Is iPhone Security Better than Android?

It’s one of the most common questions in mobile security: is an iPhone actually safer than an Android? The short answer is yes — but with more caveats than people expect. The gap has narrowed significantly in recent years, and the device you have matters just as much as the platform it runs on.

Here’s what the current landscape actually looks like.

Why iPhones have the security edge

Apple’s security advantage comes down to control. Apple makes both the hardware and the software, which means it can push security updates to every supported iPhone at the same time, with no middlemen involved. When a vulnerability is found, the patch reaches your device quickly.

Apple also tightly controls its App Store. Every app is reviewed before it goes live, and apps are sandboxed — meaning they can’t freely access other parts of your phone without explicit permission. This makes it harder for malicious software to get onto an iPhone in the first place, and harder for it to spread if it does.

The result is a consistent security baseline across the entire iPhone lineup. Regardless of whether you’re using the latest model or something a few years old, you’re getting the same operating system with the same protections.

Fig 1. Updating and enabling Automatic Updates on iOS

Where Android has closed the gap

Android’s reputation for being less secure than iOS is increasingly outdated, at least at the top end of the market.

Google has invested heavily in Android security over the past few years. Google Play Protect now scans over 125 billion apps daily, catching malicious apps before most users ever encounter them. Android 15 also brings stronger privacy controls, tighter permissions management, and improved sandboxing.

On flagship devices from Google and Samsung, the security story is actually competitive with iPhone. These phones receive regular security patches, often for five or more years, and their hardware security chips are on par with Apple’s.

Android also gives users more control over their security settings than iOS. You can configure permissions at a much more granular level, and on supported devices, you can use features that iOS simply doesn’t offer.

The honest picture: a Pixel 9 or a Samsung Galaxy S25 is not significantly less secure than an iPhone 16. For users on those devices, kept up to date, the practical difference is small.

Android’s biggest weakness: fragmentation

Here’s where Android’s openness creates a problem iOS simply doesn’t have.

Android runs on thousands of devices from hundreds of different manufacturers. Google releases security updates, but each manufacturer then has to adapt those patches for their own hardware before pushing them to users. Some do this quickly. Many take months. Some never do it at all.

The practical consequence is that a huge number of Android users end up on outdated software with no clear path to getting current.

More than one billion Android phones worldwide are currently running Android 12 or older — versions that Google no longer supports with security patches. That means vulnerabilities get discovered and fixed in newer versions, while older devices stay exposed indefinitely.

Certo’s own scan data reflects this. According to our 2025 Mobile Security Roundup, which analyzed over 580,000 device scans, 15.61% of Android devices were running OS versions that no longer receive security updates. That’s more than one in seven Android phones scanned.

This isn’t simply about people neglecting to update their phones — it’s a structural issue built into how Android is distributed. On iPhone, if your device is still supported, the update is available to you. On Android, that decision sits with your manufacturer.

Threats that affect both platforms

Neither platform is immune, and some threats don’t care which operating system you’re running.

Phishing is the clearest example. iOS devices were actually targeted by phishing attacks at twice the rate of Android in 2024, with 26% of iOS devices targeted compared to 12% of Android users.

This reflects a shift in attacker strategy. As iOS has gotten harder to compromise with malware, cybercriminals have turned to social engineering instead. A convincing fake login page bypasses Apple’s App Store protections entirely.

Fig 2. A phishing attack with a fake log-in page on iOS.

Spyware is another threat that affects both platforms, though it’s more common on Android. Commercial spyware apps can be installed on either type of phone, often by someone with brief physical access to the device.

In our scan data, spyware was detected on both iPhones and Android devices. The top apps we found in 2025 included mSpy, FlexiSpy, and iKeyMonitor on iOS, and Mobile Track, BingoMod, and FreeAndroidSpy on Android.

Both platforms are also vulnerable to iCloud or Google account compromise. If someone gets into your account, the operating system on your phone becomes largely irrelevant.

What this means for you

If you’re choosing between platforms purely on security grounds, iPhone is still the safer default for most people. The unified update system and closed ecosystem mean you’re protected by design, without having to think much about it.

But if you already have an Android phone, the right question isn’t “should I switch?” It’s “is my device still receiving updates?” A flagship Android phone from a reputable manufacturer, kept up to date, is more secure than an older iPhone that’s been neglected. A budget Android phone running a four-year-old OS is a different story.

Whichever phone you’re using, there are a few habits that matter more than the platform:

• Keep your operating system and apps updated
• Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication
• Be cautious about clicking links in texts or emails, even from known contacts
• Review which apps have permission to access your location, microphone, and camera
• Only install apps from the official App Store or Google Play

Wrapping Up

The iPhone vs. Android security debate used to have a clear winner. Today, it’s more nuanced. iOS still holds a real edge when it comes to update consistency and ecosystem control, but Android’s best devices are no longer far behind. The bigger factor is whether your specific phone is still receiving security patches.

No platform makes you untouchable. Keeping your software updated and your accounts properly secured will protect you more than any operating system ever could.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can iPhones get viruses?

Traditional viruses that spread between devices are extremely rare on iPhones. However, iPhones can be affected by spyware, phishing attacks, and malicious apps. The risk is low compared to Android, but it’s not zero.

Is Android safe to use?

Yes, especially on newer devices from major manufacturers. The main risk comes from using an older device that no longer receives security updates, or installing apps from outside the official Google Play Store.

Which phone is best for privacy?

Both platforms have strong privacy features, but they work differently. Apple limits data collection more broadly by default. Android (particularly on Google Pixel devices) offers more granular controls. For most users, iPhone is the simpler choice for privacy out of the box.

Does using a security app help?

Yes. On Android, a security app like Certo AntiSpy can scan for spyware, malicious apps, and vulnerabilities that Android’s built-in protections might miss. On iPhone, the App Store sandbox limits what a security app can do — but apps like Certo’s free iOS security tool can still flag risky settings, insecure Wi-Fi networks, and signs of jailbreaking. Connecting to a PC can allow threats to be detected that App Store apps cannot with Certo AntiSpy.