The best secret screen recorder apps let you remotely — and anonymously — check what your child is doing on their phone so you can make sure they’re not seeing illicit content or getting into dangerous situations. These apps record all the activities of the target phone in real time and update you with live screen recordings.
But, it can be hard to find a good screen recording app — the market for spy apps today is full of scams and untrustworthy apps. Luckily, we’ve researched and tested the leading contenders to put together our approved selection of the four best screen recorder apps with a comprehensive suite of phone monitoring features. We’ll examine each of them below, but first let’s spotlight our top pick.
Our Top Pick for the Best Screen Recorder App 2023: eyeZy
While it’s tough to go wrong with any of the four spy apps we’ve selected, eyeZy clearly stood out in our testing and research.
Here’s why eyeZy tops our list:
The 4 Best Secret Screen Recorder Apps List
Our top four picks for the best screen recorder apps for 2023:
- eyeZy: Best Secret Screen Recorder Spy App Overall
- mSpy: Must-have for Easy Installation and Usability
- uMobix: Top Spy App for Social Media Monitoring
- Spyera: Ideal for Remote Recording of the Target’s Surroundings
The Top Secret Screen Recorders Reviewed
That’s the list, but the best app for your needs will depend on the features you want, the budget you have, and which tool best suits your needs. Here’s a detailed review of each of the four tools, covering features, pricing, pros and cons.
1. eyeZy: Best Secret Screen Recorder Spy App Overall
When comparing screen recorders and the best parental control apps, security is a vital consideration. In our testing, we found EyeZy to be the safest and most reliable screen recorder spy app. For starters, it gives you access to your child’s phone via bank-grade encryption to ensure none of your (or their) private information is leaked.
Moreover, even though you get 100% access to the target device, Eyezy’s special invisible shield will ensure that your kid doesn’t get a whiff of you spying on them. You can access all their information, screen record their activities for evidence, and even collect screenshots whenever required.
And don’t worry — since EyeZy doesn’t require you to jailbreak the target device, there are no legal troubles for you to worry about (as long as your child’s phone is registered in your name and you pay the bill).
The best part? It has a supportive and responsive customer care team available 24/7 to solve any queries that you might have.
Best Features
- Analyze all the phone calls and call durations
- Pinpoints the exact device location
- Magic alerts to notify you of restricted activities
- Keystroke logging feature that records every word your child types
Best Feature | Pricing | Free Trial/Demo | Call logging in the Basic Plan | Mobile App |
Overall the best screen recorder app | Starting at $9.99/month | Free demo | Not revealed | Both Android & iOS |
Pricing
Here are the plans offered by Eyezy:
- 1-month plan: $47.99 per month
- 3-month plan: $27.99 per month
- 12-month plan: $9.99 per month
Pros
- No jailbreak
- Safe and legal
- Personal control panel
- Reliable customer support
Cons
- Needs a better way to organize all the extracted data
2. mSpy: Must-have for Easy Installation and Usability
Our favorite thing about mSpy, the best geofencing app, is how easy it makes things for the user. Its comprehensive dashboard brings every piece of extracted data from the target device — screen recordings, snapshots, call logs, and more — right at your fingertips so that you don’t have to waste time searching for them.
Wait, doesn’t this mean that you’ll have tons of data that might confuse you? Well, yes, but then again, if you don’t want to go through heaps of data every time you log in, mSpy’s detailed reporting feature will be your friend and show only the target’s frequent contacts and activities.
Alternatively, you can avoid the hassle of scouring through data altogether by directly peeping into the target device’s screen as they swipe in real time.
Another standout benefit of mSpy is how quickly you can set it up — all you need to do is create an account, choose your plan and start tracking.
Best Features
- Monitor calls in real time
- Email tracking (both outgoing and incoming)
- Instant GPS tracking with virtual geofencing
- Take screenshots and record their screen remotely
- Access their Tinder account and check their conversations
Best Feature | Pricing | Free Trial/Demo | Call logging in the Basic Plan | Mobile App |
Easy installation and simplified dashboard | Starting at $16.66/month | Not available | Not revealed | Both Android & iOS |
Pricing
Here are the plans offered by mSpy:
- 1-month plan: $69.99/month
- 3-month plan: $39.99/month
- 12-month plan: $16.66/month
Pros
- Easy setup
- Multiple support options
- Supports multiple device formats
- Covers all popular social media platforms
Cons
- Relatively expensive
3. uMobix: Top Spy App for Social Media Monitoring
Your child’s deepest secrets are usually hidden in their social media accounts and that’s exactly what uMobix specializes in. Whether they use Kik, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, or WhatsApp, uMobix will access all these platforms and bring you a live feed from your child’s screen.
You can track their activity on these platforms in real time, check their feed and posts, and also monitor their personal conversations. Along with screen recording, you can also take screenshots remotely to maintain evidence of their activity, which will help you immensely if you plan on confronting them in the future.
Not only does uMobix let you access your child’s personal information without them knowing, but you can also send remote commands and remote control the device any way you please.
For example, you can block explicit websites, delete inappropriate apps, or even delete messages remotely without requiring any permission from the target device.
It’s also one of the best text message spy apps on the market right now.
Best Features
- Remotely control their device
- History of individual application use
- Access their photos and videos with a click
- Get notified every time they replace their sim card
- Helps you find if there are any other spy apps on their phone
Best Feature | Pricing | Free Trial/Demo | Call logging in the Basic Plan | Mobile App |
Social media monitoring | Starting at $11.66/month | Free demo | Not revealed | Both Android & iOS |
Pricing
Here are the plans offered by uMobix:
- 1-month: $49.99/month (keylogger, call log tracking, contact list access, text message monitoring)
- 3-month: $27.99/month (keylogger, online status checker, GPS location, geofinder)
- 12-month: $11.66/month (keylogger, spy app detector, access to app list, applications time record)
Pros
- Access to deleted info
- Remote control over the device
- Monitors dating apps like Tinder
- Helps you keep evidence via screenshots
Cons
- iOS installation can be complex for some users
4. Spyera: Ideal for Remote Recording of the Target’s Surroundings
Spyera stands out for its variety of recording features. Sure, a lot of spying apps provide screen recording, but how many of them top it up with surroundings recording? Spyera does! With Spyera, you’ll be able to not only track everything your child does on their phone but also everything that happens around them.
For example, to listen to the chitchat they’re involved in while out with friends, you can remotely turn on their microphone and record the surrounding audio. If you want a visual display along with the audio, Spyera lets you remotely turn on the device’s camera or video recorder to start capturing in real time.
Plus, Spyera lets you not only track conversations in real time but also record them as evidence. So, if you turn on Spyera’s call logging feature (which extends to calls made through social media apps as well), you’ll see that each conversation comes with a recording feature, including calls made on WhatsApp, Instagram, or any other platform.
Best Features
- Remotely record videos or take pictures
- Record all calls in addition to logging call info
- Monitor all media files, including video, audio, and pictures
- Remotely screen record their activities or take screenshots
- Notifications any time the target device receives a new call
Best Feature | Pricing | Free Trial/Demo | Call logging in the Basic Plan | Mobile App |
Diverse surround recording features | Starting at $49/month for desktops | Not available | Available | Both iOS & Android |
Pricing
Here are the plans offered by Spyera:
- Smartphone: $89/month
- Tablet: $69/month
- Computer: $49/month
- All-in-One: $479/month
The features remain the same in all the plans; it’s only the target device that changes.
NOTE: Each plan also comes with a free keylogger feature.
Pros
- Remains undetectable
- Lets you spy on their Tinder profile
- Live chat available for all new buyers
- Rich knowledge base and tutorials
Cons
- They reserve the right to refuse your refund (even within 10 days of purchase)
Best Screen Recorder Apps for Windows 2023: Compared
If the detailed comparisons are a bit too much info, the following table, which lays out a side-by-side comparison of the four tools with only the most important parameters in mind should help.
App
Best For
Pricing
Free Trial/Demo
Screen Recording in the Basic Plan
Mobile App
eyeZy
Overall the best screen recorder app
Starting at $9.99/month
Free demo
Not revealed
Both Android & iOS
mSpy
Known for its usability
Starting at $16.66/month
Not available
Not revealed
Both Android & iOS
uMobix
Social media monitoring
Starting at $11.66/month
Free demo
Not revealed
Both Android & iOS
Spyera
Diverse surround recording features
Starting at $49/month for desktops
Not available
Available
Both iOS & Android
How do Secret Screen Recorder Apps Work?
Secret screen recorders are apps that work in the background of your targeted phone — like that of your kids. They keep a record of all activity taking place on the mobile by maintaining recordings of the screen.
However, for a secret screen recorder to function on an Android mobile phone, it must run Android 9 or any of the later versions. There are several Android native screen recorders available in the Play Store. However, not all of them work anonymously, so you’re best off sticking to our approved list.
What Information Can You Get From Secret Screen Recorder Apps?
Secret screen recorder apps installed on a mobile phone can give you a plethora of information, including:
App Tracking
You can track what apps are installed and being used on the target mobile device. You can access complete details about the time spent on different apps, including calls, messaging, games, and even different social media apps.
Location Tracking
The GPS tracking feature allows you to track the location of the device and anyone that carries it. You can track someone that uses the phone and get insights into their day-to-day routine. For example, parents might use this to get an idea of all the places their child visits without their knowledge.
Call Recording
The screen recorder can record both a live video of the screen as well as the sound input and output from the mic and speakers, respectively. This records audio from social media apps, calling apps, and any other apps that use the audio hardware. You can record both audio and video calls using secret screen recording apps.
List of Websites Visited
Screen recording apps track the mobile screens during all activities, including web browsing sessions. You can not only access the complete browsing history but can also get a detailed record of the time spent on each website and social media app. This is especially helpful for parents that want to keep a track of the web browsing habits of their children.
Messages and Calls
Since a spy app records all the details of phone activities, you have complete access to the messages as well as the call logs, including all incoming, outgoing, and missed call information. Additional information includes contact names, numbers, and the duration of each call event. Other than the default calling app, you can also access audio and video call details made through other social media apps.
A good screen recorder spy app will provide you with a detailed report of incoming and outgoing SMS activity and social media messages like those on Instagram and Facebook.
Can You Remotely Install Secret Screen Recorders?
The remote installation of secret screen recorders is possible, but not all apps have that functionality. This is due to various device restrictions and other permission-related issues with both Android and Apple devices.
That said, you can still use a relatively small installation file to complete the installation process quickly. Do note that you will still have to access the device to grant permission for any of this to happen.
Can Secret Screen Recorders be Detected?
Most mobile phone call loggers work in the background, making them undetectable to most users. Anyone using the phone will be none the wiser about the presence of secret screen recorders on their device, as there are no icons or notifications of any kind that reveal the running status of the secret screen recorder to users.
Even if you could access the running tasks and services, since the secret screen recorder app services disguise themselves as a native phone service, they still remain undetected. Moreover, their ability to attach themselves to the phone version and keep running as a memory resident program also increases their invisibility to most users.
How to Use a Secret Screen Recorder App
To spy on cell phones with screen recorder apps, you need to use a top-rated spy app like eyeZy. Follow these steps:
Step 1
Purchase a subscription. Visit the eyeZy website and click on Try Now.
Step 2
Enter your email address to create your eyeZy account
Step 3
Select your device type. For Android devices, select the Android icon or select the Apple icon for iPhones
Step 4
Choose your subscription plan based on your requirements
Step 5
Enter the payment information to complete the registration process
Step 6
Disable Play protect on the target Android cell phone.
- Go to the play store
- Click on the profile picture
- Click on Play Protect on the menu
- Click on the wheel icon on the top right or left corner to enter the settings
- Turn off both the settings
Step 7
Downloading and installing eyeZy
- Open Google Chrome on the target cell phone
- Enter the link you received in your email
- Download the spy app from the link
Step 8
Log into your eyeZy account on your PC or laptop
Step 9
Click on the Screenrecorder option from the side menu and you’ll have access to all the files
FAQs
Is there an app to secretly screen record?
How do you hide a screen recorder?
What is the best secret screen recording app?
Conclusion: What is the Best Screen Recorder App?
We hope this guide helped you work out the best screen recorder apps for your needs. Here’s a quick roundup of our recommended tools:
- eyeZy: Best Secret Screen Recorder Spy App Overall
- mSpy: Must-have for Easy Installation and Usability
- uMobix: Top Spy App for Social Media Monitoring
- Spyera: Ideal for Remote Recording of the Target’s Surrounding
We found in our testing that eyeZy is the most comprehensive solution and the best secret screen recorder spy app available right now.
It has a user-friendly dashboard where you get the tiniest details of every app being opened, every page being scrolled on the target device, including accurate timestamps for each keystroke.
Plus, it has a free demo! There’s every reason you should sign up with this tool today and try it out for yourself.