With the best iPhone spy apps, you can monitor your loved one’s online and offline activities. From their searches and private chats to their live locations, iPhone spying software was designed to give parents and spouses peace of mind.
That said, given the number of options on the market, finding the best spy app for iPhone isn’t easy. Whether you’re after the best free iPhone spy app or one that just requires a phone number, we have all the information on how to spy on iPhone users here, including the best app options.
The 8 Best Spy Apps for iPhone
Our shortlist covers the best spying software for iPhone, with robust iPhone tracking features, accessible interfaces, and a range of plans. Here are the full details to help you learn how to spy on an iPhone:
- mSpy — The best iPhone app for social media monitoring. Provides discreet and comprehensive real-time monitoring of the target user’s device activity.
- uMobix — A highly-rated app that lets you view deleted calls and messages on the target iPhone, plus remotely block websites, calls, and apps.
- Spynger — Designed specifically for spying on your partner to confirm/deny your suspicions, but its functionality makes it a top choice for any iPhone tracking needs.
- Scannero — The best iPhone spy app for GPS location tracking. It requires just a phone number and offers reverse lookup services.
- SpyBubble Pro — Another popular app to spy on iPhone users for spouses, it detects secret apps and lets you see deleted chats and files.
- Phonsee — One of the cheapest iPhone spying software for GPS location tracking and geofencing capabilities. It even offers a keylogger and screen recording.
- EyeZy — A reputable, hiddle mobile monitoring app that boasts keyword alerts and discreet remote functionality for as little as $7.99/month.
- ClevGuard — A highly reputable iPhone monitoring app with 400,000+ users. Popular as a parental control app and offers mobile tracking features and a desktop monitoring solution.
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The Best iPhone Monitoring Apps Reviewed
The best iPhone monitoring software offers largely the same feature set, but we’ve dug deeper to review each one. We’ll highlight its unique points, who it’s best suited for, and any downsides you should know before deciding.
1. mSpy — Best iPhone Spy Software for Social Monitoring and Screen Recording
Starting Price | $11.67/month |
---|---|
No Of Devices | 1 |
Free Trial/Demo | Demo |
Money-Back Guarantee | 14 days |
- Can’t be detected on the target iPhone
- Excellent live chat and customer support
- Easy to set up – all you need is the iCloud credentials
- Offers robust security with symmetric and asymmetric encryption
- Monthly price is somewhat expensive, especially if you need the Ultimate plan
- Requires jailbreaking for advanced features
- Customer support has mixed reviews
2. uMobix — Great iPhone Monitoring App for Accessing Deleted Information
Starting Price | $12.49/month |
---|---|
No Of Devices | 1 |
Free Trial/Demo | Demo |
Money-Back Guarantee | 14 days |
- Includes advanced call logging and recording
- Offers location-tracking
- Boasts a comprehensive keylogger
- Doesn’t require any root or jailbreak access
- Monitors all popular social media platforms
- Costlier than similar apps
- Some users find the interface unintuitive
- Mixed reviews on customer support
3. Spynger — Ideal iPhone Cell Phone Spy for Couples
Starting Price | $9.28/month |
---|---|
No Of Devices | 1 |
Free Trial/Demo | N/A |
Money-Back Guarantee | 14 days |
- Spy on 16 popular messaging apps, including Tinder
- Monitor your partner’s location in real-time
- Features a hidden screen recorder
- Full browser history, online activity, and app usage
- See all shared media files
- No call recording
- Some users report frequent app crashes
- Mixed reviews on customer satisfaction
4. Scannero — iPhone Locator With Reverse Lookup Services
Starting Price | $49.80/month |
---|---|
No Of Devices | Unlimited |
Free Trial/Demo | 1-day trial for $0.89 |
Money-Back Guarantee | 14 days |
- Lets you quickly locate phones with just the phone number
- Gives you their precise GPS location on the map
- Features reverse phone number and nickname lookup
- Checks for email and phone number leaks
- No iPhone monitoring features apart from location tracking
- Expensive monthly plan
- Some users report technical glitches
5. SpyBubble Pro — iPhone Monitoring Software for Secret Apps and Deleted Chats
Starting Price | $10.62/month |
---|---|
No Of Devices | 1 |
Free Trial/Demo | Demo |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
- Automatic screenshots
- Lets you see deleted messages and media
- Allows you to stream video and audio
- Reliably detects secret apps
- Lets you restrict calls and outgoing messages
- No geofencing capabilities
- Can’t record phone calls
- Some users report difficulties with installation
6. Phonsee — Affordable iPhone Spy Software for GPS Tracking
Starting Price | $8.85/month |
---|---|
No Of Devices | 1 |
Free Trial/Demo | Demo |
Money-Back Guarantee | 14 days |
- Built-in keystroke capture and screen recorder
- Access to all media stored on the device
- Real-time GPS tracker with geofencing
- Remote Wi-Fi blocking
- Access to all calendar entries
- No keyword alerts, so you have to frequently monitor the iPhone
- Monthly plan is expensive
- Some users report occasional data syncing issues
7. EyeZy — Reputable, Cheap Spy Software for iPhone
Starting Price | $7.99/month |
---|---|
No Of Devices | 1 |
Free Trial/Demo | Demo |
Money-Back Guarantee | 14 days |
- Detailed walkthrough installation guide
- Comes with bank-grade RSA-4096 encryption
- Specific location and keyword alerts
- Very light on system resources, hence difficult to detect
- Offers superb value for money
- Doesn’t offer free trial
- Only one device can be monitored per plan
- Users report occasional delays in data updates
8. ClevGuard — Robust Parental Controls for All Your Children’s Devices
Starting Price | $4.17/month (annually) |
---|---|
No Of Devices | 1-20 |
Free Trial/Demo | Demo |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
- Monitors iPhones, iPads, and desktop devices
- Lets you see what your kids watch on YouTube and TikTok
- Gives you full access to all of their social media chats
- Features both a GPS and a Wi-Fi location tracker
- Some advanced features only available to Android users
- Users have reported occasional difficulties installing the app
The Best Spying Apps for iPhone Compared
We’ve composed the table below to highlight the key differences between the best spying apps for iPhone. This will help you make a quick, informed decision:
Best Spy Software for iPhone Devices | Free Version/Demo | Cheapest Paid Plan | Top Features | Money-back Guarantee |
---|---|---|---|---|
mSpy | Demo | $11.67/month | Supports a wide range of social media apps, screen recording, complete view of all apps and device activity | 14 Days |
uMobix | Demo | $12.49/month | Mobile app, easy-to-use UI, impressive remote command capabilities | 14 Days |
Spynger | ❌ | $9.28/month | Full social media and chat access, GPS tracking, access to Wi-Fi networks on device | 14 Days |
Scannero | 1-Day Trial $0.89 | $49.80/month | GPS locator using phone number, reverse phone number lookup, background check features | 14 Days |
SpyBubble Pro | Demo | $10.62/month | Automatic screenshots, camera access to view device surroundings, access to deleted messages | 30 Days |
Phonsee | Demo | $8.85/month | GPS tracker, remote web blocker, calendar access to view appointments | 14 Days |
EyeZy | Demo + 3-Day Free Trial | $7.99/month | Affordable pricing, custom alerts, custom term/word flagging | 14 Days |
ClevGuard | Demo | $4.17/month | Child-focused Kidsguard app with social media access, call recording, and GPS locator | 30 Days |
Important Note: Spy software is not legal to use without the device owner’s permission in many countries and states. When we test spy software, we do so only with the explicit consent of the device owner and in compliance with local laws and regulations. To provide our readers with accurate and well-informed recommendations, we test the most popular spy apps on the market to find the best options for you. Our methodology consists of the following criteria:How We Review And Test Spy Apps
What are iPhone Spying Apps?
iPhone spy tools let you track and monitor activity on iPhone devices. Common features include being able to see what’s happening on the screen, track app data input, monitor apps and browser history, access the device’s GPS location, and control the camera and microphone.
This is ideal for parents and couples who want to ensure the safety and security of their loved ones, and it can also be a great option for employers. Many of these apps are discreet, so they don’t distract from standard usage.
Why Do I Need a Phone Spy App or Spyware for iPhone?
iPhone spy software can be used for various purposes, such as monitoring a child’s activity, tracking a lost or stolen device, ensuring the safety and well-being of elderly parents, and protecting confidential employee mobile data on work devices.
Here are a few benefits of using spy apps:
What Can iPhone Cell Phone Spy Apps Do?
The best iPhone spyware can provide a whole host of tracking and monitoring capabilities. Here are some of the use cases for spy software for iPhone.
Most iPhone monitoring software will allow you to access call logs, seeing when connections have been made and how long calls lasted. In some cases, you’ll even be able to record calls or listen to conversations in real-time.
A good iPhone monitoring app will generally make it easy to spy on text messages to track correspondence.
The best spy apps for iPhone will allow you to access social media activity and chats and capture communication on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more. Some will also enable you to track dating profiles.
See our guides on the best Facebook spy apps and the best WhatsApp spy apps for more information.
Top spy apps for iOS often include powerful GPS location-tracking features and geofencing, alerting you if the device leaves a specified area. Some apps will even let you track a device just with a phone number.
Having a keylogger – tracking all data entry on the device – can be extremely useful for spying on iPhone devices. They can catch chats, searches, logins, and text entries on every app on the device.
The most powerful iOS spying apps will let you take over control of the phone’s camera and microphone, letting you see exactly what’s happening around the device.
How Do iPhone Spy Trackers Work?
Android spy apps work differently from iPhone spy apps because the iOS operating system is closed, making accessing data on an iPhone harder.
Many phone spy apps for iPhone devices (especially those offering advanced features) require the phone to be jailbroken, which is the process of removing the software restrictions imposed by Apple on the iOS operating system.
This allows installing apps and software unavailable through the official Apple App Store. On the other hand, some apps offer full functionality if you know the iCloud credentials of the device.
Once you’re connected to the target device, an iPhone tracker app can then access the synced data, such as messages and call logs, which it then sends to a remote server. From here, the data can be accessed by you through the spy app dashboard on your own device.
Free iPhone Spy Apps Vs. Paid – What’s the Difference?
It can be tempting to opt for a free iPhone spy app if you’re not sure you want to commit to a paid subscription. You might also be wondering how to spy on an iPhone without them knowing for free. So, what’s the difference between a free iPhone spy app and a paid option?
Free iPhone spy apps might offer basic monitoring features like tracking call logs, messages, and location, but they often come with significant drawbacks. Even the best spy app for iPhone free options typically lack the advanced functionalities of paid apps, such as social media monitoring, real-time alerts, and comprehensive data reporting.
Additionally, free spy apps for iPhone devices may pose security risks, including data breaches and malware infections, due to inadequate encryption and support. They also might display intrusive ads or sell data to third parties.
Opting for a paid plan over a free spy app for iPhone generally ensures better security, reliability, customer support, and access to an app’s full suite of features, making it a safer and more effective choice for monitoring needs. Many of the best iPhone spy trackers come with a free trial, demo, or decent money-back guarantee, so there is little risk in giving one a try. In short, the best spy app for iPhone free options may not be all they’re cracked up to be or worth your time or risk.
Do I Need Physical Access to an iPhone to Install a Spy App?
Most spyware on iPhone devices, including iPhone trackers, requires physical access to the target device. However, this is more the case for Android phones.
You can sometimes install spyware on iPhone devices without physical access through iCloud backup. This method requires:
- The login credentials for iCloud backup on the target phone
- The need to enter the two-factor authentication code sent to the target phone
It’s important to note that once an iPhone spy app is installed on the target phone, it doesn’t require physical access again — this is true for both iPhone spyware and Android tracker apps.
No-Jailbreak iPhone Spy Apps
Jailbreaking an iPhone gives you access to its operating system. This allows you to add apps from outside the Apple store, use non-approved cell networks, and make other changes to the device.
Some iPhone tracking apps require iOS devices to be jailbroken. Jailbreaking is a somewhat technical process that requires access to the device and knowledge of its login credentials. You may also have to reactivate the jailbreak each time the device is restarted.
Because of this, getting a no-jailbreak spy app for iPhone will make your life a lot easier. mSpy, uMobix, and KidsGuard Pro all work as no-jailbreak iPhone trackers and can be quickly and easily installed on devices.
Are iPhone Spy Apps Safe to Use?
Spy app iPhone tools can be safe if they come from reputable developers and are used responsibly, but their safety largely depends on the source and required permissions. Many legitimate, paid spyware on iPhone devices prioritize user data security and comply with legal standards, protecting personal information.
However, some monitoring apps may require jailbreaking the target iPhone, which can compromise the device’s security, void its warranty, and expose it to malware and other vulnerabilities.
As mentioned above, free iPhone spy apps or those that are poorly reviewed may pose additional risks, including unauthorized data access and privacy breaches. It’s crucial to thoroughly research and choose a trustworthy app, understand the legal implications of its use, and ensure it is used ethically and within legal boundaries. Lastly, wherever possible, avoid jailbreaking to maintain the security and warranty of your device.
Are iPhone Monitoring Apps Legal?
The legality of iPhone spy apps varies widely and is often country-specific. In the United States, laws can be both federal and state-specific. Generally, using monitoring apps without the consent of the person being monitored is illegal and can result in severe penalties.
However, it might be permissible to use such apps to monitor minors or employees, provided you own the device and have informed them of the monitoring. It’s essential to research and understand the specific laws in your jurisdiction before using these apps to ensure compliance and avoid legal repercussions.
How To Detect Spyware on iPhone Devices
It’s important to know how to find spyware on iPhone devices. This includes looking for signs like rapid battery drain, increased data usage, or unusual overheating.
Next, make sure you understand all the apps on your phone and what they do. For how to find hidden spy apps on iPhone devices, navigate to Settings > General > Profiles & Device Management and check for unfamiliar or suspicious apps and profiles.
Utilizing reputable iPhone monitoring apps can also help detect and remove spyware. Knowing how to check for spyware on iPhone devices involves regularly updating your iOS, as updates include vital security patches. If you still suspect spyware, consider performing a factory reset after backing up your data.
How to Choose an iOS Spy App
Deciding on the best software is never easy, especially when it comes to finding one to monitor your loved ones. To help, here are some of the key things you’ll want to keep in mind:
Most households have members who use multiple devices. You’ll want to keep this in mind as not all apps support desktop computers, for example.
Annual plans are cheaper, and some of the best iPhone spy tools only cover one device per subscription.
We always recommend taking advantage of any free trials, plans, demos, or money-back guarantees to test the ease of use and functionality before deciding.
Spy apps tend to offer fewer features for the iOS version than for the mobile version. Ensure you’re getting the functionality you’re after.
Some advanced features like call recording require jailbreaking the device, so it’s worth looking for the best no-jailbreak iPhone spy apps.
In many cases, you’ll want to be able to silently monitor a device with an undetectable spy app. If this is important to you, make sure the app you choose isn’t easily detected and doesn’t leave telltale signs.
FAQs
What’s the best spy app for iPhone?
Do I need to jailbreak the iPhone to monitor it?
Can you spy on an iPhone with just a phone number?
What’s the best free iPhone spy app?
Can spy apps be detected?
References
- Online Safety (KidsHealth)
- Trending Remote Work Statistics (Zippia)
- Global: Online Child Safety (GlobalComplianceNews)