Calls from unknown numbers are frustrating, especially when they don’t seem to stop. Using a reverse phone number lookup tool, you can take power back from anonymous callers. Here are some of the best free tools you can use to identify these callers.
Being able to track a call immediately from your phone is very handy, so it’s worth exploring services that have accompanying mobile apps. Truecaller is one of these tools, and it should be at the top of your list.
While you can use Truecaller’s desktop site, you do need to register with an email and phone number. However, its free high-end capabilities as a reverse phone lookup service deserve the effort.
If you decide to use its Android or iOS app, a basic license provides real-time caller ID lookup and spam-blocking services at no cost. Premium members get more perks, like call recording, contact requests, and no ads.
One downside of Truecaller is that it prompts new users to sign up for a 14-day premium trial without any way of bypassing it. The trial is easy to cancel, however, and the Premium plan does offer some nice benefits (like call recording and screening).
When testing Truecaller, I found that it was capable of identifying most callers. Truecaller users and some businesses were fully identified, while non-users may be identified as “probably a business” or with carrier/location information.
Interestingly, Truecaller identified a well-known IRS number as “probably a scam” (which may be a result of joking user reports). One of three scam numbers tested was identified as a scam, while another was inaccurately listed as “probably a business”.
Truecaller isn’t perfectly accurate, so it’s important to trust your intuition when using it. It’s fantastic for identifying most unknown numbers, however, and you likely won’t regret downloading it.
If you want a simple and straightforward online tool, Spy Dialer is a great choice for US residents. The software behind the service will actually call the number you provide and gather information on its owner from social media, public records, and so on.
Every day, you get up to 50 completely free reverse phone lookups to reveal the caller’s name, address, pictures, or anything else publicly and legally available. You also have the option of listening to a number’s voicemail or checking its phone details. You can also delete your own details from Spy Dialer and avoid being investigated yourself.
If you want more in-depth information, Spy Dialer will direct you to other services like Been Verified for further but not free investigation. While not essential, it’s good to know that you have those options if you want to look up calls that are more complicated.
Overall, Spy Dialer is very accurate, but its records aren’t comprehensive. Most numbers, including all the spam numbers I tested, did not have records. It succeeded in identifying almost all business and personal numbers, however.
All of Spy Dialer’s built-in features are free, but you will need to pay a small fee if you decide to use the complementary BeenVerified search. Generally, you can get a seven-day trial membership for $1, which will give you access to more information (like any associated email addresses).
For a more communal touch, try a website like CellRevealer. According to the service’s existing happy customers, its phone tracking capabilities are basic but free and very reliable for people stressing over unknown numbers calling their cell phones.
On top of that, the platform works as a notice board, where users post about scammers or telemarketers. So, while checking a number of your own, you can also use it to find other scam numbers to block.
Unfortunately, the platform doesn’t seem to work well with business numbers. It failed to identify any of the business numbers I tested, but Cell Revealer was highly successful at identifying individuals correctly (sometimes with outdated location information).
Sometimes, simple features are all you need from a caller ID lookup service. However, if you’re looking for superior solutions like fetching caller ID information with Python, focus on more high-end services.
NumLookup is a great option for finding phone numbers, as it’s dedicated to investigating callers and little else. It is a free reverse phone lookup tool on a mission. NumLookup is free mainly because of its simplicity. Its creators also know what a nightmare cold callers can be and offer a handy tool anyone can access.
Just type in the number you want to track. Then, the directory reaches out to its databases and tries to retrieve a name and any other useful information. From there, you can search further by using websites to find people on the internet.
Unfortunately, NumLookup has a limit: You can only do a few free searches per day before you’re asked to sign up for a subscription. The tool quickly identifies most personal and business phone numbers, so it’s a worthwhile bookmark.
With the free plan, you’ll get a name and address for each number you search. The subscription costs $20 per month but includes access to full reports, an ad-free experience, and no daily search limit.
The need to identify unknown callers has existed for a long time, and so have online directories like Whitepages. Established in 1997, it’s among the oldest services available, and people continue to appreciate it.
It’s not the most impressive platform, but what it lacks in style or special features, it makes up for in extensive information. With a huge database at its beck and call, there’s not much you can’t find on Whitepages. A single phone number could lead to the caller’s business details and even criminal records.
As with other platforms, you should verify that a number hasn’t been falsely reported (like the IRS number above). Two plans, for $2.50 and $5 per month, respectively, allow you to see more information.
Once again, though, the amount of information you get for free depends on what’s publicly available, especially in relation to different people’s digital footprints and how they’re used. Premium memberships and their extra insights are always an option. Whitepages doesn’t provide much information for free users, but it is useful for determining whether a caller is a scammer.
Any one of these websites can give you a name, at the very least. A few more handy details, and you can work out for yourself whether a caller is someone you know and if they’re safe to contact. Don’t hesitate to look up calls whenever you feel unsure.
At the same time, remember that it’s not so easy to avoid all scams and hacks. Your phone, as a digital device, can be vulnerable without good protection and your own vigilance. Make sure you put extra effort into protecting yourself from scammers.
