The Certo AntiSpy Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Certo AntiSpy in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Certo AntiSpy
The Insider’s Guide
Spyware scanning and privacy checks for iPhone and Android
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among antivirus apps, read from Certo AntiSpy’s own pages.
Made by Certo Software · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Certo AntiSpy’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Certo AntiSpy’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 26 of the 56 other antivirus apps we grade
Certo AntiSpy, sold by Certo Software and earlier named Certo Mobile Security, is a mobile app that scans iPhones and Android phones for spyware and security weaknesses. The free tier covers vulnerability scans and a security health check. Premium adds a deep spyware scan, intruder detection and breach checking, and Premium Plus adds a VPN.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Certo AntiSpy, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The deep spyware scan on iPhone needs a computer, and Android prices differ from the App Store ones recorded.
- 1
Best for checking an iPhone or Android phone for spyware
Certo AntiSpy checks phones for spyware and privacy problems.
- 2
Paid plans start at $5 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $8.99 per month, or $59.99 per year (Premium, App Store prices).
- 3
There is a free plan
AntiSpy free tier: vulnerability scan, security health check and WiFi protection on iPhone; spyware detection, threat removal and privacy audit on Android.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and Android.
- 5
Threat scanner
A security health check that flags risks and vulnerabilities and gives steps to fix them.
- 6
Deep spyware scan
Premium's deeper iPhone scan needs a computer, according to the site's footnote.
- 7
Intruder detection
Sounds an alarm or takes a photo when someone tries to unlock the phone.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 26 of 56
That is against the other antivirus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Certo AntiSpy you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Certo AntiSpy at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $8.99 per month, or $59.99 per year (Premium, App Store prices)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial for new users on the App Store subscriptions.
- Runs on
- iOS, Android
- Made by
- Certo Software, since 2015
- Category
- Antivirus & Malware Protection
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 4.6 on the App Store, 962 ratings
The report card
Best for checking an iPhone or Android phone for spyware
Certo AntiSpy checks phones for spyware and privacy problems. The free tier does basic scans, and Premium is $59.99 a year. The deep spyware scan on iPhone needs a computer, and Android prices differ from the App Store ones recorded.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Premium is $59.99 a year, or $8.99 a month, on the App Store, between the middle and the dearer quarter of this category. Premium Plus is $84.99. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A free tier with a vulnerability scan and health check on iPhone, and spyware detection on Android, plus a 7-day trial of the paid plans. |
| Features | C | Spyware detection and privacy checks. It does that one job on phones and covers no computers; the deep iPhone scan needs a computer. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but it is an app you install and run with little setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | iPhone, iPad and Android only. No Windows or Mac apps. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Certo AntiSpy is for
- Fits if you suspect a stalkerware app on your phone
- Works for people who want a check done on iPhone or Android only
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you want Premium Plus with the VPN, at $84.99 a year
- Skip it if you want protection for a computer, as it covers phones only
- Watch out: the deep spyware scan on iPhone needs a computer
- Watch out: Android prices differ from the App Store figures recorded
- Tight if you stay on the free tier, which does less on iPhone than on Android
Good to know
Good for
- People who suspect spyware or stalkerware on an iPhone or Android phone
- Anyone wanting a spyware scan without a desktop security suite
Worth knowing
- Mobile only: the product pages cover iPhone (and iPad) and Android, not Windows or Mac.
- The deep spyware scan on iPhone needs a computer.
- The App Store prices are the ones recorded; Google Play shows a range of $4.99 to $49.99 per item, so Android prices differ.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$5
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Certo AntiSpy has a free plan. Paid plans start at $8.99 per month, or $59.99 per year (Premium, App Store prices).
AntiSpy
$0
Free tier with vulnerability scan, security health check and WiFi protection on iPhone.
Premium
$59.99
per year, billed yearly ($8.99 billed monthly), App Store prices
Adds deep spyware scan (needs a computer), intruder detection and breach check; 7-day free trial for new users.
Premium Plus
$84.99
per year, billed yearly ($12.99 billed monthly), App Store prices
Everything in Premium plus Certo Secure VPN; 7-day free trial for new users.
The free plan
AntiSpy free tier: vulnerability scan, security health check and WiFi protection on iPhone; spyware detection, threat removal and privacy audit on Android.
Trying it first
7-day free trial for new users on the App Store subscriptions.
Read from apps.apple.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save with yearly billing
The Certo plan page says yearly billing saves 44% on iPhone and 58% on Android compared with monthly.
Stated on certosoftware.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: iOS and Android
Spyware scanning and privacy checks for iPhone and Android. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: vPN, malware protection.
It does that one job on phones and covers no computers; the deep iPhone scan needs a computer.
- Threat scanner
- A security health check that flags risks and vulnerabilities and gives steps to fix them.
- Deep spyware scan
- Premium's deeper iPhone scan needs a computer, according to the site's footnote.
- Intruder detection
- Sounds an alarm or takes a photo when someone tries to unlock the phone.
- Breach check
- Checks whether passwords and personal details appear in a data breach or on the dark web.
- VPN
- Included with Premium Plus; the App Store listing says it also blocks ads and trackers.
- Security and privacy checklist
- Tips for locking down the device and Apple account, with a checklist to track progress.
Where it runs
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Certo AntiSpy is made by Certo Software, and has been around since 2015.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
26/56
Other antivirus apps it is graded above
Certo AntiSpy's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 26 of the 56 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 23 of 56) and worst on features (C, above 7).
Its paid plans start at $5 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.17 for the category: 19 of the 34 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 12 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 57 antivirus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Certo AntiSpy’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 8 of 56
- CFree plan and trialAbove 24 of 56
- CFeaturesAbove 7 of 56
- BEase of useAbove 23 of 56
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 10 of 56
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 36 antivirus apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Certo AntiSpy is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Certo AntiSpy you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $59.99 a year.
What you could not
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Certo AntiSpy’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Moonlock, Malwarebytes, Bitdefender and Norton 360
The 4 tools Certo AntiSpy is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
Moonlock
Free trial · from $54/yr
Mac antivirus with real-time scanning, a VPN and a scam checker.
- Certo AntiSpy has a free plan. Moonlock does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Certo AntiSpy lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Moonlock lists a macOS app.
- 2.2GPA
Malwarebytes
Free plan · from $59.99/yr
Malware scanner and real-time protection, with VPN and ID plans.
- Only Malwarebytes lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Malwarebytes also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.8GPA
Bitdefender
Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Antivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier.
- Only Bitdefender lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager.
- 2.8GPA
Norton 360
Free trial · from $84.99/yr
Antivirus suite with VPN, password manager and PC cloud backup.
- Certo AntiSpy has a free plan. Norton 360 does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Norton 360 lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Norton 360 also covers password manager and ad and tracker blocking.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Certo AntiSpy free?
Certo AntiSpy has a free plan. AntiSpy free tier: vulnerability scan, security health check and WiFi protection on iPhone; spyware detection, threat removal and privacy audit on Android.
How much does Certo AntiSpy cost?
Certo AntiSpy lists 3 plans. AntiSpy: $0.
What platforms does Certo AntiSpy work on?
Certo AntiSpy is available on iOS and Android.
Does Certo AntiSpy offer any discounts?
Certo AntiSpy publicly lists the following: Save with yearly billing.
How is Certo AntiSpy rated?
Certo AntiSpy's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.6 out of 5 from 962 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Certo AntiSpy have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Certo AntiSpy is listed for iOS and Android.
Does Certo AntiSpy have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Certo AntiSpy is listed for iOS and Android.
Is Certo AntiSpy open source?
Certo AntiSpy is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Certo AntiSpy have a free trial?
Yes. 7-day free trial for new users on the App Store subscriptions.
Who makes Certo AntiSpy?
Certo AntiSpy is made by Certo Software. It dates from 2015.
What are the alternatives to Certo AntiSpy?
The closest alternatives to Certo AntiSpy in our directory are Moonlock, Malwarebytes, Bitdefender and Norton 360.
How does Certo AntiSpy compare with other antivirus apps?
Certo AntiSpy's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 26 of the 56 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 5.
Is Certo AntiSpy good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Certo AntiSpy C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $5 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.17 for the category: 19 of the 34 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Certo AntiSpy?
To replace Certo AntiSpy you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Certo AntiSpy’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Certo Software's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Certo Software. Prices change, so check certosoftware.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Certo AntiSpy, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/certo-mobile-security
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Certo AntiSpy: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/certo-mobile-security
Know someone choosing between antivirus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/certo-mobile-security/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded antivirus apps after Certo AntiSpy, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Antivirus & Malware Protection Insider's GuideEvery one of the 57 antivirus apps we grade, compared
- Avast Insider's GuideFree antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate3.0 GPA
- AVG Insider's GuideFree antivirus for Windows, with paid Internet Security and Ultimate2.8 GPA
- Bitdefender Insider's GuideAntivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Certo AntiSpy’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Certo AntiSpy is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Certo Software. Prices and plans change: check certosoftware.com before you buy.