That sudden buzz in your pocket from an unknown number. Is it the delivery driver you’ve been waiting for, a long-lost friend, or yet another robocall promising an extended warranty for a car you don’t own? In 2025, this digital guessing game is a daily annoyance. Thankfully, the right reverse phone lookup app can transform your phone from a spam magnet into a smart gatekeeper, giving you the power to know who’s calling before you answer.
We’ve tested and analyzed the crowded market of caller ID and spam blocking apps to bring you the definitive list of the best options for both iPhone and Android. Whether you’re looking for a completely free tool, the most aggressive spam blocker, or a powerful investigation tool, this guide will help you find the perfect fit for your needs.
Top 3 Picks for 2025
For those in a hurry, here are our top picks based on extensive testing:
| Category | Best App | Why It Wins |
| Best Overall | Hiya | Offers a fantastic balance of accurate caller ID, effective spam blocking, and a respectable privacy policy without ads in its free version. |
| Best for Spam Blocking | Robokiller | The most aggressive and feature-rich spam call blocker app, with hilarious “Answer Bots” that turn the tables on scammers. |
| Best for Privacy | tellows | A community-driven app that provides reliable spam scores without requiring you to upload your entire contact list. |
What to Look for in a Caller ID & Spam Blocker App
Choosing the right app means balancing four key factors:
- Accuracy & Database Size: How good is the app at identifying unknown numbers? Services with larger, constantly updated databases (often powered by their user community) tend to be more accurate.
- Key Features: Do you just need basic caller ID, or are you looking for advanced features like automatic spam blocking, SMS filtering, call recording, or even a call screening assistant?
- User Experience (UI): A good app should be easy to set up and navigate. The best free caller ID apps for Android and iOS offer a clean interface without intrusive ads that get in the way of answering a call.
- Privacy Policy: This is critical. Many free apps make money by collecting and sharing your data, sometimes including your entire contact list. We’ve read the fine print to help you understand the true cost of “free.”
The Best Reverse Phone Lookup Apps of 2025
1. Hiya – Best Overall
- Best for: The average user who wants a reliable, set-and-forget caller ID and spam blocker.
- Platform: iOS & Android
Hiya hits the sweet spot between powerful features and user privacy. It’s the engine behind the call protection services for major carriers like T-Mobile and Samsung, which means its database is massive and incredibly accurate. Its real-time caller ID is fast, and it automatically blocks suspected spam and fraud calls without you having to lift a finger.
The free version is surprisingly robust and, most importantly, ad-free, making for a clean user experience. While it does collect data to improve its services, its business model is less reliant on user data than many competitors. For those wanting more power, a premium subscription unlocks a call screener and more frequent database updates. For a fantastic all-around identify unknown calls app, Hiya is our top recommendation.
2. Robokiller – Best for Aggressive Spam Blocking
- Best for: Users who are fed up with spam calls and want to fight back.
- Platform: iOS & Android
If you want to go on the offensive, Robokiller is the app for you. It claims to block up to 99% of spam calls and texts, but its standout feature is its army of “Answer Bots.” These bots intercept spam calls and waste scammers’ time with hilarious pre-recorded audio, letting you listen to the recordings later.
Beyond its entertaining premise, Robokiller is a seriously powerful spam call blocker app. It uses predictive blocking technology and offers robust SMS filtering. It’s a subscription-only service, which is better for privacy than ad-supported models. If you’re willing to pay for premium protection and a little bit of revenge, Robokiller is worth every penny.
3. tellows – Best for Privacy-Conscious Users
- Best for: Users who want effective caller ID without sacrificing their personal data.
- Platform: iOS & Android
In a market full of data-hungry apps, tellows is a breath of fresh air. It’s a community-based system where millions of users rate and report spam numbers, assigning each a “tellows score” from 1 (trustworthy) to 9 (dangerous). This gives you an at-a-glance risk assessment for every incoming call.
Crucially, tellows stands out with its strong privacy stance. It doesn’t require access to your contact list to function and states that it does not share data with third parties for marketing. The free version provides the core caller ID service with non-intrusive ads, while a premium subscription unlocks automatic blocking and an offline database.
4. YouMail – Best for Voicemail & Robocall Blocking
- Best for: Professionals and anyone looking to upgrade their voicemail while stopping robocalls.
- Platform: iOS & Android
YouMail is a brilliant two-in-one solution, combining a powerful visual voicemail service with best-in-class robocall blocking. Its system can effectively stop 100% of robocalls by forcing unknown callers to prove they’re human before the call can go through.
The visual voicemail is a huge upgrade over native carrier offerings, with features like voice-to-text transcription and a professional auto-attendant. YouMail operates on a freemium model, but its paid plans offer some of the most effective call protection available, making it a fantastic tool for reclaiming your phone line.
5. Truecaller – The All-in-One Giant
- Best for: Users who need to identify numbers globally and accept the privacy trade-off.
- Platform: iOS & Android
With nearly half a billion users, Truecaller has the largest and most comprehensive global database of any caller ID app. If you need to identify a number from almost anywhere in the world, Truecaller is your best bet. It’s packed with features, including call recording, SMS filtering, and even an AI assistant to screen calls.
However, this power comes at a significant privacy cost. Truecaller’s database is built by its users, who are encouraged to upload their contact lists. In essence, you are trading your data (and your friends’ data) for its service. If global identification is your absolute priority, Truecaller is unmatched, but it’s not the right choice for the privacy-minded. It is, however, the most well-known app in this category.
6. Mr. Number – The Simple & Solid Choice
- Best for: Users who want the power of Hiya’s network in a simpler, paid package.
- Platform: iOS & Android
Now owned by Hiya, Mr. Number is a streamlined and effective call blocker. It allows you to block specific numbers, entire area codes, or even whole countries. It automatically blocks suspected spam and fraud calls using the same powerful database as the main Hiya app. It’s a straightforward, no-frills tool that does its job well, though it has transitioned to a subscription-only model.
7. CallApp – The Feature-Packed Android App (With a Warning)
- Best for: Android users who want every feature imaginable, but this comes with major privacy concerns.
- Platform: Android (A limited iOS version exists)
CallApp is an incredibly popular all-in-one app on Android, offering caller ID, call blocking, call recording, and deep customization. However, our research uncovered significant red flags. Its privacy policy appears to contradict its marketing claims about not sharing data, and its data safety label on the Play Store alarmingly states that data is not encrypted. While its feature set is impressive, we cannot recommend CallApp due to these serious privacy and security risks.
8. BeenVerified – Best for Deep Dive Reports
- Best for: Conducting in-depth background research on a person or property.
- Platform: iOS & Android
It’s important to understand that BeenVerified is not a real-time spam blocker. It is a data broker that provides a mobile gateway to its massive database of public records. If you need to find out who owns a phone number, look up property records, search for criminal history, or verify an online date, BeenVerified is a powerful tool. You pay a subscription for access to detailed reports. Use it for investigation, not for call blocking.
9. Intelius – The Veteran Data Broker
- Best for: Extensive public records searches from a long-standing industry player.
- Platform: iOS & Android
Like BeenVerified, Intelius is a data broker designed for deep-dive searches, not live call management. It has access to over 20 billion records and can provide comprehensive reports on individuals, including financial records, property history, and more. It’s a powerful research tool for users who need to dig deep, but it carries the same privacy implications as any data broker service.
10. Numlookup (Official Website) – Best for Quick Web Lookups
- Best for: A quick, free, web-based lookup of a U.S. phone number.
- Platform: Web
The official NumLookup.com website is a simple and free tool for basic reverse phone lookups. However, be warned: the app stores are filled with unofficial, third-party apps using the “Numlookup” name. These apps are often riddled with expensive subscriptions and have questionable privacy practices. For a quick, one-off search, stick to the official website and avoid the app store impostors.
A Note on Your Privacy
When you use a reverse phone lookup app, you’re often making a trade. “Free” apps are rarely free; you’re paying with your data. Many build their powerful databases by accessing and uploading your contact list. Subscription-based apps like Robokiller and YouMail offer a more transparent bargain—you pay with money, not your address book. Before you download any app, take a moment to review its permissions and decide what you’re comfortable sharing.
Take Your Research Further
While these apps are powerful for on-the-go identification, for a full background check or to find more detailed information, our Ultimate Guide to Reverse Phone Lookups provides even more powerful tools. For a completely free web-based option, don’t forget to check our Free Tools Guide.
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