mSpy Review

How does mSpy work?

mSpy is straightforward to use. The hardest part is downloading and installing the app on the target phone because of the risk involved. Once the spy has installed the software on the target phone, it will start monitoring it and collecting all the information the spy needs. This is all possible thanks to the proliferation of smartphones and widespread internet usage.

Like many other spying apps, mSpy is marketed as a parental control app designed to help parents monitor their kids and employers track their employees. However, it can be abused by spouses and romantic partners who want to spy on their lovers.

mSpy can collect your phone’s data and show it to your spy. Its dashboard shows all the data available in conveniently categorized tabs. They can either quickly check the overview or head to the left menu to select the category they’re interested in to review your activity carefully.

Your spy can snoop around your phone remotely because they know you won’t be alerted. This is because mSpy works in stealth mode, which means it isn’t visible to you as the target. You won’t know when your loved one monitors your activity or which data category they’re checking out. As far as you’re concerned, everything is normal.

However, there are certain actions you could notice, like when an app goes missing if your husband or wife deleted it remotely.

mSpy is compatible with Android devices (including LG, Huawei, Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, and more) and iPhones. However, it’s incompatible with older Android versions and iPhones bought before 2010-2011. Your significant other can enter your phone’s model on the mSpy website to ensure it’s compatible with the app.

After installing and setting up mSpy, they can start keeping a close eye on you. They’ll have access to troves of data, including your:

• Calls
• Messages
• Location

Moreover, they can monitor your activity indefinitely or until they uninstall the app from your phone. If you detect the app and delete it yourself, they’ll be notified. And if you change phones, they remove your old phone from their account and connect your new one.

It’s scary to think that someone can delve deep into the depths of your phone and read your private conversations in real time. Some people shudder to think they could ever become victims of spying. However, no one is exempt from it—it’s not limited to just movie characters. Whether it’s your ex-girlfriend, ex-boyfriend, spouse, friend, someone you live with, or even a period tracking app, someone somewhere could be spying on you.

Consider how much you stand to lose from being monitored—your privacy, identity, finances, and, worst of all, your dignity. You can safeguard yourself against long-term spying by learning how to check if your phone is tracked. One of the most effective ways to do this is with Clario Anti Spy, the go-to software for weeding out hidden spyware and threats on mobile devices like yours.

Clario Anti Spy’s Spyware scan scans your Android or iPhone device for threats. It reports what it finds and helps you remove spyware from iPhone or Android. If you suspect someone is spying on you with mSpy or a similar app, Clario Anti Spy’s Spyware scan will either confirm it or put you at ease.

Follow these steps to use Clario Anti Spy’s Spyware scan to remove threats from your iPhone, iPad, or Android device:

1. Download Clario Anti Spy on your phone and create an account.
2. Select Spyware scan > Run deep scan and follow the on-screen prompts to check the phone for threats.

Is mSpy legit?

Yes, mSpy is a legitimate parental control app. Since 2010, it has built a reputation for itself as a popular monitoring app, with more than 1.5 million users globally. When you research whether mSpy is legitimate software on the internet, you’ll find positive reviews.

The negative reviews described how users got more than what they signed up for and weren’t allowed to cancel their subscriptions, which is worrying. Some went as far as labeling mSpy a “scam” and warned others not to spend their hard-earned money on the software. Note that  Trustpilot is a reputable business review platform that limits fake reviews.

So, while the general consensus is that mSpy is legit, you must proceed with caution when considering using it, especially since this is a paid service. More importantly, remember that spying on of-age individuals is illegal.

mSpy features

Below is a list of features spies can use to monitor you in mSpy:

1. Keylogger
2. Call monitoring
3. Screen recorder
4. Location tracker
5. Keyword alerts
6. Access to messages
7. Wi-Fi network monitoring
8. Website and applications management
9. Calendar activities
10. Access media files
11. Stealth Mode

Read the guide below to learn more about mSpy’s features and how someone can use them to spy on you.

1. Keylogger

Typically, nosy people want to read your conversations in your messages app, social media, and maybe even your emails. mSpy’s keylogger feature is a spy’s dream because it shows them more than that. Unlike the screen recorder, the keylogger feature tracks everything you tap or type on your phone—from Google search queries to social media captions—over and above your private messages and social media chats. It includes messages you didn’t send. If you type it, they’ll see it.

In practice, this means that if you use a digital journal to record your thoughts, feelings, and topics you want to discuss with your therapist, your spouse will know about it. If you jot down something personal in your Notes app, they’ll be able to read it. When your partner tracks you through the keylogger feature, nothing you type on your mobile phone remains hidden from them.

The average person keeps their phone with them at all times, so every time you pick up and use your phone, your significant other could be watching. In other words, at any given time, you could be unknowingly sharing the details of what you’re up to on your phone with them.

2. Call monitoring

mSpy shows your spouse detailed information about your call logs. It allows them to know who you are talking to on the phone and when. Your partner can get paranoid if they track your calls. If they suspect you’ve been unfaithful, they can check whether a specific name or number pops up on your call logs consistently and even how long you talk to that person. They can also check your call logs to ensure you aren’t talking to particular people, like your ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend.

Here’s what mSpy shows them:

• Missed calls
• Outgoing calls
• Incoming calls
• Phone numbers
• Names of the people you talk to
• Duration of your calls
• Dates and times of the calls

The bad news for you is that the call monitoring feature not only shares details about your calls, it records them too. Unless your spouse secretly records your conversations, they cannot know what you discuss during your phone calls.

This means they would get a comprehensive view of your conversations, as they would also hear what the person on the other end of the phone is saying. Let’s say you started a conversation with a friend in a WhatsApp chat and continued it on a phone call. If your partner is monitoring your WhatsApp chats and is curious about how the conversation progressed, they can fill the gaps by listening to your phone call recordings.

Your privacy should not be violated. Use Clario AntiSpy’s Spyware scan to check if your partner has installed mSpy or a similar monitoring app on your phone to track you.

3. Screen recorder

As if giving your spouse access to your calls and messages isn’t enough, mSpy shows them your screen. The screen recorder takes a screenshot every time you receive a message to show them snapshots of your notifications, chats, and more. The point is to show your girlfriend or boyfriend your messages before you delete them. For example, if you have disappearing messages enabled on WhatsApp, your lover can catch them before they disappear.

Additionally, your partner can use this feature to get the context behind some of the data they’re tracking. It will help them understand why you’re sending certain messages. Unfortunately, it also compromises other people’s privacy, as it shows your spouse the messages other people send you and the personal information they may contain.

4. Location tracker

If your partner is monitoring your calls and messages, chances are they’re monitoring your whereabouts, too. Whether you live with them or not, they can keep tabs on you by tracking your location. mSpy shows them this data in real time. If your spouse always seems to know where you are and the places you’ve been to or randomly shows up while you’re out, they’re probably tracking your location with mSpy or similar software.

By now, you’re likely wondering why your spouse would track you through mSpy if they already monitor your whereabouts using Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device features. Well, the answer is pretty simple—mSpy provides far more data, as listed below:

• A list of locations you visited recently
• GPS coordinates of those locations and their accuracy
• The dates and times you visited those areas
• The addresses of the places you visited
• Links to see those locations on Google Maps

The Find My and Find My Device features work well, and manufacturers continue to improve them. Nonetheless, your spouse might find it convenient to track your location on mSpy if they’re already monitoring more of your data on the platform. This is because mSpy allows them to simultaneously monitor your calls, keystrokes, chats, social media activity, and online activity in one place. Unlike Find My and Find My Device, mSpy gives them a comprehensive view of what you’re up to instead of just tracking your location.

If your companion doesn’t have time to constantly be checking your location, they can set up geo fencing. This allows them to create virtual boundaries by pinning a location on a map and getting alerted when you leave that particular area. For example, if they suspect that you’re cheating or meeting up with other people after work, they can set up geo-fencing for your workplace. mSpy will notify them when you leave your job premises.

5. Keyword alerts

While the keylogger shows your spouse everything you type, no matter what or where it is, the keyword alerts feature allows them to set up alerts for the keywords and phrases they’re interested in and monitor those instead. They will not need to go through tons of messages anymore. This is a more focused approach they might take if they have specific reasons for spying on you.

Instead of going through tons of messages, your partner can simply set up alerts for the keywords and phrases they’re interested in.

This could entail spying on you to find clues or prove their suspicions. To that end, your estranged husband can monitor your phone for keywords someone would use when having an affair. They can also monitor phrases related to daycare centers or schools in another state to confirm you’re planning on relocating the child.

6. Text messages

Messages are almost always the first place your spouse checks if they suspect you’re cheating on them or are up to no good. Of course, it’s very difficult to grab someone’s phone and read their messages without them catching you. mSpy allows suspicious and nosy girlfriends and boyfriends to do that without the risk of getting caught. It gives them remote access to all your messages, including on social media apps.

Here are the platforms your significant other can read your messages on:

• iMessage and Google Messages
• WhatsApp
• KiK
• Telegram
• Viber
• Tinder
• LINE
• Snapchat
• Hangouts
• Skype
• Instagram
• Facebook

As you can see, none of your messages or private conversations remain hidden when your partner uses mSpy to stalk you. Unfortunately, because you won't be aware you’re being watched, your partner can access sensitive information they have no business reading. This includes the secrets that your friends and family members entrust you with.

If your work involves talking to people about sensitive topics, this affects them, too. For example, some psychologists check in with their clients on WhatsApp. Let’s say you’re in a similar line of work. Your clients can reveal personal details in your WhatsApp conversations. If your partner sees those messages and your clients find out somehow, that’s a severe violation that could cost you your job.

7. Wi-Fi network monitoring

If your romantic partner wants to track your location on all fronts, they monitor the Wi-Fi networks you connect to. Unless you strictly connect to the internet using mobile data, this option can come in handy, as most people use public Wi-Fi networks to stay connected while they’re out.

Here’s the data your mate receives when they monitor your Wi-Fi connections:

• The name of the Wi-Fi network you are connected to (established businesses typically have the business name in their Wi-Fi name, so your partner can use this to determine exactly where you are or have been)
• The date you connected to the Wi-Fi network
• How long you were connected to it gives your partner a clue as to how long you were at that establishment or area

This data allows your spouse to learn your routine and habits. For example, if you frequently connect to a Wi-Fi network at a coffee shop near your workplace, they can ascertain that you frequent that business around your working hours.

They can use that information to confront you or stalk you in person. Or, they can remotely disconnect you from that Wi-Fi connection, though you wouldn’t know why that’s happening.

8. Website and applications management

You can tell a lot about a person from the websites they visit and the apps they use. That’s why mSpy shows curious partners this information. mSpy can tell how often you visit certain websites by checking out your browsing history. Additionally, they can view your saved bookmarks.

But that's not all.

Your male or female friend can remotely manage your browsing activities, too. If they're tracking you, chances are they aren’t ready or brave enough to confront you about something. So, if they find that you’re visiting websites or using apps they don’t approve of, they won’t tell you. Instead, they’ll remotely block those apps and websites or worse, keep tracking your online activity.

9. Events

Do you usually add your plans, upcoming events, and appointments to your phone’s calendar? Think twice, as your wife or hubby can use it to keep tabs on you. Whether it’s an innocent appointment like a doctor’s visit or a secret lunch date with an old friend, if you mark it on your calendar, your spouse will know about it.

Depending on what you add to your calendar, they can use that information to track your location, get insight into your state of mind, and find out who you hang out with and when. Depending on their motives for tracking you, your partner can go as far as sabotaging your plans, like canceling or changing your appointments

10. Additional features

If you thought that’s all mSpy can do, you’re in for a rude awakening. Below are two more ways your husband or wife can track you using the app.

10.1 Photo and video

Unfortunately, your photos and videos are visible to your lover when they track you through mSpy. They can download your images, play your videos, and view the dates and times when you originally downloaded them.

If you’ve saved intimate photos of yourself or someone sent you media files you weren’t supposed to share with anyone else, your partner will see them and can save them for future reference. There’s no telling what they can do with those files. If they have sinister motives, they can distribute them as part of a revenge porn plan or upload them on the dark web.

Regardless, the fact that they can access your media files is a gross violation of your privacy.

10.2 Stealth Mode

Stealth Mode is mSpy’s way of keeping your girlfriend or boyfriend's activities private so you don't catch on to what’s going on. It allows them to hide the mSpy app icon on your app so they can monitor you freely and secretively.

If your romantic partner tracks you in stealth mode, they can watch you for long periods of time until they remove the app from your phone. All the while, you’d essentially hand your data to them on a silver platter while being oblivious to their underhanded behavior, lack of boundaries, and total disregard for your privacy.

However, if they remotely control your activity, you can notice that something is off, though you might not immediately think they have something to do with it. For instance, if they block certain Wi-Fi connections and websites, you can start investigating why that’s happening.

Do you have to install mSpy on the target phone?

Yes, your husband or wife must have physical access to the target phone (your phone) to install mSpy on it. While the app allows them to watch your every move remotely, they can't install the tracking software on your device remotely. It is probably the most difficult part, as they must ensure you don’t catch them.

If they have your phone’s password or passcode, they can easily unlock it and install the app without you noticing. For example, while you’re not in the room. However, they can also install the app while you’re in the room. They can ask to use your phone to check something on it, make a phone call, or even pretend to send themselves a file.

If you trust your spouse, you can easily hand them your phone without suspecting they’ll do anything threatening. Unfortunately, you won’t know they’ve installed the app because the app icon will be hidden.

Is mSpy detectable on the target phone?

No, mSpy is not detectable if your partner chooses to hide the app icon. However, you can use a spyware detector to find out. Use Clario AntiSpy’s Spyware scan to check if your partner has crossed your boundaries. If they’ve installed mSpy on your phone, Clario AntiSpy’s Spyware scan will pick it up, so you can remove it.

If someone is spying on you, they wouldn’t want you to know. That’s the whole point of spying; otherwise, they’d simply ask you for the information they want.

There are two types of monitoring apps used by spies:

• Visible monitoring apps appear on the target device’s home screen, which means the person being monitored is aware of what’s happening. Parents may use these apps to monitor their kids’ phone activity.
• Hidden monitoring apps. These are typically secretly installed on the target phone. They collect information in stealth mode and send it to the person doing the surveillance. Your partner can use this type of monitoring app if they suspect you’re cheating. Parents can use it if they believe their teenagers are up to no good. Estranged wives and husbands can use it to confirm suspicions of cheating and to aid in child custody battles.

mSpy falls in the latter category. The mSpy logo isn’t visible on the target phone, which allows the app to remain undetected. That’s part of why partners can use it to spy on their significant others for extended periods. If your spouse is using it to track you, the chances of you coming across the app on your device and figuring out what’s going on are slim. Ultimately, this protects your spouse.

Your partner must follow the on-screen instructions carefully to install the app properly and avoid detection. Then they must hope you don’t figure out how to find hidden spy apps on Android or iPhone so you don’t catch them.

mSpy price

How much is your partner likely to pay to monitor you on mSpy? Below is a breakdown of mSpy’s pricing:

• One month: $69.99 per month
• Three months: $40 per month (this is listed as the most popular plan on the mSpy website)
• 12 months: $16.67 per month

All mSpy plans include premium features and stealth mode and are available on all iOS and Android devices. mSpy usually offers discounts or promotions on their plans. At the time of writing, it offered a 50% discount on all plans.

Additionally, mSpy doesn’t offer a free plan for those keen on trying it out for the first time. However, they can use the free demo on the mSpy website. The demo looks and works the same way the app does, so users can get as close a feel of the real app as possible. The demo is interactive, so users can click on the various tools with mock data to see how everything works.

Is mSpy safe?

Yes, mSpy is a safe and reliable app if you are monitoring your underage child or an employee who has agreed to be monitored. However, it is a serious privacy violation if you use it outside of these realms. Spying is a serious federal offense and is quite dangerous.

mSpy has good reviews on reputable websites like Trustpilot. It’s a trusted company with more than 10 years in the industry.

Be that as it may, the fact is that mSpy is a parental control app that can be used as a spy app if taken advantage of by people with malicious motives. If your significant other uses it to monitor you, that compromises your privacy. Furthermore, it compromises the privacy of anyone you interact with on your phone at any given moment in time. By reading your messages, your spouse becomes privy to other people’s sensitive information.

Your spouse can also access your loved ones’ phone numbers, email addresses, and more. Imagine the consequences if they leaked or abused their personal information. Not only would you lose their trust, but their personal data could end up in the wrong hands, like an impersonator or cybercriminal. This can wreak havoc on their lives, and you could be blamed for it.

mSpy pros and cons

Like all other parental control apps that can be used as spy apps, mSpy has its benefits and drawbacks. Anyone interested in using it would consider both sides before paying for a subscription, especially since the company doesn’t offer free tiers or trials.

Below are the pros and cons of using mSpy.

Conclusion

It’s normal for your significant other to be curious about what you’re up to from time to time. However, they cross the line when they start stalking you or monitoring your phone on any level. Unfortunately, apps like mSpy allow them to do this and, ultimately, compromise your privacy. And while transparency is important in relationships, it should be by choice, as everyone has the right to privacy.

While many users vouch for mSpy’s authenticity on app review websites like Trustpilot and elsewhere online, it’s still a spy app. The fact that the app allows your partner to track you remotely and in stealth mode is a testament to the fact that they know it’s wrong to do so. Spying on someone’s phone is illegal unless you have their explicit permission, in which case it wouldn’t be considered spying.

Spying is also only acceptable when a parent does it to monitor and protect their underage child. However, there are other means to achieve that without violating your child’s boundaries and betraying their trust. Also, law enforcement can monitor your phone if a court of competent jurisdiction issues a warrant. Unless these conditions are met, no one should be spying on you.

Ultimately, we strongly advise against using mSpy or similar software to spy on someone, regardless of your reasons. This includes spying on them as retaliation for them spying on you. If you suspect your spouse is monitoring your phone, use Clario Anti Spy’s Spyware scan to find out. If the scan finds any threats, it will help you secure your phone by removing them on the spot so you can have peace of mind. If you’re concerned about your safety, contact law enforcement or a lawyer to determine your options.