How to Remove Spyware | Best Spy App Removal Tools in 2023

The best spyware removal tools protect your devices from not only the most lethal and hidden spyware but also viruses, malware, and other online security threats. With a top spyware detector guarding your devices, you can browse the internet and transfer data from external hard drives without worrying about a spy app prying on your activities or stealing your data.

Finding the best spyware removal software in a sea of options is a headache. In our guide, we’ve reviewed the best software for spy app detection and removal based on criteria such as device compatibility, ease of use, customer support, pricing, and more. Read on to see how the likes of TotalAV, McAfee, and Norton fare against each other.

The Best Spyware Removal Tools in 2023 | Quick Answer

Our research concluded that TotalAV is the #1 PC and cell phone spyware detection and removal tool owing to its real-time protection, beginner-friendly interface, system optimization features, and 30-day money-back guarantee. See how it compares with other industry leaders:

1. TotalAV — Our Top Pick for the Best Spy App Removal Tool. Try it Now With the 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
2. McAfee — The Best Spyware Detector for Personalized In-House Assistance From Experts. Put it to the Test with the 30-Day Free Trial and 30-Day Guarantee.
3. Norton — Leading Spy App Removal Tool With the Longest Money-Back Guarantee of 60 Days.
4. Avast — The Best Free Spy App Removal Tool. Try it Now Risk-Free With the Free Plan.
5. Kaspersky — The Best Spyware Detector for Businesses of All Sizes. See Its Suitability for Your Needs With the 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
6. Surfshark — Popular Antivirus and Spyware Removal Solution With Multiple Scanning Options + a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
7. TrendMicro — A Free Anti Spyware Solution Perfect for Beginners.
8. Intego — A Quality Mac & Windows Spyware Removal Tool. Comes With a 30-Day Free Trial and Money-Back Guarantee.
9. Avira — The Most Lightweight Spyware Removal Software With a Free Plan + a Whopping 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

The Best Spy App Removal Tools in 2023 | In-Depth Reviews

Here, we discuss the best spy app detectors in detail, along with their top features and pros and cons. Ready?

1. TotalAV — Our Top Pick for the Best Spy App Removal Tool

TotalAV commands a user base of over 30 million thanks to its diverse features and robust security protocols — hence its well-deserved placement for the best spyware removal software in 2023.

Real-time protection by TotalAV Pro ensures that any spyware that might have snuck into your device via a malicious website or a corrupted file is removed immediately. This is made possible by TotalAV’s intuitive spyware removal tool. It constantly scans your devices for infection and deletes anything suspicious straightaway.

If during any scan, it finds an uncommon file, like a phishing website launcher, it’ll give you an alert and ask permission for further analysis of such uncommon files. This extends to spyware found in the scan, too. A couple of minutes of additional security here, plus TotalAV’s advanced cloud scanning, ensure that you stay safe from zero-day attacks.

With TotalAV, you’ll also be able to protect your internet activity in and out — it’ll block any harmful website before it can spy on or collect your data.

In addition to quarantining and eliminating malicious code, TotalAV is also fantastic as far as scheduled scans on particular folders or even entire hard drives are concerned. Not to forget that TotalAV also offers one of the best VPN services for even more protection while you’re online.

A highly awarded antivirus solution in 2023 — winner of the Top Product, VB100, Deceptor Fighter, and 3* Malware Protection, TotalAV is your best bet if you want your Windows or Mac devices to be free from spyware, ransomware, viruses, or any third-party intruders.

Pricing:

TotalAV’s Antivirus Pro package at just $29/year for 3 devices is one of the lowest price points in the industry. However, the renewal price is quite steep.

If you want support for more devices, we recommend TotalAV’s Total Security deal — this package comes with the Antivirus and Internet Security that includes the VPN.

All annual TotalAV plans come with a money-back guarantee of 30 days, so try it risk-free today and find out if it’s for you.

2. McAfee — The Best Spyware Detector for Personalized In-House Assistance From Experts

McAfee will assign one of their tech experts to access your device remotely and scan it for spyware, viruses, or other types of trackers.

This makes McAfee a perfect solution for beginners and those who want an expert opinion and believe that the expert will have a better understanding of their system’s integrity and potential spyware presence than AI.

With McAfee, your device will stay protected from all types of spyware at all times, with all necessary security protocols updated as and when needed. The platform also blocks any unwanted pop-ups so that you don’t accidentally click on a spyware link.

One of the first things you’ll notice on the McAfee dashboard is its much-acclaimed Protection Score functionality. As the name suggests, the Protection Score is a rating for the overall health of your device — on a scale of 1 to 1,000.

Now, the best part is that below the Protection Score, McAfee lists various actions you can take to improve the overall score and, therefore, the health of your device. For example, if there’s been a breach of your email password, you can increase your score by changing your email password.

Other noteworthy features include a password manager, a VPN, and a parental control feature, making McAfee a well-rounded product for all your security needs.

Pricing:

McAfee’s Antivirus Plus plan provides coverage for 10 devices at just $24.99 for the first year, but it renews at $64.99/year.

Regardless, this package will provide you with the best bang for your buck and should be more than enough for an entire family. In fact, there’s hardly any antivirus service that covers 10 devices at this price point.

For unlimited devices and more features like Identity Monitoring and one of the best parental control apps, we suggest McAfee’s Family plans, which are 2-year subscriptions, as opposed to its Individual plans, which are for a single year. The cream of the crop is the Premium Family plan at $59.99/year for the first year.

Thanks to McAfee’s 30-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try it without risking your money. No hassle. No risk.

3. Norton — Leading Spy App Removal Tool With the Longest Money-Back Guarantee of 60 Days

Norton spyware removal is quite like McAfee — both have in-house agents that step in to remove any spyware from your device that remain even after you’ve followed all the recommended steps.

However, what sets Norton apart from McAfee is its diverse plans and products for different user needs — check out the pricing section for more details on this. We love how Norton highlights all the risky links on your Facebook and Twitter feeds and web-based emails.

Plus, as it’s available for Androids, Mac, iOS, and Windows, Norton takes the lead on cloud backup — it’ll automatically back up all your important files without you having to manually do it.

Norton’s Smart Firewall is different from other firewalls in that it monitors both the network traffic that’s received and sent from your device, ensuring no one can access your device and install any spyware on it, putting your files and information at risk.

With its vulnerability assessment, Norton proves just how much it strives to keep your device safe from spyware. Here, Norton’s smart AI will rule out any opening for a potential attack on your device, whether it be through a weak password, malicious apps, or security breaches in your system software.

Try Norton today and see for yourself why over 50 million users trust it for protection against spyware, phishing attacks, and more.

Pricing:

At just $19.99 for the first year to cover 1 device, Norton’s Antivirus Plus plan is one of the most affordable spyware removal services to remove even the most reliable spy apps.

However, Norton reserves premium features, including Dark Web Monitoring and Parental Control, for its high-end plans. For the best premium deal, we recommend Norton’s Select + LifeLock plan, which starts at $99.99 for the first year or $9.99 for the first month.

Besides a 7-day free trial, Norton also offers a staggering 60-day money-back guarantee. Try it today and see if it’s for you. If it’s not, get a full refund.

4. Avast — The Best Free Spy App Removal Tool

Avast AntiVirus Pro is the best free spyware removal software in 2023. At $0, you can protect your device from any threats and spyware with full device scans, including quarantining potential spyware and viruses, plus 4 shields (File, Behavior, Web, and Mail shields) that notify you of anything suspicious.

Thanks to Avast’s full suite of dynamic security protocols and machine learning capabilities, your device will develop immunity against new spyware and viruses automatically so that it remains protected from all future attacks.

In addition to quick Smart Scans and the more comprehensive Full Virus Scans that come in handy for detecting active malware, browser threats, missing security patches on apps, and more, Avast also offers a special Boot Time Scan.

This handles persistent spying apps that don’t go away with the regular scans. It will run before your system boots up, giving the spyware no chance to defend itself.

Now, Avast’s services go beyond just spyware removal. With its one-click scan, you can find out all vulnerabilities of your device, including settings that expose it to attacks, suspicious add-ons, and out-of-date software that might be carrying spyware.

Trusted by over 400 million users around the world, protect all your devices with Avast, whether it be Android, Windows, iOS, or Mac.

Pricing:

Avast follows a freemium pricing model, with the Avast One Essential package offering advanced firewall, suspicious activity monitoring, and ransomware/malware blocking — all for free.

For advanced features like data protection, a VPN with access to 55 locations, device cleanup, automatic driver updates, and coverage for 5 devices, sign up for the Avast One service. It starts at just $4.19/month for the first year (billed annually) and it’s incredibly feature-rich.

Enjoy Avast One risk-free with the 30-day money-back guarantee. Get a full refund if you don’t find it up to the mark.

5. Kaspersky Antivirus — The Best Spyware Detector for Businesses of All Sizes

Kaspersky Antivirus is your best bet if you’re looking for a spyware removal tool to protect your work devices.

Unlike other spyware removal solutions whose security features are more suited to personal devices, Kaspersky offers individually personalized solutions for small businesses (1-50 employees), medium businesses (51-999 employees), and enterprises (1,000+ employees).

Like most popular spyware removal apps, you get two scanning options — Quick Scan to check the areas where spyware is usually hidden and Full Scan to scrutinize every file, folder, and drive. If Kaspersky finds any spyware during the Quick Scan, a full scan will automatically be prompted.

To minimize vulnerabilities, Kaspersky also employs a triple-layer security protocol, including:

• A proactive device-wide search to find and fix vulnerabilities
• A protective shield to prevent new spyware attacks
• A defense strategy to neutralize the spyware in case of an attack

Its standout High-Tech Protection feature uses a database of previous attacks and information from the Kaspersky Security Network to detect and warn you of potentially malicious links in advance by color-coding the URLs based on threat levels.

Along with that, it’ll also trigger screen alerts if you’re trying to get into a malicious website, asking if you still wish to continue. Together, these two features reduce your chances of accidentally clicking on spyware links and exposing your device to hackers.

Pricing:

Kaspersky’s Standard Plan renews at $56.99, however, it’s one of the few introductory plans in the industry to come with multiple device support (three, in this case).

If you also want a VPN, 24/7 remote IT support, and identity protection, Kaspersky’s Premium plan will be the right pick for you.

As mentioned earlier, Kaspersky’s cell phone spy software also has 3 additional pricing tiers for small, medium, and enterprise-level businesses, respectively. Check them out if you’re a business owner looking for organization-wide security solutions.

On top of all this, Kaspersky’s plans come with a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Try it risk-free and see if it suits your needs.

6. Surfshark — Popular Antivirus and Spyware Removal Solution With Multiple Scanning Options

Surfshark has carved a name for itself in the antivirus segment by combining advanced spyware removal features and a superior user experience.

Although Surfshark doesn’t have a firewall as competent as that of Norton, it more than makes up for it by offering three types of scans to remove any spyware that may have snuck through:

1. Manual — Set up at your convenience and use it if you notice suspicious activities, such as faster battery draining on your device.
2. Real-time Scans — Automated scans to stop attacks right in their tracks.
3. Schedule Scans — Pre-decided scans set at regular intervals for routine maintenance.

What’s more, there’s also the Surfshark Cloud Protect system that’ll work around the clock to find and analyze unknown files on your device to prevent zero-day attacks. This will ensure that no spyware can exploit unknown vulnerabilities of your device before Surfshark finds a fix for them.

Surfshark’s protection services also extend to phishing websites, malware, and corrupted ads that might lure you into clicking on a potential spyware link and exposing your device to hackers.

In addition to this, Surfshark is also one of the most lightweight spyware removal tools — it runs 24/7 in the background without hogging up your CPU or RAM or slowing your device.

It doesn’t end there, either. Surfshark is also a renowned VPN provider — and one of the few that offers unlimited device coverage on one subscription. For more, read our in-depth Surfshark review.

Pricing:

At just $3.48/month, Surfshark’s 2-year (+ 2 months free) plan is an absolute steal. Plus, there are no renewal hikes, either.

With a 30-day money-back guarantee on your side, try Surfshark risk-free today.

7. TrendMicro — A Free Anti Spyware Solution Perfect for Beginners

TrendMicro offers its spyware removal service under a tool called HouseCall. Besides being completely free, TrendMicro is incredibly beginner-friendly.

The interface is simple and easy to navigate — all you have to do is run the software and click on Start Scan.

TrendMicro’s Custom scan functionality is probably our favorite. It gives you the liberty to scan specific folders and files that you find suspicious. This ensures you don’t waste time on full scans in situations where checking the commonly vulnerable areas (suspicious emails, attachments, new downloads) would be enough.

What makes TrendMicro so efficient in detecting almost all kinds of spyware is its Smart Protection Network. This program automatically extracts malware and spyware data from those using its service.

With a massive database of information about all prevalent and new threats, TrendMicro is able to neutralize any potential threat on your device at the very initial stage.

TrendMicro promises never to collect any of your personal information in the process of extracting spyware attack details — a sweet reassurance for a free solution that’s often under scrutiny for selling customer data.

Yes, it’s true that Housecall doesn’t have real-time monitoring or malware/spyware scanning, but something you’ll surely appreciate is how Housecall’s services will extend to your home network — one of the most common spyware transmission channels — to minimize your device’s vulnerabilities.

For instance, a simple one-tap scan will check all the devices connected to the main home network for spyware and other malicious entities with the help of TrendMicro’s intelligent network scanning technologies.

Pricing:

As a free spyware removal solution, TrendMicro/HouseCall practically sells itself. Even the paid plans are affordable — the best deal is the Antivirus+ Security plan at $19.95 for the first year.

However, if you want to cover devices other than Windows, such as Mac, Android, and iOS, you’ll have to select either the Maximum Security or the Premium Security plan, both of which are also competitively priced.

Although TrendMicro’s paid plans don’t come with a money-back guarantee, you can still try the service risk-free, thanks to its lengthy 30-day free trial. Try it now.

8. Intego — A Quality Mac & Windows Spyware Removal Tool

Intego, although only compatible with a single Mac device at a time, still manages to stand out with unique features like automated scans and quarantining spyware.

For instance, while tools like TrendMicro and Kaspersky only let you choose between manual Quick Scans and Full Scans, Intego lets you choose between daily automated scans and location-specific manual scans.

This way, you can search your device for vulnerabilities faster, and to further speed up the scan, Intego will also mark previously checked trusted folders.

When Intego finds spyware on your device, it’ll give you the option to either quarantine it to the location to prevent an outbreak while you check other files or repair it immediately.

Under the Quarantine menu, you’ll also get a list of all previously flagged files along with their details, such as detection date, threat name, location, and more. So if a file is wrongfully flagged, you can restore it immediately and exclude it from future scans.

Unfortunately, the limitations imposed by the Mac App Store prevent Intego from running real-time scans on web activity or downloads. That said, its periodic scans cover enough real estate, including web channels like emails and pop-ups, to prevent spyware from doing any real damage.

Even if spyware is hidden in archived files, it won’t be long before Intego manages to find and destroy it.

Pricing:

Intego’s Mac starter plan covers 1 Mac for $19.99 — not bad considering that it’ll give you almost all types of coverage you’ll need for day-to-day working.

However, if you’d also like parental controls and enhanced system performance, the Mac Premium Bundle will suit you better.

You can cover up to 5 PCs with Intego’s Extended plan for Windows. That said, the basic Windows Personal plan covers only 1 Windows PC and costs $29.99/year.

You can also try Intego without putting any money on the line, thanks to its 30-day free trial and the generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

9. Avira — The Most Lightweight Spyware Removal Software With a Free Plan

Avira might not outdo our top three in terms of performance or features, but it undoubtedly offers one of the easiest, one-click installations.

What makes it even better is that it protects your system from spyware and a host of other malicious entities in real-time without slowing down your system, and that too, for free.

Like Surfshark, Avira, too, is extremely lightweight — in fact, it officially has the smallest footprint in the industry. This ensures that you can run as many programs as you want on your system while Avira runs in the background 24/7 uninterrupted.

Avira’s spyware protection features are further strengthened by its global database of registered spyware — the Avira Protection Cloud. When new spyware is discovered anywhere across the globe, it’s immediately registered on Avira’s database so that it can immunize all its users and their devices against it.

Furthermore, for users looking to just simply secure their web activity from spyware, Avira offers a specially designed spyware cleaner called the Avira Browser Safety.

It’s a free browser extension that prevents you from downloading corrupted files and suggests safer alternatives. In addition to that, you also get an ad blocker that protects you from accidentally clicking on a potentially malicious ad link.

Having spent over 35 years developing its anti-spyware technology, Avira is internationally recognized and awarded, making its service all the more trustworthy.

Pricing:

In addition to Avira’s free deal that tags along with a 500MB/month VPN and an Update Scanner, there’s also Avira Prime which costs $59.99 for the first year and $99.99/year thereafter.

Although it renews at almost double the price, this remains one of the lowest renewal rates in the industry, and it comes with additional features such as real-time data breach alerts and automated cleaning and updates.

Plus, you get a free trial and a whopping 60-day money-back guarantee to judge Avira’s suitability for your needs before putting any money into it. Not up to your liking? Get a full refund.

The Best Spyware Removal App Comparison Table

Here are the key differences between our top picks packaged in a crisp table to help you reach a decision faster:

How We Chose the Best Spy App Detectors

Here’s the checklist we used to handpick the best spy detector apps for Android, Mac, Windows, or any other device for that matter:

1. Experience

One of the first things you need to check when getting a spy app removal tool is their experience. Most of us aren’t tech wizards, which means anyone could come up with fancy technical terms and fool us into believing that their service can actually help you detect spyware.

Plus, the best spy apps for Android, iOS, and desktops are constantly evolving to bypass detectors — so, since there’s no way of testing antivirus claims, it’s certainly best to go with renowned spyware detection tools with years of experience and countless positive reviews as solid proof of their claims.

2. Security Protocols 

You might need help to understand what technologies they’re using to protect your device, but you can at least check the number of ways they’re protecting you.

For example, do they have an advanced firewall to secure your web activities? After all, most spyware attacks are initiated through the internet. We’ve ensured that most of the tools we’ve reviewed also have an automated scanner to check everything you download on your device for spyware.

3. VPN Support

If you really want to double up your security online, consider getting a spy app removal tool that also offers cheap VPNs built in — although cheap, these VPNs are nothing short of phenomenal, and this added protection will prevent hackers or any malicious third parties from specifically targeting you or tracking your activities.

Also, since you’ll be completely anonymous online, you won’t have to worry about leaving behind personal details like your IP address to potential attackers.

4. Pricing and Refunds 

Pricing and refunds are one of the most significant parts of your user experience. You surely want a reliable spyware-blocking app, but not at the cost of wrecking your monthly budget, right?

That’s why we’ve curated a diverse list of efficient spyware detection tools with varying price ranges. To ensure your money isn’t stuck on some service you don’t like — plus, many popular providers like TotalAV and McAfee also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

How to Remove a Spy App?

Are you worried your privacy is compromised by spyware like from one of the best keylogger apps, screen recorders, or otherwise? Try any or all of these three options to get rid of them right away:

1. Use a Spyware Removal Tool

The easiest way to remove spyware from your device is by using a spyware removal tool. Tools like TotalAV and McAfee run a comprehensive scan on your device to look for hidden spyware. If they find one, they’ll automatically delete it from your device without you lifting another finger.

2. Manually Remove Spyware 

If you’re going the manual way to test your device for spyware, make sure it’s in safe mode. It’s a basic and diagnostic mode for your computer with limited files and drives so that you can get a closer look at the operating system issues.

All that you have to do is long-press the power button to get to the “Reboot to Safe Mode” option and then tap OK.

Once you’re in, go through your app list on the Settings page and look for any strange app you don’t recognize. If you find anything shady, delete it immediately. You don’t have to worry about accidentally deleting system apps; they cannot be deleted even if you try.

If the app has somehow managed to get device administrator permission, you won’t be able to delete it. In that case, you need to go to Settings > Security > Advanced > Device Administrators, remove the permission, and then uninstall the app.

3. Factory Reset the Device

If the two other options don’t work for you, the only other way to remove spyware from your device is to factory reset it. This will delete all information from your device and restore it to its original state — flushing away all hidden spyware along with it.

Since you will lose all your data in this step, ensure you get a backup before factory resetting.

Spyware Removal FAQs