Although there’s a debate as to what smartphone OS ranks high, we’ll focus on an operating system revered for its flexibility – Android. 

Created in 2003 by Android Inc., Android came into the limelight when Google bought it in 2005. 

Since the acquisition, Android OS has evolved to break records in the smartphone market. The dexterity of this OS has seen Android-powered smartphones becoming a staple. For context, there are over 2.5 billion Android users across 190 jurisdictions. 

Despite the many benefits of Android devices, some individuals use these cell phones to execute nefarious activities on the web. So, if you’d like to get context into the actions of your kid or spouse on their Androids, you may want to use a medium that grants you unrestricted access to their device 24/7.

My journey with Android monitoring started when I had suspicions about who my partner was chatting with at odd hours. 

When I queried him about these exchanges, he never gave a definitive reply.

Then and there, I realized it was time to adopt a spying service. After using several mediums, I discovered he was cheating on me with his secretary. 

If you’d like to get some context into the best spy app for Android without access to the target phone, I’ll take you through alternatives that came through for me. 

Using these alternatives, the chances of reading your kid or spouse’s Android activity 24/7 are at 95%.

How to Spy on an Android Phone?

You’ve read tons of Android smartphone spying guides. But the data in these articles isn’t explanatory enough, confusing you more.

However, our comprehensive guide aims to negate this and give you an in-depth overview of how to spy on an Android device remotely and stealthily. 

If you’re interested in knowing how to remotely access an Android phone without the target knowing, here are options that’ll help you execute this delicate activity:

Using Spy Applications

As the name suggests, a spy app is a software made to access someone else’s Android cell phone remotely. Spy applications give you access to data bits the target doesn’t want anyone to know about without hassles. 

So, if you’re asking the “how can I spy on a cell phone without installing software on the target phone” query, spy applications are your best bet. 

Although many spying services are available on the Internet, note that most of these offerings work similarly. 

After subscribing to a package that suits your precise wants, you must physically access the target Android device to aid installation.

Upon installation, you’ll have access to these data bits: 

• GPS location
• Text messages and call logs
• Social media activities
• Chats on Instant Messaging (IM) applications
• Browser history (including those made in Incognito Mode)
• Multimedia files
• Installed applications

NOTE: Although spy applications grant you access to a person’s Android without problems, I advise checking the rules and regulations governing smartphone spying in your state. To make legal interpretation easier, hire a technology attorney. 

Using Location Tracking Applications

Did your hubby say he was going to get several drinks with the boys, but you think he’s telling a lie? Get a hold of his whereabouts with a location tracking app! 

Unlike spy applications that require physical access for installation, you can see your boyfriend’s precise GPS location via a tracking app with his mobile number. 

Using these applications, all you need to do is input the target’s number in the space provided on the platform. Afterward, create a catchy message and hit the Send icon. Once you do this, the service instantly hyperlinks your text and sends it to the target’s SMS inbox. 

When the recipient clicks on this message, you’ll have access to their real-time GPS location. 

Although the tracking app route is excellent for people who desire to spy on a cell phone without access to the phone, it only gives you access to the target’s location.

By Free Google Services

I’ve encountered many people who want to learn how to spy on an Android phone for free. If you’d like to see your child’s or spouse’s data without paying a dime, I’d recommend a free Google feature – device manager. 

Using the Android device manager (ADM), you can see the target’s GPS location in real-time. 

To get started with this tracking alternative, follow these simple steps:

1. Obtain the Google credentials of the target. 
2. Once you’ve gotten their logins, insert this URL – https://google.com/android/devicemanager – on your mobile or PC browser.
3. On this page, input the target’s Google logins and get a precise overview of their GPS location.

NOTE: Although the device manager technique is ideal for tracking someone’s Android smartphone for free, you can only access the phone’s GPS location if it’s connected to the Internet. 

8 Best Hidden Spy Applications for Android 

I’ve given an in-depth overview of options that’ll grant you access to an Android smartphone. Nonetheless, I recommend using an Android spying service to get the spying results you desire. 

You’ll find numerous remote spy apps for Android free on the web. However, most of these alternatives don’t work as advertised and are fronts for fraudulent acts. 

Thus, I’ve gone the extra mile to curate a list of the top hidden spy applications for Android. I employed some factors to form this listing, including features, pricing, customer support, and stealth availability. 

Notable mentions include:

mSpy

It’s impossible to talk about Android monitoring without mentioning mSpy. This stellar spy software for Android has 36+ top-tier functionalities in its arsenal, giving you access to the data bits on someone’s device. 

Using mSpy, you have access to these features:

• Call monitoring
• Social media tracking
• Photo and video viewer
• GPS locations tracker
• Geofencing alerts
• App viewer
• Browser history monitoring
• Wi-fi network monitoring
• Contact viewer
• And so many more!

So, is mSpy detectable?

Once you install the mSpy app on the target’s Android device, it’ll operate in 100% Stealth Mode. This add-on means that mSpy will work in the background and trawl data to your unique control panel. 

Although mSpy might come off as perfect, the platform has 24/7 support available to cater to clients who have issues during usage. Talk about a service that cares!

mSpy’s installation denotes one word – easy. With the platform sending a guide across after subscription, you can apply the steps featured to execute installation on the target device. 

Pricing

Using the mSpy application won’t see you parting away with much as the platform has these plans available:

• 1 Month: $48.99 
• 3 Months: $27.99 per month
• 12 Months: $11.66 per month

NOTE: mSpy has a great refund policy that allows you to get your money back 14 days after subscription. So, if the mSpy application doesn’t tickle your fancy within this timeline, you can opt for a charge-free refund. This provision makes mSpy an efficient remote spy app for Android free. 

Eyezy

Although Android monitoring is an activity executed by many applications, Eyezy takes things to the next level with its vast array of futuristic functionalities. With an AI in the mix to detect when the target is up to something bad, Eyezy ranks high in the Android spying space.

So, what do you get with Eyezy? Top mentions include:

• Keystroke Capture
• Social Spotlight
• Web Magnifier
• Connection Blocker
• Files Finder
• Magic Alerts
• Pinpoint
• Plans Breaker
• Phone Analyzer

To ensure client safety, the Eyezy app has bank-grade encryption available. That way, you can track a target’s information knowing that no unlicensed third-party firm is accessing them. 

Pricing

You can access Eyezy’s premium features by entering one of these subscription packages:

• 1 Month: $47.99
• 3 Months: $27.99 per month
• 12 Months: $9.99 per month

NOTE: Eyezy is a PCI DSS compliant site. So, all your payments on the platform are protected from the prying eyes of cybercriminals. 

Detectico

Maybe you’ve made a Google query along the lines of – can I spy on a phone with just the number? 

Although this may seem unconventional at first glance, it’s 100% possible. The platform leading the charge? Detectico!

Localize lets you monitor an Android’s GPS location in real-time with the phone number. Here’s a rundown of how you can use this service to sieve out the location data of any Android device. 

1. Head to the site and enter a subscription.
2. Once you’ve subscribed, head to the homepage and insert the mobile number of the Android you’d like to track.
3. Now, create a message. Make it appealing so it piques the recipient’s urge to open it. 
4. Click the “Send” icon. Now, Detectico will hyperlink your message and send it to the target’s Android smartphone. 
5. If the target clicks on the message, you’ll have access to their GPS location immediately. 

What makes Detectico unique is that you can engage it on any target without installing an app on their Android devices. Also, it works with networks globally, making it an excellent choice for remote GPS tracking.

Pricing

Detectico has these cost-effective plans available:

• Trial (24 hours): $0.89
• 1 Month: $49.80 per month 

NOTE: The trial plan is available for newbies. After this plan expires (24 hours), you’ll be instantly upgraded to the monthly plan. 

MobiPast

If you’d like to know how to spy on a cell phone without access to it, consider the MobiPast application. With its “the cleverest spy app in the world that yields powerful results for everyone” mantra, MobiPast helps you trawl data from an Android without experiencing clogs. 

Here’s a listing of what you’re bound to enjoy when you engage the excellent services of MobiPast:

• Call log monitoring
• SMS texts tracking
• Keylogger
• In-depth browser monitoring
• Email monitoring
• Stealth Mode

MobiPast’s fame is on an upward trajectory, with online reviews spelling out its uniqueness. This application is easy to use, and you can complete installation within 5 minutes. With “Stealth Mode” in the mix, MobiPast gets you in-depth access to the target’s information without them knowing. 

Pricing

MobiPast is a cost-effective spy app. On this platform, you can opt for any of these subscription plans:

• 1 Month: $48.99
• 3 Months: $27.99 per month
• 12 Months: $11.66 per month

DID YOU KNOW: According to a recent report, 56% of cheaters used cell phones as their main contact point. So, if your BF or hubby is spending more time chatting on his Android device, it could indicate cheating. To get in sync with his activities, I suggest using MobiPast. 

FoneMonitor

If your kid is acting strangely and you’d like to know the cause of their recent demeanor, engage FoneMonitor to determine if their actions on Instant Messaging apps or the Internet have a part to play. 

Compatible with Android cell phones, FoneMonitor has Demo mode available to give you a peek at what to expect upon subscription.

With FoneMonitor pulling the strings, you can:

• Monitor text messages
• Track an Android’s real-time GPS location
• Monitor chats on Instant Messaging apps
• Track browser history
• Monitor SIM location

It gets better:

Unlike some other spy applications, FoneMonitor gives you access to a target’s Android without rooting the device. This caveat lets you install the app onto the device without wasting much time. Great!

Pricing

FoneMonitor, despite its many functionalities, ranks as a budget-friendly spy app with these plans available:

• Premium: $9.99 per month
• Basic: $39.99 per month
• Family: $69.99 per month

Find My Phone

Are you searching for an undetectable free spy app for Android? It might be time to look towards the “Find My Phone” app on the Android-based cell phones of some OEMs. Note that this add-on works alongside Google’s Find My Device initiative to ensure accuracy.

One OEM with an excellent “Find My Phone” service is Samsung. 

Here’s how it works:

1. Ensure that the target uses a Samsung device. Now, gain access to their gadget and activate the “Find My Mobile” add-on in the device’s Settings area. 
2. Now, insert this URL – https://findmymobile.samsung.com/ – into your web browser.
3. Input the target’s login information
4. Here, you’ll see the target device’s location and battery status. However, note that you’ll only have access to these data bits if the target phone is connected to the Internet.

NOTE: The above guide is a variation for Samsung cell phones only. Nonetheless, other Android OEMs with a Find My Phone service have a similar modus operandi. To be sure, head to the device manufacturer’s website for more details. 

Google Family Link

Do you want to safeguard your kids from the ills of the Internet? Google Family Link is an app that grants you some form of respite. Using this service, you can view what your wards have been up to via their Google profile. 

Due to the recent launch of Family Link, some users still report bugs and glitches during usage. Albeit valid concerns, this application provides a decent amount of precise data from the target’s Android for free!

Here’s how you can engage Google’s “Family Link” to spy on an Android device: 

1. Create a Google account and activate it on your ward’s device. 
2. Install the Google Family Link application for Parents on your device. Also, download the Google Family Link application for kids and teens on your ward’s device.
3. Link the Parent’s app to your kid’s device. Do the same on your ward’s phone. You’ll have to insert a code on the latter cell phone.
4. Go through the setup and grant access to the necessary permissions.
5. Viola! You’ll have access to the activities on your child’s device through their Google account. 

Find My Device By Google

To track an Android’s GPS location, Find My Device by Google is your best bet if you seek 100% accuracy.

To get started with Find My Device, follow these steps:

1. Open the target’s device and head to Settings. Here, toggle on the “Find My Device” option.
2. Activate the device’s location.
3. Once the target leaves, visit the Find My Device page and insert the tracked user’s Google logins. 
4. Upon login, you’ll see the device’s GPS location on a detailed map. 

The Find My Device route is free, making it one of the best free hidden spy apps for Android devices. 

How to Spy on Someone’s Phone Without Them Knowing?

While I’ll advise using spy applications for 24/7 spying on an Android device, one area most people find hard is installation. So, if you have the regular “can you spy on a phone without access to it” question, follow these easy steps to get the ball rolling on a top-notch spying software – mSpy. 

Step 1. Purchase a Subscription

To subscribe to mSpy, head to the site and register an account using your email address. Now, select the OS you want to monitor and choose a subscription plan.

Upon subscription, you’ll receive a mail containing your login information and an installation guide.

Step 2. Disable Play Protect

Play Protect is a feature on Android devices that stops you from installing apps like mSpy onto the target’s cell phone. 

Here’s how to deactivate “Play Protect” on the target’s Android:

1. Launch the Play Store app and hit the menu icon.
2. Tap Play Protect.
3. Click the Settings icon at the top right.
4. Disable the Scan Device for Security Threats add-on.

Step 3. Download mSpy Installer

To download the mSpy installer app, follow these easy steps:

1. Open a browser on the target’s device and insert the link embedded in the confirmation email.
2. After passing the Captcha check, click on “OK.” Now the file should start downloading.
3. If you receive a prompt, head to the device’s settings and activate “Allow from this source.”
4. Wait until the download is complete and launch the application.

Step 4. Install mSpy

Before you commence your monitoring acts in full gear, you must download the mSpy APK on the target’s cell phone. Here’s how to do so:

1. Open the mSpy installer application and check the “Accept License Agreement” box.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions and grant all necessary permissions.
3. Insert the Registration Code in your confirmation email.
4. Hit the “Complete Registration” icon.

Step 5. Commence Monitoring

Once you’ve installed mSpy on the target’s device, log in to your Control Panel and commence spying. mSpy has curated your dashboard to be clutter-free, allowing you to view data bits like call logs, GPS location, and texts without hassles. 

Conclusion

I’ve listed the best hidden spy applications for Android in this in-depth guide. Although all featured options are decent, mSpy ranks as my #1 alternative. This spy app has all the goodies you want for Android spying. 

The best part? You don’t have to root the target’s device or part with a sizable amount. With bank-grade encryption in the mix, no prying eye can access your Control Panel 24/7.

Despite mSpy’s mastery, other alternatives “deliver the goods.” So, select the option that tickles your interests and get cracking!