8 Best Apps for Parents to Monitor Text Messages in 2025

Did you just see a message pop up on your child’s phone and they hid it immediately? While it could be nothing serious, the risk of your child being involved in something unsuited to their age always persists. So, this suddenly increased privacy and concern regarding their text messages could be a sign of danger or an inappropriate activity. So, if you wonder, “How to see a child's text messages,” a text monitoring app can be the best solution.

Text monitoring apps for parents allow you to monitor your child’s conversations with their friends and others on their phone. With these apps, you can easily monitor text messages on your child’s device remotely; yes, even when you do not have physical access to their phone.

We’ve shared the 8 best apps for monitoring text messages to ensure your child’s safety. Read it all about them to select the one that suits your needs the best.

Part 1. Quick Overview: Top 8 Apps for Parents to Monitor Text Messages

Part 2. Top 8 Apps for Parents to Monitor Text Messages: Our Tested Reviews in 2025

1. Msafely

Msafely is the best text tracking app for parents to monitor text messages on their children's phones. You might think, how? Because it helps you keep track of your kid's chat interactions with seamless text message monitoring and that too without physically accessing their phones. Plus, you can track their chats on all social media apps including Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Instagram.

Msafely is compatible with both iOS and Android devices and offers the simplest connection methods. You can connect your target phone through their Google (on Androids) or iCloud (for iPhones) account credentials. In addition, you get another Android connection option, that is installing Msafely on your target phone. Do you know the best part? You don't need to physically access your target phone or jailbreak/root it.

2. SpyX

SpyX is another top choice for text monitoring app for parents wanting to keep an eye on their children's text messages. Just like Msafely, SpyX also offers easy iCloud and Google cloud connection with an additional app installation option for Android connection. This helps parents go with the method that they find easier.

Talking about the text tracking features, SpyX helps you monitor your child's text and calls without them knowing. It never sends any notification to the target, always works silently, and lets you track all the activities in peace. Other than text messages, you can also monitor social media chats and calls through SpyX.

3. KidsGuard Pro

KidsGuard Pro is an app for parents to track text messages on their kid's phone. You can connect your kid's iPhone through any of the three methods (iCloud, jailbreak, or USB connection) and through simple app installation for Androids. However, physically accessing Android for app installation can be risky.

Once you've connected your target phone with your KidsGuard Pro account, you can easily monitor text messages, calls, and many other phone activities. It is important to note that KidsGuard Pro doesn't offer iPhone text monitoring with the iCloud connection method.

4. mSpy

mSpy is a text tracking app for parents to effortlessly track child's text messages on iPhones and Androids. It is one of the best parental monitoring software and also the most popular among parents to see who is texting their kids. Moreover, it tracks calls, social media, and other phone activities for more comprehensive teen phone monitoring.

Similar to KidsGuard Pro, mSpy also offers three iPhone connection options, i.e., iCloud, USB connection, and jailbreak. Users can select any of the three options, keeping in mind that iCloud and jailbreak connections do not support text message monitoring. In contrast, connecting Android phones for monitoring text messages only require simple app installation on the target phone.

5. Qustodio

Qustodio is an app that monitors text messages on both Androids and iPhones without any hassle. All you need to do is simply install the app on the target device without jailbreaking or rooting it, all while ensuring not to get caught. The good news is that you get a free trial for 3 days to work around the app's tracking features and see how it works for you.

Once you're familiar with the app, you can get the premium subscription for Android and iPhone text monitoring. If it suits your needs, do not hesitate to buy its subscription instantly after knowing that Qustodio offers all these tracking features at such affordable price plans.

6. MoniMaster

MoniMaster is an Android and iPhone text monitoring app that requires minimal effort to start working as a text spyware app. You can just simply download and install the app on your kid's phone, set it up, and you're good to go. While the app doesn't require jailbreaking or rooting devices, physically accessing a phone for app installation sure requires some sneaky skills.

Once done, you can start text message monitoring on your target phone right away. In addition, you can track calls and WhatsApp chats without your kids knowing. One thing that makes MoniMaster stand out from other software is its 24/7 available prompt customer service.

7. MMGuardian

MMGuardian is another app for parents to monitor text messages on their child’s phone, especially when they see unusual changes in their behavior. The app focuses on content filtering and screen time control, providing you insights into the target phone’s apps, including text messages, emails, social media, and much more. It is compatible with iOS and Android devices, but offers more extensive features for Android phones. Compared to iOS, Android users can also see deleted messages on the phone along with sent and received messages.

MMGuardian offers a 14-day full-fledged free trial to all of its premium features, so you can experience it and see if it suits your needs the best before investing in a paid subscription.

8. Hoverwatch

For parents who want to monitor text messages on their kid's Android phones, Hoverwatch is undoubtedly one of the best text monitoring app options out there. It can surely serve as the best parental control app for teens, especially because it offers a free 3-day trial for a better look at the features.

Parents can easily track text messages, contacts and other phone activities just after a simple app installation. Even though Hoverwatch can effortlessly track a child's text messages in Android phones, its major drawback is that it is not compatible with iOS devices.

Part 3. Key Factors to Consider When Choosing the App for Parents to Monitor Text Messages

Selecting the best parental control app for teens and preteens can be hard when you have so many choices with their unique features. You must consider their highlights and compare them with your requirements to see which suits your needs the best. We’ve shared the key factors to keep in mind when choosing an app for parents to monitor text messages.

• Text message monitoring

You might think that this is obvious when looking for a text monitoring app, but it is not that simple. Some apps might offer limited text message monitoring, whereas others provide detailed insights into incoming and outgoing text messages. When selecting a text tracking app, make sure that it shows sent and received messages along with the sender’s details, including name and phone number. Some apps also give you real-time access to deleted messages, offering in-depth tracking of your child’s messages, while flagging text messages with specific words.

• Connection methods

When looking for the best parental monitoring software, you might come across applications that need to be downloaded on the target phone. But how do you download them when you’re away or if your child does not leave the phone alone for even a minute?

Thus, it is important to look for connection methods that do not require downloading the app or jailbreaking the phone to use the software. Cloud connection method is the most straightforward and some people prefer USB connection-based tracking apps.

• Compatibility

While most apps for monitoring text messages are compatible with all smartphones and laptops, some may not work as efficiently on iOS or Android systems. When selecting the best app for parents to monitor text messages in 2025, make sure that the app is compatible with your and your child’s device and does not require jailbreaking or rooting the phone.

• Ease of use

Often parents believe that the best parental control apps require technical knowledge to install and use them to monitor text messages on their child’s phone. However, some of the most credible text message monitoring apps, such as, Msafely, are incredibly easy to use. You do not require any technical skills to run and use the app to track your child’s phone activity.

• Customer support

Dynamic customer support is inevitable to selecting the right app for parents to track text messages. Check online customer reviews to find out how a particular service provider facilitates its customers, so you do not have to worry in case of an issue with the app.

After evaluating all the factors of the 7 best text message monitoring apps , we rank Msafely as the best choice for both iPhones and Android devices.

Part 4. How to Use the Best App to Monitor Text Messages: Step-by-Step Guide

You can use the best parental app for iPhone and Android, Msafely, with just three simple steps:

Step 1. Go to Msafely website and register for a FREE online account.

Step 2. Select a subscription plan and connect your child’s device to your Msafely account.

Step 3. Once connected, go to your Msafely Control Panel and select the text messages icon to monitor your child’s text messages remotely.

Part 5. FAQs

Q1. What is the best app for parents to monitor text messages on iPhone and Android?

Msafely is one of the best parental control apps for both iPhone and Android. It allows parents to monitor text messages, calls, browsing history, app usage, and more—all from a user-friendly dashboard. It supports both SMS and iMessage tracking on iOS, making it a top choice for comprehensive monitoring.

Q2. How can I monitor my child’s text messages without them knowing?

With Msafely, parents can monitor a child’s text messages discreetly. After a one-time setup, the app runs in stealth mode without alerting the child. This allows parents to view incoming and outgoing texts without needing physical access to the phone every time.

Q3. Are there free apps to monitor text messages on my child’s phone?

Msafely offers a free demo so parents can test its features, including text message monitoring. For full access, a subscription is required, but it’s competitively priced and offers a secure and reliable service that’s worth the investment.

Q4. Can I use an app to track both texts and calls on my child’s phone?

Yes, Msafely tracks both SMS/iMessages and call logs. Parents can view who their child is texting or calling, the content of messages, and timestamps. This dual functionality provides a more complete picture of your child’s communication activity.

Q5. What parental control apps allow me to monitor iMessages and SMS texts?

Msafely supports monitoring of both iMessages and regular SMS texts on iPhones. It provides message content, contact details, and timestamps, helping parents keep track of all conversations—whether they occur via standard texting or iMessage.

Q6. Which is better: MMGuardian or Bark for monitoring my teen’s messages?

Bark is generally better for monitoring your teen’s messages if you're focused on social media, messaging apps, and detecting harmful content. It monitors platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and more, and sends alerts for issues like bullying, depression, or inappropriate content.

MMGuardian, on the other hand, offers stricter parental control features like app blocking, screen time limits, and text message archiving. It's more hands-on and is particularly strong for younger teens or children who need more direct supervision.

If your priority is detailed content alerts and mental health monitoring, go with Bark. If you need tight control and direct oversight, MMGuardian is a solid choice.

Q7. How can I see who is texting my child and what they are saying?

Msafely provides detailed logs of all text message activity, including contact names, phone numbers, message content, and the date/time of each interaction. It helps parents understand who is communicating with their child and what’s being discussed.

Part 6. Conclusion

Choosing the best parental control app for teens and preteens is inevitable when you do not have access to their phone and are unsure about their activities. However, selecting a suitable text monitoring app can be challenging when you have so many options.

Apps like SpyX, KidsGuard Pro, mSpy, Qustodio, MoniMaster, and MMGuardian are among the top apps for parents to monitor text messages in 2025. But if you’re looking for the best parental control app, which is easy to install, use, and provides detailed reports, Msafely is the best pick. It not only gives you insight into the sent and received messages, but you can also access contact details and read deleted messages in real time. Pick the one that suits your needs the best and monitor text messages on your child’s device remotely.