6 Best Anti-Spyware Apps for Android in 2026
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Spyware is cheap, easy to find, and doesn’t take a tech expert to use. Once it’s on a phone, it can quietly collect messages, photos, GPS history, passwords, and more — all without the owner ever knowing.
If you’re worried someone might be using spyware to track you, installing a dedicated anti-spyware app is one of the best ways to find out and shut it down. The tricky part is choosing one.
The Google Play Store is full of options, and not all of them are trustworthy — some “security” apps do little more than show ads, while others barely scan your phone at all. To help you choose with confidence, we put each app to the test.
Our Testing Methodology
We installed each app on a real Android device and evaluated how it performed in everyday use — looking at factors like ease of use, ads, and any extra security features on offer. We also checked whether each app could detect EICAR, an industry-standard test file used to confirm that an app’s spyware-scanning capabilities actually work.
EICAR was developed by the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research as a universal way to test anti-malware software. We recommend only using an app that can detect it, since this is a strong sign it will give you much better protection for your phone or tablet.
1. Certo AntiSpy
Play Store Rating: 4.6
Certo AntiSpy is a simple but powerful anti-spyware app. Of the 6 apps reviewed, it offers best-in-class protection against spyware and other security threats. It’s the only app we tested that scans the entire device for spyware and allows you to easily remove any threats found.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Range of additional security features
- Most thorough scan, analyzes both apps and the file system
- Detects EICAR
- No ads
Cons
- Automated scanning only available in premium version
2. Protectstar Anti Spyware – Virus Cleaner
Play Store Rating: 4.5
ProtectStar is a very well-designed and simple app to use. Along with a few other apps in this list, it’s also able to detect the industry-recognized test virus, EICAR. This app is built using intelligent technologies that detect fraudulent elements such as fake and hidden apps as well as a wide range of other attacks.
Pros
- Nice interface
- Detects EICAR
- No ads
Cons
- No additional security features
- Automated scanning a paid feature
3. Incognito Spyware Detector
Play Store Rating: 4.4
Incognito is a useful app that is relatively easy to use. A great feature of this app is that it offers a range of tips to help you improve your privacy. However, the free version of the app contains many ads that make retrieving the results time consuming since you are forced to watch a number of video ads.
Pros
- Offers privacy tips to help you stay protected
- Detects EICAR
- Easy to use
Cons
- Intrusive ads make the app harder to use effectively
- Only looks for a small number of specific apps
- Automated scanning a paid feature
4. Cyber Tor
Play Store Rating: 3.8
A great feature of this app is that it allows you to block your camera with one tap. This means that a hacker who has installed spyware on your device cannot watch you via the cameras. However, this may not be particularly useful in a lot of situations, especially when you consider that the app does not detect EICAR – meaning you could be left somewhat unprotected in other areas.
Pros
- Feature-rich
- Camera blocker can be helpful
Cons
- Intrusive ads make the app harder to use effectively
- Not very easy to use, can be confusing at times
- Doesn’t detect EICAR
5. Anti Spy Mobile PRO
Play Store Rating: 3.7
A good feature of this app is that it detects spyware on your device based on what permissions the apps are requesting (i.e. camera, microphone, etc). However, there is no free version of this app, so if you want to scan your device it will set you back $3.99. On top of that, this app does not detect EICAR.
Pros
- Detects spyware based on permissions rather than app name
- One of the first spyware detection apps released for Android
Cons
- App design is very dated
- No free version available
- Doesn’t detect EICAR
6. Anti Spy (SpyWare Removal)
Play Store Rating: 4.4
This app claims to be able to detect ‘official’ apps such as those used by government and law enforcement agencies. However, we have not been able to verify this. What we did verify, however, is that this app does not detect EICAR – indicating its scan may not be the most thorough, along with the hard-to-use interface and the intrusive 3rd-party advertisements.
Pros
- Claims to detect government spy apps (unverified)
- Offers security tips to help you stay protected
Cons
- Terrible interface makes it hard to use
- Intrusive ads make the app harder to use effectively
- Doesn’t detect EICAR
Summary
We’ve taken a close look at six of the top anti-spyware apps available for Android, and as we’ve shown, not all of them offer the same level of protection.
If there’s one factor worth paying attention to above all else, it’s EICAR detection. An app that can reliably detect EICAR has proven it can actually do its job — so it’s worth checking for this before you trust any app with your privacy.
Beyond that, having a dedicated anti-spyware app installed is one of the simplest ways to keep your phone, and your personal data, safe going forward.
Sophia is a Senior Cybersecurity Writer at Certo, with over five years of experience writing about digital security, privacy, and emerging threats. Drawing on a background in IT and technology, she specializes in translating complex cybersecurity topics into clear, practical guidance that helps everyday users stay protected online.