Did you know that there are more than 3.5 billion smartphone users in the world? In the US alone, more than 50% of children own a smartphone by the age of 11, while 84% of teenagers have their smartphones too. Parents are routinely bombarded by information that lays out the dangers of this trend for their children. Cyberbullying, loss of privacy, access to inappropriate content, scams, addiction, and behavioral problems are dangers associated with internet-enabled smartphones. At the same time, these devices are also an integral part of your child’s academic, personal, and social life. Parents can find themselves in a tough spot on what to do in such a situation. However, parental monitoring apps are designed for this purpose as they provide an ideal solution against the aforementioned dangers. Monitoring apps are also used by employers to improve transparency and productivity at the office. In this article, we will review one such app called XNSPY. We chose to review it because it is flexible enough to be used by both parents and employers. We will first identify the compatibility and pricing options and then move on to how you can install the app on both Android and iOS platforms. We will then list the features and identify the important pros and cons.
What is XNSPY?
XNSPY is an advanced smartphone monitoring app that is available for both Android and iOS devices. The app is completely discreet while collecting data from the phone. It then transfers this information to a remote server. You can access this data via any web browser.
XNSPY Price & Compatibility
Here are the compatibility and pricing options for the app:
- Compatibility
As previously mentioned, the app works on both iOS and Android devices. For Android, XNSPY is compatible with all devices running on versions 4.0 and above. On the other hand, the app is compatible with all iOS versions 6.0 and above. Updates for the app are routinely released for better performance on new versions of the related OS.
- Price
XNSPY works on a subscription-based model. The basic version costs USD 4.99 per month for a year-long subscription. However, you cannot use all the available features with this version. XNSPY’s premium version offers all the functions and costs USD 7.49 per month. In our experience, the premium version is a much better option because it offers a large set of features at only a marginally higher cost.
Now that we have listed the compatibility and pricing options for the app, let’s go through step by step on how to install XNSPY for both Android and iOS devices.
How to install & use XNSPY
XNSPY for Android
Step 1: Visit the XNSPY website and click on the “Buy now” option on the top right corner.
Step 2: Select a suitable subscription package. All relevant features are listed below each package as well. Before purchasing the app, we recommend you try the Live Demo version of the app on the website.
Step 3: Use a discount code if you have any and make the payment after entering your contact details.
Step 4: Check your email inbox for an email that contains a URL to download the app, instructions on how to install it, and your XNSPY login credentials.
Step 5: Use the download URL to download and install the app on the phone you want to monitor. You need physical access to the device only for installation purposes. The installation process does not take more than a few minutes. All monitoring after that is completely remote.
Step 6: Wait for 24–48 hours so the app can transfer data to a remote server.
Step 7: Visit the XNSPY website and enter the login credentials included in the email.
Step 8: Select “Android” from the “My Devices” tab on the left. You can also change your login password by selecting the “My Account” option.
Step 9: Once you select the relevant device, you can go through the control panel. All data can be access via the menu on the left.
XNSPY for iOS
Let’s go through a step by step process on how to install the app on an iPhone.
Step 1: Head over the app’s website and select your preferred subscription package.
Step 2: Make the payment and wait for an email that contains instructions on how to install XNSPY and your login credentials.
Step 3: You do not need physical access to the iPhone to install XNSPY. However, you need the Apple ID details of the device you want to monitor. Furthermore, make sure that the iCloud backup feature on the phone is toggled on. This is because XNSPY works differently on an iPhone as compared to an Android device.
Step 4: Use details included in the email to log in to your XNSPY account.
Step 5: Select iPhone from the “My Devices” tab on the left and enter the Apple ID details.
Step 6: Wait for the app to verify Apple ID details.
Step 7: XNSPY will begin collecting information once the verification process is completed. You can access all the data through the menu on the left.
Now that we have detailed how to install the app on different platforms, let’s take a look at some of the prominent features of the app.
XNSPY features
- Call & SMS tracking
XNSPY can track all calls made to and from the device. This data is included in a call log that details all incoming, outgoing, and missed calls, along with their date, time, and duration. You can also record calls and download the recordings. Similarly, the app tracks all sent and received text messages too.
- IM & Social media monitoring
This is an important feature because most people nowadays use instant messaging and social media apps for communication. You can use XNSPY to monitor widely used apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Viber, Line, Kik, Tinder, and others. This is a useful feature for parents seeking to oversee their child’s digital interactions.
- Location tracking
You can use XNSPY to track the location of the device in real-time. This feature is integrated with Google Maps and details location history too. You can also use the geofencing sub-feature to mark specific locations so the app can pay special attention to those. XNSPY will immediately notice if the person enters or leaves the geofenced areas. Companies in logistics, shipping, or service delivery industries use this feature to track riders. On the other hand, parents use this feature to know exactly where their child is.
- Multimedia access
The app can access all multimedia files stored on the phone such as photos, videos, and audio files. These files are marked with time-stamps as well.
- Online activity monitoring
You can use this feature to monitor all web-based activities on the device. This includes all bookmarked pages, all exchanged emails and a complete web browsing history. While this feature is useful for employers seeking to measure productivity, it has limited utility for parents. This is because the app does not provide a content filtering service.
- Remote control
You can use this feature to remotely control the phone. You can take screenshots or turn on the microphone to listen to recordings. Similarly, you can view all saved contacts and view/block all installed applications. You can also lock the phone, restart it, or delete all stored data in case of loss or theft. The screenshot and microphone features are quite intrusive, but app management and screen-time management features are quite useful, particularly for parents.
- Instant alerts
The instant alert feature is among the most useful functions. You can add any word, phrase, contact, or location to the app’s watch list. XNSPY will begin to pay special attention to these and immediately send a notification regarding any relevant activity. This can include messages, calls, search engine entries, geofenced locations, and pre-designated contacts. It is a unique feature that cuts down on the time required to monitor all the data collected from the phone.
- Analytics
The analytics feature creates a summary of device-use statistics. This can include top callers, most-visited websites, and longest call durations. Similarly, the app offers other features such as a keylogger that records all keystrokes on the phone. You can also access the calendar or view all used Wi-Fi networks.
The list of features seems impressive but no app is perfect. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of using XNSPY.
XNSPY pros & cons
Pros
- XNSPY is among the most affordable smartphone monitoring apps.
- The app offers a comprehensive set of features.
- All monitoring and remote control options can be exercised from anywhere in the world.
Cons
- Some features, such as screenshots or surround recording can be highly intrusive and may be inappropriate.
- You may have to root or jailbreak the device if you want to use some specific functions such as the Facebook Messenger tracker.
- XNSPY does not provide a content filtering system.
XNSPY Features | Availability |
Compatible devices | Android versions +4.0 and iOS versions +6.0. |
Price | USD 4.99 for basic version & USD 7.49 for premium version |
Call recording | Yes |
Call logs | Yes |
Live call recording | No |
SMS & MMS tracking | Yes |
Location tracking | Yes |
GPS history | Yes |
Geofencing | Yes |
Photos | Yes |
Videos | Yes |
IM & Social media apps | Yes |
Web browsing history | Yes |
Emails | Yes |
Keylogging | Yes |
Surround recording | Yes |
Remote camera | No |
App blocking | Yes |
Phone locking | Yes |
Contact blocking | No |
Watch list alerts | Yes |
Rooting | For some features |
Jailbreak | For some features |