Apps for Private Investigators: The Most Used and Practical

Updated May 12, 2022

There are plenty of fun and interesting apps for private investigators and you will see some of those in this article. Private investigator apps are always high-tech. Sometimes apps are the daily things that investigators use to learn, research, and make our jobs easier.

Let’s get into the most practical apps for private investigators.

MileIQ

MileIQ is an app that tracks the miles that you drive each day.  It also tracks the time it takes to get from one destination to another.  Since it tracks all the traveling you do each day it gives you the option to categorize a drive as either work or personal.  The work travel mileage is then converted into how much you can possibly write off for business expenses.  

No more having to write down my mileage for my business because this app takes care of it all.  It costs $5.99 a month which you can write off for the service as well I am told.  This app is in the iTunes app store as well as the Google Play store.  To get the app for either Andriod or Apple click here.

Pocket Casts

I have an android phone and there are only a handful of podcast apps worth using.  Pocket Casts is an app I almost use every day.  With Pocket Casts, I can listen to and watch video podcasts. Many podcast apps don’t offer this capability.

You can stream the audio or video or you can download it to your device to consume content when you don’t have an internet connection.  This app is $3.99. This app is in the iTunes app store as well as the Google Play store.

Whitepages

The White Pages app can reverse search addresses, phone numbers, and also search names and businesses.  The free version of this app was once very informative but White Pages has since put a paywall in front of the best information like finding cell phone numbers and contact information.  The monthly plan is $4.99 a month, for 20 searches a month and $29.99 a month

Gmail App

I use Gmail for all my business and personal emailing.  I have several different emails that can all be accessed from Gmail itself as well as the Gmail app.  Google in general connects to many of the services that you will read about.  This app is in the iTunes app store as well as the Google Play store.

Google Calendar App

I never had a reason to use a calendar until I became a private investigator.  It’s one of those jobs where you have to plan your schedule in advance.  Google Calendar on the desktop connects to and syncs to the Google Calendar app.   

You can basically do everything on the app that you can do from the Google Calendar desktop program.  You can also set up alerts for reminders for different appointments.  I get these every day to remind me of the different appointments I have scheduled. Such a great app. I love it.  This app is in the iTunes app store as well as the Google Play store.

Google Voice App

Sign up to get your own phone number that connects to your existing phone number.   Once you get the phone number download the Google Voice app.  The app allows you to send text messages, make calls with the Google Voice number and read transcribed voicemails.  I use Google Voice for my business and this app is great for receiving phone calls on my business line.  I highly recommend this app.  This app is in the iTunes app store as well as the Google Play store.

Google Maps App

Map apps have come a long way since I first started using them and writing about them. Google Maps has become better over the years and has become my go-to app when traveling with family and traveling to assignments.

The Google Maps app now provides travel time not just by how many miles are associated to your trip but by traffic conditions.  Every now and then it will provide alternate routes of travel if there is a faster route available.  The Google Maps app also shows a street view of the address you enter which can come in handy when you are close to your location.  This app is a superior map app that everyone should be using. This app is in the iTunes app store as well as the Google Play store.

Audible

The Audible app allows you to listen to books right from your phone or other devices.  I don’t have time to read books as much as I would like to, so when I want to learn about a topic or read a book from my favorite author I pick a book from audible and listen to it on my drives to work or listen to books while on surveillance. Listening to books allows me to stay focused on driving or the surveillance assignment while still using that time to improve myself.

I recently read Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 and “Go for No!” on Audible. Both are great books. If you need more suggestions, just email me and share

Amazon App

I use the Amazon app frequently to not only make purchases but to track my purchases.  Having access to the Amazon app allows me to reference the prices of products on Amazon when I compare prices from stores.

I make most of my private investigator purchases through Amazon and that is why I always refer my readers to it when making their purchases.  This app is in the iTunes app store as well as the Google Play store.

Zillow App

The Zillow app is a great app for investigators on the go looking for property information on a home. I wrote about a tip for private investigators regarding a way to find property records quickly which can also be done on this app.   I use this app for work and for personal use as I am always taking a look at the housing market.  This app is in the iTunes app store as well as the Google Play store.

Feedly App

The Feedly app is an app that aggregates various online websites, podcasts, and Youtube videos for you so you can go to one location to see if anything new has been posted.  I typically just follow technology, marketing, SEO, and blogging sites.  It really is a great app for scanning multiple sites quickly to see if you are interested in any of the articles.  This app is in the iTunes app store as well as the Google Play store.

There are other aggregates like the Google News app, Flipboard app, and the Apple News app that you may want to check out as well.

Amazon Kindle App

The Amazon Kindle app is an app that lets you access all your digital books and magazine you purchase from Amazon.  Many times you can get a book for much cheaper by purchasing the digital version of the book (which is just as good as the physical book).  Also, there are many books that are only digital books and the Amazon Kindle App gives you access to those books.

I personally have a kindle but can access all my books from my phone or different tablets through the app.  I also have magazine subscriptions that allow me to have a digital copy as well (or sometimes only a digital copy) which can be accessed through the app.

You don’t have to have an Amazon Kindle to have the Amazon Kindle App.  But if you want a Kindle Fire tablet here is the link to the type that I use.  This app is in the iTunes app store as well as the Google Play store.

I think they are on sale right now. 

And while we are on the topic of Kindle, my book is now available on Amazon and you can purchase the Kindle version of the book if you would like.

Amazon Music

The Amazon Music app allows you to access Amazon’s collection of music.  Much like iTunes, you can purchase music from the app.  But if you are an Amazon Prime Member you can access and stream music from their library for free.  

Admittedly I typically only use this app when I want to share an old song (70’s, 80’s, 90’s) with my family that I think they will like.  My daughter takes advantage of this app all the time to stream music for free since we have a prime membership.

If you’re not familiar with the Amazon Prime Membership let me briefly tell you about it.  Basically, you get the music that I just spoke about, you get Amazon Prime Movies (basically like Netflix), you get free 2 days of shipping on items that are listed as Prime items, free photo storage, and a ton more benefits.  

I have been a Prime user for many years.  In fact, Amazon is offering a free 30-day trial to see if you like it.  This app is in the iTunes app store as well as the Google Play store.

Go to here to get the free trial.

Facebook/Facebook Pages app

I use Facebook to search for Facebook profiles for people I am looking for and people associated with the people I am looking for.  I will use the time while I am on surveillance to do additional information-digging on Facebook if I need it.

With Facebook pages, I mostly respond to messages and comments sent to the PI Advice Facebook page.  The Facebook Pages app is a way to monitor your company’s Facebook page as well as receive/send messages from potential clients. This app is in the iTunes app store as well as the Google Play store.

Udemy App

The Udemy website is a site with numerous instructors teaching many different skills that people want to learn but might not want to spend a great deal of money to learn those skills. I have picked up several courses over the years that have interested me. 

One of the big reasons I have purchased courses through Udemy is because of the Udemy app.  I can watch all of my courses through the app without having to sit in front of a computer.  I spend a great deal of time of the app when I purchase a new course and then I take breaks from it.  I am currently on a break but I want to make sure you knew about it because I think you would like it.  This app is in the iTunes app store as well as the Google Play store.

5-0 Radio Police Scanner

Probably one of the most established police scanner apps around.  I originally found this police scanner app 10 years ago and it is still one of the best-selling apps.  Do you ever wish you could know when the police were being called on you during surveillance?

That is now possible with 5-0 Radio Police Scanner. This is a free application with some in-app purchases.  After picking the feed you want to hear, you can continue running other apps on your iPhone. The delay is listed as being between 1 and 3 seconds.  You can see how many people are listening to certain feeds and even have the option to chat with others that are listening.

Google Translate

If you have worked as a private investigator long enough, you know the importance in communicating with folks who speak a different language than you. That is why this type of private investigator app is incredibly important. The Google Translate app allows you to translate between 80 languages which is more than any free application on the market.  You can speak, write and even translate text from a picture using your phone.  After you speak the phrase you want to be translated it will speak the translation back to you in the chosen language.

One of the most interesting things about this application is that it works even when you are not connected to the internet.  Like other translation applications on the market you can save translations for future use and even access them from any device.

• Click here for the Android version of the Google Translate App
• Click here for the iTunes version of the Google Translate App

Some other apps for translation you may want to check out are:

iTranslate – Free Translator App

The iTranslate is another free and easy-to-use translation app that allows you to speak or type a phrase you want to be translated.  After speaking or typing your phrase it translates it into text and gives you the option for the application to speak the translated phrase for you.

Not a lot of bells and whistles on this one though you don’t really need anything more than what they provide.  The app translates 50 different languages and allows you to save favorite phrases.

There is nothing that I don’t like about this application.

I particularly am fond of how the app lets you save phrases you have used to be reused again quickly.

• Click here for Android Devices 
• Click here for iPhone Devices

Speak & Translate – Translator

The Speak and Translate app is a voice and text translator that allows you to instantly speak 40 languages and have written conversations in 72 languages according to the iTunes description.

The Speak & Translate app is very easy to use and I recommend using the default voice-to-voice settings as they work very well.  The voice-to-voice settings allow you to speak in your language and have the application translate it into another language it will then speak what you said in that language.

If you choose to use text-to-text then the app will let you write a word or sentence in your chosen language.  After you are finished it will translate the text into the desired language via text.

I like this app for two reasons.

1. It has a speech-to-speech functionality
2. It is very easy to use and only took me moments to figure out how to use it.

What I don’t like about this app is that they don’t provide it on the Android marketplace for Android phones.

A translation application is great to have as a tool in the field as a private investigator or just in regular life.  Definitely, something everyone should have to make communication easier.

Offender Locator

When it comes to apps for private investigators this one is an important one. The Offender Locator is a paid app and will put you out $2.99 but is a very highly rated app. This app allows you to search by address, offender’s name, and search with face recognition to name just a few things it states it can do. You can also go to websites like the National Sex Offender Public Website to search for information.

Grammarly – Keyboard & Editor App

I have been using Grammarly on my computer since 2017 and even as I write this, I am using Grammarly to check my spelling and grammar. Grammarly has your back and will highlight any issues it sees in your document when you are writing. Now you are likely not writing reports on your phone however this app is also available for Chromebooks, Macbooks, PCs, and Tablets. It would be very helpful in combination with Google Docs or while writing emails. There is a free version and an upgraded version available.

Hushed App – Burner Phone number app

The Hushed app has been around since around 2013 and I picked it up right after it was released. What is the Hushed app? The Hushed app is an app that can provide you with a second phone number from just about anywhere.

The owners of this co-founded application are Justin Shimoon and Timo Mika Glasser.   There was a five-person team that raised well over a million dollars to make this app.  This app had over 2000 downloads in its first 24 hours with no marketing whatsoever which is pretty impressive, to say the least.

You may say, “Hey, you already told me about Google Talk, why would I need another app that does the same thing?”

Well, the Google Talk app is more of a permanent phone number and the Hushed app is a temporary phone number.

As a private investigator, you may need to call a house and you know they won’t answer the phone unless the phone isn’t blocked. With a temporary number which I have read can’t be tracked, you can call a location without giving away your personal phone number. Back in the day, investigators would have to drive to a payphone to make a call like this. But not anymore.

There are several plans to choose from in the Prepaid options:

• 7 Day phone number (20-minute talk time or 60 text messages) – $3.99 (You lose the number after 7 days)
• 30-day phone number (50-minute talk time or 150 text messages)
• 90- day phone number (100 minutes of talk time or 250 text messages)
• 365-day phone number (500 minutes of talk time or 1100 text messages)

This app is ideal for dating, job searches, short-term projects, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, etc…What’s interesting is the fact that if you are in a different country you can get a phone number that is local to that area. I don’t travel out of the country often but for those who do, I can imagine this is something that smartphone users will be eager to use. 

There are similar apps named Burner and Phoner which you should also take a look at to see if they are a better fit for you.

I came across an amazing video when a citizen from the Portland, Oregon area had his $2500 bicycle stolen.  If you know anything about bicyclists, they are passionate about their bicycles and riding.  I loved this story for various reasons but I loved it even more because it took place in Washington state.

The bike owner found his bicycle on Craigs List and agreed to meet with the seller of the bike in Seattle, Washington. He contacted the thief using the Burner application to make it seem as if he was a Seattle resident, and texted him when he reached the location where he was going to purchase the bike.

The bike owner traveled roughly 2 ½ hours away from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, Washington.  The bike owner with the help of his friends was able to video document everything which includes the confrontation, the chase, and the arrest.  The video has since been taken down but it was just one application where using a local phone number can come in handy.

Is there an app for private investigators that you use that you think should be on this list? Leave a comment in the comment section of this post and we will take a look at it.