Do you need to know how to read someone’s text messages without them knowing? All the best methods are right here, particularly hidden spy apps. I tested many of these apps for Android and iOS, and I tried several different subscription plans. From my testing, I came to the conclusion that some of the best ones are mSpy, uMobix, XNSpy, and FlexiSPY.
You might be a parent concerned about their underaged children, a wife worried about her husband, or maybe even an employer who wants to ensure that company properties issued to employees are used only for work purposes.
Whatever the reason, it can’t be denied that there are times when you need to learn how to spy on someone text messages.
Understandably, spying gets a bad rap. In fact, if not used properly, spy apps are illegal, according to DataProt, a leading blog about online safety. We also published a detailed post about it. However, you’ll be glad to know that when it’s genuinely needed, there are plenty of text message-forwarding apps out there that can help you spy on someone.
In this article, we’ll discuss multiple methods that you can use to discreetly read someone’s text messages from another phone. I’ve compiled this list with a short summary of each app you can use to monitor someone’s text messages.
- mSpy – Comprehensive parental control app that allows text message tracking, app usage monitoring, and more, available at basic and premium subscription levels.
- uMobix – Affordable parental control spy app providing text message monitoring, spyware scanning, and adjustable syncing frequencies on both Android and iOS devices.
- XNSpy – Cost-effective phone monitoring app with advanced, non-root features like remote phone lock and GPS tracking, excelling in analytics and SMS monitoring.
- FlexiSPY – Feature-rich phone monitoring app, offers distinctive tools like call recording, custom alerts, and app screenshots, but requires device root access or jailbreak.
- Spyic – Pricier app but offers robust text message monitoring among other features, and caters to various needs with multiple subscription tiers for Android and iOS devices.
- Cocospy – Affordable and easy-to-use mobile text messaging spy app that doesn’t require installation on the target device.
- EyeZy – Advanced phone monitoring app for tracking text messages and other online activities on your child’s mobile phone.
Contents
- 1 Top 7 Spy Apps For Monitoring Someone’s Text Messages
- 1.1 mSpy – Overall Best Text Message Monitoring App
- 1.2 uMobix – Best For Screenshotting Text Messages
- 1.3 XNSpy – Most Cost-Effective SMS Monitoring App
- 1.4 FlexiSPY – Best Spy App For Creating Custom SMS Alerts
- 1.5 Spyic – The Most Basic SMS Monitoring Phone App
- 1.6 Cocospy – Most Easy-To-Use Phone Monitoring App For Spying On Text Messages
- 1.7 EyeZy – Advanced SMS Monitoring Phone App
- 2 How Do Spy Apps Work?
- 3 Text Message Spy Apps Comparison Table
- 4 Apps I Do Not Recommend
- 5 What To Look For When Choosing A Text Message Spying App
- 6 FAQs
- 7 How To Spy On Someone Text Messages: Final Thoughts
- 8 About The Authors
Top 7 Spy Apps For Monitoring Someone’s Text Messages
Beyond social media, I discovered that underaged children are also prone to consuming inappropriate content via text messages. I learned about this when I saw a spam text message—filled with sexual innuendos—from an unknown number on my niece’s phone sometime last month.
Now, imagine how many others she must have received and responded to in the past. Besides this, I’ve also read stories about children receiving spam text messages on Apple Discussions, a platform where Apple users occasionally share their concerns.
Hence, I had to look for some ways to track text messages on Android and iOS devices. I tested seven text message monitoring apps, and I’ll be sharing my experience with each one of them. I will also reveal each app’s rating on Trustpilot, an independent and reliable tech review platform. So, here goes:
mSpy – Overall Best Text Message Monitoring App
mSpy is widely known for its robust monitoring capabilities, which is the major thing that prompted me to test it for SMS monitoring. Using this app, I discovered that it offers real-time access to text messages, including sent, received, and deleted messages. You also get to see every text message’s contact information and timestamps.
Furthermore, it is great for location tracking, call monitoring, and social media tracking. It is also one of the best WhatsApp notifiers for knowing when your child or someone else comes online on WhatsApp. Some of mSpy’s pros that impressed me are its user-friendly interface that doesn’t require technical knowledge or skill to navigate and its stealth mode option that allows you to hide it on your child’s phone.
However, I discovered some cons that didn’t sit well with me. You need physical access to your child’s device to set it up, as it doesn’t allow remote installation. You may also have to root the target Android or jailbreak the target iOS device to access all the features, including text message monitoring.
The mobile app is only available on the Apple App Store, while Android users have to download it via the mSpy website. Another thing that didn’t cut it for me is that mSpy is quite pricey and does not offer a free plan or trial. They do have a 14-day money-back guarantee, but it’s only available when you face a problem they can’t fix.
mSpy comes with three different pricing plans. The monthly plan is $48.99/month, the quarterly plan is $27.99/month, and the annual plan is $11.66/month. Moreover, mSpy currently has a rating of 3.6/5 on the Apple app store and 3.8 on Trustpilot.
Overall, from my experience, it is a reliable spy app for monitoring SMS text messages. To find out more about this tool, check out our comprehensive mSpy review for other features beyond SMS tracking.
| App Name | mSpy |
| Main Features | – Real-time SMS monitoring – GPS tracking – Stealth mode – Call monitoring – Social media tracking – Keylogging |
| Free Trial/Demo | Live Demo |
| Money-back Guarantee | 14 days after purchase if the request aligns with their Refund Policy |
| Requires Rooting/Jailbreaking | Rooting the target Android or jailbreaking the target iOS device is required to access all the features, but not mandatory |
| Starting Price | Monthly plan is $48.99/month Quarterly plan is $27.99/month Annual plan is $11.66/month |
uMobix – Best For Screenshotting Text Messages
With uMobix, you can keep track of your child’s text messages by taking clear screenshots you can always revert to when necessary. It also has a keylogger that lets you see their texts in real time and those stored in the clipboard. Besides all this, you can use uMobix to monitor instant messaging platforms and social media apps like Snapchat and Facebook.
Furthermore, I discovered that uMobix is a paid platform (it does not have a free plan), and its subscription fees differ for Android and iOS devices, but its pricing plans are quite flexible. For iOS devices, the basic package is $29.99/month for one month, a one-month full plan is $49.99, a three-month plan costs $79.99 (at $26.66/month), and a 12-month plan costs $149.99 (at $12.49/month).
For Android, a one-month basic plan is $29.99, a one-month full plan is $59.99, a three-month plan is $99.99 (at $33.33/month), and a 12-month plan is $179.88 (at $14.99/month). Plus, it is compatible with all iOS and Android devices running OS 4 or above, and you don’t have to root the target Android or jailbreak the target iOS device.
However, the mobile app is unavailable on Google Play or Apple App Store. So, you have to first create an account on uMobix’s website with your Gmail address, select and pay for your preferred plan, get your login details, and then log in to install the app on the target device.
Additionally, uMobix has a solid reputation, considering its rating of 3.0/5 on Trustpilot.
I, for one, believe that you can’t go wrong with using uMobix for your text message monitoring needs. Here’s our comprehensive uMobix review to enable you to learn more about uMobix.
| App Name | uMobix |
| Main Features | – SMS and social media monitoring – GPS tracking – Stealth mode – Call monitoring – Keylogging – Remote app blocking |
| Free Trial/Demo | Live Demo |
| Money-back Guarantee | 14 days after purchase if the request aligns with their Refund Policy |
| Requires Rooting/Jailbreaking | Rooting the target Android or jailbreaking the target iOS device is not required to access all the features, but it’s an option |
| Starting Price | For iOS devices: Basic package is $29.99/month for one month One-month full plan is $49.99 Three-month plan is $79.99 (at $26.66/month) 12-month plan is $149.99 (at $12.49/month) For Android devices: One-month basic plan is $29.99One-month full plan is $59.99 Three-month plan is $99.99 (at $33.33/month) 12-month plan is $179.88 (at $14.99/month) |
XNSpy – Most Cost-Effective SMS Monitoring App
XNSpy is another reliable text message monitoring app I learned about during my quest to protect my niece from spam text messages. You can use it to track your child’s SMS text messages without breaking the bank. While using this app, I discovered that you can set an alert to detect when unsaved numbers contact your child via call or text.
This helps you rest easy knowing that you’ll always be notified when there’s an unusual interaction on your child’s phone. You get to see incoming and outgoing messages displayed in conversation form. I also found out that XNSpy can show you the target phone’s location when it receives or sends a message and the contact details of the sender or receiver.
Moreover, you can go beyond monitoring text messages to lock the target phone remotely in an emergency or for any other reason. XNSpy is compatible with Android OS 4 and above and iOS 6 and above.
I discovered from XNSpy’s compatibility guide that you don’t need to root or jailbreak the target phone to access XNSpy’s SMS monitoring, location tracking, and remote control features. However, to monitor other social media apps like Facebook and WhatsApp, you’d need to jailbreak the target iOS or root the target Android device.
Also, the XNSpy mobile app is unavailable for direct download on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. So, you have to first create your XNSpy account before installing it on the target phone, following the on-screen instructions after registration.
For XNSpy pricing, I learned that it has three subscription plans (monthly, quarterly, and annually) and two price tiers (Basic and Premium). The Basic tier, one-month plan is $29.99, the quarterly plan is $13.99/month ($41.99 as a whole), and the annual plan is $4.99/month ($59.99 annually). The Basic plan includes essential features like monitoring call history, SMS, email, multimedia, app control, etc.
The Premium tier, one-month plan costs $35.99, the quarterly plan is $19.99/month ($59.99 quarterly), and the annual plan is $7.49/month ($89.99 annually). The Premium tier includes all the features mentioned above and more.
Despite its poor rating of 2.4/5 on Trustpilot, XNSpy is a plausible option for text message monitoring from my experience. You can check our detailed XNSpy review to learn more about this app.
| App Name | XNSpy |
| Main Features | – SMS and social media tracking – Stealth mode – Location tracking – Multimedia access – Reports and analytics – Remote control |
| Free Trial/Demo | Live Demo |
| Money-back Guarantee | 10 days after purchase if the request aligns with their Refund Policy |
| Requires Rooting/Jailbreaking | No rooting or jailbreaking is required to access the SMS monitoring feature, but it’s an option to monitor other social media platforms |
| Starting Price | Basic tier: One month plan is $29.99 Quarterly plan is $13.99/month ($41.99 quarterly) Annual plan is $4.99/month ($59.99 annually) Premium tier: One month plan is $35.99 Quarterly plan is $19.99/month ($59.99 quarterly) Annual plan is $7.49/month ($89.99 annually) |
FlexiSPY – Best Spy App For Creating Custom SMS Alerts
Of my reviewed apps, FlexiSPY is the most expensive option for monitoring your child’s text messages and other online activities. However, I discovered it has notable features to compensate for the price. For example, FlexiSPY enables you to set custom alerts and triggers.
That is, it allows you to create your own alerts for SMS text/caller IDs and keywords, so anytime your child receives or sends specific words or interacts with a particular number, you will receive an instant notification.
FlexiSPY’s pricing is the same for Android and iPhones, and it comes in three packages: Lite, Premium, and Extreme. The Lite plan is $29.95/month. For the premium plan, one month is $79, three months is $119, one year is $179. For the extreme plan, one month is $119, three months is $239, and one year is $419.
However, FlexiSPY offers a single plan for iPads and Computers, which is $79 (for one month), three months is $119, and 12 months is $179. I also discovered that you have to root or jailbreak the target device to enable you to use FlexiSPY.
The FlexiSPY mobile app is unavailable for direct download on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. This means you have to set up your FlexiSPY account first before installing the app on the target phone via the web.
Besides its price, FlexiSPY can get the job done for you when it comes to SMS monitoring. That’s why I added it to this list. Plus, it has a rating of 4.4/5 on Trustpilot. You can read our FlexiSPY review to learn more about this app.
| App Name | FlexiSPY |
| Main Features | – SMS and social media tracking – Can be hidden on the target phone – GPS tracking and Geo-fencing – Multimedia access – Remote phone control – Screenshot and recording capabilities |
| Free Trial/Demo | Live Demo |
| Money-back Guarantee | 10 days after purchase if the request aligns with their Refund Policy |
| Requires Rooting/Jailbreaking | Rooting the target Android and jailbreaking the target iOS devices is required to access SMS monitoring and other advanced features. |
| Starting Price | The Lite plan is $29.95/month Premium plan: One month is $79, three months is $119, one year is $179 Extreme plan: One month is $119, three months is $239, and one year is $419 For iPads & Computers: One month is $79, three months is $119, and 12 months is $179 |
Spyic – The Most Basic SMS Monitoring Phone App
Spyic is another parental control app I find capable of text message monitoring. One thing I liked about this app while using it is that its interface is intuitive, so those who aren’t tech-savvy can use it easily without any special skill or effort.
It can gather all your child’s SMS messages and call records, including advanced info like the email and address of the contact and the number of times a specific number contacts them.
Spyic is compatible with all Android 4.0 and above and doesn’t need rooting to use core features like SMS Monitoring. It is also compatible with all iOS devices running iOS version 7 and above, and you don’t have to jailbreak the target iOS device. However, it can’t run on Windows and Mac OS like other spy apps – one con that puts me off about it.
Furthermore, Spyic doesn’t allow real-time SMS monitoring. So, you will only get screenshots of your child’s SMS records at intervals, depending on your settings. I also found out that Spyic is quite pricey, considering it doesn’t have advanced features. It has three different price plans for Android.
The Basic plan for one Android device costs $39.99/month, $59.99 for three months, and $99.99 for one year. The Premium plan costs $49.99 for one month, $69.99 for three months, and $119.99 for one year. Lastly, the Family plan, which is good for three devices, is worth $69.99 for one month, $99.99 for three months, and $199.99 for a year.
The mobile app is currently unavailable for download on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. So, you must create your Spyic account before installing it on the target phone. Overall, from my experience, it is a basic but pricey SMS monitoring app as it doesn’t have as many features as other apps on this list.
Because I want you to have a variety of options to choose from, I had to include this spy app. Plus, it is reliable, considering its rating of 3.4/5 on Trustpilot. You can read our full Spyic review to get better insights into the app.
| App Name | Spyic |
| Main Features | – SMS tracking – Undetectable on the target phone – GPS tracking – Screenshot capabilities – Keylogger – Intuitive interface |
| Free Trial/Demo | Free Demo |
| Money-back Guarantee | 60 days after purchase if the request aligns with their Refund Policy |
| Requires Rooting/Jailbreaking | Rooting the target Android and jailbreaking the target iOS devices is not required to access SMS monitoring and other features. |
| Starting Price | The Basic plan costs $39.99/month, $59.99 for three months, and $99.99 for one year The Premium plan costs $49.99 for one month, $69.99 for three months, and $119.99 for one year The Family plan is worth $69.99 for one month, $99.99 for three months, and $199.99 for a year |
Cocospy – Most Easy-To-Use Phone Monitoring App For Spying On Text Messages
In my opinion, Cocospy is a suitable text message tracking app if you want an incredibly simple tool with that still offers a high-quality SMS monitoring experience. It has a comprehensive SMS reader feature that allows you to view received, sent, and deleted text messages, including the receiver/sender details and timestamps.
It also displays MMS content like videos, photos, and audio files. One of Cocospy’s biggest standout features I discovered is that you can install it remotely on iOS. All you need to do is input the target phone’s iCloud credentials after creating your Cocospy account. But you need physical access to set it up on Android phones.
You can also use Cocospy discreetly on the target phone without raising any suspicion from your child. Furthermore, Cocospy doesn’t require you to root the target Android or jailbreak the target iPhone/iPad to use it. It is compatible with all iOS devices running iOS 7 and above and Android devices running OS 4.4 and above.
I found two variations of the mobile app on the Google Play Store and none on the Apple App Store. So, to avoid downloading the wrong app, get a Cocospy account first, then follow the on-screen instructions to install it on the target device.
For pricing, I discovered that Cocospy has three subscription plans for both Android and iOS devices. The one-month plan costs $49.99, the three-month plan costs $89.99, and the one-year plan costs $149.99. From my experience, Cocospy is a solid spy app worth trying, irrespective of its poor rating of 2.2/5 on Trustpilot. Find out more about Cocospy here.
| App Name | Cocospy |
| Main Features | – SMS and social media tracking – Stealth mode – Location tracking – Multimedia access – Remote iOS installation – User-friendly interface |
| Free Trial/Demo | Free Demo |
| Money-back Guarantee | 60 days after purchase if the request aligns with their Refund Policy |
| Requires Rooting/Jailbreaking | No jailbreaking or rooting is required |
| Starting Price | 1-month plan: $49.99 3-month plan: $89.99 12-month plan: $149.99 |
EyeZy – Advanced SMS Monitoring Phone App
EyeZy is one of the best mSpy alternatives due to its wide range of features. As the name suggests, it lets you get a quick bird’s eye view of everything happening on your child’s phone, including their SMS text messages (incoming, outgoing, and deleted). It has a Social Spotlight feature that updates you on your child’s SMS and iMessage app conversations.
Furthermore, EyeZy has a user-friendly interface and fair pricing plans. I discovered that EyeZy offers three pricing tiers based on duration for Android and iOS devices. The one-month plan costs $47.99, the three-month plan costs $27.99/month, and the one-year plan costs $9.99/month.
It is compatible with Android devices running on 4.0 and above and iOS devices running on iOS 7.0 and above. On the Google Play Store, EyeZy is rated 4.1/5 with over one million downloads, and it has a 3.8/5 on the Apple App Store. It is also rated 4.1/5 on Trustpilot.
Although the EyeZy mobile app is available on Google Play and Apple App Stores, you must first create your EyeZy account and follow the guide provided to install the app on the target phone to enjoy its full tracking capabilities. From my experience, EyeZy is an app worth trying. You can read our EyeZy review to learn more about its features.
| App Name | EyeZy |
| Main Features | – SMS and social media tracking – Stealth mode – Location tracking – Multimedia access – Keylogger – Web filtering |
| Free Trial/Demo | Free Demo |
| Money-back Guarantee | 14 days after purchase if the request aligns with their Refund Policy |
| Requires Rooting/Jailbreaking | Rooting or jailbreaking is not mandatory but necessary to access other advanced features, such as keylogging and app monitoring |
| Starting Price | The one-month plan costs $47.99 The three-months plan costs $27.99/month The one-year plan costs $9.99/month |
How Do Spy Apps Work?
There are many different kinds of spy apps, and all of them offer different types of monitoring with varying degrees of success. However, the ones we’ve reviewed work under the same general principle.
Android
On Android, a concealed app harvests the needed information and sends it to the app’s online server.
From there, the user can then view the data that was harvested from the target phone. The tracker app can do this because the target device granted it all the necessary permissions to send the data while remaining hidden from view the entire time. In a similar fashion, a text message spy app, like the ones I tested out, will forward all the text messages from the target phone to your desired device.
iPhone
On iOS devices, things are slightly different. Since Apple is much stricter about its data, spy apps generally tend to create “backdoor access” on the target device’s Apple Account and then monitor information from there.
One way to do this is by jailbreaking the iOS device, which is a complex and risky process.
The other method simply requires you to log in with the target phone user’s iCloud credentials. To find the iCloud credentials, follow this guide by iDownloadBlog, one of the oldest blogs all about Apple products. The data you’ll get with your iCloud credentials isn’t as thorough as the first method. But if you don’t want to risk jailbreaking the device, this is your best course of action.
Text Message Spy Apps Comparison Table
Here’s a comparison table of text message monitoring spy apps that I reviewed, exploring subscription prices, installation requirements, and SMS monitoring features.
| App | Subscriptions & Prices | Access Level for Installation & Monitoring | SMS Monitoring Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| mSpy | Basic: $26.99-$99.99/year Premium: $69.99-199.99/year | Physical access for installation except for iOS | SMS info viewing, including deleted messages |
| uMobix | Basic: $29.99-$99.99/year Premium: $89.99-$179.88/year | Physical access for installation | Access to text messages and contacts |
| XNSpy | Basic: $29.99-$59.99/month Premium: $35.99-$59.99/month | Physical access for installation | SMS conversations in a list and chat thread form |
| FlexiSPY | Lite: $29.95 Premium: $68.00-$149.00/year Extreme: $199.00-$349.00/year | Root access or jailbreak | Lite: Sound and call recording, app screenshots Premium: Spoof SMS, Customizable alerts, and triggers Extreme: Email alerts when an alert is triggered |
| Spyic | Basic: $39.99-$99.99/year | Physical access for installation except for iOS | Access to text messages and contacts |
| Cocospy | 1-month plan: $49.99 3-month plan: $89.99 12-month plan: $149.99 | Physical access for installation, except for iOS | Access to all text messages, contact info, and timestamps |
| EyeZy | 1-month plan: $47.99 3-month plan: $27.99/month 12-month plan: $9.99/month | Physical access for installation, except for iOS | Social Spotlight for SMS monitoring and info viewing |
Apps I Do Not Recommend
There are some free parental control apps that I do not recommend for SMS monitoring. I’ll discuss them briefly below:
- Net Nanny – I do not recommend Net Nanny for SMS monitoring because it cannot track your child’s SMS text messages and provide you with the information you need. Rather, it’s more useful for creating a wholesome web browsing experience for your child. Read this comprehensive Net Nanny review to learn more about it.
- mLite – I also do not recommend mLite because it is incapable of tracking your child’s SMS messages. However, it compensates for this inability in other areas, like location tracking and geo-fencing. Here’s our mLite review so you can know more about the tool.
What To Look For When Choosing A Text Message Spying App
Selecting a text message spying app can be challenging, especially due to the growing list of SMS monitoring apps in the market. To save you the stress and help you make an informed decision, I’ll outline the key factors to consider when choosing a text message spying app:
Pricing
Check the pricing tiers and plans and ensure they align with your budget before signing up. From my experience in the spy app industry, pricier plans or subscription fees don’t necessarily mean better features. So, think about your pocket first before making a choice.
Compatibility
Getting a text message spying app that doesn’t work on the target phone and vice versa is a dead end. Most SMS monitoring apps require jailbreaking or rooting the target phone. So, check the app’s compatibility and if you need the target device to install it. Then, decide if jailbreaking or rooting your child’s phone is a risk you’re willing to take before signing up.
Installation Process
You don’t want to spend your whole day setting up a text message spying app on your child’s phone. So, it is important to consider how much time, resources, and skills are needed to install the spy app remotely or physically before purchasing. I recommend choosing a spy app with a less complicated and more convenient installation process.
User Interface
In addition to choosing a spy app with a simple installation process, evaluate the app’s dashboard and interface, ensuring you can navigate it with little or no assistance. Thankfully, all the apps I discussed above have a demo mode so you can check them out before choosing.
Moreover, a text message spy app should be able to collect and present the SMS data intuitively. So, check out the user-friendliness of the spy app, the position of icons, color combinations, etc., before committing.
SMS Monitoring Features
The number of SMS monitoring features on a spy app determines how much you can do with it. You should thoroughly review each tool to see how many SMS monitoring features they offer to know beforehand what’s in store for you.
User-Based Reviews
Before you select an SMS spy app, go through its reviews on third-party sites like Trustpilot to see what other users are saying about it. Also, check out the app’s overall user ratings. You can also check out our independent reviews of each app discussed in this guide to narrow down your options.
FAQs
Can you see text messages from another phone?
You can see text messages from another phone using a spy app like mSpy or uMobix. Another option is to back up the target messages to Google Drive or iCloud and log into the target Google Drive or iCloud account to access the messages.
How can you read a text without the person knowing?
You can read a text without the person knowing by putting the target device on Airplane Mode. However, be careful not to reply or react to the message to avoid notifying the person. Otherwise, you can use a text message spy app to read texts without the person knowing.
Can someone read my text messages without my phone?
Someone can read your text messages without your phone. All they have to do is install a spy app on your phone, like mSpy, uMobix, or EyeZY, and use it to track your text messages remotely.
Can you see text message history?
You can see text message history from your default messaging app. In every mobile phone (Android and iOS devices), the default message app provides users with sent and received message history and the list of contacts you have interacted with via texts.
How do I know if my text messages have been hacked?
You can know your text messages have been hacked or you’re a data breach victim when you constantly receive messages from unrecognized or unsaved numbers.
How To Spy On Someone Text Messages: Final Thoughts
Spying on someone’s text messages is often discouraged, but sometimes, it’s needed. Should you decide that some monitoring is in order, there are many ways to do so safely and efficiently.
In this post, we have tested the most popular methods. Just keep in mind that you may need to restore the deleted messages before being able to read them.
However, not all of the spy apps we tested are created equal. For general use, apps like mSpy and uMobix combine robust functionality with an accessible price. Others, like FlexiSPY, might have more robust features, but it’s much more expensive and more challenging to install. XNSpy, Spyic, Cocospy and EyeZy are also pretty good alternatives.
Did you like this article? Let me know in the comments below!
