Keeping your kids safe in the digital world means staying informed and involved. But when it comes to iPhones, privacy settings can make it challenging for parents to access what’s important — like text messages. Many apps promise to help you monitor your child’s texts, but finding one that actually works well on iOS is an uphill battle. We’ve done the research to find the best app for monitoring text messages on iPhone, highlighting their features, pros, and cons. Let’s dive in.
Texting is the new social media. Teens receive hundreds of notifications per day, and not all of those messages are positive. Group chats can spiral into harassment, scams and strangers can reach your child, and red flags for mental health concerns can happen in conversations between friends. That’s why parents need to stay informed when their kids begin texting independently, setting texting rules and using monitoring tools to identify any concerns.
However, it’s really difficult to monitor texts on Apple devices. That’s a problem because 87% of teens have iPhones. 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.
Having regular conversations about online safety and device use is an important part of monitoring, 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.
Some parental monitoring apps allow parents to comprehensively monitor texts on Android, but their features are severely limited on Apple devices. That’s where these apps for monitoring texts on iPhone come in — the following child safety tools help parents balance monitoring and supporting their kids’ growing sense of independence.
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.
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Final takeaway: Best for parents looking for comprehensive text message monitoring on iPhones with AI-powered support.
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.
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Final takeaway: Bark is best for parents who want to monitor texts on Android devices or want to monitor multiple platforms, such as X (Twitter) and Reddit.
A robust parental monitoring platform that runs into roadblocks on iOS. 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.
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Final takeaway: Best for parents looking for text message monitoring on iOS, are okay with syncing devices at home, and aren’t interested in AI coaching features.
Okay, these aren’t apps, but text message monitoring apps for iPhone are generally pretty limited (with the exception of BrightCanary). 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.
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Final takeaway: Best for parents of younger kids who need basic, controlled phone access, but less useful for older teens.
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’re considering a child safety app for iPhone, double-check what they monitor and what the setup process is like. 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?
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.
Yes. Child safety apps like BrightCanary and MMGuardian allow you to monitor deleted text messages.
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.
It depends on the app. BrightCanary monitors group chats and even provides insights into the emotional content of those conversations.
BrightCanary stands out for its iPhone-specific capabilities, offering the most comprehensive text monitoring features, including deleted messages and AI insights without requiring the installation of extra software on your child’s device or your home computer.
BrightCanary costs $49.99 per year or $5.99 per month. See how BrightCanary’s pricing compares to other text monitoring apps.
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.
