7 of the best robocall blocking apps and tools for avoiding phone spam

Your jig is up, Unknown Caller.
By Haley Henschel  on 
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Overview

Best free app

Hiya

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Best for getting revenge on scammers

RoboKiller

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Best for number lookups

Truecaller

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Best for unmasking calls

TrapCall

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Best for businesses

YouMail

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Best for landlines

Call Control Home

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Best for blocking robotexts

TextKiller

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See 2 More

The spammers. The scammers. And you. Telemarketers and junk mail has evolved in the digital age to a behemoth of persistent trickery. In Scammed, we help you navigate a connected world that’s out for your money, your information, or just your attention.


If there's one thing people with iPhones and Android phones can agree on, it's this: Robocalls suck.

Personally speaking, robots call me more than my own mother does. A very concerned "Cynthia Arnold" gets in touch every week or so "in reference to your federal student loan," claiming she needs to discuss "repayment options with some new changes that have taken effect." (I don't have any federal student loans.) And then there's "Rich," a huffy gentleman who says he's calling me back regarding "the information that we spoke about, about bringing in $10,000 or more every 10 to 14 days." I wonder if I should introduce him to that down-and-out Nigerian prince in my inbox.

Despite me blocking them every time they call, Cynthia, Rich, and other prerecorded pests have continued to contact me from new numbers, sometimes with local area codes as a way of coaxing me to pick up the phone. (The Better Business Bureau calls this tactic "neighbor spoofing.") They used to be more irritating than anything, but they seem to be getting more and more aggressive over time.

Unwanted robocalls like these are annoying autodialers at best and illegal scams at worst, and they're part of an ongoing problem the Federal Communications Commission has been trying to crack down on for years. One report conducted by the visual voicemail and robocall blocking software company YouMail estimates that about 50.5 billion robocalls were placed to U.S. consumers in 2021, which worked out to about 200 robocalls for every adult with a phone throughout the year.

That's down from a pre-pandemic peak of 58 billion robocalls placed in 2019 thanks to recent FCC enforcement actions, but still enough to make them the agency's single largest source of consumer complaints and No. 1 consumer protection priority, according to its latest Call Blocking Report.

But finally, according to Cecily Mauran, a tech reporter at Mashable, the FCC is cracking down on robotexts, creating its first rules targeting spam messages that have plagued us for years, and has added that if providers don’t crack down on robocallers, they may be expelled from America’s phone networks.

You may think you'd be savvy enough to know whether someone trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty is a scammer. But as robocalls have increased in frequency over the past few years, they've gotten more convincing, too. (The FCC says car warranty robocalls will often name-drop specific details about your vehicle and policy that make them seem more legit, for example.) Almost one in three Americans fell prey to phone scams last year, and about one in five were swindled multiple times, according to a study conducted by the robocall blocking app Truecaller. The same research estimated an average loss of $502 per victim, up from $351 the year prior.

What is the best way to stop robocalls and robotexts?

In October 2021, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed new rules that would force mobile carriers to block illegal automated text messages, or robotexts, one of the "latest scamming trends" the agency has on its radar. Since then the FCC has adopted new rules to stop calls from overseas from entering American phone networks, and has taken decisive action against robocall scam campaigns targeted at homeowners. In addition, they’ve required phone companies to implement caller ID authentication, and even developed call-blocking tools and resources.

But federal efforts alone won't be the answer to all of our robocall woes. "Advances in technology have unfortunately allowed illegal and spoofed robocalls to be made from anywhere in the world and more cheaply and easily than ever before," the FCC concedes. "That's why it's become more of a problem for consumers and a more difficult problem to solve." Bad actors' constant rule-skirting has created an infinite game of whack-a-mole.

There's also the issue that many robocalls you get are, in fact, legal, and maybe even wanted — think appointment reminders and emergency alerts. (A robocall's legality depends on several factors, including the technology used to make it, whether it's to a landline or mobile number, and whether it's from a telemarketer who's gotten your consent.) Weeding out illegal calls in real-time without blocking lawful calls is the "most complex part" of the agency's robocall smackdown, it says.

So where does that leave consumers? Along with ignoring calls from unknown or unfamiliar numbers (then blocking them) and listing your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, the FCC endorses the use of robocall-blocking technology.

Many major phone carriers offer apps for dealing with unwanted calls (ex: AT&T's ActiveArmor, Verizon's Call Filter, and T-Mobile's Scam Shield), so check with yours to see what's available. Phone manufacturers like Apple and Google offer opt-in silencing services that prevent unknown numbers' calls from ringing, too. But if you don't think those tools are powerful enough — most don't actually stop robocalls; they just identify their sources or send them directly to voicemail — you've also got the option of downloading a robocall blocking app that's purpose-built to stop scammers in their tracks.

What's the best robocall blocker app?

First, some important fine print about these third-party solutions. The pros: Upfront costs for your average call blocker app aren't exorbitant, and most don't require much storage space on your phone. Oftentimes, you won't even be able to tell the app's there. (Some of them are capable of screening and blocking unwanted calls before a user's phone even rings.)

But as former Mashable tech reporter Ray Wong reported, that convenience comes at a cost:

"According to TechCrunch and Dan Hastings, a security researcher at NCC Group, many top robocall blocking apps share your phone number with analytics firms and [upload] device information such as device type and software version to companies like Facebook without your explicit consent."

To further quote Wong: "Yikes!"

Not every robocall-blocking app is an offender, mind you. But even if the one you use doesn't share or sell your data under the table, it probably still collects it. (Many apps rely on a crowdsourced database of numbers to cross-check anonymous callers with already-identified culprits, and those numbers have to come from somewhere — i.e., users' contacts lists.) It's safe to assume, then, that when you're using a third-party blocker app, you're putting personal information like your name, your IP address, and/or your smartphone's name, model, and operating system up for grabs.

All of that being said: If you can get past those privacy issues, installing a third-party robocall-blocking app remains one of the best and most reliable ways to prevent robocallers, telemarketers, and even pesky political campaigns from reaching you on your smartphone. Just be sure to do your due diligence and pore over its privacy policy first so you know exactly what you're signing up for.

Here are seven robocall-blocking apps and tools that we recommend looking into based on their features and user ratings.

the hiya app on two iphones

Hiya

Best free app

Supported in every country around the globe, Hiya (formerly Whitepages Caller ID & Security Call Blocker) is a free call blocking app that uses a massive database of profiles and "expansive algorithms" to analyze some 13 billion calls a month and give context to unknown numbers. Any number that contacts you is run through Hiya's database, and if there's a match, the app will automatically block the number; if there isn't a match, the call or text will go through.

Hiya's free Basic plan features incoming spam call detection with daily updates, spam reporting, and blocking by area code, as well as unlimited free lookups for spam, scam, and verified business numbers — all on a simple interface without any annoying ads. For a service that'll cost you zero dollars, it's surprisingly powerful (and the fact that it's ad-free is the cherry on top).

For $2.99 a month or $14.99 annually, you can upgrade to Hiya's Premium plan for more business and personal name lookups, more spam updates, and access to a downloadable, regularly updated caller ID database.

Read Hiya's privacy policy on its website.

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an alert from the robokiller app on an iphone

RoboKiller

Best for getting revenge on scammers

Don't get mad at robocallers — get even. After proactively flagging a caller as spam using a predictive algorithm, the RoboKiller app automatically blocks their number and sends them to its "Answer Bots," which play prerecorded messages to trick telemarketers and other unsolicited callers into thinking they're speaking to a real person. (You've got the option of making your own or choosing from RoboKiller's collection of Answer Bot voices, including Kermit the Frog and Ice T.) The resulting "conversations" are designed to mess with these scammers' call quotas in the hopes of putting them out of business — and yes, RoboKiller will record these conversations in case you want to listen to them later. Spoiler: Hilarity often ensues.

Other RoboKiller highlights include "audio fingerprinting" technology that checks recordings against its database in real-time, spam caller ID, an optional AI assistant that can pre-screen calls, customizable block/allow lists, spam text blocking (currently for iOS only), and scheduled call blocking for when you're expecting an important call. The app also got a sleek new redesign in 2022.

RoboKiller is owned by Teltech, a New York-based communications company. Read its privacy policy on its website.

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screenshots of the truecaller app

Truecaller

Best for number lookups

Boasting over 330 million global downloads, Truecaller is primarily a caller ID tool that pledges to identify the name of any domestic or international caller, their approximate whereabouts, whether they're affiliated with a business, and the chance they're someone you might know — even if they're not in your contacts list. The app also lets you search for individual user profiles using a name or number and tells you whether another Truecaller user is available. (If not, you'll be able to see the approximate time they were last active.)

As far as spam blocking goes, Truecaller uses a database to match callers to profiles and pinpoint scammers. Any suspicious numbers are automatically blocked, although you're free to customize a blacklist. For even more features, you can upgrade to Truecaller Premium and Truecaller Gold to eliminate ads, see who viewed your Truecaller profile, and request other users' contact information. Android users also get access to its advanced Ghost Call, Announce Calls, Messaging Apps Caller ID (for Whatsapp, Line, Viber, and Telegram), Truecaller Chat, and Truecaller Voice features.

Relatedly, users should be aware that the Truecaller app offers better accuracy on Android devices than Apple phones — though its iOS app did just get a sleeker, lighter, and more efficient overhaul in late Aug. 2022. (A press release promises "10 times better spam, scam, and business call identification compared to previous versions of the app.") More improvements are in the works.

Read Truecaller's privacy policy here and find out how to remove yourself from its searchable database.

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trapcall screenshot

TrapCall

Best for unmasking calls

Your jig is up, Unknown Caller. TrapCall uses ~patented technology~ that basically forces anonymous callers to identify themselves. It works like this: Once the app is installed on your phone, simply decline any call that comes up as "No Caller ID" to have TrapCall ring it back to you under its actual number in a matter of moments. 

TrapCall also offers automatic spam blocking using a regularly updated blacklist, so if a telemarketer or robocaller on said list reaches out to you, they'll be deterred with a "this number disconnected or no longer in service" message. 

Want even more from TrapCall? Splurge on a Premium or Ultimate package to unlock the ability to record incoming calls, get voicemails as texts or emails, enable missed call alerts, and look up more than 10 numbers a month. Note that there's a one-time $4.95 activation fee if you pay monthly, but TrapCall will waive it if you sign up for an annual plan or the Ultimate tier.

Like RoboKiller, TrapCall is owned by Teltech — read its privacy policy on its website.

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a screenshot of the youmail app

YouMail

Best for businesses

As far as call blocking goes, YouMail works similarly to other apps on this list in that it uses software to identify and stop robocalls automatically; any caller it identifies as a scam will be played a message that states number is out of service. The app then alerts you with an explanation for the blocking. (“An IRS scam was blocked," for example.)

But YouMail kicks things up a notch when it comes to voicemails, replacing your phone's existing service with a "visual voicemail" feature that stores your messages in the cloud so you can access them anywhere. Any robocallers that somehow make it through are instantly banished to a spam folder.

Business owners in need of a robocall blocking service would be wise to shell out for one of its Professional plans: On top of everything offered in the free and Plus plans, they include at least one extra line; a virtual receptionist with custom greetings recorded by professional voice talent; personalized menus (e.g., "Press 1 for sales"); conference call recording; and an auto-reply feature that sends callers a text message when you can't answer the phone. Especially for companies on the smaller side, it's a solid option for an all-in-one phone system.

Read YouMail's privacy policy on its website.

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A good 37 percent of U.S. households still had a working landline phone as of March 2021, and if you live in one of them, you probably know very well by now that they're not safe from robocalls, either. 

Fortunately, they're no match for Call Control Home, an automated call blocker in the form of a compact, innocuous box that works with any phone line with a cord. Once it's plugged into your landline, simply pair the device with the companion Call Control app on your smartphone and its "Community IQ" technology will use a crowdsourced list of reported scams to identify unwanted callers and block them before they can even connect. The app can also be used to set quiet hours, create a personal block list, and view recent calls to your home phone.

What's great about Call Control Home is that it doesn't require any ongoing fees and its app is completely free to install and use. However, if you want robocall blocking for your smartphone in addition to your landline, you'll have to shell out for Call Control Premium ($29.99 a year). The free version of the app lets you manage your landline but doesn't actually protect the smartphone on which it's installed.

Read Call Control's privacy policy for its smartphone app on its website.

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a screenshot of the textkiller app

TextKiller

Best for blocking robotexts

If obnoxious robotexts give you more trouble than robocalls, check out TextKiller, a relatively new app from the people behind RoboKiller. Its paid Premium plan will instantly protect you from over 100,000,000 known phone scams, with a massive global block list and a predictive SMS blocking algorithm that can flag an incoming text as spam in 0.01 seconds. You can refine those settings further based on unlimited keywords, email addresses, and phone number ranges. (A free version of the app is also available, FYI, but it limits you to five keywords, scraps the AI, and pulls from a much smaller blacklist.)

TextKiller was only available for iOS at the time of writing, just like RoboKiller's built-in spam text blocking feature, but we'll update this story if an Android version goes live.

Read Teltech's privacy policy on its website.

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Topics Smartphones

How we tested

When looking for the best robocall-blocking apps, we looked for applications that used a variety of methods to block robocalls and other forms of spam including text messages, cell phone calls, and landline calls. We made sure to note what devices each app works on and in what countries they would function. 

Though we didn't hands-on test these apps ourselves, each app was selected after hours of careful research. While selecting apps for this roundup, here are some of the things we looked out for:

  • Privacy: We dug into how invasive these apps are and took an in-depth look at all privacy policies, including whether apps will share your phone number and device information without consent.

  • Type of Blocking: We made sure to compare different forms of blocking, including landline blocking, text blocking, and voicemail blocking.  

  • Subscriptions: We noded when an app is free or when it requires a premium subscription for the best results.

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Haley Henschel
Senior Shopping Reporter

Haley Henschel is a Chicago-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable who reviews and finds deals on popular tech, from laptops to gaming consoles and VPNs. She has years of experience covering shopping holidays and can tell you what’s actually worth buying on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Her work has also explored the driving forces behind digital trends within the shopping sphere, from dupes to 12-foot skeletons.

Haley received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and honed her sifting and winnowing skills at The Daily Cardinal. She previously covered politics for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, investigated exotic pet ownership for Wisconsin Watch, and blogged for some of your favorite reality stars.

In her free time, Haley enjoys playing video games, drawing, taking walks on Lake Michigan, and spending time with her parrot (Melon) and dog (Pierogi). She really, really wants to get back into horseback riding. You can follow her on X at @haleyhenschel or reach her via email at [email protected].


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