10 Best Phone Spy Apps Reviewed and Compared for 2024

The use of the best phone spy apps is rising for parents looking to protect their children on the web and even for businesses who want to safeguard confidential information and their property or to monitor productivity in the workplace.

Our pick for the best phone spy app is mSpy, but EyeZy and uMobix are leaders in their own right. Read on for our in-depth reviews of the top 10 options on the market to discover the best phone spy software for your needs and budget.

Top 10 Phone Spy Apps in 2024 – Quick Answer

With countless spy apps that simply don’t work, finding reliable spyware isn’t easy. Based on several factors, our research found these 10 to be the best of the best:

1. mSpy — Our pick for the #1 phone spy app. Put it to the test with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
2. EyeZy — Runner-up for the best phone spy app solution. Lots of features and a 14-day money-back guarantee.
3. uMobix — Popular spyware for Android monitoring needs. Comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
4. Cocospy — Best spy app for covering multiple devices on 1 subscription. Check out its free demo.
5. Hoverwatch — Superb spy app to monitor the target via their front camera’s recording and screenshots. Try it free for 3 days.
6. XNSpy — Best spy app to flag inappropriate words
7. Spybubblepro — Top spy app to catch a cheating partner
8. Geofinder.mobi — An affordable and accurate location tracker with the consent of the target
9. Spyic — Popular Spy Phone App for Parents and Businesses
10. Spyera — Top phone spy tool for advanced Android and iOS features

Some of the key aspects we considered when compiling our top spy app solutions include:

We’re confident that with spyware for iPhone and Android, these are the top solutions for meeting practically every monitoring need and a variety of budgets. Eager to take a closer look at what the best phone spy apps offer? Read on for our in-depth reviews and comparisons.

The Best Spy Phone App Tools in 2024 – In-Depth Reviews

To help you find the most appropriate phone spy tool for your needs, we explore each app’s key features, pricing, and pros and cons (plus more) to give you everything you need to make an informed decision. Let’s dive right in.

1. mSpy — Our Pick for the #1 Phone Spy App

mSpy’s capabilities are unparalleled in the mobile spyware industry thanks to its decade of experience — hence its popularity around the world. With various innovative monitoring tools, countless parents and employers turn to mSpy to handle their surveillance needs.

For example, you can view all sent and received messages and media files on all leading social media and messenger apps, email conversations, SMSes, and, as with EyeZy, even deleted messages. On your dashboard, you’ll be able to view exactly what was typed, when, and on what app:

With this spy app, you’ll know who the target user is conversing with, what they’re searching for online across apps and browsers, and so much more — all undetected. As you’d expect with the best of the best, mSpy also has some advanced capabilities, like recording the user’s screen remotely for live insight into the activity.

Other Features

• View browser and app history
• Set custom keylogger keywords for alerts
• Block access to apps and websites
• Get detailed call log information
• View calendar entries

For an in-depth look at everything it has to offer, check out our in-depth mSpy review.

Pricing

Although not as affordable as EyeZy, there’s no doubt that mSpy is a prime spy app solution — and it still has one of the most budget-friendly annual plans you’ll come across. Here are the subscription options:

1. Monthly — $69.99/month
2. Quarterly — $39.99/month
3. Annual — $16.66/month

With the current special, your first annual subscription totals just $11.66/month, and you get over $20 off with the monthly plan in your first term. You certainly can’t go wrong with a powerhouse like mSpy.

2. EyeZy — Runner-Up for the Best Phone Spy App Solution

EyeZy’s suite of top-notch spyware capabilities offers users complete peace of mind — in fact, it’s by far one of the best parental monitoring apps for parents looking to keep their children safe on the web and out in the real world.

With it, you can see not only all private conversations, including texts, emails, and those sent and received on leading social media and messenger apps but even deleted conversations:

Is your child engaging with content and people they shouldn’t be? Find out with EyeZy. With the keylogger, it also helps you ensure nothing of concern goes unnoticed — simply set up custom alerts for when your child uses specific keywords (whether on the web, social media, text, or in a Google search).

You can do the same with the GPS tracking capabilities, so you’ll always know where your loved ones are, and you can also set up boundary alerts to know if they enter these areas. All-round, this 360-degree spy app is phenomenal for complete peace of mind — regardless of your monitoring needs.

Learn all there is to know about this top spy app with our full EyeZy review.

Other Features

• Monitor activity on WhatsApp, Kik, Snapchat, etc.
• View website history log and bookmarked pages
• Control web and app access and usage
• View in-depth call log information
• Monitor sent and received multimedia files
• Record the user’s screen for live app activity

Pricing

EyeZy has these 3 subscription options:

1. Monthly — $47.99/month
2. Quarterly — $27.99/month
3. Yearly — $9.99/month

$9.99/month makes EyeZy one of the cheapest phone spy apps out there, and considering the value on offer, we’re confident that you’d have a hard time finding a more impressive app for your monitoring needs. Try it free today. There’s a free trial and a demo, plus a 14-day refund policy.

3. uMobix — Popular Spyware for Android Monitoring Needs

In terms of Android spy apps, uMobix goes the extra mile to give users advanced monitoring features at an incredibly competitive price point. And it’s one of the best Android keyloggers on the market because, unlike many, it not only lets you see what’s typed on practically any app or browser.

In fact, you can even monitor incognito searches. Plus, it records text that’s been copied and pasted. Beyond this, it lets you monitor the activity on all leading social media apps like TikTok, dating sites, and even YouTube and Reddit for a complete overview of your child’s online experience:

Another nice-to-have extra that uMobix offers is the ability to see deleted content, like calls, contacts, SMSes, or even contacts that have been renamed. Plus, the remote capabilities are also phenomenal.

For example, you can disable calls and messages from coming in and use the device’s camera and microphone to get an insight into your child’s surroundings. That said, unfortunately, the spyware for iPhone devices lacks functionality when compared to the boatload on offer with the Android version.

Nevertheless, uMobix remains top tier in the world of spy apps — learn more with this full post dedicated to exploring everything there is to know about uMobix.

Other Features

• Accurate GPS location logs
• Save all sent and received files
• Restrict calls and disable messages
• Limit or block access to apps and websites
• Monitor website searches and bookmarks
• Get alerts when a new social media app is used

Pricing

It will please many that despite the advanced features, uMobix is pretty affordable. Here are your options:

1. Monthly — $49.99/month
2. Quarterly — $27.99/month
3. Annual — $11.66/month

Having everything you need for just $11.66/month is an absolute giveaway and certainly one of the best on the market in terms of value for money.

4. Cocospy — Best Spy App for Covering Multiple Devices on 1 Subscription

Cocospy is a popular option for keeping tabs on your children and employees because, unlike most spy apps, their plans allow you to cover up to 25 devices with one subscription.

From having a class Android keylogger and a boatload of other features that don’t require rooting for full functionality, Cocospy is undoubtedly one of the best phone spy apps. You also get some unique, standout features.

For example, you can mark contacts as “suspicious” to get alerts to keep a close eye on any communications to and from this person. Plus, you get call tracking, the ability to view SMSes (including deleted ones), plus every message sent and received on leading social channels like WhatsApp, Snapchat, Zoom, Wechat, etc.:

Although Cocospy lacks some nice-to-have capabilities, you’ll find that what is on offer is more than sufficient for most needs, whether you’re looking to protect your child online, confidential business information, or anything else.

Other Features

• Superb Android keylogger
• Monitor website history
• GPS and SIM location tracking
• Save all multimedia files
• Control your child’s app usage
• View stored notes and calendar events

Pricing

With Cocospy, you have 3 unique plans for both iOS and Android. The Android plans start at $8.33/month for 1 device, and the Family plan covers up to 3 devices for just $16.66/month — this is where Cocospy shines.

The iOS plans start at $10.83/month, and you’re looking at $83.33/month on the business plan for up to 25 devices. Plus, Cocospy thought they’d throw in a little more magic by offering a lengthy 60-day money-back guarantee with their plans!

Check out our in-depth Cocospy review for all the nitty-gritty details about what this app can do, how it works, and how to use it.

5. Hoverwatch — Superb Spy App to Monitor the Target Via Their Front Camera’s Recording and Screenshots

Hoverwatch is the perfect all-in-one spy app for those who want to know everything happening on the target device, including calls, messages, and social media activity. That said, one of its most unique features is its remote control over the target device’s front camera.

Every time someone unblocks the target device, it’ll discreetly take a photo of that person and send it to you.

This feature can be used in two ways:

• You can either use it no ensure that no unauthorized user has access to your phone
• Or you can use it to check who is close enough to your partner or kids to have access to their device

Just like photos of the user, Hoverwatch will also take screenshots of their activities to give you a live update of what’s happening with adequate evidence. For example, if the target device receives a new text on Facebook Messenger, you’ll get a screenshot of the text.

Similarly, if the target users look up a new search query online, you’ll get a screenshot of their online activities. Beyond this, another benefit of using Hoverwatch is that it lets you track 1, 5, or 25 devices at a time, depending on your subscription.

This means you can either track multiple people at the same time or track multiple devices of the same person. For example, if you’re using it to track your kid’s online activities and ensure they’re safe online, tracking their phones isn’t enough.

You also need to monitor their laptops and tablets, and there’s no better app for the job than Hoverwatch.

Other Features

• Access to the target’s to-do list
• Remain totally anonymous as you track
• Access the target device’s calendar and events
• Keylogger feature available for both Android and Windows

Pricing

Hoverwatch has three different pricing tiers based on the number of devices you want to track:

• Personal (1 Device) — $24.95/month on a monthly subscription
• Professional (5 Devices) — $9.99/month/device on a monthly subscription
• Business (25 Devices) — $6/month/device on monthly subscription

Note that each of these three plans has monthly, quarterly, and annual subscription options, giving you enough flexibility to choose a plan that best suits you. There’s also a short and sweet 3-day free trial period, so make the best use of it.

6. XNSpy — Best Spy App to Flag Inappropriate Words

While other spy apps only help you get the call logs of the target device, XNSpy goes a step ahead and lets you record the entire conversation. After all, messages and social media feeds often don’t give away much about a person.

If you want to hear the conversations that are happening face-to-face, you might want to turn on XNSpy’s Surround Recording feature. This will basically turn on the device’s microphone remotely, recording all the conversations the target user has throughout the day.

The best part is that even if they’re talking out loud to themselves about their thoughts, you’ll be able to eavesdrop. In short, nothing will remain hidden from you. That said, XNSpy understands that you might not want to constantly check its dashboard to track the target device to look for action updates.

That’s why it saves you trouble through 24/7 real-time updates. Depending on your settings, it’ll notify you via email or SMS whenever something interesting happens. For example, it has a unique feature that lets you flag certain words beforehand.

So every time the user types in these flagged words, you’ll be notified. This feature is best for parents trying to protect their kids from accidentally falling into the dark side of the digital world. Speaking of kids, if you want to find out the truth about their location, try XNSpy’s Wi-Fi logs.

Kids these days are heavily dependent on WiFi. So wherever they go, if there’s a WiFi connection available, they’ll surely connect to it. Using this connection history, you can check if they’re visiting places they aren’t supposed to.

For more, check out our in-depth XNSpy review.

Other Features

• Monitors up to 12 social media platforms 
• Access Whatsapp without rooting
• Monitor the target’s scheduled appointments 
• Set special alerts for some specific activities like watching adult content

Pricing

XNSpy has three plans on offer, the best of which is definitely the annual one:

1. Monthly — $35.99/month
2. Quarterly — $20/month
3. Annual — $7.50/month

Regardless of the plan you choose, you’ll be able to listen to call recordings, view media files on the target device, and of course, track its live location. Take XNSpy for a test drive, thanks to a 10-day refund policy.

7. Spybubblepro — Top Spy App to Catch a Cheating Partner

Spybubblepro is specifically for catching cheating spouses in the act. That’s why it focuses only on the three most important features that could easily give away the truth — WhatsApp, SMS, and location tracking.

The location tracking feature is for those who have a hard time believing their partner about their whereabouts. If you’re worried your partner is lying about those late nights at work, the Spybubblepro tool will help you break into their device and track their live location in just a few seconds.

Along with that, you also get to check their messages on WhatsApp and SMS. In both these cases, you can check all the outgoing and incoming messages, shared media files, as well as hidden or deleted chats.

Another benefit of using Spybubblepro is it gives you a live update of your spouse’s actions through screenshots. Each action taken on the device will trigger the screenshot feature, which will then be transferred to your dashboard so that you have enough evidence to confront them.

Beyond this, Spybubblepro is compatible with most types of devices and operating systems, so that’s not something you’ll have to worry about during installation. And speaking of setting up, it’s a fairly simple process.

Once you pay for the subscription and place the order, you’ll be given a set of instructions directly from the Spybubblepro team, who’ll guide you on the next course of action. Next, install the app on the target device, log back into your account, and wait for it to be connected. It shouldn’t be long before you see the updates rolling in.

Other Features

• The annual plan is quite affordable
• No installation is required for iPhones and iPad
• Compatible with both iOS and Android
• All the information is updated in real-time

Pricing

Spybubblepro is quite expensive on the monthly and quarterly subscriptions, and it’s the annual one that makes the most sense, as is the case with most spy apps:

1. Monthly — $42.49/month
2. Quarterly — $25.49/month
3. Annual — $10.62/month

On the annual plan, it’s actually on par with some of the top tools in the industry, including mSpy and uMobix. And like its competitors, even Spybubblepro has a 14-day money-back guarantee.

8. Geofinder.mobi — An Affordable and Accurate Location Tracker With the Consent of the Target

Geofinder.mobi is a unique location tracking platform that lets you look up someone’s location just using their phone number. You don’t have to go through the hassle of setting up an app on the target device or even your own device.

All that you have to do is enter their phone number and select the country code to look up their current location. Since Geofinder.mobi works with all types of devices and hosting providers, you also don’t have to worry about it not being able to track the target device.

Unlike some other spy apps, Geofinder.mobi isn’t intrusive. This means that when you try to look up someone’s location on the platform, it’ll send a notification to the target user asking them if they’re comfortable sharing their whereabouts. This helps you keep things transparent and prevents you from landing in legal trouble.

You can either send the notification with your name or anonymously. However, we feel that the chances of the target user sharing their location details with an anonymous person are comparatively low. If you want to keep your identity hidden yet give them a reason to share their location, use the custom messaging feature.

Under this, you can craft a message for the target user that’ll be sent along with a location request. Locations found by Geofinder.mobi are almost always correct and narrowed down to the exact point. Also, since the target user’s location will be shared on a map, you’ll be able to look for nearby landmarks in case you want to pay a visit.

Other Features 

• It’s a website so simple to use
• Works with a number of devices
• Unlimited location requests are allowed each month
• Check the target device’s IP using the phone number only

Pricing

Geofinder.mobi offers a $1 trial period that lasts for 48 hours. This should be enough to gauge the platform’s suitability for your needs, as it’s quite a simple tool and certainly not one whose exploration would take a lot of time.

There’s no annual package, so you’re left with only one option — a monthly plan costing $39.99/month.

9. Spyera — Top Phone Spy Tool for Advanced Android and iOS Features

Our list of the best wouldn’t be complete without featuring Spyera. Although pricier than the other options, you get some remarkable spyware for Android, iOS, and even PCs. For example, when it comes to monitoring call activity, it gives you everything you’d expect and some advanced spyware features that warrant the price tag.

For instance, as one of the best VoIP spy apps, you’re able to track call activity, including those made or received on apps like WhatsApp and Skype. This includes the ability to record them and listen in on the conversations while they’re happening!

Besides this, while most phone spy apps lack the keylogging functionality for iOS devices, Spyera doesn’t. In fact, it’s by far one of the best iPhone keyloggers out there. So whether you want to know what’s being searched for or said on any smartphone, Spyera is a leading choice.

Other Features

• Download all media files
• Live GPS tracking and logging
• View browser and app records
• Activate the camera remotely to take photos and videos
• View all communications, including emails and MMS chats
• Access the microphone to listen to the device’s surroundings

Pricing

Spyera has various plans for different devices, with monthly and annual subscription options. Here’s the yearly pricing:

1. Smartphone — $389/year — $32/month
2. Tablet — $279/year — $23/month
3. Computer — $199/year — $16.50/month
4. All-in-one — $479/year — $40/month

The first 3 plans outlined above offer monthly billing options that range from $49 to $89/month.

10. Spyic — Popular Spy Phone App for Parents and Businesses

Spyic stands above the rest with the various plans it has on offer — for both Android and iOS. Families can cover up to 5 devices and businesses, 25, all on one subscription.

On top of this, its functionality doesn’t require rooting or jailbreaking the device, which is a godsend for anyone looking to monitor their children without impacting the device’s warranty. However, having said that, Spyic does lack features when compared to mammoths like mSpy and EyeZy.

Nevertheless, the functionality is sufficient for many — it all depends on your needs. One of the top features on offer with Spyic is that it gives you the ability to read both private and group chats on messenger platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

This is incredibly valuable for parents with sociable children who worry over who they’re chatting to, what’s being said, and the multimedia files being shared on these platforms.

Besides this, the geofencing alerts mean that you can set up ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’ zones and rest easy when you’re at work that your child isn’t where they shouldn’t be at any given moment.

Other Features

• SMS and iMessage monitoring
• GPS, WiFi, and SIM location tracking
• Keep an eye on app usage
• Monitor social media activity
• View browser history logs

Pricing

With Spyic, you have differing plans for Android and iOS monitoring, plus monthly, 3-month, and annual subscriptions to choose from. Only with Android do you get a basic plan for $8.33/month. Here are your other options:

Premium

• Android — $9.99/month
• iOS — $10.83/month

Family

• Android — $16.66/month — 3 devices
• iOS — $33.33/month — 5 devices

Business

• iOS — $83.33/month — 25 devices

The above is a clear representation of how inclusive Spyic is to various needs and budgets, and it’s one of few that allow you to cover up to 25 devices with one subscription. To make matters better, it also comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free for a full 2 months to see if it’s your cup of tea.

The Best Spy Tools Compared

Sometimes, a simple head-to-head comparison like the one below can help make comparing your options that much easier:

From the above table, we can see that Hoverwatch has the cheapest annual billing option, with XNSpy, Cocospy, Spyic, and EyeZy being just a little more.

What is a Phone Spy App?

A spy app is software that, once installed on the target user’s Android or iOS device, monitors the activity and relays that information to your dashboard — this includes call logs, web and app activity, GPS location logs, browser history, social media activity, and more:

The app records all this information and syncs it every few minutes — all undetected in stealth mode. All you need to do is to sign into your account on your device to see the data captured.

How Does Spy Phone App Software Work?

Once installed on the target device, these apps secretly record and store all the activity happening on the device — from SMSes to saved media files and beyond. This information is accessible remotely through the web or app, where you’ll be able to monitor the live activity from your dashboard:

These apps run completely hidden, meaning that no app icon, notifications, or other signs of the software will be present on the device, and with the best phone spy app, it won’t cause performance issues like a slowed device, a fast-draining battery, etc.

Why Use Spyware?

Although spying on a spouse is one of the most popular use cases for cell phone spy apps, here are some of the other leading reasons spyware like this isn’t all that bad:

1. Ease of Mind for Parents

This is by far the primary reason people opt for a phone spy app. The world wide web is a scary place riddled with danger, particularly for underage children.

Whether it’s individuals with malicious intent, cyberbullying, or your child engaging in online activities that aren’t age-appropriate, a spy app is an ethical means to keep your child safe, both online and offline.

It’s up to you how much or how little you wish to monitor. For example, some parents opt for one of the best phone spy apps for GPS location tracking and geo-fencing capabilities because it gives them peace of mind when their kid is out and about.

2. Monitoring Business Property and Productivity

Another common use is employers looking to ensure confidential information isn’t shared and that employees use work devices as intended. Additional reasons can include GPS location logs for business expense tracking and ensuring productivity in the workplace.

3. Locating the Device

With accurate, real-time GPS location and SIM tracking, plus some advanced tools like alerts when the SIM is changed, parents and employees can locate lost or stolen devices with a spy app. Of course, there are more reasons phone spy apps are used, although these are both unethical and, not to mention, illegal.

This includes any instance where the individual is unaware of the spyware on their device — although common, spying on your partner without their consent or knowledge is illegal and can land you in serious trouble.

Can you Remotely Install Spyware?

No. Ethical spy app solutions require that you have physical access to the device you want to monitor to complete the installation process. Once this is done, though, you’ll be able to log into your account on your device and monitor the target users’ activity remotely.

Are Free Spy Apps Safe?

The best things in life are free, apart from free spy apps. Here are the key risks associated with these free cell phone spy software solutions:

We’re confident these 3 reasons are enough to make anyone reconsider opting for a free spy app — but if you choose to accept the risk, be sure to check out customer reviews before you signup. Overall, you get what you pay for with phone spy apps, and more often than not, you’ll find the investment worth the peace of mind.

If you want insight into how the app works and whether it’s a good fit for your needs, it’d be better to try any free trials or demos on offer. Another option is to opt for a monthly subscription with a reputable spy app (although more costly), before choosing whether you’d want to be on a longer payment structure.

Using a Spy Phone App: Step-by-Step Guide

The functionality of spy apps is complex, but getting set up and using the software is a breeze with one of the best phone spy app solutions. Bear in mind that most of the phone spy apps reviewed here have similar installation processes, but here’s an example of how you’d do it with EyeZy on an Android device:

Step 1 — Head to EyeZy’s website.

On the homepage, click the “Try Now” button to create an account and choose your subscription method:

Step 2 — Next, enter your credentials and log in.

Once you’ve done this, you’ll have different installation methods depending on the device you’re wanting to monitor — select iOS or Android. With EyeZy, you get a handy Wizard that’ll help you throughout the installation process:

Complete the steps outlined by the Wizard, and click “Next” to continue.

Step 3 — Turn PlayProtect off.

In order for a phone spy app to work, security capabilities from PlayProtect need to be disabled. Again, this is fairly straightforward with the guidance EyeZy offers. Once disabled, proceed with the download process:

When you’ve completed the steps outlined by EyeZy and completed the install, scroll through the apps on the device to find the “Update Service” icon:

Click the icon to complete the setup process — this entails accepting app permissions and following on-screen prompts to remove all traces of the installation.

Step 4 — Get monitoring!

EyeZy makes the entire process a complete breeze! Once you’re done, simply log into your account on your device, and you’ll have all the activity synced to your neat control panel. If you’re looking to install spyware for iPhone, the easiest means is with the user’s iCloud credentials. However, there are other methods with EyeZy too.

FAQs

If you still have some unanswered questions, these might fill in the gaps: