The best phone spy app for Android & iPhone in 2024 （free & paid)

Part 1. A little bit of knowledge before reading

1.1 What is a phone spy app

A cell phone spy app is a piece of software that gi

ves users direct access to someone’s mobile device. Allows users to monitor and track online activities from their smartphone or tablet. Often cell phone spy apps are promoted as tools for parents to monitor their children's online activities, or for employers to monitor employees' use of company-owned devices. In addition, cell phone spy apps are also seen as reliable tools for collecting evidence of a partner's cheating.

1.2 How spy apps work on iPhone&Android

Both iPhone and Android need to be bound to the target device to complete monitoring. Just the way they are bound is different.

Currently, there are three main solutions for iPhone Spy to connect to the target device on the market . The first is to use an iCloud account, the second is to connect the iPhone to PC via USB, and the third is to jailbreak the iPhone and then install the APP. Android spy apps primarily work by installing apps on the target device. Most Android spy apps still require physical access to the device to install, but there are now brands that can connect target Android using Google cloud.

After binding the target device, the iPhone/Android spy app will work in stealth mode in the background, making it difficult to detect the monitored user. The mobile app then collects the data and transmits it to the dashboard, often encrypting the collected data to protect user privacy.

Part 2. Top free&paid phone spy apps for iPhone&Android

2.1 Top free&paid Android spy apps

There are many Android spy apps on the market, and the editor has collected most of the brands for testing (in no particular order, in alphabetical order): Cocospy, Eyezy, Fenced, Flexispy, Hoverwatch, iKeyMonitor, Kidsguard pro, Minspy, mSpy, Snoopza, SpyX, Spyera, Spyhuman, Spyic, Spyier, Spyine, Spylix, Spyzie, Tispy, Umobix, Webwatcher, Xnspy. To view reviews for all brands, click here:  Inventory of the best spy apps for Android.

I found that there are very few free apps, and most of them require payment. Paid apps will give users a money-back guarantee. This article comprehensively considers factors such as solutions, features, services, etc., and finally selects the 6 best free&paid Android spy apps for users.

Free Android spy apps

Hoverwatch

Hoverwatch is an application dedicated to Android monitoring. It is not available for iOS. Users need to download the application on the target phone to use it. One good thing is that Hoverwatch offers a 3-day free trial, but there is no money-back guarantee once purchased.

Snoopza

Among the few Android spy apps that provide free trials, Snoopza provides users with a 3-day free trial. Similarly, like Hoverwatch, once the user purchases it, there is no refund. But in terms of functionality, it can better meet the needs of users. It can not only view the websites of the target device, but also unlock selfies.

Click View More Free Spy App for Android

Paid spy apps for Android

SpyX

SpyX is the most cost-effective Android phone monitoring app. It opens up the market for Android devices using Google connection, providing users with multiple options to connect to the target Android phone, making tracking more convenient. Currently, SpyX has implemented tracking of 30+ features. Users do not need to download and install any apps on the target device, nor do they need to jailbreak to achieve monitoring. SpyX fundamentally helps users solve the problem of being unable to physically enter the target device.

Kidsguard pro

Kidsguard pro is also a good Android monitoring software. Its functions are very comprehensive. Compared with SpyX, its solutions are not as rich as SpyX. Users need to download the app, which may be a major obstacle to using it.

uMobix

This Android spy app has the same complete functions as SpyX and Kidsguard pro. These three apps display the monitored data in the form of screenshots. However, the usage experience of Umobix is not as good as the first two apps. When using Umobix, it is easy for users to mistakenly click to add a device, resulting in repeated purchases.

Xnspy

The reason why Xnspy is recommended is that it can monitor more features than the apps that are not on the list. It can meet the basic functions required by users. But for social media features, Xnspy can only monitor WhatsApp.

2.2 What are the best spy apps for iPhone

With the intention of finding free and available iPhone spy apps for users, unfortunately there are no free iPhone spy apps on the market. The editor collected most of the brands on the market for testing (in no particular order, in alphabetical order): Cocospy, Eyezy, Flexispy, Hoverwatch, iKeyMonitor, Kidsguard pro, Minspy, mSpy, Snoopza, SpyX, Spyera, Spyhuman, Spyic, Spyier, Spyine, Spylix, Spyzie, Tispy, Umobix, Webwatcher, Xnspy. After real reviews and comprehensive comparison, the editor has selected the 5 best-performing iPhone spy apps. For the complete list, please click: iPhone spy apps comprehensive inventory.

mSpy

mSpy is the oldest mobile phone spy solution with the largest number of users among similar products still on sale. For iPhone, it has three monitoring solutions, giving users multiple options. However, in terms of features, the iPhone solutions have relatively few functions, but it can also meet the basic needs of users. In terms of user experience, their customer service system is very complete, but it is a bit difficult to request a refund.

Kidsguard pro

Kidsguard Pro is ClevGuard's main parent monitoring product. Like mSpy, Kidsguard Pro also has three monitoring solutions for iPhone. Moreover, it has more features than mSpy. Note: His system currently only supports iOS16. If you are an iOS17 user, you can not adapt to the monitoring software.

SpyX

SpyX mobile spy app is one of the most full-featured apps. While his iOS only has one connectivity plan, it doesn't require a download or jailbreak, allowing users to spy on their loved ones' phones without their knowledge. In addition, it has been updated in a timely manner and currently supports iOS 17.

Eyezy

Eyezy is a well-known monitoring software brand, focusing on providing users with comprehensive monitoring solutions. But in the market, users have mixed reviews about Eyeze. On the one hand, users have more choices, but on the other hand, the most convenient iCloud solution has too few functions to meet the needs of users. And it is very troublesome for users to get refunds.

Webwatcher

As an old brand that has been focusing on device monitoring since 2013, Webwatcher has gone through multiple version iterations of iOS, and is still one of the most reliable products today. It should be the brand that supports most types of monitored devices, but since the comparison of competing products in this series focuses on mobile phone monitoring, this article only discusses Webwatcher's monitoring of iPhones. The product introduction and dashboard user interface on its website are very simple and clear, which is very helpful for novice users. And it is able to update data in real time via wifi.

Part 3. Which of the above apps are available for Android and iPhone?

After looking at the Android spy apps and iPhone spy apps above, it is not difficult to find that there are two apps (SpyX and Kidsguard Pro) that are suitable for both Android and iOS.

3.1 SpyX VS Kidsguard Pro

3.2 Which of these two monitoring apps is the best?

For iOS monitoring:

Kidsguard Pro and SpyX each have their own advantages. Kidsguard Pro has more options for connecting devices on iOS than SpyX. But it is not recommended for users to use the jailbreak solution, because it is very difficult to implement and easy to fail. Now the most commonly used one is to bind through iCloud account.

So from the perspective of iCloud solutions, SpyX is more powerful. If you don’t know iCloud account and password of the target iPhone, Kidsguard Pro’s USB solution is the best choice, but the USB solution need to connect the iPhone to the PC.

For Android monitoring:

SpyX is the only one that can bind target Android with Google cloud account. This means that like the iCloud solution for iOS, users can monitor Android without downloading the app. So when it comes to Android monitoring, SpyX is undoubtedly the best choice.

Overall, SpyX is the best-performing monitoring app for Android and iPhone.

Part 4. How to spy on a cell phone remotely

Here are simple steps that allow you to spy on an phone remotely using SpyX:

Step 1) Enter SpyX

Step 2) Create a SpyX account for free with just your email

Step 3) Add the device you want to monitor

Step 4) Start monitoring

The home page is a dashboard for an overview of all features and the sidebar can be seen for specific features

Part 5. FAQs

How can I track a cell phone without them knowing?

The best way to track a phone without others knowing is to use third-party monitoring software.

If tracking an iPhone and users are not sure which solution they can implement in the future, they can choose mSpy, Kidsguard pro and Eyezy. Their solutions are the most comprehensive. But among them, Kidsguard pro has more features, and Eyezy has an advantage in price.

If you are tracking an Android phone, SpyX is the best choice. It's feature-rich and it's the only app that enables Android monitoring without downloading an app.

Can you track someone's phone with just their number?

Generally, we cannot track someone’s cell phone using just their phone number, as this involves legal and ethical considerations. While mobile phone number tracking is used legally for law enforcement purposes, it is also used illegally by many fraudsters.

Are Phone Spy Apps Legal?

The legality of using phone spy apps varies by jurisdiction and specific use cases. In many countries, it is illegal to install spy apps on other people's devices without their knowledge or consent. Therefore, please understand and comply with the laws in your area before using such applications.

How to Choose the Best Spy App?

Users can consider various aspects such as compatibility, functionality, price, after-sales service, refund policy, evaluation, and user experience based on their own needs.

Are Phone Monitoring Apps Detectable?

No, SpyX is totally hidden and undetectable. There will be no alerts or notifications shown while user monitoring the target phone, which means they won't notice anything different or suspicious. Users never worry about being detected or caught by the monitored user.

Are There Any Free Spy Apps?

Yes, there are free Android spy apps, and they offer free trials. However, there are no free iPhone apy apps. Apps on the market that claim to be able to monitor iPhone for free are all deceiving consumers. Therefore, users should pay attention to protecting privacy and property when using them.

What Are the Risks of Using Spy Apps?

In many areas, it is illegal to use spy apps to spy on others without their consent. This may result in legal consequences, including fines and jail time. And using spy apps without the knowledge of family members, partners, or employees can seriously damage trust and relationships. Overreliance on technology for relationship building or child management may even lead to a lack of direct communication and problem-solving skills.

How to Remove a Spy App?

Removing spy apps from your phone can be a bit difficult, especially if the app is designed to be stealthy. There are a few steps you can try to identify and remove such apps:

• Check your phone's app list for any apps you don't recognize
• View the permissions granted to each application.
• Install a reputable antivirus app on your phone.
• Update your phone's operating system: Make sure your phone's operating system is up to date.
• If all else fails, perform a factory reset. However, this will delete all data on the device, so be sure to back up important files first.

Click here to learn more: How to detect and remove spyware.