Best Instagram Spy Apps for 2023 | Top 5 Reviewed and Compared

The best Instagram spy apps are a brilliant solution if you’re worried about your child seeing inappropriate content on Instagram, being contacted by dubious individuals and online predators, or even arranging secret meetings. They allow you to monitor their feed and spy on Instagram messages to protect your kids from the hidden dangers of this apparently harmless social media app.

However, choosing the right app is crucial, as not all of them will allow you to comprehensively monitor your child’s phone usage. Our research found that mSpy is the best Instagram spy tool out there — edging ahead of powerful Instagram trackers like uMobix and EyeZy thanks to its powerful features, affordable pricing, and 14-day money-back guarantee.

The 5 Best Instagram Spy Apps List

There are dozens of phone spy apps that can help you spy on someone’s Instagram activity. We’ve researched the most popular ones and have put together a list of the 5 best Instagram spy apps, so you can start monitoring your child’s Instagram activity today:

1. mSpy — The Best Instagram Spy App in 2023
2. uMobix — Full Control Over Instagram Accounts on Connected iOS Devices
3. Eyezy — Great Instagram DM Spy Tool, but Lacks Advanced Instagram Monitoring Features
4. Cocospy — Best for Spying on Group Chats on Instagram
5. Spyera — Limited Instagram Monitoring Capabilities Not Worth the Price Tag

The Top Instagram Spy Apps in 2023 Reviewed

Instagram spy tools can vary greatly in functionality and pricing, so it can be difficult to research and compare them.

That’s why we took a closer look at the best Instagram spy apps and reviewed their features, pros & cons, and pricing plans to help you make an informed decision.

1. mSpy — The Best Instagram Spy App in 2023

If you’re looking for the best Instagram spy app, look no further than mSpy. This phone spy app lets you see every sent and received Instagram message, including Instagram usernames and timestamps for each message.

Since the content is uploaded directly to an online server, you’ll have access to their entire Instagram chat history, even if they delete the messages on their device. 

As well as messages, mSpy lets you see every link, photo, or video your children share in their Instagram DMs.

This means you can keep a close eye on the conversations they’re participating in and can prevent them from engaging in inappropriate discussions or viewing/sharing illicit content.

If you want to see what your child or partner is doing on Instagram, you can use mSpy’s screen recorder feature to spy on them in real-time. You can also take snapshots and review the content they see and like on Instagram. 

If push comes to shove, you can remotely block Instagram or any other application on their device to stop them from getting into trouble. 

mSpy even lets you monitor your child’s entire browsing history, so you can see what websites they’re visiting and what content they consume online. This makes mSpy an invaluable parental control tool and helps you ensure your loved one’s safety on the internet. 

2. uMobix — Full Control Over Instagram Accounts on Connected iOS Devices

uMobix is one of the best iPhone spy apps for Instagram monitoring. It’s compatible with all iOS devices and gives you full control over your teen’s Instagram account. 

With uMobix, you’ll be able to navigate the Instagram account on the target device as if it were your own. In other words, you’ll be able to see all the people they’re following, all the content they’re posting on Instagram, and all the photos and videos they like.

uMobix lets you spy on Instagram stories, read all of their DMs, and see exactly what they’re doing on this social media platform.

You can even unfollow certain Instagram pages that contain inappropriate or dangerous content, as well as block certain users and configure your child’s Instagram settings remotely. 

Keep in mind that your child will probably notice that you’re poking around their Instagram account, especially if you unfollow certain pages or block people. 

When it comes to Android devices, uMobix isn’t as powerful. It still acts as an Instagram spy tool, but it doesn’t allow you to take control of the account.

Instead, you can only use uMobix on Android to read Instagram DMs and review your child’s activity on the platform through snapshots.

3. EyeZy — Great Instagram DM Spy Tool, but Lacks Advanced Instagram Monitoring Features

EyeZy is another strong Instagram DM spy tool. It allows you to review all of your child’s chats on the platform, including the deleted ones they don’t want you to see.

Alongside each message, you’ll see the time and date stamps, as well as the username of the person they were talking to. 

EyeZy also lets you see all of the photos shared in Instagram DMs, so you can quickly react if your child is sending or receiving any inappropriate content.

If necessary, you can also use the EyeZy dashboard to completely block their access to the Instagram app, but only on Android devices.

Sadly, that’s where EyeZy’s Instagram monitoring capabilities end. There is no option to see their Instagram stories or the content they post and like on the platform, which is a considerable drawback. 

That said, EyeZy features a Files Finder that lets you see all the photos, videos, and multimedia files on the target device.

In other words, you’ll see all of the content on their phone regardless of if it’s posted on Instagram or not, and you can react if you see any explicit images or inappropriate videos.

4. Cocospy — Best for Spying on Group Chats on Instagram

Cocospy is one of the best phone spy apps for Android and iPhone, with the ability to spy on not only Instagram DMs but also group chats on the platform. 

From Cocospy’s intuitive dashboard, you’ll be able to see the chat name, Instagram usernames, the latest messages in each chat, and the timestamps of each message.

As well as text messages, Cocospy also displays reactions to Instagram stories, as well as links, photos, and videos shared in Instagram DMs.

All the photos and videos sent or received are stored on an online server, so you can access them even if they are deleted on the target device. 

Cocospy also features a keylogger, so you can see exactly what they’re searching for on Instagram and the internet, so you can react if your child is browsing inappropriate content. 

That said, the biggest drawback of Cocospy is that it doesn’t offer screen capture capabilities, meaning you can’t see the stories and photos your child likes on Instagram.

There’s no option to block the application either, so you’ll have to delete it manually from the target phone if you want to prevent your child from using Instagram. 

5. Spyera — Limited Instagram Monitoring Capabilities Not Worth the Price Tag

Spyera is the most well-rounded phone spy app on our list, but its Instagram monitoring capabilities are rather bare-bones.

The app lets you see the messages exchanged on Instagram, along with the timestamps and usernames, but it doesn’t let you see any photos and videos shared on the platform. 

Another feature that’s sorely lacking is application blocking. If you read any inappropriate messages, you’ll have to manually delete the Instagram app from your child’s phone, but nothing’s stopping them from reinstalling it when you’re not around. 

If you’re only interested in Instagram monitoring, Spyera might not be the best choice.

However, if you’re looking for a comprehensive phone spy app that lets you record calls, take app screenshots, review chats on all popular instant messaging apps, and see all media files on the device, Spyera might be just what you’re looking for. 

Best Instagram Spy Apps Compared

Often, handy comparisons like the one below make narrowing down your top picks far easier. Here’s a head-to-head overview of all the key details for each of the market’s leading Instagram spy apps:

How Do Instagram Spy Apps Work?

After you’ve installed an Instagram spy tool on an iPhone or Android device, every sent and received message will be uploaded to an online server.

You can then log into the Insta spy app’s dashboard and view the messages, links, photos, and videos exchanged in Instagram DMs on the target device.

Even if your child deletes certain messages on their phone, you’ll still be able to see them in the spy app’s dashboard. 

Some phone spy applications also take screenshots of the apps every couple of minutes, giving you an opportunity to see what stories they’re viewing and what photos they’re liking on Instagram.

Others go a step further, like uMobix, and provide complete remote control over the Instagram account. 

What Can You Spy on with an Instagram Spy App?

Some Instagram apps only allow you to read the direct messages (DMs) on the platform, while others, such as uMobix, give you full control over the Instagram account associated with the target phone. 

Here’s a quick rundown of the different things you can spy on with an Instagram spy app:

Direct Messages

The best Instagram spy apps are most often used to read Instagram DMs on the target device. This includes both sent and received messages, even those deleted from the monitored device. 

Alongside the messages themselves, you’ll be able to see the Instagram usernames of the people your child talks to, as well as the timestamps of each message. 

Group Chats

Some phone spy apps also let you read the messages in Instagram group chats. This is extremely useful for parents who want to know when their children are planning on attending a party, a concert, or another group activity they might disapprove of. 

Media Shared in Instagram DMs

The best Instagram spy apps allow you to view all links, photos, and videos shared in Instagram DMs.

This is an invaluable feature since it lets you make sure your child or partner isn’t sharing any explicit photos or receiving any inappropriate content or links to malicious websites.

Instagram Activity

The best spy apps for Instagram allow you to see all the activity on the platform, not just read the DMs. This is typically done through snapshots, where the app takes a screenshot of the phone every couple of minutes and uploads it to an online server. 

While you won’t be able to see everything since the monitoring doesn’t happen in real-time, you will have a good general idea of what kind of content your child is viewing on Instagram and whose photos they like.

Can You Spy on Someone’s Instagram Messages Without the Target Phone?

If you want to know how to spy on someone’s Instagram without the target phone, the answer depends on the type of device you want to monitor. For Android devices, you’ll have to physically install the phone spy app on the Android phone or tablet.

After successfully installing the Instagram spy app and giving it the necessary permissions, you can remotely monitor their Instagram activity and read their DMs. 

When it comes to iPhones and iPads, you can spy on someone’s Instagram activity without ever accessing the target phone. All you need are the iCloud credentials for the target iOS device.

Since all the data is uploaded to iCloud automatically, you’ll be able to see Instagram messages, photos, and videos remotely without ever touching the target iPhone.

That said if the iCloud owner has two-factor authentication enabled, you’ll need the verification code Apple sends to their iPhone or iPad, plus they’ll get notified of the login from another device. 

Free Instagram Spy Apps 

If you want to know how to spy on Instagram DMs for free, the answer is by using the app on your child’s phone. 

There aren’t any free Instagram DM spy apps. If you see a website advertising a free phone spy app, it’s most likely a scam or a marketing gimmick.

For example, ClevGuard advertises itself as a “free” spy app on Google, but as soon as you make an account, it prompts you to buy the product you need to start monitoring. 

While you can’t spy on someone’s Instagram activity for free, you can take advantage of the money-back guarantee apps like mSpy and uMobix offer. You’ll have 14 days to try out the Instagram spy features, and if you’re not satisfied, you can request a full refund. 

How to Use An Instagram Spy App

To show you how easy it is to start monitoring someone’s Instagram activity, we’ll use mSpy — the best Instagram spy app — as an example. Follow the simple steps outlined below to start spying on your child’s Instagram today. 

Step 1 — Get the Official mSpy App

Visit the official mSpy website and click the Try Now button. 

Step 2 — Select the Pricing Plan that Best Suits You

Choose one of the three pricing plans available and click the Buy Now button.

Step 3 — Download mSpy on the Target Device

Open the mail you provided during checkout and follow the download link. You’ll find all the necessary information in the email, including the registration code and your mSpy login credentials. 

Download the app on the device you want to monitor, follow the simple installation guide, and provide the app with all the necessary permissions. Keep in mind that if you’re monitoring an Android device, you’ll first have to disable the Play Protect scan. 

Step 4 — Start Spying on Your Child’s Instagram

Visit the mSpy website and select Log In from the navigation bar at the top of your screen. Use the login credentials provided via email to log into the mSpy dashboard. Select Instagram from the left-hand side menu and start spying today.

Instagram Spy App FAQs