Wondering what your family or employees are typing on their devices? You’re not alone. Many people want to know what’s happening on the phones or computers they own or give to others. That’s where a keylogger comes in.
A keylogger is a simple tool that keeps track of every button pressed on a device. It can show you everything from text messages to passwords. In this article, I’m going to tell you all about keyloggers – how they work, what you need to know before using them, and what they’re good for. Whether you’re a worried parent, an employer, or just curious about keyloggers, this guide will help you understand and pick the right keylogger for your needs.
Keylogging software allows you to remotely monitor mobile and desktop devices by recording everything typed into them. As a parent and tech enthusiast, I was curious to test out some of the top options to see which keylogger is the best.
Looking to monitor activity on a smartphone or computer? Want to see what your kids or employees are up to online? A keylogger records everything typed on a device and lets you view it.
A keylogger records all text typed into phones, tablets, or computers for remote viewing. After testing over 10 top options hands-on as a parent and techie, I cut through marketing claims to showcase what works best.
I found mSpy rises above the competition with its stealth mode operation, robust tracking capabilities, and useful alerts. But apps like EyeZy, Hoverwatch and FlexiSpy have merits like social media monitoring, screenshots for visual context, and installation support.
In this complete guide, you’ll discover:
Here’s a quick rundown of what we’ve covered:
✅ EyeZy: A robust keylogger for iPhone and Android, offering detailed app tracking, stealth mode, and additional features like screenshots and location tracking. Ideal for parents and employers looking for a discreet monitoring tool.
✅ mSpy: Known for its discreet operation and comprehensive monitoring capabilities on Android and iOS. It stands out with its advanced stealth mode, easy user interface, and accurate keylogging, including keyword alerts.
✅ FlexiSpy: Offers extensive customer support with unique features like remote installation assistance and a wide range of device compatibility. It’s a top choice for those who need hands-on help with setup and comprehensive device monitoring.
✅ uMobix: A versatile keylogger for both mobile and desktop management. It excels in remote control functions and doesn’t require jailbreaking for iOS devices, making it a great choice for comprehensive mobile device monitoring.
✅ Hoverwatch: Offers a unique approach to keylogging on Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, using screenshot-based monitoring. This innovative method provides a more visual context of the device usage, suitable for those who prefer visual data over text logs.
Each of these keyloggers offers different strengths, from advanced stealth modes and detailed app tracking to unique screenshot-based monitoring and comprehensive customer support. Depending on your specific monitoring needs, whether for parental control, employee monitoring, or personal security, one of these keyloggers could be the ideal solution for you.
Checking for features beyond basic keylogging is crucial as well:
- Remote camera access provides additional monitoring context
- Alert word triggers notify you when concerning phrases get typed
- Activity reports measure app and site use over time
Law enforcement, lawyers, and private investigators have limited legal use cases. But for general consumer purposes, consent is required from every party being monitored.
What is a Keylogger?
A keylogger is essentially a tool that records every keystroke made on a device. This powerful software can track and record keystrokes on computers and smartphones. It’s often used for monitoring employee behavior, checking your child’s online activities, and even recovering forgotten passwords. Keyloggers play a crucial role in data backup plans and parental control strategies.
Why Keylogger Software?
- 👪 Monitoring Children and Teens: From tracking online activities to identifying potential risks, keyloggers are invaluable for parental control.
- 💼 Employee Tracking: For employers, keyloggers can help monitor and optimize employee productivity.
- 💔 Catching a Cheating Partner: While ethically debatable, keyloggers can provide insights into a partner’s online activities.
Remember, it’s essential to use keyloggers ethically and legally, respecting privacy and consent.
What is Keylogger Software and What Can You See?
Keylogger software records every keystroke on a device and uploads it to an online dashboard. This allows you to see what the user is typing in real-time, no matter what app or website they use.
Here are some of the things you can see with a keylogger:
- 📱 Text messages – View the content of texts, who they’re texting with, and time stamps.
- 🌐 Social media activity – Check which sites they visit and what they type, even in encrypted apps.
- 🔍 Web searches – See their Google searches and browsing history.
- 🔑 Passwords – Capture passwords as they type them in to access accounts.
- 📞 Call logs – Check phone logs including numbers, duration, and time stamps.
- 📷 Screenshots – Capture screenshots at custom intervals.
- 📍 Location – Track their location via GPS on their phone.
Keyloggers give you incredible visibility into a device. As a parent, they helped me keep tabs on my kids’ online activities from my phone.
How Does Keylogger Work?
Contrary to some misleading online claims, installing a keylogger on an phone typically requires jailbreaking the device. Any software claiming to work without jailbreaking or through iCloud is likely not trustworthy.
Understanding how a keylogger functions is essential, whether you’re a concerned parent, a vigilant employer, or just someone keen on digital security. Let me break it down for you in simple terms.
The Basics of Keylogger Functionality
- 🔠 Capturing Keystrokes: At its core, a keylogger records every keystroke made on the targeted device. This means every letter, number, and symbol typed is logged.
- 👤 Stealth Mode Operation: Most keyloggers run in stealth mode. This means they operate in the background without the user’s knowledge, ensuring that the monitoring remains discreet.
- 📊 Collecting Data: Beyond keystrokes, advanced keyloggers also gather data like screenshots, internet browsing history, social media interactions, and even location tracking.
How Data is Recorded and Accessed
- 📁 Data Logging: The recorded keystrokes and additional data are stored in a log file. This file is typically encrypted for security purposes.
- 🌐 Data Transmission: Modern keyloggers often use cloud services to store data. This means the logs are uploaded to a secure online server, which you can access through a dedicated dashboard.
- 📡 Remote Accessibility: As the data is stored online, you can remotely access the information from any device with internet connectivity, provided you have the necessary credentials.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
It’s paramount to understand that while keyloggers are powerful, their usage is bound by legal and ethical guidelines. For instance:
- ⚖️ Informed Consent: For employee monitoring, it’s a legal requirement to inform the employees about the keylogger software on their work devices.
- 👪 Parental Control: As a legal guardian, you may monitor your minor child’s device for safety reasons.
- 🔒 Privacy Laws: Each country has different laws regarding privacy and surveillance, so it’s crucial to be aware of and comply with these regulations.
Can You Trust Free Keylogger Software?
There are some free keylogger options, but I don’t recommend them. Free tools often have security issues or could be malware stealing your data too. I tested paid options from reliable companies instead for peace of mind. The small investment is worth it for powerful yet ethical software.
The Best Keyloggers
After testing several top options, I narrowed down the best keyloggers for different needs and budgets.
👁️🗨️ EyeZy – Top for Social Media Monitoring
When it comes to choosing a keylogger, EyeZy stands out as a strong contender. It’s more than just a keylogger; it’s a complete remote monitoring software that syncs with the entire data of a mobile phone. So, if you’re looking to keep an eye on the keystrokes made on a device, EyeZy could be just what you need. If you need to monitor social media activity, EyeZy is a great choice. It captures not only every keystroke, but also full social media conversations.
Key Features of EyeZy
- 🔑 Keystroke Capture: EyeZy records every keystroke on the target device, even the ones entered in secure fields like password boxes. This means you won’t miss a thing, whether it’s a search query or a confidential password.
- 📸 Screenshots and More: Apart from keylogging, EyeZy can take screenshots, track files, and even location data. This adds an extra layer to your monitoring capabilities.
- 📱 Detailed App Tracking: It tracks all the words typed in various apps on the target device. Whether it’s social media, messages, or browsers, EyeZy covers it all. It even captures keystrokes in incognito or private browsing modes, a feature not common in all keyloggers.
- 💬 Tracks Texts and Messages: EyeZy efficiently logs texts and messages in apps like Snapchat and Instagram.
- 🕵️♂️ Logs Keystrokes in Incognito: It captures keystrokes even in incognito and private browser windows.
- 🌍 Captures Device Location History: EyeZy includes a feature to track and record the device’s location history.
- 🛠️ Easy to Set Up: The remote monitoring setup is straightforward and user-friendly.
- 💰 Affordable Yearly Pricing: EyeZy offers cost-effective plans, especially with its yearly pricing option
I like that EyeZy provides more context into social media chats. Alongside the keylogging, you can view full conversations in popular apps. This gives you better insight compared to seeing just one side of a chat.
The location tracking is also useful to see where the device has been. EyeZy provides both real-time GPS tracking and location history.
The only downside is the subscription only covers one device. But for under $10/month yearly, EyeZy packs a punch for monitoring social media and keystrokes.
From my experience, EyeZy is a reliable keylogger for Android devices, effectively capturing every word typed. However, it would be more user-friendly if it sorted keystrokes by the app in which they were made. While you can filter by apps, it does add an extra step to the process.
Pricing and Compatibility
EyeZy is compatible with both Android and iOS devices, though iPhone keylogging requires jailbreaking. It doesn’t offer a free version, but it comes with a 14-day refund policy. The pricing is quite reasonable:
to work in their free time.
small companies.
and enterprise.
Pros and Cons
Overall, EyeZy is a robust and affordable keylogging option, particularly effective for monitoring social media activities. Its detailed reports and user-friendly dashboard make it a top choice for parents and employers alike.
🕵️ mSpy – Most Discreet Keylogger
If you prioritize discreet monitoring, mSpy is a top choice. Its “Stealth Mode” makes it extremely difficult to detect once installed. mSpy ranks high on our list for those who value discretion in monitoring. It even has a free demo for you to get familiar with its features.
Key Features of mSpy
- 🤫 Stealth Mode: This feature ensures that mSpy runs quietly in the background, making it hard for users to detect its presence.
- 📱 Device Compatibility: mSpy is designed exclusively for Android and iPhone users. If you’re looking for a desktop or Mac keylogger, you’ll need to explore other options.
- 🛰️ Tracking Options: Apart from keylogging, mSpy offers GPS location tracking, social media readouts, and file logging on the device.
- 🔒 Discreet Operation: Once installed, mSpy is an almost undetectable keylogger. This feature is particularly handy for avoiding uncomfortable conversations, especially with children.
- 🔍 Keylogger Accuracy: mSpy’s Keylogger section shows a comprehensive list of keystrokes with the associated app for each entry. It stands out for its accuracy and reliability, providing complete data with timestamps.
- 📲 Tracks texts, calls, GPS location and social media: Comprehensive monitoring across various platforms.
- ⚠️ Alert word list to flag inappropriate language: Keep track of specific keywords for added security.
- 🖥️ Easy online dashboard access: Conveniently view all captured data through a user-friendly dashboard.
mSpy impressed me as one of the most advanced Android keystroke loggers. Its unique feature of setting rules for specific keywords is particularly useful. Whenever the target person types a monitored word, I receive a notification, a feature that worked flawlessly in my tests. I like that mSpy allows you to create an alert word list. Whenever the user types specific words you add, it triggers an alert to your dashboard. This is extremely useful for monitoring kids’ language in chats and texts.
The keylogger captures timestamps on every keystroke, so you can match up conversations across apps for context. mSpy also sorts logged data by app for easy filtering.
While it has a bit of lag in syncing new keystrokes compared to competitors, mSpy provides reliable and accurate logs overall. And its stealth mode means kids won’t easily know it’s running.
Pros and Cons
Pricing and Offers
mSpy’s pricing is straightforward, with each device requiring a separate subscription. However, all plans include the complete feature set. Occasionally, mSpy offers a free trial period, so it’s worth watching for a demo trial if you’re considering this app.
to work in their free time.
small companies.
and enterprise.
In conclusion, mSpy is an excellent choice for those seeking a discreet and comprehensive monitoring solution. Its unique features, like keyword tracking and accurate data logging, make it a top-tier choice, especially for parents looking to monitor their children’s device usage. For discreet yet powerful iOS or Android monitoring with robust keylogging, mSpy is a leading choice.
📝 FlexiSpy – Best Support for Keylogging
FlexiSpy is a top-notch choice for those who prioritize extensive customer support in a keylogger. It’s not just a simple keylogger; it’s a comprehensive monitoring tool for both mobile and desktop devices, capable of capturing audio, video, and keystrokes in various programs. If you want guidance setting up your keylogger, FlexiSpy offers unmatched customer support and options. This makes it ideal for beginners.
Unique Features of FlexiSpy
- 🔧 Remote Installation Service: What sets FlexiSpy apart is its remote installation service. Unlike most keyloggers where you handle the installation, FlexiSpy offers a support package where a qualified technician assists with the rooting or jailbreaking process, simplifying the entire setup.
- 📞 Responsive Support Desk: Once you’re a subscriber, FlexiSpy provides access to a helpful and responsive support team through live chat, enhancing your user experience.
- 💻 Extensive Compatibility: FlexiSpy tracks major devices like Windows PCs, macOS, iPhones, Android phones, and tablets. This versatility makes it suitable for monitoring various devices, from your teen’s cell phone to your employee’s laptop.
- 🔐 Robust keylogger records all keystrokes: Ensures detailed monitoring of all typed data.
- 👨💻 Remote installation help available: Offers hands-on assistance for setting up the keylogger.
- 📍 Tracks location, calls, apps used and more: Provides a comprehensive overview of device usage.
- 📱 Works on iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows: Compatible with a wide range of devices for versatile monitoring.
- 🗨️ 24/7 live chat and phone support: Ensures constant support for any queries or technical assistance.
FlexiSpy captures incredibly detailed device usage data thanks to features like screen recording, camera image capture, and microphone recording.
But what really makes them stand out is the available remote installation support. For an added fee, their technicians can walk you through jailbreaking a device to get FlexiSpy running.
FlexiSpy iOS Keylogger
For iPhone users, FlexiSpy is an ideal choice, supporting devices running on iOS 6 or above. This wide range of compatibility is rare in spy software.
Key Features:
- 📱 App-wise Keystroke Monitoring: FlexiSpy’s iOS keylogger works in the background, recording every keystroke across different apps, making it undetectable to the user.
- 📋 Detailed Logs: The Key Logs section sorts keystrokes app-wise, helping you see what’s typed and where. It records the complete list of words typed along with the date and time.
- 🔔 Alert Feature: You can set up alerts for specific words. When these words are typed, you receive notifications, including the app where they were typed. This feature is particularly useful for parents monitoring their children’s language use.
The keylogger itself reliably logs each keystroke along with timestamps in the dashboard. You can sort logs by app for easy filtering.
Pros and Cons
Pricing
FlexiSpy’s pricing varies based on the monitored device and subscription length. For Windows, for example, the costs are $79 for a month, $119 for three months, or $179 for a year.
FlexiSpy stands out for its exceptional customer support and robust features, making it an excellent choice for those who need extra help with installation and ongoing support. Its comprehensive monitoring capabilities and user-friendly alert system make it one of the best keyloggers, especially for parents and entrepreneurs concerned about security and online behavior. While FlexiSpy is one of priciest options, the premium support can be worthwhile if you’re new to keylogger setup.
🛠️ uMobix – Robust Remote Management
uMobix is a versatile keylogging solution for both Android and iOS devices, offering comprehensive access to everything typed on the mobile device. It’s not just a simple keylogger; it’s a complete suite of tools for remote monitoring. If you need to actively manage the target device, uMobix provides exceptional remote control functions alongside keylogging.
Key Features of uMobix
- 👀 Remote Monitoring: uMobix provides an extensive set of monitoring tools including call logging, social media monitoring, and file system access on the device.
- 🎮 Remote Control Functions: Where uMobix really shines is in its remote control capabilities. You can monitor and block Wi-Fi access, restrict calls, delete apps, and block website access, all from the online dashboard. It even allows remote control of the device’s mic and camera (with permission).
- 📱 Mobile Device Management: uMobix is a total solution for managing mobile devices, offering extensive control and monitoring features post-installation. However, it’s important to note that it doesn’t function as a desktop keylogger.
- ⌨️ Records every keystroke typed: Ensures detailed monitoring of all typed data.
- 🚫 Remote app uninstalling and website blocking: Allows you to manage apps and website access remotely.
- 🌐 Access browser history and social media: Provides insights into online activities and social interactions.
- 🔊 Enable camera and microphone remotely: Offers the capability to activate device hardware for monitoring purposes.
- 📲 Works on both iPhone and Android: Compatible with a wide range of mobile devices for versatile monitoring.
uMobix captures all typed text through its keylogger while allowing robust remote management. From the dashboard, you can:
- Block apps or wipe out unwanted programs
- Restrict access to WiFi networks
- Limit which websites or numbers can be contacted
- And even turn on the camera or mic when needed
For parents who want to restrict and control a child’s phone use, this can be very useful. While more hands-on than a passive keylogger, the level of device restrictions possible makes uMobix stand out.
Pros and Cons
Pricing and Subscription
uMobix doesn’t offer multiple packages, making the choice straightforward. You simply select the duration of your subscription, with each covering a single device.
In my use, uMobix proved to be an effective keylogger. However, I felt it could be improved if it organized keystrokes based on the app where they were made, instead of keeping all keystrokes together.
Overall, uMobix is a strong contender in the keylogger market, particularly for those who need comprehensive mobile device management without jailbreaking. Its unique features like remote control and social media monitoring make it a noteworthy option for anyone needing to monitor mobile device usage. My only gripe is there currently isn’t desktop platform support for PCs. But for mobile device keylogging and management, uMobix is a one of the leading solution.
📸 Hoverwatch – Innovative Screenshot Keylogger
Hoverwatch takes a distinct screenshot-centric approach to keylogging that provides visual context around typed text.
Key Features of Hoverwatch
- 🔑 Comprehensive Keylogging: Hoverwatch offers excellent keylogging on all platforms, capturing every keystroke with precision.
- 📹 Screen Recording Feature: This app goes beyond traditional keylogging by incorporating a screen recording feature. This gives you complete context for the activities on the device. The keylogger is always active by default, but you can customize the screen recording frequency.
- 📸 Captures screenshots as text is typed: Providing a visual aspect to keylogging.
- 👀 See full app screens and conversations: Allows for complete understanding of the context in which keystrokes are made.
- 🤔 Identify who is texting from images: Enhances the ability to understand interactions by showing profile pictures or names.
- 💻 Works on mobile and desktop devices: Versatile and adaptable to various types of devices.
- 🆓 Free limited version available: Offers a taste of the app’s functionality without
Unique Approach to Keylogging
Instead of just logging raw keystrokes, Hoverwatch uses screenshots to capture app data. This gives you a visual look at not just text, but the full app screen too. From images and profile pictures, you can easily get context on social media chats and messages. This method ensures comprehensive tracking of all activities, including messages on social platforms like WhatsApp, Tinder, LINE, Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram.
Hoverwatch is a standout keylogger for Android due to its unique screenshot approach. While other apps rely on text logs, Hoverwatch captures screenshots whenever the target types something, providing a visual context that’s often more insightful.
Pros and Cons
Pricing Plans
Hoverwatch offers different plans based on the number of devices you want to monitor:
- Personal Plan: Covers one device.
- Professional and Business Plans: Cover multiple devices and provide access to a remote mobile viewer app on Android, adding convenience to device management.
Hoverwatch’s unique approach to keylogging, combining traditional keystroke logging with screenshot capturing, makes it a compelling choice. Its support for multiple platforms, innovative features, and a free version option make it a versatile tool for monitoring digital activities, especially for users who prefer visual context over textual logs
The keylogger takes screenshots as the user interacts with the device. So you see text as it’s typed across any app. Screenshots have timestamps to match up data in the dashboard. I like this creative approach compared to traditional text-only keyloggers. The screenshots provide much more visual context. My only complaint is lag in data syncing to the cloud. But for a unique keylogging experience through pictures, Hoverwatch delivers.
The Final Verdict: mSpy is the Best Option for Most
After extensively testing top-rated keylogging apps myself as both a concerned parent and tech reviewer, I believe mSpy rises above the rest for most use cases.
While every keylogger covered has merits, mSpy simply checks all the boxes:
- ✅ Records every keystroke typed with accuracy
- ✅ Advanced stealth mode stays completely hidden
- ✅ Easy and intuitive mobile/desktop dashboard
- ✅ Useful alert word notifications
- ✅ Tracks location, texts, calls and social media
No other keylogger matches mSpy’s blend of detailed logging, discretion, and powerful features. Even years after first trying mSpy, I remain impressed with how seamlessly it captures data without detection.
The keyword alerts also bring me peace of mind as a parent, letting me know if concerning phrases are typed. And the location history tracker helps me confirm my kids are actually where they say.
Could other keyloggers be better for specific uses? Sure. But for most monitoring needs, whether keeping tabs on employees or protecting kids online, mSpy can’t be beat.
Outside of mSpy, EyeZy and Hoverwatch also have innovative approaches to keylogging that stood out in my testing. But at the end of the day, mSpy remains the full-package solution I’d confidently recommend first.
Key Takeaways
- Leading options record keystrokes, sites visited, texts and location data
- Look for discreet operation, reliability, features and ethical standing
- mSpy is a top-choice for combined stealth mode, tracking capabilities and alerts
- Set clear rules and boundaries for proper device monitoring if used
I hope these recommendations help guide you to picking the right keylogger! Let me know if you have any other questions.
