Phonsee is a spy app that allows you to remotely monitor your loved ones’ phones through any web browser. You can access text messages, call logs, location history and more. A handy feature is the hidden mode, which hides the app from your child so they can’t discover it.
Official Website: | phonsee.com |
Category: | Phone monitoring app |
Key Features: | Call recording, Call tracking, SMS tracking, GPS tracking, Social media monitoring |
Compatibility: | Android and iOS |
Free Trial: | No |
Pay Monthly Price: | $42.51 |
Money Back Guarantee: | 14 days |
While monitoring apps can be controversial, many parents turn to solutions like Phonsee out of love – not control. The app can provide peace of mind and security for families in difficult situations. For example, the spy app may help protect:
While precautions should be taken to use Phonsee ethically, its capabilities can provide comfort during difficult stages of life or enhance safety for vulnerable loved ones. Under proper circumstances, it can be a tool of care – not just control.
We took a deep dive into the features Phonsee offers to see if they deliver as promised. The app markets itself as an all-in-one monitoring solution, so we wanted to put its varied toolkit to the test.
Phonsee lets you track texts, calls, locations, photos, videos, social media activity, and more. Some highlights include real-time text monitoring, accurate GPS tracking, geofencing, a keylogger, and expansive social media oversight.
We found the location tracking and geofencing tools worked seamlessly to keep tabs on kids’ whereabouts. The keylogger also impressed us by capturing deleted messages and passwords. However, we thought the text and call logging features lacked some customization options compared to competitor apps.
Key features:
- Text Monitoring: View sent/received texts in real-time, including content, attachments, and contact details.
- Call Logging: Track inbound/outbound calls with names, numbers, dates, times, and duration.
- GPS Tracking: Pinpoint a device’s location within 10 meters using an interactive map.
- Geofencing: Get notifications when a device enters or leaves designated zones.
- Photo & Video Monitoring: Access photos and videos stored on the device.
- Keylogger: Record keystrokes, even if they’re deleted, across apps and passwords.
- Screen Recording: Take snapshots of a device’s screen in the background.
- Social Media Monitoring: Track activity on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and more.
- Internet Monitoring: View browsing history, searches, bookmarks, and visited websites.
- App/Website Blocking: Limit screen time and block inappropriate apps or sites.
Once installed on a target device, Phonsee collects data in the background and transmits it to an online dashboard. There, parents can access the recorded information from any internet-connected device.
On Android phones, the app leverages advanced techniques to monitor texts, calls, locations, app activity, and more. It can even grab chats from social media apps and record keystrokes, including deleted messages and passwords.
iOS devices pose more limitations given Apple’s closed ecosystem. Phonsee can track basic iPhone functions like calls, messages, and locations. But without full access to the OS, it can’t deeply monitor third-party apps. The exception is accessing iCloud backups.
We took a close look at Phonsee’s subscription plans and pricing to understand the cost for parents. The platform uses a monthly subscription model with discounts for longer commitments:
- $42,51.
- $24,79 per month.
- $8,85 monthly.
Unlike some competitors, the company does not offer a free trial period. However, there is a 14-day money-back guarantee allowing you to receive a full refund if unsatisfied with the service.
We tested out the cancellation process and found it straightforward – you simply log into your account and click the “Cancel Subscription” button. Phonsee asks for feedback on why you’re canceling before processing the refund within 7 business days. One advantage is that the spy app provides free updates and new features, so you won’t face extra fees down the road.
For parents who want to test drive the app’s capabilities, Phonsee offers a free online demo version. The demo provides full access to the control panel and simulated monitoring data. This allows you to explore the various tracking features and get a feel for the dashboard design before paying.
Key things the demo offers:
Be sure to take advantage of the demo to ensure Phonsee is the right fit for your family’s needs.
We decided to give Phonsee a try. Here’s how we got set up with their service:
How we installed Phonsee depended on whether we were using an Android or iOS device:
Android:
- We accessed the target Android device.
- Opened the browser and went to the Phonsee site.
- Downloaded the app from the site.
- Followed the on-screen instructions to install it.
- Opened the app and logged in with our account.
- Went through the setup wizard granting permissions and configuring.
iOS:
- We needed the Apple ID and password for the target device.
- Accessed the target iOS device.
- Opened the browser and visited the app’s site.
- Followed the on-screen steps to set up the app.
- Entered the device’s Apple ID and password when prompted.
- Completed the rest of the setup as instructed.
Overall, the installation process was straightforward on both Android and iOS.
Once installed, we were able to log into our account from a browser or the app on our device. We then had access to the various monitoring features like GPS tracking and could see how well they worked.
Phonsee seems to take data protection seriously in several ways:
- Encryption: The app uses strong encryption protocols to keep data secure during transmission and storage. This protects against unauthorized access and shows they value privacy.
- Compliance: Phonsee appears to comply with privacy laws and regulations around data collection and usage. They emphasize getting proper consent before tracking.
- Ethics: The spy app stresses respecting individual privacy rights. Their stance on only tracking with permission shows an ethical approach.
Phonsee appears to be a robust, trustworthy solution focused on responsible usage. We will certainly keep monitoring to ensure this remains the case.
Pros and Cons of Phonsee
Pros:
- We could monitor messages, calls, and browsing on the device we were tracking. Useful for keeping tabs on a child’s activity.
- The spy tool lets us track the device’s real-time location. Helpful for monitoring whereabouts.
- We could restrict app and website access. Allows controlling inappropriate content.
- On iOS devices, the app logged keystrokes in messaging apps. Enabled reading messages.
- We could view multimedia files stored on the phone. Allowed monitoring photos/videos.
Cons:
- Phonsee only works on Android and iOS. Not available for all operating systems.
- Physical access to the device is required for initial setup. Can’t be used remotely without access.
- Pricing is higher than some competitor apps we evaluated. The monitoring capabilities come at a cost.
Overall, Phonsee provides robust surveillance and monitoring capabilities if you’re willing to pay the premium price.
After carefully evaluating Phonsee’s features, privacy, and pricing, we believe it is a powerful yet responsible phone monitoring solution. The app provides robust capabilities like location tracking, text monitoring, and social media oversight that can offer parents valuable insights. At the same time, the company seems to approach data privacy conscientiously through encryption and transparent policies.
While the monthly subscription fee is higher than some competitors, you get sophisticated tracking tools that work. Throughout our testing, the location tracking proved extremely accurate, while the keylogger captured even deleted messages. The user-friendly dashboard also makes monitoring straightforward for parents of all technical skill levels.