Best Free Ghost Apps: Our Top Picks for 2021

Last Updated on May 31, 2021

Whether you’re newly curious about the paranormal or you’re a veteran of preternatural detection, never before has there been more options for app-based technology for ghost tracking.

With a smartphone and some basic understanding of ghost detection tools, anyone can try their luck at the science of apparitions. 

However, as the app market has grown, so has the possibility that the app you are purchasing is more for entertainment than for actual ghost detection.

So, what are the best free ghost apps?   The best ghost apps should have a mix of high-quality paranormal technology, but be easy enough for beginners and amateurs to use.  Understanding how ghost apps work and what to look for when purchasing an app can make sure you get the best value for the lowest cost.

How do these apps work?

One of the tools traditional paranormal researchers use to detect activity is an EMF (electromagnetic field) meter.  The presence of EMF fields closely links to paranormal experiences (hallucinations, paranoia, the feeling of being watched, etc.).

Once you debunk that there’s unusual electrical activity in the location, researchers often move to measure electronic voice phenomena or EVPs. 

The best free ghost apps offer EMF, EVP, and recording equipment all for an affordable price.

What to look for when purchasing a ghost app?

Many people rely on user reviews before downloading app.  However, when it comes to ghost apps, it might be worth digging a bit deeper into the technology and the app developers. 

If the app can’t accurately indicate the type of technology and or how the detection works, there’s a chance you’re getting more of a ‘fun’ than actual paranormal detection.

A simple search of the app developers can provide some credible references for their work.  Are they experienced investigators with a background in paranormal activity? 

Do the app developers demonstrate any experience in the field?  Apps that provide this background information on the developers will prove far more valuable.

Our Picks for the Best Free Ghost Apps:

Ghost Radar (Classic & Legacy Edition) – iOS & Android – FREE

One of the first paranormal apps to ever hit the market, Ghost Radar by Spud Pickles has been providing goosebumps and thrills to users since 2009. 

The app has a simple, easy to use interface providing feedback to the user through voice recognition technology. 

It also can be configured to work in the background, allowing users to flip back and forth between apps without missing any detection opportunities.

With several hundred ratings between the classic and legacy editions, it’s also one of the most popular apps in the app store.

One final note about Ghost Radar.  The app developers include a disclosure about the verifiability of the information detected in Ghost Radar. 

They indicate it should be used for entertainment purposes only — a word of caution for anyone looking for top-notch paranormal technology.

SGK1 – Ghost Hunting Kit – Android – FREE

Android device users will appreciate this easy-to-use toolkit of everything you need for ghost detection. 

The app contains a full range of detection tools including EMF detector, EVP recorder, and a spirit box with more than 3000 different sound clips from historical detections. 

The app allows users to label and store detections for later analysis. It’s free for basic use but does allow in-app purchases to remove ads and unlock additional features.

Sono X10 Spirit Box – iOS & Android – FREE

Unlike other paranormal detection apps that use electromagnetic detection, Sono X10 Spirit Box uses voicebank technology to detect spirit activity.

The app has a voicebank of thousands of sounds, phonemes, and speech clips accessible to nearby paranormal beings.  These paranormal spirits use the voicebank to assemble full words or sentences communicated back to the smartphone user. 

The user is not ‘recording’ paranormal voices; however, as with other spirit boxes, the paranormal spirit manipulates the sensors in your phone to generate a message.

The app is free for use, although there is a larger soundbank available for purchase in the app.

Ghost Tracker EMF EVP Recorder – iOS & Android

This one isn’t free (it’s cheap though) but we wanted to include it because it was developed by well-known Swedish ghost hunters LaxTon Ghost Sweden HB, this iOS and Android app offers 3-in-1 ghost hunting technology. 

The app contains an EMF-scanner, EVP/Voice recorder, and a motion detector.  Beginner ghost hunters will love the easy-to-use features and ability to share data with family and friends.

The app has more 1 and 2-star ratings than other paranormal detection apps on the market, although many of those seem to be related to glitches in previous versions.

Paranormal Ghost EVP Radio – iOS & Android

App developer Exelerus promises that Paranormal Ghost EVP radio app takes traditional ghost hunting to the next level. 

Though not free, it’s designed for both paranormal researchers and ghost enthusiasts alike, the app includes both EMF and EVP technologies, along with an easy-to-share text log to capture all of your recordings. 

The app also allows recordings to be uploaded to Dropbox for easy storage and sharing. With several thousand reviews among Android and iOS users consider it one of the best ghost apps on the market.

Ghost Hunter M2 – iOS

This is another app with a small fee that is pretty popular with ghost hunters. With more than 1,000 ratings in the app store, Ghost Hunter M2 is among the most popular and highly rated paranormal apps currently available. 

Among the long list of app, features are an EMF and EVP detectors, geoscope instrument, spatial displacement instrument, and a barometer to analyze barometric data collected by your phone. 

The app also features auto-detection and a Fast Fourier Transform Visualizer (FFT-V) algorithms to analyze audio signals.

It’s well-regarded as the most complex paranormal toolkit available on the app store to date.

Ghost Detect Pro – iOS

If you’re searching for a super low priced paranormal app, Ghost Detect Pro by Perfect Reality Apps might be the best choice for you.

The app offers easy-to-use features including EMF and EVP detectors with recording, radar, and a vibration detector.  Unlike other apps, Ghost Detect Pro provides all the available sensors on one page, rather than having to flip between measurement tools. 

Graphing details collect data over time with each measurement recorded in bold colors.

Note that users give the app mixed ratings. Some users have a positive experience using the app on different smartphones models, others find the app more challenging to navigate with older smartphones.

Things to Remember When Using App-Based Detection

As you start to experiment with some of the apps above, there are some good reminders and tips that can help improve your user experience and avoid frustration.  Keep in mind these considerations as you start your own ghost hunting experience:

• Fully charge your smartphone. Using EMF and EVP detection can cause a significant drain on smartphone batteries. There’s nothing worse than being right in the middle of some spooky fun only to have your phone battery die.  If necessary, carry a back-up battery charging pack with you in case your session runs longer than planned.
• Carry a back-up EVP recorder. Not all of the EVP recording technology in the apps above are created the same.  You may find it helpful to carry a back up vocal recording device with you until you’re confident and comfortable that the smartphone app is working correctly.  Two ghost recordings of the same paranormal sounds are always better than one!
• Try shorter encounters. Until you know exactly how to read and analyze the recordings, it’s better to try shorter sessions of a paranormal meeting rather than an extended day-long session.  Going back to sort through that much information can be tedious, and it may be hard to recall all the exact details of what you encountered in longer sessions.
• Be patient. Detecting paranormal activity requires patience and a willingness to keep at it.  You may not encounter anything unusual on your first few outings.  By continuing to test and become more familiar with your app-based technology, you only increase the likelihood of a ghost encounter.

Related Questions

What is an EVP recorder?

Measuring EVP or Electronic Voice Phenomena is one of the methods used by paranormal researchers to detect ghost activity. 

EVP is thought to be vocalizations caused by ghosts as attempts to communicate.  EVP recorders are devices that work to identify and record EVP using highly sensitive audio equipment. 

The goal of using an EVP recorder is to detect ghost voices and capture them for later analysis.

EVP recorders come in several different types, some specifically designed for paranormal activity, and others sell for more general use.

It’s possible to purchase EVP recorders in various formats (hand-held, wrist recorders, stand-alone, etc.) for different types of audio (digital, high-resolution, large format, etc.).

Choose a model of EVP recorder based on personal preference, the location you intend to use the EVP recorder at, and the type of analysis you plan to do with the recordings. 

As mentioned above, many app-based EVP recorders can download digital audio files right to your smartphone as well.