Free Spy Apps 2025 – Best Spyware Reviewed
Spy apps let you monitor the mobile devices of your children, employees, and romantic partners whom you suspect of cheating.
These technological marvels feature a host of spying tools. These include call loggers, GPS locators, social media monitors, and message viewers. Some apps even let you take control of the third-party device, allowing you to activate cameras and microphones, listen in on calls, and more.
Carry on reading if you want to find out more about world-class free spy apps in 2025.
5 Best Free Phone Spy Apps
- mSpy: If you’re looking for an incredibly comprehensive tracker app, mSpy is the overall best.
- Spynger: This spy app is specifically designed to catch romantic partners suspected of cheating.
- uMobix: Track a third-party device without the user knowing with uMobix. It has the most effective stealth mode.
- Scannero: When it comes to locating a cell phone, there’s no better tracker app than Scannero.
- SpyBubble Pro: If you want the widest range of monitoring tools, look no further than SpyBubble Pro.
Free Spying Apps Reviewed
mSpy: The Best Phone Tracker App Overall
mSpy is one of the very best free spy apps for Android and iPhone. Given the quality and range of its tracking tools, it’s easy to see why.
mSpy is primarily marketed toward parents who want to monitor their kids’ phones. That said, its functions make it an industry-leading tracker app for the majority of one’s cell phone spying needs. It’s easy to set up, and its user interface couldn’t be more user-friendly.
If you want to utilize its functions discreetly, once you’ve installed the program, don’t forget to turn on the ‘stay invisible’ mode. This makes the app almost impossible to detect.
mSpy lets you monitor calls, texts, and social media activity, including uploads, downloads, and direct messages. Whatever popular social media app you wish to monitor, mSpy’s got you covered.
There’s also a precise GPS locator. You can program alerts to sound whenever the phone arrives at your chosen locations. Plus, you can retrace the steps of your target, seeing everywhere the phone has been beforehand
For full access to all of mSpy’s great tools, you will need to pay a subscription. You can pay a very reasonable $26.99 per month or pay for three months or twelve months at once. That brings the price down to $15.33 and $6.25 a month, respectively.
Stealth Mode: 9
Call Log: 9
Social Media Monitor: 9
Phone Locator: 8
Extra Features: 8
Customer Support: 9
Cost: 9
Overall: 9.7
Spynger: The Best App for Catching a Cheating Partner
There are many free Android spy apps for cheating spouse tracking, but Spynger is (in our expert opinion) the very best. It’s well-designed and versatile, with features and functions to assist with the full spectrum of snooping situations. It’s also the best spy app with a free trial.
Given that Spynger is primarily intended for covert monitoring, the developers have made it incredibly easy to install. The user interface is highly intuitive, too. Whether you want to secretly monitor an unruly child or a romantic partner you suspect of being unfaithful, everything is super easy. Just don’t forget to turn on stealth mode.
It’s easy to see call and text message logs. You can monitor a broad range of social media apps. There’s also a special feature where you can choose to be notified if the tracked person uses words or phrases you’ve “blacklisted”. This is perfect if you don’t have the time to monitor a phone’s behavior around the clock.
In the same way, the GPS locator can be used to find the phone at any time, but if you want to view where it was before you logged on, you can simply view the cell’s location history.
The free trial for Spyger really impressed us. These days, it’s rare to be able to use any high-tech spy apps for free. However, some of the more impressive features are, unfortunately, off limits to free users. Thankfully, Spynger’s subscription pricing plans are very affordable.
Stealth Mode: 9
Call Log: 9
Social Media Monitor: 8
Phone Locator: 8
Extra Features: 8
Customer Support: 8
Cost: 7
Overall: 9.1
uMobix: The Most Undetectable App
Don’t let uMobix’s marketing fool you. This phone tracker is useful to more than just cautious parents. Apart from its broad range of impressive monitoring tools, it is also one of the most stealthy tracker apps we have ever tested. In stealth mode, uMobix has almost no effect on the target device’s performance, making it harder to notice than a black cat in a coal mine.
uMobix is one of the easiest tracking applications to install and use. It’s compatible with almost any Android or iOS device. You can even use it on Chromebooks. Given how effective the stealth mode is, this is the perfect tracker app for those wanting to track a device secretly.
The ability to monitor calls, texts, social media activity, and direct messages rivals any other smartphone spy apps. uMobix also stands out for its remote device control options. You can turn on the target phone’s camera and microphone at any time, and you can block incoming and outgoing calls and messages.
At $59.99 per month, access to the paid tools might seem a little pricey, but you have to remember that few tracker apps offer uMobix’s remote functions. Nevertheless, if price is a concern, committing to a longer-running subscription will bring the cost down to as low as $14.99 a month.
Stealth Mode: 9
Call Log: 8
Social Media Monitor: 8
Phone Locator: 8
Extra Features: 9
Customer Support: 8
Cost: 7
Overall: 9.1
Scannero: The Most Highly Rated Cell Phone Locator
Scannero is the ultimate phone locator specialist, offering many different ways to track a third-party device’s steps. There are hardly any other features, but that’s the point. Scannero is your primary destination if you ever want to locate a phone quickly, easily and cheaply.
Unlike our other top 5 smartphone spy apps, you don’t need to install Scannero on the target device. Once your account is set up, you’ll be presented with a range of phone locator tools. The most popular one simply asks you to input the number you wish to locate. You then send a location request, and when it’s confirmed by the recipient phone, you’ll be emailed its location.
This isn’t the only way to find a cell phone with Scannero. If you opt for the locator-by-link function, you create a locator web link via your account. You can then send this link to the intended phone by email, SMS or a direct messaging app. Again, when the link is opened, the tracked person’s location is revealed. Using these methods, you can actually locate many different cell phones.
Aside from the locator functions, you can also use Scannero to verify a person’s identity. For example, if someone you know contacts you, but you’re not sure it’s really them, simply use the “reverse name look-up” tool. After inputting the person’s username, Scannero scans its databases to find all their email and social media accounts. When their information is displayed, you can confirm their identity.
Access to the pay-for tools is $48.90 per month. There aren’t any other price plans, but there is a twenty-four-hour trial available at just $0.89.
Stealth Mode: NA
Call Log: NA
Social Media Monitor: NA
Phone Locator: 9
Extra Features: 7
Customer Support: 9
Cost: 7
Overall: 9.0
SpyBubble Pro: The App with the Widest Range of Tracking Tools
We’re big fans of SpyBubble Pro for its many highly intuitive tracking tools. You’ll struggle to find another app that’s anywhere near as flexible.
There’s a very user-friendly call, text, and contact viewer, which even allows you to see information deleted by the user. If the tracked person ever changes SIM cards, you’ll be notified. You’ll also be able to block incoming and outgoing calls and messages.
You can monitor all the major social network apps, including Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, not to mention a host of messenger apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. The app’s keystroke logger allows you to see what the user has been typing on the virtual keypad. And the app’s GPS locator is one of the most accurate we’ve used.
You can also take advantage of the incredibly useful Duo Messenger Spy. This marvelous function lets you mirror the screen of the third-party phone in real time. You can then take screenshots and record videos of the content.
The $49.99 monthly subscription is on par with the industry average; however, if you pay for an annual subscription, you bring that down to $12.49. On top of that, you’ll qualify for a second year’s subscription, absolutely free.
Stealth Mode: 8
Call Log: 9
Social Media Monitor: 9
Phone Locator: 8
Extra Features: 8
Customer Support: 8
Cost: 8
Overall: 9.2
What’s a Spy App?
Spying apps can be installed on a third-party phone with or without the user’s knowledge. You can then monitor the device’s activity, including calls, texts, location, social media activity, plus a whole lot more. If you’re able to root the target phone, you can view even more aspects of the phone’s behavior. The best spying apps barely affect the target phone’s performance, so when it’s running, the user will be unaware.
Our Spying App Review Criteria
When reviewing spy apps, we focus on what’s most important to the majority of users. We also highlight any specialist apps that stand out from their competitors.
One of the first things we look at is cost. There are many free spy apps for Android, which are fantastic, but they do have their limits. This is why we also look at the subscription versions and make sure they’re cost-effective.
Using a mobile tracker for Android doesn’t need to be rocket science. However, some spying apps are geared toward professionals, so they’re not the most user-friendly. This is why we recommended apps with a broad range of effective tools that are also easy to use or, at the very least, come with clear instructions. With respect to those who wish to monitor a phone discreetly, we also highlight apps that are easy to install. After all, if you wish to install a spying app without the third party’s knowledge, you’ll need to do it quickly.
All of our top 5 spy apps either have a wide range of tracking tools or offer the best version of a particular tool. There are some apps that claim to offer every type of spying tool known to man. In reality, however, many of these apps either don’t do what they promise or their tools are ineffective.
How to Find the Best Free Spy App?
When shopping for a free Android tracking app, these are the main things you should keep in mind:
- Price: If you’re browsing for free spy apps for iPhone or Android, you’ll find many of them have limited functionality. Depending on how you wish to monitor a phone, that might not be a problem. However, if you want access to cutting-edge spying technology, you will have to pay at least a small subscription fee. This is why we’ve highlighted the tracker apps that are the best value for money.
- Impact on Cell Performance: If you don’t want a spying app to call attention to itself, make sure you read customer feedback on how it affects the cell phone’s performance. Specify “RAM”, “CPU”, and “battery” when you search online for customer reviews. That way, you’ll also find out whether it’ll be noticeable on the target phone.
- Range of Tools: Make sure the app you’re considering has the specific tool or tools you want. If you only want one type of tool—call monitoring, for instance—you might want to consider an app which specializes in that field.
- Remote Control: Few are aware that top tracker apps allow you to take control of a third-party phone. These tools are most popular with parents who want to keep their kids safe from online harm.
- Customer Feedback: If you wish to try tracker apps that haven’t been vetted by us, it’s a good idea to see what the average user has to say about them. An app might have an inviting, professional-looking website, but once you’ve signed up, downloaded, and installed the app, its tools might not meet your standards. Avoid this by searching for customer feedback on sites like TrustPilot and Reddit beforehand.
Why Use a Phone Tracking App?
There are many reasons why someone will use a spying app. Here are the most common:
- Child Protection: Using a tracker app is a great way to stay aware of what your child is using their cell for. You can check their browsing history, make sure they’re not spending too long on social media, and protect them from peer pressure and online predators.
- Monitoring Company Devices: The main reason why Amazon deliveries are so reliable is that the company makes use of state-of-the-art performance tracking software. Employee computers and cell phones are fitted with tracking devices like those on our top 5 list. That way, an employer can make sure their employees are doing their jobs to the best of their ability and that the devices are not being misused.
- Confirming Suspicions of Unfaithfulness: Covertly tracking a cell phone device is an efficient way of confirming whether your partner is cheating on you. Although this raises moral, not to mention legal, questions. If you want to pull off the bandaid and find out whether your partner is being unfaithful, installing a tracker app is one of the best ways to do it.
The Most Effective Tracking App Tools
Let’s examine the most popular and effective tools offered by the best spying apps:
Call and Text Monitor: Use this if you want to see a log of incoming calls and outgoing calls and texts. You can often view deleted messages and contacts, too.
Social Media Activity Viewer: Given the number of people who communicate via the likes of Instagram, SnapChat and Facebook, the ability to view social media activity is a great spying tool. Most apps let you see all uploads, downloads, hidden posts, and direct messages on all of the most popular social media apps, including Tinder, WhatsApp, YouTube—the list goes on.
Keystroke Logger: If you need to work out a password or view a deleted message, you can open up the keystroke logger, which will show you exactly what the user has typed via the touchpad and virtual keyboard.
Remote Device Control: Depending on whether or not you can root the target phone, top tracker apps sometimes allow you to not just view but also control certain aspects of the phone. You can block calls, block contacts, and you can turn on the camera and microphone at your discretion.
GPS Locator: Many top apps come with a GPS phone locator tool. Some allow you to view a phone’s location history. Also, you can sometimes tag certain locations, meaning you’ll receive an alert whenever the phone enters their proximity.
The Legalities of Tracker Apps
The apps themselves aren’t illegal, but some of the tools may or may not be. It all comes down to where you are and why you’re using the tool.
For example, when it comes to child safeguarding, you can use pretty much any tracker tool on your own child’s phone, provided they’re still a minor. You don’t need their permission.
With respect to company employees, however, you’ll usually have to make clear that their company devices are being monitored. There are often limitations on the kind of monitoring tools you’re allowed to use as well. For instance, even if an employee is inappropriately using the device to view things on social media, you won’t be legally allowed to view private information in their accounts.
In the same way, if you want to track the behavior of a partner you suspect of being unfaithful, you’ll definitely have to look up the potential legal ramifications. This will depend more on the type of tool you’re intending to use rather than the app itself. However, these types of laws differ from place to place, so never assume a tracking tool is legal just because you know it’s legal somewhere else.
Conclusion
If you’re a concerned parent or a prudent employer, or if you suspect your partner is cheating, a free spy app can be very useful. These applications allow you to monitor a cell’s location, view call history, see social media activity, and read private messages. Some of the more advanced tools even let you take control of the tracked phone, allowing you to listen in on calls, use the camera and microphone, and more. In short, with the right tracker app, you can monitor almost every aspect of a cell phone’s behavior.
Of our top 5 smartphone spying apps, which all have their own strengths, one still stands out as the very best. mSpy not only has an incredibly broad range of tools, but they’re also easy to use and of the highest quality. Regardless of your spying needs, mSpy is a near-perfect tracker app.
FAQ
Can I legally use a free Android phone tracking app?
This is a legal gray area in that the laws on tracking tools are different depending on where you’re using them. Free spy apps for parents are legal in most places, regardless of whether the child being monitored gives permission or not. However, with regard to secretly tracking adults, it depends on the specific tools you utilize. For instance, in one place, it might be legal to track a phone’s location via GPS, but it may not be legal to monitor their social media activity. The reverse may be the case under a different jurisdiction.
Are free cell phone tracker apps really free?
Although there are lots of free cell phone spying apps, they won’t offer a full range of tracking software. At the end of the day, tracking technology isn’t cheap, so a company has to charge to stay in business. That said, some of the free tracker tools will meet the needs of certain users.