iCloud, iTunes or the Family Orbit app? Which one is most effective way to monitor an iOS device?

A lot of parents wish to monitor their child's iPhone activity. However, due to the enhanced security of the iOS platform, you can not monitor as many logs on your child's iPhone as you might have on an Android phone. Family Orbit is one of the few, if not the only one, to offer an amalgamation of three different methods for monitoring your child's phone so you can choose which one is best for your situation. You can also use them together, there is no extra cost for that.

iCloud Based Monitoring

With Family Orbit® iCloud Monitoring Service, you can retrieve all your phone data directly from the iCloud Servers. Besides this, the GPS tracker extracts the location history of your child using the same technology as Find My iPhone. You will need to provide the Apple ID and Password to be able to track your child's iPhone with this method. 

Monitoring Features 

• Call History
• Text Messages*
• Websites visited
• Photos
• Location
• Contact

* Text message is not monitored at this time for iOS 12 and above. Please check this article.

Pros 

• No app to install on the child's phone

Cons

• You must have access to the Apple ID and Password used on the device
• You may need to provide the 2FA code occasionally from the device
• Apple sends periodic alerts to the associated email address linked with the Apple ID.

WiFi/iTunes Based Monitoring 

With Family Orbit, iOS Extractor Desktop App for Windows and Mac, you can retrieve all your device logs directly from the local iTunes backup. You can easily configure iTunes to back up your child's iPhone to your local computer. Once configured, the device will automatically back up the phone data to your computer over the Wi-Fi. The Family Orbit desktop app monitors the computer for new iTunes backup and uploads the logs directly to your online account for you to view at any time.

Monitoring Features

• Call history
• Text Messages
• Website Visited
• Photos / Videos
• Apps Installed

• WhatsApp 
• KIK 
• Viber
• Contacts
• Calendar

Pros

• No Apple ID is needed and hence no locks
• No need to install any app on the child's iPhone
• Fast and on-demand log extraction is available

Cons

• One-time installation of the desktop app on your computer and configuration of the device on the same machine is needed.
• GPS can not be tracked, you need to install the app on the device or use iCloud for this.

Family Orbit App

The Family Orbit app you can download on your child's phone from the Apple AppStore. The app is much more than a passive monitoring app for your child's phone. Your child can use the app to connect with you with check-ins and messages. 

Monitoring Features

• Location 
• Geofence Alerts
• Photos
• Contacts
• Calendar Events
• Mobile Data Usage
• WiFi Logs
• Battery and Device Status

Besides monitoring features, you can also:

• Share the location among your family
• Chat and share photos
• Receive check-ins or panic alerts

Pros

• Easy to download and set up on your child's iPhone
• Parent app for on-the-go monitoring

Cons

• Text messages and call history cannot be monitored with the app.

Download the apps suitable for your needs now.