Best Spy Apps for 2025 – Top Spy Apps Compared

The best spy apps are often the last line of defence when it comes to ensuring digital security. Whether you’re worried your partner is not being truthful about who they are speaking to online, or you’re a parent concerned about your kid’s internet activity, a spy app will get you the answers you need.

The best spy apps will let you know where your loved ones are at all times, and so much more. They’ll allow you to view their messages, including deleted conversations, track their web browsing activity, and even listen in live to their conversations. I’ve tested the best spy apps on the market to help you find the right tool for your specific needs.

The Best Spy Apps for 2025 Ranked

There are ample mobile spy apps on the market. Based on my research of the best monitoring apps available, here’s a quick overview of the market’s best spy apps:

1. mSpy — The best phone spy app overall with unrivalled range of features, including remote listening tools.
2. Spynger — The best spy app for catching cheating partners, with access to deleted data and social media.
3. uMobix — The best spy app for parents, or anyone who wants remote control of another phone.
4. Scannero — The best phone spy for tracking a GPS location tracking simply by using a phone number.
5. Spybubble Pro — The best phone spy for detecting hidden or deleted content on the target device.
6. Phonsee — The best mobile spy app for those on a budget, with loads of tools for less than $9/month.
7. EyeZy — Another great value spy app with innovative AI analytics software.

The Best Spy Apps Reviewed

Many of the best hidden spy apps have a number of features in common. However, there are also differences between them in regard to installation, ease of use, features, and pricing. Here are my reviews of each spy app provider to help you decide:

1. mSpy — The Best Phone Spy App Overall

mSpy comfortably tops my list of best spy apps thanks to its huge range of cutting-edge features, all packaged up at a very affordable price. The tools that stood out to me most during my mSpy review were its remote listening and remote viewing features. mSpy can listen via the target device’s microphone to everything going on around it. And it can view through the camera live, via screenshots.

Whether you suspect your partner is meeting someone you don’t want them to, or you’re worried your kid is being bullied in person once you’ve dropped them at the school gates, these tools allow you to know for sure.

mSpy is the do-it-all hidden spy app. It monitors everything from browser history to social media and SMS messages and is one of the few Snapchat spy apps to come with dedicated Snapchat tracking. And its call logger is the best on the market, giving you exact details of who they were calling, and when the calls were made. You can even see deleted messages thanks to its powerful screen recorder and keylogging capabilities, as well as block content you might not want your kids to access.

To top it off, mSpy does all of this in secret, staying completely undetectable on the target device. And it takes just a couple of minutes to fully set up, syncing every 5 minutes thereafter.

2. Spynger — The Best Spy App for Catching Cheating Partners

Spynger is easily one of the best spy apps for phones. Designed specifically for spouse monitoring, it’s the best app to catch a cheater on this list.

For starters, it lets you secretly monitor your loved one’s social media activity — a hot spot for secretive communication — including on instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Snapchat. In fact, it can access more than 16 different social media apps, including dating tools such as Tinder.

Thanks to Spynger’s keylogger and hidden screen recorder, there’s nothing that’s off-limits when you’re looking to dispel concerns about your partner’s potential infidelity.

Beyond all this, you can also monitor their texts (including deleted ones), call logs, browser history, and even the media files saved on the device. While reviewing Spynger, I discovered its GPS tracking tool stores a full history of which routes someone has taken, so you can see if there are any locations you’re unsure of that they frequently head to.

As the best app to catch a cheater, it runs undetectable on the device and I found it surprisingly easy to set up on both iPhone and Android. And all of this for less than $10 a month.

3. uMobix — The Best Spy App for Parents or Those Wanting Remote Phone Access

uMobix makes my list because it’s the best parental control app available, and offers an impressive range of remote access features. As a parent, I was especially impressed with the fact you can block your child from accessing inappropriate content, or even cut their internet access off completely.

Despite being aimed at parents though, uMobix is an excellent spy app for anyone who values remote access and control features of another phone. Most hidden spy apps won’t allow you to take control of the target device and access their microphone and camera, but uMobix does. This is a first class feature which benefits both parents, as well as concerned partners.

Alongside having live insight into your loved one’s surroundings, uMobix allows you to record all calls to and from the target device — perfect for catching misbehaving teens, for example.

If you’re concerned about what they’re doing when you’re not monitoring them, uMobix will show you all messages, even if they’ve been deleted. You can even restrict or block certain apps and set up keyword alerts. This means you won’t need to constantly monitor the activity for peace of mind, you’ll get alerted to anything suspicious.

I found installation super-easy, taking around five to ten minutes, and there is no need to jailbreak an iPhone to upload it. You just need their iCloud credentials.

4. Scannero — Best Phone Spy App for Location Tracking with Just a Number

If you’re after the best phone spy app for location tracking in particular, then this is the best option. At $0.89, it’s as close to a reliable free spy app as you’ll get.

The primary focus of this particular spy app is GPS location tracking, and it’s done with just a phone number — no app installation is needed.

That said, Scannero has more under its hood than competitor spy apps like GeoFinder do. Beyond mobile location tracking, there are also reverse lookup services on offer. For example, if you meet someone on a dating app, you can run the username through Scannero to confirm who they say they are, avoiding chances of being catfished.

You can do the same for someone you find your spouse is talking to online. If you don’t know who’s messaging or calling, for example, you can also get this information with Scannero.

Scannero even lets you send anonymous voice messages, which is a unique feature among the best phone spy apps. It’s all very easy to use as well, taking just minutes to run a search.

5. SpyBubble Pro — Best Spy App for Detecting Hidden or Deleted Apps and Content

SpyBubble Pro is one of the best hidden spy apps for seeing deleted calls and texts, hidden apps, and even renamed contacts. SpyBubble Pro is designed to give you peace of mind.

There’s a lot more beyond this that makes SpyBubble Pro such a popular spy app. For starters, it lets you monitor all popular social apps and even lesser-known ones, like Discord, for example.

I found you can also live stream the target user’s surroundings, thanks to SpyBubble Pro’s ability to remotely (and discreetly) access the phone’s camera and microphone. This is top-tier functionality offered by only a few spy apps.

Of course, you’re also be able to see the usual activity, including all calls, texts, what they’re searching for online, and even their physical movements, thanks to the GPS tracker, which features real-time updates and a route history recorder, making it one of the best ways to track a phone’s location.

That said, unfortunately, there’s no call recording or GPS geofencing for alerts when your loved one crosses pre-determined boundaries you set on the app. I found this a little frustrating, as this is such a powerful feature when it comes to knowing if someone is going somewhere they shouldn’t.

All things considered, though, SpyBubble Pro is immensely powerful for deep insight into the user’s live activity across both Android and iOS.

6. Phonsee — The Best Spy App for Those on a Budget

Although Phonsee isn’t a free spy app, it’s well worth considering if you’re on a tight budget but need deep insight into the target’s phone activity.

Despite the price, I was pleased to discover that Phonsee has a lot of features that you’d expect with a more expensive phone spy app. For example, it has a keylogger and a screen recorder, which ensure you never miss a thing when it comes to their phone activity.

These advanced features combined mean you’ll be able to see everything happening on the device. From passwords, messages, web-searches and emails, you’re able to see it.

Amongst everything else you can see are all the leading social media platforms. Not only is it an excellent WhatsApp spy app,  but it also covers other platforms like Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram.

You can even block websites and applications, which makes it a popular choice among parents, as well. They won’t know these are blocked, just nothing will appear when they search for them.

Unlike some, Phonsee even offers GPS tracking with geofencing capabilities, which means you can get alerted when someone enters or leaves a pre-determined location, making it useful to track your boyfriend’s or partner’s phone. This is an advanced tool not found on most spy apps and a definite USP considering the price point. It’s very easy to use, too.

7. EyeZy — Excellent Budget Phone Spy App with Innovative AI Features

EyeZy is perfect for you if you’re looking for a budget spy app, especially considering it offers some advanced and innovative features. Eyezy is one of the best spy apps overall for this reason.

Specifically, EyeZy offers an AI analytics suite that crunches all sorts of data — including messages, social media interactions, and call activity — to detect trends and patterns in concerning behavior. When it identifies these trends going forward, it alerts you in real-time, which means you don’t have to be constantly monitoring the data.

This is also the perfect tool for parents worried about their child’s social media activity, or concerned spouses worried about what their partner is up to on social apps. Not only do the social media monitoring features allow you to look at all messages — even if they’re deleted — but you can restrict your loved one’s time on social media remotely.

Besides this, EyeZy will alert you if your loved one installs a dating app like Tinder, which is perfect for parents worried their child is going to jump into the dating game too early, or you have a partner you suspect could be looking to meet other people. On top of this, you can set up a list of phrases for EyeZy to notify you if they’re sent or received on the target device.

I found its dashboard was very easy to understand, clearly displaying your loved one’s browsing habits, what they’re saying in chats, the Wi-Fi networks they connect to, and the time they spend on certain sites.

The Top Cell Phone Spy Apps Compared

The comparison table below provides all the information you need to quickly compare the best phone spy apps and their features, functionality, and pricing and find the ideal tracking tool:

Why Do I Need a Spy Phone App?

There are a number of good reasons why you might want to make use of a spy phone app to track or monitor the usage and location of a smartphone. Some of the most common of these include

Parental Control

The internet is a dangerous place. Not only can children run into inappropriate content and bullies, but they can even run into child predators. With online risks to children increasing, it’s more important than ever to make sure your kids are staying safe online. A spy phone app ensures you’re always up to date with your child’s internet activities.

You can also monitor their outgoing calls to make sure they aren’t communicating with strangers. The best cell phone spy apps can even help you manage the time your child spends online. With teenagers addicted to social media, it’s important for parents to have the means to limit their time spent online and ensure nothing inappropriate is going on.

Many monitoring apps also allow you to track the physical location of the device, so you can rest assured that you know precisely where your child is. Some spy apps on our list off geofencing, which means you can be alerted if they leave a pre-set location, such as their school.

Employee Monitoring

Information security should be at the heart of how you handle tech. Your staff members have access to a huge amount of confidential information, such as logins, and client details, for example.

If your user data is compromised, you could face significant fines, as well as losing the trust of your customers. And if you’re the victim of a ransomware attack, you might need to pay huge sums to get control back over your systems and databases.

Spy apps ensure you can keep tabs on how your employees are using the internet on company devices. You can check if they’re being productive and how they’re handling confidential data.

You can also block inappropriate websites and can stop devices from downloading unauthorized apps. In addition, apps that can track device location help to safeguard you against theft.

Many spy apps will allow you to geo-track devices and set geo-fencing so you can track and locate them in the event that they are lost or stolen – which could save your business a lot of money.

Partner Monitoring

Some people use monitoring apps to track their spouses and other adult family members. This may be because you suspect they are being unfaithful, but also for things like financial infidelity, which is when someone puts the household stability at risk through secretive reckless spending, such as on gambling sites or drugs.

It’s important to note that it is illegal to do this in many countries without getting their informed consent – whether or not you’re using the best phone spy apps or picking from less reputable services.

A phone monitoring app can help you track your spouse’s messages, inbound calls, outbound calls, social media content, and more – giving you a full picture of all information being exchanged.

You can also track their location and apply geofencing, so you’ll be alerted if they enter or leave a particular designated area.

If you’re worried about the individual’s safety or about other parties making illicit use of the device, then a monitoring service can track everything you need in real time to put all your concerns to rest.

How Do Phone Spy Apps Work?

Once a phone spy app is installed on the target device, it’ll begin collecting data silently in the background. You won’t have to physically interact with the device again or enter any passwords.

Most good spy apps will then begin to send you activity logs so you can monitor the use of the device as it is used in real-time, and depending on the capabilities of the app, you can potentially track the device’s location or even remotely control it.

Crucially, all of the spy apps on this page have been chosen because they are completely hidden and discreet.

Do I Need Physical Access to the Target Phone?

Most phone spy apps require that you have access to the target device to set it up. That said, the process typically only takes a few minutes with the best spy apps for iPhone and Android.

And if you are planning to monitor an adult, then you should, of course, have their permission to track their usage of the device – so the installation process is fairly quick and easy.

Of course, employees using business hardware can be contractually bound to accept tracking, and people in trusting relationships should have few issues with letting their partner use their smartphone.

With iOS monitoring, you also have the option to remotely access the device’s data if you have the user’s iCloud credentials. However, even with this method, you’ll need to complete the Two-Factor Authentication, which will require device access.

Who Are Spy Apps For?

Spy apps can be relevant to people of different walks of life. Some common use cases for phone spy apps are:

Parents

If you can track your child’s location, you can be sure he or she is not in danger. Being able to track their communications and device usage also ensures that they won’t get into trouble. It also gives you an opportunity to know what your child is consuming on all those available (social media) platforms.

Couples

Couples can use spy software to prove their trust and ensure security by sharing their locations. A free spy app for couples can be a great option to prove loyalty and permanently demonstrate transparency within a relationship.

Caregivers

If you are caring for an elderly or vulnerable person, monitoring devices can be invaluable. With their permission, you can use spying tools to make sure no one is trying to take advantage of them or scam them, and in an emergency, you can track their device to locate them.

Businesses

Business owners can ensure that company hardware is used properly and responsibly, and they can track devices in real time to ensure the safety and security of company assets and personnel.

What Devices Can I Track With Spy Apps?

There is a range of excellent free spy apps for whatever platform you want to track. Here are some devices you can track.

Are Spy Apps Legal?

Whether a spy app is legal depends on where you’re based, the app you’re using, and what you’re using it for.

Laws in places like the US, the UK, and Canada, are often stricter when it comes to using spy apps to monitor spouses and other adults than using them to help keep your children safe online.

The spy apps we’ve reviewed are all legitimate and safe, but we advise reading up on the laws in your specific country and/or state, such as the US spyware legislation, to ensure that you’re safe when it comes to using spy software on target phones.

Generally speaking, if you are the parent or guardian of a child, you are allowed to track them, and you can monitor adults as long as you have their informed consent.

Free Spy Apps vs. Premium Tools

Free spy apps present a tempting yet problematic offer. In fact, most free spy apps on the market either don’t work at all or are outright scams. Some of these apps from disreputable vendors will sell your data, while others might mine cryptocurrency in the background.

Remember, if a service is free, it’s likely that you’re the product – and with a phone tracking tool, you may be handing over enormously sensitive and valuable information.

Freemium versions with premium offerings are a reliable alternative, and these are the best free spy apps to opt for. However, these apps use free versions to encourage you to sign up for a paid plan.

That said, you’ll get fewer features, and they’ll likely be far less reliable. This is especially apparent when compared to the best phone spy apps overall, like mSpy.

Because of this, the best way to get a free  spy app is by taking advantage of paid tools’ free trials or money-back guarantees. This way, you get all the functionality of paid apps while not having to risk a dime if they don’t work out for you.

Conclusion – What’s The Best Spy App of 2025?

After looking at all of the many options on the market, I am confident that mSpy is the best spy app for 2025.

It’s an extremely reliable product with an enormous amount of functionality. It’s also a great fit across a range of different use cases, whether you’re a parent, spouse, or employer looking to track your family members or staff.

mSpy’s feature set offers you extensive visibility and control when tracking and monitoring devices – and it comes at a great price for cell phone spy software.

What’s more, it comes with a 10-day money-back guarantee, so you can test and check out everything it does before you’re committed. Follow the link below to take mSpy for a test drive.

Editors' Choice

Best Spy App 2024: Control Any Device with Its Superb Features

• Chosen by 1.5 million households
• Offers an impressive range of 36 functions
• Logs all incoming and outgoing phone calls

9,8

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