.
Pricing
Whether you choose basic Parental Control, a premium version, or a WhatsApp tracker, you can subscribe to FamiGuard for one month, three months, or an entire year.
FamiGuard Parental Control
- $9.99 for 1 month
- $19.99 for 3 months
- $49.99 for 12 months
The free version comes without stealth mode and you won’t get to see messages, contacts, media, or record anything. On the plus side, you can filter calls, lock the screen, and block access to apps and web content.
FamiGuard Pro for Android
- $29.95 for 1 month
- $49.95 for 3 months
- $99.99 for 12 months
This premium plan is designed specifically for Android devices, so it doesn’t have the call filter and lock screen features. You also won’t be able to block apps and web content with this version of the app.
FamiGuard Pro for iOS
- $39.95 for 1 month
- $59.95 for 3 months
- $109.95 for 12 months
Famiguard Pro for iOS lacks some features that you would expect in a premium app. In addition to filter and block features, the lock screen and keylogger are also disabled, and there is no option to export data. You also won’t be able to track particular social apps, such as Tinder and Telegram.
FamiGuard for WhatsApp
- $19.95 for 1 month
- $89.95 for 3 months
- $49.99 for 12 months
Though many standard phone tracking features are turned off, FamiGuard for WhatsApp allows you to dive deeper into your kid’s WhatsApp interactions and habits. Stealth mode and data export are also included.
Cocospy — Detects SIM changes
Cocospy’s most competitive feature is SIM location tracking, useful for finding a lost phone and keeping tabs on a phone number. Only a few apps with parental controls offer this capability, so this is a winning feature for Cocospy.
You can use Cocospy on iOS and Android, but it requires physical access to the Android phone.
Key features
- Phone tracking – calls, SMS, location, social media apps, and website history.
- Geofencing – receive alerts any time a phone leaves or enters a certain location.
- SIM tracking – detect changes on the SIM card, including phone number and location.
Pricing
Cocoscopy has flexible pricing, meaning that it offers multiple tiers and subscription plans for both types of devices as well as two different use cases – family and business.
Basic for Android
- $39.99 for 1 month
- $59.99 for 3 months
- $99.99 for 12 months
The basic plan provides access to a single device’s call logs, browser history, SMS, contacts, photos, and videos. It also allows you to track SMS and GPS location in real-time. There’s no social media tracking available.
Premium for Android
- $49.99 for 1 month
- $69.99 for 3 months
- $119.99 for 12 months
In addition to the features available in the basic plan, the premium Android app supports IM and social media tracking for 15+ apps. Keylogger is enabled as well, but you can only monitor one device.
Family for Android
- $69.99 for 1 month
- $99.99 for 3 months
- $199.99 for 12 months
The “Family” plan offers access to three devices at the same time for a fair price. Feature-wise, you receive everything on the list, including SIM tracking, keylogger, and tracking for all supported social apps.
Premium for iOS
- $49.99 for 1 month
- $79.99 for 3 months
- $129.99 for 12 months
Phone monitoring could be more comprehensive, and there’s no social media or IM tracking. Aside from iMessages, all you receive are WhatsApp and LINE. This plan is for one device only.
Family for iOS
- $99.99 for 1 month
- $199.99 for 3 months
- $399.99 for 12 months
The “Family” plan allows you to simultaneously supervise up to 5 devices. This can be useful if you have a big family or a very small business.
Business for iOS
- $399.99 for 1 month
- $699.99 for 3 months
- $999.99 for 12 months
The “Business” plan for iOS devices only allows you to access 25 devices and doesn’t include any special features for employee monitoring or permission control. The feature list is exactly the same as in the previous two plans.
FlexiSPY — Can track computers and mobile devices
FlexiSPY is a robust monitoring tool for computers and smartphones that you can have pre-installed on a brand-new device. FlexiSPY’s feature-rich app is available for both Android and iPhone.
Key features
- Digital communications tracker – monitor calls, texts, IMs, and social media interactions.
- Media files and apps list – view everything on the device and download photos and videos.
- Listen to the environment – take control of the microphone to listen in on the environment.
Pricing
FlexiSPY has three pricing plans to which you can subscribe for one, three, or twelve months. Feature lists for all plans may vary depending on whether you have an Android or iPhone.
Lite
- $29.95 for 1 month
Lite offers all of the essential features for a respectable price. It’s a single-device, one-month deal with geofencing and keylogger, among other advanced capabilities, but it lacks social media tracking.
Premium
- $79 for 1 month
- $119 for 3 months
- $179 for 12 months
FlexiSPY Premium includes smart tracking capabilities such as SIM-changed notifications and 20+ features for social media monitoring.
Extreme
- $119 for 1 month
- $239 for 3 months
- $419 for 12 months
Extreme has everything from the previous plan, plus monitoring and recording of all audio streams along with tools such as phone call interception and SMS keyword deletion.
How to choose the right phone tracking app
Certain apps are focused on parental control, while others offer extensive features for employee monitoring. Device compatibility, pricing plans, and PC monitoring capabilities are other important considerations.
Here’s a rundown of the most important factors to consider:
Price
Phone tracking apps are available with a variety of pricing plans that offer very different prices for more or less the same number of features.
Supported OS
If you have an Android device, choose an Android app. The same goes for iOS devices. iOS apps tend to be more expensive, but you’re probably used to that already.
Supported devices
Many phone trackers come with complementary apps for tablets and PCs. If you want to monitor somebody’s phone activity from your tablet or PC, make sure that the monitoring software supports these devices.
Tracking features
To choose a phone tracking app based on this criteria, you must have at least a general idea of how the person you want to track is using their device.
Accessing and managing the target device remotely is exceptionally useful in terms of parental control, as it allows you to block certain content, turn on the camera, and record your child’s surroundings.
Installation
Some apps require manual installation on the target device, which can be tricky. Phone tracking apps that you can install remotely are generally a better pick.
When you see a note that says “rooting/jailbreaking required,” it means that the installation process requires a few extra steps.
Security
To protect your kids from cyberbullies and inappropriate web content, the connection between your monitoring app and the complementary tracker installed on their phone must be encrypted and 100% safe.
Best options for different needs
Still don’t know where to start? Here’s a brief overview of three phone tracking apps that we consider to be the best in their respective categories.
Best for mobile tracking and parental control
To protect your kids from the harmful aspects of the digital environment, you need an app with robust parental control functionalities in stealth mode, including communication tracking and the ability to block certain apps.
Best for remote tracking
Remote tracking apps allow you to manage the target device remotely and pinpoint its exact location. The best ones send alerts when the phone goes somewhere forbidden (geofencing).
Best overall
The best overall phone tracking app is the one that boasts the longest list of features at competitive prices. It should be easy to install and use, and work in stealth mode.
FAQs
It is an app that allows you to access a desired device to see everything that happens there – from texts and phone calls to social media and IM apps as well as online usage and history. It’s mostly used by parents who want to track their kids.
Phone tracking apps work by pairing a silent app on a target device with a complementary app for monitoring the target device’s activity. When your kid texts someone using WhatsApp or accesses a website with adult content, you can see that on your app.
The best apps are usually easy to set up and use. However, there are excellent apps that require you to jailbreak or root the target device, which could be more complicated than the usual app installation.
Yes, you can track another person’s location with an app by following the whereabouts of their phone. Apps do this by tracking the target device’s GPS location, Wi-Fi network, or SIM card location.
Conclusion
A reliable phone tracking app allows you to legally observe somebody’s digital habits and online behavior. You can leverage its powerful features for monitoring and remote access, including keylogger, permission controls, and geofencing.
For this list, we’ve selected phone tracking apps with the most useful monitoring features and the best prices.
