“Before the advent of mobile spy apps, tracking the activities of another person was an arduous task. Nowadays, we can lie on our couch and see what our children, partner, or employees are up to. We can view our partner’s text messages, call logs, and browser history with these multi-function spyware apps. Likewise, ensuring our kids’ safety is easier with the geolocation feature these apps offer.”
However, picking the best app for your monitoring needs can prove frustrating. The Internet will inundate you with many apps with the “pick me” tags. If you’re in this dilemma, our review of the best spy apps will be of tremendous help. Carefully analyzing their features, compatibility, and efficiency, we’ve put together the list of best spy apps to serve your needs.
mSpy
When it comes to the best spy apps, mSpy easily tops the list. mSpy is a mobile spy app with advanced features that lets you track someone else’s phone activities. It works entirely in the background, allowing stealth and remote monitoring.
With mSpy, you can access call logs, text messages, real-time GPS location, browser history, IMs, and other information. This affordable tracking solution is compatible with rooted/unrooted Android devices and jailbroken/non-jailbroken iPhones. On a non-jailbroken iOS device, you can install the spy app without the target phone and enjoy some spying capabilities mSpy offers.
Pros
- Works as a cell spy stealth app.
- Advanced features.
- Affordable mobile tracker.
- 24/7 customer support.
- Easy and fast installation.
Cons
- Updates are usually cumbersome.
SpyBubble
SpyBubble ranks as one of the most advanced monitoring apps for mobile phones and computers. This easy-to-use phone spy saves the recorded data on a cloud platform. Users can access this secure account with a login email and password.
SpyBubble records phone calls, tracks messages on Facebook, detects SIM cards’ removal, and follows the device location. It also serves as an efficient WhatsApp, Viber, and Snapchat spy app. If you’re skeptical about spending money on buying SpyBubble, there’s a free trial period.
Pros
- Secure cloud-based platform for storing data.
- Free trial period.
- Multi-lingual support.
- Set up in less than 5 minutes.
Cons
- Not available on the iPhone.
- Limited customer service options.
Hoverwatch
Hoverwatch is a cell phone spy app that records call logs, SMS, social media chats, GPS locations, contacts, and media files. Once installed, the app remains undetectable on the device. That way, you track all the data you want without discovery.
One of the most profound features of this app is the front camera photo. With this feature, Hoverwatch can automatically take a picture with the target phone’s front camera immediately after the user unlocks the phone. This spyware is available for Android, Windows, and macOS devices.
Pros
- A keylogger that captures all messages the user types.
- A front camera photo feature.
- Monitors the device even after a change of the target device’s SIM card.
- Allows tracking of five devices with a single plan.
- Access to the target’s to-do list.
Cons
- Expensive subscription plans.
- Unavailable for iPhone.
- Limited customer service option.
XNSPY
XNSPY is a useful mobile tracker for keeping an eye on someone’s smartphones and tablets. This monitoring software is a reliable parental control app that helps to keep your kids in check. It also lets you track the real-time activities of your employees. With XNSPY, you have remote access to the activities the target user carries out on their phones.
Besides tracking calls, SMS, and location, this spy phone app records the device’s surroundings. XNSPY comes particularly useful when you need to see your target’s top callers or most visited websites. It’s compatible with iOS and Android – both rooted and unrooted devices.
Pros
- Records device surroundings.
- Performs analytics of device usage.
- Supports unrooted Android phones.
- Allows access to multimedia files on the target device.
- Remote control of the device.
Cons
- No PC or Mac version.
- Slow customer support.
- Limited money-back guarantee.
Spyzie
With over 3 million users, Spyzie is one of the most reliable spy apps you can find. What makes Spyzie so unique? It renders to nothing the need to root or jailbreak a target phone. Spyzie offers a variety of features, including keylogging and access to WhatsApp, call logs, screenshots, SMS, location, multimedia, Instagram.
The app’s focus is on monitoring your children and keeping them safe at all times. You’ll find a demo on the website that gives you a peek of what’s obtainable with the app. However, it’s worth noting that their website is currently under maintenance, indicating that the brand has some troubles.
Pros
- Available for Android and iOS.
- Start tracking with three simple steps.
- Easy to use and install.
- 7-day money-back guarantee.
Cons
- Poor customer support.
- Costly subscription plans.
- No free trial.
So, Which One’s the Best?
With our review of the best spy apps so far, picking the right one for you shouldn’t be so tedious. While the apps all offer the essential functions of spying on mobile phones, some are more dependable, user-friendly, and advanced. So, which sits on top of the list? For us, mSpy is the best cell spy app. If you’re wondering why mSpy is our pick, here’s why the app does it for us.
- Compatibility
What’s the point of investing in a spy app is it won’t work on the target phone? With mSpy, you have little or nothing to worry about. This cell spy stealth software is compatible with most Android and iOS smartphones. While many apps only support root Android devices, mSpy works well on both rooted and unrooted Android phones – although the latter comes with fewer functionalities.
For iOS devices, mSpy is compatible with an iPhone and an iPad – jailbroken and non-jailbroken. For non-jailbroken iOS devices, you don’t even need physical access to the target device. The iCloud login details let you install the app directly. You can also install mSpy on Windows and Mac computers.
- Pricing
mSpy offers affordable subscription plans for its many advanced features. Hence, depending on your spying needs, you can opt for the Basic or Premium package.
- Customer Support
With mSpy, users get robust multi-channel customer support. Free technical support is accessible via email and live chat. Users can also use the optional paid support channels: Paid Phone Support and mAssistance.
The Paid Phone Support is available 24/7, providing a step-by-step guide of installation. mAssistance support uses TeamViewer to help users with device rooting/jailbreaking, installation, and configuration.
- Features
The reason mSpy stands out is the endless list of features. These basic and advanced features make remote spying seamless and convenient. With mSpy, you get to see all the incoming and outgoing calls of the target device.
You also get to monitor all the messages the target sends and receives on the device. Even after the person deletes the messages, you still see them on your cloud-based panel. Other useful information mSpy lets you track include GPS location, media files, browsing history, contacts, and emails.
Nowadays, social media is king, and most conversations happen on instant messengers (IMs). mSpy passes as a powerful spy app for Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. The app also lets you read chats on WhatsApp, Viber, Messenger, iMessage, and Telegram.
What Are the Features to Consider Before Buying a Mobile Spy App?
Various spy apps do hold promises of advanced monitoring capabilities. However, there are vital features that are non-negotiable when choosing a mobile spy phone app. Putting these features into consideration reduces the chances of buying an inefficient app.
- Compatibility
When considering the app’s compatibility, you’re checking whether the spy app works on the target device. While some apps like mSpy work with rooted/unrooted or jailbroken/non-jailbroken devices, others only work with rooted/jailbroken devices. Also, you have to check which Android or iOS versions the app supports. That way, you won’t end up purchasing an app you can’t use.
- Location Tracking
One of the most crucial aspects of remote monitoring is location tracking. Whether you want to track your kid’s location or keep tabs on your partner’s whereabouts, you need the GPS location feature. So consider getting an app that offers accurate information on the real-time location of the target.
With even more advanced features, you can set up virtual boundaries for your wards. The app sends you instant alerts once your child crosses the predefined geographical limits.
- Call Log and SMS Tracking
Without a doubt, call log and SMS tracking are the top features people look for in a spy app. A good spy should let you keep track of all incoming and outgoing calls of the target phone. You see who your person of interest is talking to, how long, and how often. The timestamps show you the date and time the calls are made.
With the SMS tracking feature, you get to read sent and received messages. It would help to get an app that lets you view deleted text messages.
- Ability to Work in Stealth Mode
The purpose of using a monitoring app is to track a person’s activities remotely. So it’s essential to use an app that works in stealth mode. After installation, the app captures and sends data to the cloud-based server without being discovered. That way, you can spy on the phone without fear of being found out.
- Pricing
Spy apps come with different subscription prices. Before spending your money on any, consider how much value you’d get for your money. With higher prices, you’d expect more advanced tracking solutions. However, some more affordable spy apps offer better remote monitoring capabilities.
What Should Be My Final Choice?
mSpy is the best answer to the question of how to spy on someone’s phone. However, your final choice will depend on what you intend to use a spy app for and how much you’re willing to spend.
How to Check for and Remove Spy Apps?
Spy apps have become increasingly popular, and there’s a chance someone is monitoring you with one. How then do you determine if a tracking app is on your phone?
For Android:
Go to Settings > Security > Allow unknown sources. If this setting is enabled, there’s a chance someone’s tampered with your phone.
For iOS:
Check if the Cydia app (commonly used to install a spyware app on jailbroken iOS devices) is present on the device. Its presence indicates a likelihood of a spy app on your iPhone or iPad.
How then do you remove spy apps from your device? Removing spyware can pose a tough challenge, mainly because they’re hard to discover. However, the following methods can help:
- Run an antivirus scan.
- Change the passwords to every account registered on the device.
- Set up two-factor authentication.
- Update your device’s operating system.
- Factory reset your device. For Android, go to Settings > General > Reset > Factory Data Reset. For iOS, go to Settings > General > Reset.
FAQ
How Do I Know If My Phone Is Compatible With mSpy?
All non-jailbroken iOS devices support mSpy. mSpy is also compatible with jailbroken iPhone/iPad with iOS version 7 – 9.1. You can check your iOS version by going to Settings > General > About. For Android phones and tablets, mSpy is compatible with Android version 4 and higher. The app supports both rooted and unrooted Android devices. You can check your Android version by going to System Settings > About phone.
An easier way to determine your device compatibility is via the mSpy website. Go to Compatibility and enter the device model or OS version in the box provided and search.
Does mSpy Work in Stealth/Hidden Mode?
Yes, mSpy stays hidden on the target phone after installation. Hence, you can be pretty sure that while spying, you won’t be detected by your target person.
How Does the Location-Tracking Feature Work?
With the device location turned on, you can see the user’s whereabouts on an elaborate map. The route tracking shows you where they have been over a period. You can view their exact location address, coordinates, and time. The location tracking feature only works on rooted/jailbroken devices.
Is mSpy Legal?
Using mSpy as parental control software for your young children is legal. It’s also legitimate to install mSpy on a device you own. However, it’s illegal to install mSpy on the phone of your partner or employee without consent. Please check with the laws of where you reside to be sure.
How Can I View the Data Gathered on the Device?
You can view the data captured by the spyware on your secure dashboard. Log in to the online server and view the data sorted out by type.
What Is a Spy Phone App?
A phone spy app is a mobile application that lets you track a cell phone from a remote location. The app collects and sends information on the target device calls, SMS, location, browser history, media files, etc. Such apps usually work in stealth mode, without the device owner knowing.
Do You Need Physical Access to the Phone?
You’ll need physical access to an Android phone to install the spy app – whether it’s rooted or unrooted. After the first installation, there’s no need for further physical access to the phone. The app works entirely in the background, remaining undiscoverable to the user.
For non-jailbroken iOS devices, no physical access is required. You can spy on the device using the user’s iCloud details. However, to use more advanced features of mSpy, you need to install the app to a jailbroken iPhone, and that requires physical access.
Can I Spy on an iPhone Without Installing Any App on It?
Yes, mSpy without Jailbreak allows you to track an iOS device without installing a spy app. All you need is the Apple ID and password to login to the user iCloud account. However, you only get to enjoy limited features.
Can I Spy on an Android Phone Without Installing Any App on It?
No, because you need an installed app to capture information from the Android phone.
Is It Necessary to Root or Jailbreak the Target Device to Spy On It?
Some mobile apps are only compatible with rooted and jailbroken mobile devices. However, mSpy works on rooted/unrooted Android phones and jailbroken/non-jailbroken iPhones. mSpy lets you access basic spying features like calls and SMS logs without rooting or jailbreaking your device. You’ll need a root/jailbreak phone to enjoy advanced features like IMs spy and social media app monitoring.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Phone’s Data Through a Phone Spy App?
After installation, you start to receive data from spyware in under five minutes. The information is updated regularly as the app captures more data from the phone. You can view the data anytime by logging into your web-based account.
Can I Use a Phone Spy App for Free?
Most phone spy apps offer a trial version that allows you to track a mobile device for a limited period. Such offers are advantageous if you don’t mind short-term, basic tracking capabilities. For long-term spying and advanced features, you’ll need to subscribe to a paid plan. These plans often come in monthly, quarterly, and annual packages.
Alicia is a psychotherapist who works in individual therapy, couples, and adolescent issues. It is important to note that she specializes in rebuilding relationships after adultery. She understands the importance of applications that give you the opportunity to make sure that the partner is faithful to you or vice versa. Therefore, she takes an active part in writing articles, gives advice, and also knows how mSpy works, no worse than the developers.
