Affiliate Disclaimer mSpy is one of the most popular parental controls and phone tracking software. But is it as good as it claims? We often add mSpy to our HeyLocate blog lists of best services for different purposes. However, we looked into the nitty-gritty of this app and discovered even more.
With lots of parental control services, narrowing down the best for your needs can be difficult. Better yet, you want to avoid spending time and money on an app that does not meet your requirements. This mSpy review will help you understand how this app works in reality.
We’ll tell you about the installation process, what it monitors, and any restrictions the app offers. In addition, we’ll talk about performance, mSpy Lite version, and whether it delivers on the features it claims. So, here goes.
What is mSpy?
mSpy is a monitoring software you install on a target device to monitor all the phone’s features. It can track instant messages, incoming calls, browser history, bookmarks, social media activity, etc.
Our research showed that mSpy was launched in 2010 by a London-based tech company. It’s aimed at parents who want to keep tabs on a kid’s phone. According to Similarweb, its general audience comprises ≈56% male and ≈43% female in the 25–34 years age gap.
mSpy receives much traction online, as many people find it delivers on most of its claims. Moreover, the mSpy blog offers useful information about installing mSpy on iPhone and Android, navigating social media apps like Instagram, and many other forms of phone monitoring that can help users.
mSpy customer support is available by phone in eight languages. You can use it to monitor almost everything on a kid’s phone. Furthermore, it allows parents to set restrictions for websites, apps, and Wi-Fi.
If you don’t need too many monitoring features, mSpy offers its lite app – mLite.
Is mSpy Legit or A Scam?
According to our investigation, mSpy is a legitimate service, with an average rating of 4.3 stars on sitejabber.com and 3.0 stars on Trustpilot. The site has received thousands of positive and negative reviews, indicating that users interact with a legit site.
mSpy’s mission is clear – to help parents create a safe online world for kids. To this end, mSpy should be used for parental control, as it is written in their Terms of Use. Altercon Group s.r.o., a Czech company, provides the site’s features.
mSpy has a 100% trust score on Scamadviser. We also checked the mSpy SSL certificate on SSL shopper and found it to be valid. This means that the connection between your browser and the mSpy website is secure and encrypted. This prevents unauthorized parties from intercepting sensitive data, like login credentials or payment information.
Our WHOIS search on GoDaddy revealed mSpy was registered in 2002 and is due to renew in 2027. Years of experience speaks for itself.
Lastly, mSpy has a clear billing system described in their Terms of Use and a “get your money back” program. These are all features that indicate that mSpy is a legitimate service.
How Does mSpy Work?
mSpy is installed on a target device, logging calls, texts, GPS location, social media, web history, and keystrokes. Data is sent to the purchaser’s account for remote access. It operates discreetly in the background and offers various monitoring features, providing detailed insight into the device user’s activities.
How to Install mSpy on Android
To install mSpy, you first need to create an account and buy a subscription. To do this:
- Create an account
Click on “Try Now” on the mSpy main page and enter your email.
It then asks you to choose the device you need to monitor. Since I wanted to monitor an Android device, that’s the option I picked.
- Select the subscription
I then selected my payment plan. Find more details about the prices and payment options in the subtitle “How much does mSpy cost”.
After the successful payment, I got the confirmation email with a link to the control panel, my username, and password. - Install mSpy on Target Device
Now you need to sign in to your account and link the target device.
After selecting my preferred language on the control panel, mSpy led me to set up the app on the target phone. Confirm that you have access to the device to proceed to the next steps.
Then I picked the device type, including model of Android phone, and took my kid’s phone. You cannot install mSpy without access to the target phone on Android phones.
Before installing mSpy on the Android phone, I needed to follow a few more steps to make the app work properly. - Disable Google Play Protect on the target phone
Open Google Play Store, tap on your profile in the top-right corner, and click Play Protect. Next, tap on the settings icon in the top-right corner to turn off Play Protect.
Push the slider to the left. This action prevents Google Play Store from scanning apps downloaded outside the Play Store.
Besides, turn off notifications from Google Play by going to Settings > Apps > Notifications > Google Play Store > toggle off “Show notifications”.
- Install mSpy from the Web
For further installation, mSpy led me to getmspy.net. You can go there by QR-code as well.
I passed the Google warning about downloading apps from unknown sources and then checked the box to pass the captcha security. Then I downloaded the app.
If Chrome doesn’t allow you to install mSpy apk file like it is, tap Settings on the notification and turn on Allow permission. Then click “Install”.
- Configure the mSpy app
mSpy displays as “Update Service” on my kid’s phone, so they won’t be able to guess that mommy is controlling them.
The app will ask permission to appear on top of other apps. Allow this permission, then scroll down to the Framework update service and turn it on. Then allow the remaining permissions like messages’ tracker, mSpy monitoring, call tracking, social media tracking, etc.
- Log In to mSpy Account
After configuring mSpy, log in to your account on the mSpy website. You’ll get the registration code to enter on the target device. Then you can start the phone monitoring.
- Turn off mSpy notifications and clear installation history
Although mSpy is hidden as an “Update service” on the child’s phone, you can go further and turn off its notifications.
In addition, I cleared the browsing history and deleted the download file with the name bt.installer.apk.
How to Install mSpy on Non-Jailbroken iPhone
To install mSpy on a non-jailbroken iPhone, you can use your child’s iCloud credentials or Wi-Fi sync.
Using iCloud Credentials
- Open mSpy.net to buy a subscription plan. It will take you to the installation page.
- Choose iPhone as the device you want to monitor.
- Select the ‘Know iCloud Credentials’ option on the installation page.
- Use your child’s iCloud credentials to connect to mSpy. It will ask to send a code for 2FA authentication. Click ‘Send Code’ and then enter the code sent on the target iPhone.
- Click Connect and wait for 15–20 minutes as the data on the iPhone is uploaded to mSpy’s online dashboard.
Using Wi-Fi Sync
Wi-Fi sync requires physical access to the target iPhone.
- After choosing this method, you’ll get an email with a link to download desktop software. Install the Wi-Fi sync app to Mac or PC.
- Connect the target iPhone to a PC or Mac using a USB cable.
- Allow the app to back up the device’s data. Once it’s done, you will see the phone’s features on your personal account.
- Disconnect the iPhone from the USB. mSpy will start syncing data to the online dashboard as long as the phone and the computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi.
Note that some features are unavailable when monitoring a non-jailbroken iPhone. These include:
- access to the watchlist contacts;
- viewing Instagram pictures;
- monitoring watchlist words for iMessages;
- recording of phone surroundings;
- email access;
- geofencing.
How to Install mSpy on Jailbroken iPhone
Jailbreaking an iPhone is available for iPhones running iOS 14.4 and higher and some devices running on iOS 14.3. Still, you may need your child’s iCloud credentials when jailbreaking an iPhone for mSpy monitoring. You will need physical access to the device, then use Cydia or an equivalent package manager.
Once you have jailbroken an iPhone, follow the same instructions for installing mSpy on Android.
The installation process is not superfast, but the mSpy guides you, and now I’m confident that all is done correct and there are no suspicious trails of my using kid’s phone. Now I can monitor their phone from the mSpy control panel.
Is mSpy Detectable?
Once you install mSpy, it does not display as mSpy. Hence, it is undetectable by average phone users. Moreover, you can hide the app icon, so it can’t be found on the list of installed apps.
However, I noticed that the phone showed a data collection warning stating that an app was collecting data and storing it on the device. While this is vague, a curious teen can search for the app and may find it.
If the app is uninstalled from the target device, you can install it again. However, you will need to unlink the device, so you can get a new registration code. Simply go to the mSpy dashboard and click on the Device Management. Scroll down to the options in blue and choose “Unlink Device.”
You can also use this feature when you want to monitor a different device using the same subscription.
mSpy Compatibility & Languages
mSpy is compatible with lots of Android and iOS devices. The website form allows you to check whether the model of the target phone or tablet on which you want to install mSpy is compatible with it.
| OS | Details |
|---|---|
| iOS | For jailbroken iOS devices, mSpy is compatible with iOS 14.4–14.8.1. The device needs to be connected to the internet, and you will require physical access to the iPhone or iPad to install the mSpy app. mSpy is compatible with all iOS versions of non-jailbroken iOS devices. You will require the target user’s iCloud credentials, and the device needs an internet connection. Hence, you can use this option if you want to spy on an iPhone without installing software on the target phone physically. |
| Android | mSpy works on Android 4 or higher. Nonetheless, you may require a jailbroken device for advanced mSpy features. |
Language Support: mSpy is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, Dutch, and Czech. While there are more languages on the mSpy website, we noticed that not all of them are available from the mSpy dashboard.
mSpy Referral Program
mSpy operates an affiliate program where you can get 1 month of mSpy subscription for free by referring others to join the platform. Obviously, this program is only for US residents.
You can find the referral link in the account menu. Take advantage of the program to get extra free days using mSpy monitoring features.
Comparison of mSpy App for Android and iPhone
mSpy monitoring software offers similar tracking features on iOS and Android devices. Your mSpy dashboard will display the following information about the target device:
- mSpy software version;
- phone model;
- remaining battery life;
- memory space;
- operating system data;
- cellular service provider;
- last time the monitored device synced with your dashboard;
- whether the target phone is jailbroken.
On non-jailbroken monitored devices, mSpy claims to track the following features:
- location;
- geofencing;
- photos and videos;
- list of contacts;
- list of installed apps;
- emails;
- browser history;
- events;
- notes;
- WhatsApp;
- social media apps;
- Wi-Fi networks the target device is connected to;
- everything your child types with the keylogger;
- screenshots of the target phone in action using Screenrecorder.
Note: The Keylogger feature is not enabled on non-jailbroken iOS devices. It will also not track Facebook and Instagram messages on iOS devices.
Nevertheless, our test on iPhone indicated that the list of available features on iOS is far more limited than claimed. The mSpy customer support suggested waiting up to 24 hours for data synchronization, but that didn’t help during our experimenting. Obviously, you need to jailbreak iPhone to use mSpy fully.
What Can You See with mSpy?
On the main mSpy dashboard, you can see the account details, monitored device info, its current location, top visited websites, top calling contacts, and top messaging contacts.
Let’s see the main features of mSpy, which we’ll test further:
- Location Tracking & Geo-fence
- Social Media Monitoring
- Browser History
- Keyword Tracking
- Website Blocker
- Calls & Texts
- Photos and Video
- Keylogger
- Wi-Fi Networks
- Calendar Monitoring
Location Tracking & Geo-fence – Scores 10/10
mSpy’s location tracking feature showed me my kid’s device’s location and history. It gave me the option to see the phone’s live location on Google Maps using its precise coordinates.
The app accesses the phone’s GPS, which showed me their location at a certain date and time, with latitude, longitude, and accuracy. Thus, I always knew where my child was.
When you click on a certain location point on a map, mSpy shows additional information about that place. I found this feature helpful when tracking a lost phone.
During my testing mSpy, the geo-fence feature allowed me to create key areas that I consider safe zones for my child.
These include school, home, grandpa’s house, the local diner, etc. I could specify the radius of the geozone and set up notifications (when and how to receive them).
Thus, mSpy gave me alerts when my child entered or left a zone. As such, I could know whether my kid is being truthful about where there are going.
Social Media Monitoring – Scores 9/10
I could monitor social media apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tinder, etc. The app really displays the direct messages that the target user receives and sends. It can tell the frequently texted people and see the actual messages on the dashboard.
The app also shows the time, which helped me see when my child was using social media apps – during school classes or at night.
Browser History – Scores 9/10
mSpy can monitor the activities of the target phone online. It displays the web activity, including the browser history, including browsing in incognito mode.
I could also see the top visited websites, the number of times the website is visited, date, and time of browsing.
During my experimenting with it, mSpy listed the bookmarks to help me know my child’s favorite websites.
mSpy Keyword Tracking – Scores 10/10
The mSpy keyword tracking feature allowed me to track certain keywords and notified me if my child typed them in Google search, chats, or anywhere else on their phone.
mSpy Website Blocker – Scores 10/10
I liked the mSpy website block option, since I could enter a certain URL, and the app would block all the pages of that website and any related pages.
You can unblock them anytime.
Contacts, Calls & Texts – Scores 10/10
mSpy could track incoming and outgoing calls. It chronologically lists all the phone calls, with icons showing whether they were outgoing or incoming.
Lastly, mSpy showed me the available contacts on the target phone.
As for text messages, it showed me the exact phone number, date, and time the message was sent or received, and the message’s contents.
Photos and Video – Scores 10/10
mSpy shows the images and videos stored in the target device gallery. It displayed the most recent photos and videos taken through the device’s camera, as well as screenshots, saved images, and those shared via social media apps.
This means I could see the media that my child sees. This feature can help users get ahead of potentially harmful activities like downloading inappropriate images.
Keylogger – Scores 8/10
The keylogger feature showed me what my kid was typing and doing on their phone. If something appeared on my child’s device, I could see it on the mSpy control panel.
mSpy listed the accessed apps and the typed information on those apps. It also displayed the time that my child had accessed various apps on their phone. For example, if I clicked on the WhatsApp option, I could see the messages they had sent.
On the phone services feature, mSpy recorded the numbers entered in the dial pad. Thus, I could see the search terms and the phone services accessed. This would be helpful if you want to see which words your child uses to search on various apps like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube etc.
Installed Apps – Scores 10/10
mSpy can see the installed apps on the target phone. It listed all the apps downloaded on the device; thus you can see even hidden applications.
The [block applications] feature helped me to block the apps that I found inappropriate for my child.
Wi-Fi Networks – Scores 10/10
mSpy could also see all the Wi-Fi networks that the target phone had connected to. These include home and public hotspots. If I didn’t like the listed wireless networks, mSpy gave me the block Wi-Fi option to restrict access to that particular network.
mSpy Calendar Monitoring – Scores 10/10
Another monitoring feature on mSpy is the Events option. With this feature, I coud see the events lined up on the monitored phone’s calendar. It showed me the date, event name, and the status of the event (when it started and ended).
I found this feature reliable for parents who want to keep up with their child’s school calendar.
Surroundings Recording
The surroundings recording feature activates the microphone on the phone you’re monitoring. It can record audio of conversations and ambient sounds around the phone. This feature is vital if your child is not picking up their phone, since you can activate the microphone remotely and know if your kid is in danger.
Remote Camera
You can access the monitored phone’s camera remotely to see your child’s surroundings. This feature is available if the phone is connected to the internet. You can use the remote camera to take photos that will tell you their location or save photos to review later. The remote camera can come in handy if someone steals the phone, since you can capture their face for evidence or rescue a lost child who doesn’t know their location.
Call Recorder
The call recorder is just as its name suggests. This feature records calls on the target device and stores the recordings for you to listen to. You don’t have to activate the call recorder. The feature works automatically when mSpy detects an incoming or outgoing call. Besides, mSpy allows you to download the recordings so you can listen to them offline.
The Call Recorder can catch incidents of cyberbullying that are hard to capture if they are done through calls.
Live Screenshots & Live Screen Streaming
Live screenshots and Live Screen Streaming can show what your child is doing on their phone in real time. They can capture scroll activity on social media apps, chats, and even web surfing as they happen. These features can prove useful for seeing who your child interacts with online and the content they consume on social media. This way, you can catch inappropriate behaviour and guide them accordingly.
Anonymous IG Viewer
mSpy has an anonymous Instagram account viewer. This feature works directly on your mSpy account. It allows you to view Instagram profiles, stories, and posts without the Instagram account owner knowing. You don’t need to have an Instagram account. With the target username, mSpy will display the person’s profile information, posts and stories.
You can download their stories and see who they tagged without the person being notified. We find it ideal for checking out a teen’s Instagram activities, especially if they don’t want you to follow them.
GPS Locator by Link
mSpy can track anyone’s location using a GPS link, not just the monitored phone. The app creates a link that you send to the target phone. Once the person clicks the link, mSpy will obtain the phone’s location and show its position on Google Maps.
When I created a location tracking link with mSpy, I sent it to the target phone via WhatsApp and waited for them to click it. I then clicked on ” Created URLs” on the mSpy dashboard, and it showed me the location of the phone on a map.
App’s Statistics
With mSpy, you can use the app’s Statistics feature to see how long a person spends on an app. mSpy shows you the total time spent on the phone and then breaks down how long the person spent on a particular app. It can also show you the average phone use per day on the weekly report.
If you’re worried about how long a kid spends on their phone, the App’s Statistics will give you a clear picture of phone usage. Thus, you will be able to apply parental controls, such as blocking a particular app or setting up proper times for using the phone.
How Much Does mSpy Cost?
mSpy phone tracker has various plans with different pricing. The cost of mSpy monthly plan is $48.99, while the 3-month plan costs $28/mo. Meanwhile, the 12-month plan is the cheapest, costing users $11.67/mo.
The monthly plan is expensive, considering that it is for monitoring only one device. However, you can change it by unlinking the device.
mSpy does not have a free trial period. Nonetheless, it offers discounts of up to 30% for new users.
mSpy offers a 14-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with the service, you can request a refund, but mSpy will only do this if the request does not contradict the mSpy refund policy.
mSpy Reviews from Other Users
mSpy has many online reviews, both positive and negative. Some complain about the poor service, while others are satisfied.
Trustpilot has more negative reviews, while over 80% of the mSpy users’ reviews on Sitejabber were positive in the last year.
Users have used the app for location tracking as it gives them peace of mind knowing where their kid is. Additionally, customer support receives lots of praise since it’s always responsive and ready to help clients with their problems.
Still, some users did not find mSpy satisfactory. These reviewers expressed their disappointment in the service’s accuracy and the app not working as intended on the monitored device. However, mSpy responds to 95% of all negative reviews and tries to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
mSpy: Pros & Cons
So, to sum it up:
Pros:
- monitors nearly all the features of the target device;
- shows the content of SMSs and instant messages;
- it runs in the background without the target user noticing;
- it views the browsing history and internet activity;
- it can block apps, websites, and Wi-Fi.
Cons:
- high monthly fee;
- it can only monitor one device with each subscription;
- it lacks parental controls like setting up screen time;
- limited features on non-jailbroken iPhone;
- decreases the battery performance of the target device.
Consider the mLite App
mLite is a mobile version of mSpy with fewer features than the web-based version. mLite is available on Google Play and App Store. Thus, you can get it without going through the mSpy installation process.
mLite keeps track of your loved ones from your phone. You install the app on the parent and child devices, which then syncs data from your child’s device to your device.
Since mLite is a lite version, you get only the advanced features. These include GPS location tracking, 3-month location history, and geofencing.
In addition, mLite can track contacts, installed apps, surroundings, and live cameras. Besides, your child can use the panic button to notify you when they are in danger.
mLite offers a one-day trial and prices starting at $14.99 per month. Thus, it’s a cheaper option if you want limited parental control over your child’s device.
Alternatives of mSpy
Here are some apps with similar functionality as mSpy.
1. eyeZy
This spy app is also aimed at parental control. It offers plenty of features like location tracking, app, and content blocking. It also monitors text messages, incoming and outgoing emails, contacts, call logs, and photo & video monitoring, among others.
Its price starts at $9.99/mo, but you need to jailbreak an iPhone to access features such as web and phone call monitoring on iPhones. You can find out how Eyezy works in our comprehensive review of the app.
2. uMobix
This is another highly rated parental control app. It can track calls, SMS, social media activity, location, and log screen activity. uMobix has unique features like notifying you when a SIM card changes and showing deleted contacts and calls. However, it does not offer any restrictions.
3. Cocospy
Cocospy offers remote monitoring of a kid’s phone. Its features include calls & SMS tracking, browser history, Geo-fence alerts, tracking SIM card location, and monitoring messages on social media apps. Cocospy pricing starts at $39.99/mo.
Comparison of mSpy and its alternatives
Let’s compare the features if suggested apps in the table.
| Service | mSpy | Eyezy | uMobix | Cocospy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live location tracking | + | + | + | + |
| Social media monitoring | + | + | + | + |
| Web history | + | + | + | + |
| Texts reader including deleted text messages | + | + | + | + |
| Stored photos and videos | + | + | + | – |
| Geofencing alerts | + | + | + | + |
| Screenrecorder | + | + | – | – |
| Keylogger | + | + | + | + |
| Keyword alerts | + | + | – | – |
| Email monitoring | + | + | + | – |
| Apps viewer and blocker | + | + | + | – |
| Website blocker | + | + | + | – |
| Wi-Fi network monitoring | + | + | + | – |
| Calendar viewer | + | + | – | + |
| Remote camera and mic recording | + | – | + | – |
| Prices | $48.99/mo $28/mo – 3-month plan $11.67/mo – 12-month plan | $47.99/mo $27.99/mo – 3-month plan $9.99/mo – 12-month plan | $49.99/mo $29.99/mo – 3-month plan $12.49/mo – 12-month plan | $39.99/mo |
| Try mSpy | Try Eyezy | Try uMobix | Try Cocospy |
Stay with us to read our detailed reviews of these services in the next articles.
Conclusion
mSpy is a great parental control app. It delivers on its promises, and I especially liked its accuracy on the location tracking feature.
It could show me the calls received and sent from the device and a log of all recent messages on the mobile phone. I can see myself using it to track a teen’s location and social media activity.
If you’re concerned about your kid’s online activity, who they talk to, and the websites they visit, mSpy is a solid choice to meet these needs. But maybe the yearly plan will more cost-effective.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
mSpy works as advertised. It can monitor all the features of a target phone.
mSpy can see all the apps installed on the monitored phone. If you want to block an application, you can do so by selecting it from the mSpy.
mSpy operates in the background and remains undetected by the target user.
mSpy has three subscriptions, starting with the $48.99/mo plan. The 3-month plan costs $28/mo, while the 12-month plan costs $11.67/mo.
mSpy is safe as it does not have any malware. Moreover, it does not store or sell any information from its users. The service encrypts personal activity logs to protect the privacy of its clients.
mSpy allows you to see numerous features ranging from call logs, text messages, live GPS location, top visited websites and instant messages from social media apps.
You don’t need your partner’s phone if it’s an iPhone. You can use their iCloud credentials to access the phone’s features. However, this does not apply to Android devices, since you will need the target phone to install the app.
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