Every day, many of us get bombarded with calls from unknown numbers, and most of them turn out to be spam — like companies trying to sell you something or services promoting ads. If you’re tired of these annoying interruptions, there are apps on the App Store that can help you block or identify these calls with ease.
Blocking spam calls on your iPhone does more than just reduce frustration. It protects your personal and financial information, helps prevent fraud, and boosts your overall security. Plus, it helps you stay focused by cutting down distractions, which can improve your productivity and stop unwanted costs from these spam calls.
Say Goodbye to Annoying Spam Calls on Your iPhone
Here are some of the best apps to help you avoid those unwanted calls. Many of these apps have large databases filled with telemarketing numbers, allowing you to know exactly who’s calling before you even pick up.
1. Call Control
Call Control is a widely-used call blocking app with over 12 million users, designed to automatically block spam, telemarketing, and robocalls using smart block technology. It allows you to create a personal blocklist to stop calls from specific numbers. The app offers reverse lookup features, allowing users to identify unknown callers, and ensures privacy by not storing or sharing your contacts.
Download Call Control: App Store
2. Hiya
Hiya is a powerful app designed to block spam and scam calls, helping you avoid unnecessary interruptions. It provides caller ID, showing both the name and reason for the call, so you know who’s calling before answering. With features like voicemail protection and spoofed call blocking, Hiya also prevents spammers from leaving unwanted messages or using fake numbers. The app is free to download, with premium options available for enhanced call screening and security.
Download Hiya: App Store
3. Mr. Number
Mr. Number is a quick and efficient app for identifying unknown callers and managing unwanted calls. It offers a fast phone number lookup, allowing you to see who’s calling, along with advanced spam detection that works in the background to block robocalls and scams. Users can create a personal block list and receive real-time alerts for incoming spam or scam calls. With iOS CallKit integration, Mr. Number easily integrates into your iPhone’s call logs and blocking features.
Download Mr. Number: App Store
4. BlackList
BlackList is a call blocking app that allows users to create a personal list to block unwanted calls from robocallers, telemarketers, or other nuisance callers. It offers a clean and simple, yet powerful user interface, and integrates seamlessly with native iOS apps to provide real-time call identification. Users can block numbers manually or from their contacts, with additional features available in the PRO version, such as importing numbers from CSV files and setting multiple phone number ranges. Note that BlackList requires a monthly subscription for full functionality.
Download BlackList: App Store
5. Call Blocker
Call Blocker allows you to block, identify, and report phone numbers, with a database of over 10 million registered numbers and a large community of users. You can also look up unknown callers, identify commercial calls, and get updates on common phone scams. The app offers comprehensive protection and helps you avoid fraud and unnecessary charges on your phone bill.
Download Call Blocker: App Store
iOS Apps That Also Block Spam SMS
Spam text messages, especially those used for phishing, are another major security threat. Fortunately, there are apps that not only block and identify fraudulent calls but also help you filter out and block suspicious SMS and their senders. These apps offer comprehensive protection, keeping both your calls and text messages secure from unwanted or harmful content.
6. Truecaller
Truecaller is a popular app that helps block spam calls and SMS while allowing users to identify unknown numbers. With its AI-powered features like Truecaller Assistant, the app can screen calls and provide real-time information about the caller, helping users avoid unwanted calls. Truecaller also offers an AI-based call recorder that organizes and summarizes call transcripts for easy reference. The app’s premium version includes additional features such as live caller ID, unlimited number lookups, and ad-free use.
Download Truecaller: App Store
7. Numbo
Numbo is a robust app designed to block spam, scam, and telemarketing calls, offering protection with a large spam number database. It features reverse phone lookup, caller ID, and a customizable call blocker, allowing users to block unwanted calls or filter them based on personal preferences. The app also includes an SMS filter to block spam text messages and supports dual SIM functionality for travelers. Numbo’s community helps keep the database updated by reporting new spam numbers, ensuring reliable protection against unwanted calls.
Download Numbo: App Store
8. Call Protect
Call Protect is a free app designed to block spam and robocalls automatically while providing Caller ID information for suspicious incoming calls. It continuously updates a real-time database of known spammers and high-risk numbers, blocking harmful calls before they reach you. The app also features a reverse phone lookup tool, allowing you to identify unknown numbers from the US and Canada and decide whether to block or add them to your contacts. Call Protect also offers a PRO subscription for enhanced protection and additional features.
Download Call Protect: App Store
Blocking Spam Numbers on iPhone Without Apps
While spam call detection apps are helpful for identifying and blocking unwanted numbers, you can also block them directly from your iPhone’s Phone app. Once blocked, these numbers stay blocked even if you uninstall the app, and the block remains until you choose to remove it from your “blacklist.”
If you have multiple Apple devices connected to the same Apple ID, any number you block on one device will be automatically blocked on all of them, including your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
There are two ways to block calls on your iPhone. First, you can enable “Silence Unknown Calls” in Settings > Phone, which sends all unknown callers straight to voicemail, allowing only your saved contacts to get through. The second option is the “Blocked Contacts” list, where you can manually add numbers to prevent them from calling or sending notifications.
Alternatives to Third-Party Apps
If you prefer not to use third-party apps, here are some built-in options and strategies for blocking spam calls on your iPhone:
- Use iOS Call Blocking and Spam ID: Turn on “Silence Unknown Callers” in Settings > Phone. This will send calls from numbers not in your Contacts, Mail, or Messages directly to voicemail.
- Register for the Do Not Call List: Sign up for your country’s National Do Not Call Registry to reduce telemarketing calls.
- Block Numbers Manually: From your iPhone’s call history, you can block spam numbers by selecting the number and choosing “Block Contact.”
- Report Spam Calls: Many carriers offer tools to block spam calls. You can report spam numbers to your carrier for further action.
- Be Cautious with Your Number: Protect your phone number by avoiding sharing it unnecessarily, especially online or on forms, to reduce the risk of receiving spam calls.
