The Best Employee Monitoring Software for 2024

mSpy’s core strength lies in its Social Media Monitoring. I can read messages from WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, LINE, and Google Chat, providing a comprehensive view of employee correspondence while at work. The email monitoring feature enhances this capability, offering a complete picture of how employees are using their company emails.

The app’s built-in Stealth Mode is a notable feature and useful for employers who need to observe activities discreetly. However, even though you might be monitoring company-owned phones, there are ethical implications to consider.

Website Management on mSpy is somewhat limited compared to competitors like Qustodio and Norton Family. But you get complete website blocking to make sure employees aren’t visiting inappropriate websites at work. Similarly, you can completely block app access on phones, but this feature is only available for Android devices.

mSpy’s GPS location tracker is also a great way to check that employees are where they are supposed to be, like, say when they are out on a sales route.

Something to keep in mind, though, is that most of mSpy’s features require rooting (an Android) or jailbreaking (an iPhone), which might introduce other security vulnerabilities.

mSpy is one of the best phone spy apps and employee monitoring tools on the market right now, and its annual plan makes it all the more attractive.

mSpy has an excellent demo that accurately represented the experience I had when testing the app. They also offer a 14-day refund window.

The only catch here is that one subscription lets you monitor only one device, so the cost can add up if you have a lot of employees. This is an issue with most of the apps on this list, though, except for Hoverwatch.

mSpy is best suited for those looking for a versatile employee monitoring software solution for Android and iOS. It’s ideal for employers who need discreet monitoring of messaging and social media activities on company devices.

uMobix excels in Call and SMS Monitoring. While testing the app, I could see detailed logs of all incoming and outgoing calls, including contact names, phone numbers, call durations, and timestamps. All of this information is available in real-time, so employers can keep tabs on unauthorized communication during work hours.

uMobix also allows employers to track activities on a few popular platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Social Media Monitoring helps prevent sensitive data leaks and ensures that employees are not wasting hours on social media.

Location Tracking utilizes GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular data to track the target device’s location in real-time. It’s very useful for businesses with a remote workforce or field employees, as it allows managers to verify that employees are at their designated locations during work hours.

uMobix also offers Remote Device Control features, such as the ability to delete unwanted apps, restrict calls, and block websites. These controls can help employers enforce company policies and prevent misuse of company devices.

The keylogger monitors all keyboard activity on the device and provides notifications to your dashboard. This can help detect unauthorized access to company systems or sensitive information.

Like most of the competition, uMobix has a single plan, with prices based on the length of the subscription. uMobix has a solid demo and offers a 14-day refund policy.

uMobix is slightly more expensive than mSpy but offers excellent remote control features. However, uMobix’s best features are for Android devices. You might want to consider mSpy for iOS monitoring or Eyezy for a generally more affordable alternative.

You also don’t get multi-device monitoring plans, so it might not be the best option for large organizations.

uMobix is ideal for small businesses that require comprehensive monitoring of employee activities on mobile devices. It is particularly suited for companies with remote workers or field employees.

Phonsee stands out for its highly precise Real-Time GPS Tracking, which enables advanced functionality like real-time location monitoring and the creation of virtual boundaries. There’s also location history for a detailed view of the device’s movements, complete with timestamps. This is very useful for businesses with field employees or a remote workforce, particularly those that need to track employee locations.

Its Social Monitoring can also monitor calls, texts, and posts on social media platforms like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Snapchat. Each conversation tracked across phone networks and social media is also supported by GPS tracking data, providing an extra dimension to understanding an employee’s whereabouts.

Phonsee’s Remote Control capabilities let you manage employee devices efficiently. Plus, features such as app blocking, call restrictions, and website filtering help enforce company policies and prevent misuse of company devices. The app also includes a Keylogger, which monitors all keyboard activities on the target device, providing valuable insights into your employee behavior and potential security threats or data breaches.

Even with limited technical know-how, Phonsee’s user interface is very easy to use. The dashboard is intuitively designed, allowing for easy navigation and comprehensive data collection. Real-time Notifications ensure that employers stay informed about critical events without being overwhelmed by irrelevant information.

Here’s the breakdown of Phonsee’s plans and their cost:

Like uMobix, Phonsee’s plans are separated by subscription length, with each tier offering better discounts on individual devices in exchange for longer commitments.

While there’s no free trial, you can benefit from a 14-day refund window as long as it complies with Phonesee’s refund policy.

Phonsee is cheaper than alternatives like mSpy and uMobix. While it’s not as feature-packed as the latter two, it’s the best pick if location tracking is your main concern.

Phonsee is ideal for businesses that require detailed monitoring of employee conversations on mobile devices powered by precise location data. Its geotracking capabilities are by far the most impressive on my list, making it a good choice for a remote workforce or field-based businesses.

Eyezy offers many quality features specifically for business use. However, my favorite is its Keystroke Capture, which allows you to see every keystroke made on a monitored device in real-time. This is backed by Eyezy’s AI-powered notification capabilities, with instant alerts sent to your phone whenever a flagged keyword is typed into an employee’s device.

By monitoring an employee’s activities on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other social media, Eyezy’s Social Spotlight provides access to emails, personal texts, and social media messages that could lead to unauthorized data leaks or inappropriate use of company devices.

Eyezy’s location tracking feature, called Pinpoint, shows the entire location history of a monitored device using an intuitive dashboard, complete with GPS and WiFi information. It also feeds into the company’s real-time alerts feature like Phonsee, ensuring that you are notified whenever an employee leaves their office during working hours.

A powerful Call Analyzer lets you view a complete list of contacts and call logs, including names, dates, and durations. You can also monitor individual conversations with voice and screen recording, preventing unauthorized communications from workplace devices.

All of this is securely hidden from the device user through Stealth Mode, making it possible to track communications without broadcasting your presence.

Eyezy might not be as feature-rich as mSpy, but it’s certainly more affordable.

Eyezy also stands out from the crowd by offering multi-device tracking with the Family Kit plan that lets you monitor up to three devices with a single subscription. Only Hoverwatch lets you track more (up to 25), but it doesn’t offer nearly as many features as Eyezy.

Eyezy is best suited for small and medium-sized businesses that need to monitor a limited number of devices at a reduced cost. Its keylogger complements the other monitoring features to provide a comprehensive look at an employee’s use of a company device.

Cocospy offers a wide array of monitoring features through its very easy-to-use interface. I like it primarily for its accessible design, even though the color scheme could be a bit too bright for someone with visual impairment. Among its many features, the one I like the most is its SIM Tracker, which alerts you whenever a thief tries to tamper with it to avoid detection.

GPS Tracking keeps you apprised of employee whereabouts in real-time. Meanwhile, its Call and Text Monitoring lets you ensure that company devices aren’t used for reasons unrelated to work. Employers can see the duration, timestamps, and contact details of each conversation, making it impossible for businesses to miss anything important.

Social Platform Monitoring prevents unauthorized leaks from happening with timely alerts. Cocospy also monitors popular dating apps like Tinder, but your employee privacy is protected by limiting access to the details you can see. This can help you comply with local regulations, making sure your tracking isn’t unauthorized or invasive.

Cocospy also includes a Keylogger feature, which records all keystrokes made on the monitored device. Additionally, browser history tracking allows employers to see which websites their employees are visiting. Combined, these features provide detailed insight into your employees’ activity on company devices.

Cocospy and uMobix have the same pricing, but I recommend Cocospy to anyone who isn’t too tech-savvy or well-versed in the monitoring apps industry because it’s nearly effortless to use.

Unlike other surveillance apps, Cocospy seems to genuinely care about transparency, making it a good fit for compliance-focused businesses that are concerned about the ethical implications of employee monitoring software.

Spyic knows how to keep a low profile with its Stealth Mode, which is by far the most impressive one I’ve seen among similar apps like mSpy or Eyezy. This mode allows you to monitor employees without being detected, which can be useful for surprise inspections.

It also offers real-time Call and SMS Monitoring, which provides detailed logs of all incoming and outgoing calls and text messages. Employers can see the duration, timestamps, and contact details, helping them ensure that company devices are being used appropriately.

Social Media Monitoring is another key feature, allowing employers to monitor activities on platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. This helps protect the company’s reputation and prevent data leaks from unsuspecting employees.

Real-time location Tracking lets you monitor your employees’ movements during working hours with timestamped GPS data. This is useful, especially when field employees need to go on-site to perform duties.

Spyic also includes a Keylogger feature that records keystrokes in real time. Moreover, Spyic Block enables employers to restrict access to specific apps, websites, phone numbers, etc., within the company.

Spyic’s pricing is identical to uMobix and Cocospy, with duration-based subscription tiers.

Spyic’s plans work very similarly to Cocospy, with each subscription tier mirroring the same features and pricing. Spyic’s user interface is a little easier to deal with since it has a more standard color palette. The features are mostly the same across the board, though

Spyic’s stealth mode feature can evade detection on most mobile phone operating systems, making it a good fit for low-profile employee monitoring.

Hoverwatch is user-friendly, offers in-depth social media monitoring features, and is completely invisible on any monitored device. It’s one of the few employee monitoring apps that supports PC and Mac, along with mobile operating systems like Android and iOS. It’s also the only one that comes with a free trial for its Business plan that allows enrolling up to 25 devices on a single account.

Hoverwatch has a Camera Tracker that allows you to remotely activate the target device’s camera and take pictures and screenshots without the user’s knowledge. While this can be a concern both ethically and for compliance reasons, it’s a totally optional feature that may enable another level of surveillance for security-focused businesses.

In addition to the usual suspects like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, Hoverwatch’s Social Media Monitoring Tool can monitor your employee activity on Snapchat, Telegram, Instagram, Skype, Viber, and more. Support for more platforms means you can track employee activity and performance more thoroughly, which is always nice to have.

Thanks to its Stealth Mode, Hoverwatch was also completely invisible on my device when I installed it. There was no app icon or notification to alert the user of its presence. It runs silently in the background, continuously tracking employee activity without impacting device performance.

Here are Hoverwatch’s different subscription plans, broken down for different needs:

Hoverwatch has three distinct plans covering personal, professional, and business use:

• Personal Plan: Offers all employee monitoring and surveillance features for 1 personal device.
• Professional Plan: Same features as the Personal Plan for up to 5 devices.
• Business Plan: Same features as the Personal and Professional Plans for up to 25 devices.

Hoverwatch is best suited for medium-sized businesses that need to monitor employee activities across multiple devices and platforms.

It supports PC and Mac monitoring, which is something you won’t get with any other app on this list.