19+ Most Commonly Used Cheating Apps For iPhone

In today’s digital age, keeping secrets has unfortunately become easier with the help of apps. If you suspect your partner might be hiding something on their phone, you’re not being paranoid. It’s a real possibility. There are cheating apps for iPhone that can mask texts, calls, and photos so well that an affair can unfold right under your nose. 

These aren’t just any messaging apps. Many are secret iPhone apps for cheaters designed to disguise conversations as something innocuous, like a game or a calculator. Some of these secret cheating apps for iPhone are ordinary-looking chat platforms with hidden modes, while others are outright covert. We’re talking cheating secret messaging apps that look like games iPhone users can hide in plain sight. In this guide, we’ll walk you through 19 of the most commonly used apps that cheaters rely on, explaining why each is popular for sneaky communications. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to watch out for on an iPhone.

19 Most Commonly Used Cheating Apps For iPhone

The apps below are notorious for facilitating secret conversations. Each one comes with features that help hide texts, calls, or media. We’ll break down why cheaters love them and what tricks each app uses to fly under the radar. Let’s dive into these secret cheating apps for iPhone and see how they work.

1. NewsTalk

You’d probably never suspect a news app of hiding juicy secrets, right? That’s exactly why NewsTalk is so ingenious. On the surface, it looks like a regular news aggregator—headlines, trending topics, the works. But behind that façade lies a private chat platform. Cheaters love NewsTalk because it’s incredibly stealthy: incoming messages even show up as “news” notifications, so an unknowing observer is none the wiser. 

The combination of a harmless appearance and encrypted secret chats makes NewsTalk a go-to for anyone trying to cover their tracks. After all, what could be a safer cover than yesterday’s sports scores or stock updates? It’s like a digital wolf in sheep’s clothing for cheaters. And unless you know exactly what to look for, you’d likely scroll past it without a second thought.

Related Reading: 15 Best Dating Apps For Cheating | 2025

Features

• Disguised as a News App: The interface looks identical to a normal news app, so it doesn’t raise eyebrows. Only the user knows there’s a messenger hiding inside
• Hidden Chat Mode: Secret messaging is unlocked with a passcode or hidden gesture, revealing chats that stay invisible to others
• “News” Notifications: Incoming texts appear as news alerts, cleverly masking the actual content
• Self-Destructing Chats: Messages can auto-delete after a set time, leaving no evidence behind
• No Personal Info Needed: You can use NewsTalk without linking a phone number or email, adding extra anonymity

Bono Rating: 4.5/5 – Super stealthy and perfect for covert chats

2. Calculator Pro+

At first glance, Calculator Pro+ looks like the basic calculator on your iPhone—the kind you’d use to add up a dinner bill. But type in a secret code, and it transforms into a hidden vault of secrets. Many consider Calculator Pro+ the classic cheating app because it’s so unassuming. Cheaters favor it for hiding texts, photos, and even contacts behind a functioning calculator. 

The brilliance is in its dual nature: hand your phone to someone, and they can actually do math on it. Meanwhile, you’re calmly hiding an affair. It’s hard not to be impressed, and frankly, a little scared by how well this app masks private chats. If your partner has an extra calculator app installed, that’s a red flag. Chances are it’s not there to help them count calories or balance a checkbook. In truth, it might be helping them balance two lives, which is why this app ranks high among secret cheater tools. 

“That’s just a calculator app, swipe… Or is it? … I tapped what looked like an ordinary calculator app to find it was merely a mask for a hook‑up app. To my horror … there was a treasure trove of messages and X‑rated pics.”

Features

• Calculator Disguise: Fully functions as a normal calculator until you enter a specific PIN, then it unveils a hidden messaging interface 
• Private Vault: Stores text messages, photos, videos, and even call logs behind the calculator. All content is password-protected and invisible to the regular gallery or SMS app
• Secret Contacts: Lets you save contacts inside the app so they don’t appear in your normal contact list
• Decoy & Intruder Alerts: Some versions allow a fake vault with harmless content to fool prying eyes, and can even snap a photo of anyone who enters the wrong password
• No Notifications: Incoming messages don’t produce suspicious notifications. It stays quiet, so only you know when a secret text arrives

Bono Rating: 4.3/5 – Ingenious stealth and multi-purpose hiding power

3. Snapchat

Snapchat might seem like an odd inclusion here. After all, it’s a massively popular social app, not some underground secret tool. But its features make it a favorite for cheaters. How so? Two words: disappearing messages. With Snapchat, texts, photos, and videos vanish after they’re viewed, which is a cheater’s dream scenario. There’s no lasting evidence for a suspicious partner to discover, which is why Snapchat cheating has become such a raging trend. 

Many people use Snapchat just for fun, and that built-in popularity actually provides cover. A cheater can have Snapchat on their phone without raising an alarm, because hey, everyone’s using it. That said, it’s also known as one of the most infamous apps for cheaters since it’s so good at leaving no trace. If your significant other suddenly got into Snapchat “for the cute doggy ears filter,” you might have more to worry about than a puppy-face selfie.

Related Reading: 11 Apps for Cheating Husbands—Catch Him Red-Handed

Features

• Self-Destructing Chats: Text messages delete themselves automatically after being read or after 24 hours, making it tough to revisit old conversations
• Disappearing Photos and Videos: Snaps erase after one view. There’s no gallery of received images. 
• “My Eyes Only” Vault: A hidden, password-protected folder within Snapchat to save private photos. Even if someone opens the app, they won’t see these pics without the code
• No Chat History: Unless you manually save a chat, conversations aren’t stored. It’s ephemeral by design
• Screenshots Alerts: If the other person tries to screenshot a snap or chat, Snapchat will usually notify you, giving you a heads-up that your secret convo might not be so secret anymore

Bono Rating: 4.0/5 – Hugely popular, making it easy to explain having it and great for wiping chats clean. 

4. Viber

Viber is a well-known messaging app that, on the surface, competes with the likes of WhatsApp for regular users. But unlike WhatsApp, Viber offers a suite of secret messaging tricks up its sleeve, and cheaters have definitely noticed. It provides hidden chats you can lock with a PIN, self-destructing messages, and call/message encryption. 

Viber lets you bury conversations in a place only you can access. It’s popular globally as a free calling and texting app, which means having it isn’t automatically suspicious. Many users just like it for its stickers and free international calls. That normalcy gives cover to those using it for less innocent reasons. If your partner is on Viber and zealously protecting their phone screen when a message pops up, it might not just be about funny cat stickers. The app’s ability to hide specific chats is tailor-made for sneaking around. 

Features

• Hidden Chats with PIN: You can hide particular conversations behind a PIN code. The chat won’t even show up in the regular chat list without unlocking it
• Self-Destructing Messages: Send timed messages that automatically delete after a set duration, removing any proof of the exchange
• Secret Chat Function: Viber’s secret chat mode ensures messages self-erase after being viewed, similar to Snapchat’s style
• End-to-End Encryption: All calls, texts, and media are encrypted, so outsiders, including Viber’s servers, can’t read them
• Delete for Everyone: You can delete messages from both your device and the recipient’s device after sending, in case you regret sending something incriminating

Bono Rating: 3.9/5 – A solid everyday messenger with powerful privacy features that make it one of the top apps cheaters use 

5. Telegram

Telegram is often touted as one of the most secure messaging platforms, and it’s gained a reputation, for better or worse, as a haven for private conversations. For cheaters, Telegram’s appeal lies in its Secret Chats feature and the ability to self-destruct messages. A user can have a completely encrypted chat that doesn’t sync to the cloud and can be set to vanish. Well, isn’t that just perfect for an affair that you want off the record? 

It also allows people to chat without sharing phone numbers by using usernames, which adds a layer of anonymity. Now, Telegram is popular for legitimate reasons too. Plenty of people use it for group chats, channels, or just because they like the stickers. But if someone is specifically using Telegram’s secret chat function, they’re definitely looking for extra privacy. 

Related Reading: 20 Cheating Spouse Text Messages Codes

In relationships, that could be a sign of hidden communications. One thing to note: Telegram isn’t disguised as anything but it’s feature-rich for secrecy, which is why it makes this list of secret iPhone apps for cheaters.

Features

• Secret Chats: End-to-end encrypted chats that are device-specific and can’t be forwarded. These can be set to self-destruct, so messages auto-delete after a chosen time
• Self-Destruct Media: Photos and videos can be sent with a timer to disappear, preventing long-term storage of intimate content
• Username Communication: You can communicate using @usernames without ever revealing your phone number, which is great for anonymity
• Delete Any Message: Telegram lets you delete any message you’ve sent from both ends of the conversation, at any time – even weeks later. It’s like the message never existed
• Multi-platform with hidden sync: While secret chats stay on one device, Telegram overall works on phones, tablets, and computers. But only you know where your secret chats live (usually on a specific device you keep close)

Bono Rating: 4.0/5 – It’s a cheater’s delight, thanks to its secrecy-rich features

6. Plato

On the App Store, Plato is described as a social gaming app—a place to play pool, chess, or dozens of other games with friends or strangers. Sounds harmless, right? That’s exactly why some cheaters use Plato to communicate on the sly. While gaming, users can also chat privately or in groups. The genius or sneaky part is that it just looks like you’re hooked on a game, when in reality, you could be engaged in a secret conversation. 

Plato doesn’t ask for your phone number to create an account, so you can maintain a semi-anonymous profile. Plato is one of those cheating secret messaging apps that look like games iPhone users can use without drawing much suspicion. A cheating partner could say, “Oh, I’m just playing Ludo on my phone”, and you may not suspect a thing. After all, no one expects a gaming app to be a messaging hub. If your partner is suddenly into random mobile games and guarding their screen, they might not just be plotting chess moves. They could be plotting meetups.

Features

• Games + Chat Combo: Over 45 multiplayer games like Pool, Chess, and Ludo, where you can chat with opponents or friends in real-time. The chat is seamlessly part of gameplay, making it feel natural
• No Phone Number Needed: Accounts can be made with just a username, so it doesn’t link back to your real identity or number
• Private & Group Chats: You can have one-on-one conversations or secret group chats within the app that aren’t visible to anyone not invited
• Disappearing Messages: Chats can be set to auto-delete after a certain period, so even within the app, your messages won’t stick around forever
• Looks Innocent: The app’s icon and interface scream “gaming fun,” not “secret affair.” 

Bono Rating: 3.8/5 – Cleverly camouflaged and entertaining to boot

7. CoverMe

CoverMe is a privacy powerhouse. Unlike some apps on this list that are normal messengers repurposed for cheating, CoverMe was built from the ground up with secrecy in mind. For someone trying to hide an affair, it’s like hitting the jackpot: you get a private second phone number for calls/texts, end-to-end encrypted messaging, a secure vault for photos/videos, and even a fake vault decoy feature. It’s no wonder this app is a favorite among those trying to juggle dual relationships. 

Related Reading: How To Catch A Cheater That Deletes Everything: 12 Hacks

Cheaters appreciate that CoverMe leaves virtually no trace—no call logs or real number on your phone’s records. You could have an entire secret conversation and even make calls, all without it showing up in your iPhone’s normal history. The app can be locked, disguised, and it won’t send pesky notifications that give things away. If there were an all-in-one toolkit for keeping secrets on your phone, CoverMe would be it. Of course, its robust privacy means many people use it for perfectly legitimate reasons too, but that level of security is exactly what an unfaithful partner might seek out.

Features

• Second Phone Number: Provides disposable phone numbers for texts and calls. You can communicate with someone on a number that isn’t your primary, so it won’t appear on your phone bill or usual call list
• Encrypted Messaging and Calls: All messages and voice calls are secured with end-to-end encryption, ensuring nobody can snoop on them
• Self-Destruct Messages: You can send messages that automatically delete after being read, preventing any record for later
• Hidden Vault with Decoy: Stores photos, videos, and files in a secret vault protected by a password. It even allows a fake vault. You can give someone a decoy password, and they’ll see a benign empty vault, not your real one
• No Trace Left: CoverMe doesn’t save call logs or message history on the phone. There are no obvious notifications. Incoming messages can be masked or hidden entirely. Plus, you can change the app’s icon to something unremarkable, like a calculator, to avoid detection

Bono Rating: 4.4/5 – Top-tier stealth and functionality rolled into one

8. Signal

Signal is often hailed as the gold standard for secure messaging. It’s used by journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious folks. And also by cheaters who know a thing or two about covering their digital footprints. On the surface, Signal is just a very secure WhatsApp alternative. But its philosophy of leaving no trace is exactly why someone having an affair might use it. Signal uses end-to-end encryption for everything, doesn’t store user data, and even has disappearing message timers for all chats. 

One can set messages to vanish after as little as 5 seconds or as long as a week. Unlike the truly disguised apps on this list, Signal isn’t hidden behind a fake icon. It’s openly a messaging app. However, it’s so common now, especially after high-profile endorsements by folks like Elon Musk and the push for privacy in recent years, that having it on one’s phone isn’t peculiar. People usually assume that the person is just cautious about privacy. Little do they know, it might be the privacy of an affair they’re protecting.

Features

• End-to-End Encryption: Every message, call, video, and file is encrypted. No one besides the sender and receiver can read or listen, not even the company running Signal
• Disappearing Messages: You can set a timer for messages in any conversation to auto-delete after the recipient reads them (or from the time they’re sent). This ensures chats don’t accumulate evidence
• No Logs Kept: Signal doesn’t keep logs of your communications on servers. It doesn’t even retain metadata like who you talked to or when, which many other apps do
• Minimal Traces on Device: It has an incognito keyboard option, so your keyboard app won’t learn/save what you type, and you can blur faces in images, etc. All geared towards leaving as little a trace as possible

Bono Rating: 4.1/5 – Exceptional security and fairly user-friendly

9. TextNow

TextNow is a bit different from others on this list: it’s not primarily about encryption or secret chats, but it offers something equally useful to someone covering their tracks—a separate phone number. TextNow gives you a free phone number to call and text over Wi-Fi. Cheaters use it to communicate with an affair partner on a number that their spouse doesn’t know about. That way, if the spouse scans through phone records or the phone itself, they won’t see unfamiliar numbers or messages, since it’s all happening within the TextNow app. 

Related Reading: Best Dating Sites For Married People – Cheating & Affair Apps

It’s essentially like having a second phone line in your iPhone, without having a second phone. People also use TextNow for innocent reasons like cheap international calls or a second number, so it’s not inherently suspicious to have. But if your significant other has TextNow and you didn’t know they use a secondary number, well, that’s worth a raised eyebrow. The app’s anonymity, no need for a SIM card or carrier plan, and ability to erase communication easily make it one of those apps cheaters love. 

Features

• Free Virtual Number: Provides a real working phone number that you can use to send/receive texts and calls over the internet, no additional SIM or line needed
• Unlimited Text and Calls: Within the app, you can text and call for free as long as you have an internet connection
• Works Across Devices: You can log in to your TextNow account from multiple devices, like iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and still access your messages, which is convenient for a user but also means messages aren’t tied to one device’s records
• Change Numbers Easily: If needed, you can get a new number or ditch an old one. This makes it easy to cut off communication or avoid spam, and unfortunately, helps with anonymity for cheating, too
• Passcode Lock: The app can be locked with a PIN or fingerprint, adding a layer of security so only you can open it

Bono Rating: 3.9/5 – Very handy for keeping a parallel communication line that’s out of sight from normal texts and calls

10. Kik

Kik Messenger has been around for over a decade and has a reputation as a more anonymous chat platform. Unlike WhatsApp or iMessage, Kik doesn’t need your phone number. It uses a username. This means a cheater can create a Kik account with a pseudonym and chat away without ever revealing their real identity or number to the other person. Kik also became known as a place where people can chat with strangers or engage in more private conversations away from their regular social circles. 

For someone cheating, this compartmentalized chat app that doesn’t tie back to their main phone number can be very appealing. It also has a feature for messages to disappear after a certain time, and it’s easy to delete chats. Many associate Kik with secret conversations due to its history of being used for affairs and even inappropriate exchanges.

Features

• Username-Based Login: No phone number or email required if you don’t want – you can just create a username. This keeps the chat identity separate from your real-world identity
• One-on-One and Group Chats: You can chat privately or join public groups. Some groups are interest-based, and in the past, people have used Kik to find affair partners or flirt in groups, then take it to private messages
• Disappearing Messages: Kik introduced a feature where messages can be set to auto-delete after a user-defined time, adding an extra layer of privacy to conversations
• Photo/Video Sharing: It supports sending pics, videos, and even live video chats. None of these link to your phone’s gallery or accounts, so it stays within Kik
• Bot and Game Interactions: While not directly a cheating feature, Kik has mini-games and bots. A cheater might use a game as an excuse

Bono Rating: 3.7/5 – Great for anonymity and widely known for private chats

11. Wickr Me

Wickr Me is one of those secret messaging apps that feels almost built for people who don’t want to leave digital footprints. The app started as a privacy tool for secure conversations, but it’s found a following among people who want their chats to disappear without a trace. On iPhones, it blends in as a simple messaging app, but under the surface, it offers features like encrypted texts, voice notes, and disappearing images. For someone trying to cheat without leaving a trace, it’s a ready-made tool for secrecy.

Features

• End-to-end encryption on all texts, calls, and files
• Self-destruct timers for messages, set by the sender
• Anonymity with no personal details required to sign up
• Screenshot detection that alerts you if someone tries to capture a conversation
• Secure file sharing with no trace left on the device

Bono Rating: 4.2/5 – A powerful privacy app that easily doubles as a cheating tool

12. Session

Session looks like a fairly plain messenger, but its entire design is based on anonymity. Unlike WhatsApp or iMessage, you don’t need a phone number or email to use it. That’s why people who want to hide their communications, cheaters included, find it appealing. Every chat is routed through a decentralized network, making it hard to trace. If you’re looking at someone’s iPhone, Session won’t stand out like a disguised calculator app, but its very presence can be a red flag. Why? Because it can be used by a cheater to hide their tracks. 

Features

• Anonymous sign-up with no phone number or email address
• Decentralized servers that don’t keep logs of chats
• Encrypted messaging with disappearing messages
• Cross-platform access across iPhone, Mac, and other devices
• Ability to create unique IDs for private communication

Bono Rating: 4.0/5 – Highly secure and private, which makes it a perfect cover for secret chats

13. Briar

Briar is less flashy than Snapchat or Telegram, but that’s exactly why it’s perfect to be used as a cheating app. It was originally designed for activists and journalists who needed safe, peer-to-peer communication without relying on big servers. On an iPhone, it quietly lets you send messages that sync directly between devices, even over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi if the internet is unavailable. Cheaters who use Briar like it because those messages don’t hang around in the cloud waiting to be discovered. If you notice this app on your partner’s phone, it’s not a stretch to question what they’re using it for. 

Related Reading: 15 Signs Your Partner Is Sleeping With Someone Else

Features

• Peer-to-peer messaging that doesn’t rely on central servers
• Encrypted chats with disappearing message options
• Works offline via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi sync
• No link to a phone number or email
• Secure group chats with private invitations

Bono Rating: 3.9/5 – Niche but effective for people who want conversations that stay off the grid

14. Play Joy

On the surface, Play Joy looks like a gaming app where you can play card games, UNO, or Ludo with friends. But here’s the catch: it has built-in chat functions that don’t draw attention. If someone spends hours on Play Joy, you might assume they’re just hooked on online gaming. In reality, it can double as a secret messaging app that hides in plain sight. That’s why cheaters are drawn to it. The game setting gives them plausible deniability while they text or flirt privately.

Features

• Over 20 multiplayer games with integrated chat functions
• Anonymous profiles created with just a username
• Private one-on-one chats during the game
• Group chats that can be hidden within the app
• Optional disappearing messages to erase conversations

Bono Rating: 3.8/5 – A playful disguise that hides chats behind games

15. Hago

Hago markets itself as a fun social gaming app where you can play, chat, and even do live voice streams. It’s this mix of entertainment and communication that makes it attractive for someone trying to keep a relationship secret. On an iPhone screen, Hago doesn’t look like a cheating app, but just another gaming app. But within those games and group chats, private conversations can unfold without raising suspicion. For cheaters, it offers a blend of casual fun and anonymity that offers an easy cover.

Related Reading: 13 Cheating Guilt Signs You Need To Watch Out For

Features

• Dozens of multiplayer games with chat and voice features
• Group voice chat rooms that allow private connections
• Anonymous sign-ups with minimal personal details required
• Real-time messaging disguised within gaming sessions
• Live streaming functions with private backchannel chats

Bono Rating: 3.7/5 – Harmless on the outside, but capable of hiding private conversations

16. NetSfere Secure Messaging

NetSfere is designed for corporate use. It’s an enterprise app built for secure business communication, with encryption and compliance tools for companies. But the same features that protect executives can also shield someone hiding an affair, particularly an affair with a coworker. Since it looks like a work app, it’s less suspicious than Snapchat or Kik. If your partner claims it’s for business but spends an inordinate amount of time on it outside work, it might be worth a closer look.

Features

• Enterprise-grade end-to-end encryption for messages and calls
• Remote wipe options to erase sensitive chats
• Multi-device sync across iPhone, iPad, and desktop
• Enforced PIN or biometric login for access
• No personal details stored on servers

Bono Rating: 4.1/5 – Looks like a workplace tool, but its security doubles as a shield for hidden chats

17. Bunch

Bunch is another gaming-plus-chat app that’s quietly become popular. It lets people play games together while also using video and voice chat. That built-in mix means someone can spend hours on Bunch, and you’d assume it’s for fun with friends. Cheaters may take advantage of that assumption, using it for private conversations or even steamy video chats with strangers under the excuse of gaming.

Features

• Multiplayer games with integrated chat
• Video chat rooms are built directly into the platform
• Option to create private group sessions
• Works across devices for ongoing conversations
• Lightweight design that doesn’t raise suspicion

Bono Rating: 3.6/5 – A casual front that hides chats during gameplay sessions

18. Confide

Confide has been called the “business whisper app,” but its appeal goes far beyond work. Its main draw is disappearing messages that can’t be saved or easily screenshotted. For cheaters, that means a conversation that truly vanishes, leaving no trace on the iPhone. Messages in Confide appear one line at a time, making them hard to capture. Even if someone tries to take a screenshot, the app blocks it. 

Features

• Self-destructing messages that disappear after reading
• Screenshot protection via ScreenShieldKit technology
• Encrypted chats for texts, images, and files
• Works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac seamlessly
• Option to recall or retract sent messages

Bono Rating: 4.3/5 – Almost impossible to trace, which makes it dangerous in the wrong hands

19. ChatSecure

ChatSecure is an open-source encrypted messaging app that uses OTR and OMEMO protocols. It’s not flashy, and you won’t find stickers or filters, but that’s what makes it a niche tool for people who value secrecy. On an iPhone, it can connect to any XMPP service, making it highly flexible. It’s often used by journalists, but cheaters who want conversations to stay under the radar also see the value. If you spot ChatSecure installed, it’s a fair question why someone needs that level of security for everyday texting.

Features

• Strong encryption with OTR and OMEMO protocols
• Works with any XMPP server, allowing anonymous setups
• Encrypted file sharing alongside text
• Open-source, so there’s no hidden tracking or advertising
• Compatible with iPhone and integrates with Tor for added anonymity

Bono Rating: 3.9/5 – A serious privacy tool that can be misused for hidden conversations

5 Built-in iPhone Tools Used For Cheating 

When it comes to secret communication, cheaters don’t always rely on third-party apps. Sometimes the most powerful tools are already built into the iPhone. Features like the Notes app collaboration, the Hidden album in Photos, iMessage settings, and even Safari’s Private Browsing can be quietly repurposed to keep affairs under wraps. 

Apple Pay and the Wallet app can also be used to disguise spending habits, while something as simple as the frequently used emoji list can reveal hidden conversations. Because these tools look ordinary, they often escape suspicion, making them some of the most discreet cheating methods around. If you suspect your partner is cheating and lying about it, here are some built-in iPhone features you need to turn your attention to for concrete proof:  

1. Notes App (Shared Notes)

The Notes app seems like the last place you’d look for infidelity, but it has quietly become a cheating loophole. Apple’s collaboration feature allows people to share a note and type back and forth in real time, almost like a private chat. Since the conversation happens inside a regular-looking Notes document, it doesn’t leave a visible trail of text messages or call logs. 

On the face of it, the Notes app looks innocent. So unless you know what to look for, you’d never suspect it. That’s why private investigators and even viral TikToks have called it one of the sneakiest tricks cheaters use.

Features

• Real-time collaboration with live typing between users
• Ability to add and delete messages, photos, or videos without obvious traces
• Shared Notes marked with a subtle person icon for the collaborator
• Password-protection for sensitive notes
• Syncs seamlessly across all Apple devices

Bono Rating: 4.5/5 – Deceptively simple and easy to hide in plain sight

2. Hidden features on iMessage 

iMessage is Apple’s default texting platform, and while it looks straightforward, its built-in privacy tricks make it a tool some cheaters exploit. The disappearing message trend, secret threads, and the ability to sync messages across devices mean you might never see a suspicious conversation if it’s hidden well. Cheaters may also rename contacts, use custom alerts, or hide alerts altogether so texts don’t pop up on the lock screen. Because iMessage is a core iPhone feature, it rarely raises eyebrows, which is exactly what makes it ideal for cell phone cheating. 

Related Reading: Expert Lists Out 9 Effects Of Cheating In A Relationship

Features

• End-to-end encryption for all texts and media
• “Hide Alerts” option to silence specific conversations
• Ability to rename contacts to disguise who’s texting
• Deleted message recovery within 30 days (or permanent erasure)
• Seamless sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Bono Rating: 4.2/5 – Everyday app with subtle tricks that can mask infidelity

3. Hidden Album on the Photos app

The Photos app has a “Hidden” album built right into iOS. Most people never bother with it, but for someone keeping secrets, it can be a convenient vault. Private pictures or screenshots can be moved into this album, which is tucked away at the bottom of the Albums tab. On newer versions of iOS, it can even be locked with Face ID or a passcode. Cheaters often use this feature to hide incriminating photos without needing a third-party vault app. Since it’s part of the operating system, it doesn’t look suspicious at all.

Features

• Hidden album tucked away in the Photos app
• Ability to lock the hidden folder with Face ID or Touch ID
• Keeps images out of the main photo stream
• Quick toggle to show or hide the album in settings
• Syncs across devices with iCloud Photos

Bono Rating: 4.0/5 – A subtle but effective hiding spot for photos and screenshots

4. Apple Pay and Wallet

Most people think of Apple Pay as a harmless way to make payments, but investigators point out that it can reveal or conceal more than you realize. Cheaters sometimes use Apple Pay for discreet transactions that don’t appear as clearly on bank statements. At the same time, Wallet stores receipts, tickets, and payment history that can tell a story about where someone has been. In the world of infidelity, it can be a double-edged sword. For the person cheating, it’s a way to make secret payments. For the suspicious partner, it’s a place to look for evidence of cheating.

Related Reading: How Are Most Affairs Discovered — 9 Common Ways Cheaters Are Caught 

Features

• Stores transaction history in the Wallet app
• Quick payments that don’t always show on detailed bills
• Apple Cash transfers for discreet peer-to-peer payments
• Ability to hide or delete cards from Wallet view
• Works across devices with Face ID for secure access

Bono Rating: 3.8/5 – Practical tool but easily misused to mask spending habits

5. Frequently used emojis

This one sounds almost silly, but it’s one of those uncommon signs of cheating that you’d wish you hadn’t ignored. On iPhones, the emoji keyboard keeps a “frequently used” section that updates automatically. Investigators have noted that certain emojis, such as hearts, fire, lips, eggplant, and peaches, often show up if someone is having flirty conversations. For cheaters, it’s not intentional, but it can expose patterns in how they communicate. It’s not a cheating app, but it’s a small iOS feature that can give clues. If someone guards their phone keyboard too closely, it might be because of what those emojis reveal.

Features

• Automatically updates frequently used emojis
• Shows top icons based on recent conversations
• Syncs across devices with the same Apple ID
• Can be reset by clearing keyboard history in Settings
• Offers subtle insight into chat behaviours

Bono Rating: 3.5/5 – Not a tool by design, but a surprisingly revealing clue

How To Find Evidence Of Cheating And Respond

When suspicion creeps in and you can’t shake off the feeling you’re being cheated on, it’s tempting to dive straight into digital detective work. But the healthiest first step is to slow down and observe. Look at patterns instead of isolated incidents, and use open methods that don’t compromise trust outright. Here’s how: 

• Look for Shared Notes icons or locked notes that could indicate hidden chats
• Check the Photos app for a Hidden album or Recently Deleted images
• Review Wallet and Apple Pay history for unusual transactions
• Scan App Store purchase history for installed-then-deleted apps
• Notice the “frequently used” emojis for patterns tied to flirty or coded chats
• Watch for changes in iMessage settings, like renamed contacts or silenced alerts
• If suspicions build, choose direct conversation over secret surveillance

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Catching onto tech-savvy infidelity can feel like chasing a ghost. As you’ve learned, there’s a whole arsenal of secret iPhone apps for cheaters that can make deception effortless. From cheating secret messaging apps that look like games iPhone users can disguise on their home screen, to vaults hidden behind calculators and news icons, the methods are clever and continually evolving. As a partner, it’s frankly unsettling. Honestly, who would think a puzzle game or a calculator is actually a chat in disguise?

That said, knowledge is power. Now you know the names and tricks of these cheating apps for iPhone. If you notice a strange app on your significant other’s phone or suddenly find them very protective of their device, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for. Remember, not everyone using these apps is necessarily cheating, but if your gut says something’s off, these apps could be enabling it.

15 Cell Phone Cheating Signs That Confirm Infidelity

How To Catch A Cheating Partner – 15 Practical Tips

15 Warning Traits Of A Serial Cheater—Run If You Spot These

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