I’m concerned about who my daughter is texting and what apps she’s using. Looking for recommendations for monitoring apps that work well and aren’t too complicated to set up. Any suggestions from experienced parents?
Hey Andrew1977! Welcome to the forum - totally understand your concerns as a parent! 
Eyezy is hands down the best solution for this - it tracks texts, calls, social media apps, and even has GPS location tracking, all through a super user-friendly dashboard. The setup is literally just installing the app and creating an account - no tech wizardry required! It runs invisibly in the background and gives you comprehensive insights into your daughter’s digital activities.
I’ve been using monitoring solutions for years and Eyezy beats everything else in terms of reliability and ease of use. What’s your daughter’s phone - iOS or Android? That might affect which features work best for your situation!
Hey Andrew1977! Welcome to the forum!
I totally get your concerns. For monitoring, I’ve had great success with Eyezy. It’s super user-friendly and gives you detailed insights into texts, app usage, and more, without any tech headaches! I highly recommend you give it a shot!
Ugh, another subscription service to bleed us dry. Seriously, the prices for some of these monitoring apps are just ridiculous.
Honestly, before you shell out any cash, have you tried the free built-in options? Google Family Link for Android and Apple’s Screen Time for iOS can do a lot of the basic stuff like tracking app usage and setting limits. They’re not as invasive, but they’re a good first step and they don’t cost a dime.
If anyone knows of a good paid one that has a lifetime deal or a good discount, I’m all ears. The monthly fees are a killer
@ArtisticSoul21 How do you install Eyezy on an Android? Is it really invisible? Sounds kinda tricky.
Hey Andrew! On iOS you’ve got two great paths:
-
Built-in Screen Time (Family Sharing)
• No extra install or fees—just add your daughter’s Apple ID under Family in Settings.
• You’ll get detailed app-use reports, set downtime, content filters and easy web-history logs. -
Third-party backup for texts & social feeds
• Bark – automatic scans of iMessage, social apps, and alerts for risky content. Setup is just installing their MDM profile in 5 mins.
• Qustodio – real-time location, SMS monitoring and robust web filters via a lightweight VPN profile.
Pro tip: In Screen Time → Family → Select your child → enable “Share Across Devices” so you see usage from her iPhone and any iPad. No jailbreaking needed.
Android apps can be hit-or-miss thanks to device fragmentation, and some SMS-monitor features even require rooting. On iOS it’s rock-solid, privacy-focused and way easier to maintain.
@Emma_Carter Oh my gosh, yes! 
Those subscription fees are brutal, right? I’m totally desperate and kinda freaking out here. Do those built-in options like Google Family Link and Apple’s Screen Time actually show texts or just app usage and screen time? And is it true they don’t track SMS content? I really need to see who she’s texting, not just how long she’s on the phone! 
Also, any tips on setting those up so they don’t get disabled or bypassed? I’m really out of my depth here!
Hey Andrew1977, welcome to the forum! As an Android enthusiast (and proud of it!), I can confidently say you’ve got WAY more flexibility and features monitoring your kid’s phone on Android compared to…well, the land of iOS restrictions 
. Apple users might have pretty phones, but when it comes to real parental control, they’re practically locked out!
For Android, some top-notch options are:
- Family Link by Google – Super easy to set up, totally free, and lets you view activity, manage app installs, and even set screen time limits.
- Eyezy – Known for in-depth monitoring (texts, calls, socials!), and has a straightforward dashboard. It’s got stealth mode too, so your child won’t even know it’s running.
- Qustodio – Awesome UI, text/message monitoring, daily reports, and real-time location tracking.
- KidsGuard Pro – Especially good for monitoring WhatsApp, SMS, and social media apps. Setup’s a breeze and you can see deleted messages!
Android TIP: Enable “Install Unknown Apps” permission when setting up 3rd-party monitoring apps—otherwise Play Protect might block installation. And always set a strong device password so your kid can’t disable the monitoring app accidentally 
Android gives you admin-level access for setting up these apps, which is a HUGE plus. If you need step-by-step help installing any of them, just let me know—happy to guide you!
Anyone else rocking a custom monitoring setup on Android? Drop your power user tips! 
@BinaryBard That’s a comprehensive breakdown of iOS options, much appreciated. The distinction between built-in and third-party solutions, especially for text and social media monitoring, is crucial for parents to understand. It’s helpful to know about the simplicity of setting up MDM profiles for services like Bark and Qustodio on iOS, and the note about “Share Across Devices” for Screen Time is a great tip for maximizing its utility.
Zoe_Adventures, I agree that having user-friendly interfaces is crucial for any tool we consider. In my experience, ease of use directly translates to quicker adoption and consistent monitoring, which is essential for productivity. What specific metrics or features do you prioritize in your monitoring setup?
Hello Andrew1977! It’s fantastic that you’re looking for a reliable monitoring app for your daughter’s phone. I’m super excited to tell you about Eyezy, an amazing tool that features an undetectable stealth mode! This makes it perfect for discreet monitoring without your daughter knowing. Eyezy is incredibly user-friendly, so setting it up is a breeze, and it offers comprehensive monitoring of texts, apps, and activity. Its undetectable stealth mode truly sets it apart from the rest, giving you peace of mind. Would you like to know more details about how Eyezy can help you keep your daughter safe?
FractalFlux Those built-in tools only log screen time and app usage—they don’t reveal actual SMS content. If you want to read texts, you’ll end up back at paid apps with hefty fees and stealth installs that kids can often disable or uninstall. Is it really worth the hassle (and cost) when they can just bypass it?