When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn The best hidden screen recorder apps capture everything on a device—from conversations, messages and interactions to the content they’re viewing.
If you’re worried about who your partner might be DMing on social media, or are concerned about cyberbullying, online predators or inappropriate content, a hidden screen recorder app could be just the ally you need to protect your family.
On this page I list the best hidden screen recorder apps that I’ve personally tested to walk you through all their pros and cons, pricing and best features to help you find the best app for your needs.
- Show Full Guide
Spynger - Best Screen Recorder to Catch a Cheater On Social Media
- mSpy — Great Hidden Screen Recorder Plus 35+ Other Tracking Features
- uMobix — High-Quality, Seamless, Non-Stop Screen Recording
- Spynger — Best Secret Screen Recorder To Catch a Cheater Via Social Media
- SpyBubble Pro — Best Hidden Screen Recorder For Remote Device Control
- Phonsee — Budget-Friendly iPhone Hidden Screen Recorder App
- Eyezy —Real-Time Screen Recorder Capture & Location Tracking
What Are Secret Screen Recorders?
Screen recording software is a discreet tool which brings peace of mind to concerned parents, employers who need to monitor their staff, or anyone worried their partner might be hiding something online. It operates in the target device’s background and can record screen activities without the user’s knowledge.
These tools let you see everything your someone else is seeing on their phone, as if you are using it yourself. You see what they are typing, who they are talking to, and any plans they might be making with people they shouldn’t be meeting up with.
Installation methods vary, with some requiring physical access to the device, while others can be remotely installed through message links or disguised files. Once installed, these apps capture data, including texts, social media interactions, emails, and browsing history. The recorded information from the target phone is stored and accessible through a secure login or online portal.
The Best Secret Recording Apps Reviewed
After extensive testing, I’ve narrowed down the list of the best hidden recording app providers for you, considering crucial parameters like value-for-money, intuitiveness, customer support, and other monitoring features. Take a look:
| Starting Price | $11.67/month |
|---|---|
| No Of Devices | 1 |
| Free Trial/Demo | Free Demo |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 14 days |
| Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Why We Picked It
I get it—it’s hard to spend money on a screen recording app when you don’t really know if it has the features you need. But I picked mSpy to top my list because it’s not only one of the best screen recorder apps but also offers more than 35 other useful features.
Besides being a great hidden recording app, it also provides real-time keyword alerts and can track social media platforms, defining it as great value for the buck.
Features
As I mentioned above, mSpy is stacked with features and useful tools, so it stands out as one of the best all-around spy apps you can invest in. It comes with a screen recorder that records the screen of the other device in real time, which tells you what they are doing on their phone at any given moment. This means that whatever app they are using or whatever they’re doing on their phone, you’ll see it.
Besides this, you also get a keylogger – a feature that tells you every word they are typing on their phone, so between this and the screen recorder, you literally can’t miss a thing.
You can also set custom keyword alerts with mSpy. If you’re worried about your child searching for adult content on the internet, just add the relevant keywords to your alerts. Every time your child types that word, you will get an instant notification. Then, if you find your child looking at things they shouldn’t, you can use mSpy’s app or website blocker to restrict such activity.
This is a great feature if you don’t have to check the app non-stop and you need something that operates more passively in the background, alerting you only when necessary. You can also use this to set up a keyword alert for your partner if you’re worried they might be searching for a particular username or ex’s name.
Apart from this, I found mSpy to be a one-stop solution for all your tracking needs. From a single control panel, you can track up to 11 social media applications, their contact list, call logs, calendar, SMS, emails, installed media, and location.
You will need to root or jailbreak the other device to access all of mSpy’s features, including the screen recorder. While this sounds scary and does take a bit of time, it’s not too difficult, and mSpy’s excellent customer support will guide you through it step by step.
Pricing
mSpy offers three pricing tiers based on the length of the subscription:
| Duration | mSpy Pricing |
|---|---|
| 1 Month | $48.99/month |
| 3 Months | $28/month |
| 12 Months | $11.67/month |
Unfortunately, mSpy doesn’t have a free version. While I know that’s not ideal, I can tell you that mSpy is pretty much the most popular and highly-rated spy app around, so your investment is safe. It’s also very affordable when you pay annually compared to other spy apps.
mSpy also offers an excellent free demo that allows you to try the app out in real life. It shows you everything the app can do and how it works. If you have technical issues you can’t resolve, mSpy will offer a refund if you request it within 14 days of subscribing.
Who It’s Best For
mSpy is a great spy tool for recording and a top option for parents looking for a one-stop solution for tracking their kids. The platform offers 35+ tracking features, including a hidden screen recorder and keylogger.
You can extensively monitor their website history and app usage and even restrict data usage remotely.
Pros
- Screen records in complete stealth
- Affordable annual subscription
- Offers live tracking through GPS
- Shows you deleted data
- Tracks 11 social media platforms
Cons
- Pricier than some apps if you only pay monthly
2. uMobix — Best For Capturing High-Quality, Non-Stop Recordings
| Starting Price | $12.49/month |
|---|---|
| No Of Devices | 1 |
| Free Trial/Demo | Free Demo |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 14 days |
| Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Why We Picked It
I had to put uMobix on my list as it’s a top-ranked secret screen recording app that delivers uninterrupted, high-quality video from a whopping 30 apps. This includes unconventional apps like Reddit, Twitter, YouTube, and even Tinder. You can also access deleted information and extract a live audio and video feed from the target phone.
Features
uMobix stands out due to its real-time recording capability and seamless integration with other monitoring features. Its unique advantage lies in the ability to capture high-quality, continuous screen recordings. These are automatically uploaded and sorted into the apps they are from for easy access and review, making sure you don’t miss anything crucial.
Live audio and video streams go a step further and provide remote access to the device’s microphone and camera, showing you exactly what’s going on around the person you are tracking.
Maybe your kid is returning home from school, and you want to make sure they are safe throughout their journey. You can simply turn on the live video stream and choose between the front and back cameras to see their surroundings.
Plus, you get an advanced keylogger, which you can use to uncover passwords and see everything the other person types on their device. Like mSpy, you also get real-time notifications if they type any restricted words. You can even track apps like YouTube with complete watch history, and it is also one of the best Tinder spy apps around. Apps like Reddit and Twitter can also be tracked to keep your child safe from NSFW content.
uMobix also allows you to schedule app use on the target device. For example, if your child is supposed to study for two hours in the afternoon, you can block all social media applications during this period so that they are totally inaccessible. You can even delete unwanted apps and regulate data storage on the device.
The above features are available on Android, and you get all the essentials with iOS, like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram tracking, web browsing monitoring, and information about calls and text messages. It’s still a pretty good iPhone spy app, but if you need a more robust app that does more, you can go with mSpy. That said, uMobix is one of the best spy apps for Android you can get.
Pricing
| Duration | uMobix Pricing |
|---|---|
| 1 Month | $49.99/month |
| 3 Months | $29.99/month |
| 12 Months (+ 12 extra months for free) | $12.49/month |
Who It’s Best For
uMobix is ideal for anyone looking for a hidden screen recording tool who also wants to track a vast number of apps on the other person’s device.
Pros
- Robust hidden screen recording with live access
- Tracks 30+ apps, including YouTube and Reddit
- Allows scheduled blocking of apps
- Tracks dating websites like Tinder
- Accurate GPS location and geofencing alerts
Cons
- Pricey if you only pay monthly
- Slightly fewer features for iOS
| Starting Price | $9.28/month |
|---|---|
| No Of Devices | 1 |
| Free Trial/Demo | ❌ |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
| Compatibility | iPhone, Android |
Why We Picked It
I picked Spynger because it’s an app specially designed to catch a cheater. It can track 16 social media platforms, including Snapchat, Viber, Telegram, Facebook, and others, and its screen recorder feature gives you real-time information on these apps and everything else the other person does on their phone.
Features
Spynger is one of the best monitoring apps for tracking your partner’s social media platforms if you suspect them of cheating. It can monitor as many as 16 platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Telegram, and so on.
Its hidden screen recording feature is just the cherry on top. The screen recorder tells you the exact posts the other person is interacting with – likes, comments, and shares.
Like mSpy, it includes a keylogger that captures every keystroke from the device’s keyboard. However, I was a bit disappointed by the lack of custom keyword alerts, which would have made passive monitoring much easier.
Pricing
Spynger is cheaper when compared to competitors like mSpy and uMobix. Let’s look at its pricing structure:
| Duration | Spynger Pricing |
|---|---|
| 1 Month | $44.56/month |
| 3 Months | $25.99/month |
| 12 Months | $9.28/month |
Spynger doesn’t offer a free trial or demo, but it does have a 30-day refund policy if you encounter any issues, which is generous compared to most other spy apps.
Who It’s Best For
If your partner is always on social media buff, and you suspect them of cheating, Spynger is the best solution to get the peace of mind you need. You can use the hidden screen recording feature to track a whopping 16 social media platforms, ensuring they cannot escape your surveillance. Plus, dating apps like Tinder can also be tracked.
Pros
- Long 30-day money-back guarantee
- Tracks 16 social media apps
- Affordable
Cons
- Doesn’t offer keyword alerts
- Doesn’t allow you to block apps
4. SpyBubble Pro — Excellent Remote Device Management
| Starting Price | $12.49/month |
|---|---|
| No Of Devices | 1 |
| Free Trial/Demo | ❌ |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 14 days |
| Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Why We Picked It
I chose SpyBubble Pro because it’s a well-rounded hidden screen recording app that excels in remote device management. It allows you to control the other person’s device from anywhere.
You can easily block apps and websites and even shut off their phones. Plus, SpyBubble shows you details of deleted messages and calls, as well as renamed contacts.
Features
Although SpyBubble Pro doesn’t have full-fledged screen recording features, it does have a couple of tools that do nearly the same job. For instance, the platform sends you screenshots of the other person’s phone screen every five minutes so that you know what they are up to.
Plus, you can check out their surroundings through live audio and video streams using the device’s camera. This can come in handy when you want to know where the other person is and who they are talking to.
Similarly, you can even use the camera to take a quick snapshot of the surroundings if you do not need the livestream. Like other spy apps on the list, the platform also comes with a nifty keylogger.
Where SpyBubble Pro really shines is in its remote device management. You can view call history and contacts and block incoming and outgoing calls from specific contacts. Plus, if your loved one tries to swap SIM cards, you will get an instant notification. In addition, you can block apps altogether and restrict websites that you do not approve of.
Like uMobix, some of SpyBubble’s are only available on Android, including location tracking, TikTok and YouTube monitoring, browser history tracking, remote control, and live audio and video streams. If you’re looking for an iPhone screen recorder app, you may want to go with mSpy or Phonsee instead.
Pricing
| Duration | SpyBubble Pro Pricing |
|---|---|
| 1 Month | $49.99/month |
| 3 Months | $29.99/month |
| 12 Months | $12.49/month |
SpyBubble doesn’t have a trial or demo, but its control panel is quite similar to that of uMobix.
While SpyBubble is more expensive than some competitors, chatting with customer support before you subscribe might net you an additional 15% discount.
Who It’s Best For
SpyBubble Pro is best if you’re looking for an easy-to-use parental monitoring solution. Its intuitive dashboard makes it effortless even for non-tech-savvy parents.
Plus, it is ideal if you want to control someone else’s device – blocking apps and websites and restricting incoming and outgoing calls and SMS.
Pros
- Lets you see deleted messages, calls, and texts
- Excellent remote device management controls
- Requires no rooting for installation
- SIM card replacement alerts
Cons
- No live screen recording
- Fewer features for iOS
5. Phonsee — Best Secret Screen Recorder for iPhone
| Starting Price | $8.85/month |
|---|---|
| No Of Devices | 1 |
| Free Trial/Demo | Free Demo |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 14 days |
| Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Why We Picked It
During my testing, I found that Phonsee is one of the easiest monitoring apps to install, especially on iPhones. Unlike other spy apps, you don’t need to jailbreak the target iPhone to install the app, which comes in handy if you just want a cheap and cheerful, easy-to-use screen recording solution.
Features
If you want to record someone’s iPhone screen, Phonsee is your best bet. Since it doesn’t require any jailbreaking, it’s easy to install on iPhones without compromising the device’s security.
Phonsee’s hidden screen recorder captures every move the tracked person makes, along with its chronology. Similarly, there is a keylogger for both Android and iPhone devices. You can even blacklist certain words and get real-time alerts when they are used.
Where I found Phonsee truly excels is in its precise location tracking. It tells you the exact coordinates of the other person’s location via GPS at any given time. You can even set geofencing alerts to keep your kid from dangerous locations.
Phonsee also takes social media monitoring up a notch. You can view all photos and videos shared on these platforms, even if the account is private. Plus, you can also read your kid’s private conversations. All in all, you can track 13 social media apps through Phonsee.
Pricing
Just like many other spy apps, Phonsee offers three time-based plans:
| Duration | Phonsee Pricing |
|---|---|
| 1 Month | $42.51/month |
| 3 Months | $24.79/month |
| 12 Months | $8.85/month |
Phonsee is one of the more affordable options available, beaten only by Eyezy. It does have a free demo, as well, so you can try out everything on the app before committing, but it is more a series of screenshots that show the app in action as opposed to an interactive demo.
The good news is that the dashboard worked like it was supposed to and provided all the information I was looking for while testing the app.
Who It’s Best For
Phonsee is ideal if your child or partner uses an iPhone and you want to monitor them without jailbreaking their device. It also offers one of the most precise GPS locations among spy apps.
Pros
- Doesn’t require jailbreaking
- One of the cheapest annual plans
- Allows you to blacklist words
- Real-time accurate GPS location
- User-friendly interface
Cons
- Fewer features overall compared to some competitors
- No interactive demo; just screenshots
6. Eyezy — Best Secret Screen Recorder with Real-Time Screen Capture & Location Tracking
| Starting Price | $7.99/month |
|---|---|
| No Of Devices | 1 |
| Free Trial/Demo | Free Demo |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 14 days |
| Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Why We Picked It
I had to pick Eyezy for its Magic Alerts feature. This handy tool makes it one of the best spy apps for parents who don’t have the time to live track their children, as it takes real-time screenshots of their phones. You also get an excellent location tracker. Plus, installing Eyezy is easier compared to other apps.
Features
Just like SpyBubble Pro, Eyezy doesn’t have live screen recording features, but you get regular screenshots of the other person’s device. This covers around 11 social media apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and others.
Eyezy also offers Magic Alerts, which works to enhance two app features – geofencing and keywords. To give you an example, let’s say you’re suspicious about your child wandering around the dark side of the internet. In this case, you can add certain words to the keyword alert tracker, and whenever your child types these words on their keyboard, Eyezy will send you a Magic Alert.
The same goes for location. If your kid enters somewhere you’ve restricted, you’ll know instantly.
Besides this, there is an extensive files finder that shows you all kinds of media stored on the target device – photos, videos, saved media, and installed apps. If you find any app that you think your child shouldn’t be using, you can use Eyezy’s Connection Blocker to block the app altogether.
Pricing
Eyezy offers straightforward, competitive plans at some of the lowest prices available. Like most of its counterparts, the first-time subscription is cheaper than the renewal, but Eyezy frequently offers discount codes.
| Duration | Eyezy Pricing |
|---|---|
| 1 Month | $38.39/month |
| 3 Months | $22.39/month |
| 12 Months | $7.99/month |
I was impressed with Eyezy’s demo and found the actual dashboard to be identical. If you do run into technical issues, Eyezy offers a 14-day refund policy.
Who It’s Best For
Eyezy is perfect if you don’t have the time to constantly monitor your child’s behavior, as it takes real-time screenshots for you.
Its Magic Alerts feature lets you know if your child is using words they shouldn’t or wandering off to restricted places. The best part is that you’ll get an alert even if the words typed are not sent to anyone.
Pros
- Screenshots allow for passive monitoring
- One of the best keyword alert apps
- One of the cheapest monitoring apps out there
- Allows you to block websites and Wi-Fi
Cons
- No screen access on iOS
- Limited customer support options
The Best Secret Screen Recorder Apps Compared
To help you look at everything at a glance, I’ve made a quick comparison of the best secret screen recorders available:
| Best Hidden Screen Recorders | Starting Price | No Of Devices | Free Trial/Demo | Money-Back Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mSpy | $11.67/month | 1 | Demo | 14 days |
| uMobix | $12.49/month | 1 | Demo | 14 days |
| Spynger | $9.28/month | 1 | ❌ | 30 days |
| SpyBubble Pro | $12.49/month | 1 | ❌ | 30 days |
| Phonsee | $8.85/month | 1 | Demo | 14 days |
| Eyezy | $7.99/month | 1 | Demo | 14 days |
How We Review And Test Spyware Apps
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 applications on the market to find the best options for you. Our methodology consists of the following criteria:
- General Features: We evaluate the comprehensive feature set of each spy app, including but not limited to features such as App Management, Time Management, Call Monitoring, Device Control and GPS Tracking.
- Ease of Use: We gauge the user-friendliness of each app, considering factors such as installation process complexity, the necessity of jailbreaking (for iOS) or rooting (for Android) the target device, and more.
- Device Support and Compatibility: We thoroughly examine the compatibility of each spyware app with different devices and operating systems, including iOS and Android. We also assess whether the app offers a unified dashboard accessible from both desktop and mobile devices.
- Customer Support: We test the responsiveness and effectiveness of customer support provided by each app developer. We evaluate the availability of support channels, such as live chat, email, or phone support, as well as the satisfaction ratings of customer assistance.
- Price and Value for Money: We assess each spyware app’s pricing structure in relation to its features and functionalities, aiming to determine its overall value proposition. We analyze whether the app offers different subscription tiers, flexible payment options, and discounts for long-term commitments. Additionally, we check whether the app provides free trials or demos for users to test its capabilities before making a purchase.
- Privacy and Security: We prioritize the privacy and security of user data in our evaluation. We scrutinize the app’s data encryption measures, adherence to privacy regulations, and commitment to regular security updates to safeguard user information from unauthorized access or breaches.
What Does a Secret Screen Recorder App Do?
Hidden screen recorder app tools can capture a wide range of data from a target phone, such as app usage, location, websites visited, calls, and messages. This is invaluable not only for parents and spouses but also for employers.
A hidden screen recorder can also show you everything happening across social media and messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, including what users are searching for, their feeds, direct messages, and more. These tools also offer insight into the apps the user installs (and the ones they use most frequently) and the media files they have saved on their iOS or Android.
The best recorder apps even offer advanced features like call recording, the ability to get insight into the user’s surroundings (live from your own device), and ample more.
Are Free Secret Screen Recorders Safe to Use?
Yes, there are free secret recorders but they’re not the safest to use. Many of these services are freemium or ad-driven secret screen recorder apps are designed to giveaway your data, won’t provide the features you’d get from a paid service, and often won’t work at all.
Free secret screen recorders in general lack security measures, which could allow third parties to gain access to and monitor all web operations by the target user.
My recommendation is if you’re really not sure if you want to commit to a paid screen recorder app, try out its free trial or check out its demo. Then, you can always upgrade afterward once you get the hang of what the app does and what features you’ll need. Overall, I am confident you’ll find that paid apps are safer and just generally more useful in terms of their features and functionality.
Does an Undetectable Screen Recording App Work on Any Device?
To get to the point, not necessarily. An undetectable screen recorder and its device compatibility will depend on its features and, sometimes, the subscription level. While a mobile screen recording app that works in stealth mode is far more common, even these have different factors to consider, like whether you need physical access to a device or need to root or jailbreak the phone. I’ll talk more about device compatibility:
Most spy screen recorder apps work on Android phones. However, in some cases, you may need root access on the target device, which requires some technical expertise and prolonged physical access to the Android phone. Some apps, like uMobix, are excellent for beginners looking for a hidden screen recorder Android tool.
Finding a spy screen recorder for iPhones and iPads is a little more complicated since you often need access to the device to jailbreak or need to know the other person’s iCloud information, although jailbreaking is not as difficult as it sounds. Many spy apps don’t offer as many features for iOS as they do for Android.
Finding a screen recorder for desktops that also works in stealth mode is quite limited. On my list, ClevGuard is the best option for parents to monitor their children’s PC activity. With the right subscription plan, you can use the app to monitor Windows, Mac, and mobile devices.
How to Choose the Best Secret Screen Recorder App
Here are the important factors you should consider before committing to a secret screen recorder:
The easier the secret screen recorders are to use, the more efficiently and effectively users can accomplish their goals. A user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation always give me a seamless experience and make me want to keep coming back to the app.
You should always check the compatibility of the spy app or hidden screen recorder with your target device’s operating system. Otherwise, you risk spending money on something you won’t even be able to use.
It is crucial to evaluate all the features of the screen recording app and ensure it ticks all the important boxes. People have different requirements, which is also why there are so many different apps on the market. Above all else, you’ll want an undetectable screen recorder that works in stealth mode.
Unfortunately, no 100% safe, efficient, and reliable free screen recorder exists. In fact, I had trouble finding one and realized that free apps have some serious shortcomings. You should seriously consider their budget and needs and balance affordability with usability, safety, and efficiency.
If you’re using a hidden screen recording app for the first time, you’ll encounter some issues or at least have a question or two sooner or later. I know I did. That is why having responsive and knowledgeable customer support is imperative. It made all the difference in the world to me while I was researching apps.
Through my extensive research into hidden screen recorders, I was able to test all the top options in real-world scenarios. Overall, mSpy stood out for me as a great choice, especially for parental monitoring, but it really depends on your needs. It seamlessly combines stealth capabilities with an extensive suite of features that means unparalleled value, especially if you opt for an annual subscription.
uMobix is a great option if you really want to prioritize high-quality video streaming and recording to monitor everything your child does in real time. Spynger is an app specially designed for catching cheaters, so if you need to confirm any suspicions as quickly as possible, it won’t let you down.
FAQs
What app can I use to secretly screen record?
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References
* 2024 Infidelity Statistics (Smith Investigation Agency)
- Evidence and Ethics: Litigating in the Shadows of the Rules (Fordham Law Review)
- Thales Data Threat Report (Thales)
- Screen Time and Children (AACAP)
- Children and Grooming (ChildSafety)
