Free ways to check an Android phone for stalkerware, compared
A free stalkerware check on Android can mean Google Play Protect, a review of your phone's settings, or a free app check such as Applore's. Each one covers different things, and each one can miss things. This page compares them and suggests a calm order to use them in.
This comparison is based on public documentation and store listings as they were on 15 September 2026. If something has changed or is wrong, email info@applore.io and we will check it.
At a glance
| Feature | Google Play Protect | Settings review | Applore Needs your review | Free tiers of security apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Built into Google Play, on by default[1] | Free | Free, no ads on safety screens | Free tier; for example Certo's[3] |
| What it looks at | Apps from Google Play and other sources[1] | Which apps have accessibility, notification and device admin access | Known stalkerware list plus behaviour signals | Varies; Certo lists Spyware Detection and Privacy Audit as free[3] |
| Runs by itself | Yes[1] | No, you do it by hand | Scheduled; battery saving can delay it | Varies by app |
| Shows who has sensitive access | Not stated in sources checked | Yes | Flags apps that combine it with other signals | Varies by app |
| Independent stalkerware test | 9 of 17 test apps detected (2025)[2] | Not applicable | Not tested | Results vary by product[2] |
What each covers
Google Play Protect
Google states that Play Protect “checks your device for potentially harmful apps from other sources”, as well as apps from Google Play. It can warn you and “may deactivate or remove harmful apps”. [1] It is on by default. You can check it in the Play Store app under your profile picture, then Play Protect. The guide on what Google Play Protect checks, and what it can miss goes into more detail.
A manual settings review
Android lists which apps hold powerful access. Reviewing these lists costs nothing and does not depend on any app’s detection list. The main ones are accessibility services, notification access and device admin apps. The step-by-step guide to checking for stalkerware shows where to find each one. Menu names vary by phone maker.
Applore’s Needs your review
Needs your review checks installed apps against a reviewed list of known stalkerware, based on the public Echap indicators. [4] It also flags sideloaded apps that behave like hidden monitoring apps, such as an app with a hidden icon and accessibility access. It runs on your phone and is free, with no ads. Safety Check adds a guided review of settings someone could change with brief access to the phone. How Applore’s check works explains the signals and levels it uses.
Free tiers of security apps
Several security apps offer a free scan, and what is free differs from app to app. For example, Certo lists Spyware Detection, Threat Removal and Privacy Audit in its free tier, with real-time protection in Premium. [3] Check each app’s own page for what its free tier includes.
What each can miss
Every method on this page can miss a monitoring app.
- Play Protect. In AV-Comparatives’ Stalkerware Test 2025, Google Play Protect detected 9 of the 17 stalkerware apps tested. [2] The test used a fixed set of samples, so real-world results can differ.
- A settings review. It shows access, not intent. Many useful apps, such as password managers or smartwatch apps, need the same access. Access alone does not prove misuse.
- Security apps. Detection varies between products. In the same 2025 test, the products tested detected between 9 and all 17 of the samples. [2]
- Applore. Echap states that its indicators do not provide complete detection and that “many apps are likely missing”. [4] Applore’s own limits:
A sensible order
- Think about safety first. If someone may notice changes to your phone, decide whether to talk to a support service before you change anything.
- Check that Play Protect is on. It runs in the background and needs no setup.
- Review sensitive access in Settings. Look at accessibility services, notification access and device admin apps. Note anything you do not recognise.
- Run a known-list check. Use Applore’s Needs your review or another app’s free scan. Read what each flagged app is before you act.
- Keep a record. Before removing anything, note what you found, or create a report in Applore. The report stays on your phone unless you share it. The guide on keeping a record of what you found explains how.
- Get support. A domestic abuse or cyber crime service can help you decide what to do next.
Get support
The Coalition Against Stalkerware has information for survivors. [5] The Applore app includes support contacts for the United Kingdom, the United States and India, plus global options. If you live somewhere else, search for a domestic abuse helpline in your country. If you are in immediate danger, contact your local emergency number. More guides are in safety guides.
Sources
- Use Google Play Protect to help keep your apps safe and your data private, Google Play Help. Checked 2026-09-15.
- Stalkerware Test 2025, AV-Comparatives. Checked 2026-09-15.
- Android Spyware Detection, Certo Software. Checked 2026-09-15.
- Stalkerware indicators, Echap (CC BY 4.0). Checked 2026-09-15.
- Information for survivors, Coalition Against Stalkerware. Checked 2026-09-15.
All product names are trademarks of their respective owners. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google or Certo.