Take a moment to watch your child tap away on their phone and you’ll notice a whole range of emotions in their facial expressions. Joy. Sadness. Anger. Confusion. Surprise. Frustration. Embarrassment. You name it.
As a parent, you desperately want to know what they’re talking about — and who’s on the other end of that text message. That’s why you need a text monitoring app for parents.
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Finding the Right App is…Well…Complicated
Not all text message monitoring apps are created equal. Some let you read texts on Android, but not iPhone. Others work on iPhone, but not Android.
Some apps let you read their texts without being noticed. Other apps are designed so that your child knows you’re monitoring them.
There are apps to monitor kids text messages that let you see their texts through any device of your choosing. But others require a dedicated app on your phone.
So which app is best? It depends on your needs, what type of text message app your child uses, and other factors. Let’s find you the best solution — including a free option.
Option #1: mSpy
Every parent wants to know how to monitor kids text messages without them knowing. Well, not every parent. Moms and Dads who use mSpy are no longer in the dark. They know exactly what their kids are texting — and who they’re talking to.
mSpy lets parents see their kids’ sent texts, received texts, when those texts were sent, and even the pics shares and received in those text messages.
mSpy goes beyond just text message monitoring. The truth is your kids probably don’t just text their friends. They also chat on social media apps, like Snapchat, Instagram, and other popular apps you’ve probably never heard of.
Good news, though. mSpy lets you monitor kids text messages — wherever they happen. Through iMessage on iPhone. Through the SMS app on Android. On Snapchat and Instagram. Kik and Line too. There’s support for a dozen different social media apps, so no matter where they’re texting, you’re covered.
And you don’t have to actively monitor their texts to find out what’s going on. mSpy can alert you when specific keywords or phrases are used in text messages. So, if you’re worried about sex, drugs, or something else, you’ll know about it.
Option #2: Hoverwatch
If you want to monitor child’s text messages with ease, Hoverwatch is worth considering. You can read their texts, plus review the messages they’ve sent and received on WhatsApp, Snapchat, and other messaging services.
It works well, but it can get expensive. Hoverwatch starts at $29.95 per month, for one device. If you’re looking for a text monitoring app for parents that works on multiple devices, Hoverwatch delivers. But you’ll pay $49.95 per month for the luxury of multi-device monitoring.
One thing to note…Hoverwatch doesn’t work on iPhone. So, if they’re all about blue bubble texting, you’ll be out of luck.
Option #3: Bark
Bark has a great reputation as one of the top text message monitoring apps. And while it lets you monitor their text messages with easy, if you’re trying to figure out how to monitor kids text messages without them knowing, Bark isn’t the solution.
Unfortunately, unlike some other monitoring apps, Bark is visible on their home screen, so they’ll know you’re monitoring their text messages.
While that might be perfectly fine for some parents, chances are they’ll feel less free to be themselves if they know you’re reading their text messages. And that might just cause them to use a burner phone.
Option #4: Pinwheel
If you’re looking to monitor kids texts but your kids don’t yet have a phone (or they’re in need of a new phone), check out Pinwheel. We should warn you though…Pinwheel isn’t an app. It’s a phone with an app to monitor kids text messages already installed.
First, choose your smartphone. You can select from different manufacturers based on your needs (like camera quality, connection speed, storage, and more). Then once you get your phone, simply set up your own Caregiver Portal where you’ll be able to monitor kids text messages with ease.
With Pinwheel, you’ll pay a flat price per month, which includes the phone and the app to see child’s text messages. It’s relatively affordable, but in the long run, you’ll be better off just paying for a phone and installing a monitoring app separately.
Option #5: Use iCloud or Google Web Messages
For a free app to see child’s text messages, look no further than your phone’s operating system.
If your kid has an iPhone, you can log into their iCloud account on another device (like a spare Mac or an old phone). When you do, you’ll have immediate access to their conversations. When someone sends them a message, you’ll be able to see it. And you’ll be able to see what they wrote back.
For Android users, you can read their messages through Google Messages for web. Just go to the Google Messages for Web website, scan the QR code using their Android, and you’ll be on your way. Of course, you’ll need physical access to their phone to set things up, so keep that in mind.
Why mSpy Is the Top Text Monitoring App for Parents
There are a lot of great text message monitoring apps. But mSpy rules them all. Just take the demo for a spin and you’ll understand why more and more parents are switching from a free app to see child’s text messages to an mSpy subscription.
mSpy does way more than just monitor text messages. You can read their social media chats. Find out their current location. See where they’ve been. Find out who they’ve called over the phone. You can even see screenshots of their phone as they use it — perfect in case they try to delete something in an app.
The monitoring app even notifies you if your kids say something controversial online. It’s a ridiculously powerful app that can change parenting for the better. Give it a try.
