It’s more than a nuisance! Spam calls and robocalls – if you let down your guard – can put you face-to-face with unscrupulous marketers and even criminals trying to steal your personal information. Fortunately, a growing number of apps are available to help you deal with these unwanted callers. Here are 12 of the best call-blocking apps that’ll help you take back control of your phone.
Mr. Number
4.6 out of 5 stars (iOS), 4.0 out of 5 stars (Google Play)
Mr. Number is an award-winning app that gives you back control of your phone. Once installed, it helps you identify who’s calling and decide whether to block that number. The app also makes it possible to block a single caller or callers from an entire geographical area. Plus, it conveniently blocks numbers linked with fraud and spam, so they never get through to you. You can also create a personal blocklist to keep unwanted calls at bay. Also convenient is the reverse phone lookup feature where you can search for a number and find out whether it’s spam.
Download:
Sync.ME
4.4 out of 5 stars (iOS) 4.5 out of 5 stars (Google Play)
This app efficiently identifies unknown callers and lets you know whether it’s spam. That’s pretty standard, but it also offers another helpful feature. The app connects the contacts in your address book with photos from the callers’ social media account so a picture pops up with a call. As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words. With this feature, you can tell at a glance who’s calling and decide whether to answer. The app also identifies unknown callers by scouring billions of public phone numbers and attaches a name to the number.
Download:
Showcaller
3.6 out of 5 stars (iOS) 4.5 out of 5.0 (Google Play)
App Advice
When someone calls, Showcaller quickly identifies and displays the caller’s address, name, and photo, when available, on your screen while the phone is ringing. You can also get spam reports and decide which calls to block. If you receive a phone call from someone you’ve blocked, it will be flagged.
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Call Bliss
3.0 out of 5 stars (iOS)
This app makes it easy to choose who calls. With a tap, you can let calls through or block them individually or by a group. For example, you can, with a tap, allow only calls from a particular group of people, like friends or family, through while blocking all others. It’s the ultimate filtering device for your phone, so you can take back control of your smartphone.
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Call Blocker
4.5 out of 5 stars (iOS) 4.5 out of 5.0 stars (Android)
With Call Blocker, all potentially dangerous or suspicious calls are automatically blocked. When a call comes through, the app searches numbers previously reported to unknownphone.com to decide who to block. The app also allows you to block specific numbers that you don’t want future calls from. You can even use the app to alert other users of suspicious callers. Enjoy peace of mind again!
Download:
YouMail
4.6 out of 5 stars (iOS) 4.0 out of 5 stars (Android)
This app adds an extra filter against unwanted callers. Not only can you easily block unwanted callers, but when an unwanted call comes through, the caller gets a “number out of service” warning. Once the warning plays, the app takes you off their list. You also get visual voicemail when you download the app. Off your phone and out of your life!
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TrapCall
4.3 out of 5 stars (iOS)
TrapCall is an app that automatically blocks known robocalls and spam-related callers. Plus, it offers an additional feature that other apps lack. Have you ever received a call from a blocked, unknown, or restricted caller? TrapCall can identify and show you who is calling from that number. If you keep getting repeat calls from a number you don’t want to hear from again, you can blacklist the number and future calls will get an “out of service” message.
Download:
App Store
TrapCall (Android download)
Master Call Blocker
No ratings (Android)
When you download this app, it goes to work screening incoming calls against a database of phone numbers in its system. Once it identifies spam or robocalls, it automatically blocks that number. You also have the ability to selectively block a single contact or an entire group of callers. The interface is clean and simple-to-use too.
Download:
Blacklist Plus
2.7 out of 5 stars (iOS)
This spam-blocking app offers a clean, easy-to-use interface that helps you filter out spam quickly and efficiently. When you receive an unwanted caller, add it to a blacklist. Once on the list, you won’t be notified of future calls from that number, but the caller can still leave a voicemail. It also has a variety of block modes where you can choose the level of calls you want to block. For example, you can only block callers on your blacklist or block all callers except for those you’ve whitelisted.
Download:
Whoscall
2.6 out of 4 stars (iOS) 4.5 out of 5 stars (Google Play)
This award-winning app makes blocking spam and robocalls a breeze. The app automatically identifies and blocks spam and automated calls, so they don’t come through. The app also lets you decide who to block at the end of a call. Conveniently, you can also choose a keyword and block all instances of that keyword. For example, if you frequently get spam calls from companies that sell timeshares, you can block all calls that pertain to timeshares. What a way to take back control of your phone!
Download:
Avast Call Blocker
Spam Blocking for iOS10 (iOS)
Avast is best known for its anti-viral software. Now, they’ve introduced a spam blocker for iOS to protect your phone too. When a call comes through, the app checks it against a list of known spammers stored on their database. Plus, it doesn’t need access to your contact list to do its job. In addition, you get spam coverage from a trusted name.
Download:
Truecaller
4.6 out of 5 stars (iOS) 4.5 out of 5 stars (Android)
Truecaller identifies callers while blocking annoying spammers and telemarketers. It also allows you to block callers by name or number. You can find out the status of a friend and whether they’re available to track and the app keeps track of callers and contacts by uploading them to Google drive. Review and store your call history to look for unknown or suspicious numbers whenever you wish.
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3 Tips for Reducing Spam
1. Give spammers and suspicious callers the silent treatment. If you pick up the phone for a suspected spam call, don’t say anything. When you don’t respond, you’ll usually be promptly disconnected. If you determine it’s a spam call, quickly disconnect.
2. Get on the “do not call” list. It’s not foolproof but adding your name to the national database may reduce the number of spam and robocalls you get.
3. If you have a landline, you can type in the number 77 to block private and anonymous calls.
Hopefully, you now have the tips and resources to make annoying spam callers a thing of the past! Take advantage of them.
