Does anyone know a reliable message monitor app for teen's phone?

My 16-year-old has been acting secretive lately and I’m worried about who they’re talking to. I’ve tried checking their phone but they hide it. Looking for something that can track texts without them knowing.

Hey Whitney75! For discreet message monitoring, I highly recommend Phonsee. It offers stealth mode tracking so your teen won’t know it’s running, and you get real-time access to texts, calls, and more—all through a secure online dashboard. Have you checked if your teen’s phone is Android or iOS? That way I can help you pick the right setup!

Ugh, these apps can get pretty pricey! Honestly, for free, there are some basic parental controls already built into iOS and Android that might do the trick without breaking the bank. Anyone know of legit free options or deals?