The Five Best Employee Monitoring Apps for 2023
Similarly, many app developers have introduced programs designed to provide
real-time information on each employee’s productivity. However, there is very
little coverage of how these apps function or how useful they are.
As a result, managers are confused about which program to purchase even if
they recognize the importance of it. In this article, we will help you do
that.
We will list the five best employee monitoring apps. The features, prices,
flexibility, and ease of use are factors that would be incorporated in this
ranking.
Important note
It is important to review the legal and ethical aspects of monitoring apps
before you make a purchase. It is generally illegal to use such apps without
the consent of your employees, so make sure your team members are clearly
aware of what they are signing up for if you wish to avoid future lawsuits.
Besides, we strongly suggest you install these apps on company-owned devices
if you want to minimize privacy-related issues. Also, the best way to boost
productivity and transparency is to take your employees on-board on which app
you purchase and which features you employ. Take a step further and share all
data with them so they know what data is being collected.
This will go a long way in boosting employee morale and maintain their trust
in your management skills. Now that these important aspects are cleared up,
let’s get down to our list of top five employee monitoring apps 2023.
1. XNSPY
We have ranked XNSPY as the best employee monitoring app because of its wide
array of features, its unique instant alert function, the app’s flexibility,
and a very impressive price tag.
XNSPY’s basic version costs USD 4.99 a month while the premium version costs
USD 7.49 per month. Take note that all features are only available with the
premium version. The app is compatible with Android versions above 4.0 and all
iOS versions above 6.0.
Features
- Call monitoring
View the complete call log that lists call duration as well as all
call-related data. You can also record phone conversations. The feature is
especially useful if you want to monitor client engagement or customer service
quality.
- GPS tracking
You can use this feature to track the phone’s location in real-time and access
its GPS history to identify routes and activities. There is a geofencing
sub-feature too. Just mark a location on the map and let the app stay alert to
important changes in locations. This is a very useful tool for the management
of remote employees.
- Multimedia and internet behavior
Access pictures, videos, calendar entries, and other digital media stored on
the phone. You can also read all emails, and view web browsing history. This
can go a long way in promoting transparency at the office.
- IM/Social media
Monitor chats on apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype, Viber, and
others.
- Productivity management tools
You can use XNSPY to view saved contacts, view/block any installed app, lock
the phone or delete all saved data.
Unique feature: Instant alerts
The instant alert feature is among the core reasons why we ranked XNSPY at the
top of our list. You can add anything to dedicated lists for words, contacts,
and locations. Relax and let XNSPY handle the rest. This is because it will
immediately notify you if there is any activity related to the lists.
Like all products, XNSPY has its pros and cons. Let’s take a quick look at
them.
Pros:
- The most affordable employee monitoring app.
- A comprehensive set of features.
- Unique instant alert feature.
- The Control panel is a bit difficult to use.
- Some features are quite intrusive.
- You need a separate purchase for each device.
2. Spyera
Spyera is ranked on number two on our list because it offers all the features
that a manager may require. However, it loses out to XNSPY due to its higher
price tag and lower flexibility.
As for compatibility, it supports all versions of both Android and iOS
systems. When it comes to price, the premium version costs USD 13.99 a month,
and the premium plus version comes with a price tag of USD 31.99. Only the
premium plus offers full features.
Since we have already discussed the details and uses of many features, we will
not provide further descriptions. However, each app’s unique function will be
explored in detail.
Features:
- Call logs
- Call recordings
- GPS tracking
- Geofencing
- Internet history/emails
- IMs, texts, social media apps
- Phone remote control options: You can also remotely turn on the phone’s camera to take pictures/ record videos.
- Multimedia access
- App activity monitoring
Unique feature: Call & SMS management
Unlike other employee monitoring apps, you can use Spyera to listen to ongoing
calls with the call-interception feature. You can also control the phone’s
settings remotely by sending a command SMS from your phone. The text message
won’t show up on the monitored device, but the command will be implemented.
Pros:
- Spyera is moderately priced
- The app supports all Android and iOS versions
- You can purchase a new smartphone from the app’s website that comes with a preinstalled version of Spyera.
Cons:
- There is no alert-based feature so you will have to track data from each device.
- The remote camera control feature is very intrusive and unsuitable for employee management.
- Most of the functions require rooting/jailbreak
- You need a separate subscription for each device.
3. Spyzie
Spyzie is a well-known smartphone monitoring app that is widely used by
managers. We have ranked it at number three due to several factors. For
example, the app is quite expensive at USD 49.99 for a limited version and USD
59.99 for a full-featured package.
However, it comes with a very useful range of features and is the only other
app apart from XNSPY that offers an alert-based function. When it comes to
compatibility, the service supports all Android versions above 4.0 and iOS
versions above 6.0.
Features:
- Call monitoring: The app does not offer a call recording feature.
- Location tracking
- Geofencing
- Multimedia access
- Internet activity e.g. emails and browsing history
- Productivity management tools
- Social media/IM/SMS tracking
Unique feature: TimeLine & Data Export
The TimeLine feature is quite useful because it avoids the hassle of going
through large amounts of data. This is because it provides a complete picture
of all the aforementioned features in a single place. This way, you can
quickly go through the activities of all employees without spending so much
time.
Similarly, the Data Export feature is very useful in professional environments
because it can be used to create a complete record of all monitored data in
one place. You can export data from each device and properly document each
individual’s activity. You can also share this data with your team members to
boost transparency.
Pros:
- Spyzie is easy to use and avoids privacy-related concerns because of its light approach.
- TimeLine & Data Export options are very useful, particularly for managers.
- No rooting or jailbreak is required
Cons:
- The app has a very limited set of productivity management tools.
- Spyzie is among the most expensive employee monitoring apps.
- You need a new subscription for each device, further raising the total costs.
4. mSpy
mSpy is a bit of an interesting case here. The app is primarily designed for
parental use, but many managers use this app for employee monitoring purposes
too. The app is has developed a reputation for being very easy to use. It is
also the least intrusive app of all, making it suitable for office use,
particularly if there are privacy-related concerns raised by your team.
mSpy is also a very affordable option, second only to XNSPY. The app’s premium
version clocks in at just USD 16.66 per month. Regarding compatibility, the
program supports all Android versions above 4.0 and is compatible with iOS
versions between 7.0 and 9.1.
Features:
- Monitor call logs but no call recording feature is available with mSpy.
- Call restriction and block any number from reaching the monitored phone.
- SMS, IM, social media monitoring
- Multimedia tracking
- Internet browsing history and email access
- GPS tracking
- Geofencing
- Productivity management tools
Unique feature: Comprehensive reports
mSpy’s Comprehensive Reports feature can generate a detailed device-use report
according to your requirements. You can request the app to create a report
related to all of the above-mentioned features and it will deliver it straight
to your inbox. You can also set monitoring periods during which mSpy will
monitor all data. The app will automatically deactivate outside those hours.
Pros:
- mSpy is amongst the most affordable smartphone monitoring app.
- The app’s comprehensive reports feature can save you a lot of time.
- The service is particularly valuable if you want a lighter approach to monitoring.
Cons:
- The app is primarily designed for parents and therefore has a limited range of features.
- There are no alert-based functions.
- You have to purchase a separate subscription for each device.
- Some features require rooting/jailbreak.
5. Flexispy
Flexispy is a highly sophisticated smartphone monitoring app and has been on
the market for some time. However, we have ranked it at number five on our
list because we do not think it is competitive enough as compared to other
apps.
This is because Flexispy is the most expensive monitoring app we have
reviewed. For example, just the lite version, which offers rudimentary
features, costs USD 29.95, while the limited-feature premium version costs USD
149. The full-feature Extreme version costs USD 349. The app supports Android
versions above 4.0 and iOS above 6.0.
Features:
- Call logs
- Call recording
- Call interception
- IM/Social media tracking
- Multimedia access
- GPS tracking & geofencing
- Internet activity
- Productivity management
- Remote SMS commands
- Phone remote control features such as remote camera control
Unique feature: Spy call & Spoof SMS
With the Spy call feature, you can remotely activate the microphone of the
device and record surroundings. The recording and data transfer occurs in
real-time, so you know exactly what is happening at any moment. With the Spoof
SMS feature, you can send a text message from the monitored device to any
contact number. The message will not be visible in the outbox either.
Pros:
- Flexispy has a very wide range of features.
- The Spy call & Spoof SMS features, along with remote control functions, are unique.
Cons:
- It is an extremely expensive option, and we do not think it is worth the extra features you get.
- Many of the app’s features are very intrusive, making it unsuitable for professional use.
- A major set of features requires you to root or jailbreak your device.
Take a Quick Look at the Apps:
App/Feature | XNSPY | Spyera | Spyzie | mSpy | Flexispy |
Price | USD 4.99 – USD 7.49 | USD 13.99 – USD 31.99 | USD 49.99 – USD 59.99 | USD 16.99 | USD 29.99 – USD 349 |
Compatibility | Android +4.0 and iOS +6.0 | All Android and all iOS. | Android +4.0 and iOS +6.0 | Android +4.0 and iOS +6.0 | Android +4.0 and iOS +6.0 |
Call log | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Call recording | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Call interception | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
SMS/IM | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | yes |
Emails/ Browsing history | Yes | Yes | yes | yes | yes |
GPS/ geofencing | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Photos/videos | Yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Unique feature | Watch list alerts | SMS Commands/ Remote camera | TimeLine View/ Data export options | Comprehensive reports | SMS Commands/Spoof SMS/ Remote camera |
Root/Jailbreak | Yes. For some features. | Yes. For some features. | Not required. | Yes. For some features. | Yes. For some features. |
