A Certo AntiSpy alternative, and when to use both
Spyware scanners like Certo AntiSpy and antivirus apps look for known spy apps. SentinelEye works differently: it shows you what every app on your phone can actually do, including the permissions Android hides. Here’s how they compare, honestly.
At a glance
| Feature | SentinelEye | Certo AntiSpy |
|---|---|---|
| How it finds spy apps | Flags apps that hide their icon but can read your screen, notifications or control your phone | Scans for known spyware, stalkerware, viruses and trojans |
| Shows what your apps can access | Every permission each app holds, including the ones Android hides, in plain English | Privacy Audit: apps that can track your location, monitor your calls or access your files |
| Ongoing protection | Alerts when an app gains or loses permissions | Real-time protection on Premium |
| Phone security checkup | Yes: screen lock, updates, USB debugging, root and more | Not mentioned in its Android guide |
| Extras | Home screen scan widget with Pro | Intruder detection and breach check on Premium, VPN on Premium Plus |
| Price | Free, no ads. Pro is one payment, no subscription | Free to download. Premium and Premium Plus, with a 7-day free trial |
Checked November 8, 2026 from Certo AntiSpy for Android and EFF and AV-Comparatives stalkerware test. Apps change, so check their page for the latest. Certo AntiSpy is a product of Certo Software. SentinelEye is not affiliated with Certo Software, Malwarebytes or Google.
Two ways to look for spy apps
A scanner checks your apps against a list of known spyware. That’s fast and catches the common products. In a 2025 test by the EFF and AV-Comparatives, Malwarebytes detected all 17 stalkerware apps tested, while Google Play Protect detected 53%.
A permission checker like SentinelEye doesn’t need a list. It looks at what each app is able to do, such as reading your notifications or your screen, and whether it hides its icon. That can catch a new or renamed spy app a scanner has never seen, but you decide what looks wrong.
Our honest advice
If you think someone is spying on you, use both: run a well-tested scanner, then check what your apps can actually do with SentinelEye. Neither needs to replace the other. And before you remove anything, read our stalkerware guide (linked below), because removing stalkerware can alert the person who installed it.
Questions
Is SentinelEye an antivirus?
No. It doesn’t use a malware database. It shows every permission each app holds, finds hidden apps with risky access, checks your phone’s security settings and alerts you when an app changes.
Is SentinelEye free?
Yes. Hidden permissions, the phone checks, the spy app finder and alerts are free, with no ads. Pro is a one-time purchase.
Does SentinelEye upload my list of apps?
No. Your apps, permissions and results are processed only on your phone.