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The best premium and free spy apps will let you monitor what your family and employees are doing online. Whether you’re a concerned parent, employer, or in a rocky relationship, spy apps can provide peace of mind, and give you the answers you need.
Phone spyware lets you monitor and control another device and provides access to conversations, social media activity, browsing history, photos, and call records, making them valuable tools in our digital lives.
In this guide, I’ve personally tested the best free spy apps on the market, as well as their paid spy app alternatives on my own devices, to review and compare every single factor, including their free trials and demos, money-back guarantees, their value for money, and how their features compare. On this page I list the best of the best.
In the largest online survey on infidelity, 91% of women confessed to emotional cheating, compared to 77% of men – but, only 21% of people in monogamous relationships admit to cheating. For most people, finding out the truth is the only thing they need. But, it’s not the only reason people reliably turn to spy apps.
From my experience of testing spyware, I am confident that these are the strongest spy apps in the game. They cost between $11 and $50/month, but will let you see everything from what they’re browsing, who they’re talking to, and any information they might try to delete.
We understand cost is a concern when selecting any kind of software, but be extremely cautious of opting for free spy software. Our testing has found most free spy apps simply don’t work. Worse still, many are actually malware, posing serious risk to your online security, while some free spy software shares user data with other parties.
While free trials and demos are a great way to get a feel and understanding of how the software works, even the spy tools that offer free trials; Qustodio, ESET, and FamiSafe are incredibly limited in terms of the features they offer without upgrading to a paid plan, making it impossible for us to genuinely recommend them to anyone looking for complete peace of mind about the safety of their loved ones.
Free spy apps will always lack features which can be had for not much money on paid plans, such as real time alerts and screen recording. I dive more into the importance of these features in my in-depth reviews below.
mSpy — Best Spy App Overall
Starting Price
$11.67/month (yearly)
No. of Devices
Up to 3 (w/ Family Kit)
Free Trial/Demo
Demo
Money Back Guarantee
14-day refund policy
Why We Picked It
mSpy simplifies device monitoring by providing detailed information about the other person’s mobile phone and internet activities, including call logs, text messages, app usage, gallery, browser history, and social media interactions.
Features
mSpy has a social media monitoring feature that allows you to see who your child or partner texts, calls, and follows on social media apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Tinder, and Telegram.
You also get real-time GPS tracking features and geofencing to see where they are going or have been. You can set location boundaries to ensure they don’t go anywhere unsafe, and mSpy also lets you remotely activate their phone camera to see their surroundings.
Other useful features include a keylogger and screen recorder, which let you see everything the other person sees and types on their phone. You can also flag specific words and phrases and get an alert when they use them in chats or browser searches.
mSpy is compatible with Android and iOS and is undetectable on both platforms. However, while you can use the monitoring tool without jailbreaking or rooting your child’s phone, some features, like the keylogger, require root access. The good news is that mSpy’s excellent customer support will guide you through the complicated process.
Pricing
Duration
mSpy Pricing
1 Month
$48.99/month
3 Months
$28/month
12 Months
$11.67/month
If you encounter technical issues that the support team cannot resolve or don’t like the app, you can request a full refund within 14 days of purchasing a plan. However, they will assess and verify the validity of your claim before the refund is initiated, so it’s not a money-back guarantee.
You can try out the free demo to get a feel for the app and its features, though. The demo works well, and I found it to accurately represent my actual experience using mSpy.
Who It's Best For
All in all, it’s hard to pick a fault with the mSpy app, and it is a great option for parents, families, and couples to track and secure devices and ensure trust and confidence.
Pros
Complete social media monitoring
Full access to files on the device
Block undesirable websites and apps
Precise GPS tracking with geofencing
Advanced features include a keylogger and screen recorder
Spynger — Best Mobile Spy App for Partner Tracking
Starting Price
$9.28/month
No. of Devices
1
Free Trial/Demo
❌
Money-back Guarantee
30-day refund window
Why We Picked It
Spynger is specifically geared toward tracking cheating partners, with features that let you access text messages (iMessage, email, and SMS), browser history, call logs, social media usage, and shared and received files.
Features
One area where Spynger shines is with its keystroke monitoring feature, which lets you see everything the other person types on their phone, including chats, usernames, and passwords. Keeping security in mind, it uses end-to-end encryption so only you can see this data.
Spynger’s social media monitoring feature gives you access to more than 16 popular social and messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Tinder, and Skype. You can see all your partner’s chat details, including stickers, statuses, profiles, pictures, and emoticons used.
There’s also a live GPS tracker and geofencing features, which allow you to see where your partner is and where they are going and get alerts if they go where they aren’t supposed to. While Spynger leans into suspicion, this is also useful to ensure your partner’s safety.
Pricing
Spynger has a tiered pricing plan based on duration. You get the same features regardless of how long you subscribe. However, you get a significant discount with an annual plan.
Duration
Sypynger Subscription Plans
1 Month
$44.56/month
3 Months
$25.99/month
12 Months
$9.28/month
Spynger doesn’t offer a free trial or demo. However, if you experience technical issues that the support team cannot resolve, you can apply for a full refund within 30 days of purchase.
uMobix stands out as one of the best Android spy apps on the market because of its user-friendly interface that doesn’t require you to be tech-savvy to set up or navigate.
Features
uMobix works on all Android OS 4+ devices, making it an excellent option for monitoring older smartphones. However, while it does offer iPhone monitoring, its features for iOS are very limited compared to Android.
uMobix’s top feature is the real-time location tracker, which helps you know your spouse’s or child’s whereabouts and track their phone if it’s lost or stolen. It also has a keylogger feature that logs all keystrokes and passwords typed on the target device.
With call monitoring, you can view all incoming and outgoing calls, timestamps, duration, and caller information. Likewise, its message tracking feature enables you to see all sent, received, or deleted text messages and get the sender or recipient’s contact information.
You can also monitor apps installed on the other device, track their usage duration, and even delete unwanted or inappropriate apps. Plus, you can remotely access the microphone and camera, allowing you to see and hear what’s happening in their immediate surroundings.
Pricing
uMobix has a straightforward pricing plan based on duration. Of course, you get bigger discounts the longer you subscribe. Regardless of the tier you choose, you will get access to the full suite of uMobix features.
Duration
uMobix Subscription plan
1 Month
$49.99/month
3 Months
$29.99/month
12 Months (+ 12 extra months for free)
$12.49/month
You can test uMobix using the demo. They do offer a 14-day refund policy, but it’s not a money-back guarantee. According to the uMobix refund policy, you’ll only get a refund if you’re experiencing technical issues that the support team cannot repair.
Who It's Best For
uMobix is an excellent pick for spouses and parents who want to monitor their partner’s or child’s online activities, but only if they have Android devices.
Scannero — Best Spyware App for Phone Location Tracking
Starting Price
$0.89/day
No. of Devices
1
Free Trial/Demo
❌
Money-back Guarantee
14-day refund window
Why We Picked It
Scannero is a reliable, hands-free GPS location tracking service that requires just a phone number—no installation—to locate anyone, anywhere.
Features
Scannero has a location-by-link feature that enables you to pinpoint your child’s or partner’s location from anywhere or even find your own lost phone. If you enter their phone number, Scannero will send them a link via text message, or you can share it with them using social media chat apps or email.
When they click on the link, you’ll see their exact location from your account dashboard. With geofencing, you can set up designated boundaries on the map and receive alerts whenever the tracked device enters or leaves those zones. Additionally, The desktop dashboard compiles detailed location histories over time, giving you insights into stop patterns over hours, days, or weeks.
There’s also a Reverse Phone Number Lookup feature, which lets you identify the real people behind the unknown numbers contacting your child or spouse by text or call.
While Scannero delivers precise location tracking, it lacks the broader spying capabilities of other competitors. It’s also not particularly stealthy since the other person has to click a link. However, there are no compatibility issues to worry about – all you need is a phone number.
Pricing
Scannero has a single premium plan that you can test with a one-day trial before switching to a monthly subscription.
Duration
Scannero Premium Plan
1-Day Trial
$0.89
1 Month
$49.80
Something to keep in mind is that Scannero will automatically upgrade you to the one-month premium subscription after the one-day trial ends. While refunds are available within 14 days of purchase, continuing to use the service after the trial period makes you ineligible for a refund.
Who It's Best For
Scannero is an excellent tool for locating a device or individual. It’s a near-free location tracker, making it ideal for partners, parents, and employers.
SpyBubblePro — Best Spy Software for Detecting Hidden or Deleted Content
Starting Price
$10.62/month
No. of Devices
1
Free Trial/Demo
Demo
Money-back Guarantee
14-day refund window
Why We Picked It
SpyBubblePro was designed specifically to give spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends peace of mind — helping to confirm or dispel any suspicions.
Features
SpyBubble Pro offers a unique Reporting by Screenshots feature that sends real-time screenshots from your partner’s phone, providing complete information on their activities. If they have an Android device, you can also use the keylogger feature to ensure that nothing remains hidden.
The real-time location tracker lets you monitor your partner’s movements and track their location history over hours, days, and weeks. You can also see call logs, read all text messages (including deleted ones), and view shared or downloaded media files in their gallery. SpyBubblePro also offers a SIM Card replacement alert feature, which notifies you when your partner uses another SIM card for calls.
From a compatibility standpoint, SpyBubble works on all iOS and Android devices. Your user account is also accessible from any browser on any device. Moreover, it has a fast installation process and doesn’t require technical knowledge, making it great for beginners.
Pricing
Like others, SpyBubble Pro has duration-based subscription tiers. Regardless of the payment plan, users have access to all features.
Duration
SpyBubble Pro
1 Month
$42.49/month
3 Months
$25.49/month
12 Months
$10.62/month
SpyBubble Pro offers a demo you can try out. There’s also a 14-day refund window, but your reasons have to meet the conditions set in the Refund Policy.
Who It's Best For
SpyBubblePro is a smart choice for couples and spouses and comes with an excellent refund policy. Accessing deleted content and controlling the device’s camera and microphone should give you everything you need.
Pros
Loaded with features
Completely discreet
Shows hidden/deleted content
Has powerful remote-control capabilities
Fully anonymous tracking
Cons
Limited location-tracking features
Some features, like the keylogger, are exclusive to Android
Phonsee offers all the features of a top spy app at a comparatively affordable price point. It combines precise geolocation services with essential tracking features (including social media) to let you monitor all noteworthy activity.
Features
You’ll be able to track SMS messages on the target mobile phone, their contacts, calls, and even emails. For live insight into everything happening on your loved one’s device, Phonsee offers screenshots and a powerful keylogger—combined, these will ensure you don’t miss a thing.
Phonsee also allows you to view all the photos and videos your partner or child has taken and the time and date of each file. You can also block apps and websites to avoid inappropriate content, see what Wi-Fi your partner or child is connected to (remotely from your own device), and check their calendar.
You get social media and dating app monitoring for a variety of apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, Tinder, Facebook, Telegram, Skype, and Discord. However, you need to root the target Android device to access the full social media monitoring functionality.
While Phonsee lacks some features like call recording and keyword alerts, it makes up for it with advanced geolocation features, including precise location tracking and geofencing. Plus, the interface is really user-friendly and organized.
Pricing
Phonsee offers the same features across every subscription tier, and you get significant discounts the longer you subscribe.
Duration
Phonsee Subscription Plan
1 Month
$42.51/month
3 Months
$24.79/month
12 Months
$8.85/month
Phonsee has a demo, but it is quite limited, only showing you a series of screenshots of the dashboard in action. There is also a 14-day refund policy, but it is conditional on Phonsee’s terms of use.
Who It's Best For
Phonsee is a great pick for parents, partners, families, and businesses on a budget. It comes with a powerful toolset for the price, and there’s a money-back guarantee if things don’t work out.
Pros
Keylogger functionality for iOS and Android devices
User-friendly with a neat UI
Advanced location tracking features
Works in stealth mode (hidden) on the target device
Cons
Lacks remote control, call recording, and keyword alerts
Need root access on Android devices for social media monitoring
Eyezy — Best Phone Spy App for GPS Location Tracking and Geofencing
Starting Price
$7.99/month
No. of Devices
1
Free Trial/Demo
Demo
Money-back Guarantee
14-day refund window
Why We Picked It
The integration of AI in Eyezy for seamless tracking and notifications, combined with its robust phone monitoring features, sets it apart from other spy apps on the market.
Features
You can access messages, including deleted exchanges, block apps, and approve usage on a schedule—ideal for providing supervised access for kids, for example.
Eyezy’s social spotlight feature lets you monitor up to 13 messaging and social media apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and iMessage. You can view the details of every direct message (including archived or deleted) on these platforms. With AI-powered keyword alerts, you can flag certain terms and phrases and get notified if they appear in messages or posts.
Another noteworthy feature is the phone analyzer, which reveals who your child or partner calls, who calls them, and the timestamps and durations of all calls. Eyezy also lets you regulate the content your child or partner consumes online. However, the website blocker is only available for Android devices. It also has a screen recorder and keylogger, but you will need to jailbreak the iPhone to access them.
Like most spy apps, Eyezy provides a real-time cell phone tracker to enable you to monitor your child’s or partner’s movements. This feature allows you to see your child’s current location and history over specific days or weeks.
Pricing
Eyezy offers a competitive pricing structure comparable to other spying apps. Its tiered subscription model features discounts based on the subscription length you choose.
Duration
Eyezy Subscription Plan
1 Month
$38.39/month
3 Months
$22.39/month
12 Months
$7.99/month
Eyezy provides a free demo version, allowing users to explore its functionalities before committing. There’s also a 14-day refund policy for unresolved technical.
Who It's Best For
Eyezy is ideal for busy parents and spouses who don’t want to check their control panel constantly but still want to receive all the information about their child or partner. The AI-powered engine handles the monitoring and notifications.
Pros
AI-powered keyword and app download alerts
Wide range of features
Great budget option
Activity analytics for a broad overview
Cons
Longer-term subscriptions are required for discounts
iOS devices need to be jailbroken to access the social spotlight and phone analyzer features
ClevGuard — Best Spy Phone App for Parental Control
Starting Price
$4.99/month
No. of Devices
Up to 3 devices on individual plan, Up to 20 on the family plan
Free Trial/Demo
Demo
Money-back Guarantee
30-day money-back guarantee
Why We Picked It
With over 400,000 users, ClevGuard is a reputable spy app, and although it offers numerous products, KidsGuard Pro is the most popular. There’s a free demo you can use before deciding, too.
Features
Under KidsGuard Pro, there are Android, iOS, and even WhatsApp and Line products. However, despite its popularity among parents, its functionality makes it a top choice beyond parental control.
For starters, you have 100% control over the other device, allowing you to view messages, check browser history, social media activity, and literally everything in between.
It lets you monitor a wide range of social media apps popular with teens, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Viber, Telegram and more.
The best feature of KidsGuard Pro is the remote access to the device’s microphone and camera, which gives you insight into your loved one’s surroundings in real time. There’s also screen recording and screenshots, which will give you live insight into more than what they’re typing or downloading — all discreetly from your dashboard.
Another useful feature worth noting is the Keyword Alerts. This lets you select words that you find inappropriate, and when they’re used (across any app), you’ll get an alert.
Pricing
ClevGaurd offers discounted pricing plans tailored to your usage duration and specific needs.
Duration
KidsGuard Plan
KidsGuard Pro Individual Plan
1 Month
$9.99/month
$49.99/month
3 Months
❌
$25.33/month
12 Months
$4.99/month
$11.67month
KidsGuard Plan —This plan allows you to monitor a single device and has features like GPS tracking and website and application blocking capabilities. It is designed for moderate tracking needs.
KidsGuard Pro Individual Plan — This plan comes with advanced premium features like keylogging (Android only), social media monitoring, and call recording. You can also track up to three devices simultaneously.
ClevGuard includes a demo, and if you’re unsatisfied with the product after subscribing, they provide a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Who It's Best For
KidsGuard Pro is a great pick for parents who want to keep an eye on their kids’ digital lives. There’s a great money-back policy, and the wide range of robust features makes it ideal for family monitoring and safety.
Here’s a comprehensive table highlighting the key differences between the top spying phone apps so you can compare them side by side before making a decision:
Child-focused Kidsguard app with social media access, call recording, and GPS locator
30 Days
Top 3 Free Spy Apps Reviewed
We wouldn’t recommend free spyware software for the reasons we list above, but of the free software I did test, these were the best of them all.
Qustodio — Free Spy App for Multiple Devices (Free-Forever Plan)
Starting Price
$4.55/month (annual)
Free Version
Free-forever plan and 3-day trial
Top Features
Works with Kindle, emergency panic button, Safe Search mode for kids
Money Back Guarantee
30-day refund policy
Qustodio is one of the few spy apps offering a free-forever plan. It’s trusted by over 6 million parents and works on Kindle devices as well as the usual devices.
Although reading is a great habit to encourage, monitoring what kind of content your kids are reading is also important. The best thing about Qustodio is its Safe Search mode. Instead of manually filtering out inappropriate content, you can use this, which works like the kid-friendly mode on Netflix and YouTube.
You’ll receive a notification if a site or app is blocked and your kids try to access it. You’ll know what they’re curious about, and you can talk about it at home.
The Panic button is another major attraction. It lets your kids send you instant alerts with a click of a button if they’re in danger, and calling or text messages isn’t an option. Qustodio also lets you set screen time limits. You can restrict screen time for certain apps and games alone or for the entire device.
Pros
Free-forever plan for basic usage
Safe Search mode to keep your kids away from inappropriate content
The panic button allows your kids to reach out to you in emergencies
Custom screen time monitoring
Set tailor-made alerts on your kids accessing blocked sites
ESET — Free Spy Phone App For Parental Control (Free-Forever Plan)
Starting Price
$1.43/month (annual plan)
Free Version
Free-forever plan and 30-day trial
Top Features
Time limits on apps, child locator, full activity reports
Money Back Guarantee
30-day refund policy
ESET is primarily an antivirus software provider but also has a product for Android parental control. It comes with a generous free plan loaded with useful features like the ability to set time limits for apps, generate app usage reports and block unsolicited websites and content.
You can decide how much screen time they get and how much time they individually spend – for free. Along with the free plan, you’ll also get a 30-day free trial for the premium plan.
This will give you access to the GPS location tracker, geofencing, web filtering, and a safe search mode. However, the free plan is relatively limited, while the premium plan doesn’t offer as many features as other tools.
That said, it also comes with a password manager. All in all, the parental control app is decent if you’re not looking for an all-out solution.
FamiSafe — Free Spy App for Tech-Savvy Families With Teenagers (3-Day Free Trial)
Cheapest Paid Plan
$4.99/month (annual)
Free Version
3-day trial
Top Features
Driving reports, suspicious photodetection, set custom tracking rules
Money Back Guarantee
7-day refund policy
FamiSafe is a great tool for monitoring teenagers. It lets you track your children’s driving habits with detailed reports on their driving history for every trip. This will show their top speeds, average speeds, total distance driven, and much more.
It also tells you about your kids’ conversations with their AI assistants during the day. You need this feature despite having a separate web search history because sometimes people just talk to their phone assistants.
In addition, if you want to know what images your kids are capturing or receiving, use the “Detect Suspicious Photos” tool. It’ll automatically find inappropriate images and alert you.
Although short, the three-day free trial is still good enough for temporary tracking. Whether it’s driving reports, TikTok app history, geofencing, or GPS location history, you can see the updates of the current day—though it can’t access data from previous days.
Pros
Available in 190+ countries
Lets you turn on the Safe Search restricted browsing mode for your kids
Provides you with a detailed driving report for the target user
Cons
Unlike Norton Family, doesn’t let your kids request access to blocked sites
Important Note: Spy software is not legal to use without the device owner’s permission in many countries and states. When we test spy software, we do so only with the explicit consent of the device owner and in compliance with local laws and regulations.
To provide our readers with accurate and well-informed recommendations, we test the most popular spy applications on the market to find the best options for you. Our methodology consists of the following criteria:
General Features: We evaluate the comprehensive feature set of each spy app, including but not limited to features such as App Management, Time Management, Call Monitoring, Device Control and GPS Tracking.
Ease of Use: We gauge the user-friendliness of each app, considering factors such as installation process complexity, the necessity of jailbreaking (for iOS) or rooting (for Android) the target device, and more.
Device Support and Compatibility: We thoroughly examine the compatibility of each spyware app with different devices and operating systems, including iOS and Android. We also assess whether the app offers a unified dashboard accessible from both desktop and mobile devices.
Customer Support: We test the responsiveness and effectiveness of customer support provided by each app developer. We evaluate the availability of support channels, such as live chat, email, or phone support, as well as the satisfaction ratings of customer assistance.
Price and Value for Money: We assess each spyware app’s pricing structure in relation to its features and functionalities, aiming to determine its overall value proposition. We analyze whether the app offers different subscription tiers, flexible payment options, and discounts for long-term commitments. Additionally, we check whether the app provides free trials or demos for users to test its capabilities before making a purchase.
Privacy and Security: We prioritize the privacy and security of user data in our evaluation. We scrutinize the app’s data encryption measures, adherence to privacy regulations, and commitment to regular security updates to safeguard user information from unauthorized access or breaches.
Why Do I Need a Spy Phone App?
There are many good reasons why you might want to use a phone app to track or monitor a smartphone’s usage and GPS location. Some of the most common of these include:
Parental Control
The internet is a dangerous place. Not only can children run into inappropriate content and bullies, but they can even run into child predators.
With online risks to children increasing, it’s more important than ever to ensure your kids stay safe online. A spy phone app ensures you’re always up to date with your child’s internet activities.
You can also monitor their outgoing calls to ensure they aren’t communicating with strangers. The best mobile phone spy app can even help you manage your child’s online time.
With teenagers addicted to social media, it’s important for parents to have the means to limit their time spent online and ensure nothing inappropriate is going on. Some of these apps let you completely block the internet connection on your child’s phone if necessary.
Many monitoring apps also allow you to track the physical location of the device, so you can rest assured that you know precisely where your child is.
Information security should be at the heart of how you handle tech. Your staff members have access to a lot of confidential information, such as logins and client details.
It’s crucial that this sensitive commercial information is handled appropriately. If hackers or competitors engaged in corporate espionage obtain these details, it could cost you an enormous amount of money.
If your user data is compromised, you could face significant fines and lose the trust of your customers. If you’re the victim of a ransomware attack, you might need to pay huge sums to regain control over your systems and databases.
Phone monitoring apps ensure you can monitor your employees’ internet use on company devices. You can also check whether they’re productive and how they handle data security.
You can also block inappropriate websites and can stop devices from downloading unauthorized apps. In addition, apps that can track device location help to safeguard you against theft.
Many monitoring and tracking apps allow you to geo-track devices and set geo-fencing so you can track and locate them in the event that they are lost or stolen—which could save your business a lot of money.
Spouse Monitoring
Some people use monitoring apps to track their spouses and other adult family members.
It’s important to note that it is illegal to do this in many countries without getting their informed consent – whether or not you’re using the best phone apps for spying or picking from less reputable services.
A phone monitoring app can help you track your spouse’s messages, inbound calls, outbound calls, social media content, and more – giving you a full picture of all information being exchanged.
You can also track their location and apply geofencing, alerting you if they enter or leave a designated area.
If you’re worried about the individual’s safety or about other parties making illicit use of the device, a monitoring service can track everything you need in real-time to put all your concerns to rest.
What Can I Do with Spy Apps?
Spy apps will, naturally, enable you to monitor a phone – but what does being able to spy on another phone actually mean? Here are some of the capabilities of the best spying apps.
Chat monitoring – Many top tools for spying on phones come with comprehensive chat monitoring features, allowing you to track conversations from multiple apps on a single dashboard.
App control – A range of spyware apps will allow you to add and remove apps and to lock how and when they are used. You can often also access browser history and social media connections.
Keyloggers – A keylogger may be the ultimate tool available if you want a free app to monitor another phone. This tool tracks every keystroke entered on the device, allowing it to catch communications, searches, and logins.
Camera and microphone control – The best tools allow you to silently use the device’s camera to take pictures and enable video streaming or to use the microphone to capture audio. This gives you complete awareness of the device’s environment.
Device control – The most powerful apps will give you full control over the tracked device, turning it on and off and even wiping the device if needed.
GPS location tracking – A good mobile tracker app will allow you to see precisely where a device is and will include geofencing, which sets off alerts if the device leaves a set area.
What Devices Can I Track with Spy Apps?
There are a range of excellent spyware apps for whatever platform you want to track. Here are some of the devices you can monitor.
iPhoneAndroidDesktop
iPhone Spyware
You’re in luck if you’re looking for a spy app for your iPhone. Providers like mSpy, uMobix, and Spynger cover almost every iPhone, iPad, and iOS product. With these apps, you can ensure you’ll be able to track your loved ones wherever they are. For more information, see our guide to the best iPhone spy apps.
Android Spyware
mSpy, uMobix, SpyBubble, and Phonsee are all great Android phone spying apps. They give you deep device control and full visibility of where the tracked device is and what it’s being used for. Read our best spy apps for Android guide for further details.
Windows and MacOS Spy Software
Many of the top spy app providers focus on mobile spying apps, but there are tools that also cover Windows and Macs. ClevGuard offers solutions that cover Windows, for example, while FlexiSpy can track Windows and Mac devices, Android devices, and iPhones.
Norton, Eset, and FamiSafe also offer parental control apps that support everything from Windows, Macs, and iPhones to Android devices and Kindles. Our guide to the best keylogger software provides additional information on tracking desktop devices.
Who Are Spy Apps For?
A wide range of individuals can benefit from using spying apps. Some common use cases for free phone monitoring include:
ParentsEmployersSpousesCarers
Spying Apps for Parents
Being able to track your child’s location can offer reassurance that they aren’t in harm’s way. Equally, being able to monitor their communications and device use ensures they aren’t getting into trouble.
Best Monitoring Apps for Businesses
Business owners can ensure company hardware is being used appropriately and responsibly, and they can track devices in real time, guaranteeing the safety and security of assets and personnel.
Spy App for Couples
Couples can use spy software to prove their trust and ensure safety by sharing their locations. A spy app for couples free of charge can be a great option to prove loyalty and demonstrate transparency within a relationship.
Phone Monitoring Apps for Carers
– If you’re looking after an elderly person or a vulnerable individual, device monitoring can be invaluable. With their consent, you can use spy tools to ensure no one is trying to take advantage of them or scam them, and in an emergency, you can track their device to locate them.
Are Free Spying Apps Safe?
All the spy app providers on our list are safe to use and are great for getting started. They’ve been handpicked after careful scrutiny of their features and trustworthiness.
However, it’s best to avoid apps that only offer a free solution, as these are often offered by unscrupulous providers who are actually running data mining centers and selling your data online.
Look for platforms that offer paid solutions along with free ones. These apps use subscription income to strengthen their security. They offer a free plan to allow potential users to test their free spy services before they move to a paid subscription.
This is why all our recommended platforms offer a paid plan, and most of their free plans are essentially free trials that allow you to try out the service before committing.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Spy Software
Choosing a spy app can be difficult, given the number of options available. Here are a few things to consider whether you’re looking for free iPhone spying apps or free Android spy tools.
Choose a Reputable ProviderPrice to ScaleEase of UseFeature-to-Price RatioMoney-Back GuaranteesFree Version Limitations
Spying apps often collect sensitive personal data, which can be prone to online leaks. That’s why choosing a provider like the ones on our list with a clean track record is important.
Sure, you’re only looking for a spy app at the moment. But you do have to consider the price of the platform’s paid plan in case you want to scale up. Although useful, free plans and trails are only good enough to test the platform and for small-scale usage.
If you want advanced features like geolocation, environment recording, and so on, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan. And, in that case, the price should not be a hindrance.
A spy app should be easy to use and install. It should also have an intuitive and easy-to-understand dashboard with comprehensive information on all tracking metrics, such as calls, messages, and location details.
All of our recommended spying apps offer hassle-free operation, and customer support is available if you encounter any issues.
Feature-to-price refers to the value of services you get for the price you pay – but the paid plans shouldn’t burn a hole in your pocket.
For example, if you only want to track your child’s location and messages, your provider’s cheapest plan should be able to accommodate your needs without charging a high subscription fee.
That said, if you want the best girlfriend spy apps, you should consider you’ll generally only get as much as you pay for.
Money-back guarantees depict a provider’s confidence in their own product. A phone spy app willing to offer a money-back guarantee is more likely to be legit than those that don’t.
All of the providers mentioned in our list offer some money-back guarantee ranging from 7-60 days. If you face any issues during this time, the provider will cancel your subscription and refund your money.
Let’s face it – free versions do not offer the whole range of features a spy app has under its belt. In some instances, the free plans or even the free trials impose certain limitations on the degree or time of usage.
That’s why it’s important to ensure that the free plan offers features that you actually need. Otherwise, there is little point in the tool offering a free version in the first place. For instance, Qustodio’s location monitoring feature – one of the main draws of a spy app – isn’t available on its free plan.
Best Free Spy Apps vs. Paid Subscriptions
All the Android and iOS spy apps we’ve listed here offer demos, trials, or money-back guarantees, ensuring you can see their services in action without risking any money.
Only a handful of mobile spy apps offer free-forever plans, and these tend to be limited versions of parental control apps. If you want to use more fully featured device monitoring software in the long term—allowing you to access the phone and camera and use a keylogger—you’ll likely need to look toward paid plans with providers like mSpy, uMobix, or Spynger.
If you see providers offering this level of control for free, as noted above, you should be skeptical. Vendors need to monetize their products somehow, and disreputable providers may sell your data or use the software to upload malware or harvest your personal details, exposing you to fraud and identity theft.
Given this, finding an affordable paid plan is a better solution than finding an underpowered alternative or considering untrustworthy free spy solutions.
How to Install and Use a Spy App
Are you wondering how to use a cell phone spy app? Read on, and we’ll guide you through using mSpy. Of course, you should get the user’s consent before using an app to track a phone without their knowledge.
Choose Your Plan
First, go to mSpy, and choose a subscription that meets your needs. Keep in mind that you can get a demo and there’s a money-back guarantee so you can test the product free and without any risk.
Sign Into Your Account
The next step is to sign in and set up a profile for the device or devices you want to track. You’ll be asked to confirm the brand and operating system of the device.
Download the App
Having done this, you can download the app onto the target device that you want to track. Follow all mSpy’s instructions and once complete, you can activate the app.
Log Into the Dashboard
With the app set up, you can now begin tracking the target phone via your mSpy app dashboard, monitoring messages and calls and following the device’s location. Your phone spy app is ready to go – and now you know how to monitor another Android or iPhone.
Is a Free Spy App Worth It?
There’s not a whole range of free spy apps to pick from today, and the ones that offer forever free plans face tough competition from spy apps that require paid subscriptions. Nevertheless, there are a handful of spy apps that deliver a truly outstanding free service, such as Qustodio and FamiSafe, specifically if you’re looking for parental control features.
In our guide, we’ve picked the spy app best for each use case and created a shortlist that caters to a range of needs – whichever you choose, though, you won’t regret it.
So, what’s the best and most trusted spy app? Based on our research, we can’t recommend mSpy highly enough, and it’s often cited as the best premium spy app on the market. Try it now, risk-free, with its generous money-back guarantee.
Editors' choice
Best Spy App of 2024: Control Any Device with Its Superb Features
Spy apps, once installed on a targeted device, work in the background without the owner knowing. They collect data such as call records, locations, and messages across various apps. You can view this data from a central dashboard on your device. You can also set alerts and limit certain features on the target device for more comprehensive monitoring.
Do apps for spying require physical access to the target device?
While most spy apps require physical access to a target device to install the software, there are options that work without it. For example, GEOfinder.mobi lets you track the location of the target using their mobile number. You’ll need one-time physical access to install the mobile spy app for a broader range of tracking tools.
What does a free spying app let you see?
You can use a free spying app to keep an eye on activities on target devices, including phone calls and messages, social media apps such as WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and more, ambient audio, and dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge. You can even track locations and set virtual geofences for custom alerts.
Do spy apps really work?
Yes, spy apps do work. Most spy apps offer a limited free plan to test out the platform. Depending on the provider, these free trials can range from two to 30 days. You can track the device’s location, view their call records and messages, and even track their social media activity with these free spy apps.
Are spy apps hidden?
Yes, spy apps can stay hidden on the target device and work in stealth mode, and the owner may not know that a spy app is keeping an eye on their activity. Many spy apps also come with optimization features that don’t drain the users’ phone batteries too quickly, which can make them suspicious.
How do I find hidden spy apps on my Android phone or iPhone?
If you’re concerned that someone has tried to gain unauthorized access with a phone monitoring app on your mobile device and is trying to secretly track you, there are several steps you can take.
Run a complete system scan with an antivirus and, if possible, a boot scan
Monitor unusual behavior on your system and apps acting strangely
Check for any recently added software– if you find anything you don’t recognize, after checking it’s not needed, consider removing it
If you still believe your device is being monitored, a factory reset should wipe the slate clean in nearly all cases – though it’s a drastic step
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Krishi Chowdhary has half a decade of experience writing buying guides and product reviews for numerous leading technology websites. He spent two years writing for Business2Community.com before joining Techopedia.com. He has a degree in Commerce and extensive experience in the technology industry. He's also the key driver behind TechReport.com's news content, delivering expertise insight into the latest tech and cybersecurity news daily.
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