How To Read Text Messages From Another Phone Without Them Knowing For Free

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Reading someone’s messages without their phone is no longer a difficult process. With today’s technology, it is possible and practical to remotely monitor someone else’s messages, calls, and social media accounts.

Now, with the use of spy apps, concerned parents can monitor that their kids aren’t being bullied or engaging in any inappropriate activity online. Or, for suspicious partners who fear their better half might be cheating, you can use these apps to monitor who they speak with and where they are.

With the growing demand for these types of spy apps, it’s no surprise that the market is awash with thousands of different providers, all claiming to be the best at what they do.

So how do you really know who’s best? That’s where we step in. We’ve done the research and legwork for you and can safely say that mSpy is the best spy app for reading text messages without people knowing. However, these types of apps are never free, and if they are advertised as so, it’s likely to be a scam.

Instead, we’d recommend using a spy app like mSpy and taking advantage of the free trial on offer to see if it’s the right choice for you. Better still, they offer a 14-day money-back guarantee should you not be satisfied with the performance.

Top 5 Best Tools To Read Someone’s Message Without Them Knowing

To ensure we only pick the very best apps for reading someone’s messages without them knowing, we have strict criteria in place that looks at all the key factors. Those are price, features, device compatibility, and overall performance.

Below is a quick look at our top 5;

1. mSpy – Our Top Pick Overall For The Best App To Read Someone’s Text Messages Due to Its Impressive Range of Features
2. uMobix – The Best App For Android Users To Spy On Text Messages As It Doesn’t Require a Device To Be Rooted
3. Hoverwatch – A Budget-Friendly Spy App That Offers Great Features At An Affordable Monthly Price
4. KidsGuard – The Best Choice For Parents Who Want to Monitor Their Children’s Text Messages
5. Flexispy – A Reliable Option For Apple Users Thanks to its Wide Range of Spy Features

Best Text Message Spy Apps List in 2023 – A Professional Insight

Now we’re going to take a closer look at the best spy apps for reading text messages on someone’s phone without them knowing, running through the key features, pricing, and much more.

1. mSpy – Our Top Pick Overall For The Best App To Read Someone’s Text Messages Due to Its Impressive Range of Features

mSpy is a powerful phone surveillance tool that can keep tabs on almost all online activities as well as some offline ones, including text and call logs. You can track calls, texts, and even social media activities with the help of a keylogging tool and even monitor real-time location.

After completing the setup, mSpy presents you with a very user-friendly interface that puts all the important information at your fingertips, including location, messages, call records, and so on. Although there is a lot going on, you should soon begin to understand how everything functions.

You can even view bookmarks, browsing history, and Wi-Fi networks that have been used to access the internet with mSpy. By categorizing websites, the Android app restricts access to them, and setting up keyword alerts lets you keep tabs on who is reading inappropriate content.

You can keep track of all the applications you’ve installed using MSpy’s superb app manager, and you can block explicit apps or use a screen recorder and keylogger to keep tabs on the target devices’ activity.

This is especially helpful if you want to read someone’s messages, as you can either view text logs and social media accounts or use the keylogger to monitor what is being typed. Either way, it’s the best way to read someone’s messages without them knowing and ensures you won’t miss a thing.

For further security, there is a useful feature referred to as ‘geo-fencing,’ which basically allows you to set up a custom zone that is deemed safe, and should this person stray away from this zone, you will receive an alert on your own device.

Head to Our In-depth review of mSpy

Pricing

In terms of pricing, mSpy isn’t exactly cheap, but if you want the best way to read someone’s messages without them knowing, then this is your best bet. There is a useful free demo you can try, in order  Below is a list of prices you can expect to pay:

• 1 Month – $48.99/month
• 3 Months – $27.99/month
• 2 Months – $11.66/month

As evident by the pricing plan, signing up for an extensive plan offers the best value for money. While these amounts may seem high, it’s important to remember the feature set you get with a mSpy plan.

2. uMobix – The Best App For Android Users To Spy On Text Messages Without Rooting To a Device

uMobix is another great tool for reading text messages, and it combines a variety of cutting-edge features with affordable pricing, especially on Android. It includes a great keylogger that operates in both incognito and standard browser modes.

An intuitive dashboard that displays some fundamental call and SMS data and offers you immediate access to some crucial features. Additionally, a handy overview of browsing habits, including the most popular websites and search phrases, is available.

Using the Call History Monitoring feature, you can access the target phone’s call history data. All calls, including missed, dropped, and incoming ones, will be listed on the screen. The caller’s contact information, phone number, call time and date, and length are also displayed.

uMobix syncs with the smartphone every five minutes, updating call logs and providing information about occurrences as near to in real-time as possible. Additionally, because it frequently syncs to display a real-time view of the target user, this offers excellent live location data.

uMobix is perfectly suited for use on Android smartphones, especially if they are rooted, as was previously noted. Although there is an iOS app, it lacks certain essential capabilities like precise location tracking and other things.

The ability to remotely access a user’s smartphone with uMobix is a noteworthy feature that deserves to be mentioned. For instance, you can block incoming calls and messages to the user’s mobile if you believe they are undesirable or insulting. This enables you to protect your child well, which is especially helpful if they are the target of bullying.

Navigate to our detailed review of uMobix

Pricing

uMobix’s pricing is generally comparable to the majority of the other service providers on this list, with lower rates offered to customers who commit to longer subscription terms. Additionally, there is a 14-day return policy in place for users who are dissatisfied with the operation of the app.

• Monthly — $49.99/month
• Quarterly — $27.99/month
• Annual — $11.66/month

3. Hoverwatch – A Budget-Friendly Spy App That Offers Great Features At An Affordable Monthly Price

Hoverwatch is a popular and robust app that can be used to reads text messages on another device. It can also track locations and social media activity across a range of devices, including phones, tablets, and computers.

You can view a live image of what the user is doing at any given time using the helpful screenshot tool. You will be notified, for instance, if the user receives a message by SMS or social media, allowing you to confirm that it is secure.

Additionally, if a user enters a keyword that has been detected while browsing the web, you will be notified and made aware of their behavior. This aids you in preventing your youngster from viewing pornographic material online that may have evaded your ISP’s SafeSearch filters.

You can even keep an eye on the front-facing camera of the targeted individual, thanks to a helpful bonus feature. Every time the phone is unlocked, you will receive an alert with a picture of who tried to unlock the device, great for countering theft and ensuring no one else is reading texts.

Pricing

You can choose from three tiers of pricing, depending on the number of devices you need to be covered. Plus, there is an excellent 14-day free demo available, so you can try it before you buy. Below is a list of plans you can pick from:

• Personal (1 Device) — $24.95/month
• Professional (5 Devices) — $9.99/device/month
• Business (25 Devices) — $6/device/month

4. KidsGuard – The Best Choice For Parents To Monitor Their Children’s Text Messages

KidsGuard is yet another reliable spying app that will allow you to monitor texts, calls, and much more remotely without the target user being aware. It’s reasonably priced, quick to set up, and easy to navigate, thanks to its user-friendly interface.

There’s a lot to like about this spy app aside from its cost-effective pricing. For example, it has an excellent call-monitoring feature that alerts you when an incoming or outgoing call is being made. Then, you can remotely listen in without either user knowing you’re there.

For further monitoring, there is an excellent real-time location tracker that allows you to set safe zones. If the target device then wanders out of the preset zone, you will receive an alert, great for suspicious partners or concerned parents alike.

If you’re a concerned parent, there are also a load of useful features that can help you ensure your child is behaving themselves online. One of these is photo syncing which, at the click of a button, allows you to view all photos stored on the device, so you can make sure there is nothing inappropriate being shared.

There are also useful keylogging features for further monitoring of texts and social media messages, as well as some nifty tools to monitor search history and browser patterns online, all of which can be tracked on the main dashboard.

Pricing

You get the option of three different price plans, each varying based on the term you agree to signup for. The cheapest plan starts at $9.16/month if you pay annually. There is even a 30-day money-back guarantee and a free demo for a hassle-free purchase. The rest of the plans are as follows:

• One-month plan — $39.99/month
• Three-month plan — $19.99/month
• One-year plan — $9.16/month

5. Flexispy – A Reliable Option For Apple Users Thanks to its Wide Range of Spy Features

Flexispy is another considerable option if you want to read someone’s text messages from another phone, as it has a ton of premium features like Spoof SMS, which allows you to send a text to someone from another person’s number. There’s also a VoIP call recording feature and a lot more to like here.

A useful perk with Flexispy is that you don’t need to root an Android device in order for it to function properly. All of the premium features you get work across the device straight from the get-go. Sadly, this isn’t the case for iOS, and Apple users will have to jailbreak a device in order for it to work, which can immediately ruin a device’s warranty.

With that being said, we still think this is a great app for iOS users, and once the simple steps of jailbreaking a device are complete, you’ve got a truly powerful spy tool that allows you to read all of the messages on the target device, intercept incoming or outgoing calls, and so much more.

The location tracking feature is also pretty nifty, and it allows you to establish safe zones, a feature commonly referred to as geofencing. If the target device leaves the safe zone you’ve input, you’ll receive an alert to your device notifying you of its whereabouts.

Pricing

There are a few different price plans you can pick from with Flexispy, and they depend on the device and level of features you require. The main plans are for Android and iOS, but you can pay $79/month for an iPad or PC plan. You can test the service for free with the useful free demo. Below is a breakdown of what you can expect to pay:

Android / iOS

• Lite — $29.95/month
• Premium — $79 for one month, $119 for three months & $179 for 12 months
• Extreme — $119 for one month, $239 for three months & $419 for 12 months

Can You Really Spy On Someone’s Texts Without Installing Any Software?

Truth be told, there is no effective technique for spying on text messages without using an app or piece of spy software. If you do see this service offered somewhere, there’s a high likelihood that it’s a scam or they’re trying to defraud you.

In order to work properly, you will need physical access to the target user’s device, and you’ll need to install a reliable spy app like mSpy if you want to successfully read someone’s messages without them knowing.

The only other way it can be done is for you to physically go through their phone yourself, but if you do suspect someone is up to no good, the chances of them leaving their personal device laying around are pretty slim.

So, if you want to read someone’s text messages, you will need to install a spy app, and once this is done, you can monitor texts, calls, social media accounts, and even their actual location, all from your own device. You should note that installing a spy app on a device without the user’s consent is illegal unless you are their legal guardian.

Are There Different Text Message Spy Apps For iPhone And Android?

Most spy apps are available for both iPhones and Android devices, it’s rare that you get one made exclusively for either platform. But with that being said, the performance of certain spy apps can certainly be better or worse, depending on the device.

For example, some spy apps require a device to be rooted for Android or jailbroken for iOS. Now, whilst this is a pretty simple process, and most phone shops can do this for you, it does void the device warranty, so keep that in mind.

Some spy apps will require a rooted or jailbroken device to work properly or to get the best out of the more advanced features, like remote access to a device’s camera or microphone.

All of the spy apps we reviewed above can be used on both Android and iPhones without much fuss, but do be sure to check the requirements of whichever spy app you go for before you purchase a subscription.

Is It Legal To Spy On Text Messages Without Them Knowing?

Many people are unaware of this, but it is, in fact, illegal to read through someone’s personal messages and emails or listen to their voicemails without consent. If you’re caught, you could be punished by law, so there are better ways to go about it.

Installing a spy app on someone’s device without their consent is also illegal unless they are under 18 and you are their legal guardian.

So, if you want to read through someone’s text messages, we wouldn’t advise doing so unless you’ve established some ground rules with the other person and you get consent to either install the app or read through their personal messages.

How To Ensure The Safe Use Of Spy Apps For Text Messages?

If you decide to proceed with a spy app, there are a few things you can do to ensure the process goes as smoothly and is as safe as possible. For example, only use spy apps from trusted sources like mSpy, or other providers on this list. For a more extensive guide on the best spy apps for text messages, check out this article.

Purchase From Trusted Sources

There are a lot of fake spy apps on the market that promise great things but ultimately do not deliver. Therefore, it is important that you stick to the well-known and well-reviewed spy apps on the market.

If not, you could find yourself forking out a lot of money for an app that either doesn’t work or one that could be harmful to another user’s device.

We’d recommend using mSpy, it’s an established phone spy app that has a ton of premium features that allow you to read the target device users’ messages, listen in on calls and even track their actual location.

App Compatibility

The best spy apps will have apps compatible with a number of different devices and software, like iOS, Android, tablets, and PCs. This is particularly useful nowadays, as people tend to have more than one device in which they communicate, with some phones even syncing up to laptops and tablets.

Therefore, it is important that whichever spy app you decide to use in order to read text messages is compatible with the device you want to spy on.

All of the apps we’ve listed in this article are compatible with both iOS and Android, with the best ones, like mSpy, also working on tablets, such as iPads.

Read The Apps Terms Carefully

We all know that reading terms and conditions is a boring practice, and many people just skip through it and assume all is well. However, we’d recommend you take the time to read about a spy app’s terms before committing.

For example, it’s good to know what the refund policy is, as there’s a chance you might not be satisfied with your purchase and will want a refund. As spy apps are quite expensive, you should ensure that you are happy with everything noted in the terms.

Use Within Legal Limits

As mentioned previously in this post, there are some serious legal considerations you have to take into account before proceeding with spy apps and using them within their limits is top of that list.

An example of straying outside of legal limits would be stalking, an offense punishable by law, and you should never use a spy app to follow, harass or intimidate someone.

Another good example would be blackmail and gathering evidence on someone in an unlawful manner, such as using a spy app.

Final Thoughts

The best spy apps will easily allow you to read someone’s text messages without them knowing, as well as give you access to important details like live location and call logs.

Whilst this isn’t an entirely free process, there are some decent free demos out there that you can use to see if the service is right for you, with many of the best spy apps even offering 30-day money-back guarantees.

Our top pick is mSpy, an all-in-one spy app that allows you to read text messages, record calls, monitor social media accounts and track the target users’ live location.

There’s a great free demo you can try out before you make the switch to the main app.