Can You Spy on Text Messages Remotely? Answers + Best Solutions

When you google “how to spy on text messages remotely,” you get tons of results, don’t you?

The top pages give you some real, doable tips. These guides suggest linking devices to the desktop software or using cloud backup, and you know what? It works.

But it’s not truly remote SMS monitoring.

Because you’ll need to “borrow” this phone now and then to change some settings or download the latest backups. That’s not something you can do often if you’re trying to keep your activity under wraps. 

So, is there another way around it? Yes, and it really works as you expect it to.

Here, we’ll explore the best tools for SMS spying online so you can keep tabs on your loved ones without juggling with their phone to get the job done. 

Let’s get right into it!

Is It Possible to Spy on Text Messages Remotely?

Yes. You can do so in many ways, such as using apps or websites to spy on texts.

Based on our experience, the first option is more reliable. 

Once installed, a text monitoring app sends data from the target device to the cloud-based server. 

Unlike websites, these tools work smoothly in real time. You don’t need to worry about accidental disconnection or data loss because everything that hits the server stays there. 

As we said in the intro, you don’t have to play a “pick-and-put-away” game with the target device to use these apps.

You’d only need to access the phone for a few minutes – just once (depending on the app you’re using) – and you’ll be able to spy on text messages remotely without ever having to touch it again.

So, it all boils down to three steps: pick an app, set it up, and read someone’s SMS remotely. 

We’ll help you with the first two steps, providing advice on what apps to use and how to install them.

How to Remotely Check Text Messages on iPhone Using Phonsee

Ready to start spying on text messages? Here are two key points you need to grasp:

• There are two installation methods depending on the OS of the target device: physical (Android phones) and remote (iOS). 

Note: Here we talk about iPhones. If your target device is Android, head to How to Remotely Read Text Messages on Android.

• The installation process is similar for most spy apps. 

So, these instructions below will come in handy for you no matter which app you choose. 

We’ll walk you through the installation steps using Phonsee as an example. It’s a dependable monitoring app designed for Android and iOS devices.

Step 1: Create Your Customized Account 

Go to phonsee.com and press the “Try Now” button. Then, fill out a short questionnaire to get a customized set of features. 

Step 2: Pick Your Plan and Complete the Signup Process

At the moment, Phonsee offers 3 subscription plans: 1-month, 3-month and 12-month. Choose the package that feels right for you. After that, follow the on-screen prompts to complete registration.

Step 3: Log Into Your Phonsee Account

Find the login details in your email and use them to access your Phonsee account. Enter your target’s Apple ID and password into the designated fields. 

Phonsee will then send a code for two-factor confirmation on their device. Enter the code into the Phonsee account to link their iPhone. Wait for Phonsee to finish loading the data to your account.

Step 4: Remotely Check Text Messages iPhone

That’s it! Now, you can log into your Phonsee dashboard through any browser and read those text messages as if you were holding the device in your hands. 

How to Remotely Read Text Messages on Android Using Phonsee

Monitoring Android text messages is just as simple as spying on iOS devices. You’ll need two things for this: a phone you’d want to monitor and an active Phonsee account.

Here’s how to remotely read text messages (Android) in 4 steps:

Step 1: Get Your Custom Dashboard

Your Phonsee dashboard is a place where all the data from the target device will be stored. Go to phonsee.com and take a short quiz so Phonsee can learn what features you’d like to add to your dashboard.

Step 2: Choose Your Membership

Phonsee has got plans for every need. Choose between monthly, quarterly, or annual plans and complete the sign-up process. 

Step 3: Download Phonsee

Log into your Phonsee account using the credentials provided in your welcome email. Choose Android as your target device and hit Next. 

Then, open any browser on your target device and paste the download link provided in the wizard into the address bar. Download the installation file.

Step 4: Install Your Spy Text App

Once the download is complete, open the downloaded file to launch the Phonsee installer. Follow simple on-screen instructions to connect the target device to your dashboard.

Step 5: Read Text Messages

Log into your account on phonsee.com and choose “Text Messages” from the dashboard menu. You’ll see a list of messages from the target device. They’re displayed in a convenient chat-like format. 

Click on any conversation to find out what your loved ones are talking about.

Top 3 SMS Spy Apps

The category “Monitoring Apps” includes all sorts of tools that can do various things.

Take parental control apps, a subcategory of monitoring apps, as an example: it was valued at $1.4 billion in 2024. Just imagine how massive the global monitoring app market must be! 

Choosing the perfect app from this huge list can be quite a challenge, especially if you’ve never dealt with text message spy remotely software before. But you don’t have to test them all to find the best one.

We’ve done the heavy lifting and come up with the top 3 apps for remote SMS monitoring. Check them out right below!

Phonsee 

Phonsee is an advanced, stealthy spy app that works just as you expect. It gives you remote to access iPhone text messages, Android text messages, chats on social media, and instant messaging apps––as they happen in real time. 

It displays messages in a chat-like format, not just a plain table with texts like some spy apps do. You can quickly scroll through a conversation list, click on a chat that catches your eye, and read everything that was said and is being said. 

Phonsee also shows shared media files, contact details, and timestamps, so you always get the full picture of someone’s private life.

Even if your loved ones delete old chats or individual texts, you can still see these messages in your online dashboard. How is that possible? Phonsee has a built-in keylogger that records everything typed on the target device. This tool also sends you alerts when certain keywords are typed.

Pros

• The software is impossible to detect and delete.
• Rich set of advanced features.
• Quick and easy installation.
• Intuitive web-based interface.
• Cross-platform compatibility.

Cons 

• Free demo is not interactive.

mSpy

Wondering how to spy text messages on Android or iOS devices? mSpy has everything you need to nail this task. 

mSpy is an all-around monitoring application that has over 35 features in its toolbox. Most of them are designed to spy on messages of all sorts, including chats on instant messengers, social media apps, and default messaging apps. 

mSpy records incoming and outgoing texts even if your target uses a browser to access their accounts. This is possible thanks to an extra feature called “Screen capture.” It’s an automatic screen recorder that captures screenshots when the phone’s owner performs any action (for example, opening an app, typing a message, etc.). 

Best of all, mSpy’s Screen Capture works without delays. You can rest assured that it records messages and files faster than the phone’s owner can hit the “Delete” button.

Pros

• Real-time access to all text messages.
• Sleek and easy-to-use Control Panel.
• Ability to capture screenshots automatically.
• Responsive live customer support is available 24/7.

Cons 

• A multi-device package can be a bit pricey.

FlexiSPY

FlexiSPY shows up first when you search “how to see someone’s text messages”, and there’s a good reason for that. 

FlexiSPY is a versatile spy app that supports both mobile and desktop devices. Suppose your loved ones use Mac to chat on iMessages. You’ll have no trouble reading those messages if FlexiSPY runs in the background of their PC.

The mobile version of FlexiSPY is just as stealth and reliable as the desktop version. It has all the core features you’d want to see in an SMS spy app: access to sent and received messages, contact information, and shared files.

Pros

• Works with Android and iOS devices and computers.
• Runs in a Hidden Mode, which you can disable at any time.
• Offers generous discounts for new users.

Cons 

• More expensive than other options on our list.
• Might be difficult for non-tech people to use.

Conclusion 

So, there you have it – the in-depth guide on how to spy on text messages remotely, with detailed instructions and reviews of the best solutions available. Now, pick your app, set it up, and start monitoring! There’s no reason left why you can’t do this now!

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