The questions people ask before they call

Phone Tracker is monitoring software for smartphones, sold and supported in Australia by a team of licensed private investigators. Once installed on a phone you are entitled to monitor, it reports the phone's live GPS location and movement history, call logs, SMS and messaging-app conversations, web and app activity, and alerts such as geofence crossings, keyword matches and SIM changes to a private web dashboard you can open from any browser.

You need the phone in your hand for about two minutes to run the installer from your account. After that you never need to touch it again. The software runs quietly in the background and uses the phone's internet connection to send its data to your dashboard automatically. There is nothing to refresh and nothing to request: it just arrives.

Yes. Phone Tracker does not depend on the carrier. It works on Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and every reseller, and it keeps reporting when the phone travels overseas, as long as the phone has a mobile data or Wi-Fi connection.

Current iPhones and Android phones and tablets. The exact feature set differs by platform, and some iPhone features depend on the device configuration, which is why we confirm the device with you before you pay. See the compatibility page for the detail, or call us with the model and we will tell you straight.

Phone Tracker runs in the background without pop-ups, sounds or notifications, so it does not get in the way of the person using the phone. We recommend telling the person the phone is monitored: for children and staff the deterrent is a big part of the value, and for adults it is the law. See "Is it legal?" below.

Log in to your account, choose the device, and follow the on-screen wizard. It takes most people about two minutes. You can practise on your own phone first, and if you get stuck at any point you can call us, day or night, and we will walk you through it.

Yes. You can remove Phone Tracker remotely from your dashboard, or on the phone itself following the steps in your account. Removal is included, not a support ticket.

In your private dashboard at app.phonetracker.com.au, from any computer, tablet or phone, anywhere, at any time. Your login details are emailed to you as soon as your order is confirmed. You can monitor more than one device from the same account.

Twelve months from activation, with every feature included. You can renew at the end of the year. Licences are tied to your account and are not transferable to another customer.

It depends on whose phone it is. A parent may monitor their own child under 18. An employer may monitor a company-owned device once staff have been given written notice (14 days in NSW under the Workplace Surveillance Act 2005). An adult may agree to be tracked by someone they trust. Secretly installing tracking software on another adult's phone, including a partner's, is a criminal offence in every Australian state, and we do not sell Phone Tracker for that purpose. Use the checker on the "Is it legal?" page for a plain-English answer to your situation.

Yes, but not with software on their phone. The people behind Phone Tracker are licensed private investigators. They can confirm or clear your suspicions lawfully, with evidence that can be used in court. Call 1300 776 873 for a confidential conversation.

Only you, through your login. Our support team can look at your account with your permission when you ask for help, and never otherwise. Data is kept for the life of your licence plus 30 days, unless you delete it earlier. The privacy policy has the full detail.

Phone Tracker is sold as a 12-month licence per device, with the whole feature set included. Because the right setup depends on the device and what you need to see, we quote it after a short conversation, and there is no charge until you are happy with the answer. Call or use the form on the pricing page.

Visa, Mastercard and direct bank deposit. Your login details are sent as soon as payment clears.

If the software cannot be installed on a supported device after working with our team, you get a refund within 14 days of purchase. Once the software is activated and reporting, the licence is non-refundable.