Search “spy apps” in 2026 and you’ll see hundreds of tools promising total control over someone’s phone. The reality is more complicated: most people are parents trying to keep kids safe, or small business owners monitoring company devices — and the line between monitoring and illegal spying can be thin.
This guide walks through the best spy apps for Android and iPhone in 2026, focusing on:
- Real-life use cases (parents, employers, device owners)
- Which apps work reliably on Android vs iPhone
- How “stealthy” they are — and where the legal limits are
- When a lighter, parental-control-style app is actually safer
If you want a broader hub that also covers gentler parental control tools, start with our main overview Top Parental Control (aka Spy) Apps in 2026 .
Important: All tools here are meant to be used legally — on devices you own or manage, or where you have clear, informed consent. Secretly installing monitoring software on someone else’s personal phone may be illegal in your country and can have serious consequences. Always check your local laws before you install anything.
Quick Picks: Best Spy Apps in 2026
- mSpy – best overall spy app for most users (strong features on both Android & iPhone)
- uMobix – best for live-style social media & Android monitoring
- Eyezy – best “dashboard-first” spy app for non-tech users
- Moniterro – best for location history & high-detail activity tracking
- Spynger – best for short-term “relationship check” scenarios
- xMobi – best for account-recovery style hacking tools (only on accounts you own)
- FlexiSPY – most powerful features (root/jailbreak & advanced setups)
- Spyera – alternative “power spy app” for expert users and company devices
If you just want one all-rounder for a device you legally control, start with mSpy or uMobix.
Spy Apps Comparison Table (Android & iPhone)
| App | Best for | Platforms | Stealth vs Visibility | Key strengths | Refund / Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mSpy | Best overall spy app for most users | Android & iPhone | Stealth options available (check local laws) | Calls, SMS, major socials, GPS, keylogger, web activity | Money-back guarantee (see official site) |
| uMobix | Live-style social monitoring & Android-heavy use | Android & iPhone | Stealth-focused, especially on Android | Frequent updates, social logs, screenshots, GPS | Refund policy (see official site) |
| Eyezy | User-friendly spy-style monitoring | Android & iPhone | Stealth modes + clearer dashboards | Clean interface, Social Spotlight, activity overview, GPS | Refund policy (see official site) |
| Moniterro | Detailed GPS & activity tracking | Android & iPhone | Stealth options (device-dependent) | Location history, calls, SMS, apps, web usage | Refund policy (see official site) |
| Spynger | Short-term monitoring & relationship checks | Android & iPhone | Stealth-oriented (use only where legal) | Keylogger, chats, geofencing, media files | Refund policy (see official site) |
| xMobi | Account recovery & “hacking” tools (with permission) | Android, iPhone & web | High risk if misused — keep it legal | Social/account access tools for accounts you own | Offers & terms vary (see official site) |
| FlexiSPY | Maximum power on rooted/jailbroken devices | Android, iPhone & more | Deep stealth; expert-level setup | Call interception, ambient recording, advanced controls | Refund policy (see official site) |
| Spyera | Enterprise-style monitoring & power users | Android, iPhone & more | Stealth-heavy, best for company-owned devices | Broad feature set including calls, mic, apps, web | Refund policy (see official site) |
For a side-by-side feature breakdown that also includes family-focused tools, see our Parental Control & Spy Apps Comparison Table 2026 .
Best Spy Apps in 2026 – Detailed Reviews
1. mSpy – Best Overall Spy App for Android & iPhone
mSpy is still the safest “default choice” in 2026 if you need a serious spy app for a phone you legally control. It focuses on practical monitoring (calls, messages, socials, GPS) instead of flashy but unstable tricks — and it works on both Android and iPhone.
- Monitors calls, SMS, and popular messaging apps
- Covers major social platforms (WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat and more)
- GPS tracking + location history for everyday safety checks
- Keylogger features for deeper visibility where legal
- Web history, bookmarks and some screen-time style insights
What we like about mSpy
- Balanced feature set for both Android and iPhone
- Good documentation and support for non-tech users
- Reliable syncing and less “random breaking” than many cheap apps
Where mSpy isn’t perfect
- Some advanced features can be limited on newer iOS versions
- Overkill if you only want light parental controls and app limits
Best for: parents and device owners who want one solid spy app that “just works” across Android and iPhone without jumping between multiple tools.
Check mSpy’s latest plans & features
2. uMobix – Best for Live-Style Social Monitoring & Android
uMobix leans hard into fast, frequent updates and rich social media monitoring, especially on Android. If you’ve tried slower tools that feel “stuck in the past”, uMobix usually feels more real-time.
- Strong coverage of social apps (chats, media, activity logs)
- Frequent syncing that keeps the dashboard fresh
- GPS tracking and route history
- Browser history, bookmarks and app usage insights
What we like about uMobix
- Excellent performance on many Android devices
- Great if you care more about social apps than classic SMS logs
- Dashboard is clear enough for non-expert users
Where uMobix isn’t perfect
- Some iPhone features depend heavily on backups and OS version
- Stealth focus means you must be extra careful about legal use
Best for: Android-first households or anyone who needs strong social media coverage and quick updates.
View uMobix plans & supported features
3. Eyezy – Best Dashboard-First Spy App for Non-Tech Users
Eyezy is pitched as a modern spy/parental-control hybrid with one goal: make all that phone data easier to understand. It’s good if you want spy-level visibility without a painful, cluttered interface.
- “Social Spotlight” to surface key social interactions quickly
- Location tracking plus geofencing-style alerts
- Website and app usage overviews
- Support for both Android and iPhone, with clear setup guides
What we like about Eyezy
- One of the cleanest dashboards in this list
- Strong balance between classic parental control and spy features
- Good documentation for less technical users
Where Eyezy isn’t perfect
- Advanced social features may still lag behind uMobix on some devices
- Might be more complex than you need if you only want screen-time limits
Best for: parents and device owners who want a cleaner interface and “human-readable” reports rather than raw logs.
4. Moniterro – Best for Location History & High-Detail Tracking
Moniterro is a newer player compared to mSpy and uMobix, but it has gained traction thanks to strong location history and detailed activity tracking. If your priority is “where has this device been and what happens on it”, Moniterro is worth a look.
- Granular location logs and route history
- Call logs, SMS, and app usage monitoring
- Support for popular social platforms (device-dependent)
- Works on Android & iPhone with different feature depths
What we like about Moniterro
- Great for people who care most about location history
- Clean, modern interface
- Good fit for both family and small-business devices
Where Moniterro isn’t perfect
- Not as widely known or battle-tested as mSpy/uMobix yet
- Some advanced features depend heavily on device model and OS
Best for: users who prioritise where a device goes and how it’s used, more than raw depth on every single social app.
5. Spynger – Best for Short-Term Relationship Checks
Spynger leans heavily into relationship-focused marketing and quick setup. It offers powerful keylogging and chat visibility, which can be attractive in high-stress situations — but also makes legal and ethical use absolutely critical.
- Keylogger to capture keystrokes (where legal)
- Monitoring for major social and chat apps
- GPS tracking and geofencing-style alerts
- Android & iPhone support with different feature levels
What we like about Spynger
- Fast onboarding and setup wizards
- Good for short-term, targeted monitoring on your own device
- Dashboard is straightforward once installed
Where Spynger isn’t perfect
- Marketing can tempt people into illegal use — you must stay within local law
- Not the best choice for long-term family monitoring and open communication
Best for: short-term monitoring of devices you control, when you need deeper visibility for a limited period (and are willing to handle the ethics and law carefully).
Check Spynger’s pricing & features
6. xMobi – Best for Account Recovery & Social “Hack” Style Tools
xMobi markets itself as a toolkit for accessing social and online accounts, which makes it more sensitive than classic parental control apps. Used responsibly, it can help with things like recovering access to your own accounts — but misuse can cross legal lines fast.
- Tools for social and online account access (account recovery, etc.)
- Works via web and on multiple device types
- Some features feel more like “hacking” than monitoring
What we like about xMobi
- Useful if you need to regain access to your own accounts
- Flexible web-based workflows
Where xMobi isn’t perfect
- Very high risk of illegal use if you target accounts you don’t own
- Less of a classic spy app, more of a hacking-style toolkit
Best for: advanced users who fully understand the legal boundaries and only use xMobi on accounts they own or manage, never to break into other people’s profiles.
See what xMobi currently offers
7. FlexiSPY – Most Powerful Spy App (Root/Jailbreak Recommended)
FlexiSPY is what most people imagine when they think “full-on spy app”: call interception, ambient recording, remote control features and more. In practice, it’s best suited for expert users managing test devices or company-owned phones with explicit policies in place.
- Call interception and call recording (where legal)
- Ambient microphone activation and listening features
- Deep app and system-level monitoring
- Supports rooted Android and jailbroken iOS for maximum power
What we like about FlexiSPY
- Feature set goes far beyond typical parental control tools
- Highly configurable for complex setups
Where FlexiSPY isn’t perfect
- Root/jailbreak requirements add complexity and risk
- Very easy to cross legal/ethical lines if misused
Best for: advanced, carefully controlled use on company-owned or test devices — not casual family monitoring.
8. Spyera – Enterprise-Style Spy App for Power Users
Spyera is another long-running, advanced spy app aimed at users who need wide and deep coverage on multiple platforms, typically in a business or expert context.
- Support for phones, tablets and sometimes computers
- Classic spy app toolkit: calls, SMS, social apps, GPS, web
- Advanced features similar to FlexiSPY on some devices
What we like about Spyera
- Longstanding vendor with broad platform coverage
- Serious toolkit for power users
Where Spyera isn’t perfect
- Too much for typical family use
- Setup and legal compliance require careful planning
Best for: organisations or expert users who need deep, multi-device monitoring under clear, documented policies.
Are Spy Apps Legal on Android and iPhone?
The legal status of spy apps depends on who owns the device, who uses it, and which country you’re in. There is no single global rule, but a few principles show up almost everywhere:
- It’s usually legal to monitor a device you own or manage (for example, your child’s phone or a company-owned work phone), as long as you follow local laws.
- It’s usually illegal to secretly install monitoring tools on another adult’s personal phone without informed consent.
- Many countries treat secret recording of calls or messages as a serious criminal offence.
For a deeper, law-focused breakdown, read Legal Phone Tracking in 2026: What’s Allowed and What’s Not .
Best practice: if you’re unsure, don’t guess. Talk to a lawyer or rely on parental control tools that emphasise transparency rather than aggressive stealth.
Spy Apps vs Parental Control Apps – Which Do You Actually Need?
Many people type “spy app” into Google when they actually need a safer parental control solution. Before you install anything, ask:
- Do I need deep, stealth monitoring — or just screen-time limits and web filters?
- Is my goal safety and guidance, or catching someone in the act?
- Can I have an honest conversation instead of monitoring in secret?
In a lot of families, tools like Eyezy, mSpy or uMobix can be configured in a more open, parental-control style — and that’s almost always better for long-term trust than permanent covert spying. For help choosing the right style of app, see How to Choose the Right Monitoring App for Your Family .
Which Spy App Should You Choose?
- For most users: start with mSpy or uMobix.
- For non-tech users who want a nicer dashboard: Eyezy.
- For location-focused tracking: Moniterro.
- For short-term checks on your own device: Spynger.
- For expert/company use on rooted/jailbroken devices: FlexiSPY or Spyera.
If you’re looking for more narrowly focused guides, check out:
- Best Hidden Spy Apps That Actually Work in 2026 – when you specifically care about hidden mode.
- Best Budget-Friendly Spy Apps in 2026 (Under $20/month) – when price matters more than extras.
Next step: If you want a more family-friendly starting point, compare these apps in a parental-control context before you decide. You might realise you don’t need the most “spy-like” features at all — and your relationships will usually be better for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is the best spy app for Android and iPhone in 2026?
For most people, mSpy is the best all-round spy app in 2026 because it balances powerful features, reasonable pricing, and cross-platform support for both Android and iPhone.
2) Which spy app is best for Android?
uMobix is a strong pick for Android because it focuses on social media monitoring and frequent updates, giving you a near real-time view of what’s happening on the device.
3) Which spy app is best for iPhone?
On iPhone, mSpy and Eyezy are usually the safest choices. They both support common parental and monitoring features without needing a jailbreak in most situations.
4) Are spy apps legal to use?
Spy apps can be legal when used on devices you own or manage, such as your child’s phone or a company-owned device, and when you follow local laws. Secretly monitoring another adult’s personal phone without consent is usually illegal.
5) Do I need to root or jailbreak a phone to use a spy app?
No. Many modern spy apps work without root or jailbreak for core features like GPS, call logs, and some social monitoring. Advanced features may still require root or jailbreak on some devices.
6) Are there safer alternatives to spy apps for families?
Yes. Parental control apps and “spy-lite” configurations of tools like Eyezy or mSpy focus more on screen-time limits, web filters, and open monitoring, which is usually better for long-term trust in families.