There are different phone tracking apps available. However, how do you find the right one? More importantly, how do you ensure you don’t get scammed?
Don’t worry; we’ve compiled a list that features some of the best phone tracking apps for 2023 and outlined why they are so great and where they lack.
So, sit back, read the list, and see which phone tracking application will work best!
Is Using a Phone Tracking App Without Permission Legal?
Can someone track my phone without my permission? That is a question that the support team at Xnspy regularly gets. So to answer it for once and all, yes, they absolutely can!
But is using a phone tracking app without permission legal? Other than a particular scenario, using a phone tracking app without permission is not legal.
The only instance where using a phone tracking app without permission is legal is if you’re the parent or a legal guardian of a minor (under the age of 18 years) and decide to monitor their phones without informing them.
What about employee monitoring? By law, you must inform your employees that their company devices are being monitored. Failure to inform them can lead you to hard waters. Consent from the monitored party is mandatory for almost all other cases.
Xnspy understands that most people still struggle to grasp the legality and ethicality surrounding phone tracking apps. Therefore, Xnspy is always educating its readers and customers about their rights and how to use its phone monitoring app legally, ethically, and safely – just how it was envisioned to be used! With that in mind, Xnspy regularly conducts webinars and hosts gatherings where industry experts educate about how a phone tracking app is a blessing when used properly.
In addition, Xnspy conducts regular random checks on its users with its AI tool that helps us to generate the user’s profile, thus identifying if the phone tracking app is being used other than its intended purpose. Once an account is flagged, our team performs a detailed investigation and asks for further proof if required.
Now that we have talked about the legal aspect of using cell phone tracking app without permission let’s discuss some of the best phone tracker apps that can be used without permission (but shouldn’t be!), which are currently available:
1. Xnspy
Xnspy is a cell phone tracking app that allows you to take control of someone’s phone to ensure their safety. It works in stealth mode and silently records the data on the target phone, so the target user won’t know that you are tracking their phones.
It keeps updating the dashboard every 30 seconds, thus ensuring that nothing important is missed. In addition, the recorded data can be accessed from the dashboard by logging in with your user account on any other smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
Xnspy’s user interface is very straightforward and can be easily handled by anyone. All the offered features are listed in a drop-down menu so that you can conveniently find any feature you want to use.
It is the best free phone tracker app without permission that Android and iOS users can acquire. The app is compatible with all devices running Android OS 4. x and later, as well as iOS devices running OS 6. x and later. Installing Xnspy on the target device is easy and quick, takes only a few minutes, and doesn’t need to jailbreak or root the device.
If you already have a rooted or jailbroken device, Xnspy still allows you to install the app on the target phone with the same tracking features.
Xnspy Features:
Xnspy has a wide range of features. Here is the list of features that the app offers:
- Read text messages and emails
- View call logs
- Recording calls and surrounding
- Keylogger
- View photos and videos
- Monitor social media and instant messenger chats (WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Viber, Skype, Kik, Line, Tinder, Telegram, or any other application installed on the phone)
- Watch internet browser history
- GPS location tracking and geofencing
- Remote control access
Unfortunately, Xnspy doesn’t come with a free trial option. But if you want to take a look at how the app works, you can use the “Free Demo” option to see how the app functions and how you can track the target phone’s activities.
Pricing:
Xnspy’s monthly subscription plan is available for $35.99 per month, the quarterly subscription plan is available for $20.00 per month, and the yearly subscription plan is available for $7.50 per month.
2. CocoSpy
Cocospy is a phone spy app that monitors numerous activities on the target device. It operates in stealth mode on the target phone, transferring all data to an online web portal without informing users that they are being monitored.
You can log in to your user account on any phone, tablet, or computer and enter credentials to access the recorded data. The app’s user interface is simple to manage. Anyone with a little understanding of computers can work their way through it and observe what the target users are doing on their phones.
The app is compatible with all Android devices running OS 4.0 or above and all iOS devices running iOS 7.0 and above. Cocospy offers a range of features, but unlike Xnspy, a few require you to jailbreak or root the target phone to use them, such as instant message tracking, social media tracking, and screenshots.
CocoSpy Features:
The app’s user interface is straightforward to use for anyone. The app comes with a list of features, including the following:
- GPS tracking
- Read text messages
- Monitor social media
- Access call logs and contact book
- View photos and videos
- See internet browser history
- Keylogger
The Cocospy app does not come with a free trial version, but it does offer you the opportunity to check out a detailed demo on their website.
Pricing:
Android
Basic – $39.99 per month, Premium – $49.99 per month, and Family – $69.99 per month
iOS
Premium – $49.99 per month, Family – $99.99 per month, and Business – $399.99 per month
3. mSpy
mSpy allows you to track someone’s phone calls, text messages, social media activity, instant chats, and location. Once installed on the phone, this phone tracker operates in the background and entirely hides, so the target user is unaware that you are monitoring their activity.
The app then tracks the target user’s phone activity and reports it to your online mSpy account, which you can view from any device. mSpy is dependable, simple to use, and works on iOS and Android devices.
The installation of the app is simple and takes just a few minutes. Besides monitoring Android and iOS devices, mSpy is also Mac and Windows compatible, allowing you to monitor the target user’s computer activity.
mSpy Features:
- Location tracking
- Text messages and email tracking
- IM chat monitoring
- Keylogging
- Call tracking
- Internet browser monitoring
- Geo-fencing
If you choose the non-jailbreak subscription plan, you cannot access several useful features. Including GPS location, emails, device and sim change notifications, geofencing, keyword alerts, remote device lock and wipe, and screen recording.
Furthermore, Android users must root their phones to gain access to useful features such as “Instant Messengers Tracking” and social media tracking. For example, monitoring WhatsApp, Facebook, Skype, Snapchat, Instagram, Viber, and Gmail on Android requires rooting the target device.
Pricing:
The mSpy’s basic subscription plan is available for $48.99 per month, the quarterly plan is available for $27.99 per month, and the yearly subscription plan is available for $11.66 per month.
4. Hoverwatch
Hoverwatch comes in fourth place on our list. It is one of the better cell phone tracking apps without permission. You can install it on any phone you want to track, and it will provide you with all of the information you need about the target user’s activity.
The app works in stealth mode after being installed on the target phone. It keeps the recorded information on an online portal, which you can access anytime from anywhere by logging in to your user account. Besides Android and iOS devices, Hoverwatch also works on Windows and Mac.
Hoverwatch offers a 5-day free trial to get your hands on the app and find out if it suits you.
Moreover, this app’s “unlock selfie” feature makes it different from the other tracking options available on the internet. When a phone is unlocked, it instantly activates the front camera of the target device to shoot a selfie, of course, done in stealth mode. Furthermore, the app doesn’t cause lag or heat the phone while functioning in the background.
Hoverwatch Features:
The following are the features offered by Hoverwatch:
- View call logs and text messages
- GPS location tracking
- Front camera control
- Change SIM card notification
- Watch internet browser history
- Screenshots
The dashboard of the Hoverwatch isn’t convenient to use; it is a bit difficult to use for a person who does not have a technical background. In addition, the installation process of this app can be tedious and takes a lot of time.
Pricing:
Hoverwatch’s personal subscription plan starts from $24.95 per month, a quarterly subscription plan is available for $19.98 per month, and a yearly subscription plan is available for $8.83 per month.
5. Spyic
Spyic is a spying app for iOS and Android smartphones that spies on chat apps, social media account activity, SMS text messaging, email accounts, phone call logs, web browsing histories, stored media like pictures and videos, and calendar events.
The installation process for this app, operating in stealth mode, is simple. Like other phone tracking apps, Spyic also runs in the background without the knowledge of the device user. It keeps the recorded activities of the target users on an online dashboard. The user interface of the app is simple.
Spyic is a comprehensive device monitoring app that can monitor multiple cell phone functions simultaneously.
Spyic Features:
Spyic offers a comprehensive list of spy features without rooting or jailbreaking the target phone.
- GPS location tracking
- SMS monitoring
- Contact Access
- Call monitoring
- Geofencing
- Internet browser history
- View multimedia
However, SPYIC lacks Facebook Messenger and Instagram spying features on iOS devices, and as you’ll see below, it costs quite a lot.
Pricing:
Android
Basic – $39.99 per month, Premium – $49.99 per month, Family – $69.99 per month
iOS
Premium – $49.99 per month, Family – $99.99 per month, Business – $399.99 per month
6. FlexiSpy
FlexiSpy is compatible with Android and iOS devices and is easy to set up and manage if you are a tech person.
Once installed, it operates smoothly. From the app dashboard, you will quickly be able to access all the information about the target phone. You can adjust settings and change parameters quickly and easily.
FlexiSpy offers an intuitive user interface. All phone data is clearly labeled. Setting up functions, notifications, and target phone media is easy to browse.
FlexiSpy Features:
- Location tracking
- Call recording
- Ambient recording
- Text and social media tracking (Facebook Messenger, Viber, WhatsApp, WeChat, Skype)
- Keylogger
- Remote camera capture
- App blocking
Installing FlexiSpy app on an iPhone or Android requires you to jailbreak or “root” the phone on which it will operate. It provides detailed instructions but can be intimidating if you’re uncomfortable with technology. In addition, the app is quite expensive compared to the other phone tracking options. Moreover, it doesn’t have a website or contact-blocking feature available.
Pricing:
Flexispy’s lite subscription plan is available for $29.95 per month, the premium subscription plan is available for $79 per month, and the extreme subscription plan is available for $119 per month
7. SpyBubble
SpyBubble helps keep track of someone’s activities online and is easy to use. The software allows individuals to access the content or activities in which the target user is involved via their mobile devices. The app works on both iOS and Android devices.
This parental control-specific application lets you keep tabs on your children’s activities. However, because of its capabilities, it can also be used by employers who want to monitor their employees’ activities because it has all the useful features for employee monitoring.
Once the app is downloaded or installed on the target phone, it runs in the background to silently record activity on the target device. It keeps the recorded data on an online dashboard that you can access anytime, anywhere. All you require is another device and your user account credentials.
The app updates the dashboard every minute. The information is available conveniently through a well-organized interface. You can easily control all of the app’s functions using the same dashboard.
Installing SpyBubble on iOS and Android doesn’t require you to jailbreak or root the target device. The app’s installation process is straightforward. Installing the app on an iOS device is much easier than on an Android device since it only requires the iCloud credentials of the target device.
SpyBubble Features:
The app boasts various unique features to track your child’s online activities.
- Call tracking
- GPS tracking
- Web browser tracking and monitoring
- Text and message monitoring
- Keylogging
- Recording media content such as audio and video.
The app lacks geofencing, a very significant feature. The video streaming and photo snapshot features don’t work. The app also doesn’t offer a phone call listening feature. SpyBubble doesn’t provide a demo account, so you need to buy it directly.
Pricing:
SpyBubble’s basic subscription plan is available for $24.95 per month, and the pro version is available for $49.95 per month.
8. EyeZy
Next on our list of cell phone tracking apps without permission is EyeZy. It is a parental control application that lets parents track their kids’ smartphone activities. It is compatible with most Android and iOS devices and offers multiple subscription plans at affordable prices. In addition, it allows you to track what the target user is doing with a focus on Instagram messages, likes, and comments.
That is a user-friendly application with a convenient setup process for beginners. Anyone can easily set up the application, which only takes a few minutes. Depending on whether you want to jailbreak the phone or not, there will be a slight difference in the installation timeline.
Like Spy Bubble, this is primarily a parental control application, but employers can also use it to monitor their employee’s activities.
EyeZy Features:
The most prominent feature of this app is the Instagram activity tracker. The following are the other features that it offers:
- Track real-time location
- Social media tracking
- Keystroke capture
- Multimedia (audio and video)
- Web magnifier
If you are acquiring the application to track multiple users, it will cost you a lot. Moreover, certain features will be restricted if the Android phone is not rooted. Specifically, you will be unable to use Instant Messenger tracking, keylogging, collect information on Wi-Fi networks, or monitor the target user’s Gmail account.
For iOS devices, if the phone is not jailbroken, you cannot get instant updates for keylogging or location tracking. If you absolutely need up-to-date phone tracking, you must jailbreak your iPhone.
Pricing:
The app’s basic subscription plan is available for $47.99 per month, the quarterly plan is available for $27.99 per month, and the yearly subscription plan is available for $9.99 per month.
9. uMobix
The uMobix app is a powerful mobile phone tracking application that offers an easy and efficient way to stay informed. The app is compatible with all Android devices running OS 4.0 or above and iOS devices running iOS 8.0 or above.
Installing uMobix on the target phone is relatively straightforward since it does not require you to root or jailbreak it. Furthermore, the app works in stealth mode so that the target user won’t find it.
It keeps recording the target user’s activities in minute intervals and keeps the recorded information on uMobix’s online dashboard. You can access and control the target device from the dashboard, which is easily manageable. Moreover, all the tracking features are provided in a sorted manner so that you can conveniently use them.
uMobix Features:
This section covers the features that the uMobix tracking app offers.
- Location tracking
- Calls and SMS monitoring
- Tracking social media activity
- Instant messenger tracking
- Keylogger
- Internet browser history tracking
The app runs continuously in the background; it uses a lot of battery power and leads to shorter battery life. That can become a concern for the target user and potentially lead to the discovery of this tracking app.
Pricing:
UMobix’s basic subscription plan is available for $49.99 per month, the quarterly plan is available for $29.99 per month, and the yearly subscription plan is available for $12.49 per month.
10.MinSpy
Last but not least, we have the MinSpy phone tracking application. It is a great app that is compatible with almost all iOS and Android devices. Moreover, you can install it without any jailbreak or rooting to access any phone’s information while remaining completely invisible remotely.
Installing Minspy is easy and requires only a few minutes to complete the process. All of the data that the app finds and extracts during the monitoring session will be uploaded to an online portal.
To access the recorded data, you will need to use your Minspy login details to access the cloud-based servers. You will also be able to set up restrictions and live-track the devices you have installed Minspy on.
MinSpy Features:
- Tracking location
- View text messages
- Tracking social media
- Internet browser history tracking
- Viewing multimedia (photos and videos)
- Keylogger
There is no demo version of MinSpy available to try out and get a feel for the app’s features and functionality before shelling out money. Moreover, its feature set is limited in comparison to other device trackers.
Pricing:
MinSpy’s basic subscription plan is available for $39.99 per month, the quarterly plan is available for $19.99 per month, and the yearly subscription plan is available for $8.33 per month.
Which is the Best Phone Tracker App Without Permission?
Before moving towards the conclusion of this post, let’s discuss the question, ‘can someone track my phone without me knowing’ once again. Yes, they can, but it won’t be legal unless your consent is involved.
Anyways, let’s conclude this, shall we? So when searching for a phone tracker app, you should keep the following characteristics in mind:
- Reliability
- Compatibility
- Cost
Firstly, a phone tracking app should be reliable, and you can find out whether an app is reliable by reading its user reviews. Secondly, the app should be compatible with most phones so that you can conveniently install it on the older and latest phones. And thirdly, the app should not be putting a hole in your pocket.
Xnspy meets all these characteristics, which makes it the winner among this list of best phone tracker apps without permission in 2023 – the 4-star rating of Xnspy on Trustpilot and Sitejabber further cements this claim!
It is an app you can use as a phone tracker without permission. It is compatible with both Android and iOS devices, no matter which version of OS is running on them. Regarding pricing, Xnspy is the most cost-effective and reliable phone tracking option available on the internet.
Moreover, Xnspy doesn’t require you to jailbreak or root your device for the app’s installation. Unlike uMobix, it doesn’t damage the target phone’s battery. In addition, it doesn’t cause any kind of delay in the phone’s operations.
Therefore, if you’re looking for the best phone tracker app without permission, look no further than Xnspy!