11 Best Apps to Monitor Kids Text Messages

1. XNSPY

XNSPY is the most prominent app to monitor kids text messages. The app has been in the industry for over 10 years. It is an extensive app that gives remote access to messages, calls, social media, location, installed apps, and multimedia of your child’s phone.

Once installed, XNSPY works in stealth mode, allowing you to monitor kids' SMS messages without them knowing. You can easily open the app’s dashboard from any browser and view phone text messages and social media chats of over 13 apps.

You have to click on Phone Logs and tap on Text Messages. Here, you can track all the text sent and received by your child. The app provides two ways to view the texts. The chat view displays messages to and from particular contacts along with timestamps. Clicking on a contact opens the conversation thread. You can easily scroll through the chat history and also view any shared media or links.

The list view shows the messages as they are sent or received. You can even track the location where the message originated with the given GPS signals. There is a search icon that helps you enter a particular contact name or number and look for messages. You can further filter the search by clicking on ‘Today, This Month, This Year.’

XNSPY Compatibility

XNSPY is compatible with all devices running Android 4 or 11. Similarly, the app is supported on phones and tablets running iOS 6 to the latest 17. An exclusive compatibility page is present on the website. You can enter the child’s phone name or model, search, and confirm compatibility.

XNSPY Pricing

Basic: $4.99/month

Premium: $7.49/month

XNSPY Pros

• Complete access to sent and received texts
• View messages in a conversation and list view
• Option to set words and get instant alerts
• Functional search option to filter messages

XNSPY Cons

• No separate tab to view deleted messages

2. ClevGuard

ClevGuard is a popular parental control app that provides a wide array of features to monitor kids text messages. It is among the few apps that offer multiple products depending on the use. For example, there are KidsGuard Pro and KidsGuard for Children, and then there are feature-specific products like KidsGuard for WhatsApp and KidsGuard for Facebook.

ClevGuard has a user-friendly dashboard where all the key information is available from WhatsApp, calls, messages, browser history, and photos. Besides this, separate tabs allow you to expand and see all the details of the monitored device.

You have to click on Phone Files and then select ‘Messages.’ All the chats with the contacts are displayed. You can open them and view all the shared texts, photos, videos, and voice notes. The messages are saved with the relevant date and time. You can even search chats for a particular day. ClevGuard even lets you search with specific keywords.

ClevGuard Compatibility

The SMS tracker tool of ClevGuard is supported on all devices running Android 13 or 7. The app also runs on iOS versions 14 and later.

ClevGuard Pricing

Premium: $49.99/month

Family: $245.99/month

ClevGuard Pros

• Robust message monitoring feature
• Gives access to all photos or videos that are shared

ClevGuard Cons

• The number of the contact is not shown
• Message monitoring is not included in the Basic plan and is only offered in Premium and Family Plans, which are expensive.
• You have to Sync the feature every time to receive the latest update.

3. Eyezy

Eyezy is one of the newer apps to monitor kids text messages, and it is gaining popularity quickly. What sets it apart isn’t just the sleek, vibrant design – it is how creatively the features are named. For example, instead of just listing text messages and social media tracking separately, Eyezy combines them under a feature called ‘Social Spotlight.’

The dashboard is modern and initially displays the overall activity of the child’s phone. Here, you will see a graph showing browser history, text messages, GPS locations, and WhatsApp in different colored lines. At the bottom, there are also tabs showing top messaging and calling contacts, as well as the most visited websites.

Text messages are the top option in the social spotlight section. The chats are shown according to contact. You can open the conversation and see the incoming and outgoing texts. The app does provide the date and timestamps of each message and you can view and download the media that is shared.

Eyezy Compatibility

Eyezy operates on smartphones running Android 4 or above and on iPhones running on iOS 13 and later.

Eyezy Pricing

1-Month: $47.99/month

3-Months: $27.99/month

Eyezy Pros

• Easy to navigate
• Allows you to view and download media
• Modern design and interface

Eyezy Cons

• The number of the contact is not shown
• No search option within the message feature
• Pricing plans are not clearly mentioned on the website

4. uMobix

When it comes to how to monitor kids text messages, uMobix is one of the go-to options for parents. The app has been operational since 2020 and has accumulated a fair user base in a short space. uMobix proclaims itself as the ‘’Cell Phone Tracker for Modern Parents’’

You get all the familiar tracking features like other apps on the list. The dashboard has a simple interface. Here, the location feature is prominent, and you get tabs with the last visited websites, most frequent calls, sms list, and recently added contacts.

The Message monitoring feature is present in the General settings. Here, the outlook is different and can be confusing for new users. There are five columns showing ID, contact name or number, title, and the latest message received and sent. Unlike, other apps, there is no option to open a chat, as all messages are displayed as they are sent or received.

uMobix Compatibility

uMobix will work on phones with Android 4 or above. The app does work on iPhones and iPads, but many of the features, like location tracking and keylogger, are not available.

uMobix Pricing

1-Month: $49.99

3-Months: $29.99/month

uMobix Pros

• View all messages that are sent or received
• Shows the name and number of the contact

uMobix Cons

• The interface of the SMS monitoring page is confusing
• No search option or access to media that is shared
• Pricing plans are not visible on the website

5. mSpy

mSpy is a reputable app and one that you can use to read your child's text messages. The app offers numerous features and boasts itself as the best phone tracker for parental control. It has an intuitive interface with a suite of features on display.

mSpy provides stealth-mode functionality like other apps. The dashboard’s design is also similar to some of the other apps. There is a graph where different colored lines show the activity of text messages, browser activity, GPS locations, and WhatsApp. Scrolling down lets you view most messaging and calling contacts, most visited websites, and last locations.

The text message tracking is in the General Features tab. You get to view chats from particular contacts. Selecting the contact will open the conversation where you can see the sent and received messages. mSpy does allow you to view and download any photo or video that is shared. All the messages come with the date and time information.

mSpy Compatibility

mSpy has a compatibility policy page on its website. The app is supported on Android phones with OS 5 or higher and on IOS 11 to the latest one.

mSpy Pricing

1-Month: $49.99

3-Months: $29.99/month

mSpy Pros

• View complete chats
• Easy to view and download media content

mSpy Cons

• All the messages are displayed as chats, and no option to view single messages.
• No search option or access to media that is shared
• Installation on iOS devices is complicated and time-consuming

6. FlexiSpy

FlexiSpy is another capable app and probably the veteran of all the other apps on the list. It is among the few apps that work on smartphones, tablets, and computers. The app also has positive reviews from critics and customers.

Being in the industry for such a long time gives FlexiSpy a few advantages, one of which is that it offers a variety of tools and options. However, the design and colors of the dashboard are not modern. The interface and navigation options are in grey. It shows account and device info and the latest messages, calls, and keylogs.

The SMS tracker is present in the Data section. You can view the chats from various contacts. However, there is an option to monitor kid’s text messages in Group or List view. In the group view, you can see shared texts and media. In the list view, you can monitor just single messages. All the texts are saved with the corresponding date and time.

FlexiSpy Compatibility

FlexiSpy is compatible with a wide range of devices and operating systems. There is a dedicated compatibility page. You can specify the brand name, model, variant, and Android version. The app is supported on Android 4 or higher. Similarly, you can check iPhone compatibility, supported on iOS 16 and below.

FlexiSpy Pricing

Lite: $49.95

Extreme: $419/month

FlexiSpy Pros

• See the full content of messages and the contact names
• Option to specify keywords and delete them
• Search the sent and received messages with a particular keyword and specify the date.

FlexiSpy Cons

• The dashboard interface is old and dull
• Installation process can be time-consuming
• Expensive subscription plans

7. Qustodio

Qustodio is worth considering if you are looking for a robust parental control app to see your child's text messages without them knowing. The app proclaims as an all-in-one solution for digital well-being. It offers diverse features, including access to social media and browser activity, to protect the child from online threats.

You can filter content and apps, monitor social media activity, and view screen time from the dashboard. In the rules section, you can adjust and force the settings for your child.

Qustodio provides an invasive method to view messages from the Rules section. However, you have to install a separate app to track messages and calls. The messages are updated on the web portal after every hour, and you can manually refresh the page. You can read the messages and even block the texts from specific contacts.

Qustodio Compatibility

Qustodio is compatible with most modern-day Android phones and iOS devices running on 14 and later.

Qustodio Pricing

Basic: $54.95/year

Complete: $99.95/year

Qustodio Pros

• Read the complete content of SMS messages
• Allow or block messages from contact

Qustodio Cons

• Message monitoring is not as advanced as other apps
• No search option or access to media content
• The pricing plans are costly

8. Cocospy

Cocospy is a user-friendly app that parents can use to read their child’s text messages discreetly. The app allows you to keep tabs by accessing calls, locations, messages, and app data.

Cocopspy ranks among the top apps and offers a seamless experience with a simple interface. The dashboard gives information on the device and OS version. You can view the top 5 callers, last known location, recent messages, and phone activity.

In the Messages section of the dashboard, you can track the chats. Here, the page has a design similar to that of other apps. The interactions are grouped according to a particular contact. Clicking on one of the contacts opens the conversation thread. It is easy to see who the contacts are and the type of texts that are exchanged. The messages are saved with date and time stamps.

Cocospy Compatibility

Cocospy provides a guide to both Android and iOS installation. The app is supported on both platforms, but there is little detail about the support on the iOS versions.

Cocospy Pricing

Basic: $39.99/month

Premium: $119.99/12-month

Cocospy Pros

• Simple and easy-to-use interface
• Lets you view the contact name and complete the chat

Qustodio Cons

• No option to view any photos or videos that are exchanged
• Lacks search option

9. Phonsee

If you are looking for how to monitor kids text messages without them knowing, Phonsee is a solid choice that has been in the monitoring industry for more than 10 years. The app is a trusted name for parents who want to monitor their child's text messages and other phone activity.

Phonsee projects itself as a modern app that offers almost all the monitoring features parents seek. The app gives you access to messages, calls, social media activities, browser history, and media files. You can click on the Demo tab on the website to open the dashboard, which has a nice and simple design.

The text message monitoring can be accessed from the General Features. Here, the interactions are presented in a chat-like view. It is easy to view the texts, any photos or videos, and the time stamps.

Phonsee Compatibility

Phonsee is supported on target devices running Android 4+. Conversely, the app runs on iOS devices with OS 7 or above.

Phonsee Pricing

1-Month: $42.51

3-Months: $24.79/month

Phonsee Pros

• Intuitive dashboard
• Monitor the text messages and any shared media.
• Data from the target device is updated every 5 minutes

Phonsee Cons

• Lacks the option to search the messages
• Rooting required to use the advanced features

10. Hoverwatch

Hoverwatch is a reliable text monitoring app for parents. It states itself as a ‘Free mobile tracker’ on its website, but it is far from a free app to see child's text messages. In fact, you have to subscribe to the app and install it on the target device.

The personal plan of the Hoverwatch lets you monitor one device. However, with the professional plan, you can track 5 devices. There is no demo version available on the website, so you need to get the app and then see the dashboard design and monitoring options.

The SMS tracker app lets you see all the sent and received messages. Hoverwatch lets you filter the messages, whether incoming or outgoing, and even label them as ‘Favorite’ if you want to access them quickly.

Hoverwatch Compatibility

Hovewatch is compatible with phones running Android 7 or above. However, the app is not functional on iPhones or iPads.

Hoverwatch Pricing

Personal: $29.95/month

Professional: $199.95/12-months

Hoverwatch Pros

• Ability to easily filter sent and received messages
• Mark specific messages as ‘Favorite’ and access them quickly

Hoverwatch Cons

• Lacks advanced options
• Does not work on iOS devices
• Pricing plans are expensive

11. Spyzie

Spyzie is another app that can work as a parental control app. It may not be as popular as other apps to monitor kids text messages but offers almost all the basic and advanced features.

The app’s website and dashboard design is modern and easy to use. Once subscribed, you can view the target device model name and OS version. You can also view the 5 most frequent callers, GPS location, the 5 recent messages, and report on phone activity on the dashboard.

Once you click on Messages, you get all the SMS logs. As the interactions are in chat view, you must click on the contact to open the conversation. You can then view all the shared SMS messages which are saved with date and time information.

Spyzie Compatibility

Spyzie is functional on Android phones running on OS 4 or higher. The app works on iOS devices, but there is little information on the version the app is compatible with.

Spyzie Pricing

Basic: $39.99/month

Premium: $199.19/12-months

Spyzie Pros

• Track all messages with time stamps
• Modern dashboard

Spyzie Cons

• No access to media files that are shared
• Lacks search options