Best Android Keylogger: Review, Test, and Comparison [2023]

What is a keylogger? A keylogger is a popular tool employers use to monitor activity on company devices. But it’s not reserved for employers only. It’s a tool you can use, for example, for parental control.

Some keystroke monitoring apps are made for cell phones. If you are concerned about your child’s online safety, you can use an Android keylogger to keep track of their keystrokes and monitor their behavior. The American Community Survey estimates that 95% of 3 to 18-year-olds had home internet access in 2021. All the more, need to monitor children’s online activities.

However, with so many fake keyloggers, it’s easy to fall for a scam that could steal your private data. Therefore, it is essential to choose a trusted and legal app. We at HeyLocate understand this concern.

That’s why we have conducted rigorous testing of various Android keyloggers to bring you this comprehensive list of the best Android keylogger apps.

For more information about types of keyloggers and how they work, read in HeyLocate’s blog article: What is a Keylogger and How to Use It.

Comparison Table of Android Keystroke Loggers

Services Reviewed – 25

Services Selected – 8

We took some resources from the top reviews of the best, and almost all of them were awful. So trust only verified sources of information or blogs of specialized services related to telecommunications. For example, like our HeyLocate blog.

Android Keyloggers Review

Most keylogger apps are not available on the Google Play Store. To install the apps on your Android device, first, enable the installation of apps from third-party sources. You will also need to disable Play Protect from Google Play.

Note: All these apps are compatible with Android devices. However, you can see their tracking reports on a browser from any phone or PC through the app’s service dashboard.

mSpy

mSpy is a verified company with real users. It scores highly on Trustpilot, with users rating it 3.6 stars from 4k+ reviews. The app is also popular on Facebook, as 35K people follow mSpy. Not to mention 5k followers on Instagram and 18.1k followers on YouTube.

Compatibility:

Android 4+.

User Experience:

First, I needed physical access to the target Android device. I also disabled Play Protect for the keylogger download to work. The good thing is that I did not jailbreak or root the device. I then accessed the keylogger feature on the online dashboard.

mSpy keylogger for Android could capture the keystrokes from various apps on the Android device. It provided the text, the app used, and the time the text was tracked. Moreover, it’s an undetectable keylogger since the app operates in stealth mode.

mSpy also let me know when certain keywords and phrases were used in chats or searches. I set alerts for certain keywords, and after they were used, I could see how they were used by seeing the text on the keylogger feature.

During my experimenting with it, this keylogger for Android was accurate and timely. I also liked that the app could track keystrokes from social media, instant messaging, and incoming and outgoing calls. Based on my experience, it is the best keylogger for tracking activity on kids’ Android phones and company devices.

Try mSpy

Eyezy

Eyezy is one of the most useful parental control apps as an Android keylogger. It scores highly on review websites, with users giving it a 4-star rating on Trustpilot and 4.18 stars on Sitejabber Eyezy has a combined following of 2k+ on Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook. Having launched in 2021, this app is yet to gain lots of traction around the web.

Compatibility:

• Android 4+;
• iOS 13+.

User Experience:

I needed around five minutes of access to the target device to download Eyezy. The app operated in stealth mode without interfering with the phone’s features. Moreover, it took only three minutes to start syncing keystrokes on the online dashboard.

Eyezy acted as a hidden keylogger, showing all the keystrokes entered from the target phone on the monitoring dashboard. Its keystroke logger showed all recently typed text, the app used, and the time. I could also search an app to see the keystrokes made from that app. I liked that Eyezy took screenshots of apps to contextualise what was typed.

For example, I could read both sides of a conversation, which helped me understand what my kid was up to. In addition, the app had access to social media apps like WhatsApp, Instagram messaging, and Facebook Messenger. Besides, during my test,  its keyword tracking feature allowed me to get alerts when forbidden words were typed in all apps.

As one of the best keylogging apps, Eyezy is ideal as a parental control app and can also benefit spouses who want to monitor their partner’s device.

Try EyeZy

uMobix

uMobix launched in 2019 as a product of Ersten Group, based in the UK. Since then, the app has garnered 450+ followers on Facebook and 490+ followers on Instagram. It also has close to 1K subscribers on Youtube. These numbers indicate that uMobix is gaining popularity as one of the best phone spy apps for kids.

On independent review sites, uMobix ranks 3.4 stars on Trustpilot and 4.5 stars on Sitejabber. Overall, uMobix is a legit keylogger for Android with actual users.

Compatibility:

• Android 4+;
• All iOS devices.

User Experience:

The installation process of uMobix was simple. I did not need any technical knowledge since I installed it on the Android device without jailbreaking it. Once I completed the setup, I went to the keylogger feature to view what it captured.

uMobix’s keylogger app captured all keystrokes made on the target Android device. It recorded all text typed, including passwords, usernames, messages, and search queries. This feature was particularly useful for monitoring my kid’s online activity to ensure they are not engaging in risky or inappropriate behavior.

Seeing what my kid typed was paramount because children can end up on an adult site by accident. I even set up keyword alerts to get alerts whenever those keywords were used on the target device.

After experimenting with it, uMobix proved to be one of the best Android keyloggers for a mobile phone, besides the file size is only 6.7MB. It can also track all other features on a target cell phone remotely.

Try uMobix

Hovervatch

Hovervatch was developed by Hovervatch company, in 2002. It has 600+ followers on Facebook and a 4.5-star rating on Reviews.io. Hovervatch users reached 1M in 2018, according to Crunchbase.

Compatibility:

Android 4.0 or higher.

User Experience:

I could install Hovervatch on five devices with only one account. It gave me an Android installation package to download the mobile keylogger on the target device. I then navigated to the keylogger feature.

Hovervatch could see the text typed, the used app, and the time the entry was made. I could see text messages and search for specific apps.

I liked that Hovervatch could track GPS location, phone calls, internet activity, camera, and calls. Based on my experience, it is not just one of the best spy apps for kids, you can also track employees’ online activity on your company gadgets.

Try Hovervatch

XNSPY

XNSPY was launched in February 2014 as an advanced mobile monitoring software. It has an active web presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. This app’s official Facebook page has over 11K followers, which indicates the app’s popularity among Facebook users. The page is regularly updated with informative posts and engages its audience through comments and replies.

XNSPY also has an official Twitter handle with 900 followers. Its posts also get impressive engagement. XNSPY has 200+ posts on Instagram and 3.7K subscribers on its YouTube channel. XNSPY’s reviews are just as impressive scoring 4.1 stars on Sitejabber.

Compatibility:

• Android 4+;
• iOS 6 up to 16.3.1.

User Experience:

XNPSY physical access of the target device to download it. I also need to root the device to access keylogging for instant messaging apps.

After accessing the keylogger, I checked out the information captured. This app showed the text typed on the device and the time it was tracked. However, it did not show the app used to create the keystrokes captured.

After testing it in practice, I noticed that this Android keylogging app works with WhatsApp, Facebook, Skype, Messenger, and Viber. The app recorded screenshots of various apps, allowing me to see chats from those apps.

XNSPY could also access the browser history, Wi-Fi networks, calendar entries, and emails. The app has the option for keyword alerts. I could get notifications for specific contacts, emails, words, and locations.

After experimenting with it, I concluded that XNSPY has the best keylogger software for phone tracking on employee devices.

Try XNSPY

Spyic

Spyic is one of the most accurate full phone tracking apps. Although it does not have a large web presence, reviewers on Trustpilot gave it 3.5 stars for accuracy and speed. Spyic’s Youtube channel showcases helpful videos about using the apps for various reasons, including using keylogger remotely to see a phone’s activity.

Compatibility:

Android 4.1 and above.

User Experience:

Spyic is not a remote installable keylogger. Instead, I needed to access the Android device for around five minutes. Like uMobix, this app also offered automatic installation, saving me a few steps.

Once I installed Spyic on the device, it recorded keystrokes and uploaded them to my account. I accessed the online dashboard to view the tracked keystrokes. Spyic logged texts from all apps. The best thing is that it did not leave out any keystrokes.

Spyic logged even text made on the calculator. I also had the opportunity to search for text from particular apps. In addition, Spyic recorded full sentences, which allowed me to understand conversations. Information from instant messaging apps and browser activity was easy to understand.

After using this cell phone keylogger, our team found that Spyic is an advanced Android phone keylogger that will prove helpful for tracking activity on kids’ and employee devices. All its features work well, not just the keystroke logging software.

Try Spyic.pro

FlexiSPY

FlexiSPY went live on 18th January 2006 and has been one of the familiar names in the Android spy apps industry. FlexiSPY has a good impression on its users, as its 4.4 stars rating on Trustpilot says. Users on Sitejabber have given it 4.3 stars, although some question its legality because of its invasive nature.

Compatibility:

Android 4+.

User Experience:

FlexiSPY works on most Android devices with OS 4 and above. I could install the app without rooting the device or have it rooted by a FlexiSPY technician. After installation, I used the free keylogger for Android feature to see all keystrokes made by the device user.

FlexiSPY could monitor and log all keystrokes from specific apps. It provided the date and time of each keystroke, enabling me to know when certain conversations took place. Since my son was having trouble waking up for school, I knew he stayed up late chatting thanks to the app logging in the time of the keystrokes.

FlexiSPY also had the option to monitor particular phrases and even alerted me when the subject of drugs came up. I stayed ahead of what was happening in my kid’s life by seeing all his interactions with saved contacts and on social media apps. The best thing was the fast and responsive user interface, proving it is a well-designed app.

After experimenting with FlexiSPY, I found it useful as a tool for both parents and employers. You can set alerts for important phrases such as “source code” or “weed” to see when such terms are used. You’ll even see their context, since the app shows the app in which they were used. Hence, you can visit the app remotely and see the entire conversation or browser history.

Try FlexiSPY

Cocospy

Cocospy was founded in 2017 in New York. The app-based software company aims to provide parents with children monitoring solutions. Parents can observe and manage their kids’ activities using an online dashboard.

Cocospy has a 3-star rating on Sitejabber and Trustpilot, indicating that most customers find the service satisfactory.

Compatibility:

• Android 4+;
• All iOS devices.

User Experience:

I downloaded the Cocospy app using a setup wizard from Cocospy. The installation was fast and easy after accessing the target device. I also hid the app since I needed to track keystrokes anonymously.

After completing the setup, I had to wait as the app synced keystrokes and logged onto the online dashboard. Cocospy recorded all keystrokes made on the target device. It allowed me to intercept login credentials, figure out passwords, examine notes, read messages, and see social media chats.

Cocospy could record the time the keystrokes were typed and the app they were made from. In addition, it could capture messages from Facebook Messenger and other apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Twitter.

Our tests have shown that Cocospy is a reliable Android keylogger for parents, spouses, and employers. If you’re concerned about sensitive data leaking from your company’s devices, Cocospy can keep you in the loop about what your employees type on their keyboards.

Try Cocospy

Keyloggers that Didn’t Pass Our Test

• WiSpy: This app claims to have a keylogger for Android function, but it does not.
• Spyier: After searching about Spier, we found it has too many negative reviews that we could not recommend it in this list of the best Android keyloggers.
• Spyera: Also has many negative reviews. A 2.3-star rating on Trustpilot indicates that most users are unsatisfied with the app’s services.
• Tispy: We would have loved to try out the Tispy app, but it did not go beyond the “Try it Now” stage.
• Phonesheriff: Is now an affiliate of FlexiSPY.
• Spyguest App: Spyguest claims to be a free Android keylogger, but its features require paying a fee.

Conclusion