Nobody wants to think about their phone getting stolen, but the truth is that it could happen to anyone. As such, it's always a good idea to have an anti-theft app on your device.

Google offers built-in Android security, including an option called Find My Device that can a missing phone, but there are also some great third-party options available. Let's take a look at the best anti-theft apps for Android.

1. Find My Device

Find My Device is Google's anti-theft app, and one of Android's best built-in security options. It lets you remotely lock your phone, sign out of your device, and wipe its content. You can also see your phone's location on a map and call it via the accompanying app.

If you lock your phone remotely, you can write a lock screen message that your device will display permanently until you disable it.

The Find My Device feature is enabled by default, but it's wise to check that you haven't accidentally turned it off. To check the status of Find My Device, go to Settings > Google > Security and tap on Find My Device. Slide the toggle at the top of the window into the On position if the feature is not active.

There are two ways to access Find My Device features—via the Find My Device web app or smartphone app.

Download: Find My Device (Free)

2. Cerberus

cerberus

Cerberus is well-established as the leading third-party anti-theft app for Android. It has a rich feature set that its competitors struggle to live up to.

The three main ways that Cerberus protects your device are remote control via the web portal, remote control via text message, and automatic alerts.

The app can locate and track your phone, lock your device, start an alarm on your phone, upload call logs, and wipe both internal and external memory.

Cerberus will also help ensure anyone who steals your phone ends up in trouble with the law. It can secretly take photos and record videos of anyone who has your device, then upload them to the cloud for you to see. You can even record audio from your phone's mic.

The app also supports automatic actions. For example, you can make the phone lock itself if the SIM card is changed, or instantly receive a photo if someone enters the wrong PIN.

Due to the way the app works under the hood, Google does not allow it in the Play Store. But don't worry, the app is legit. Here's how Cerberus explained Google's decision:

Google removed Cerberus Anti-theft from the Play Store with this explanation "Apps that cause users to download or install applications from unknown sources outside of Google Play are prohibited."

To give users an option to have a thorough protection, the Play Store app displayed a message informing that the full-featured app could be installed as an update from our official website. Apparently, even that is not allowed by Google, so they removed Anti-theft from the Play Store...

At this point, we will not bother to appeal the decision, since there is no way to publish an app that is satisfactory in terms of functionality on the Play Store.

Therefore, to use Cerberus, you will need to download the APK directly from the official website, then sideload the app onto your Android device.

You can enjoy a seven-day free trial. Plans start at $5/month.

Download: Cerberus (Free trial, subscription required)

3. Anti-Theft Alarm

At the other end of the complexity scale is Anti-Theft Alarm. It's a theft deterrent; it does not have post-theft features like phone locating and remote wiping.

As the name suggests, the app will sound a loud alarm in certain circumstances. For example, you can ring the alarm when someone removes or steals your phone while it's charging if someone moves your phone from where you left it, if you drop your phone, or if someone changes the SIM card. You can also activate the alarm remotely if you realize someone has stolen it.

The alarm can sound even if your device is on silent. Once activated, the noise won't stop without a password; changing the battery or SIM will not have any effect.

Download: Anti-Theft Alarm (Free)

4. McAfee Mobile Security

McAfee is most well-known for its anti-virus apps, but the company's Android app also includes anti-theft features, meaning it's a one-stop-shop for all your security needs.

Specific anti-theft features include device lock security, a thief cam, and app uninstallation protection. If someone enters the wrong PIN code three times, the phone will lock itself until you enter the master password, and take a snapshot of the perpetrator.

McAfee Mobile Security also has a find my phone feature. You can see your phone on a map, sound an alarm remotely, and get step-by-step location tracking.

The app is available for free. An annual plan with extra features is available for $30/year.

Download: McAfee Mobile Security (Free, premium version available)

5. CrookCatcher

CrookCatcher is designed to help you get your phone back, but also give you the satisfaction of catching a thief in action in real-time.

When someone tries to unlock your phone with the wrong code, it will take a picture of the person and immediately email it to you. The email will contain the picture, GPS coordinates and accuracy, an estimated street address, and a map. You can tweak how many incorrect entries are allowed before the picture is taken and the email sent.

One of biggest differences between CrookCatcher and the other apps on our list is the lack of battery drain. The app only fires up when the wrong code is entered; it does not need to run in the background permanently.

CrookCatcher is available for free but is ad-supported.

Download: CrookCatcher (Free)

6. Prey

Prey is another anti-theft mobile tracker, but it doubles as a cross-platform solution that can track phones, laptops, tablets, and all sorts of other devices.

There is a free and a premium version. The free version lets you track up to three devices, but restricts you to a single security zone.

The premium version—which costs $5/month—adds geo-fencing, control zone actions, remote screen lock, message alerts, location history, and support for tracking via GPS, Wi-Fi triangulation, and GeoIP.

If you have the premium plan, you can also wipe data and retrieve files remotely.

Download: Prey (Free, premium version available)

7. Where's My Droid

Where's My Droid offers a free version and a paid plan. In the free version, you can locate the device via GPS, ring it, set a passcode, wipe the SD card, perform a factory reset, and get an alert when someone changes the SIM.

The premium plan (called Elite) adds more features such as taking photos remotely, snapping a picture when someone tries and fails to unlock the phone, geofencing, passive location tracking, uninstallation prevention, and multi-device support.

The Elite plan costs $1/month or $9/year.

Download: Where's My Droid (Free, subscription version available)

Carrier and Manufacturer Apps

Most network carriers offer an anti-theft app. In the US, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint all have their own version.

The notable downside to carrier apps is cost—you'll typically see a small extra charge on your bill every month. On the upside, you'll be able to call your carrier and force them to help you in case a criminal does steal your device.

Several manufacturers also offer an equivalent anti-theft app. They are often built into OEM skins; both Samsung and Motorola devices have the feature. Unlike the carrier versions, the manufacturer versions are free to use.

Other Ways to Protect Your Android Device

Anti-theft apps are just one part of keeping your Android device secure.

You also need to make sure that the apps you've installed respect your privacy, that all firmware and operating system updates are installed, and that all the apps on your device with sensitive material are password protected.

And once you've set up your anti-theft software, you need to make sure you don't trigger it if you ever forget your own passcode.