Getting yourself the ideal version means looking into some specific features. Here’s what the flagship ones have to offer:
Our analysis of the finest Android spying applications will enable you to make an informed decision as we have used the following criteria to rate them:
We have taken a weighted average of the aforementioned criteria to give each app an overall rating.
Apps
Rating
Features Offered
Price
XNSPY
9.6/10
30+
Basic: $4.99/month
Premium: $7.49/month
Flexi spy
8.8/10
26+
Premium: $149/month
Extreme: $349/month
mSpy
8.4/10
27+
Monthly: $48.99/month
Quarterly: $27.99/month
Yearly: $11.66/month
Mobi Stealth
8.0/10
23+
Pro Plan: $10/month
Pro-X Plan: $15/month
SpyEra
7.7/10
20+
$389/year
XNSPY
9.6/10
30+
Basic: $4.99/month
Premium: $7.49/month
Flexi spy
8.8/10
26+
Premium: $149/month
Extreme: $349/month
mSpy
8.4/10
27+
Monthly: $48.99/month
Quarterly: $27.99/month
Yearly: $11.66/month
Spyzie
7.2/10
18+
Ultimate: $89.88/month
Premium: $99.99/month
Highster Mobile
6.9/10
18+
One Time Fee: $70
The Truth Spy
6.6/10
19+
Standard: $21.99/month
Premium: $25.99/month
Cocospy
6.2/10
18+
Basic: $8.33/month
Premium: $9.99/month
Family: $16.66/month
The Spy Bubble
6.0/10
20+
Personal: $24.95/month
Professional: $49.95/month
uMobix
5.7/10
24+
Monthly: $48.99/month
Quarterly: $27.99/month
Yearly: $11.66/month
Clev guard
5.2/10
16+
KidsGuard – $9.99/month
KidsGuard Pro for Android – $29.95/month
KidsGuard Pro for iOS - $39.95/month
Hover watch
4.9/10
16+
Personal: $24.95/month
Professional: $49.95/month
Business: $149.95/month
Pc Tattletale
4.7/10
15+
Basic: $99/Year
Family Plus: $147/month
Business: $297/month
QuStodio
4.5/10
15+
Small Plan: $54.95/year
Medium Plan: $96.95/year
Large Plan: $137.95/year
Mobi Stealth
8.0/10
23+
Pro Plan: $10/month
Pro-X Plan: $15/month
SpyEra
7.7/10
20+
$389/year
Spyzie
7.2/10
18+
Ultimate: $89.88/month
Premium: $99.99/month
Highster Mobile
6.9/10
18+
One Time Fee: $70
The Truth Spy
6.6/10
19+
Standard: $21.99/month
Premium: $25.99/month
Cocospy
6.2/10
18+
Basic: $8.33/month
Premium: $9.99/month
Family: $16.66/month
The Spy Bubble
6.0/10
20+
Personal: $24.95/month
Professional: $49.95/month
uMobix
5.7/10
24+
Monthly: $48.99/month
Quarterly: $27.99/month
Yearly: $11.66/month
Clev guard
5.2/10
16+
KidsGuard – $9.99/month
KidsGuard Pro for Android – $29.95/month
KidsGuard Pro for iOS - $39.95/month
Hover watch
4.9/10
16+
Personal: $24.95/month
Professional: $49.95/month
Business: $149.95/month
Pc Tattletale
4.7/10
15+
Basic: $99/Year
Family Plus: $147/month
Business: $297/month
QuStodio
4.5/10
15+
Small Plan: $54.95/year
Medium Plan: $96.95/year
Large Plan: $137.95/year
The first place on the list is Xnspy. It aims to give you remote control of the target device by fetching information, such as call logs, texts, emails, and chats from WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Skype, and other popular platforms. It even gives you the option to track the GPS location and social media activities of the monitored user. The sleuthing tool can also be used to record device surroundings and keep an account of specific activities once the user defines the keywords such as names, numbers, and locations. It’s because of these features that it’s one of the most popular spying options on the block.
The information collected through this Android spy software is easy to access from any internet-ready device. Everything is uploaded to your Xnspy web account for you to review in your own time. All of this is done stealthily without your target ever knowing about it. Remember, you need one-time access to the device you wish to monitor to install the app. Once the app is installed, you are all set to lay your eyes on the target’s activities.
Xnspy is compatible with Android OS versions 4.0 to 11. It is one of the few top-rated alternatives that work on devices running the latest 11.0 version.
Despite being the finest spy app for Android, Xnspy hasn’t made this a reason to rip you off. It has classified its subscription packages into two categories: Basic Edition and Premium Edition. While the Basic plan has all the regular features, the Premium packages cater to the needs of power users with advanced functionalities. The Basic Edition can be availed for as low as $4.99 a month, and the Premium subscription for $7.49 a month.
Video reviews can be great to access the functionality of an app. Here is a walkthrough video of Xnspy that showcases its primary features:
Seeing what people have been saying regarding any application can really help nail down a purchase decision. It can also be the best metric to gauge how well the application works in a multitude of scenarios.
Flexispy is another useful spying option and ranks second on our list of Android espionage apps. The program lets you snoop on popular messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp, Tinder, and more. View phone contacts, internet browsing history, track app activity, snap images with the remote camera feature, and see everything that is being typed on the monitored device.
It has a remarkable ambient recording function that lets you eavesdrop on behind-the-wall conversations. Also, it allows you to pinpoint the location of the target device by pinpointing the location on a map. You can even record VOIP calls and view specific activities by creating custom alerts.
Flexispy works with mobile devices only. It’s a huge turn-off for people who are looking for undetectable Android spy apps that supports all the devices, including desktop monitoring. That said, Flexispy is compatible with all the devices that are running Android OS 4.0.3 to 11. However, you need to root the device to enjoy all the app’s features.
You have to choose between the Premium and Extreme packages to get a valid license to use this app. The 12-month Premium package costs about $149 a month; whereas, the 12-month Extreme plan for demanding users will cost you $349 a month.
Viewing a video of the actual working of the application can be a great way to understand its functionalities. Here is one that explains Flexispy well:
Customer reviews are an important part of any purchase decision, and ideally, you would want one that is raved about often. Flexispy is a great example of that, where customers have routinely lauded the app.
mSpy is our third addition to the list and is truly deserving of this place. The application has a lot going for it in terms of functionality, and it does so without the monitored user finding out. mSpy is primarily targeted to parents as a tool that makes monitoring children's device usage easier. But the app can be deployed in a variety of scenarios. That is due to the vast array of features it provides.
mSpy supports tracking of the most popular social media and instant messaging apps. Facebook, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and iMessage are all supported. What’s more is that it allows for live GPS tracking, too.
The app has advanced tracking features as well, where routine parts of a phone’s use can also be viewed. For instance, SMS and call logs are visible to the tracker and so are the emails and any multimedia stored on the target device. mSpy also remains in stealth mode and does not show up on the target phone when searched for.
mSpy is compatible with Android devices running version 4 and up and has two iOS versions – jailbreak and non-jailbreak. The jailbreak version works with devices running iOS 7–9.1, and the non-jailbreak versions support all iOS versions.
mSpy charges a premium for its features, although most apps on this list perform similarly on cheaper plans. That is perhaps why the application has a niche following, as now many would be willing to shell out the company’s asking price for the app. They only have one plan available, but pricing can be dependent on the length of the subscription. For instance, if you’re wanting to test mSpy out for a month only, it’ll cost you $48.99. Their 3-month plan sets you back $27.99/month, and their 12-month plan offers the best savings, coming in at $11.66/month.
A walkthrough video of mSpy that highlights its primary features can be a great option when making a purchase decision.
mSpy is generally lauded by its user base and has a solid showing in the reviews as well. The app does have a few niggles though especially when it comes to customer service and support but has an overall positive rating.
This high-end mobile spy app to track Android phones can aid you to safeguard your children and business interests. It lets you view browsing history, saved videos, and photos. Furthermore, like other hidden spying tools, you can record phone calls and get the location of the device. In case of an issue, you can seek instant help by connecting with Mobi's live chat support staff.
MobiStealth is tamper-proof. That ensures the app keeps running in the background at all times. Getting the app installed on the device is relatively easy. Once installed, the app begins to collect information without ado. You can view calls, text messages, access calendar entries, remotely control the device as well as the installed applications.
MobiStealth’s official website doesn’t describe which Android operating systems this software supports. As a result, it’s hard to say which specific devices you can tap with this tool.
The 12-month basic Pro plan of MobiStealth can be bought for $119.99, while the premium Pro-X package can be subscribed for $179.99.
Here is a walkthrough video of Mobistealth that showcases its primary features:
MobiStealth is generally praised for its features and functionality but does fall flat on some occasions. These reviews paint it in a generally favorable light, but the app has its unique drawbacks too.
Another worthy contender on this list is Spyera. It is designed to offer a variety of cell phone monitoring features. Some characteristics of this include listening to the device surroundings, location tracking, eavesdropping on phone conversations undetectably, accessing text messages and emails, chats, MMS, and contact details.
Spyera offers all the features one would expect from the latest breed of discrete mobile tracking apps. You can find some additional and advanced features. For instance, the app can also tap into BBM messages. Setting up the app also doesn’t take too long, but it requires rooting.
Spyera is compatible with all Android operating systems, including the 11 version but also requires rooting to take full advantage of its feature set.
The yearly license fee for a smartphone is $389. However, if you are looking to tap into someone’s Android tablet, the charges will be slightly less, $249 for 12 months.
Find out what SpyEra’s features are through this walkthrough video:
The SpyEra app has negative reviews that comprise about 40% of the total customer feedback and this isn’t a good look for any company. The monitoring app has been known to function but has its own unique set of problems that make it a tricky pick for most customers.
Next on the list is Spyzie. It lets you retrieve extensive details relating to the monitored device without blowing your cover. And it doesn’t even require you to root the device. The app can be used to track location, contacts, call logs, text messages, and much more. It also can keep tabs on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.
Advanced features such as keylogger, screen capture, call recording, ambient recording, and others make it a valuable solution for parents who want to keep a check on the itsy-bitsy details of their children’s cell phone use. The greatest part is this efficient software stays 100 percent invisible on the target device as the app icon disappears once you install it on the desired device.
That said, you are required to access the target device manually to set up the program.
Spyzie is compatible with Android 4.0 Oreo and up. Their website isn’t entirely clear on the exact OS versions.
On this frontier, it seems like Spyzie is truly enchasing its status as one of the elites in its category for Android around. It has two subscription plans for users: Ultimate Edition and Premium Edition. The Ultimate Edition offers limited features, so the yearly license will cost you $89.88 a month. Whereas the Premium Edition lets you up the ante with a huge cache of features. As a result, the price is also steep, i.e., $99.99 for a year’s license.
On SiteJabber, Spyzie has an average consumer rating of 2.26 stars from 130 recorded reviews. This would show that the app hasn’t lived up to its claim and some have even called the company’s marketing deceptive.
Highster Mobile caused some serious stir in the segment when it was first made available, thanks to its one-time payment solution. Though the range of supported devices isn’t too big, this cell phone probing software offers a variety of features to keep tabs on your workforce and children. You can see a call history log, record phone calls, view text messages, activate the microphone on the target device, find its GPS location, access stored multimedia files, and view browsing history.
The thing about Highster Mobile is that it can be installed in various ways. For instance, you can choose to type an address on the browser of the target device, scan the app’s QR code or use a Bluetooth/USB cable to transfer it from your personal computer.
Highster Mobile works with nearly all the phones and tablets running Android operating systems 3.0 and up. Their official website states that it works on all Google devices, but your mileage may vary if you have any of the newest phones.
Highster Mobile is available for a $70 one-time fee. Meaning, you can use it as long as you want. However, it’s a bad deal for people who want to use it in the short term.
Weeding out customer reviews that aren’t spam for Highster Mobile is a tricky task in itself. Judging which to believe from the remaining seemingly-real reviews is trickier still. SiteJabber is riddled with fake reviews, and Trustpilot often has contradictory ones.
TheTruthSpy is a popular Android tracking app that proffers all the basic spying features you want to keep a check on your workers’ and young ones’ activities. You can leverage it to monitor call logs, messages, internet usage, contacts info, and social network activities. It lets you monitor Facebook, WhatsApp, and Viber, but it cannot view emails.
The GPS location tracking function of TheTruthSpy allows you to find out the whereabouts of the monitored person without invading their privacy. It records everything that is typed on the target device with the keylogging feature. Furthermore, you can use the app to receive instant notifications, see app usage, and send SMS commands to perform a specific action.
TheTruthSpy’s official forum provides a spreadsheet with all the devices supported. While they cover major brands, it is unclear if they support devices running Google’s OS version 11. Also, it's unclear if it still supports previous versions of the OS.
TheTruthSpy offers three different plans: Standard, Premium, and Gold. While the standard package proffers limited features and is priced at $21.99 a month, the Premium plan requires you to pay $25.99 a month to avail of some high-end features. The Gold plan is your ticket to get all the features.
Unfortunately, TheTruthSpy doesn’t seem to perform as advertised. If you base your purchase decision on customer reviews, you’d be hard-pressed to find a solid reason to go for this app.
Cocospy may not be the most elite Android spy around, but it is a well-known alternative that is typically used by parents to keep tabs on their kids. The developers market these programs to parents as well. Nevertheless, it offers an impressive set of functions, just like the other alternatives in this list. For example, you can view call logs, read text messages, monitor the phone’s location in real-time, view all contacts and installed apps, and go through web browsing history. Furthermore, it can be used to view all photos and videos saved on the phone, receive alerts on SIM-card changes, and register keystrokes with the keylogger. It also keeps an eye on a vast range of instant messaging platforms such as Instagram, WeChat, Telegram, LINE, Kik, Tinder, Skype, WhatsApp, and Facebook.
Cocospy supports all Google devices running version 4.0 and higher. It is unclear if support for the latest version 12 release is supported, though.
There are three different subscription options available with Cocospy. The basic version provides very limited features but comes with a very affordable price tag of USD 8.33 a month. The premium version is also highly affordable, costing just USD 9.99 per month. A family version that costs USD 16.66 per month is also available. It offers premium features and allows installation on three different devices.
Cocospy has very few reviews on the internet despite its website claiming over 4000 reviews listed. And the ones that exist are a mixed bag, too, with some users complaining about refunds and lack of service as the main reason for low ratings.
The SpyBubble is a competitive offer that trades blows with the others but is still at the bottom of our list. However, it offers flexible packages tailored to meet the needs of those who want to keep tabs on multiple devices. When it comes to functions, though, The SpyBubble is not the most impressive. As for the available features, the app can be used to record phone calls and track phone locations. Similarly, it can monitor messages exchanged via popular instant messaging and social media platforms. A keylogging feature, along with an internet browsing history service is available too.
The SpyBubble supports Android phones running on versions above 4.0. Moreover, it can be installed on both Windows and macOS computers.
The SpyBubble offers two subscription options to choose from. The personal plan costs USD 24.95 per month and can be used only on a single device. The professional plan costs USD 49.95 a month and can be installed on five different phones. Both versions offer the same set of features.
We couldn’t find any resources directing us to either Trustpilot or SiteJabber for The SpyBubble and this does cast an eerie shadow over the application and its performance. Judging from what material we could find online for it though, most people are still on the fence about its usability.
uMobix brands itself as an advanced cell phone tracker for parents and has support for smartphones and tablets. Its main selling point is that the app is very easy to set up and only requires 5 minutes to boot.
uMobix can be used for a variety of situations. Parents can block devices, access the keylogger functionality, monitor social media apps, and much more. The app also allows access to all the deleted messages on the target device.
And with its auto-update feature, parents wouldn’t need to worry about ever running outdated versions of the application.
The uMobix app works with all the newer devices running the latest Android firmware and has support for iOS devices, too.
uMobix is on the expensive side, however. We’ve detailed the costs below:
uMobix has generally favorable reviews with most customers happy with its customer service. Many have had positive experiences with the app and this is replicated in the reviews online as well.
Clevguard markets itself as a monitoring solution for phones, tablets, and computers and is a unique addition to our list. The ability to monitor computers and laptops is a first, and Clevguard does it remarkably well. The app seems to cater to parents for child monitoring and considers employee tracking as an afterthought. This element can be seen in their features as well which seem to be targeted towards parents more than business owners. Still, the app is a solid performer with most use-cases and apps covered.
Clevguard supports Android phones and iOS phones too but specific version information is unavailable. The app can be installed on Windows as well which supports Windows 7, 8, and 10.
Clevguard has five plans. KidsGuard Parental Control starts at $9.99/month and costs $49.99 for the year. KidsGuard Pro for Android starts from $29.95/month, KidsGuard Pro for iOS starts from $39.95/month, KidsGuard for WhatsApp starts from $19.95, and finally, KidsGuard Pro for iCloud starts from $29.95.
Most of Clevguard’s reviews online are positive, but negative reviews make up a startling portion as well. That indicates a mixed favorability score, but the company has been praised for its features and prompt customer service.
Hoverwatch is a great addition to the list, and although it rivals some of the more prominent offerings on the list, it struggles to make it to the top. It has all the basics covered but is let down with its premium price tag which many would find hard to swallow. Take its enterprise packages, for instance, that can run you anywhere from $149.95/month to around $500 for the year! With cheaper alternatives on the list, Hoverwatch should provide features unique to it. The app does have the ability to track most data from smartphones and even features keylogging products for Windows and macOS.
Hoverwatch supports Android phones running on version 4.0 and higher. It can also be installed on both Windows and macOS computers.
Hoverwatch has three plans: Personal, Professional, and Business. The personal plan starts from $24.95/month, the professional from $49.95/month, and the business plan starts from $149.95/month.
Hoverwatch doesn’t have any reviews on popular platforms, but we did manage to find a few that lauded the app’s features. However, there was a substantial number of people complaining about the app not working as intended after purchasing it.
pcTattletale makes the list with its unique feature-set and ability to track phones and tablets alike. As its name would suggest, the application is tailor-made for PC and laptop use as well and can silently monitor every activity on the target device. The app does this by constantly recording the screen of the target device and presenting the daily use in a video format. While this opens up doors for all sorts of information, the monitor cannot interact with any of the information and only view it. That knocks it off quite a few places on our list as more control over specific apps or programs would’ve been better.
pcTattletale can work on Windows machines and phones running Android and iOS. Specific compatibility versions aren’t mentioned on the website, however.
pcTattletale can monitor three devices regardless of their platforms or operating systems for an entire year with one $99 payment.
Some have branded pcTattletale as a genuine product that works as advertised while others call it "stalkerware." That shows that the methods employed by the app aren’t the most honest and forthcoming as they may seem. Still, the app is well-received by critics.
Qustodio is the all-in-one parental control and digital wellbeing application and has support for a wide range of devices. The app can work on Windows, macOS, Chromebook, Android, iOS, and Kindle devices. Qustodio markets itself as a primarily parental monitoring solution and may have features that could benefit employers left out. Due to this, the app ranks last on our list. Couple that with the expensive plans on offer, and the application is not going to be anyone’s top priority. However, Qustodio can be deployed in schools and educational institutions as well making it a unique offering on the list.
Qustodio works on a great many devices. It supports phones (Android and iOS), Chromebooks, iPads, and Windows and Mac laptops and machines.
Qustodio has three plans: small, medium, and large. The mall plan starts at $54.95/year, the medium at $96.95/year, and the large at $137.95/year.
PCMag gave the application a 4 out of 5, but that can be easily spoofed. Where user reviews are concerned, Qustodio is a mixed bag with a borderline average score. The number of people complaining about the app is the same as the number of people praising it.
With technological advancements, it is a haven for installable programs to monitor phones, and for that reason, we get to see a lot of contenders vying for a spot in your app drawer. However, Xnspy’s extensive and expansive features make this a no-brainer. The app may not have the biggest list of features but, it does have all the necessary ones, including many exclusives (like the Call Time Activity Punch Card, actuarial reports for most frequent callers and frequently-visited websites, etc.), which could save you hours of your daily time—that time which you otherwise would be spending sifting through every phone log, one by one. Xnspy is easy to use, delivers consistent performance, and offers an extensive array of features with relatively fewer limitations.
Does the name sound familiar? Of course, it does. It rhymes with the first entry on our aforementioned list on our list, i.e., Xnspy. It’s common for an app as popular as Xnspy to have copycats. But be careful not to take your cards out for this version because there’s no guarantee what else could you lose apart from your money when you download some unreliable application on their phone. The target phone user could get into many different types of trouble. Their personal information could be extracted from their devices by this shady app and then sold off the internet or used for extortion. So beware and don’t try "XpSpy" when you can get the legitimate version with advanced features, a minimal price, and 24/7 customer support.
There’s not just a single copycat who’s trying to profit from the name of the flagship app to monitor phones out there. XySpy is just another flawed app that you shouldn’t try at all. But we had to tell because it's easy getting scammed when you miss out on tiny details, like the difference of only one letter between the original and fake app's names.
Yes, they work, and they work pretty well, considering you have the right one for the job. However, even the premier applications to spy on Android now come with numerous asterisks, indicating either a bunch of prerequisites or discontinued features. Additionally, some only work on rooted devices, while others don’t support the latest OS versions. Make sure you have the ideal app to monitor your phones like Xnspy to get it done. Our app works with all Android devices. Plus, rooting is only optional.
All Android applications require one-time access to the target phone during which the installation is done. This is different on iOS, however, where you can install spy apps on iPhone without software. Android is limited in this way and thus, one-time access is needed. Once the app is installed, you wouldn't need access to it anymore. Everything happens remotely, and all the access and controls are available on your web account. Xnspy is the all-around flagship version for your requirements. Our app comes with top-notch support and development teams who are always there to make your experience a great one.
Installing applications remotely isn’t possible for now. Users would require access to something similar to malware for that purpose which goes beyond the legal and ethical boundaries of monitoring someone’s smartphone. We always recommend taking the other party’s consent before you install such spy apps remotely to ensure an amicable experience.
There are a great many monitoring apps for WhatsApp available today, but the decision to purchase one boils down to your propensity to pay. If you're looking to pry on WhatsApp chats, we recommend going for Xnspy, which can get it done for you for as little as USD 4.99.
The best monitoring tools don’t go by their name once installed on a phone, so you’d be better off using some guesswork. Look for any unusual applications or programs installed on your phone. Some of these might not be good at hiding and may leave traces, like a shortcut. Other times, these programs may disguise as some calculator or a weather app. Others may very well hide on your phone without leaving any traces. Check for any unusual activity on your phone. This could include abnormal heating of your cell phone or your phone’s screen switching on or off on its own. You will also find your data plan running out sooner or your battery draining faster. If you find any of these signs on your phone, go for factory resetting your phone, and it will delete even the most stubbornly hidden versions of this app.
Yes, factory resetting your device will remove any apps installed to spy on your phone.
No, it’s not likely to happen. However, many premier monitoring apps allow you to optionally upload backups only when the device is either connected to power or Wi-Fi.
All Android devices are compatible with the app, including 4.x, 5.x, 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10, 11, 12, 13 The devices compatible with the app include phones and tablets.
Keylogging is short for keystroke logging. This feature monitors the keystrokes on the device. With Xnspy, the keylogger feature works on applications such as WhatsApp, Skype, Viber, Facebook, and Facebook Messenger. Hence, you can monitor all the outgoing messages on the device.
To download and install the app, you need physical access to the device. This is common amongst all applications in this category. After you have subscribed to Xnspy, a download link will be sent to your email account. Open the link on the device that you want to install the app on. After the file is downloaded, you can simply install the app just like any other app downloaded from the internet.
The team at Xnspy is committed to improving the user experience and offering the most full feature set. Hence, the app is regularly updated. To update the app on the phone, you need to reinstall the app on the device.
If the phone is connected to Wi-Fi, you will receive live updates. If the device is not connected to the Wi-Fi, you will not receive live updates. To change this setting, log into your Xnspy account. Select Settings, and go to Toggle Features. Scroll to the end of the list, and turn off “Upload Media Content on Wi-Fi.”
Limited Time Offer