6 BEST Caller ID Lookup Sites (2024)
Indranil Roy
Caller ID lookup tools display the caller’s name whenever someone calls us. They are required for those who want to verify the legitimacy of an unknown number. Business professionals and celebrities have these tools installed on their phones to help them decide whether to accept the call.
Apart from regular individuals, caller ID lookup tools are also commonly used by the investigation and vigilance departments to extract more details about the caller. Additionally, these tools are also preferred by those running an ad campaign who want to create an accurate and positive caller ID impression on the contacts (to ensure the call is not marked as SPAM).
There are also tools like Intelius and Spokeo offering reverse phone lookup services. Unlike caller ID lookup services, the reverse phone lookup process lets you enter a phone number to disclose the caller’s identity and other associated details. Read more…
Caller ID lookup tools are necessary to detect genuine callers from spam and suspicious numbers. A leading caller ID tool like Truecaller displays the caller’s identity, call type, and location to let the user decide whether to take the call. Advanced Caller ID tools can also block robocalls and offer an auto-answering facility to verify the caller’s authenticity.
Best Caller ID Lookup Online Tools (Free/Paid)
Here is a list of top caller ID lookup tools that I have compiled:
| Tool Name | Best Features | Free Version | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truecaller | Caller ID | Yes | Learn more |
| Spokeo | Uncover caller identity and location | One-time Detailed Search Report for $0.95 | Learn more |
| Intelius | Reveals identity of the caller using reverse phone lookup | 5-day trial at $0.95 for unlimited reports | Learn more |
| Whoscall | Call Drop facility | Yes | Learn more |
| Verizon Call Filter | Real-time alerts | Yes | Learn more |
Let me review them in detail to develop a better idea of these tools:
1) Truecaller
Truecaller is a caller ID lookup app that displays the caller’s name, number, and location on the phone screen when someone calls a number. It also marks the call as usual, priority, spam, and business in different colors.
Whether the caller is in your phonebook or not, Truecaller sources information from different reliable sources to display the information on the phone screen, Truecaller comes with smart SMS categorization, spam blocking, message scheduling, and call reasons for an uninterrupted calling experience.
Features:
- Caller ID: This is the primary feature of using Truecaller, as it helps identify unknown numbers. From my experience, it smartly detects and displays the caller’s name, business, and location whenever the phone rings. Whenever I receive spam calls, Truecaller marks them in red. And yes, Truecaller can also detect international callers.
- Spam Blocking: Truecaller automatically identifies and blocks telemarketers, scams, frauds, and robocalls, saving you time from unnecessary harassment. Since I installed Truecaller, it has become easier to block those unwanted calls that used to harass me daily.
- Smart SMS: This high-utility feature of Truecaller allows me to track my recent bank transactions and upcoming credit card bills. The Smart SMS feature also lets you track your flight/train’s PNR status, online parcel delivery, and other important SMS.
- Truecaller Assistant: This call screening option from Truecaller provides an extra layer of security against spam calls. When enabled, the Truecaller Assistant answers calls on your behalf to detect whether they are spam and notifies you whether the call is safe to attend.
- Intelligent Dialer: I have used this intelligent dialer feature to record incoming and outgoing calls without much effort. In addition to the call recording feature, the Intelligent Dialer can identify spam calls and display caller information.
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
The basic Truecaller app is available for free. However, if you want to avail the premium plans, here are the annual subscription rates:
| Ad-Free | Connect | Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| $9.99 | $29.90 | $49.99 |
Link: https://www.truecaller.com/
2) Spokeo
Spokeo Reverse Phone Lookup is an effective tool for identifying unknown callers. It can reveal information about the caller, like name, address, work status, photos, social media links, etc.
Based on my experience, while Spokeo efficiently consolidates data from various sources, there have been instances where the social media links provided were outdated, leading to a slight inconvenience in tracking current profiles.
Features:
- Comprehensive Contact Details: Spokeo’s quick and efficient reverse phone lookup search provided me with details like phone number, email ID, work status, and address.
- Social Media Integration: It links the targeted person’s social media and dating profile. However, I have found some links that need to be more accurate and updated.
- Public Records Access: Spokeo accesses publicly available records and databases to extract data about a person. However, at times, the data is not fully accurate.
- Address Details: When using a phone number to search for details, Spokeo revealed the caller’s past and present address and provided the caller’s last seen location.
- Family and Associates Information: This tool identifies potential relatives or connections when performing reverse phone lookups. However, I have experienced false data in some of the search cases.
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
Here are the subscription and pricing plans for Spokeo:
| Monthly Membership | One-time Detailed Search Report (does not require Subscription) | 7-Day Trial Offer |
|---|---|---|
| $29.95/m | $0.95 | $0.95 |
7-Day Trial for $0.95
3) Intelius
Intelius is a tool that performs reverse phone lookups to identify the caller details of an unknown number. It displays the caller’s name and location, links to social profiles, court cases, employment info, and more.
While it generally delivers accurate results, there are occasions where the information is outdated, especially for updated numbers.
Features:
- Caller Identification: Intelius reveals the person’s identity associated with a phone number. Last month, I used the reverse phone lookup feature to identify the caller details of a number that had been harassing me for quite some time. Intelius was smart enough to reveal the details within a short period.
- Background Details: It provides comprehensive background information check, such as criminal records, wealth information, debt issues, etc. I was shocked to learn about some revelations that Intelius made regarding someone I have known for an extended period. I cross-checked to learn about the accuracy of the report that it provided, citing a 4-day police custody due to a brawl at the bar.
- Address History: Intelius shows past and current addresses linked to the phone number. Whenever I used Intelius’s reverse phone number lookup, it revealed the phone number owner’s accurate location and address details.
- Connected Individuals: This people tracker tool can identify potential relatives or associates connected to the phone number. It accurately detected relatives and neighbors associated with any particular phone number.
- Location Information: Intelius offers detailed geographic data on where the phone number is registered. I am not claiming that Intelius does it with pinpoint accuracy, but in most cases, the location information is correctly depicted.
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
Intelius provides a basic reverse phone number lookup search for free. However, you can pay $0.95 to unlock the detailed report instantly.
Here are the updated pricing plans from Intelius:
| Reverse Phone Lookup + People Search | People Search | Address Lookup + People Search |
|---|---|---|
| $35.3/m | $25.11/m bimonthly scheme | $34.95/m |
| $0.95 for 5 days trial | $25.11/m monthly scheme | $0.95 for 7 days trial |
5-Day Trial for $0.95
4) Whoscall
Whoscall is a caller identification tool that notifies the user about the name and location of unknown callers. It filters out harassing telemarketing calls and blocks spammers from harassing over the phone.
Developed by Gogolook Co., Ltd., Whoscall enjoys a user base of over 100 million subscribers globally due to its innovative features and fraud detection ability.
Features:
- Call drop facility: With a single click, Whoscall can drop all those harassing calls from the telemarketers. Many unknown callers, mostly telemarketers, used to call me day in and day out. To prevent the harassment, I used the Smart Filtering feature to stop these harassing calls from disturbing my peace of mind.
- Identify every call: Whether from known or unknown callers, Whoscall has never let me miss a call. It smartly displays the name and location of a call and marks it as spam or regular to make it easier for me to take or drop it.
- ID security check: This essential feature allows you to identify the leaked data and the sources. It verifies your ID Security with the phone number to ensure no data breaches.
- Suspicious call detection: Whoscall automatically detects suspicious calls before they cause trouble. I was surprised when I received an alert from this tool regarding fraud calls that it detected and removed using the AI alert filtering system.
- SMS scanning service: It can detect fraud and suspicious messages automatically. Whoscall will identify the number using a unique AI filtering mechanism to mark the SMS as spam or genuine.
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
The basic version of Whoscall is available for free. Here is the price for paid premium versions:
| Premium Monthly | Premium Yearly |
|---|---|
| $1.99 | $19.90 |
Link: https://whoscall.com/en
5) Verizon Call Filter
Verizon Call Filter is a call screening and blocking service from Verizon Wireless. It can automatically filter the robocalls to prevent telemarketers and spammers from reaching you.
After upgrading to Call Filter Plus, I could access features like personal block lists, call filtering based on categories, and caller ID. With advanced layer protection against spam callers, users get a hassle-free experience.
Features:
- Real-time Alerts: I was mighty impressed with this Verizon feature that instantly notified me if an incoming call was suspected of spam or from telemarketers. As a result, I could decide whether to take the call.
- Automatic Blocking: With this feature, I could block any call that felt suspicious or disturbed me frequently. Verizon automatically blocks those spam calls, thus reducing unwanted interruptions.
- Personal Block List: Verizon allowed me to customize my preference regarding which number to block and what to omit. This simple process effectively blocked unwanted callers from causing me disturbance.
- Spam Lookup: There is an option to verify unknown numbers from other sources. You can look up unknown numbers to see if they’ve reported them as spam.
- Caller ID: This feature provides the caller’s name or location, helping you identify unknown numbers more effectively. After installing Verizon Call Filter on my phone, it displayed the caller name and location every time a call entered my phone.
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
Verizon Call Filter is available for free. However, the Call Filter Plus is a paid plan that comes with the following monthly schemes:
| Call Filter Plus | Call Filter Plus Multi-Line |
|---|---|
| $3.99/month | $10.99/month |
Google Play Store Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vzw.ecid
Apple App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verizon-call-filter/id777875529
6) Eyecon: Caller ID & Contacts
Eyecon Caller ID and Contacts is an intuitive app that enhances communication by integrating social media insights with your phone’s contact list. It displays caller photos and names, linking directly to their social profiles.
However, occasionally, it pulls incorrect photos for contacts, especially when multiple entries share similar names. This can lead to confusion during essential calls.
Features:
- Visual Caller ID: This feature displays caller photos and names from social media links. It increases the chance of recognizing a caller from an unknown number.
- Direct Social Media Access: Eyecon provides instant access to a caller’s social media profiles by linking the caller ID to their social profiles.
- Communication Integration: It seamlessly integrates with messaging apps for easy direct access to text or calls. Whenever a call or message enters your phone, it instantly identifies the sender.
- Automatic Sync: Eyecon automatically syncs contact information with updated photos and details from social media. Thus improving the authenticity of the information provided.
- Reverse Number Lookup: The tool enables users to identify unknown callers and reveal information about them using the phone number search process. It displayed vital info like social media links, photos, addresses, etc., that helped me identify the caller as my friend from hostel days.
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
The basic Eyecon app is free. However, in-app purchases depend on the features you add.
Google Play Store Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eyecon.global
Apple App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/eyecon-phone-reverse-lookup/id1114370559
How does Caller ID Lookup differ from Reverse Phone Lookup?
Both caller ID lookup and reverse phone lookup services uncover the identity of the unknown caller. However, these tools differ in how they function.
Caller ID Lookup is a service that shows the caller’s number, name, and possibly their image when they call. It allows the recipient to decide whether to take the call.
On the other hand, Reverse Phone Lookup is a service that does not display the caller’s name on the recipient’s phone screen when the call is made. However, the recipient can enter the phone number and check the caller’s details. Reverse Phone Lookup services use aggregated public data to trace the owner of a phone number. These services are legal in the United States as long as they use properly aggregated public data records and do not access or share private account information without consent.
What is the difference between Regular Caller ID and Enhanced Caller ID?
Regular Caller ID, also known as Basic Caller ID, only provides the phone number and the name of the incoming call. This information is usually displayed on the recipient’s phone screen, letting them know who is calling before answering.
On the other hand, Enhanced Caller ID attempts to find the name and image of the person or business to which the phone number is registered.
The difference between the two services is that Enhanced Caller ID provides more detailed information about the caller, while Regular Caller ID only provides the phone number and name. Enhanced Caller ID can be handy when the recipient does not recognize the phone number or wants to know more about the caller before answering.
With the implementation of the SHAKEN/STIR framework, many carriers and apps in the telecom industry are providing more transparency, allowing users to see the person’s name or business calling them rather than just the phone number. This helps users decide if they know the person or company and if it’s a possible spam or “spoofed” call.
How does Caller ID Authentication fight spoofed Robocalls?
The system digitally validates the handoff of phone calls passing through complex networks. It allows the recipient’s network carrier to verify that the call is made from the number displayed on the caller ID. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires most providers to implement and use STIR/SHAKEN in the IP portions of their networks.
The FCC requires all voice service providers to certify in the Robocall Mitigation Database that they have fully implemented STIR/SHAKEN. It has taken several measures to implement and enforce STIR/SHAKEN, as it requires most providers to implement and use the framework in the IP portions of their networks. This helps expand the robocall mitigation requirements for all providers.
How can you identify the caller ID of a VoIP number?
To identify the caller ID of a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) number, you can use various online tools and services, such as Intelius, Truecaller, and more. Both free and paid services are available to search for information about a phone number, such as name, location, etc.
In VoIP, the caller ID is displayed using a separate signaling channel parallel to the user channel, which routes call details along a separate path from the voice call. The caller ID information is captured from the signaling channel and presented in the caller display.
The internet service provider verifies the caller’s identity when a VoIP call arrives. After confirmation, the user can block specific phone numbers or entities, similar to email blocking.
What is the difference between call screening and Robo call blocking?
Call screening and call blocking are two different features for managing incoming calls.
Call screening is checking to see who is calling before answering the phone.
On the other hand, call blocking bars inbound phone calls from specific numbers.
The call screening feature can be used to answer a phone call, redirect a call to the voicemail, or even block a number from calling you.
A call-blocking feature can only block unwanted callers and prevent them from calling you.
What are the current technological limitations of caller ID lookup, and what breakthroughs could potentially overcome these challenges?
The current technological limitation of caller ID lookup is its inability to provide additional information beyond the phone number owner, and location. I must also inform you that even the caller’s name may not appear at times. Naturally, it fails to reveal the complete identity of an unknown caller.
Emerging technologies like Branded Enhanced Caller ID can overcome these challenges by displaying details like the caller’s name, company details, department, etc. Branded enhanced caller ID overcomes the limitations by offering increased answer rates, improved brand recognition, and boosted customer confidence.
What challenges do caller ID lookup services face in maintaining accuracy and reliability? How do they handle false information or spoofed numbers?
Caller ID lookup services need help maintaining accuracy and reliability due to the prevalence of false information or spoofed numbers. Fraudsters often use caller ID spoofing to modify the caller’s phone number, hiding their identity or pretending to call from a legitimate number, such as a bank or government agency.
Caller ID lookup services can implement various measures to handle false information or spoofed numbers.
- Phone number identification: Caller ID lookup services can identify the caller when someone calls on the phone. They display the caller’s name, location, and company details.
- Spam and scam detection: These services can detect and highlight a caller type as spam, marketing, or potential fraud.
- Reverse phone lookup: Some tools offer reverse phone lookup service that allows users to learn about a phone number like owner name, carrier, address, etc.
- Call blocking: Caller ID lookup tools usually have a call-blocking option to block unwanted calls.
- Database updates: Caller ID lookup services continuously update their databases to provide accurate and up-to-date information about callers.
- Integration with phone apps: Some services integrate with phone apps, allowing users to access caller ID information directly from their phone’s call log or contacts list.
- User-friendly interfaces: Caller ID lookup services usually have user-friendly interfaces that allow users to easily search for and access information about callers.
Verdict
Caller ID Lookup tools prevents us from taking those nagging telemarketing calls and save us from digital scamsters. Tools like Truecaller, Whoscall, and Verizon Call Filter can detect the category of callers and provide us with the choice of accepting the call or not.
