Jacob is an experienced Content Writer with experience in SaaS and tech solutions. He's done reviews on software for sites like Business2Community, TechReport, and Techopedia,…
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The best Facebook spy apps let you see everything the other person is doing on Facebook—their Messenger, the content they’re posting and engaging in, and the groups and communities they’ve joined. These tools are a great way to protect your kids from cyberbullying, keep your kids or partners safe from strangers and dangerous content, and even avoid scams on Facebook Marketplace.
To help you choose the best solution for you, I’ve reviewed and compared the market’s top Facebook tracker apps, giving you everything you need to make an informed decision.
The Best Facebook Spy Apps Tested by Our Experts
mSpy — Best for Parents Without Their Own Facebook Account
To help you decide, I’ve reviewed each Facebook spy app in more detail below, including their key USPs and areas for improvement.
1. mSpy — Best Facebook Spy App for Parents Without Their Own Facebook Account
Starting Price
$11.67/month
No. of Devices
1
Free Trial/Demo
Demo
Compatibility
iOS, Android
Money-back Guarantee
14-day refund window
Why We Picked It
I picked mSpy because it’s the perfect spy app for parents who don’t use Facebook but want to monitor their kids’ accounts. mSpy is a cell phone monitoring app best known for its social media monitoring, call log monitoring, and media file access —perfect for parents looking for an undetectable spy app to keep tabs on their kids.
Features
mSpy’s Facebook Tracker lets you view messages the other person sends or receives on Facebook or Facebook Messenger. You can use this in tandem with the Keyword Tracker to track specific words in messages. During my testing, I was able to just enter any words I wanted to track, and mSpy notified me when those words were used in messages. I really appreciated this because this way, you don’t have to read through every message to find something problematic.
The best part is that you can do this without needing your own Facebook account, making it perfect for parents or partners who want to keep a low profile while spying.
Additionally, its Screen Recording feature captures screenshots at regular intervals. It’s a great tool for ensuring disappearing Facebook Messenger messages aren’t lost, and you can get a good look at other posts and group interactions. The screenshots are easy to find and stored on your user dashboard.
And if your kids or partner have made plans to meet others in the real world, mSpy’s accurate GPS location tracker will let you know where they are so you can ensure they are in a safe place.
The only downside I found with mSpy is its slightly complicated installation process. To start, you will need to root the target Android device or jailbreak the iPhone, which can be time-consuming and difficult if you aren’t tech-savvy. You’ll also need to make sure you can physically access the other person’s phone for at least 15 minutes to go through the process.
To be clear, though, this isn’t unusual for spy apps or specific to mSpy—many spy apps have this requirement if users want to access their full range of features.
The great news that I discovered is that mSpy’s excellent customer support can guide you through everything if you get stuck or need help, as they did for me.
Pricing Plans
mSpy doesn’t offer a free plan. Instead, you get a free demo to test out its features, and I found that its demo is quite accurate when compared to how the actual dashboard works.
As with other spy apps, longer subscription durations offer bigger discounts. I also received an additional 15% discount when chatting with customer support, so it’s definitely worth trying before you subscribe.
mSpy Plans
Premium Plan
1 Month
$48.99/month
3 Months
$28/month
12 Months
$11.67/month
Who It's Best for
mSpy is perfect for anyone without a Facebook account looking to monitor their loved ones on the social media platform. Its screen recording feature can be repurposed to record vanishing messages, and its Facebook Tracker feature gives you access to private chats and other information.
Pros
Track vanishing messages with the screen recording feature
View messages, videos, and images received on Facebook
Download and store Facebook messages
Get insight into what the other person is typing on Facebook with the keyword alert feature
Cons
Jailbreaking/rooting is required to monitor Facebook
2. Eyezy — Best Facebook Spy App for Tracking Vanishing Facebook Messages
Starting Price
$7.99/month
No. of Devices
Up to 3 devices on Family Kit
Free Trial/Demo
Demo
Compatibility
iOS, Android
Money-back Guarantee
14-day refund window
Why We Picked It
I found Ezyzy to be a comprehensive spy app that is great for social media tracking, media file access, and blocking URLs. What really stood out for me, though, is Eyezy’s Vanishing Message Tracking tool, which lets me see all messages sent using Facebook’s vanishing mode.
Features
Eyezy’s Facebook Monitoring feature is very similar to mSpy. Its dashboard compiles all the messages, pictures, and videos the other person sends and receives on Facebook Messenger. It even supports keyword tracking with Magic Alerts, which will highlight messages with words you’ve added to the blacklist.
But what sets it apart for me is its reliable disappearing message tracker. Unlike mSpy, Eyezy stores the actual messages before they disappear. On iOS, this is possible if you set up the app using the other person’s iCloud credentials. It’s a little more complicated on Android and involves rooting the device, but Eyezy’s eyeAssistance service makes it easier.
Additionally, Eyezy gives you the option to block the Facebook and Facebook Messenger apps on the phone. Its URL Blocker comes in handy if they try to bypass the block and access Facebook through a web browser. You can also use it to block any suspicious links the other person may receive, and everything is done easily through Eyezy’s user-friendly dashboard.
Pricing Plans
There’s no free trial, but Eyezy offers a free live demo to see its dashboard in action. It’s also one of the few apps to come with a Family Kit plan that lets you monitor up to three devices with the same subscription.
Duration
Eyezy Pricing
Eyezy Family Kit Pricing
1 Month
$38.39/month
❌
3 Months
$22.39/month
❌
6 Months
❌
$48.56/month
12 Months
$7.99/month
$29.99/month
Who It's Best for
Eyezy is best for more detailed Facebook activity monitoring and even lets you completely block the app on the other device. It also offers additional features that work in tandem with Eyezy’s Facebook Tracker to protect children from harmful online content and predators.
Pros
View deleted and vanishing Facebook messages easily
Keyword tracker to monitor for unsafe words and expressions
I chose uMobix, as it offers an easy-to-use solution and some of the most robust features when it comes to monitoring Facebook activity on iOS devices.
Features
uMobix is the only spy app that gives you complete access to the other person’s Facebook activity on iOS. Its Facebook Tracker lets you monitor the other person’s feed, posts, and followers. You can combine with this uMobix’s screen recorder feature to get screenshots about everything else they do on Facebook.
I also found its Facebook Messenger Tracker very user-friendly. During my testing, it stored all the Messenger data I was tracking on the dashboard, giving me a complete look at what messages were sent or received. Not to mention, unlike mSpy and Eyezy, you don’t need to jailbreak your phone to monitor messages, making it safer to use.
There’s an important caveat to note before using the Facebook Messenger Tracker, though. If you open a message on the dashboard before the other person, it’ll be marked as read, potentially alerting the other person that they are being monitored. This setting can’t be updated—so keep that in mind while using the app.
Pricing Plans
uMobix doesn’t have a free trial but offers a free demo to show you how the platform works. uMobix has straightforward, duration-based plans and gives subscribers a 14-day refund window in case they face technical issues.
Duration
uMobix Subscription plan
1 Month
$49.99/month
3 Months
$29.99/month
12 Months
$12.49/month
Who It's Best for
uMobix is best for anyone looking to monitor Facebook usage on iOS devices. They can easily access ALL Facebook activity on their dashboard with just the other person’s iCloud username and password.
Pros
User-friendly interface
Full control of the Facebook account on iOS devices
Stores deleted messages
Screenshots of other Facebook activities
Cons
Read receipts are shown if you open a Facebook message first
I found Cocospy to be the best spy app for tracking Facebook messages on Android devices, thanks to its simple installation process that doesn’t require rooting.
Features
Cocospy lets you track private and group messages sent on Facebook. You can also view any photos, videos, or screenshots sent via Facebook Messenger. It backs up all messages on the cloud, so you have access to them even if they’re deleted. I found only one downside: if the other person deletes the message before the backup occurs, then the message is lost forever.
I also loved Cocospy’s Stealth Mode, which lets it run in the background while barely using system resources. This means the other person will never know they’re being monitored.
But the number one reason it made my list is that Cocospy lets you do all this without rooting your Android device, making it safer than other spy apps. Also, you don’t need to update any settings to get Cocospy working. Just install and configure the app, and you’re ready to go.
Pricing Plans
Cocospy doesn’t have a free trial. Instead, it offers a free demo to play around with the platform.
Duration
Cocospy Subscription plan
1 Month
$49.99/month
3 Months
$29.99/month
12 Months
$12.49/month
The only difference between each subscription plan is the data storage time. The one-month plan offers 30 days of data storage, the three-month plan offers 90 days, and the 12-month plan offers 180 days of data storage. You can also add remote installation support for an additional $9.99.
Who It's Best for
Cocospy is the best option for individuals looking for a Facebook monitoring app for Android, thanks to its easy installation process and the fact that it doesn’t need root access to work.
Pros
Tracks Facebook activity on Android without rooting
Shows all links, photos, and videos shared on Facebook
5. Hoverwatch — Best Facebook Spy App for Multi-Device Households
Starting Price
$8.33/month
No. of Devices
Up to 25 devices
Free Trial/Demo
3-day Free Trial
Compatibility
Android, Windows, macOS
Money-back Guarantee
❌
Why We Picked It
I know how hard it can be to keep tabs on multiple children and all their many devices. I like Hoverwatch because it’s a Facebook spy app that’s perfect if you need to monitor a large number of devices, including Windows and macOS PCs.
Features
Hoverwatch’s Facebook Messenger spy features let you view messages, videos, and audio files on the other person’s Facebook account. However, you’ll need root access on an Android to store these messages and media.
While not the most feature-packed when it comes to Facebook monitoring, you can utilize other Hoverwatch features to cover other areas. For example, with the screen capture feature, you can periodic screenshots of what the other person is doing on Facebook, what they post, and what groups they are engaged in.
I also liked that the app works in Stealth Mode. It won’t be visible on mobile devices’ app list or notification tray or PC and Mac computers’ start menu or task manager. It has an Android app called Mobile Viewer, so you can do your monitoring on your phone instead of opening the dashboard in a browser every time.
Something to remember is that Hoverwatch does not work on iOS devices, so I recommend alternatives like uMobix or mSpy.
Pricing Plans
Hoverwatch has some of the most affordable pricing plans on my list of Facebook spy apps. Each plan becomes considerably cheaper as you opt for a longer subscription.
Duration
Personal
Professional
Business
1 Month
$29.95/month
$49.95/month
$149.95/month
3 Months
$19.98/month
$33.32/month
$99.98/month
12 Months
$8.33/month
$16.66/month
$41.66/month
Personal: This plan includes access to all monitoring features, including Facebook tracking, for one device. However, you’ll need to pay an additional $19.95/year to use the Mobile Viewer app.
Professional: This plan allows you to monitor up to five devices and adds access to the Hoverwatch Mobile Viewer app.
Business: The Business plan is the best option for large multi-device households and employers, with coverage for up to 25 devices. You also get access to the Mobile Viewer app.
Hoverwatch also offers a three-day free trial so you can test the service before committing to a long-term subscription.
Who It's Best for
Hoverwatch is best for large households with multiple devices to monitor. Its Facebook tracking features will give you all the essential information to know what your kids or partner are doing on the platform. While it doesn’t work on iOS, it’s one of the few that supports PC operating systems.
Pros
Has a three-day free trial
Captures and stores deleted and disappearing messages and media
Can monitor up to 25 devices
Mobile Viewer lets you track activity from your phone
Cons
No iOS version
Requires physical access to install the app on the other person’s phone
6. ClevGuard — Best Facebook Spy App for Parental Control
Starting Price
Starting from $4.99/month
No. of Devices
● Up to 3 devices on the individual plan
● Up to 20 devices on the family plan
Free Trial/Demo
Demo
Compatibility
iOS, Android
Money-back Guarantee
30-day money-back guarantee
Why We Picked It
ClevGuard stands out for me as a brand that focuses on parental monitoring apps and their KidsGuard Pro app has an easy-to-use Facebook monitoring feature. It lets you track multiple devices with the same account, which is great for larger households.
Features
ClevGuard’s KidsGuard Pro for Android offers basic Facebook monitoring features like activity and message tracking. All this data is compiled in an easy-to-use, intuitive dashboard with all the other social media tracking information.
However, unlike mSpy and Eyezy, it doesn’t display chat data in a message app layout. Instead, it uses screenshots. You have to analyze each screenshot manually to identify harmful content and inappropriate messages.
Its other parental control features, while not directly related to Facebook, help with monitoring. You can block any website or app, including Facebook, on your children’s phones. You can also set screen time limits so they aren’t on the phone when they should be studying or in bed.
It also comes with an excellent keylogger so you can see everything your kids type and watch out for inappropriate messages. Finally, you can also completely lock the phone to prevent access.
Pricing Plans
ClevGuard offers two plans, but only the KidsGuard Pro plan comes with Facebook and social media monitoring. The more basic plan is a good option for all other tracking features, though.
Duration
KidsGuard for Children
KidsGuard Pro
1 Month
$9.99/month
$49.99/month
3 Months
$6.66/month
$25.33/month
12 Months
$4.99/month
$11.67/month
KidsGuard for Children: This plan includes the ability to block websites and apps, filter calls, take periodic screenshots, completely lock the phone, and track locations. You will also get daily, weekly, and monthly activity reports.
KidsGuard Pro: This plan offers everything from the basic plan and adds a keylogger, more remote control features, on-device file and media monitoring, and social media monitoring.
Who It's Best for
ClevGuard is best for families looking for a comprehensive spy app to monitor their children’s Facebook and other social media activity.
7. iKeyMonitor — The Best Spy App to Record Facebook Calls
Starting Price
Free with basic functionality
Facebook monitoring from $16.66/month
No. of Devices
1
Free Trial/Demo
Free Plan
Compatibility
iOS, Android
Money-back Guarantee
30-day
Why We Picked It
iKeyMonitor is an excellent Facebook spy app that lets you view the other person’s contact list, Facebook activity, interests, and habits. It stands out for me because it also lets you record and store Facebook calls made and received from your tracked device.
Features
I like iKeyMonitor because it offers simple Facebook monitoring features like messages and activity tracking. It stores all messages and screenshots with a timestamp so you know when it was sent.
But for me, its standout feature is its Facebook call recording. This is great if you don’t have time to monitor your target device in real time, as it stores all Facebook calls so you can listen to them later. It also has a keyword filter so you can see if they receive anything inappropriate in their messages.
Concerned parents can use iKeyMonitor for more than Facebook tracking. If you think your kids are spending too much on Facebook, you set screen time limits or block the app completely.
Pricing Plans
iKeyMonitor offers a free version. However, it doesn’t support social media monitoring. You can test out Facebook tracking by buying the 3-day full plan for $9.99. After that, you’ll need to subscribe to its paid plans.
Free plan: The free version comes with text message monitoring, call recording, GPS location tracking, and Wi-Fi connection history.
Add-ons: Add-ons cost $9.99 for 3 days or $16.66/month. Available add-ons include social media monitoring (which you will need for Facebook tracking), the keylogger, remote control, and website and app blocking.
Who It's Best for
iKeyMonitor is ideal for individuals looking for a simple Facebook spy app to record and analyze Facebook calls.
Pros
Free forever plan
Facebook call recording
Flexible payments depending on the features you need
Cons
The free version doesn’t cover Facebook monitoring
8. TheOneSpy — Best Facebook Spy App for Desktop Monitoring
Starting Price
$6.58/month
No. of Devices
1
Free Trial/Demo
Free Demo
Compatibility
iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
Money-back Guarantee
14-day
Why We Picked It
For me, it was important to find a robust spy app that could monitor desktop computers, not just smartphones and other devices. TheOneSpy offers desktop computer-specific plans for PC and iOS, along with plans for smartphones, so it works on any device on which the other person uses Facebook.
Features
TheOneSpy’s Facebook monitoring tool lets you remotely track Facebook chats, app keystrokes, and voice messages. I loved that it offers live screen recordings and screenshots for a more in-depth understanding of the other person’s Facebook usage. The tool also has a Password Chaser feature, which you can use to log in directly to the other person’s Facebook account.
As I mentioned, TheOneSpy works with all major operating systems, including iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, and all the data collected is organized neatly in an intuitive dashboard. However, iOS users might see some limited functionality, like the lack of complete remote control that is available on Android.
Pricing Plans
TheOneSpy offers separate plans for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac users.
Duration
Android XLite
Android Premier
iPhone Premier
Windows Premier
Mac Premier
1 Month
$35/month
$39/month
$39/month
$45/month
$29/month
3 Months
$18.33/month
$26.33/month
$23/month
$31.66/month
$16.33/month
12 Months
$6.58/month
$8.25/month
$7.42/month
$9.16/month
$5.75/month
Android XLite: This plan provides basic information like app lists, contact information, calendar events, web history, call and text message monitoring, and GPS location tracking.
All Premier plans: This plan includes everything offered under the XLite Plan and adds notification logs, screen time reports, web filtering, geofencing, live screen recording, and social media monitoring.
Who It's Best for
TheOneSpy is ideal for individuals looking for a Facebook spy app that works on desktop PCs or Mac computers. It ensures that the app will work on your preferred OS without issue.
Pros
Compatible with Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows devices
OS-specific pricing plans with installation service
Important Note: Spy software is not legal to use without the device owner’s permission in many countries and states. When we test spy software, we do so only with the explicit consent of the device owner and in compliance with local laws and regulations.
To provide our readers with accurate and well-informed recommendations, we test the most popular spy applications on the market to find the best options for you. Our methodology consists of the following criteria:
General Features: We evaluate the comprehensive feature set of each spy app, including but not limited to features such as App Management, Time Management, Call Monitoring, Device Control and GPS Tracking.
Ease of Use: We gauge the user-friendliness of each app, considering factors such as installation process complexity, the necessity of jailbreaking (for iOS) or rooting (for Android) the target device, and more.
Device Support and Compatibility: We thoroughly examine the compatibility of each spyware app with different devices and operating systems, including iOS and Android. We also assess whether the app offers a unified dashboard accessible from both desktop and mobile devices.
Customer Support: We test the responsiveness and effectiveness of customer support provided by each app developer. We evaluate the availability of support channels, such as live chat, email, or phone support, as well as the satisfaction ratings of customer assistance.
Price and Value for Money: We assess each spyware app’s pricing structure in relation to its features and functionalities, aiming to determine its overall value proposition. We analyze whether the app offers different subscription tiers, flexible payment options, and discounts for long-term commitments. Additionally, we check whether the app provides free trials or demos for users to test its capabilities before making a purchase.
Privacy and Security: We prioritize the privacy and security of user data in our evaluation. We scrutinize the app’s data encryption measures, adherence to privacy regulations, and commitment to regular security updates to safeguard user information from unauthorized access or breaches.
Why Use a Facebook Spy Tool?
The main reason people use a Facebook spy tool is for parental control. With these apps, parents can see what their child is using it for, who they’re talking to, and what they’re looking at.
That said, in order to monitor a device, it’s important to note that in most instances, you’ll need to seek the consent of the device owner — unless it’s your child’s device, who’s a minor.
How Do Facebook Tracking Apps Work?
Once a Facebook tracker is installed on the target user’s device, it’ll disguise itself and sync the device’s activity to the app’s dashboard on your device, where you can see everything happening in real time.
This includes messages, what they post, and screenshots of the activity. In fact, some will even show you their friend requests, pages they like and follow, and their search history on the app.
All of this is vital considering that, not long ago, Facebook was found to be responsible for a whopping 20.3 million (94% of the total) referrals of child sexual abuse material.
Do I Need Physical Access to the Target Phone?
Every legitimate Facebook spy app requires physical access to the target phone for at least a few minutes. Once this is done, you can remotely spy on Facebook.
This is especially true for Android devices. However, even with iPhone spy apps, although you really only need the user’s iCloud credentials, their device will get a 2FA notification.
So, regardless of the device, you’ll need physical access for a couple of minutes for the installation. I strongly caution against opting for an app that advocates otherwise.
Free Facebook Spy Apps Vs. Paid
There’s no doubt that paid spy apps work better than free ones—most legitimate free ones only offer basic monitoring of calls and SMS messages.
Beyond this, it’s worth cautioning my readers against using an app that advertises itself as completely free. These apps are known to 1) not work, 2) sell your data, or 3) infect your device.
Overall, if you’re looking for a Facebook Messenger spy app — premium or even cheap solutions like Eyezy are the way to go. Plus, most offer free demos and money-back guarantees.
How to Spy On Someone’s Facebook Activity
In this section, I’ll give you an overview of how to use a Facebook spy app. For this example, I’ve used mSpy, but the process is largely the same for others.
1. Create An mSpy Account
Head to mySpy’s website and create an account. All you need to do is provide your email address; alternatively, you can provide your Google credentials to register your account.
2. Choose Which Device You’ll be Monitoring
The next stage is to select the type of device you’ll be monitoring. Most spy apps can monitor Android and iOS devices; some can monitor Windows and Mac computers.
3. Select Your Plan
Select and choose the type of plan you’d like to subscribe to. Most Facebook spying solutions don’t have a free trial, so you’ll need to commit to a paid plan to use the app.
4. Finalize Your Purchase and Installation
After you complete the checkout, mSpy will send you a confirmation email containing your order details, link to the Control Panel, username, password, and steps to install the app.
No root access is required for the mSpy installation, just follow the instructions and remember to give the app the relevant permissions so it can function properly.
5. Begin Monitoring Facebook
When you’ve installed and set up the app, your Control Dashboard should look like this. You can now begin tracking the target device.
Conclusion – What’s the Best Facebook Spy App in 2024?
Whether you want to see what the target user is saying, posting, their connections, or even if you’re after a Facebook Ads spy — my list has a solution for every budget.
I recommend mSpy for Facebook spying and beyond—including viewing browser history and live location. It even offers screen recording, so absolutely nothing will go unnoticed.
Facebook spy apps are usually safe to use. All the apps I’ve reviewed in this guide are secure and safe to use on your devices.
Are Facebook tracker apps legal?
In general, Facebook tracker apps are legal, but you’ll need to get the consent of the person you wish to track. It’s important that you understand the law in your area around using spy apps, and if you’re in doubt, it’s best to seek independent legal advice for clarity.
How do I spy on someone’s Facebook activity?
To monitor or spy on someone’s Facebook activity, you would need to 1) Pick your spy app — I recommend mSpy. 2) Create an account, 3) pay for your plan, and 4) install the app on the target device. It will then sync all the device’s data to the spy app’s dashboard for you to see.
What’s the best Facebook spy app?
The best Facebook spy app is mSpy. It’s easy to use, and the keylogger paired with the screen recorder means that you can see everything they’re up to on Facebook and beyond.
Can I read cheating spouse text messages for free?
No, if you suspect your spouse of cheating and want to read their text messages, you’d need to install a spy app on their mobile device that gives you access to their text messages, but it’s important to note that you should seek consent before you do this.
Do I need to jailbreak or root the device for Facebook monitoring?
Apps like mSpy don’t require jailbreaking or rooting devices to monitor Facebook. Many apps offer Facebook spying without the need for this. However, some advanced features may not work (i.e., recording the target’s surroundings).
Techopedia’s editorial policy is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
Jacob is an experienced Content Writer with experience in SaaS and tech solutions. He's done reviews on software for sites like Business2Community, TechReport, and Techopedia, sharing his expansive knowledge on all things tech-related - from VPNs to password managers and accounting software.