No, but you won’t have access to all of SpyX’s features if you don’t. For example, using SpyX without installing its app means you can only monitor WhatsApp rather than 15+ social media platforms. You also lose the ability to see the apps installed on your kid’s device, to check your kid’s call logs, to view the videos they’ve stored on their phone, and more. This is why I prefer Bark — it monitors social media apps on an account level, regardless of what type of device your kid uses.