5 Best Spy Apps to Use in 2022
Whether you want to monitor your child's online activities or are concerned about an unfaithful partner, a spy app can be a helpful tool to put your mind at ease.
In this guide we review the best spy apps that you can use to discreetly and safely monitor people's messages, social media, and other activities.
Top 5 Phone Spy Apps for 2022If you want to keep tabs on your kids or want to know exactly how your employees are using company phones, you need to monitor their mobile devices. The best spy apps allow you to see exactly where the device is at all times, review incoming calls and messages, and see the browsing history.
Here's our selection of the five best spy apps for Android and iPhone in:
- mSpy - Overall the Best Spy App for Parental Control
- eyeZy - Simple yet Powerful Phone Monitoring Solution
- uMobix - Simple and Effective Phone Monitoring for Parents
- XNSpy- Decent Spy App with Social App Screen Recording
- Spyic - Best Location Tracking Features
When choosing a spy app, there are a few variables you need to pay attention to, such as device compatibility, tracking and monitoring features, and pricing plans.
We've put together detailed reviews of the five best spy apps, so you can choose the one that best aligns with your needs.
1. mSpy -Overall the Best Spy App for Parental ControlmSpy is an excellent choice for parents of underage children who want to make sure their kids are safe - both online and in the real world.
With mSpy, you can track the device's location in real-time and use geofencing to set up alerts when the device enters and leaves a particular geographic area.
You can also review incoming and outgoing text messages, including deleted ones. On top of SMS, mSpy lets you see the chat history on WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, and other popular instant messaging apps.
mSpy also supports phone call monitoring, allowing you to see the numbers your kids dialed and received calls from, as well as the timestamps and duration of each call. You can even access the photos on the device to see the pictures they share and receive.
If you're worried your child might be accessing inappropriate content, you can block specific apps on their phone and check the device's browsing history. You can even use mSpy to record the screen if you believe they're engaging in an activity you don't condone.
Pros
- Allows you to see all text messages, even deleted ones
- Can access chat logs of all popular instant messaging apps
- Gives you full control over the device remotely
- Allows you to monitor all internet activity
Cons
- Must purchase the Family Kit to track more than one device
- Must jailbreak the phone to access full features
Compatible Operating Systems | Pricing | Top Features |
Android 4+ iOS 11 - 14.8.1 | From $18.89/month for one device | Phone call and message monitoring Application blocking Full internet activity monitoring |
Spy Apps eyeZy
If you want full access to all the data on the monitored device, eyeZy is one of the best phone spy apps out there. On top of phone calls and messages, eyeZy lets you see the device's GPS location, Wi-Fi networks it accessed, photos and videos captured, and all of the apps installed on your kid's phone.
The standout feature of eyeZy is the Plans Breaker. It allows you to see your child's social calendar by reviewing events and notes, so you can stop them from attending an event you don't approve of. On top of geofencing, you can set smart filters to ensure they're not chatting to their friends or strangers about inappropriate topics.
eyeZy is compatible with all modern smartphones and is easy to set up and use. It features an invisible shield, so your kids won't know when you're tapping into the device.
Pros
- Dozens of useful features
- Compatible with all modern Android and iOS devices
- Intuitive and easy to use
- Built-in screen recorder and keylogger
Cons
- Expensive for tracking multiple devices
Compatible Operating Systems | Pricing | Top Features |
iPhones iPads Android phones Android tablets | From $9.99/month for a single device | Phone Analyzer Web Magnifier Plans Breaker |
uMobix phone monitoring spy apps
uMobix relies on advanced tracking features to enable parents to see what their kids are doing on their mobile device at all times. It allows you to access chat history from a variety of popular messaging apps and social media platforms, as well as see all incoming and outgoing calls and SMS messages.
The Photo & Video Tracker gives you a visual perspective of what your child is doing and who they hang out with. You can access all of the photos and videos on the device, see the file names, and monitor specific pictures to see when they are deleted or shared.
With uMobix, you can even access the monitored device's camera and microphone to see and hear your child's surroundings in real-time. The app also gives you the ability to see all of the deleted info, such as messages and calls, as well as see renamed contacts.
Pros
- Easy to set up and simple to use
- Advanced tracking features
- Camera snapshots, video, and audio streams
- Ability to access deleted information
Cons
- Drains the device's battery
- Some features are only available for iOS
Compatible Operating Systems | Pricing | Top Features |
Android 4 or higher All iOS devices | From $11.66/month for a single device | Full remote control of the device Video and audio streaming in real-time Access to deleted info |
XNSpy social app screen recording
XNSpy is an award-winning phone monitoring app, and it should certainly be counted among the best spy apps for Android and iPhone.
On top of all the standard features you'd expect out of the best phone spy app, such as phone call and text monitoring, location tracking, and real-time alerts, XNSpy offers full remote control of the monitored device.
You can block certain apps, record the screen and phone calls, lock the phone, and even wipe all data on the device. On top of that, you can use the location tracker to quickly find a stolen or lost device.
One of the unique features of XNSpy is the ability to record the screen while your kid is browsing social media. This lets you see who they're following and what content they're consuming.
XNSpy also allows you to step in at any moment and take full control over the device. You can lock the phone and choose a new password, preventing anyone from using the phone until you unlock it again manually.
Pros
- Block unwanted websites
- Full remote control of the device
- Available on multiple devices with a single subscription
- Easy to set up and use
- Affordable
Cons
- The monitored device needs access to the internet (Wi-Fi network or mobile data)
Compatible Operating Systems | Pricing | Top Features |
Android 4 up to 11 iOS 6 up to 9.0.2 | From $9.99/month | Remote commands Email monitoring Social apps screen recording |
Spyic shines when it comes to location tracking, utilizing powerful GPS, Wi-Fi, and SIM Card trackers to provide you with real-time updates on the device's location. It allows you to track exact movements with timestamps, see addresses and geographic coordinates, and create no-go zones" with geofencing.
Spyic also offers standard phone call and SMS tracking and lets you see the device's entire browsing history. Where it falls off compared to other best hidden spy apps is monitoring instant messaging apps. Spyic is limited to WhatsApp, Viber, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram, so you won't be able to tell what your child is doing on apps like Tinder, TikTok, and Kik.
While not exactly the best free spy app, Spyic does offer a free trial, so you can see it in action before committing to a paid subscription.
Pros
- Offers a free trial
- Excellent location tracking features
- Easy to use
Cons
- No remote control features
- Limited number of IM apps it can spy on
Compatible Operating Systems | Pricing | Top Features |
Android 4.1 or higher All iOS devices with iCloud backup | From $9.99/month | GPS, Wi-Fi, and SIM card tracking Geofence alerts Website history tracker |
A phone spy app is an application that lets you access virtually all the data on the monitored device remotely. When installed, it collects information regarding phone calls, SMS, chats on social media, location, etc., and uploads the data to an online server. When you log into a spy app's dashboard, you can review that data to see exactly who your kids are talking to and what they're doing online.
What Can You Use a Spy App for?The best spy apps allow you to see all of the activity on the target device. Here are the main things you can use a spy app for:
Phone Call and SMS MonitoringA spy app lets you see all incoming and outgoing calls and SMS texts, including timestamps, contact names, and call duration. Some of the best spy apps, like mSpy, even let you see deleted messages and renamed contacts.
Instant Messaging Apps MonitoringYou can use a spy app to tap into chats on popular instant messaging platforms and social media. This lets you see who your kids are talking to online and what they're talking about. You can even create filters for specific words to get notified as soon as they come up.
Location TrackingThe best spy apps let you track the monitored device's location, so you'll know whenever your child enters or leaves a particular geographic location. This is great for ensuring they're actually at a friend's house for a sleepover rather than sneaking out to a party they're not supposed to attend.
Browsing HistoryLeaving children with unattended access to the internet is potentially dangerous. You can use a spy app to see what they're searching for online and even block specific websites to ensure they can't access inappropriate content.
Remote ControlWhen necessary, you can take full control over the target device remotely. You can block specific apps, disable the internet, lock the phone, or even wipe all of the phone's data.
Can You Use a Spy App Without Touching the Target Phone?Yes, all spy apps allow you to access the monitored device remotely. That said, you will need to physically install the application on the device you want to monitor. After that, you can use your own phone, PC, or laptop to log into the spy app's dashboard and keep tabs on your kid's phone from afar.
Are Phone Spy Apps Safe and Legal?Spy apps are perfectly safe. When it comes to legality, there are a few requirements you must meet. You can only spy on an underage child, provided you own the device - you bought the phone and are paying the phone bill. Otherwise, you would have to obtain express written consent in order to legally monitor the child's phone.
The other instance in which you can legally use a spy app is to monitor your employees' company phones. Still, they would have to be aware of the fact and give you written consent.
ConclusionIf you're looking for a powerful spy app that lets you see everything your child is doing on their mobile phone, mSpy is the number one choice.
It allows you to see all phone calls, messages (even deleted ones), location, photos, videos, and the full internet history. You can even take screenshots, record their screen, block specific apps, and take full remote control over the device.
mSpy also offers a free trial, so it's one of the best free spy apps for Android and iPhone.
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