Mobile spying apps like TheTruthSpy allow parents and employers to monitor a smartphone or tablet without the user‘s knowledge. But are these invisible apps ethical? Do they even work well? This comprehensive TheTruthSpy review will help you decide if it‘s right for your needs.
Contents
What is TheTruthSpy and How Does it Work?
TheTruthSpy is a phone surveillance app launched in 2016 by the India-based company Unistal. It‘s designed to be installed secretly on Android and iOS devices to track activities like calls, texts, location, apps, and social media.
Once installed, TheTruthSpy runs silently in the background to record things like:
- Phone call logs and recordings
- Text messages (SMS, WhatsApp, etc.)
- Emails
- Browser history
- GPS location
- Apps used and how often
- Photos/videos
- Passwords
All of this data gets sent to an online dashboard. The person monitoring the phone simply logs into their TheTruthSpy account on any web browser to see reporting on the target device‘s activities. You can also receive email alerts for certain triggers like location or specific keywords.
TheTruthSpy markets itself primarily as a tool for monitoring and protecting children or employees. However, the app requires full access to a device‘s private data, which raises ethical concerns.
TheTruthSpy Features: Do They Actually Work?
TheTruthSpy claims to offer a robust set of monitoring features. But how well do they actually perform? Let‘s analyze some of the key capabilities:
Call Recording & Logging
One of the basic features TheTruthSpy offers is recording phone calls and logging details like numbers, date/time, and duration. Performance is generally solid here – call logs provide helpful timestamps and you can listen to recordings.
However, TheTruthSpy struggles with capturing both sides of conversations clearly and does not always record consistently. Competitors like XNSpy and FlexiSPY offer higher-quality call recording.
Text Message Logging
TheTruthSpy automatically captures SMS messages, WhatsApp chats, and texts from other messaging apps used on the monitored device. You can view message content and see both incoming and outgoing texts.
However, a limitation is that TheTruthSpy cannot record iMessages on iPhones due to encryption. You only see one side of conversations. MSpy and Spyic provide better SMS monitoring.
Social Media Monitoring
One of TheTruthSpy‘s weaker areas is social media surveillance. It claims to capture activities in apps like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tinder, and Telegram. In reality, performance is spotty.
You can see what apps are used and how often. However, TheTruthSpy fails to capture content like messages, posts, or photos in many cases. Competitors like FlexiSPY and XNSpy offer far more reliable social media monitoring.
Location Tracking
Using GPS and cell tower data, TheTruthSpy can track a device‘s location in real-time and pinpoint it on a map. This works fairly well in terms of showing historical location paths and current whereabouts.
However, location updates are only every 5-10 minutes, while Spyic and Hoverwatch provide real-time tracking within seconds. And cell tower location data is not extremely precise. Still, TheTruthSpy provides decent basic location monitoring capabilities.
Remote Camera Access
With TheTruthSpy, you can secretly activate a phone‘s camera to take pictures and see what‘s going on around the device. But there are limitations here.
Remote camera activation works but can be very laggy, taking up to a minute to get live feeds. Image quality is also hit-or-miss, ranging from grainy to clear. So while you can certainly spy through the target‘s lens, it‘s no guarantee you‘ll get useful shots.
Website & App Usage Logs
TheTruthSpy records how often apps and websites are used on the monitored device. You can see domain names of sites, app names, and timestamps showing activity.
This provides helpful insight into app and browsing behaviors. However, TheTruthSpy lacks full browser history logging that shows every single webpage visited. Containerization also prevents it from accessing some data on iPhones.
Competitor spy apps like XNSpy and Spyic have more powerful capabilities for monitoring app and browser activities thanks to keylogger integration, screenshot captures, and better iOS compatibility.
What Customers Are Saying in Reviews
Looking at real customer reviews reveals some common positives and negatives about using TheTruthSpy:
Pros According to Reviews:
- Easy to set up and install
- Provides basic location tracking of kids and employees
- Gives general insights into app usage behaviors
- Excellent customer support response times
Cons According to Reviews:
- Social media and browser monitoring lacks detail
- Some features are inconsistent or glitchy
- iPhone version offers limited functionality
- Expensive compared to competitors
- Not 100% hidden on devices
In general, reviewers say TheTruthSpy delivers on basic monitoring like calls, texts, locations, and app usage. But they note shortcomings when it comes to recording richer device activities and staying completely invisible.
TheTruthSpy Pricing: Is It Good Value?
TheTruthSpy offers two main subscription options:
- 1 Month – $25.99/month
- 3 Months – $59.99 total
This allows you to monitor up to 3 devices on a single account.
There is also a 7-day trial available for $15.99 if you want to test the app first.
When comparing TheTruthSpy‘s pricing to competitors like FlexiSPY, mSpy, and Spyic, it lands on the more expensive side:
| App | 1 Month Price | 3 Months Price |
|---|---|---|
| TheTruthSpy | $25.99 | $59.99 |
| FlexiSPY | $19.95 | $49.95 |
| mSpy | $19.99 | $59.97 |
| Spyic | $13.33 | $39.99 |
Given its performance drawbacks, TheTruthSpy provides weaker value compared to top competitors that offer more robust features for less money over time.
Is TheTruthSpy Detectable and Uninstallable?
For any spyware app to be useful, it needs to be impossible for the target user to detect it‘s installed. TheTruthSpy does implement some stealth tactics, but it is not completely invisible:
Detection Prevention:
- Icon hidden after installing
- No battery drain or slowdowns
- Encrypted data transfer
- No app appearance in menus
- Remote control options like camera access
However, savvy users may notice:
- Jailbreak detection on iPhone
- Strange background processes on Android
- Minor battery impact with heavy usage
- Data usage spikes
- Cellular network drain
With enough digging, a tech-smart user could likely uncover TheTruthSpy on both jailbroken iOS and Android devices. It‘s designed to be hard to detect, but not 100% impossible.
Uninstall prevention is also mediocre. TheTruthSpy logs out upon uninstall, but it can be removed with system-level access on rooted Androids or jailbroken iPhones. Stronger apps like XNSpy offer better persistence and invisibility.
What Employees and Parents Need to Know
TheTruthSpy markets itself as a tool for monitoring both children and employees. If you‘re considering using it, there are some critical legal and ethical concerns to evaluate:
Monitoring Children
- Inform kids you are tracking them – covert spying can break trust
- Focus on safety, not control – tracking should protect, not invade privacy
- Respect their independence as they grow older
- Lead by example and teach responsibility with technology
- Put controls on your home WiFi instead of 24/7 monitoring
Monitoring Employees
- Get consent and inform employees they are being monitored
- Only track company-owned devices, not BYODs
- Restrict monitoring to work hours as much as possible
- Transparency builds a culture of trust and productivity
- Prioritize performance metrics over personal data tracking
Overbearing monitoring often backfires by harming relationships and trust. Have open conversations and consider alternatives like family location sharing plans or usage management apps.
TheTruthSpy Review: The Bottom Line
TheTruthSpy provides simple call, text, and location logging for basic monitoring needs. However, it lacks capabilities for richer surveillance found in leading competitors.
TheTruthSpy Pros:
- Easy setup and installation
- Affordable short-term pricing
- Good customer support
TheTruthSpy Cons:
- Very limited iOS monitoring
- Social media and browser tracking lacks detail
- Glitchy performance of some features
- Fairly easy to detect if you know what to look for
- More expensive long-term than rival software
- Questionable ethics around covert monitoring
While TheTruthSpy can give basic insights into a child or employee‘s device habits, the hidden costs may outweigh potential benefits. Approaching monitoring from an ethical mindset focused on guidance instead of control is key.
Competing mobile spy apps like XNSpy, Spyic, and FlexiSPY offer more powerful features at better prices for long-term use. Make sure to thoroughly research and evaluate your options before deciding on the right phone surveillance tool.
With great power comes great responsibility. Use phone monitoring tools carefully, legally, and ethically above all else. A little trust goes a long way.
