Choosing the Right Call and Text Blocker App for Android and iOS

We’ve all encountered annoying calls from telemarketers or scammers, and we know how frustrating they can be. Regrettably, even though specific Android phones include a built-in blocking feature, this is not universally applicable to most Android devices.

As a result, we have compiled a list of the most reliable and efficient call-blocking applications for Android, conveniently provided below. Let’s now examine the top-notch free call-blocking applications for Android and iOS.

Undoubtedly, the selection may not be comprehensive, but we have meticulously curated a list of some of the most beneficial apps you can explore right now.

1. Truecaller – Caller ID & Block

Truecaller is a smartphone application designed to identify incoming calls, even if the caller is not listed in your contacts. The app offers information about callers not part of your contact list, including marketers or potential spam callers.

Additionally, Truecaller can block unwanted calls from disrupting your experience, providing a more seamless and uninterrupted communication environment. This application is compatible with Android and iOS platforms, requiring an active Internet connection through Wi-Fi or mobile data for its functionality.

Key Features

• Record Phone Calls: Truecaller enables Android & iOS users to record incoming and outgoing calls effortlessly.
• Backup Your Contacts and Call Lists: Truecaller now features its dedicated backup functionality, allowing users to securely store their entire contact book through automatic backups on their phones.
• Integrate with Other Apps: Truecaller seamlessly integrates with your device’s Phone and Message apps, enabling you to utilize both within the Truecaller interface without the need to close the application.
• Look Up Numbers with Your Camera: The remarkable yet often overlooked feature of Truecaller is its camera lookup. When encountering any number on paper or a prominent sign, open the Truecaller app and tap the QR scan symbol at the edge of the Search bar.
• Call Alerts: Truecaller alerts you of incoming calls before your phone starts ringing. A Truecaller popup displays on your phone seconds before the call connects, revealing the caller’s name. This feature is precious, ensuring that no calls catch you off guard.

Pros

• Comprehensive spam listings.
• Report numbers for spam.
• Prevent SMS and call disruptions.
• Utilize crowd-sourcing for effective spam blocking.

Cons

• It complicated the activation process.
• Inability to block prefixes or entire area codes.
• Lack of storage for SMS content.

Rating: 4.5/5

Price: Truecaller is a social, crowd-sourced application for blocking calls and SMS, with a user base exceeding 25 million. While the basic version of the application is free (with premium accounts priced at $2.99 per month and $14.99 for six months), it includes a range of advanced features. However, it’s important not to set overly high expectations for this compact application.

2. Hiya – Call Blocker, Fraud Detection & Caller ID

Hiya, formerly White Pages Caller ID and Call Blocker, initially operated as a reverse-number lookup service. However, the application has evolved to provide this service, block calls, and furnish a caller ID feature.

Hiya excels in number identification by scrutinizing over 3 billion calls monthly, providing users with valuable context for incoming calls. Like Truecaller, once registered, your calls become part of the analyzed dataset.

Key Features

• Phone Spam Protection: Hiya effectively identifies and thwarts unwanted calls, including robocalls, telemarketers, debt collectors, and fraudulent calls such as neighbor-spoofed call scams.
• Call Blocker: Hiya automatically prevents scam and fraud calls while halting “neighbor spoofing” calls that mimic numbers similar to yours.
• Caller ID: Transform an unknown caller into a recognizable name. Our extensive global database provides real-time context about the caller’s identity, whether the call is from a business, friend, or potential spammer.
• Reverse Search: Investigate the phone number of an incoming call from an unsaved contact to unveil the actual caller’s name and determine if it is likely a robocall.
• Contact Management: Seamlessly integrate names and addresses from Hiya into your phone book contacts to ensure their accuracy, completeness, and currency. Keep your contact list up-to-date effortlessly.

Pros

• No cost and ad-free
• Extensive contact database
• User-friendly interface
• Dependable call and SMS blocking

Cons

• Periodic speed problems

Rating: 4.2/5

Price: Free basic service; $3.99/month or $24.99/year for Hiya Premium

3. Call Blacklist – Call Blocker

The Call Blacklist app for Android & iOS serves as an effective call blocker, combating spam calls and unwanted SMS messages. This application empowers users to thwart calls and messages from specific, private, or concealed numbers and any other numbers not saved in their contacts.

Users can quickly establish both a blocklist and an allowlist directly within the app. Additionally, the app offers password protection, enabling users to control access and schedule specific call and message-blocking times.

Users can easily toggle the blocklist on or off according to their preferences. Notably, this lightweight and free app is supported by ads, including some in-app purchase options.

Key Features

• Sleek and intuitive user interface
• Seamless integration with iOS and Android apps, offering features like call blocking, incoming call identification, and support for recognizing recent calls and numbers while typing
• Robust unwanted caller blocking capabilities
• Personalized Caller ID functionality
• Diverse and user-friendly options for creating custom blocking and identification lists, including choices from Contacts or manual entry
• Dashboard providing swift access to standard functions.
• Compatibility with all iPhones running iOS 10 and later, including iPhone 5/5C

Pros

• No recurring charges or subscriptions
• Simple installation process
• Automatic updates

Cons

• Caller ID and a smartphone are necessary.

Rating: 4.1/5

Price: The initial cost is zero. To access enhanced functionalities, you can enroll in the premium package priced at $3.99 per month or $29.99 annually. The PRO edition allows the configuration of numerous phone number ranges, including phone numbers directly from the Clipboard, and importing CSV files from various sources such as Apple iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and more.

4. Mr. Number – Caller ID & Spam Protection

Mr. Number is the most potent call blocker, effectively preventing calls from individuals, businesses, and concealed numbers. It automatically hinders potential fraud and suspected spam calls. This application simplifies obstructing undesired calls, allowing you to prevent spam, scams, and fraudulent activities effortlessly.

Furthermore, this application can obstruct calls and SMS texts from a specific person, an entire area code, or globally. Not only that, but it also enables you to preclude telemarketers and debt collectors from consuming your time. You can even utilize this app to report spam calls, serving as a warning to other users.

Key Features

• Assign identifiable names to numerical contacts when initiating calls.
• Prevent incoming calls from specific individuals, area codes, or entire countries.
• Thwart telemarketers and debt collectors proactively, saving your valuable time.
• Intercept calls from private or unknown numbers and diverts them to voicemail.
• Contribute to the community by reporting spam calls and alerting fellow users.
• Benefit from an automatic caller lookup for recent calls in your phone’s history, enabling informed decisions on who to block.

Pros

• Blocks spam and unwanted calls effectively
• Identifies spam and fraud attempts
• Allows for customization of blocking rules
• Offers community reporting and call recording
• User-friendly interface
• Free version available

Cons

• Paid features for advanced functions
• Potential for false positives
• Privacy concerns due to data collection
• Limited cross-platform support
• Battery drain due to background activity
• Limited customization options for free users

Rating: 3.1/5

Price: Pricing for Mr. Number starts from zero. However, the premium features are available for 2.99 USD monthly.

5. T-Mobile Scam Shield

T-Mobile’s Scam Shield, a mobile application designed to thwart scammers attempting to contact us through our mobile numbers, is the result of a collaborative effort among the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), the Open Government Products team from the Government Technology Agency, and the Singapore Police Force (SPF).

The app’s primary features revolve around blocking scam numbers and segregating scam messages as junk. The application employs Artificial intelligence to identify and filter these scam messages.

Key Features

• Scam ID and Blocking: Identifies suspicious calls, providing the choice to block those specific numbers entirely.
• Enhanced Caller ID: Utilizes an advanced tool to authenticate numbers, ensuring they originate from genuine individuals or businesses.
• Second Number: Offers an alternative means for close contacts to connect with you through a more private line.
• Number Change: Allows users the flexibility to change the number if inundated completely by persistent robocalls.
• Be ID Aware: McAfee developed an application to prevent identity theft actively. Enjoy a complimentary 12-month subscription upon app download.
• Scam Shield App: The central hub for monitoring and customizing the features above. Additionally, it provides supplementary functionalities at an extra cost.

Pros

• Blocks robocalls and scam calls
• Protects your privacy
• Control over your calls
• Free to use

Cons

• Can block some legitimate calls
• May not block all robocalls and scam calls
• Requires a T-Mobile account

Rating: 4.7/5

Price: The new, free Scam Shield app provides comprehensive call protection management, including the ability to turn on or off Scam Block, access free Caller ID, learn about PROXY number acquisition and phone number changes, and view a real-time dashboard of network-blocked calls.

Enhance your call protection experience with Scam Shield Premium, which offers advanced features like automatically routing unwanted robocall categories (e.g., telemarketers) to voicemail, creating personalized “always block” lists, and receiving voicemail transcripts for quick message review. Scam Shield Premium costs just $4 per month per line for T-Mobile postpaid users and is included in the Magenta Plus plan.

6. RealCall: Spam & Scam Call & Text Blocker

RealCall is a tool that prevents spam calls and text messages on both iOS and Android platforms. Through a robust number database and continuous refinement of blocking rules, it can effectively thwart 99% of robocalls, fraudulent calls, marketing calls, and, naturally, spam SMS.

RealCall takes action by blocking numbers listed on the Global Blacklist of spam numbers, which undergoes daily updates. Whenever a number from this global blocklist attempts to call, RealCall automatically enforces the block.

Key Features

• The blocklist continually updates in real-time, amassing millions of identified spam numbers.
• AI Models assist in preemptively countering scammers by utilizing Scam Block technologies to recognize unknown calls.
• It empowers you to retaliate against unwanted robocalls effectively.
• When you miss a call, it automatically directs it to voicemail.
• Tailored blocking rules encompass specific keywords, numbers, and number series.
• There is a focus on building awareness about fraud, incorporating RealCall prevention, educational resources, and case studies.

Pros

• Free application with no paid functionalities.
• Secure and doesn’t necessitate registration.
• Do not gather your data.
• User-friendly interface.
• Minimalistic design.

Cons

• Lacks a comprehensive database.
• Limited range of features.
• It may allow specific categories of unwanted calls to pass through.

Rating: 4.5/5

Price: RealCall offers a basic free service; however, spam call blocking is not included in the free version. Upgrading to the Premium package is necessary to prioritize this feature, which comes at a monthly cost of 1.49 USD.

Conclusion

Managing unwanted calls and texts is crucial for maintaining a peaceful and productive mobile experience in today’s digital age. Numerous call and text blocker apps are available for Android and iOS devices, each offering unique features and functionalities.

While the specific choice of an app may vary depending on individual needs and preferences, the common goal is to empower users to regain control over their communication channels and filter out unwanted interruptions.

All the aforementioned call-blocking applications possess distinctive features and are valuable in their respective ways. If you are in search of some of the finest call-blocking applications compatible with both Android and iOS, then this compilation will fulfill your requirements. Each of these applications has been designed for the diverse needs of users.

Are you interested in hiring a mobile app developer to create a call or text-blocking mobile app? You have reached the right destination! Suppose you are contemplating the development of a similar application and intend to enlist the services of an Android app developer or iOS developer. In that case, it is imperative to articulate your requirements precisely. Only then can the team of developers deliver the desired results.