Mobile spy apps have always been around, and their utility has undoubtedly expanded every year.
Before you decide which mobile spying app is worth your money, here are some essential or in other words basic features that must be available in your app:
Some of the top hidden spy apps even feature advanced features like notifications for specific device usage, keyword monitoring, and even ambient listening.
The most common use of spy apps today is in their deployment for child safety. Parents use them to know the whereabouts and digital activities of their kids and to curb any instances of online harassment, sexual abuse, scams, and bullying. Spy apps have become a very popular first line of defense for parents the world over.
Employers and business owners also find utility in these monitoring applications. Since cybercrime and business data is the most pertinent issue facing enterprises. Knowing that most of these attacks are caused by internal bad actors and human negligence, spy apps can be a useful deterrent to protect company secrets.
The bottom line is that the utility of spy apps is growing with time, and as the digital and real lives intermix, their use will only become more widespread.
Before you decide which mobile spying app is worth your money, here are some essential or in other words basic features that must be available in your app:
Is it compatible with the OS of your phone? It can be either Android or iPhone. You also have to see if the program supports your phone.
GPS tracking system lets you track the location of the target phone. A mobile spying app should have this as a crucial feature since you will be interested to know the whereabouts of your children or even employees.
These are the most basic features to look for in cell phone spying apps, as it is these conversations that can let you get to the bottom of some issue. Plus, some advanced programs let you intercept calls and the surroundings of the phones too. If you can get these features at a good price, then it is totally worth it.
Since it is spying software, it must be capable of working in discrete mode. You must be able to install it on the target device and be sure it will monitor things for you without being visible on the phone.
A cheap smartphone spy software will give you cheap features, and a pricey one will give you quality features. But that does not mean you should buy a costly spying software. If it is actually offering great features and it is justifying the price, you can readily go for it.
Since there is a huge variety of mobile tracker apps these days, you will, of course, have a lot of companies to choose from. Before you purchase any of the best undetectable spy apps, it is recommended to do your homework to be sure you have made the right choice. Here are some tips that will help you pick the right company:
The product itself may be good, but if the customer support is not good, you may never be able to make the most of the product itself. If the website offers live chat support, test it. Ask a few questions related to the phone spy app and see if they are handled efficiently. Similarly, if a phone number is provided on the website, make sure it's functional.
The website doesn't just give you a bigger picture of the product but the company itself. A decent company will always have a comprehensive website. Along with having details about the product, its features, tutorials, FAQs, guides, etc., also have information about the company, its location, and availability of support. Make sure the website has Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimer sections. Reading these pages will clear your head and help you decide whether to make a purchase or not.
If a digital product bought online doesn't come with a sound refund policy, then the risk of you losing your money gets pretty high. Because you never really know how the product would turn out to be unless you have already used it. The challenge with online cell phone spying tools is that not many companies offer a free trial. Why? Because that free trial is most of the time enough for many people. Keeping that contingency into consideration, many top spy apps rather offer a fully-functional online demo in place for the free trial. Xnspy also has an impressive live demo that you could give a try before making a final purchase decision.
A lot of people don’t take this into account but you should always consider the location of the company you are buying the mobile tracker tool from. Choose the company that’s located in your own country so that you don’t have to face time zone constraints. The location of the company also tells about its reliability and quality of services.
We hope that this guide came as an answer to most of your questions related to the 12 greatest mobile spy apps. The purpose of creating this review was to make your decision easier and choose the right phone spy software.
Yes, and they work incredibly well. While some do have constant issues like some of the bottom tier options on our list, the ones listed higher have a great reputation of working accurately and without fail. You can use these apps for a myriad of uses too. A cell phone spy app has many features and selecting the one that works almost all the time can be a tricky decision. Our aforementioned list makes decision-making easier.
The best spy apps for smartphones work after an initial setup. While some devices may need root access or jailbreaking, most work without much tinkering. For Android, side loading the app is the way to install and for iOS, entering the iCloud credentials can get you up and running. After this, the control panel regularly gets updates from the phone and is displayed for the user.
Yes, it is 100% legal. However, the app’s user is responsible for how they intend to use the app. Moreover, if you wish to use the app for monitoring children or employees, the device must belong to you or the company, respectively. For children below the age of 18, the app is legal to be used without consent in most US states. However, we do advise you to check with your local surveillance laws before using a spy app. To use the app for employee monitoring, the employer must inform the employee. But using the spying software to monitor your partner, spouse, or any other person without their consent is outright illegal.
At present, no spying or monitoring app can be installed remotely and require physical access to the device you want to install it on. This limitation is due to the nature of the operating system (Android and iOS) that disables any app to be installed remotely. A workaround for iOS devices is present which can allow you to spy on any iPhone or iPad if you have the iCloud credentials for the account these devices are signed in with.
While some online services can get you the registration number and sometimes, even the approximate location of the number, it is incredibly difficult to spy on a phone using just the phone number. This is why these programs require installation and an active internet connection to constantly send information and track activity to the host user.
Apps
Rating
Features Offered
Price
XNSPY
9.7/10
30+
Basic: $4.99/month
Premium: $7.49/month
mSpy
9.0/10
25+
Basic: $26.99/month
Premium: $59.99/month
uMobix
8.5/10
22+
$49.99/month
Clevguard aka Kidsguard Pro
8.1/10
20+
KidsGuard Pro for Android: $27.99/month
KidsGuard Pro for iOS: $34.99/month
Flexispy
7.8/10
18+
Lite: $29.95/month
Premium: $68/month
Extreme: $199/quarter
XNSPY
9.7/10
30+
Basic: $4.99/month
Premium: $7.49/month
mSpy
9.0/10
25+
Basic: $26.99/month
Premium: $59.99/month
uMobix
8.5/10
22+
$49.99/month
Hoverwatch
7.4/10
18+
Personal: $24.95/month
Professional: $49.95/month
Business: $149.95/month
MobileSpy
7.0/10
15+
Monthly: $19
Quarterly: $49
Bi-annually: $79
Cocospy
6.7/10
15+
Family: $99.99/month
Business: $399.99/month
Spyera
6.2/10
12+
Smartphone: $89/month
Tablet: $69/month
All-in-one: $479/year
Spyzie
5.7/10
12+
Ultimate: $49.99/month
Premium: $39.99/month
iOS: $49.99/month
Qustodio
5.0/10
10+
$55/year
MobiStealth
4.5/10
10+
Android Pro X: $26.66/month
Premium Plus for iOS: $40/month
Clevguard aka Kidsguard Pro
8.1/10
20+
KidsGuard Pro for Android: $27.99/month
KidsGuard Pro for iOS: $34.99/month
Flexispy
7.8/10
18+
Lite: $29.95/month
Premium: $68/month
Extreme: $199/quarter
Hoverwatch
7.4/10
18+
Personal: $24.95/month
Professional: $49.95/month
Business: $149.95/month
MobileSpy
7.0/10
15+
Monthly: $19
Quarterly: $49
Bi-annually: $79
Cocospy
6.7/10
15+
Family: $99.99/month
Business: $399.99/month
Spyera
6.2/10
12+
Smartphone: $89/month
Tablet: $69/month
All-in-one: $479/year
Spyzie
5.7/10
12+
Ultimate: $49.99/month
Premium: $39.99/month
iOS: $49.99/month
Qustodio
5.0/10
10+
$55/year
MobiStealth
4.5/10
10+
Android Pro X: $26.66/month
Premium Plus for iOS: $40/month
Xnspy is the industry’s leading mobile monitoring app. It’s the app’s combination of advanced spying features, affordable pricing, and 24/7 customer support that all serve up to make Xnspy the ideal phone monitoring software. Xnspy is not just your surveillance tool for the children but your employees, too. It has everything to keep you updated about their activities in real-time. Some of its incredible features include monitoring phone calls and messages, access to instant messenger chats and multimedia sent via these chats, GPS location tracking (this includes monitoring of specific locations, current location, location history, and geofencing), email and browser monitoring, recording of phone calls and surroundings, remotely controlling the target phone, and lot more. Xnspy has introduced a few advanced spying features, too, and those include Keylogger, Wi-Fi logs, and WhatsApp monitoring without rooting. The monitoring software keeps on getting better and better. But that's not all! If your fixation for spying needs a frenzy, keep on reading because there's still a lot to be discovered about the best-hidden spy apps.
It is not just the features of Xnspy that make it an incredible choice, but also its compatibility. The developers of the program are very good at keeping up with the changes in technology. It is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. For iOS, Jailbreak and no-Jailbreak versions are offered, too, so that every device owner can use this app without any limitations.
Xnspy is an attractive option because of its price, too. It comes in two packages: Xnspy Basic and Xnspy Premium. The Basic Edition costs $4.99 a month, and the Premium Edition costs $7.49 a month. These prices, compared to other similar options, are shockingly low. Plus, most of the other options that you would read about here don't have enough to match Xnspy on their features either.
mSpy is another option that is used as a cell phone monitoring app. The app is primarily used as a parental monitoring app. Compared with other apps, mSpy offers a limited number of features. It offers all the basic features that other alternatives offer, such as monitoring emails, text messages, browser history, call logs, contact lists, multimedia files, location tracking, etc. In addition to this, you can remotely control programs and programs. However, it does not offer advanced features such as call or surroundings recorders. Because of the limited number of features that this stealth app offers, it ranks at number 2 in our list of 12 great mobile spy apps.
Users of the app can install mSpy on Android cell phones and tablets. The app is compatible with Android as well as iOS devices. The app is compatible with Android OS 4 and above. To avail of the advanced features offered by the app, you need to root your Android device. The app is compatible with all iOS devices from iOS 7 and up.
The subscription plans offered by mSpy are expensive. For the number of features that the app offers, the pricing for mSpy does not seem justified. For the Basic subscription plan, you only have the option for a monthly subscription. However, for Premium packages, you can purchase them on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. The pricings of the subscription plans are mentioned as follows:
uMobix functions as another portable mobile spy that has immense potential. The app's website advertises it as a cell phone tracker for modern parents, and the claims aren't too far from the truth. Like the other entries on the list, uMobix allows for real-time tracking of a phone and supports a wide range of social media and instant messaging applications, too. It also has advanced features such as a built-in keylogger and geolocation tracking capabilities which make it one of the best spy apps for smartphone. The phone spy software supports Android and iOS devise too, making it ideal for a vast number of people regardless of operating systems in use.
uMobix users can install the app on Android and iOS platforms. Their support also extends to Android tablets and iPads. Devices running Android versions 4+ and iOS devices, running any version of the OS can run this phone tracking app.
uMobix is slightly on the costlier side, especially if you choose to pay by the month. Their plans are priced at $49.99/month (billed monthly), $27.99/month (billed quarterly), and $11.99/month (billed yearly). All payments are made upfront.
If you are looking for an office phone monitoring solution or parental control, Clevguard has all the right tools for you. It works with both Android and iOS, with extensive social media monitoring on the former.
Clevguard also comes with remote controls as that of Xnspy, like the ability to take screenshots or record calls, remotely. Additionally, Clevfguard can take secret photos too, just like Flexispy. All in all, Kidsguard Pro is a great app for your daily monitoring needs.
There are no device compatibility-related details on the website but what we do is that Clevguard is compatible with Android, iOS, and PC.
Clevguard has distinct plans for various operating systems. We’ve tabled the four plans below:
Flexispy is, without a doubt, one of the top alternatives that work with both iOS and Android. We love Flexispy for its expansive, and exclusive features, including the ability to access the camera on a phone, keylogging, and so on. And while Flexispy may have a bigger list of features, we weren't convinced to put this app on the number 1 spot. For instance, some of the Flexispy features are deemed unethical, like its ability to access a phone's camera, or with the keylogger, their passwords can be stolen. And not to forget, Flexispy comes at an eye-watering price of $349.
FlexiSPY provides 3 different plans to its users according to their budget and need. The Lite plan is available for $29.95/month with access to a few features. The Premium plan costs $68/month and the Extreme plan has access to all the features at $199/quarter.
Hoverwatch is one of the best spy apps for mobile phones and PCs available today. The monitoring app has a whole host of features that anyone could find utility in. Parents can use this cell phone monitoring tool to keep tabs on their children’s digital activities and employers can use it to safeguard corporate data and secrets.
The Hoverwatch app claims to be a free mobile tracker but requires a payment plan to get started. This can throw people off when signing up and expecting a free trial at the very least. Still, its impressive catalog of features and the fact that it remains completely invisible when operating make it a capable tool in anyone's arsenal.
Hoverwatch also has a separate keylogger tool for Windows devices which can be helpful for people looking to keep an account of all activity on a laptop or Windows tablet.
Hoverwatch works on Android versions 6 and up and supports Windows and macOS too. At the moment there is no support for iOS devices, which means iPhones and iPads users are out of luck.
There are three plans to choose from. Personal (for 1 device), Professional (for 5 devices), and Business (for 25 devices). The Personal plan starts from $24.95/month, $59.95 (billed quarterly), and $99.95 (billed yearly). Similarly, the Professional Plan starts from $49.95/month, $99.95 (billed quarterly), and $199.95 (billed yearly). And lastly, the Business plan starts from $149.95/month, $299.95 (billed quarterly), and $499.95 (billed yearly).
MobileSpy is a great package for smartphones that need spy software on them discreetly. The app is one of the most-praised monitoring tools that cater to individuals, businesses, and schools due to its extensive feature set and options. With MobileSpy, you have access to Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat, and most of the other popular social media and instant messaging apps.
You can track location using the phone and even see the networks the device may be connected to at any given time. The app does not, however, monitor popular dating applications which can be one of the biggest reasons any parent would want their child’s cell phone with a tracker on it.
According to the app’s website, MobileSpy works on all Android and iOS devices regardless of OS version.
There are three plans to choose from that differ in the subscription time only. The first is for 1 month that costs $19, the second for 3 months that costs $49, and the last for 6 months which costs $79.
Cocospy is a solid option for anyone looking for parental control and tracking app. This cellphone spy software has handy features that enable it to work seamlessly cross-platform. The company also positions its product as an employee monitoring tool. Although its true potential may be limited for home use due to its high price for enterprise-level use.
Cocospy’s feature set makes it one of the best cell phone spy apps currently in the market today. With it, users can spy on popular social media and instant messengers like Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. Call and SMS tracking are available, too, and the app works in stealth mode throughout. That makes it completely invisible on the device it is installed on. It has a few aces up its sleeve, too, like tracking SIM card locations and geofencing.
Cocospy works on Android 4.0 and higher and can work on any iOS device, as it requires the iCloud credentials to enable.
Cocospy has three plans for Android devices. The Basic for Android starts at $39.99/month, Premium for Android comes in at $49.99/month, and Family for Android is billed at $69.99. If you want it on iPhone and iOS devices, you have three plans to choose from. The premium iOS version starts at $49.99/month, Family for iOS comes in at $99.99/month, and Business for iOS is billed at $399.99/month.
Spyera is one of the more popular options available that enables you to convert any phone into a spy phone. Spyera positions itself as one of the leading options on the market for Android and iPhones and is advertised as an enterprise and family solution. The app can remotely monitor not just phones but is also one of the few options that can work on Windows and Mac devices, too.
Spyera can monitor calls, texts, and any activity that is logged using the device's keyboard using its keylogger tool. The spy app remains hidden in the background during operation and also supports a wide variety of instant messengers, social media apps, and email clients. You can also use this spy app for smartphone and computers to locate the device and browse through media files installed on them.
Spyera works on all Android OS devices up till version 12 and may require root for some features. iOS devices running version 14 and below are supported, and jailbreaking is required for iPhone monitoring. It also supports Windows 7, 8, and 10, and Mac version till Big Sur.
The app offers separate pricing for devices. Their smartphone plan costs $89/month, the tablet plan runs $69/month, and the computer plan costs $49/month. You can also opt to get the complete all-in-one plan that includes all devices and costs $479/year.
Here comes another popular mobile spy app of 2024 that helps you record the messages of the victim, their call log, monitor IM chats, web browsing history, keylogger, GPS tracking, geo-fencing, and a lot more. It is capable of running in complete stealth mode, so don't worry. If you want to secretly snoop on someone, this cell phone monitoring software won't let you down. The greatest part is you don't need to root the device or jailbreak to make it work. It offers some nice and intricate features like video preview and capturing screenshots. Some of these advanced features are not being offered by other competitive options. It's a great app when it comes to features but there are some complaints about its functionality.
Android version of Spyzie has two editions. The Ultimate Edition version costs $49.99 a month and it comes with fully functional features. The Premium Version costs $39.99 version but it has restricted functionality. The iOS version’s license costs $49.99 a month. Spyzie appears to be an attractive mobile spying app with tons of features because it is quite pricey. Only the Ultimate Edition offers all functional features. All functions are not operational on the iOS version.
When we talk about parental controls, Qustudio is the name that resonates with us. If you are looking to monitor your children, this might just be the perfect solution. You can set limitations on your children’s screen time, or block other programs or websites that they browse. However, an app as good as Qustodio still has a few caveats of its own.
For one, you can’t use this app secretively. But why would you? There are many instances where you have to hide from your child that you are overseeing their activity. When kids are susceptible and engaging in dangerous activities online, and know that they are being watched, they might temporarily act normal. If your child is experiencing bullying, depression, or getting exposed to porn, overtly monitoring their activity might not provide you with unbiased results since many children are good at hiding things.
Qustodio works with Windows, Android, iOS, and Kindle devices. They even have the feature to enable safe browsing on Chrome through their Chrome extension.
Qustodio is very price-friendly. It comes at USD 55 yearly, and you can monitor up to 5 devices under a single subscription.
MobiStealth is also one of the premium offerings in 2024 that come with a broad range of spying features. It is available in three different packages starting from basic to advanced monitoring features. So the features it is offering include viewing text messages, application lists, monitoring chat messengers, web browsing, track location, emails, pictures, keylogging, surround recording, call recording, and Gmail logging. It offers mobile and computer monitoring, making it a perfect choice for business owners. MobiStealth's PC monitoring toolkit can help you protect your interests by providing continuous monitoring of all online activities. You will be paying around $0.50 a day for these features. No wonder it's among the top cell phone spy software.
MobiStealth supports Android, iPhone and iPad, PC, and macOS.
MobiStealth's basic Versions for each of the devices mentioned above offer only basic spying features. You will have to go for the Premium Versions to avail all features. In that case, the app will become really expensive for anyone, whether it is parents or employers, and in the long run, it can break the bank of an average person.
The mobile spy app that we would recommend to anyone who is looking for the most premium features, affordability, and reliability is XNSPY! We have made our recommendation by analyzing and comparing the features of Xnspy with other great alternatives for phones. So, here is what makes Xnspy the right choice:
Xnspy works on all the latest operating systems for both Android, iPad, and iPhones. If you want to monitor an Android 12 device, all features of Xnspy will readily work on it. Similar is the case with Xnspy for iPhone. You will see lots of contenders on the list that either only support Jailbroken iPhones or their advanced monitoring features don't work on iPhone, to begin with. That's not a problem with Xnspy. It also offers a separate version for devices that are already jailbroken. The developers continue to update the software to keep up with the updates in the operating systems.
Xnspy is top when it comes to value for money. You might find options like MobiStealth and Spyzie attractive but after a month or so, these become hard to afford for an average person. On the other hand, even the premium edition of Xnspy is the most affordable among all cell phone spying apps if we compare it with the features being offered. Advanced monitoring in the form of alerts, geofencing, surround recording and ambient recording come at the price of $14 a month. Similarly, some apps are offering unique features like video call monitoring, keylogger, remote picture, and video capturing but, to use them, you have to root or jailbreak your device or pay a lot of money. But Xnspy is a package of all essential monitoring features that come at an affordable price.
Customer support provided by Xnspy is quite reliable. They are offering 24/7 live chat support. The website offers tutorials, live demo versions, and comprehensive how-to guides on all features which makes it easier for any user to understand the app. The FAQ section contains answers to most of the questions customers would want to know. However, if you can’t find answers to your queries or you are facing technical difficulties, you will always find support agents to assist you. Xnspy is always on top of the game to hear and address the concerns of its valued customers.
Take a look at these features and then see if any app is offering all these at an affordable price.
Xnspy monitors the live location of the device on Android. If the phone is connected to the internet, you will receive regular updates on your account. Xnspy provides details on the previous as well as the current location. It includes the address, longitudinal, and latitudinal coordinates. Users can also mark locations as safe or unsafe.
The top undetectable spy apps can be very difficult to spot during regular use of a device. And since most are incredibly well-hidden, there’s no sure way of knowing you’re being spied on. Most guides on spotting spyware on your phone direct users to monitor data usage and unusual battery drain as these are the most common side effects of a spy app.
Spy phones were reserved for governments and intelligence agencies for the longest time, but with the advancements in technology, anyone can spy on a phone. Using a phone spying app like the ones mentioned in the list above is the surefire way to get access to any device it is installed on. These spying apps get better with time and consistently become harder to detect with much more advanced features.
Free cell phone spy apps do not work in stealth mode and can be found in the Android app drawer or the application's list in the Setting's menu. But sophisticated ones are hard to detect and locate. Xnspy is a great example of an undetectable monitoring software that cannot be located using the device it is installed on. The only way to rid your device of these apps is to perform a reset.
According to our findings, you won't go wrong with any of the mentions on our list of the options for 2025, but if we're being real, XNSPY takes the cake. From a price-to-performance view, it is unbeatable. Couple with the compatibility and frequent updates, it is the most popular option on the market by far. To know more about the other options specifically for Android spying, you can check out this page.
Free versions for stealth spying apps do exist online, but while most simply don't work, others can have intrusive ads and may not also have the same level of development as their paid counterparts. This is especially pertinent as these apps can even steal data from the device they are installed on and can be used as ransomware agents. We recommend always going for a verified and reliable spy app developer like Xnspy.
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