Best Spy Apps for Android 2024 | Top 10 Reviewed In-Depth

With one of the best spy apps for Android, you’ll be able to monitor your child, partner, or employees’ device activity remotely. This includes GPS location tracking, social media activity, and practically everything in between to get peace of mind about what’s happening on the target device.

With that said, the number of options available makes finding a reliable Android spy app no easy task. To help, we’ve rounded up and reviewed the market’s best spy apps for Android — from the almighty mSpy to EyeZy and uMobix; these are your leading options. Read on to learn how they can help you.

The 10 Best Phone Spy Apps for 2024

We analyzed leading Android spy apps based on criteria like ease of use, reliability, accuracy, pricing, user feedback, and overall spyware capabilities, amongst others. Our testing ranked the market’s best spy apps for Android accordingly:

1. mSpy — Overall, the Best Android Spy App for 2024 | Take Advantage of the 14-Day Guarantee
2. EyeZy — Phenomenal Spy App for Android Devices for Keyword Alerts
3. uMobix — Advanced Application Monitoring/Restriction Features and Complete Remote Control
4. Cocospy — Full Remote Device Control and Advanced Internet Usage Monitoring Features
5. Hoverwatch — Best Free Android Spy App | Track Location & Activity with Front Camera Capturing
6. XNSpy — Comprehensive Spy App with In-Depth Phone Calls Recording and Analytics
7. Spybubblepro — Best Android Spy App that Keeps Things Simple with 3 Main Tracking Parameters
8. Geofinder.mobi — Superb Real-Time Location Tracker | Only Mobile Number Needed
9. Spyic — Impeccable Geofencing Capabilities for Child Android Tracking
10. Spyera — Best for Live Call Listening and Recording

Eager to learn more? Read on for all the nitty-gritty details.

The Top Phone Spy Apps in 2024 Reviewed

Depending on whether you intend to use a phone spy app primarily for location tracking, monitoring browsing history, or reading chats on instant messaging platforms, different applications might be better suited for the purpose.

In this guide, we’ll review the best spy apps for Android and compare their features, functionalities, and pricing to help you make an informed decision.

1. mSpy — Overall, the Best Android Spy App for 2024

mSpy is an excellent option for monitoring and tracking Android devices. The best part about this app is the fact that all of its advanced features are available on all Android devices running the Android 4 OS or higher. This means you don’t need to jailbreak the phone or mess with advanced configuration and dozens of settings.

Just install mSpy on the target device, and you’re good to go. That said, the app allows you to access the device’s call logs, including timestamps and caller IDs, as well as read chats from all popular instant messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Skype, Telegram, Snapchat, and even Tinder.

You’ll also be able to see all installed apps on the device, as well as block specific apps, and record the device’s screen to see what your child is doing in real time. Another incredibly useful feature of mSpy is the ability to view all multimedia files on the Android phone or tablet, including GIFs, photos, and videos.

You’ll know exactly what type of content they’re posting on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, as well as who they’re sharing their photos and videos with.

In addition to the phone call and message monitoring, mSpy gives you full access to the device’s browsing history, allows you to set up keyword alerts, lets you read incoming and outgoing emails, and provides you with full remote control of the device.

2. EyeZy — Phenomenal Spy App for Android Devices for Keyword Alerts

EyeZy boldly claims that it’s the most powerful phone monitoring software currently available, and after reviewing EyeZy completely, we have to agree that it’s certainly up there. The app offers everything you’d expect in terms of phone call and text message monitoring, as well as a myriad of advanced features on top.

One of the most impressive capabilities of EyeZy is Magic Alerts. This feature allows you to set up filters on the monitored device and get alerted the instant the app flags something as inappropriate.

This can be anything from searching specific terms online to receiving or sending messages that contain specific keywords you deem worrying. Magic Alerts ensure that you’ll always know what your kid is up to without having to monitor their device constantly.

Another incredibly useful feature that makes EyeZy one of the best spy apps for Android is the keylogger. This feature monitors all the keystrokes on the target device, letting you know exactly what:

You’ll also be able to see exact timestamps as well as websites or applications associated with specific searches or phrases. Plus, it also has website blocking capabilities, giving you full control over what content your children can have access to on the internet.

In addition to phone monitoring features, EyeZy lets you pinpoint the device’s exact location, see the device’s location history, and set up geofencing alerts to get notified when they enter or leave a specific area.

3. uMobix — Advanced Application Monitoring/Restriction Features and Complete Remote Control

uMobix is excellent for parents who want to ensure their kids aren’t spending too much time on social media and aren’t accessing inappropriate content online. The standout features of this tool include tracking social media online statuses, real-time streaming, and access to the deleted information on the monitored device.

Apart from being able to access the social media chat logs at any given time, uMobix lets you know the moment your child opens Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or other social media platforms on their device.

This feature has many applications, such as ensuring that your child isn’t mindlessly scrolling social media instead of studying or going to bed. uMobix also lets you implement an “application use schedule,” allowing you to:

When it comes to streaming, uMobix lets you take a camera snapshot or access the phone’s microphone and camera to see what your child is doing and who they’re talking to in real-time. This can be incredibly useful to ensure they’re not in danger or aren’t somewhere they’re not supposed to be.

With that said, arguably the most important functionality of uMobix is the ability to view all of the content that’s deleted from the device. And everything’s uploaded to the cloud, so even if your child deletes certain chat logs, videos, or images from their device, they still won’t be able to hide anything.

With uMobix, you can even take full remote control of the device at any point and:

And more.

4. Cocospy — Full Remote Device Control and Advanced Internet Usage Monitoring Features

Cocospy is another decent option for monitoring Android devices. It’s incredibly easy to install, and you’ll have access to all of the app’s features without having to root or jailbreak the target device.

It lets you track phone calls — including timestamps, contact names, call duration, and call frequency — and read all SMS and instant messaging app chat logs, including the deleted ones.

You can also take advantage of geofencing to set up restricted zones on the map and receive real-time alerts whenever the device enters or exits a specific location. And Cocospy also includes:

That said, Cocospy’s strongest suite is the ability to fully monitor the device’s internet usage. This includes everything from reviewing full browsing history to seeing all the browser bookmarks. And with this tool, you’ll even have full remote access to the device and will be able to:

If you’re interested in trying out Cocospy, please be aware that there’s a mock-up website under the .com domain. The official Cocospy website is hosted on a .org domain, so make sure you double-check the website’s URL before creating your Cocospy account. For more on this spy app, check out our full Cocospy review.

5. Hoverwatch — Best Free Android Spy App | Track Location & Activity with Front Camera Capturing

Hoverwatch is the best spy app for those who want to monitor the target user’s phone activities as well as their life outside the phone. For monitoring their phone, you can use features like message monitoring or online activity tracking.

As the name suggests, the message tracking feature will give you access to all the texts exchanged through the device, including the media files shared along with it. This not only extends to regular SMS but also covers other popular instant messaging services such as WeChat, Line, Snapchat, Viber, and Hangouts.

Hoverwatch is also one of the few apps that let you record calls automatically —  whether it’s incoming or outgoing. If you want to monitor the target user’s life outside the phone, you only need two Hoverwatch features — the geolocation tracker and Front Camera Photo.

The geolocation tracker will keep you updated about their location 24/7. It’ll be marked on the map so that you can drive up to their location if needed. What makes its location predictions so accurate is that along with the target device’s GPS, it also uses cell phone towers and WiFi signals to track down a device.

The Front Camera Photo is a rather unique feature. Under this, the device will automatically take a screenshot of the person unlocking the phone. This way, you can check how many times they are using the device or who else has access to it.

Last but not least, brownie points go to Hoverwatch’s SIM card detection feature that keeps the app going even if the SIM card is replaced. In fact, it’ll detect the change and immediately give you a heads-up.

6. XNSpy — Comprehensive Spy App with In-Depth Phone Calls Recording and Analytics

XNSpy is undoubtedly the ultimate spy app — with tons of tracking features, there will be hardly any part of the target device that you won’t have access to. That said, one of our favorite features is the XNSpy analytics. Even if you want to, it’s practically impossible for anyone to keep tracking a device 24/7.

For example, if you want to know who the target user talks to most frequently, it just isn’t feasible to go through all their chats and call logs — too time-consuming. However, with XNSpy’s analytics section, you’ll be able to track their top favorite callers, texters, and even their most frequently visited website.

Another benefit of using XNSpy is the call and surround recording feature. While many popular spy apps will offer you access to their call logs, it’s not enough since you don’t know the context of those conversations. If that’s what you’re looking for, the call recording feature will definitely help you.

Coming to surround recording, it’s a unique way to remotely turn on the target device’s microphone and remotely record all conversations happening face-to-face. By using both these features together, there’s no conversation the target user will be able to make without you finding out.

Even if you want to monitor social media, XNSpy is a good choice. It monitors up to 12 popular social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Along with access to chats and posts, this feature will also let you screen record their social media activities.

The best part is you can access the target’s WhatsApp chat without the risk of rooting the device.

7. Spybubblepro — Best Android Spy App that Keeps Things Simple with 3 Main Tracking Parameters

Spybubblepro has been specially designed to help people catch cheating partners red-handed. Unlike other spy apps with tons of features for every communication app on mobile, this solution only has 3 features, which are enough to know if your partner is being unfaithful.

After all, having a cheating partner is stressful enough — the additional stress of learning a whole new complicated spy app isn’t warranted.

Speaking of the features, you’ll definitely love Spybubblepro’s WhatsApp and SMS tracker. Here, you’ll be able to check all their incoming and outgoing messages and shared media files. If someone is having a secret affair, their messages are usually enough to reveal the truth.

You can even check those texts that have been hidden or deleted. It’ll be practically impossible for them to hide anything from you. Along with that, you can even check their location to gather more evidence about the alleged affair. It’ll only take a few minutes to get all the information on the target device’s location.

Another amazing benefit of using Spybubblepro is it lets you track the user’s online activity through screenshots. Every relevant action automatically triggers a screenshot. For example, if the user gets a new email notification or a text message, it’ll immediately screenshot the incident and send it to your dashboard.

This way, you won’t have to keep tracking their devices 24/7, and you’ll still be aware of all the important actions they take on their phone all day.

8. Geofinder.mobi — Superb Real-Time Location Tracker | Only Mobile Number Needed

Geofinder.mobi is the perfect solution for those looking for a simple way to track someone’s location and internet activity when they’re connected to a Wi-Fi. While most other spy apps make you download the app on the target, this tool works without any such hassle.

All you have to do is enter the number of the target person, add the country code, and hit “Find.” After that, it’ll send a location request to the target user, and they can decide if they want to share their location or not. Yep, this is the only catch.

While many other spy apps let you secretly sneak on the target user, Geofinder.mobi likes to be upfront. This method of tracking can actually save you a lot of legal problems. While you can surely send the message anonymously, we recommend keeping your name in the request.

After all, who would want to share their location with an anonymous person? That said, another perk of using Geofinder.mobi is that it lets you send a custom message along with the location request.

Using this feature, you can tell the target user why you need them to share their location, which might increase their chances of sharing their details. And if they don’t, the chances of them doing something they shouldn’t be doing are on the higher side.

All things considered, the biggest benefit of using Geofinder.mobi is that it works with all kinds of devices and network providers. So whether the target user has an Android or an iPhone, it doesn’t matter — it’ll help you track them anyway. Furthermore, it lets you send unlimited location requests every month.

9. Spyic — Impeccable Geofencing Capabilities for Child Android Tracking

Spyic is the all-in-one spy that every family needs to keep an eye on their kids. Whether you want to track their location, read their social media chats, or see what they’re searching for online, this app will give you access to everything. After all, it’s not easy raising a child in today’s risky digital world.

If you don’t have the time to track their location 24/7, Spyic’s geo-fencing tool is all you need. Using this feature, you can mark a virtual boundary on the map. Each time your kids cross this virtual territory, you’ll be notified.

Since kids these days are most active on social media, Spyic takes special care to ensure that you have access to their Facebook, Viber, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and Instagram accounts. Track their messages and shared media files to keep them safe from online predators.

If you’re unsure whether this app is right for you, sign up for its free demo and take a look. The free demo lets you interact with an exact replica of the actual dashboard so that you’ll know what to expect. You can also check out our full Spyic review for all the nitty-gritty details before committing.

Beyond this, installation is quite simple and doesn’t take too long. You sign up with your email and password and download Spyic on the target device. Spyic will send you installation guidelines once the app is downloaded. Follow the prompts to complete the process, and you’ll be ready to start monitoring calls in no time.

10. Spyera — Best for Live Call Listening and Recording

Spyera is a great computer and phone monitoring software, making it a decent choice for both parents and employers who want to keep tabs on how their employees use the company hardware.

While most Android spy apps only allow you access to call logs, Spyera lets you record phone calls and calls on popular messaging platforms, as well as listen in on live phone calls on the target Android phone.

When it comes to messages, Spyera also allows you to set up SMS keyword deletion. This lets you create filters for specific words and phrases that you deem inappropriate or dangerous for your children or employees.

If the app flags an SMS containing any of those keywords, it’ll immediately delete the incoming text without giving the user a chance to read it. And in addition to call and message monitoring, Spyera gives you access to all photos, videos, and audio files on the monitored Android device.

Plus, you can even tap into the device’s calendar to see who your kids or employees are meeting and when. And you can tweak all the device’s settings remotely, restart or block the device, uninstall unwanted apps, and update the spy app to the newest version.

How Do Android Spy Apps Work?

Android spy apps are actually remarkably simple in their design. Once you install the spy app on the target device, be it a phone or a tablet, the application sends all of the data from the device to a remote online server.

Every message, all phone call time stamps, IDs, and all videos and images are automatically uploaded to the server, which you can access through a dashboard. Put simply, once you log into the spy app’s dashboard on another device, you’ll have access to all of the data on the monitored device.

The best spy apps for Android can even override the device’s system, so to speak, and give you the option to delete or block specific apps, turn off Wi-Fi on the monitored device, or even completely block device usage by locking it remotely.

Why Use an Android Spy App?

While spying on someone else’s phone might sound unethical or controversial, there are many legitimate reasons you’d want to tap into someone’s device. However, the most important thing to understand is that you can’t spy on someone else’s phone without their consent.

The practice is only legitimate if you’re monitoring the mobile activity of your kids, provided that they’re using a phone registered in your name or using spy apps to locate a missing device. These apps are most commonly used by:

Here’s a quick rundown of the most common reasons why people use Android spy apps:

Location Tracking

Being able to see the exact location of the monitored device, as well as the location history, is invaluable for parents and employers. The best spy apps for Android even let you leverage geo-fencing to set up restricted zones and get notified whenever the device enters or leaves a specific area.

Monitoring Phone Calls and Messages

If you’re concerned about who your children are calling and texting, you can tap into their phones without having to physically access the device.

Spy apps also allow you to set up keywords so you’ll get alerted whenever the messages contain words and phrases that you deem inappropriate or potentially dangerous, so you can react on time.

Monitoring Internet Browsing History

The web has many dark corners, and you shouldn’t allow children unrestricted access to the entire internet. The best spy apps for Android allow you to see the device’s entire browsing history and block certain access to certain websites and inappropriate online content.

Anti-theft

Security is another common reason to install spyware for Android. If the device gets lost or stolen, you can lock it remotely to prevent anyone from accessing the information on the Android phone or tablet.

You can also leverage tracking to find the lost/stolen device, as well as wipe all data from the phone to ensure unauthorized people can’t access your contacts, email, photos, and videos.

Can You Use Android Spy Apps Without Touching the Target Phone?

The best spy apps for Android provide complete remote control over the target device. All you have to do is log into the spy app’s dashboard, and you can access all the data on the device, as well as issue remote commands.

However, if your question is: “How can I spy on a cell phone without installing software on the target phone?” the answer is — you can’t. Android phones don’t have automatic cloud backup as iPhones do, so it’s necessary to physically install the spy app on the target device.

Are There Any Undetectable Android Spy Apps?

The most common question on people’s minds is: “How to spy on someone’s phone without them knowing?” The best spy apps for Android are undetectable, but that doesn’t mean you can install them without the device owner’s knowledge.

While spy apps work silently in the background and your child or employee won’t know when you’re peaking in, keep in mind that you still need their informed consent to install and use an Android spy app.

In other words, they won’t know exactly when you’re spying on the phone, but they must be aware of the fact that you have the ability to do so.

Are Android Spy Apps Safe?

There are many shifty companies out there that might sell your data to advertisers, so make sure you’re only using spy apps from reputable providers like the ones listed above. These apps have been on the market for several years without incident.

Bear in mind that you might have to turn off some of the built-in Android security features to install the spy apps. This might leave the device vulnerable to cyber attacks, so we highly recommend installing a VPN or antivirus on the target phone or tablet beforehand as an extra security measure.

Free Android Phone Spy Apps

Free spy apps are virtually non-existent. It takes years and thousands of dollars to develop and program a phone spy app, so it wouldn’t make sense for a developer to provide the app free of charge.

Even if they did, they’d likely flood you with dozens of annoying ads as a way to make a profit by selling the advertising space to other companies.

As the old adage goes: if the product is free, then you’re the product

While no phone spy app is truly free, multiple apps offer a free trial, so you can see them in action and decide whether the functionalities they offer fit your needs. Most of our chosen providers come with demos, so you can try them before you buy.

Are Android Phone Spy Apps Legal?

The legality of Android spy apps depends on how you use them. No matter what application you opt for, you can’t use even the best phone tracker app without permission. In order to install and use a spy app on an Android phone or laptop, you need informed consent from the person using the device.

After you get consent and the person knows completely that you can remotely spy on their phone, you can legally use it to access call logs, messages, and other data on the device. Another thing to keep in mind is that you can only use spy apps to monitor the device of your underage children, provided you are the owner of the device.

In a business setting, you can only legally install the spy app on company-owned devices, but you must also notify your employees that the company devices they’re using are being monitored.

This should be purely for protecting company property and used to prevent the misuse of company-owned devices. In other words, spying on people without their informed consent is considered illegal.

How to Use a Phone Spy App for Android

Most spy apps have a straightforward installation process. We’ll use EyeZy as an example to show you how to install the Android spy app in four easy steps.

You don’t need to mess with any advanced settings, so you can install the app even if you have absolutely no technical knowledge. Plus, all of our picks offer the same or a similar setup.

Step 1 — Go to the EyeZy website

Navigate to the official EyeZy website and click the Get Now button.

Provide a valid email and click Continue to choose your pricing plan.

Step 2 — Select a Price Plan

Choose the pricing plan that best suits you, and click the Buy Now button to proceed.

Input your payment details, and confirm your purchase, and you’ll be able to download and install the app on the target device.

Step 3 — Install the App on the Target Device

After you’ve completed the purchase, you’ll be redirected to the EyeZy dashboard, which will guide you through the installation process. Choose the device manufacturer and operating system, and check the box confirming you have access to the target phone.

Then, visit the Google Play Store and download the EyeZy app on the device you want to monitor.

Install the app, open it, and use your credentials to log into the account. Follow the simple prompts on the screen to give EyeZy all the permissions required to monitor the target phone. After installation, simply exit the app.

Step 4 — Log Into the Dashboard to Start Monitoring

Use another device to log into the EyeZy dashboard, whether it’s your own phone, a tablet, a laptop, or a desktop computer.

Use the dashboard navigation to see phone call logs, SMS messages, conversations on social media apps, and other activity on the target phone.

Android Spy App FAQs