Worried about what your child is doing on Instagram? Who they’re talking to? What they’re watching or what they’re posting? Or do you wonder if your employees spend too much time on this addictive social media?
I understand your fear. You can’t protect your child all the time and sometimes their curiosity or desire to fit in causes them to make less than wise choices.
Similarly, you cannot control your employees all the time. It’s just not feasible.
That’s why I’ve put together a list of 8 of the best Instagram spy apps to help you keep an eye on them while they’re online or at work.
The 8 Best Instagram Spy Apps
mSpy
mSpy is one of the most trusted apps on the market. It’s available for both iOS and Android devices. However, its features for non-jailbroken iOS devices are different from the jailbroken models.
mSpy has an Instagram tracker that allows you to monitor the Instagram messages on the target phone and also view shared links as well.
While these tracking capabilities work well, this feature is only available on rooted Android devices.
The Instagram tracker isn’t available for iOS devices. mSpy still provides tracking for other popular social media and messaging apps for jailbroken iOS devices. It allows you to monitor WhatsApp and even see when the person of interest was online, call logs, and text messages on non-jailbroken iOS devices. As you may know, WhatsApp encrypts all the messages but it does not prevent mSpy from hacking it.
mSpy works in the background so your target, whether it’s an employee or your child, won’t know about it. You can log into your mSpy account using your desktop/smartphone’s browser to keep track of everything via your mSpy dashboard.
If you’re curious about mSpy, check out this detailed mSPY review to learn more.
In terms of price, mSpy is relatively expensive, with its Premium Plan (the one that covers Instagram and social media tracking) costing $41.99 per month for the 1-month option, $23.56 per month for the 3-month subscription, and $9.91 per month for the 12-month subscription.
mSpy offers a Family Kit if you need to cover multiple devices. However, you have to contact their customer support team to sort out this plan. If it doesn’t seem like mSpy is the app for you, take a look at the 10 best mSpy alternatives to find a better fit.
Overall, it’s a great app. While it only tracks Instagram on rooted Android devices, it still offers a host of other great features. Take a look at mSpy’s full feature list here.
Pros:
- Works on both jailbroken and non-jailbroken iPhones24/7 customer supportSecure online dashboard for easy monitoring
Cons:
- Instagram tracking only works on rooted Android phonesEach license only works for one phoneExpensive
FlexiSPY
FlexiSPY is another great Instagram spy app. It’s available for iOS devices, Android, Blackberry, Mac, PC, and even Symbian. However, the drawback of FlexiSPY is that iOS devices need to be jailbroken and Android devices need to be rooted for the app to work.
These processes aren’t easy and that might turn a lot of people off of FlexiSPY. However, jailbreaking and rooting does grant you access to the user’s device using FlexiSPY. You can stealth record conversations, video, take photos, and more.
FlexiSPY allows you to view the user’s Instagram activity, including their likes, direct messages, close friend stories, and more. It also allows you to view direct messages and their content. FlexiSPY also has a keylogger feature so you can set alerts for specific words too.
While FlexiSPY may be pricier than many other apps on our list and requires phones to be jailbroken or rooted to fully work, it’s still a great Instagram spy app. In addition to that, the power it gives you over the user’s phone could prove invaluable in case of an emergency.
If you’re interested in testing out FlexiSPY, you can take advantage of the coming 24-hour free trial program.
You can view all of FlexiSPY’s features here.
Unique features, such as stealth recordingRemote locking of the deviceAble to uninstall apps from the target deviceFree 1-day trial Quality technical support
More expensive than other appsRequires target phones to be jailbroken/rooted
FoneMonitor
FoneMonitor is a spy app that is available on both iPhone and Android. You can use FoneMonitor to keep track of the target cell phone and monitor their Instagram activity.
FoneMonitor is available for both iOS and Android and does not require the iOS device to be jailbroken or the Android device to be rooted. It allows you to view your target’s calls, text messages, take screenshots of their device and observe social media activity, such as Instagram direct messages.
You can also view the device’s contents, such as contacts, bookmarks, calendars, media files, and more. FoneMonitor also offers geofencing, keylogging, and you can also schedule restrictions on your target’s device as well, such as locking their camera app.
This means that not only can you view with whom your child is talking on Instagram, but you can also prevent them from sending anything inappropriate on Instagram, as well. You can monitor everything from your FoneMonitor dashboard.
Simply log into your FoneMonitor account on your phone, tablet, or computer, and take a look at what your target’s been up to.
While FoneMonitor does make keeping an eye on your target fairly easy, there have been reports of the information tracking being faulty with discrepancies between what you see on your dashboard and what your target is doing.
All things considered, FoneMonitor is still a great spy app. It offers a nice set of features along with a fair price for both its monthly and 3-month plans.
To learn more about FoneMonitor, take a look at our in-depth Fone Monitor review and if you think it’s the spy app for you, you can sign up here.
- Works on iOS and Android without jailbreaking or rootingWide range of featuresEasy to use interfaceOffers a 7-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Application activity can be inaccurate
KidsGuard Pro
KidsGuard Pro is a standout amongst the bevy of monitoring apps on the market and it’s available for iOS, Android, and Windows devices. While you need physical access to the device to install on Android, and Windows devices, you can remotely install it on iOS once you have the user’s iCloud credentials.
The iOS monitoring features are limited when compared to what you can do with an Android device and you can only view Kik, Line, Whatsapp, and more. You also have access to contacts, web history, notes, calendar, iMessage, etc.
KidsGuard Pro shines on Android, where you’re able to monitor Instagram and other social media platforms. On Instagram, you can view your target’s messages, activities, notifications, and uploaded images.
You can also view deleted or vanishing messages with KidsGuard Pro, and for added benefit, you can take screenshots of the user’s Instagram without their knowledge.
Overall, KidsGuard Pro is a great monitoring app to help protect your children with its stealth capabilities and ability to monitor and keep a record of your child’s Instagram information.
Check out KidsGuard Pro’s website to see their plans.
Available on Windows, as well as Android and iOSWide range of featuresInstagram monitoring is extensive and detailedAllows you to take screenshotsEasy setup and installationNo jailbreaking or rooting needed
iOS version can’t monitor Instagram
Bark
It has a 7-day free trial, so you can test it out to see if it’s the right fit for you.
Bark Jr. allows you to manage screentime, get location check-ins from your kids, and filter websites. Bark Premium offers these three features as well as alerts for issues such as depression, online predators, cyberbullying, and more.
Bark’s plans cover an unlimited number of devices, making it a great option for large families. It uses machine learning to alert you about any dangers it may pick up when your target is on Instagram.
Bark aims to not only protect children but to also facilitate open conversations between parents and their children.
This means that unlike other apps on this list, it won’t be hidden when you’ve installed it on your target’s phone, so your child will know that they’re being monitored.
Due to this belief, Bark also doesn’t give you unfettered access to your target’s device like other apps on this list. It will only notify you when it detects something harmful, it will also provide you with articles to help you and your child deal with the issue.
All of these factors considered, Bark is a great app to help protect your children. Bark is available on both the App Store and the Playstore.
Sign up for a 7-day free trial to see if Bark is right for you.
Affordable plansUnlimited number of devices under any planFree 7-day trialTracks harmful content/conversationsHas tips/articles on how to tackle difficult topics
Only provides alerts, not access to the user’s Instagram
WebWatcher
WebWatcher is a discrete monitoring app that’s available for Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, and Chrome. There are two payment plans for WebWatcher, a 3-month plan which costs $59.95, and a 1-year plan for $129.95. There is, unfortunately, no one-month option or free trial.
One plan only gives you one license that only covers one device. So, if your target uses multiple devices or if you have more than one target to monitor, you need to purchase multiple plans to cover the additional devices.
There is a risk-free trial period once purchased, however, it only lasts for three days and WebWatcher only issues refunds if the product does not work as advertised. Because of this, I recommend taking a look at their refund policy before signing up to test it out.
WebWatcher allows you to monitor your target’s texts, emails, location, browsing history, call log, and more on both iOS and Android. However, Instagram monitoring is only available on Android devices.
On Android, you can monitor your target’s Instagram DMs, posts, comments, and notifications. While the iOS version doesn’t offer Instagram monitoring, you can monitor other popular apps, such as Tinder, and Whatsapp.
While WebWatcher is expensive compared to other spy apps, the Instagram coverage it allows on Android is detailed and worth it if it fits your budget.
Take a look at WebWatcher’s features to see if it’s the app for you.
Detailed Instagram monitoring for Android devicesMultiple social media platformsFairly easy installationGood customer supportNo jailbreaking or rooting required
Expensive when compared to other appsStrict refund policy
uMobix
uMobix is another monitoring app that can double as an Instagram spy app. It can run on all iOS devices, such as iPhones and iPads. It also runs on Android phones with an OS version of 4 and above. No jailbreaking or rooting is required to run uMobix, though not all features will work without it.
In terms of features, uMobix has it all. Aside from the usual GPS tracking, SMS and call monitoring, and media gallery access, it can also track all popular social media and messaging platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and more importantly, Instagram.
Strangely enough, unlike other spy apps, uMobix doesn’t show conversations in the form of threads. Instead, it uses screenshots. For instance, if you check your Instagram DMs through the uMobix dashboard, you’ll see only screenshots showing those DMs.
The good thing is that if you want to spy on someone’s Instagram account without them knowing, you can do so with uMobix. That’s because uMobix has the option to hide the app icon during installation. In case you miss it, you can always change it later in the Settings.
Prices start at $29.99 a month for one month. The longer the subscription, the cheaper the monthly charge. If you want to know more about uMobix, check out our review here.
Pros
- Plenty of featuresReasonable priceEasy installation on AndroidSome features work without jailbreak or root
Cons
- Difficult to install on iOSFewer features on iOS
Qustodio
Qustodio is a website monitoring app that works for families, schools, and businesses and it’s available for Android, iOS, Mac, Kindle, and Windows.
Qustodio has a variety of paid plans to choose from but before you make your choice, you can try Qustodio Premium for free for 3 days. Also if you do sign up for a paid plan and aren’t satisfied, Qustodio has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Qustodio’s features allow you to set schedules for when your child can use their device, track their location, filter web content, block apps and games, track calls, and texts. The Android version also has a panic button in case of an emergency.
You can view everything from your Qustodio dashboard which has a clean and easy-to-use interface.
When it comes to Instagram, Qustodio can only tell you how long the app was used. It won’t allow you to track Instagram activity or view direct messages like the other apps on our list.
Qustodio is a great option because it supports multiple platforms and not just mobile devices. However, its lack of detailed Instagram monitoring and pricey plans take away from its full potential as a spy app.
Check out our Qustodio review to learn more.
3-day free trialFree option available, though limited features30-day money-back guaranteeSupports a wide range of devices
Lacks social media monitoring features Relatively priceyNo detailed Instagram tracking
Final Thoughts On The Best Instagram Spy Apps
Instagram can be both dangerous and wonderful. It’s your job as a parent to ensure your child is protected to the best of your ability.
Can you spy on Instagram messages?
You can spy on Instagram messages using special monitoring apps. One of such apps, mSpy, guarantees this feature. The other person won’t know you’re spying on them.
Do spy apps work on Instagram?
Spy apps do work on Instagram and can read direct messages and monitor other activity in the app. However, different apps provide different functionality.
How can I spy on Instagram activity?
You can spy on Instagram activity by installing a spy app on the person’s phone or tablet then granting the app access to Instagram. After that, you’ll be able to monitor their Instagram activity from your dashboard.
Need to monitor the Instagram activity of your employees? You can use almost all of these apps as well. Just remember to get the employees’ consent first.
And if you are looking for a solution that’s created solely for Instagram, take a look at Glassagram. Here’s our full review of this Instagram spy app.
If you liked my list of the best Instagram spy apps, let me know in the comments!
