mSpy Review 2023: Price, Uses, Features, Free Trials & Fees

This mSpy review covers the features pricing, fees, and free trial availability of one of the world’s most popular cell phone monitoring apps. mSpy is a spying app for smartphones and mobile devices that helps parents, spouses, and partners surveil and track the phone activity of their loved ones. The features of the mSpy app include spying on mobile device activity such as social media networks (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat), text messages, phone contacts, phone calls, calendar appointments, emails, and keystrokes made on the target phone. mSpy offers offers a free demo as well as premium versions of their spying apps.

mSpy was launched in 2010 by a London-base technology company. mSpy is now owned by Altercon Group S.R.O which is based in Prague, Czech Republic. The CEO of the Altercon Group is listed as Artjom Jastrebov.

mSpy is available in two different packages. These are the “Standard” package and the “Family Kit” package. The Standard package ranges from $11.67 per month for an annual plant to $48.99 per month for a month-to month plan. The Family Kit package ranges from $28.00 per month for the annual subscription to $42 per month for a 3 month subscription. Subscriptions are paid in annual, quarterly, and monthly installments.

mSpy does not currently offer a free trial, but there is a live demo available on their website. The demo offers users the opportunity to try out the features and interface of the mSpy spying platform. The demo can be accessed via the “demo” link at the top of their homepage.

mSpy helps concerned parents, spouses, and partners monitor the phone activity of a loved on. mSpy helps ensure parents that their children are safe from cyberbullying and online predators. It helps spouses by tracking a loved one’s phone to ensure they are safe.

mSpy is one of the best spy apps currently available. mSpy software spies on mobile phones (Android and iOS) and tablets such as the Apple iPad. mSpy’s spying features include sent and received chat app messages (WhatsApp), text messages, social media network activity (Snapchat), GPS location information, phone call logs, stealth mode operation, calendar events, installed apps, WiFi connections, and emails.

The pros of mSpy include helpful tracking features like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and text messages, stealth mode operation, a simple installation process, and real-time GPS tracking. The cons of mSpy include the lack of spying on Facebook and Instagram messages on iOS devices, and decrease battery performance on the targeted device. mSpy also offers one of the cheapest annual subscription plans at $11.67 per month ($140.04 annually).

The cons of mSpy include a lack of Facebook, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger spying on iOS devices without jailbreaking the device. Another important con of mSpy is that they have been hacked on multiple occasions, and client information was leaked.

In this mSpy review, Adjust Your Privacy takes an honest look at one of the world’s most popular spy apps. You’ll learn about mSpy’s features, stealth mode operation, subscription fees and pricing, free trials, refund policy, and how it compares to other top spying apps like uMobix, SpyBubble, and FlexiSPY.

What is the Cost of mSpy?

The cost of the mSpy Standard package ranges from $11.67 per month ($140.04 billed annually) for a 12-month subscription to $48.99 per month for a monthly subscription plan. The Family Kit package is slightly more expensive. It ranges in price from $28.00 per month for the annual plan to $35.00 per month for the 3 month plan.

The mSpy spying app is offered in two packages based on the spying needs of the user. For users who need to monitor one device, the “Standard” package is the best solution. For parents who need to monitor the smartphones of multiple children, the “Family Kit” kit is the best solution.

The chart below shows all of mSpy’s current pricing.

Plan Type	Devices	Subscription Length	Price Per Month
Standard	1	1 month	$48.99 per month
Standard	1	3 months	$28.99 per month
Standard	1	12 months (annual)	$11.67 per month
Family Kit	3	3 months	$35.00 per month
Family Kit	3	6 months	$42.00 per month
Family Kit	3	12 months (annual)	$28.00 per month

mSpy offers a variety of discounts on both the Standard package and Family Kit package. These discounts are valid only for the first subscription period. Once the initial subscription plan has ended, the user will be charged based on the standard subscription pricing.

What Are the Uses of mSpy?

The uses of mSpy include the monitoring of the phone activity of a child, spouse, or loved one. The mSpy app offers comprehensive spying capabilities, allowing it’s users to view and record information from a target phone such incoming and outgoing text messages, chat app messages, incoming and outgoing phone calls, phone contact lists, social media account activity, web browser history, Youtube history, GPS location, and installed applications.

mSpy is used by parents to help monitor the phone activity of their children. Parents use mSpy to monitor their child’s phone for all of the following reasons.

• monitoring their child’s social media to protect them from cyberbullying and online predators
• monitoring and blocking potentially harmful or inappropriate websites
• spying on text messages and chat app messages to protect from online threats
• spying on YouTube usage to protect against inappropriate videos and content
• tracking their child’s GPS location to ensure they are safe

mSpy is used by spouses and partners to spy on the activity of their spouse or partner. mSpy is used by spouses to monitor the phone activity of their loved ones for any of the following reasons.

• tracking a spouse’s phone when it is lost, misplaced, or stolen
• spying on the GPS location of a spouse or loved one to ensure they are safe
• spying on the text or chat app messages of a spouse who is suspected of infedility
• spying on the social media accounts of a spouse or partner to see who they interact with online

mSpy is one of the most popular phone spying apps in the world with over 1million active users. It is popular because it offers comprehensive spying features at a very competitive price. mSpy is our #2 pick in terms of the best spying apps. mSpy is ranked behind uMobix in our list of the best spying apps because it offers fewer iOS spying features.

What are the Pros of mSpy?

The pros of mSpy include advanced chat message spying, online and offline and stealth operating modes, flexible and budget-friendly subscription pricing and terms, diversified tracking and monitoring for the targeted phone’s media such as videos and audios. The pros of mSpy are listed below.

• Is completely undetectable on Android and iOS devices
• Provides great spying features for iOS devices
• Does not require jailbreaking target iPhone
• iOS devices require no software installation on the target device
• Offers comprehensive social media monitoring features on Android
• Does not require rooting the target Android phone

mSpy is a comprehensive spying solution for phones using the Android and iOS operating systems.

Is mSpy Detectable?

No, mSpy is not detectable on the target phone. The mSpy app is disguised as a phone operating system app that is unrecognizable to the phone’s owner. The mSpy icon is not displayed on the phone, and is completely hidden. The only way to detect mSpy on a target phone is to use anti-virus or anti-spyware software.

Does mSpy Notify the Target Phone?

No, mSpy does not notify the target phone that the spying app is installed or in use. The mSpy app runs in the background and is completely invisible once installed. It does not notify the phone’s owner of any of the tracking that is taking place within the app.

Does mSpy Have a Free Trial?

No, mSpy does not currently have a free trial. mSpy will occasionally offer free trials of the mSpy app throughout the year. These trials are usually from 3 to 7 days in length and allow users to try out all of the features of the spying app. mSpy does offer a demo of their software on their website.

What are the Cons of mSpy

The cons of mSpy include the inability to spy on Instagram and Facebook on iOS devices such as the Apple iPhone and iPad, not being based in the US, having their customer data hacked in the past, and significantly increased battery usage of the targeted phone.

• no Instagram and Facebook spying on iOS devices
• Screen captures significantly increase battery usage on Android devices
• Has suffered customer data breaches in the past

mSpy does not spy on as many social media apps like Facebook and Instagram as competitors like uMobix and Spybubble.

How Secure is mSpy?

mSpy uses state of the art encryption to protect all customer data and target phone data. Though they have suffered hacks in the past that exposed target phone data to hackers, these issues have been corrected and the integrity of their encryption system abides by all industry standards. All phone data such as messages, videos and picture files are transmitted via secure sockets layer (SSL), the encryption-based internet security protocol. All stored phone data is protected by military grade 256-bit encryption during transmission and in online storage.

Has mSpy Been Hacked Before?

mSpy was hacked two times in 3 years. The first hack occurred on May 15, 2015. Hacked information included data from phones with mSpy installed on them. This data was posted to an online network file sharing site called The Onion Router (TOR). The hack was exposed by Brian Krebs of KrebsOnSecurity.

The second hack occurred in August of 2018. A security specialist named Nitish Shah directed KrebsOnSecurity to an mSpy database on the Internet that allowed unauthenticated users to query up-to-the-minute mSpy records. These records included both mSpy customer transactions on the mSpy website, as well as smartphone user data collected by mSpy’s spying app.

How Does mSpy Store & Protect Target Phone Data?

mSpy uses security hardware and software updates as well as network scanning procedures to safeguard and secure all target phone data. mSpy follows all generally accepted industry security and encryption standards.

mSpy stores personal data using asymmetric public-private key cryptosystem RSA. This system utilizes a key size of 4096 bit (further RSA), and symmetric-key algorithm AES with a key size of 256 bit (further AES). These security measures have been put in place to ensure hackers can no longer gain access to mSpy customer and target phone data.

How Is mSpy’s Data Storage Regulated?

mSpy is regulated by he Czech Data Protection Act of 2000. This act is a standalone piece of legislation. Now, the GDPR has direct effect across all EU member states, including the Czech Republic. The GDPR provides for most legal obligations, but it gives member states some opportunities to make provisions for how it applies in their country.

How Is mSpy Hidden on the Target Phone?

mSpy is hidden on the target phone by disguising itself as a system app named “Update Service”. There is no app icon associated with the mSpy spying software, further enhancing its’ stealth mode operation. Once the installation of the mSpy is complete, the app operates in the background on the target device and is undetectable by the target phone’s owner.

What is the Success Rate of the mSpy Stealth Mode?

The success rate of the mSpy stealth mode is 100% on Android and iOS devices. The only way to circumvent the mSpy stealth mode on the target phone is by using anti-virus or anti-malware software. In some cases mSpy will not allow the installation of specific anti-malware apps to further enhance its’ stealth mode operation.

How Does mSpy Work?

mSpy works by tracking, recording, and storing specific activity and data on targeted smartphones and mobile devices. Once tracked and recorded, this data is then stored on mSpy servers so that the information can be viewed by the mSpy user.

Tracked and stored activities include social media usage and chat conversations, text messages, GPS location and history, web browser history, incoming and outgoing phone call logs, calendar entries (appointments, events, and reminders), conversations from chat apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, installed applications, screenshots from apps such as Youtube and Snapchat, and recently accessed WiFi networks. Recorded data includes images and videos stored on the targeted cell phone or tablet.

mSpy utilizes the internet connection of the phone (wifi or 3G/4G/5G) to send all of the data to your dashboard.  This means that the target device must be internet capable.  It is not location dependent and operates anywhere in the world so long as there is a connection to the internet.

For Androids the app must be installed on the device itself, requiring physical access.

For Apple devices you will need the Apple ID and password of the target user so that mSpy can access their iCloud account.

How is the Battery Efficiency of the mSpy App?

The battery efficiency of mSpy helps minimize the impact of using the mSpy app to spy on a target phone. The efficiency of the mSpy app differs from Android to iOS devices. Battery efficiency on iOS devices is impacted less because there is no software installed on the target iOS device. All data is accessed through the target phone’s iCloud account.

The battery efficiency of mSpy for Android devices causes a 10% reduction in battery life when the phone data is set to sync only every 6 hours. As the sync time is reduced, the battery usage increases because more battery is used to send phone data more frequently. The greatest battery efficiency is achieved by setting the sync time to 8 hours or higher and only syncing data when connected to WiFi networks.

What Are the Supported Languages of mSpy?

mSpy supports the use of 14 different languages including all of the following.

1. English
2. Spanish
3. Portoguese
4. French
5. Turkish
6. German
7. Italian
8. Polish
9. Norwegian
10. Swedish
11. Arabic
12. Japanese
13. Korean
14. Dutch

The language can be chosen before or after purchasing the mSpy app.

How is the mSpy Live Support?

mSpy offers 24/7 support on their website. Support is offered via chatbot. For questions that cannot be answered via chatbot, there are live support representatives available. The live support is prompt and very helpful. They are capable of answering any sales questions or technical support questions.

How is the Multilingual Customer Support of mSpy?

The multilingual customer support of mSpy is offered in English, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, and Spanish (Mexico). For specific language support mSpy offers telephone numbers for sales support and technical support. These can be found in the bottom right hand corner of the mSpy website under “Contact Us:”.

Support representatives are trained to handle the installation of mSpy on Android and iOS devices, troubleshooting, optimizing mSpy’s spying settings, and uninstalling the mSpy app.

What Does mSpy Spy On?

mSpy spies on a wide variety of smartphone activities including all of the information in the table below.

mSpy Spying Features	What Is Tracked?	Recorded Data
Text Messages	iMessage & SMS	incoming and outgoing messages and images
Emails	Incoming & Outgoing	email content including sender and recipient
Phone Contacts	All contacts
Call logs	Phone calls	phone numbers, timestamp, and call duration
Social Media Networks	Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Tik Tok	messages and screenshots from within apps
Keystrokes	All keystrokes (Android Only)	passwords, text messages, web searches
GPS Location	Current and past GPS coordinates	past GPS coordinates
Installed Applications	All installed applications	list of installed apps
WiFi Connections	List of recent WiFi networks	Wifi network name and date used
Web Browswer	view web browsing history	websites visited with dates and timestamps
Chat Apps	Facebook Messenger, Viber, WeChat, Telegram	chat content including text, images, and video
Dating Apps	Tinder, Bumble	screenshots from app and text from chats

How Does mSpy Track Incoming and Outgoing Text Messages (SMS)?

The text message spying systems of mSpy capture all incoming and outgoing SMS text messages on the target device.

mSpy is one of the best spy apps because it offers lots of features without jailbreaking or rooting the target device.

In fact, mSpy was my favorite spyware app for several years.  But to be completely honest, mSpy has fallen behind.

My current favorite spy app is uMobix.  

uMobix offers more features (especially for iPhones) than mSpy and they offer LIVE phone support.  Here’s a quick comparison between the two.

There are a FEW cell phone surveillance apps out there that work well, and mSpy is one of them.  

This isn’t to say I didn’t have some frustrations with mSpy.

But most of my issues with mSpy were handled very efficiently by their tech support team.

More on that in a bit..

While mSpy is a bit more expensive than other monitoring apps, it offers a great balance of features, customer service, and stability.

Before You Do Anything Else

If you’re interested in moving forward with mSpy at this point I would encourage you to:

1. Check out the FREE demo of their mobile spy software (see below)
2. Read ALL the FAQ’s on the mSpy website to ensure your phone is compatible.  
3. Avoid any monitoring software that requires jailbreaking or rooting the phone.  It’s NOT WORTH THE HASSLE. 

Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, on to the full review…

The functionality built into this app is quite comprehensive.  Below I’ll show the features for both the iPhone and Android versions of the mSpy app.

mSpy for Android

mSpy is one of the top spy apps for Android phones and mobile devices. The app is invisible and undetectable once installed on an Android device.

Below are the features of the Android version of the mSpy software.

Social Media App Monitoring

Now days monitoring text messages isn’t enough. There are dozens of ways to communicate from a smart phone or tablet using any number of social media apps. 

mSpy’s social media tracking includes:

• Skype – track calls and read chats
• Whatsapp – track all chats
• iMessage – read all iMessage chats
• Viber – monitor call logs, chat messages and photos, and group messaging
• Snapchat – see who someone’s snapping, messages, pictures & more.
• Line – name & phone number target uses, incoming/outgoing messages, times sent and received, and even view hidden chats.
• Telegram – view all contacts, incoming/outgoing messages, and hidden messages
• Tinder – view target’s profile, view matches, superlikes, and messages sent & received
• Google Hangouts – view photos, browse maps, view contact list, emoji’s, and stickers

Website Monitoring and Blocking

One of the most popular features for parents and employers is website monitoring and blocking.  

This feature allows you to see which sites the target device visits, pages they have bookmarked, and can even notify you when specific keywords are typed into the browser.

It’s especially nice for parents that want to be able to keep an eye on the content their kids are viewing.  You can’t always be there peering over their shoulder to make sure they’re not getting into trouble.  

With site monitoring you can see for yourself what they’re looking at.

 mSpy also allows you to block specific sites.

The blocking feature is very useful, but it is somewhat browser dependent.

If the owner of the phone uses Chrome, Safari, or the native Android browser you’ll be able to block sites, but if they download third party browsers like Opera, they can get around this feature.

Incoming and Outgoing Calls

From your control panel you’ll be able to see all incoming and outgoing calls from the target phone.  You’ll see call times, duration, their name if they are a contact on the target device, as well as the total number of calls.

You control when calls are deleted from the dashboard’s call log.  If the phone’s user deletes their call log, you’ll still have a history regardless of what is stored on the phone itself.

There are two additional functions that make mSpy a truly powerful app.

1. You can setup incoming call blocking for specific numbers or contacts. 
2. You can block ALL incoming calls within a curfew window that you control.  If you don’t want your daughter getting calls from 10PM until 8AM you can set this in your dashboard.

Tracking Text Messages with mSpy

One of the most frequent questions we get is how to get text messages from another phone sent to mine.

One of mSpy’s most powerful features is the ability to track all incoming and outgoing text (SMS) messages from the target device.  From your dashboard you’ll be able to see the phone number, the time, and the text message itself.

Just like the call log, you control when messages are deleted from your dashboard.  Even if the owner of the phone deletes text messages you’ll still be able to see them.

Read Incoming & Emails

As with texting, email is another area where a child or employee can get into trouble.  mSpy allows you to see all incoming and outgoing email messages in a log file located on the dashboard. 

Here you’ll see the email address of the sender/recipient, the time stamp of the email, and the content of the email itself. 

This log file operates the same way as the call log and SMS text log.  Even if the user deletes the emails you’ll still be able to see all the information in your dashboard.

Access Calendar & Contact Information

From your dashboard you’ll be able to view all of the target device’s contacts.  You’ll see names, phone numbers, email addresses, and even physical address information.

You’ll also have full access to calendar events and schedule of the target device.  This allows you to see scheduled meetings (and any associated details), all calendar entries, and any scheduled tasks (and their details).

Any time a new appointment or contact is added you’ll see the entry reflected in your dashboard within minutes (depending on the update schedule you set).

Track the GPS Location of the Target

Another powerful feature of the mSpy app is the GPS tracker.  Using the phone’s built in GPS tracking system you’ll be able to instantly track a phone’s location to within about 20 meters. 

In addition to seeing their current location you can also see a map of their location over a specified amount of time. 

By utilizing wi-fi you’ll even be able to track the phone when it’s not capable of receiving GPS signals.

Keystroke Logging

With the Keylogger feature the default target keyboard is replaced with a mSpy keyboard that tracks all keystrokes.  You can force mSpy to always load its keyboard by selecting “Force Keyboard” button in your control panel.

A keylogger captures keyboard input no matter what app they are using. The mSpy app includes a built in keylogger for Android and iOS devices. The iPhone keylogger requires jailbreaking the device first.

Geofencing Capabilities

In addition to the mSpy GPS tracker, you can also set up restricted zones for the target device.  The number of zones you setup is unlimited.  The phone will automatically log when and how often each of the zones is visited.

You can even have the phone send you an email notification letting you know when specific zones have been entered and exited.

This is an extremely powerful feature for parents.  You can setup a “safe zone” around your home, your child’s school, and any other areas they normally visit.  

If they leave one of these safe zones mSpy’s GPS tracking will notify you immediately.  It’s the best peace-of-mind you can buy.

mSpy for iPhone

mSpy also allows you to monitor some the most popular social apps.  This is one of the main reasons why it makes the top 3 in my best iPhone spy apps comparison.

Target Phone Information

From your dashboard you’ll be able to see quite a bit of information about the target device.  Some of this is just informational, but there are some key functions built in as well.  Here are the stats you’ll be able to see:

• mSpy software version
• remaining battery life
• target device’s operating system information
• memory space available
• cellular service provider
• installed apps
• last time the phone synced with you dashboard
• whether or not the target device is rooted or jailbroken

There are also some key functions you can perform remotely using your mSpy control panel.  These include:

• wiping the target phone in case it is lost or stolen
• disable the app on the target device
• restart mSpy on the target device by sending a text message of “777”.  This can help if the target device has disappeared from your control panel.  The user won’t see this incoming text.
• unlinking the current target device
• clear all the logs in your control panel
• export the logs in your control panel for storage.  Formats supported include PDF, XLS, or CSV.
• remotely reboot the target device
• remotely lock the device

Settings for the Target Device

From this section in your control panel you’ll be able to set the default behavior for the target device.  Once this is setup the software will operate with these settings until you change something.

You’ll want to be sure to set everything to “auto-update” to that all of the recorded information is automatically sent to your control panel for viewing. 

Because uploading all of this information on a regular basis can be taxing for both the battery life of the phone and the data usage of the phone you can tell mSpy which types of information to send over specific connections. 

Videos, for instance, are quite large.  You can tell the app to only upload videos when the phone is on wi-fi rather than a cellular connection.  This will keep the mSpy app from chewing up the data plan.

You can also set the update interval for data and location information.  The lower the setting, the more frequent the updates will take place.  It’s important to strike a balance that doesn’t drain the battery of the device too quickly.  In most cases updating data every 30 minutes and location information every 2 min is fine.

Monitor & Control Access to Installed Applications

In your mSpy dashboard you’ll be able to see all of the installed applications of the target user.  From this same menu you can choose to block or unblock access to the application.  As new apps are added the list will be updated in your control panel.

This helps you to ensure that your children aren’t accessing any apps that could be harmful to them or their phone.  It also helps ensure that employees are staying on task and aren’t using apps that could be a liability for you or your business.

This function is helpful for monitoring for certain language usage or logging usernames and passwords to websites.  If you need to learn how to hack a cell phone this is one of the most powerful features out there.

Keyword Alerts

Would it be useful for you to get a notification every time a specific word or phrase was used on the target phone?  Drugs, sex, porn, alcohol, or any keyword of your choosing can be set to enable an immediate notification to you and your phone. 

Simply enter all of the keywords you want tracked and you will be notified any time it is used. mSpy shows you text messages, apps, browsing history, and more to let you know ANY time it sees this word or phrase.

View Target Device Media

The mSpy dashboard allow you to view all photos and video taken with the target phone.  You will also see  date and timestamp for each image/video.  Pictures can be viewed as a thumbnail or in full size.  Videos can be viewed in their entirety.

mSpy has all the same capabilities of the top spying apps on the market: tracking websites visited, incoming & outgoing phone calls, text messages, social media conversations, keystrokes typed, app and website blocking, and location tracking. 

But UNLIKE many spy apps, you DON’T have to jailbreak or root the phone to get all this information.

Why is this important?

Because it will save you time, the headache of trying to crack a phone, and it won’t void the warranty of the phone.

The mSpy app is relatively easy to install and setup.  The user interface is easy to navigate and it gives you access to practically EVERYTHING on the target phone.

All of this is backed up by mSpy’s 24/7 email and/or chat-based customer service.

While the installation of mSpy is more involved than some apps that are simply downloaded to the phone, the step-by-step instructions that are VERY easy to follow. 

We’ll dig more into that a little further down the page.  First let’s dig into what this monitoring app gives you as a parent or employer.  

What Devices Are Compatible With mSpy?

mSpy is a spying app designed to monitor a target phone, tablet or PC/Mac.

Once installed it allows you to see the target device’s call log, SMS text messages, internet browsing history, GPS location, emails, media (pictures & video), instant messages, and several popular social media applications. 

Through your web-based dashboard you’ll be able to view all of this and more safely, securely, and without the knowledge of the target phone user.  This dashboard is available from either a computer or mobile device.

There are a variety of uses for an application like mSpy.  Some customers use it to keep tabs on their children.  There are plenty of good reasons for kids to have smartphones. 

Unfortunately you can’t always be there to make sure they’re not using it in ways they shouldn’t.

mSpy Parental Control Features

mSpy performs very well as a way to keep track of your kid’s online activities.  In fact I rated it one the best parental control apps on the market.

It gives you the ability to monitor what websites they go to, who they talk to and when, who they text with, and who they connect with through various social media apps. 

It also allows you to physically track the phone at any give time to make sure they are where they said they would be.

As a parental control app, mSpy is a solid choice.  It allows you to keep close track of everything that happens on your child’s phone including internet usage, call history, contact names.  Here is a great article if you are specifically interested in apps for parental control.

Keeping Tabs on Your Employees with mSpy

When you’re running a business time is money.  You hope that your employees are trustworthy, but sometimes it pays to have a backup.  And as a business owner you could be liable for their behavior and actions.

With mSpy you can make sure employees are arriving on job sites on time and leaving when scheduled.  

You can track how much time they spend on the phone each day and who the text with while at work.  You can monitor the websites they visit from their device to make sure they’re not doing anything that might cause harm to your business’s reputation.

Keeping Track of Your Spouses Phone with mSpy

While most of us practically LIVE on our cell phones, occasionally they do get lost or left behind.  mSpy is a great way to quickly see the exact location of your lost phone.  You can even remotely disable it so no one else can use it.

You can choose to keep mSpy completely hidden on the target phone.  This makes it invisible to the phones owner.

mSpy’s dashboard allows you to see their exact location 24/7.  You can see who they text with, who they call and when, and see who they chat with in certain popular social apps. 

Compatibility Information

Before you go any further in the process it’s important to know if your intended target device is compatible with the mSpy app.  Getting the most functionality out of the software requires that you root an Android phone or jailbreak an iPhone. 

Many of the latest versions of the iPhone won’t allow you to jailbreak them.  Here is a list of compatible devices and compatible operating systems.

iPhones or iOS Devices

mSpy no longer offers a version for a jailbroken iOS device.  If you are looking to monitor a jailbroken device, you’ll first need to reset it to factory defaults.

iOS Devices (iPad or iPhone) That Have NOT Been Jailbroken

1.  mSpy is compatible with all versions of iOS2.  iOS Device must be connected to the internet3.  No physical access required if you have the devices iCloud login credentials4.  Physical access may be required if iCloud backups are NOT enabled

Android Devices

1.  Requires at least Android 4.0 or higher2.  Device must be connected to the internet3.  You will need physical access to the device4.  Tracking of instant messengers, Facebook, Facebook, Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, Wi-Fi Networks and Gmail requires rooting the target

Mac Computers

1.  Must be running Mac OS 10.7 Lion, Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, OS X 10.10 Yosemite, OS X 10.11 El Capitan2.  Physical access to the computer is required

Windows Based Computers

1.  device must be using Windows XP x32, Windows Vista x32, x64, Windows 7 x32, x34 or Windows 8, 8.12.  Physical access to the computer is required for installation

mSpy Customer Service

As a paying customer you will have access to either 24/7 email support (basic package) or 24/7 email and chat support (premium and no-jailbreak packages).  Their technical support team can help you with any issues that come up during installation or use of the product.

You should expect to receive an email reply in less than 30 minutes.  Chat wait times are significantly less.  We never had to wait more than 2 minutes for a support representative to respond to our chat requests.

mSpy Installation and Setup

No review would be complete without covering the installation of the mSpy app itself.

The process is slightly different depending upon which device you’ll be targeting and which package you purchase.

iOS Devices without Jailbreak

If the device you want to monitor is an iPhone and you don’t want to have to jailbreak it, you can install mSpy Without Jailbreak.  You will need the users iCloud credentials to proceed with the installation. 

Start by logging into your Control Panel.  Choose the installation option that matches your equipment.  Then follow the step by step instructions. 

Make sure that iPhone backup is enabled.  iPhones backup to the cloud once a day, but they must be connected to Wi-fi, plugged in, and locked. 

To check that backups are enabled go to the targets Settings menu, then make sure that “iCloud Backup” is set to “On”.  Then go to “Backup” and click the Backup Now button.  This will synchronize all the target phone’s data with your control panel.

iOS Devices with Jailbreak

The “Full Pack” is mSpy’s jailbreak version for iPhones an iOS devices.

Here’s a resource if you’re unfamiliar with jailbreaking an iPhone.

The first step to installing the full version of mSpy is to jailbreak the device.

Refer to this compatibility table to make sure your device can be jailbroken.  Many of the newer iPhones don’t have a jailbreak available yet.  If this is the case with your target device, you’ll need to use the “No-Jailbreak” version of the software.

To check the iOS version on the target device go to the Settings->General->About->Version.

Once you’ve successfully jailbroken the phone you can go to your control panel dashboard and choose “iPhone” to continue the installation.  You should expect the entire procedure of jailbreaking the phone and installing the software to take about 30 minutes or so.

How Do You Uninstall mSpy?

Removing mSpy is very simple. For iOS devices you simply open the app click “Installed”, click “iPhoneInternalService”, click “Modify”, and then click the “Remove” option.

For Android devices go to the “Phone Settings”, Security, Device Administrators, Update Service, Deactivate, Get Back to Settings, Apps, Update Service, and Uninstall.

mSpy for Android Devices

For installation on an Android device you will need to have physical access to the phone.  From your control panel select “Android”.  Then follow the step-by-step installation instructions.

Androids do NOT require rooting for basic functionality of the mSpy app, but the enhanced functionality of monitoring of certain apps will require that the device be rooted.

Once you’ve completed the mSpy installation procedure the tracking software will begin monitoring the phone immediately. From here on out all activity can be monitored from your control panel.

Where to Buy mSpy?

There are literally dozens of phone and tablet monitoring apps on the market.  mSpy has proven itself to be a leader by offering a solid, stable package that is very reasonably priced. 

Yes FlexiSPY offers a few features that mSpy doesn’t such as call intercept and call recording, but for the money it’s the best app out there for monitoring your kid’s, employee’s, or spouse’s phone.

What Are the mSpy Alternatives?

Below is a list of spying apps that are the best mSpy alternatives. These apps spy on social media activity, text messages, phone calls, emails, calendar entries, installed apps such as games, dating apps, chat apps, and the target phone’s GPS location. These mSpy alternatives can be used by parents, spouses, or employees to spy on the phone activity on any Android or iOS device.

The best alternatives to mSpy include:

1. uMobix – Best overall
2. EyeZy – best price
3. FlexiSPY – best features
4. Bark – Best for Parents

Which is Better mSpy or uMobix?

The main difference between mSpy and uMobix is that uMobix offers more social media spying features on iOS devices. uMobix spies on Facebook Messenger, Instagram Direct Messages, the target phone’s Facebook account, and Skype messages. uMobix spies on all message content and attachments sent within chats including photos and videos. mSpy does not spy on Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Facebook, or Skype on iOS devices such as the iPhone.

Which is Better mSpy or EyeZy?

The main difference between mSpy and Eyezy is that mSpy spies on WhatsApp on iOS devices. Eyezy does not spy on WhatsApp on iPhones or iPads. Eyezy is 2% less expensive than mSpy for the 1 month subscription plan. Eyezy is $.01 cheaper than mSpy for the 3 month plan. EyeZy is 14% cheaper than mSpy for the annual subscription plan. EyeZy and mSpy are used to spy on the child of a phone, spouse, or employee.

Which is Better mSpy or XNSPY?

The main difference between mSpy and XNSPY is that mSpy spies on WhatsApp on iOS devices. Eyezy does not spy on WhatsApp on iPhones or iPads. Eyezy is 2% less expensive than mSpy for the 1 month subscription plan. Eyezy is $.01 cheaper than mSpy for the 3 month plan. EyeZy is 14% cheaper than mSpy for the annual subscription plan. EyeZy and mSpy are used to spy on the child of a phone, spouse, or employee.

Which is Better mSpy or Bark?

The main difference between mSpy and Bark is that Bark service includes a phone, wireless service package, screen time limits and scheduling, and remote phone locking. Bark also restricts text messages from being deleted. mSpy does not offer screen time limitations or screen-time scheduling. Both mSpy and Bark spy on text messages, social media chat apps, and GPS location of the targeted phone. mSpy is used by parents, spouses, and employers. Bark is used by parents to enforce parental controls on their child’s phone.

mSpy FAQ

Here are a few common questions that come up when trying to choose a phone monitoring app like mSpy. 

Is mSpy a Scam?

While there are lots of people who have had bad experiences with mSpy, the software DOES work as advertised.  Many of their customer reviews are less than flattering.

Unfortunately many customers don’t read the mSpy return policy before making their purchase, struggle to get it working, and leave reviews saying it’s a scam.

Is mSpy Safe?

mSpy is completely safe.  The different versions require different methods of installation, but both will have no impact on the phone and can be completely removed when no longer needed.

Is mSpy Compatible with iPhones & Androids?

When utilizing the jailbreak version of mSpy to track an iPhone, iOS versions 6 – 8.4 and 9 – 9.1 are supported.  When using the non-jailbreak version it is supported on all iOS versions.

For Android devices it must use Android 4+. 

Windows computers running the following versions are supported:

Windows XP x32; Windows Vista x32, x64; Windows 7 x32, x64; Windows 8, 8.1; Windows 10

MAC computers with the following operating systems are supported:

Mac OS 10.7 Lion, Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, OS X 10.10 Yosemite, OS X 10.11 El Capitan

Will mSpy Work Anywhere in the World?

Yes, so long as the device is connected to the internet mSpy will send information from the target device back to your control panel.  Obviously you will experience delays whenever the device is turned off or is out of range.

Is Using mSpy Legal?

Yes, using mSpy is completely legal.  However, there are a few caveats.  You must be the owner of the phone.  For example, if you want to monitor a phone that your company provides to your employees this is completely within the law.  It IS required that you notify your employee that their phone is being monitored.

Another example would be to monitor your child’s phone.  At that point it’s up to you whether or not you let them know you’re monitoring their phone. 

If you’re looking to install mSpy to monitor a spouse or significant other you suspect of infidelity, telling them obviously reduce the chances of catching them in the act.  This is at best a grey area.  Many would argue that it’s more important that they know for sure.

Read more: Are Cell Phone Spying Apps Legal?

Will the Phone’s Owner Know mSpy is Installed?

mSpy cannot be detected on an iOS device. It doesn’t have to be “installed” on the target phone at all.  It simply allows you access to all of the online backups in the users iCloud account. 

mSpy can be detected on Android phones because the app must be downloaded and installed on the device. It is hidden and invisible, but if someone installs an anti-spyware app mSpy will be detected.

Does mSpy have to be installed on the target phone?

No, mSpy can spy on a cell phone without installing software if it is an iOS device. Android devices DO require installing software on the target phone.

Can mSpy Be Trusted?

mSpy’s data has been hacked on two separate occasions. These hacks compromised phone data from thousands of customers. mSpy has since implemented much more stringent security on their network, including military grade encryption of all phone data.

Can mSpy Monitor Multiple Devices?

mSpy now features a Family plan.  All of the devices will be shown in your dashboard so that you can quickly change from one to the next.  This is ideal if you’re monitoring a number of employees or several children.

The Family plan also unlocks the most powerful features from mSpy.

Can mSpy Record Phone Calls?

No. mSpy cannot record phone conversations. You can only view call logs showing phone numbers and call durations.

How Often is the Data in My Dashboard Updated?

During the installation of mSpy you decide how frequently the target device uploads it’s data.  It can be set as low as ten minutes or as high as once per day.  The higher the frequency the more drain the app will cause on the target device’s battery.

If you’re using the app for tracking purposes it can be beneficial to have it update more frequently.  Generally once every half hour is sufficient.

Looking for a Budget Cell Phone Tracker?

While mSpy offers powerful functionality, there are other options out there that don’t offer the same features but are also much less expensive. 

We recently finished our FlexiSPY review and thought it was time to compare it to some of the competitive products on the market.