Time for my review of mSpy monitoring software – is it reliable, does mSpy work, what can it do and why is it the most popular spy app today? Not just another one of the many standard mSpy reviews, this one is real and in depth!
I’m going to show you a few unique features of this spy app – reasons to consider this one over the rest! I’ll give you a quick version review – if you are in a hurry – and then go into much more detail to help you make an informed choice.
If you follow this website, you are already aware that before writing a review of any spy software, I test it personally for a period of time so I can get a really good insight into its characteristics. This time around, I was testing out MSpy, one of the most popular cell phone spy software programs.
This review contains my real-life experience using this software, and it should provide you with some sound advice – if this is the spy software for you!
For a full list of features visit mSpy’s official website.
Table of Contents
Updated for 2024
Quick Review
This program has been selling and developing since 2011 – not exactly new players so you have the benefit of continuing support and a good track record. Big changes in the spy phone market – have led to a great boost in popularity for MSpy.
They have a proven track record offering high quality cellphone and tablet spy / monitoring apps – their software just works! More than can be said for many of their so called competitors.
It has grown into a true market leader – with over 1 million users worldwide making them the best selling spy program right now. Their main competition at the top end is Flexispy, they offer many similar functions but there are differences worth noting – not least in pricing, where M-Spy is slightly ahead.
mSpy Pros:
- Top rated spy app serving a large customer base – this program works reliably
- Cost effective – competitive pricing means good value especially in longer term packages
- No Jailbreak version – can monitor any version of iPhone!
- Great range of spy features – including messenger apps
- Accurate GPS tracking
- Good support – and installation service
mSpy Cons:
- No voice recording features (only FlexiSPY has this feature)
- Have to pay extra for telephone support
There is a good reason why mSpy is top of my very small list of recommended spy apps! There are very limited cons to this service.
Main mSpy Review
In my reviews, I try do more than just give you a repeat of their website, listing the features one by one. They do a good enough job with that !
I’m going to focus more on the unique, advanced features and the reliability of the program, to help you make an educated decision when selecting the best spy phone software for your needs – a unique and real mSpy review!
How Much Does mSpy Cost?
You can select one of two main packages: Basic and mSpy Premium. Their Basic program comes with a wide range of features including all of the regular features you’d expect such as voice call logging, texts reporting, GPRS tracking and browser history.
For most of the more advanced features you will need to go for their Premium program. Below is the latest mSpy 2024 Price List:
1 Month | 3 Months | 12 Months | |
---|---|---|---|
mSpy Basic | $29.99 | $59.99 | $99.99 |
mSpy Premium | $69.99 | $119.99 | $199.99 |
mSpy No Jailbreak | $69.99 | $119.99 | $199.99 |
They also have a Family Package – it allows you to monitor up to 3 devices and saves 20% :
- 6 months $359.97
- 12 months $479.97
The one month package is good if you want to test out the software or just use it for a short time. On the other hand, long-term packages offer better value for money.
If you go for the 12 month deal it will cost the equivilent of $16.66 per month for the Premium package.
Check Prices Here
Compatibility : Cell Phones and Other Devices
This spy app has been developed for use on most modern mobile devices. It started out as just mobile phone monitoring software but with the rise of tablets and many different models of cell phones, it had to extend compatibility.
They are now covering Android Tablets and Apple devices such as the iPad and iPad Touch. Most mobile devices are covered as long as they are internet enabled.
You simply need to know the operating system that is installed on the target device (the phone you need to monitor) and match it to the m Spy version you buy. Here is a quick reference guide to their current supported Operating System versions:
- Android Cell Phones and Android Tablets – All versions after Android 4
- Apple – iPhones, iPads and iPod – up to iOS 9.0.2 (changes frequently, so always check)
You should always check the website for latest updates and the latest version information – they even have a useful list of cell phones and devices currently supported – by make and model making things easy for you.
Make sure you also double check that the features you really need are covered by the version that matches the target device – the Android features list is slightly different to Apple devices – always check!
They also have a No Jailbreak Version of the software again with different features – I go into the details below, so keep reading!
Now, let’s get onto the good stuff.
Advanced Monitoring
Needless to say, they cover all of the standard monitoring requirements: logging voice calls, sms text messages, emails, plus internet browser history reporting and accurate GPS tracking.
These are pretty standard for all programs these days. I’m going to show you some of the features which set it apart from other monitoring apps.
Geo Fencing
This feature is highly valued by employers and of course parents. It basically allows you to set up certain “restricted” areas using Google Maps – you can easily set the boundaries. If the GPRS tracking shows the phone or device leaving (or entering) that zone – you will get an alert.
The alerts can be set to send you an email or just to show up as a breach in the online dashboard. You can also view the logs showing the phone movements during any time period. It is really user friendly and easy to set up.
Their tracking and alerts system works well and is one of their biggest selling points for parents and employers.
Monitoring Messenger Apps
They have worked hard to provide monitoring of a comprehensive list of Chat / Messenger and Social sites. These services are extremely popular especially with younger users and no monitoring solution would be complete without some coverage. They keep adding to the list – right now they can spy on:
SnapChat, WhatsApp,Viber, Skype, Line, Telegram, iMessage (iPhone and iPad only) plus Facebook Messenger, Instagram and Twitter. Again, check compatibility for the services you need to cover. Tinder spy features have just been added to the mix – allowing you to monitor all Tinder activity.
Remember this is extremely powerful – you can see message contents and even media such as pictures and videos – sent and received using these platforms. If you are monitoring kids – you need this!
M-Spy are one of the ONLY ones at the moment to monitor SnapChat and Now Tinder!
Call Blocking
You can set up a list of phone numbers from which you don’t want to receive incoming calls. Great for parents aiming to limit contact with undesirable friends! You can have great control over the target phone using this feature and it works really well.
Website Blocking
Allows you to block any access to a list of websites – you can choose any. You can block them totally or allow them during specified time slots. Again this feature is very useful for parental control and for employee monitoring – are your staff wasting Your time browsing online and checking Facebook, when they are supposed to be working? This feature can actually save you money and increase productivity. Just a thought!
App Blocking
You can choose which apps to block on the target phone – cut out their use completely rather than just monitoring activity and messages. You can even use this to block the internet altogether for example. Remember the days when phones were just phones? Need to keep your kids off YouTube?
Keylogger
This is an original feature – it logs every Key Stroke on the device. This lets you see everything that has been typed on the monitored device – from emails and texts to web addresses and even passwords with their login details.
This is an outstanding feature but it is only available on Android devices at the moment – and it works really well. I like this one as it has many uses!
Monitoring Wi-Fi Points
This will allow you to see when the device has accessed any Wi-Fi networks – enabling you to track the phone even if the GPRS is switched off. It shows a list with times and details of any connections made. You can also remotely restrict access to public Wi-Fi hotspots.
Wi-Fi use on business devices can pose a threat to company information – and personally, things like bank details, logins and passwords can all be hacked through public Wi-Fi access.
Management Features
They have several features that help to make managing the target device really easy. One feature allows you to fine-tune the way you receive reports. For example, you can have reports accessed Only via the web Dashboard interface – or have them uploaded only when the device has a Wi-Fi connection, any connection or none – to pause reporting.
This allows greater control and it circumvents using the target devices own data plan for uploading the logs and reports. This isn’t usually a problem as the data packets are small and rarely noticeable – but if you are viewing lots of images or video, it can use more data.
You can further control reporting and how it is managed – by setting the time intervals that reports are generated and sent to the dashboard.
Sometimes you need up to the minute reporting and at other times a couple of times a day will be enough – it depends on your needs.
You can also update the Spy program automatically – with no need to access the phone again after the initial installation.
Added Security Features
You can do things like phone locking, data wiping, SIM change notification – app control, such as starting, pausing or deleting, all through the online control panel. The interface is clearly laid out and really easy to use.
Think about some of these features and how You could use them – features like these are why I can recommend mspy software to anyone. People sometimes focus on recording voice calls and other fancy features but ones like these really give you control.
Reporting
This is a really strong point with this product. Reports can be personalized to a high degree – so that you see what matters to you the most. You can customize reports and their frequency – best of all it is very intuitive and easy to set up – you can also download the data reports in several different formats.
This unique reporting and data management is a perfect tool for small business users who monitor more than one phone.
New: No Jailbreak Monitoring
I mentioned this new development above. Now you can choose this service as different way to spy on an iPhone without Jailbreaking it first. (It works for all compatible Apple devices including iPads and iPod Touch etc.)
Don’t confuse this with their regular spy software – it works in a completely different way and offers fairly limited monitoring features.
Jailbreaking is not required because No actual software program is downloaded or installed on to the target phone / device!
It works by accessing the device backups in the free iCloud backups account and reporting the changes at intervals. To use this version you must have the user’s Apple ID and their password – and the device must be set up to use automatic backups in iCloud (Apple’s free cloud backup solution).
It is easy to setup the iPhone backups if this has not already been done by the user. This system is not ideal in some situations as it requires their Apple ID and Password but can be useful if Jailbreaking is not an option.
It is completely stealthy when set up properly – no notifications will be sent to the iCloud backup center.
To get started – simply sign in with the users details and you can view reports online – not quite in real time as it depends on how often backups are set to update but you can change these settings in the iCloud interface.
Remember – there is no software to install on the phone / device. M Spy will access the backups via the iCloud account online and reports will be displayed in your Online Dashboard area.
Reporting is also limited when compared to their standard spy software. With the No Jailbreak version you can still see : detailed call logs with numbers and time stamps, text messages including contents, location history, full web browser history with sites visited, notes, contacts, events and it lists installed apps.
Messenger and social monitoring is limited but you can still monitor : Skype, WhatsApp, Line and view Facebook activity in the browser reports.
All in all it can be a good solution when, for some reason, Jailbreaking an Apple device is not possible. It offers a limited form of monitoring and is not to be mixed up with their full featured spy software program. Still a very useful program for many people but if you can Jailbreak – the full software is much more powerful and versatile.
You can check it out here – look at the orange top bar for No Jailbreak.
What Else makes M-Spy So Special?
As part of this mspy review – I like to look at some things that make it stand out from the rest, a reason to help you make decisions.
Great Support – they offer a Premium support package which you can purchase for $29.95 – perhaps an option for beginners or if you have problems with installation. This is not mandatory and I haven’t used it myself, so I can’t vouch for the quality.
For that payment they will help you with Rooting Android or Jailbreaking the iPhone and then take you through the main software install. A little extra help if you think you need it!
Their official website is also worth mentioning. The interface is very clean and streamlined, and unlike most similar websites, the main buying page makes it very clear what features you are getting for the money you are paying.
Guarantee
Also, they offer a money back guarantee in case you are not satisfied with their product. Unlike some less reputable companies, they actually honor it! Apart from live chat and email support, it is refreshing to know that they offer telephone support as well. It is comforting to know you can talk to an actual person in case you run into a problem.
They also have a live demo , which lets you know how the features and reports really work. This is great if you are new to this kind of program – check it out.
Visit the mSpy Demo Website Here
A Name You Can Trust?
Sold by MTechnology Ltd, which has offices in both the UK and the US, they have built up a good reputation in the business. The company puts a lot of effort in developing good customer support, and it shows, though their ten-day money back guarantee, telephone support and secure payment methods by credit and debit cards and PayPal.
This software app has been selling very well for several years and I think we can safely say that it is a reliable option and one that you can rely on in the long run. There is no mSpy Scam!
As for the final verdict, it’s up to you. You need to decide on what it is that you are looking for in a spy app. Take into account all the features and options offered, as well as the price.
If you need reliable monitoring with a good range of management features – they are hard to beat. Only FlexiSpy can offer more in terms of advanced monitoring such as call recording etc.
Personally, I like this Spy software – it has a lot going for it, not just the features and support, but also a great website and a well-designed control panel. I hope my real mSpy review has shed some light on the details and I also hope you find it useful when choosing the right spy software for your own needs.
mSpy Frequently Asked Questions
This review of mSpy has been around for several years now and has changed many times. I update it monthly and when there are any major changes to the program. This is important when looking at any mSpy reviews online – you need to be up to date with the latest changes.
Over the years I have received many comments and questions about the mSpy app – you can check the comments below for questions from genuine users.
To make things easy for you I have put together a list of mSpy FAQ – quick and easy answers to your questions. If there is anything you are not sure about and it hasn’t been answered already – feel free to leave a comment below and I will do my best to answer you.
Is mSpy Hidden from the user?
Yes it is very well hidden – something they have worked at over the years. It is one of the most difficult spy apps to detect and will not be discovered easily.
Do I need an internet connection to spy on a target phone?
Yes some sort of internet connection is required to upload the data to the reporting dashboard. All spy apps have this requirement. It will work with Wi-Fi or a data plan.
Will mSpy work in any country?
Yes as long as there is an internet connection. The site is also available in a range of languages.
Will Mspy appear on my credit card?
No – there is no mention of mspy it will refer to the payment processor discreetly.
Does it automatically rebill ?
No but you will see your renewal date in the dashboard reporting area and can renew at any time.
What phones can I monitor?
It works for Android devices and Apple iPhone, iPad etc.
Does mSpy have a No Jailbreak version for the iPhone?
Yes they were the first to come out with this solution and still lead the way. Very important today as the latest Apple devices cannot be Jailbroken.
Do I need to Root an Android phone to use the mSpy app?
Rooting Android is not absolutely necessary but some features will not work such as monitoring social messenger apps like Snapchat etc. To get the most out of the app I would recommend Rooting if at all possible.
How many phones can I spy on?
It is one phone per license – but you could buy more licenses and monitor them from one online dashboard. You can also transfer your license to another phone at any time.
Can mSpy record voice calls?
No – FlexiSPY is the only reliable spy app that can record and listen to live voice calls – only available with their most expensive package.
Can mSpy be installed without having the phone?
No – as with all spy software apps you need physical access to install the software. The only exception is with the no jailbreak version for the iPhone – no software is installed on the target device as it monitors the iCloud backup changes. This means it can be possible to use this version without having the target device.
Can it be removed without having the phone again?
Yes it can be removed remotely from the online reporting dashboard. You will not need access to the target phone again.
How often do the data reports get updated?
For the regular software install versions you can chose the reporting interval at setup. For the no jailbreak version it will update according to the backup frequency – usually 12 or 24 hours.
Can I see deleted text messages?
Once the app is installed you will see all texts sent and received – even if they are deleted immediately. But it will not recover old deleted texts from before your mSpy installation.
Does mSpy have an installation service?
Yes they call it mAssistance and you can purchase it at checkout. They will help you Root or Jailbreak the device and then install the software and get it set up. You will need to connect the phone to a PC or laptop and use remote assistance. Great service for those worried about the tech side of using mSpy.
Do I need a computer to see the online reports?
No you can view from any internet enabled device such as your own phone or tablet.
Will it be discovered by antivirus software apps?
Very unlikely – they work hard to make sure the files are hidden and do not flag any antivirus scans.
Does it reveal any passwords?
Yes there is a keylogger feature which will allow you to see logins and passwords for apps such a Facebook etc. Anything typed using the phone keypad will be recorded. Another important spy feature.
Do they offer support?
Yes – apart from mAssistance you get full email and live chat support. One of the best support services available for a spy app. Phone support is available for an extra fee.
mSpy Free Trial?
They don’t have a free trial but have a working demo on their site. You can take a short term license to try it out before committing to the yearly packages (which are much better value). They also have a money back guarantee.
That’s it for now on the Q and A section – anything I haven’t covered feel free to get in touch using the comment section below.
For mSpy’s own FAQ page you can look here too.
Thanks for reading and good luck!
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