Best App for Monitoring Text Messages on iPhone: 2025 Review

Keeping your kids safe in the digital world means staying informed — especially about who they’re texting. But if your child uses an iPhone, Apple’s strict privacy settings can make it tough to monitor text messages. Most monitoring apps are built for Android and offer limited features for iOS users (even though an overwhelming majority of teens use iPhones).

This guide breaks down the best apps for monitoring text messages on iPhone, highlighting their features, pros, and cons to help parents make the right choice. Let’s dive in.

Why text monitoring on iPhone is important

Teens receive hundreds of notifications per day, and not all of those messages are positive. Kids can experience cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and peer pressure, among other red flags. And for many teens, texts are the main way they communicate — often without adults seeing what’s going on. 

Having regular conversations about online safety and device use is an important part of keeping kids safe on their devices. But for parents who also want to check their child’s texts, they’re faced with a challenge: they can attempt to manually review hundreds of texts per day, or sit back and hope for the best. Yikes.

 Apple’s free parental controls give parents a way to limit who can text their children, but they can’t easily review what their texts say. Text message monitoring apps bridge that gap, giving parents the insights they need while supporting their kids’ growing independence.

Top iPhone text monitoring apps for parents (2025)

You’re busy. Here’s a comparison table to help you quickly evaluate the top-rated contenders:

Feature	BrightCanary	Bark	MMGuardian
View full text threads	Yes	No	Yes
Detect deleted messages	Yes	Partial	Yes
AI-powered summaries	Yes	Yes	No
Emotional insights + conversation tips	Yes	No	No
Price	Free with paid plans available	$99/year	$69.99/year
Monitor away from home	Yes	Must be connected to home WiFi	Must be connected to home WiFi

1. BrightCanary: Best overall for iPhone

BrightCanary is the only child safety app that comprehensively monitors iPhone text messages, even when they’re out of the house. The app gives parents the ability to read full text threads, learn about their children’s emotional well-being, view AI summaries, and even get coaching prompts to have better parent-child conversations.

Pros:

• Read full text conversations, including group chats and deleted texts
• AI-powered summaries of text threads and your child’s emotional well-being, based on APA guidelines
• After initial setup, BrightCanary doesn’t require physical access to your child’s phone
• Alerts for concerning content, including bullying, self-harm, and explicit content

Cons:

• Not available for Android devices
• Doesn’t have screen time limits or website blocking features
• For full text message monitoring, you need your child’s iCloud password (here’s how to set up an Apple ID for your child)

Final takeaway: Best for parents looking for comprehensive text message monitoring on iPhones with AI-powered support.

2. Bark

Bark is one of the most popular apps for monitoring online activity. However, Bark text monitoring is limited for iOS. Parents can either monitor text messages by installing an app on their desktop or a separate device called Bark Home. The app only scans the child’s text messages while they’re at home.

Pros:

• Scans text messages, photos, and videos, including some deleted texts
• Sends alerts when it detects concerning behavior
• Useful for Android and Windows

Cons:

• For iOS, Bark text monitoring can only scan your child’s texts when they’re home and on the same WiFi network
• No full text access, only summaries of alarming content
• Doesn’t offer AI conversation prompts or insights for parents

Final takeaway: Bark is best for parents who want to monitor texts on Android devices and have access to other monitoring features, like screen time limits and website blocking.

3. MMGuardian

MMGuardian offers specific parental controls for iPhones, but like Bark, you’ll need to install a separate app and can only scan your child’s texts when they’re on the same WiFi. However, for parents who want more detailed insights, MMGuardian does show full text threads.

Pros:

• View texts and photos sent to or from your child’s phone
• Receive an alert when the app detects something concerning
• Works on Android devices

Cons:

• Requires installing a syncing app on your computer
• Can only scan texts when your child’s device is on the same WiFi network
• Doesn’t provide coaching or emotional insights

Final takeaway: MMGuardian is useful for parents who are okay with text message monitoring that requires syncing devices at home. It also has screen time limits available within the app, although these features are also freely available with Apple Screen Time.

4. Kid-safe phones (Pinwheel, Gabb, Toomi, Bark Phone)

Some companies have created their own phones that limit app usage, monitor messages, and have GPS tracking. 

These phones treat text messages differently: Gabb offers its own messaging app called Gabb Messenger, while Pinwheel and Troomi use an Android SMS app that parents can monitor. 

Bark doesn’t allow kids to delete texts without the parent’s permission, and the phone uses Bark’s software to identify inappropriate content.

Pros: 

• Because these phones don’t rely on Apple’s operating system, their parental controls are generally more comprehensive.
• You can more easily restrict social media and internet access, which limits your child’s access to other messaging apps.
• Great for younger kids who aren’t ready for full access to smartphones.

Cons:

• Price varies among providers.
• Kid-safe phones are generally Android devices, so they won’t integrate with Apple parental controls like Find My and Screen Time.
• Not suitable for older teens who may be ready for more independence.

Final takeaway: Best for parents of younger kids who need basic, controlled phone access, but less useful for older teens.

What to consider when choosing a text monitoring app for iPhone

• Device compatibility: Some apps only work on Android or require you to sync via desktop.
• Monitoring scope: Can you view full conversations? Deleted texts? Emotional cues?
• Ease of use: Look for apps that don't require constant setup or complex installs.
• Privacy and transparency: The best approach is collaborative. Talk with your child about why you’re monitoring and what you’re looking for.

Apple makes it difficult for most third-party apps to monitor text messages. That’s why so many options out there are limited, or they have more features available for Android phones. 

If you don’t want to install any extra software or rely on your desktop to check on your child’s messages, that narrows your options. For example, Bark and MMGuardian can only scan your child’s texts when they’re home. In comparison, BrightCanary can monitor your child’s texts even when they’re at school or with a friend.

Many child safety apps offer text monitoring alongside other parental controls, such as location tracking, social media monitoring, and the ability to restrict who can contact your child. If you want your text monitoring app to do more, that’s another thing to consider. (These features are also freely available with Apple Screen Time and Find My.)

Finally, pricing is another important factor. Most child safety apps operate on a subscription basis. Are you getting the most bang for your buck? If you run into an issue or have feedback, is there a US-based support team available? 

The bottom line

When it comes to iPhone text monitoring, BrightCanary offers the most comprehensive support: full message access, deleted message recovery, AI-generated summaries, and emotional insights.

In today’s digital landscape, it’s essential to stay involved with your child’s online life. The best apps for monitoring text messages on iPhone give you the insights you need, all in a way that fits into your daily routine. Staying informed doesn’t have to be a chore or feel overwhelming. It’s a key part of guiding, protecting, and supporting your child today.

FAQ

1. Can I monitor deleted text messages on an iPhone?

Yes. Child safety apps like BrightCanary and MMGuardian allow you to monitor deleted text messages.

2. How do I respect my child’s privacy?

Maintain open communication with your child. Explain that you trust them, but texting can expose them to serious risks. Text monitoring can give your child more independence, with a safety net. Let your child know that your goal isn’t to spy on them. Many BrightCanary parents only choose to read text summaries, and they’ll only read full threads if something looks concerning.

3. Can I monitor group chats with these apps?

It depends on the app. BrightCanary monitors group chats and even provides insights into the emotional content of those conversations.

4. What’s the best app for iPhone text monitoring specifically?

BrightCanary stands out for its iPhone-specific capabilities, offering the most comprehensive text monitoring features, including deleted messages and AI insights.

5. How much does BrightCanary cost?

BrightCanary has a free plan and subscription options. See how BrightCanary’s pricing compares to other text monitoring apps.

6. How do I set up BrightCanary text message monitoring for iPhone?

Download BrightCanary on your device, then create an account for your child. Add their iCloud login information. BrightCanary will sync with their Apple account and begin monitoring their messages. Learn more about how to set up BrightCanary text message monitoring.