PhoneSheriff is discontinued and cannot be recommended for a new installation. Choose a supported replacement instead of downloading an old installer or following a redirected purchase link.
What happened to PhoneSheriff?
PhoneSheriff was a Retina-X monitoring product. The FTC’s account of its action against Retina-X explains that sales of the company’s monitoring apps had stopped before the 2019 case. The former product’s name or a redirected domain does not give you a working PhoneSheriff account.
What existing customers should do
An old licence does not entitle you to another provider’s service. Remove obsolete monitoring access from devices you administer, review account permissions, and set up the replacement openly with the family members involved. Do not use third-party PhoneSheriff APK downloads.
Before removing an old app, check whether it has device-administrator access, a management profile or location permissions. Follow the device’s normal removal steps, then check the replacement’s controls on the child’s actual device. Use transparent family rules and limit access to personal messages and location.
Alternatives to consider
For screen-time limits and web controls, start with our Qustodio review. If your priority is supported content alerts, compare our Bark review. Check the exact child device, account setup and included features before choosing.
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| Product | Child devices | Important limitations |
|---|---|---|
 QustodioFull review | Child devices: Windows 10+; macOS 10.15 through 26; Android 9+; iOS 15+; Google Play-capable Chromebook; Fire OS 6+ (standard profiles). Parent iOS app requires iOS 16+. | iOS calls/messages and supported WhatsApp/LINE alerts require a Windows/Mac computer and the documented sync setup. Panic button is Android-only; social-app coverage varies by platform. |
 BarkFull review | iOS and Android child apps; other device/account workflows differ. | iOS content monitoring uses Bark Desktop, Bark Sync or Bark Home; setup requirements differ and alerts are not instantaneous. Account/app coverage varies; Phone and Watch are separate products. |
 MobicipFull review | iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook and Kindle. | Supported platforms do not have identical features. Detailed Basic-plan capabilities need checking against your requirements. |
For authorised device-monitoring requirements beyond ordinary family controls, compare the options below carefully. They are separate products with different permissions and setup requirements; they are not PhoneSheriff successors or a way to recover its accounts.
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| Product | Main features | Important limitations |
|---|---|---|
 mSpyFull review | Advertised location reporting, call/message records, supported social-app monitoring and screen-activity reporting. | Platform and setup restrictions apply. Free account creation does not unlock paid monitoring. 2024 customer-data breach reporting remains material to the security assessment. |
 EyezyFull review | Advertised message and social-app activity, location history, keystroke capture and website/app controls; coverage varies by setup. | Android and iPhone features differ. Check the exact device and installation requirements; a vendor feature list is not an independent effectiveness test. |
 uMobix | Advertised call/message records, supported social-app reports, location and app-activity reporting. | Homepage feature lists do not establish availability on every device. 2026 payment-record exposure reporting remains part of the security assessment. |
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy or install PhoneSheriff now?
PhoneSheriff is discontinued and cannot be recommended for a new installation. Choose a supported replacement instead of downloading an old installer or following a redirected purchase link.
What should existing PhoneSheriff customers do?
An old licence does not entitle you to another provider’s service. Remove obsolete monitoring access from devices you administer, review account permissions, and set up the replacement openly with the family members involved. Do not use third-party PhoneSheriff APK downloads.
Which alternative should I consider?
For family screen-time and web controls, compare Qustodio. For other needs, use the alternatives above and check the exact features on your child’s device.
Historical product images
The images below show the older product. Any prices, offers or setup screens in them are historical.
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Stuart Kerr Spindlow is Impulsec’s Publisher, Chief Editor and Lead Reviewer. He writes and maintains coverage of consumer cybersecurity and digital-safety software, with a focus on practical suitability, limitations and the evidence behind product claims. Read Stuart’s full profile.