Children today think that privacy is about not telling their parents of their whereabouts and activities at all, leading to worry among parents. Thus, it is always a relief for parents to know what their kids are up to. The best parental monitoring app for iPhone serves the purpose by helping you remotely track all phone activities of your child. It is not spying, but rather a way to make sure that our loved ones are safe from both online and physical threats.
There are many tracker apps that can help you track various activities, like SMS, calls, photos, videos, real-time locations, browsers, social media, and more. However, the best iPhone monitoring apps for parents offer extra and exclusive features like geofencing, keylogger, and audio/video recording for monitoring physical activities, along with online presence. We've reviewed several tracking apps and compiled a list of the top 10 best monitoring apps for iPhones with their detailed reviews below. Pick the one that suits your needs and budget the best, and make sure your kids stay safe.
Part 1. A Quick Summary of the 10 Best Monitoring Apps for iPhone
Msafely | SpyX | KidsGuard Pro | mSpy | Eyezy | WebWatcher | uMobix | Spylix | TiSpy | iKeyMonitor | |
Top 3 monitoring features | 10 social media apps, live locations, sms tracker | Real-time location tracking, browsers, and installed apps | Photos, browser history, and WhatsApp | Wi-Fi, emails, and keylogger | Keystrokes, files, and some social apps | WhatsApp, browsers, and texts | Download files, locations, and browser history | Browser history, bookmarks, and installed apps | SMS, WhatsApp, and events | Locations, browser history, and keylogger |
Requires Installation on Target iPhone | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Requires Jailbreaking | ❌ | ❌ | ~ | ~ | ~ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Free Trial or Demo | Free demo | Free demo | Free demo | Free demo | Free demo | Free demo | Free demo | Free demo | Free demo and trial | Free demo and free basic plan |
Works in hidden mode | ✅ | ✅ | ~ | ✅ | ~ | ~ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
Price | $11.66/month | $11.66/month | $39.99/month | $11.67/month | $7.99/month | $10.82/month | 12,49/month | Basic: $8.33/month Premium: $9.99/month | Standard: $64/3 months Premium: $149/year Advanced: $96/6 months | Complicated pricing plans |
Money-back guarantee | 14 days | 15 days | 30 days | 14 days | 14 days | No refund | 14 days | 15 days | 7 days | 30 days |
Part 2. 10 Best iPhone Monitoring Apps: Our Tested Reviews
When looking for the best iPhone monitoring apps 2025, Msafely, SpyX, KidsGuard Pro, and uMobix are among the top choices. Check the reviews of these apps, along with others, to choose the best.
1. Msafely
Msafely is a parental control app that makes it to the top of the list because of its unmatched features and simple connection method. It monitors all activities from SMS, calls, photos, videos, locations, contacts, browser history, and installed apps to WhatsApp, WhatsApp Business, LINE, Kik, Wechat, Messenger, Snapchat, Instagram, Telegram, Skype and more.
Whether you want to monitor your kid's or your partner's iPhone activities, all you need is their iCloud account credentials to connect their iPhone to your Msafely account in three steps. The best part? It doesn't require jailbreaking, app installation on either of the devices, or physical access to the target iPhone. With all these features, Msafely's ability to work in 100% hidden mode makes it the best parental monitoring app for iPhones.
2. SpyX
SpyX is another of the best iPhone monitoring apps for parents who want to remotely track their children's phone activities with just one click. It helps monitor SMS, calls, photos, videos, locations, contacts, browser history, browser bookmarks, installed apps, voicemail, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Skype, Teams, Facetime, and more online activities. Moreover, it does it all while staying invisible from the target's eyes.
Use your target iPhone's iCloud account credentials to let SpyX track iPhone activities with a simple 3-step connection method. It is a beginner-friendly method that doesn't include any jailbreaking complexities. Plus, you do not have to physically access the target iPhone because it doesn't require any app installation on either of the phones.
3. KidsGuard Pro
KidsGuard Pro, unlike the first two apps, offers three different connection methods for iPhone activity tracking, and with every connection method comes a set of specific monitoring features. With iCloud connection, you can track photos, videos, locations, contacts, calendar, notes, and reminders, while jailbreak connection lets you track SMS, calls, photos, videos, locations, browsers, contacts, and Wi-Fi connection along with screenshots. In contrast, connecting your child's phone through the USB connection method makes tracking SMS, photos, videos, WhatsApp, Line, Kik, WeChat, contacts, browsers, installed apps, Wi-Fi, events, reminders, and voice memos a breeze.
Even though KidsGuard Pro is the best app for parents to monitor iPhones, it sure requires some effort for the jailbreak connection and is not as hidden as most other apps. At the same time, the USB connection method requires physical access to the target iPhone, which might be a little risky.
4. mSpy
mSpy is one of the most popular and best monitoring apps for iPhones because it has been constantly providing top-notch tracking services. It tracks several iPhone activities, including photos, videos, contacts, events, SMS, browsers, Wi-Fi, notes, emails, WhatsApp, Line, Kik, and installed apps.
Similar to KidsGuard Pro, mSpy offers three different connection methods for iPhones: USB, jailbreak, and iCloud connection. Each of these methods offers a mix and match of the tracking features mentioned earlier. While the jailbreak method can be a complicated task for some, the USB connection requires effort to sneakily access the target iPhone.
5. Eyezy
Eyezy gives parents the choice to select one connection method (from USB, jailbreak, and iCloud connections) to track various activities on their children's iPhones. These activities mainly include SMS, contacts, photos, videos, calendar, notes, files, reminders, WhatsApp, Line, Kik, browsers, installed apps, Wi-Fi, notes, events, and emails.
While the jailbreak connection requires some effort to jailbreak, none of the methods require app installation. However, if you opt for the USB connection method, you have to be a little careful not to get caught while physically accessing the target iPhone. In short, Eyezy can serve as the best iPhone monitoring app for parents who have access to their children's phones.
6. WebWatcher
WebWatcher makes it to the list of the best monitoring apps for iPhone because of its features. However, only offers the USB connection method for iPhones and tracks SMS, photos, videos, calls, WhatsApp, contacts, browsers, installed apps, calendar, notes, and voice memos.
Although WebWatcher is not the best monitoring app for iPhone, but is still a suitable one for beginners as it doesn't require jailbreaking or app installation. It gives you real-time access to text messages and is somewhat hidden from the target. An unfavourable aspect of the app is that it doesn't offer any refunds and does not work in stealth mode unlike Msafely and SpyX.
7. uMobix
If you have access to your target phone and their social media accounts, uMobix is the best phone monitoring app for iPhone. To track files, locations, browser history, browser bookmarks, applications, activities, Address book, you have to physically access the target phone to download and install the app. In addition, using the target iPhone’s iCloud account credentials can help you monitor messages, notes, WiFi, calendar, camera, and calls.
uMobix does not give you access to your target iPhone's social media activities unless you log in to their specific social media accounts. So, if you want to track their Facebook activities, you must have their Facebook account credentials to log in and monitor activities; the same method applies to all other social media apps.
8. Spylix
Spylix is another considerable iPhone tracking app that requires little effort to connect the phone and remotely monitor its activities. It doesn't require app installation on iPhones and offers a simple iCloud connection method without any jailbreaking complications. However, you still need to access the target iPhone to complete the connection process by getting the verification code for two-factor authentication.
Once you've completed the two-factor authentication, you can start monitoring texts, iMessages, calls, contacts, photos, videos, locations, bookmarks, browser history, notes, events, and installed apps. To remotely track all these activities on your target iPhone without getting caught, you can choose Spylix's Premium Plan. One major drawback is that it doesn't spy on any social media apps on iPhones.
9. TiSpy
TiSpy is a simple and easy-to-use tracking app for iPhones. It offers only the USB connection method for iPhones and does not require any app installation or jailbreaking the iPhone. The only complicated element of TiSpy is physically accessing your target iPhone for USB connection. Once you're done, everything is as easy as a cakewalk.
TiSpy remotely and secretly monitors SMS, WhatsApp, Line, Kik, contacts, browsers, installed apps, Wi-Fi, notes, and events. Unlike most other apps in the list, it offers a free demo as well as a free trial. By taking the free trial, you can have a better first-hand experience of the app and its features to decide whether or not it is the best parental monitoring app for iPhones.
10. iKeyMonitor
iKeyMonitor is a tracking app that requires jailbreaking iPhones to remotely monitor any activity. Jailbreaking an iPhone puts your phone at risk of breaking down/malfunctioning and affecting its warranty. However, if you successfully jailbreak the iPhone, you can monitor photos, videos, browsers, installed apps, notes, events, Wi-Fi, and emails. It also offers a keylogger feature to record every possible keystroke made on specific apps.
The app offers a 3-day trial of the premium plan at lower prices to give you access to all exclusive features. In addition, you can subscribe to the free basic plan that includes quite enough tracking features for iPhones.
Part 3. Key Factors When You Choose the Best Monitoring App for iPhone
Choosing the best parental monitoring app for iPhones from the countless available options can be overwhelming. So, the following are some key factors to help you select the right one from the lot:
- Tracking features
The first and foremost is to see whether the app offers your target tracking features. Most of the apps offer basic features like SMS, calls, photos, and videos, but the best monitoring apps for iPhones offer exclusive features like live screenshots, geofencing, keylogger, and video/audio recording. The smart choice is selecting the app that offers better and more features than other options.
- Connection methods
There are different connection methods for iPhones, including app installation, jailbreak, iCloud, and USB connections. While each method has its own share of risks or complications, iCloud connection is the simplest method to connect and track activities on an iPhone. However, a USB connection may be more suitable for parents who have physical access to their child’s phone, but are unaware of their iCloud credentials.
- Device compatibility
All your time finding the best phone monitoring app for iPhones will go to waste if the app doesn't support your target iPhone. Even though most apps support all iOS versions, it is always better to make sure the app you select works for your iPhone. In addition, go for the app that is compatible with both iOS and Android devices to effortlessly monitor your family’s activities regardless of their device type.
- Value for money
When choosing an app, consider their pricing plans and see if they are really charging a fair price for the offered tracking features. For that, you can compare the pricing with other similar apps. Also, before paying for the subscription plan, ensure that the app offers at least a 15 to 30-day money-back guarantee. It will save you from losing money if the app doesn’t meet your expectations.
- Customer service
Customer service is one of the most critical elements of subscribing to an iPhone monitoring app for your family. Always opt for software that offers ongoing customer service, to ensure that your queries and issues are resolved immediately and you are not kept hanging for weeks.
Based on thorough testing across multiple dimensions (monitoring features, connectivity, compatibility, support and value), here's our ranked recommendation of these 10 iPhone monitoring apps:
iPhone monitoring apps | Rate |
Msafely | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
SpyX | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
KidsGuard Pro | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
mSpy | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Eyezy | ⭐⭐⭐ |
WebWatcher | ⭐⭐⭐ |
uMobix | ⭐⭐ |
Spylix | ⭐⭐ |
TiSpy | ⭐⭐ |
iKeyMonitor | ⭐ |
Part 4. How to Use the Best iPhone Monitoring App: Step-by-Step Guide
Taking Msafely as an example, let's see how to use the best phone monitoring app for iPhone:
Step 1. Go to Msafely website and sign up for a free account.
Step 2. Select your target phone type (iPhone in this case).
Step 3. Choose a subscription plan and start monitoring all phone activities right away.
Once you've subscribed to a plan, Msafely will direct you to a Control Panel showing all the apps installed on your target iPhone. You can tap on any app and see all the related activities performed by your child on that app.
Part 5. Conclusion
Finding the right iPhone monitoring app for your family is inevitable to ensuring their safety in today’s digital world. The above detailed reviews of the top 10 best iPhone monitoring apps for parents aims to give you an overview of each of these apps, along with their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision. While some of them work in stealth mode, others have easier connection methods, and some offer more features for in-depth monitoring. By considering your tracking needs, device version, and budget, choose the best parental monitoring app for iPhone that suits your requirements and keep track of your children's whereabouts even when they are out of your sight.