Top 5 Best Free iPhone Spy Apps 2025
Is there a free iPhone spy app? How to Spy on iPhone without someone knowing? If you really want to know what your children or employees are doing when they use iPhone, read on to learn more about the top 5 free iPhone spy apps.
What Are the Benefits of Using an iPhone Spy App?
Before we get into the best free iPhone spy software, it’s important to understand why someone might want to use one. Here are a few reasons people turn to these apps:
Child Safety and Parental Control
For many parents, keeping their children safe online is a top priority. iPhone spy apps allow parents to monitor their child’s phone activity, from text messages and social media conversations to call logs and more. With these apps, parents can make sure their kids aren’t exposed to inappropriate content or engaging with online predators.
Recent research by the National Cyber Security Alliance found that 70% of teens encounter inappropriate content online, with 20% experiencing cyberbullying or exposure to explicit material.
Tracking Lost or Stolen Devices
Losing your phone is frustrating, and if it gets stolen, it can be even worse. Luckily, many spy apps have GPS tracking features that let you locate your phone in real-time on a map. This makes it easier to find your device quickly and even recover it if it’s been taken.
A 2019 report by Lookout revealed that 68% of smartphone users have lost their devices at least once. Moreover, 60% of users reported concerns about security breaches, such as sensitive data being exposed.
Monitor Employee Devices
For business owners who provide employees with iPhones, spy apps can help monitor how company phones are being used. These apps allow employers to track business-related activities and ensure employees are using their phones appropriately for work without wasting time on non-work-related tasks.
According to a 2023 Workplace Productivity Study by Statista, 40% of employees admit to spending at least 2 hours per day on non-work-related tasks. This includes browsing social media, leading to significant losses in productivity and impacting overall company performance.
List of the Best Free Spy Apps for iPhone
Whether you’re concerned about your child’s safety, want to track a lost device, or just need basic monitoring, the iPhone monitoring apps can help. In this list, we highlight some of the best options, outlining their key features, pros, and cons to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
1. iKeyMonitor Free iPhone Spy App
iKeyMonitor is a powerful spy app for iPhone that offers over 30 features to help you monitor your child’s phone activity. With iKeyMonitor, you can track SMS messages, phone calls, screenshots, and chat messages on popular instant messaging apps like Facebook, Line, WhatsApp, and WeChat. The app also allows you to set up safe and forbidden zones, as well as add alert words to monitor potential risks. By using iKeyMonitor, you can protect your children from cyberbullying, online predators, scams, and other dangers, ensuring their safety while using their devices.
Features:
- Monitor Sent and Received SMS Messages:
iKeyMonitor lets you easily keep track of all the text messages sent and received on your child’s or employee’s phone. You’ll be able to see who they’re communicating with and what they’re talking about, giving you peace of mind that they’re not involved in risky or harmful conversations. - Record Phone Calls and VoIP Calls:
This feature records both regular phone calls and calls made through apps like WhatsApp, Skype, Facebook, Telegram, WeChat, etc. It’s helpful if you want to make sure that your child or employee isn’t being exposed to inappropriate or unsafe content over the phone, especially in situations where they might not share everything with you. - Capture Screenshots of the Device Screen:
iKeyMonitor takes screenshots of what’s happening on the device screen, allowing you to see exactly what your child or employee is doing on their phone. Whether they’re chatting on social media, browsing websites, or using apps, you can get a snapshot of their activity and make sure they’re not engaging with anything harmful or dangerous. - Listen to Phone Surroundings in Real-Time:
A unique feature of iKeyMonitor is the ability to listen to the phone’s surroundings in real time. This can be especially useful if you’re concerned about your child’s safety and want to know what’s happening around them. You can listen in to ensure they’re not in an unsafe environment.
Pros:
- Free plan available to try out basic features
- Comprehensive tracking options for both social media and device activities
- Supports both iPhone and Android devices
Cons:
- Some functions require jailbreaking.
2. Find My – iPhone Spy App
Find My is Apple’s built-in app for locating lost or stolen devices. It’s a free iPhone tracker that tracks your iPhone’s location. The app lets you track multiple devices, play a sound to find your iPhone, and even display a custom message on the screen. Additionally, you can lock your device remotely and erase its data to prevent unauthorized access.
While Find My is not specifically designed as a spy app, it provides essential tracking features that make it an excellent tool for finding lost devices.
Features:
- Track All Your Devices on a Map:
If you’ve ever misplaced your phone or tablet, you know how frustrating it can be. This feature lets you see exactly where your devices are on a map, whether it’s at home, in the car, or somewhere else, making it much easier to find them without stress. - Play a Sound to Find Your Device:
Ever lose your phone in the couch cushions or under a pile of clothes? With this feature, you can play a loud sound, even if your phone’s on silent, helping you locate it quickly. - Lock Your Device Remotely:
If your phone is lost or you’re worried about someone accessing it, you can lock it remotely. This means no one can open your device or access your personal information. - Erase Device Data if It’s Lost or Stolen:
If you can’t recover your lost phone, this feature allows you to erase all your personal information remotely. This includes photos, contacts, messages, and anything else you’d want to keep secure.
Pros:
- Completely free and comes pre-installed on iPhones
- Provides real-time location tracking for your devices
Cons:
- Does not support features like screenshot capturing or keystroke tracking
- Lacks geofencing features to track specific areas
Download: iOS
3. iCloud.com – iPhone Tracking Service
Apple’s iCloud is a free iPhone spy app that provides a built-in way to back up your data across all your Apple devices. Through iCloud.com, you can access backups of photos, documents, contacts, messages, and more. It also offers a “Find My iPhone” feature, which allows you to locate your device and remotely wipe it if necessary.
Features:
- Access Photos, Messages, Contacts, and More from Any Device
You can access all your important data, including photos, messages, contacts, and more, on any device, anytime. Whether you’re switching phones or just need to check something, your information is always available and easy to reach. - Use “Find My iPhone” to Track Lost Devices
If your iPhone goes missing, “Find My iPhone” helps you track its location. Whether it’s just misplaced at home or lost elsewhere, this feature makes it easy to locate your device and get it back quickly. - Automatically Backup Data and Restore It When Needed
Your data is automatically backed up, so you never have to worry about losing important files. If you ever need to restore your data, whether you’re upgrading your phone or recovering from a mishap, it’s all set for easy recovery.
Pros:
- Free to use with 5GB of cloud storage
- Automatically backs up your iPhone data for easy recovery
- Easy-to-use interface for managing your Apple devices
Cons:
- Limited free storage (only 5GB) may require paid upgrades for larger data storage
- No customer support or dedicated help for tracking or monitoring specific activities
- The user interface may not be the most intuitive for beginners
Download: iOS
4. FollowMee Spy App for iPhone
FollowMee is a GPS tracker app for iPhone that provides real-time location tracking for iPhones. It doesn’t require any installation on the target phone, making it an easy-to-use option for tracking devices without jailbreaking or rooting the phone. FollowMee also allows you to set up geofences, so you can be notified when the device enters or exits a designated area.
Features:
- Real-Time GPS Location Tracking
With this feature, you can instantly track the exact location of your device. Whether you’re trying to find a misplaced phone or checking where your child is, you can see their location live on a map. - Tracks an Unlimited Number of Devices
You don’t have to worry about limits when tracking multiple devices. Whether you want to monitor your kids’ phones, your spouse’s, or even a whole fleet of company devices, you can track as many as you need without any extra hassle. - Geofence Alerts for Location-Based Monitoring
You can set up virtual “safe zones” around specific areas like home or school and get instant alerts whenever a device enters or leaves these zones. It’s a great way to stay informed and ensure your child isn’t wandering outside of a safe area. - View and Download Tracking Logs
This feature lets you access a detailed history of a device’s movements. If you want to see where your child has been over the past few hours or days, the logs will show you exactly where the device was.
Pros:
- Free to use for basic location tracking
- Doesn’t require installation on the target device
- Supports iOS, Android, and Windows devices
Cons:
- Monthly fees for additional features and services
5. AlertBird – Parental Monitor for iPhone/iPad outlink.png
AlertBird is a helpful iPhone spy app that allows you to monitor your child’s activity on iPhone and iPad. This app specifically focuses on tracking chat and search activity, using a custom keyboard to detect dangerous or inappropriate keywords. It alerts you when potentially harmful content is detected in messages or web searches.
Features:
- Monitors Chat and Search Activities
This feature lets you watch the chats and search activities on your child’s device. Whether they’re messaging friends or searching the web, you can see exactly what they’re saying and looking for. - Sends Alerts When Dangerous Keywords Are Detected
If harmful or concerning keywords show up in their messages or search history, you’ll get an immediate alert. This could be anything from bullying-related terms to explicit content, so you can take action quickly and address any issues before they escalate. - Customizable Keywords to Track Specific Phrases or Topics
You can set your own list of keywords to track, so you’re focusing on what matters most to you. Whether it’s monitoring a certain person’s name, a particular topic, or any specific phrase, you have full control to personalize the alerts to suit your needs.
Pros:
- Provides alerts for inappropriate behavior or dangerous content
- Free plan available for basic monitoring
Cons:
- The app’s icon may not be automatic, which could be a privacy concern
Download: For iOS
FAQs About iPhone Spy Apps
Q1. Are iPhone Spy Apps Legal?
The legality of using an iPhone spy application largely depends on your location and the situation. If you’re monitoring your child’s device, it’s usually legal with parental consent.
Q2. Do iPhone Spy Apps Work Without Jailbreaking?
Some spy apps, like Find My and iCloud, don’t require jailbreaking your device. However, more advanced features, such as call recording or message monitoring, typically need the phone to be jailbroken.
Q3. Are Free iPhone Spy Apps as Effective as Paid Ones?
Free iPhone spy apps generally offer basic features, such as tracking location or monitoring text messages. Paid apps tend to provide more advanced options like call recording and detailed message monitoring. A paid app might be the better option if you need more comprehensive features.
Q4. Can I Track a Lost iPhone Without an App?
Yes, you can track your lost iPhone using Apple’s built-in features like Find My iPhone or iCloud. These tools allow you to see the phone’s location on a map, play a sound to help you find it, and even lock or erase the device remotely.
Conclusion
The above are the top 5 best free spy apps for iPhone. These apps have their own advantages and disadvantages. In general, if you need a powerful and reliable spy app for iPhone, I suggest you use iKeyMonitor. If you only need basic tracking features, you can use the Find My app.
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Category: Employee Monitoring Tips, Parental Control Tips