Updated 10/2/23: Before using ANY of these apps you should clearly understand how to use them legally. The use of a spy app to monitor someone without their consent is illegal in the U.S and other countries
The best WhatsApp spy apps are mobile spying applications that are capable of spying on WhatsApp chats and messaging activity to help parents, spouses, or partners track and monitor WhatsApp communication on an Android or iOS device. A WhatsApp spying app spies on chat message content, image and video attachments, and in-app phone call logs of the targeted smartphone. WhatsApp spying apps are premium apps such as uMobix, mSpy, Eyezy, and Cocospy.
The best WhatsApp spying apps are chosen according to the spying app price and cost, users’ overall WhatsApp spying experience, reviews, money-back guarantee and refund policy, and compatibility with both iOS and Android mobile devices. WhatsApp spy apps are categorized according to use purposes such as monitoring a child and monitoring a spouse or loved one.
The criteria to choose the best spyware apps for WhatsApp differ from the technical aspect to the reporting aspect. The technical considerations when choosing a WhatsApp spying application are knowing the target phone operating system and the user’s passcode. The the reporting aspect involves viewing chat messages, image and video attachments, and in-app WhatsApp phone calls.
WhatsApp spying apps for iOS and Android slightly differ from each other in that iOS devices such as iPhones and iPads do not require installing spying app software. WhatsApp spy apps for Android require physical access to the target phone, the user’s passcode, and the installation of spying software. The WhatsApp spying features of iOS and Android devices are identical, but reporting is faster on Android devices due to the ability to set the data sync interval.
The top 5 WhatsApp spying applications offer simple installation, complete WhatsApp spying capabilities, and reasonable refund policies. The best 5 WhatsApp spying apps with the best price and features are listed below.
- uMobix (most feature rich)
- mSpy (most popular)
- Eyezy (cheaper option)
- SpyBubble (excellent functionality)
- Cocospy
There are currently no free spying apps for WhatsApp. The best and most useful WhatsApp spyware apps include ease of installation on the targeted phone and comprehensive monitoring of all WhatsApp communications. uMobix is the best overall WhatsApp spyware application thanks to its comprehensive message, image, and video spying and fast setup. Features and easy setup are the most important criteria when choosing the perfect mobile spying apps. mSpy is second place in the list of best WhatsApp spying apps because it offers fewer features than uMobix..
Contents of this Guide
Here is a list of my top 9 WhatsApp Spy Apps. They are ranked in order of performance and price.
1. uMobix
uMobix is a cell phone monitoring company located in London, England. The main strengths of the uMobix WhatsApp spying app include comprehensive tracking of WhatsApp chat messages, image and video attachments, and in-app phone call logs with contact and call timestamps. uMobix spies on the targeted phone’s for social media (Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat), text messages, phone calls, and location. uMobix has two different types of working modes, these are offline and online working modes. The online working mode of uMobix helps capture WhatsApp communications in real-time, while the offline working mode captures historical chat information.
uMobix allows you to monitor more social media platforms than any other app. It is helpful for parents who want to monitor a child, a spouse, or suspected cheaters.
The uMobix spy app has more spy features than any other Whatsapp spy app. It allows you to monitor everything someone does in their Whatsapp account. This includes:
- Whatsapp messages
- Group chats
- Sent and received pictures and videos
Additional Spying Features of uMobix:
- Facebook, Instagram, Tinder, and Snapchat (Android only)
- Text messages
- Contact list and call logs
- Internet activity and bookmarks
- Keyword searches
- Media files
- See past and current GPS locations
- SIM card replacement alert
- compatible with all versions of iOS and Android 4.0+
More details about uMobix features here.
How to Spy on Someone’s WhatsApp Using uMobix
To spy on someoene’s WhatsApp messages and communication with uMobix requires purchasing the app and setting it up to monitor the targeted phone. The setup for iOS devices such as iPhones and iPads differs from the installation on Android devices.
Using uMobix to Spy on WhatsApp on an Android Device
Using uMobix to spy on WhatsApp on an Android device requires physical access to the target device for installing the spying app. The uMobix installation process on Android devices does NOT require rooting the Android device. The app is not available in the Google Play store. It must be downloaded from the uMobix website.
The installation instructions will walk you through hiding the app so that it cannot be detected. It will NOT show up in the app drawer.
Follow the steps below to install and setup uMobix on an Android device.
- Go to uMobix.com
- Create an account by entering your email address.
- Select “Android device” for the type of device to monitor
- Select you subscription plan. Available plans include 1 month to 12 months.
- Pay for your plan
- Download the uMobix spying app to the target device
- Follow the installation instructions to setup the spying app.
- Open your online dashboard to monitor all WhatsApp communication on the target device
uMobix refreshes all spy information based on the data sync setting in the spy app user’s online dashboard. The smaller the interval, the more frequently the data is updated. It is not recommended to set the data sync setting below 15 minutes to ensure battery performance of the target phone is not negatively impacted.
Using uMobix to Spy on WhatsApp on an iOS Device (iPhone & iPad)
Using uMobix to monitor an iOS device requires the target user’s iCloud login credentials. Enter their username and password into your online control panel and the app downloads all of the user’s data for you to view.
Follow the steps below to install and setup uMobix on iOS device.
- Go to uMobix.com
- Create an account by entering your email address.
- Select “iOS device” for the type of device to monitor
- Select you subscription plan. Available plans include 1 month to 12 months.
- Pay for your plan
- Enter the target user’s AppleID (username and password)
- From the target device, capture the 2-factor authentication code and enter it when prompted
- Follow the installation instructions to setup the spying app.
- Open your online dashboard to monitor all WhatsApp communication on the target device
uMobix refreshes all spy data from iOS devices when the target device completes a backup to their iCloud account. This can be adjusted from the target phone under “Settings”.
If you need to spy on someone’s WhatsApp uMobix is the best choice. Their customer service and support team is the best in the business.
Price
12 Month – $12.49/mo
3 Month – $29.99/mo
1 Month – $49.99/mo
The best value is the 12 month subscription. You can click below to get access at their best price ever.
2. mSpy
mSpy is a spying app company based in Prague, Czech Republic. The main strengths of the mSpy WhastsApp spying app are it’s low price and ability to view WhatsApp chat messages, message attachments such as images and videos, and functionality with both Android and iOS phones. mSpy is 6% cheaper than uMobix when purchasing the annual subscription. While mSpy offers the same WhatsApp spying features as uMobix, it cannot track other social media apps such as Instagram and Facebook on iOS devices.
Pros and Cons of mSpy
The pros of mSpy include a slightly less expensive price and functionality with iOS and Android phones.
- 6% less expensive than uMobix
- view WhatsApp messages, image & video attachments, and in-app call logs
- compatible with iOS and Android phones
The cons of the mSpy WhatsApp spy software are fewer features than competitors like uMobix, and past problems with being hacked.
- cannot monitor Instagram or Facebook on iOS
- client database hacked in the past
This way, you can still review ALL the WhatsApp messages and other suspicious activities recorded prior to the end of the subscription.
More details about mSpy features are here.
mSpy spying app also works both on Android and iPhones. And there’s a compatibility checker on mSpy website as well.
Neither version requires jailbreaking or rooting the phone. Installation on Android DOES require physical access though.
You only have to acquire the password and ID for iOS too and the app will be all set up REMOTELY.
Although, it all comes down to whether the iCloud backup is enabled or not as well. Or if 2FA is on since it will become harder to get the code for setting up. This will PROMPT a need for physical access too.
As for Android devices, they all need a 4.0 and higher version.
Here’s mSpy demo you can try out for free.
Price of mSpy
This WhatsApp tracker is more expensive than uMobix — its 3-month subscription costs about $39.99 per month. And this applies to BOTH Android and iOS.
mSpy often offers a discount of up to 50%. And this is honestly a great deal for a spy app with so many features. They even offer a trial version.
3. Eyezy
Eyezy is a cell phone spying app company based in the Czech Republic. The main strengths of the Eyezy WhatsApp spyware app are the low price, simple installation, and WhatsApp message capturing efficiency. Eyezy spies on social media activity, SMS text messages, phone call logs, and GPS location and past location history. Eyezy offers both offline and online working modes. The online working mode of Eyezy provides instant tracking, and the offline working mode records data from offline phone activity.
Pros and Cons of Eyezy
Pros of Eyezy include a 14% lower price compared to uMobix and mSpy, simple installation, offline and stealth operating modes, and unlimited storage of photos and videos from the target phone. The pros of Eyezy are listed below.
- Provides WhatsApp monitoring of iOS and Android phones
- Helps parents spy on WhatsApp activity of their kids
- Facilitates easy tracking of WhatsApp messages and timestamps
The cons of Eyezy include not being based in the United States, and more difficult installation on Android devices.
- Lacks the ability to track real-teim WhatsApp messages on iOS
- Installation on Android devices takes 10% longer
For more detailed information about the eyeZy spy app please read our in-depth analysis.
4. SpyBubble
The SpyBubble spy app is another powerful Whatsapp tracker. It allows you to monitor all the following features of someone’s Whatsapp account.
- Sent and received Whatsapp chats
- WhatsApp calls
- Group conversations
- Sent and received pictures and videos
Additional Phone Monitoring Features of SpyBubble:
- Facebook, Instagram, Tinder, and Snapchat (Android only)
- Text messages
- Contact list and call logs
- Web browsing history and bookmarks
- Media files
- Geo location data including geo fencing
See more details about SpyBubble in my full review.
SpyBubble is designed for a parent who wants to monitor the phone of their kids. But it can also be used to track a partner or spouse.
The SpyBubble WhatsApp spy software is compatible with Android (4.0 and above) and all versions of the iOS operating system.
Android Devices
Installing SpyBubble does NOT require rooting the Android device. It does require you to have a couple minutes of physical access to the phone. The app is not available in the Google Play store. It must be downloaded from SpyBubble’s website.
The simple installation instructions show you how to hide the app so that it cannot be detected. It will NOT be visible in the app drawer.
iOS Devices
Monitoring an iOS device with SpyBubble requires only the user’s iCloud login username and password. Enter their credentials into the online control panel and the software will download all of the user’s data for later viewing.
Important: iCloud backup needs to be enabled on the device. If 2FA is enabled, you will need to login to another Apple device using the user’s Apple ID to capture the 2FA code.
Once installed, you can monitor everything from your computer using an online control panel. Updates are fast allowing you to spy on WhatsApp chats in almost real-time.
Price
12 Month – $11.66/mo
3 Month – $27.99/mo
1 Month – $49.99/mo
The best value is the 12 month subscription. You can click below to get access at their best price ever.
5. Cocospy
Spying on WhatsApp, Facebook, and other social media accounts isn’t just what Cocospy offers. Cocospy also allows you to monitor other device activities such as…
- Exchange of calls and messages
- Web browser usage
- Device jumping into different locations
- Replacing SIM card
- Keyword searches
- New events on the calendar
- Viewing photos and videos
- Installed Applications
- And who comes and goes into the contact list
More details about Cocospy features
Cocospy doesn’t require you to root or jailbreak Android 4.0 and iPhone 7.0+ so it’s an easy install.
You even get to have ALL features even on non-rooted Android cellphones.
But it’s the total opposite for the iPhone, though. It’s not necessary to have jailbroken iPhones. But Cocospy will work BETTER if that’s your target device.
Expect that you’ll have to physically install Cocospy since you’ll probably get a jailbroken iPhone.
But if not… Then you can install Cocospy remotely via the iCloud credentials method just like what our best WhatsApp spy apps require.
You also have the option to hide the app icon once you’re done with installation. Then you can monitor WhatsApp through the Cocospy dashboard too.
Below is an image of the Cocospy online control panel.
Price
Take a look at their price list on their MOST popular 12-month subscription:
- Android: From $69.99 per month to $9.99 per month sale
- iPhone: From $79.99 per month to $10.83 per month sale
6. Spyic
Spyic app does other things aside from monitoring WhatsApp as well:
- Text messages and iMessages
- Phone location
- SIM card details (including network, IMEI number, and location)
- Messaging and social media chat apps
- Web browser
- Keyword searches
- Calendar activity
- Pictures and videos
- Contact names
See more details in my SPYIC review.
SPYIC is designed to track the WhatsApp account of a kid, spouse, partner, or whoever.
The SPYIC WhatsApp tracker app works on Androids and iPhones. Android phones require OS 4.0 and higher version. All versions of iOS are supported.
You don’t need to root or jailbreak the target phone.
Getting the iCloud password and ID will be enough for installing this WhatsApp spyware app remotely too. Although you might need physical installation IF the iCloud backup isn’t on or if 2FA is enabled as well.
Furthermore, you can HIDE the app icon to safely monitor WhatsApp conversations. The WhatsApp tracker app won’t show that it’s running in the background so it’s completely alright to use it 24/7.
Here’s Spyic demo you can try out for free.
Price
Android Phones – $9.99/mo annually, $69.99 for 3 months, and $49.99 for 1 month
iPhones – $10.83/mo annually, $79.99 for 3 months, and $49.99 for 1 month
7. KidsGuard Pro
KidsGuard Pro is TOTALLY different from the WhatsApp spying apps we’ve had above. It’s NOT a 2-in-1 monitoring app — it offers a broad range of software that are made specifically for:
- iOS device
- Android device
- And there’s even one made to spy on WhatsApp only!
But take note that the last one is only designed for Android.
What you can view using KidsGuard for WhatsApp are…
- WhatsApp status
- WhatsApp messages
- WhatsApp calls
- WhatsApp voice calls and audio files (downloadable)
- WhatsApp photos and videos (downloadable)
- WhatsApp documents (downloadable)
You’re also free to choose the other spy apps if you’re ONLY planning to spy on WhatsApp messages your kids receive.
Why would you want to opt for this if you can already fully monitor WhatsApp with KidsGuard for WhatsApp?
Well, separate WhatsApp spy apps for Android and iOS devices let you track what your children are doing BESIDES having WhatsApp conversations!
This includes overseeing…
- Other messaging and social media apps
- SMS and call history
- Contacts
- Web browser activity
- Gallery
- Keyword searches
- App activities
- Calendar
- Notes and memos
- GPS
- Wi-fi networks
It is NOT necessary to root or jailbreak your Android and iPhone devices. You still get to experience all features of this tracker despite not tinkering with the target device.
But take note you still need to access both devices physically for installation.
iPhone Installation:
- Install KidsGuard Pro for iOS spy app on your computer
- Connect the target device to your computer (this only needs to be done one time so don’t fret)
- Install the spy app on iPhone
- Disconnect the target device
- Then you can monitor it via Wi-fi from now on
It’s an easy solution to set up the tracker without having to get the iCloud credentials.
Android Installation
Both the Android and iPhone spying apps are sneakily running in the background so it won’t be discovered at all. Unless the tech-savvy owner knows the ins and outs of application processes.
Here are different KidsGuard Pro demos you can try out for free.
Price
- KidsGuard WhatsApp: $13.32 monthly
- KidsGuard Pro for Android: $16.65 monthly
- KidsGuard Pro for iOS: $19.98 monthly
8. Flexispy
FlexiSPY is the most powerful spyware app on the market. It offers spying features not offered by any other app. This includes:
- Listen and record live phone calls (which can be downloaded over again)
- Intercept phone calls
- spy on WhatsApp calls
- Send spoof messages
- RemCam and RemVid spy camera
This app allows you to access EVERYTHING on the target mobile device.
In addition to the advanced features above, FlexiSPY offers many standard features including:
- Conversations from other apps
- App activities
- SMS messages
- Device location
- Web browser
- listen to voice messages
- Photos, audios, and videos
- Keyword alerts
- SIM change notification
- Screen recorder
Installing this WhatsApp tracker is more complicated.
Android devices must be rooted to get the full functionality of FlexiSPY. The app is then installed directly on the phone. FlexiSPY does offer the solution of buying a phone with the app pre-installed. Either way the app is hidden once the installation is complete.
iPhones must be jailbroken for full functionality. You can pay a bit extra to have a technician do this for you remotely. You WILL need physical access to the iPhone for this step.
Apple continually updates their operating system and this sometimes makes jailbreaking difficult, so be sure to check the compatibility of your mobile device and operating system on FlexiSPY’s website.
Here’s Flexispy demo you can try out for free.
Price
All Android and iPhone plans costs the same:
- Premium: 1-month ($68) / 3-months ($99)
- Extreme: 1-month ($199) / 3-months ($349)
There are more subscription plans they offer on the website. But they’re still all HIGHLY expensive so think twice before buying.
9. Hoverwatch
The Hoverwatch app is something you’d want to use if you want to keep track of who your employees are talking to on their phones. And that’s all while you’re spying on their Facebook and other apps.
Here’s what you can do with this WhatsApp tracker:
- Listen to call logs (downloadable)
- Get to know what they search on web browser
- Track WhatsApp and more apps
- See what kind of text conversations they have
- Discover where your employees go when you’re not present
- Check all screenshots made
- Get alerts if they changed SIM card
- Know all the contact information of who they’re talking to
- Learn what they write on their to-do list
- Make hidden camera shots
More details about Hoverwatch features are here.
This WhatsApp tracker works well for Android. This spy app ISN’T compatible with the iPhone.
Android devices do not require rooting. And you can still try out every feature this WhatsApp spy app offers even if it’s NOT.
Though of course, it still needs physical access to install the tracker.
There’s no need to worry if the WhatsApp spying app is going to be visible to the phone user. You can hide/show the app on the menu by using the stealth mode feature.
You can monitor all the activities on the spying app dashboard as well. It has a simple user interface.
But what’s more surprising is this WhatsApp tracker also provides a mobile viewer app too! There’s now a remote solution to check all WhatsApp messages your employees receive while you’re away.
Although… It’s only available on professional and business plans.
Here’s Hoverwatch demo you can try out for free.
Price
There are different plans available for this spy app where you get to track more than 1 device depending on what you’ll get. Here’s the list of their 3-month subscription:
- Personal (1 device): $20 per month
- Professional (5 devices): $33 per month (with mobile viewer)
- Business (25 devices): $100 per month (with mobile viewer)
10. Panspy
Are your kids on their phones 24/7? Are you worried they spend so much time exchanging WhatsApp conversations with random people who might be dangerous?
You can limit the time they use their phones with the Schedule Restriction feature that this WhatsApp tracker offers. With this, you’ll get to…
- Set up a time when your children can only use their phones
- Shut down some apps you don’t want them touching
Other than that, you can also spy on more things such as:
- Clipboard
- Calls and text messages
- Contact list (with blocking option)
- WhatsApp and more apps
- GPS location
- App activities
- Media files (downloadable)
- Documents (downloadable)
- Web browser (with search filter options)
- Wi-fi networks
- Keyword searches
- Emails
- Calendar and notes
More details about Panspy features are here.
Thankfully, this WhatsApp tracker works for both Android (5.0-8.0) and iPhone (8.0-11.0) cellphones.
You need to physically access both of them to install the app. But it’s not necessary to root or jailbreak them so don’t worry.
The Whatsapp spy app icon will appear during the installation. But you can delete it afterward so your children won’t see it.
The control panel will be updated every 30 minutes. It’s not that slow but it’s not that fast either. It’s good enough to get you non-critical updates.
Price
Their Ultimate Annual Plan is what sells the MOST among parents — it costs $8.33/mo which is $99.95 annually.
But here are their other Ultimate Plans in case you’re curious:
- Monthly: $34.95/mo
- Quarterly: $21.65/mo ($64.95 quarterly)
11. iKeyMonitor
This spy app provides quite a lot of diverse features too similar to the WhatsApp spy apps above:
- Spying on WhatsApp and social media chat apps
- Checking messages and call logs
- Track keyword searches
- Read notes and clipboard
- Website browsing history
- Tracking GPS location
- Viewing media files
- Checking calendar events
- Reading emails
- Looking through the contact list
- Spying on listed Wi-fi networks
And all while you can control some settings too such as…
- Taking secret pictures through camera
- Blocking some applications
- Limiting screen time
- And setting schedule
More details about iKeyMonitor features.
Rooting Android is absolutely UNNECESSARY with this WhatsApp tracking app — you can make use of all features this spying app offers. And Android even supports versions as low as 2.0.
On the other hand, you’ll get fewer features if your iPhone is non-jailbroken. And as you just guessed, both of them call for a physical installation too.
The app icon will also be displayed on the target phone. But you can choose to HIDE it if you don’t want the user to know what you’re up to.
But take note: Android 10.0 and higher will NOT be able to hide the WhatsApp tracker. So your best solution is to just place it into an app-packed folder.
You can try out the free demo on iKeyMonitor’s homepage.
Price
One thing that makes iKeyMonitor stand out among other best WhatsApp spy tools is the FREE PLAN offer.
You won’t be able to check WhatsApp messages with this plan. But you can still access…
- Text messages and call logs
- GPS location
- contact list
- Calendar and notes
- Voice memos
- Listed Wi-fi networks
Don’t want this?
You can get the Business Plan that costs $10 per month if you want to monitor WhatsApp and spy on more applications.
Is Someone Spying on My WhatsApp?
To find out if someone is spying on your WhatsApp conversations and messages requires installing anti-virus software on your smartphone. Anit-virus software such as Kaspersky or Norton can detect and remove spying apps to ensure your conversations and messages are not monitored by a third party.
Can Someone Spy on WhatsApp on My iPhone?
It is possible to spy on someone’s WhatsApp on an iPhone by using iPhone spying apps. iPhone spy apps do not require installing any software on the target device because they access all phone data through the user’s iCloud backups.
Can Someone Spy on WhatsApp on My Android?
If the target phone is an Android and you need to spy on their Whatsapp messages you will need physical access to the target device. You will also need their passcode to unlock their phone. Then you can download an Android spy app and configure it.
Although these two Whatsapp spy apps are excellent choices, don’t let that stop you from choosing the spy app that aligns best with your interests.
Can Someone Spy on WhatsApp Calls?
It is possible to spy on WhatsApp calls on both Android and iOS devices. Spying on someone’s WhatsApp calls on an Android device requires rooting the device and installing surveillance software such as FlexiSPY or mSpy.
To spy on someone’s WhatsApp calls on an iPhone requires jailbreaking the iOS device and installing spy software such as FlexiSPY or mSpy.
To stop someone from spying on WhatsApp calls requires factory resetting the device. This will remove all spyware apps on both Android and iOS devices.
Can Governments Spy on WhatsApp Conversations or Messages?
It is possible for governments to spy on WhatsApp using powerful spy app software known as Pegasus. Pegasus is a spying app developed by the NSO Group in Israel. The Pegasus app covertly and remotely monitors smartphones running the Android and iOS mobile operating systems. This spy software can be remotely installed without requiring any access to the target phone.
How can I read my boyfriend WhatsApp messages?
You can read your boyfriend’s WhatsApp messages using a spy app. Once installed you navigate to the WhatsApp menu to view incoming and outgoing messages.
Can I spy on my wife’s WhatsApp?
You can spy on your wife’s WhatsApp account using spyware. This allows you to read all incoming and outgoing messages.
Are WhatsApp spying apps legal?
WhatsApp spying apps are legal when used on a child’s phone under the age of 18 or with the consent of the owner of the phone. To legally spy on a spouse or partner’s WhatsApp messages you must notify them and get their consent, or it could be a violation of your local privacy laws.
