8 Best Free SMS Trackers Without Installing on the Target Phone

Besides social media, texting remains one of the most common means of communication. As a result, you might be wondering if you can use an SMS tracker to intercept text messages on someone’s phone. Alternatively, are there some free SMS trackers that you can use to do so?

In this article, we will talk about the most common ways of intercepting text messages without installing software on their phone.

TRY OUR #1 SMS SPY TODAY

Is There a Free SMS Tracker Without Installing on Target Phone?

When it comes to iOS devices, the most common and effective method to intercept text messages without a target phone is to install a hidden SMS tracker. You can use legitimate third-party SMS tracking apps, such as mSpy.

A free SMS tracker is a legal software solution that enables users to read someone’s messages. However, not all free SMS trackers will do that. This option is usually only available to iOS users thanks to their iCloud credentials.

To retrieve text messages without the target phone, Android users, on the other hand, will have to obtain one-time physical access to the target device to download and install the software before being able to track text messages remotely.

Here’s a list of phone trackers you can use to read someone’s messages without any installation.

8 Best Free SMS Tracker Without Installing on Target Phone

mSpy

If you’re wondering how to get text message records, mSpy is your answer. This app is compatible with both Android and iPhone devices and offers a lot of detail as a part of its SMS tracking abilities. Some of these include:

• The name and phone number of the contact
• Dates and timestamps for each chat
• MMS attachments sent with texts
• A conversation view to read texts easily

The mSpy app is impressive because it offers a wide variety of parental control features on the target phone, including:

• Retrieve text messages from another phone
• Tracking incoming and outgoing calls
• Monitoring browser history
• Monitor hidden and deleted messages
• Monitoring conversations and media files on social media apps such as Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and more
• Geo-fencing and GPS tracking in real-time
• It doesn’t require jailbreak

This free SMS tracker also offers a 7-day free trial version that you can use to understand how the app works and decide if it’s a good fit for your needs.

Moreover, mSpy allows you to enter cell number and read texts or track someone’s social media activity.

How to Read Someone’s Texts Without Installing Software on Their Phone?

• Obtain iCloud user credentials – password and email address. If you can’t do that, then you will need to install the tracker app on the target phone physically after you enter cell number.
• Purchase a subscription plan and choose a no-jailbreak package.

• Enter payment details.

• Once done, you will receive a welcome letter and detailed instructions on how to install the app on the target phone.

• Log in, go to your Control Panel, and begin monitoring the texts on the target phone using this free SMS tracker.

Pros

• Ensuring that your kid is safe from predators and scams
• Easy access
• Ability to monitor other activities, such as social media or photos and videos
• Straightforward installation process
• It offers a good refund policy

Cons

• It’s not free
• It might require physical access

Try mSpy

SpyBubble

SpyBubble is second on the list of the best SMS tracking apps. This app is compatible with both Android and iOS devices and offers several important features with its SMS tracker. Some of these include:

• Monitoring sent and received text messages
• Monitoring deleted SMS messages
• Dates and timestamps for each message
• MMS attachments sent with text messages
• Blocking a specific contact

Other than SpyBubble’s SMS monitoring features, the app also offers several other features that you can use to track a mobile device and help it stand out among other SMS trackers. These features include:

• Monitoring incoming and outgoing calls
• Monitoring messages and media files shared on instant messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, Instagram, Tinder, and more
• Location tracking
• Monitoring app activity
• Browser history monitoring, and more

Installing this app on an iPhone merely requires access to the target’s iCloud credentials, while doing so on Android will require you to physically access the device to set it up. It is considered that SpyBubble is one of the most convenient SMS trackers.

Pros

• Offers a clean and easy-to-use interface
• Relatively affordable to purchase
• Completely undetectable on the target phone in Stealth Mode
• Offers full access to Facebook and Instagram on iOS

Cons

• Certain features are only iOS and Android-specific
• Doesn’t offer geofencing
• Doesn’t show messages in a conversation view

Try SpyBubble

eyeZy

eyeZy is another accurate and popular SMS tracking app that’s compatible with both Android and iOS devices. Just like other SMS trackers, eyeZy offers all the standard features, including:

• The contact name and phone number
• Dates and timestamps for each text message
• A conversation view to read chats chronologically
• Viewing MMS attachments sent with texts

Once installed on the target phone, eyeZy also allows you to monitor several other apps on the phone. These features of this cell phone monitoring app include:

• Tracking incoming and outgoing calls and call logs
• GPS tracking and geofencing
• The ability to block websites, WiFi networks, and applications
• Browser history monitoring
• Monitoring media files saved on the device
• Social media monitoring on apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, and more

Unlike SpyBubble, all the features of this app work equally on an iPhone and an Android phone. That’s why eyeZy is one of the most popular SMS trackers.

Pros

• Intuitive dashboard
• Offers various monitoring features
• Offers an effective screen recorder

Cons

• eyeZy doesn’t offer a free trial
• Tracking for multiple devices can be expensive

Try eyeZy

Cocospy

Mostly, there are SMS trackers for Android phones. But it is possible to find a good app for iPhone too. All you need to do is to obtain the target’s iCloud credentials. Once done, you can visit Cocospy’s website, enter their iCloud credentials, and start tracking their mobile phone number through a dedicated control panel. It also lets you spy on iPhone text messages without installing software on their phone, as long as you have the target’s iCloud credentials.

Cocospy remote message tracker also comes with an abundance of other features, such as GPS location tracking, social media text message tracking, browsing history, and it doesn’t require rooting or jailbreaking.

Cocospy remote SMS tracker is a fantastic parental control app that works best for iOS users for one reason – it is one of SMS trackers without installing software. However, the app is also compatible with Android phones, although installing it will require you to physically access the target mobile phone.

Some of the key features of the SMS tracking features of this parental control app include:

• Dates and timestamps for every text message
• Contact names and phone numbers
• Contact pictures
• Ability to view 10, 20,50, or 100 entries 
• A conversation view to read texts easily

Other than Cocospy’s SMS tracker, the app also offers several other features that you can use to monitor a mobile phone:

• Monitoring incoming and outgoing text messages
• View all call logs
• A 100% stealth monitoring feature
• Tracking the GPS location of the targeted phone
• Geofencing
• Social media monitoring on apps like Instagram, Tinder, WhatsApp, and more

All of these features can be accessed from the app’s remote control panel. While it is ideal for iOS users because of its remote control capabilities, Android users will require one time access to the device to install the app. This takes Cocospy to the list of really convenient SMS trackers.

Pros

• It has a lot of outstanding features
• Easy access
• It offers great privacy

Cons

• Only iPhone users can install the app remotely
• Doesn’t offer a free trial

Try Cocospy

KidsGuard

KidsGuard Pro is one of the best SMS trackers on the market. It comes with a wide variety of SMS tracking features and others that work on both Android and iOS devices. What makes this SMS phone tracker great is the fact that it’s very easy to use, and you only need to obtain one-time physical access to the target Android device.

Installing on target phone on an iOS device, however, isn’t needed if you can get access to the target’s iCloud credentials.

Some of the key features of this SMS tracking app include:

• Monitoring incoming and outgoing text messages
• Contact IDs and phone numbers
• Dates and timestamps for all outgoing and incoming text messages
• MMS messages
• A conversation view

Other than tracking text messages, KidsGuard also offers several other features, some of which include:

• The ability to track GPS location
• Monitor outgoing and incoming calls
• Monitoring web browser activity
• Monitoring media files stored on the device, such as photos, videos, and audio files
• Remote call recording, screenshot capturing, and photo taking
• Geofencing as a part of the location tracking service

While the app doesn’t offer a free trial, you can still use this as a free SMS tracker using the 30-day refund policy. Remember, that there are other SMS trackers with demos – a good option if you still have to decide what app you will use.

However, as soon as you install the app on the target device, you’ll be able to read their text messages without installing software ever again!

Pros

• Read all incoming, outgoing, and deleted text messages
• It offers additional mobile tracking features
• You can see timestamps

Cons

• Doesn’t offer a free trial
• Currently not available for iOS users

Try KidsGuard

FlexiSPY

FlexiSPY is one of the best monitoring apps for several reasons. First and foremost, this free SMS tracker without installation allows you to intercept all text messages – otherwise, it wouldn’t be on this list. Secondly, you can also delete someone’s text messages by selecting certain keywords. Some of the key features of this app to track SMS include:

• View all incoming and outgoing texts
• View deleted texts
• Get dates and timestamps for all texts
• Delete texts using keywords
• Conversation view to easily read chats
• Contact IDs and phone numbers of the other person

When installed on Android or iOS cell phones, FlexiSPY also offers some very advanced monitoring features that you can use. These include:

• Track the target’s call logs
• Record the phone’s surroundings
• Record phone calls
• Location tracking and geofencing
• Monitoring messages and media on instant messaging apps

FlexiSPY also offers the option to order a cell phone with pre-installed mobile SMS tracking software.

Pros

• It has a lot of features
• It’s compatible with both Android and iPhone

Cons

• It can’t be hidden
• It requires physical device access

Try FlexiSPY

Hoverwatch

Hoverwatch Android SMS tracker is a phone tracking solution that’s especially suitable for Android users. You can use it to track several phone activities, such as intercepting someone’s text messages, monitoring their calls, and knowing their GPS location.

You can see all that information with Hoverwatch, even if the user tries to delete it from their phone. Some of the key features of this app’s SMS tracker include:

• Viewing all incoming and outgoing texts
• The date and time of each text
• Contact IDs and phone numbers
• Media or MMS files

The installation process is rather simple and straightforward. Further, some of the other features of this free SMS tracker without installation offers include:

• Monitoring call logs
• Tracking photos, videos, and audio files stored on the device
• Screenshot capturing
• Location tracking
• Web browser history monitoring

Hoverwatch offers users a 3-day free trial that they can use to see if they app fits their needs. It is also completely undetectable on the target device, so the user will never know they’re being monitored.

Pros

• Advanced tracking features
• See deleted text messages

Cons

• It doesn’t work on iOS devices

Try Hoverwatch

Spyzie

Spyzie is our last pick for this best SMS trackers list. Spyzie has been around for a long time, but it has recently renovated its software and added a lot of other useful tracking options. You can choose between two software options – for Android devices (no-root), and for iPhone devices (no-jailbreak). Some of the key features of its SMS tracker include:

• Viewing incoming, outgoing, deleted, and unset messages
• Dates and timestamps for each message
• Contact names and phone numbers
• A conversation view to read texts easily

It offers a wide set of additional features, some of which include:

• SIM location tracking
• Reading someone’s social media text messages
• Stealth Mode
• Monitoring the target’s browsing history
• Location tracking and geofencing

Spyzie is a perfect way to read someone’s text messages without installing software because all you need to do is to find out your target’s iCloud credentials on iOS.

Pros

• iPhone device users can use Spyzie without installation on the target cell phone
• It operates in stealth mode

Cons

• Android users have to physically access the device for installation

Try Spyzie

How to Intercept Someone’s Text Messages Without Installing Software on Their Phone?

If you want to intercept someone’s messages online without installing software, there are three main ways to do it:

1. Use iCloud to download stored messages without installing software
2. Use Android backup to intercept their messages
3. Use monitoring apps to read their messages

mSpy is one of the best cell phone spying apps for Android and iOS. It’s compatible with all OS versions and types, and offers some of the best features altogether.

Either way, make sure to thoroughly check reviews and features before installing anything on yours on your kids’ devices.

A lot of websites try to take advantage of caring parents by tricking them into downloading malware on their devices. Some even ask you to enter cell number and then misuse this. That is precisely why you need to be extra careful when installing monitoring apps.