Nobody likes to get unsolicited phone calls and be interrupted in the middle of important work, that’s why you need the best caller id app. Unfortunately, with the rise of online shopping, it’s nearly impossible to keep one’s contact information private. Such a situation calls for a more effective strategy on how to filter or block spam phone calls. Hiya and Truecaller are two popular caller ID and black apps for Android that will help you reclaim your privacy and protect yourself from shady businesses and scammers.
If you follow along with us below, we’ll show you the pros and cons that Hiya and Truecaller has, and hopefully, help you determine which one is the best for finally putting those spam calls to rest once and for all. So if you’re ready to free your phone up from annoying calls, let’s get started.
Best Caller ID App to Filter or Block Spam Phone Calls: Hiya vs Truecaller
1) Hiya
Hiya’s roots go back to 1997, when Alex Algard founded Whitepages as a Stanford student. Some of you may even remember using Hiya around 2011. Back then, the application helped users clean their address books. The current iteration is a free app designed to identify unknown numbers and stop shady calls before they can reach end users, thus protecting users from fraudsters.
Even though Hiya is less known in many markets than its competition, the company seems to be on a right track to success. They have already seen great traction in just a small amount of time, thanks to their partnership with Samsung and T-Mobile. “We are hiring aggressively and intend to grow significantly over the next 12-24 months and will certainly entertain all options as it relates to maximizing our growth opportunity,” said Algard in an interview for TechCrunch.
Features
The main purpose of Hiya is to help users identify the calls they want to pick up and automatically block the ones they want to avoid. The app leverages its enormous database to identify more than 400 million calls every month, resulting in approximately 1 billion detected spam threats in total.
It all starts with the caller and SMS ID functionality. Incoming phone calls and SMS messages are processed by Hiya and compared with the app’s vast database. Unknown numbers are matched with corresponding entries and results are displayed on the screen, so that users can decide whether or not they would like to accept the phone call.
It’s possible to blacklist numbers and stop calls and SMS messages either from individuals or by categories. This way, you can block telemarketers but, for example, accept political calls. Apart from the number identification, Hiya also checks the content of SMS messages for malware and viruses.
When you are out and about and need to call a certain person or place but don’t know the number, you can use the reverse phone lookup functionality to access Hiya’s comprehensive database of contact information. Using the same database, you can also add missing contact information to your contacts to keep them as complete as possible.
Usage
After you install the app, you will need to sign up with your Facebook or email account. Then it’s time to verify your phone number, which is the last step you need to take before you can start enjoying the application.
Hiya is characterized by how simple it is to use. Unless you want to dig deep into the settings or mess around with its stats feature to see how you communicate with your contacts, you really only notice it when you get a phone call.
When that happens, Hiya will show up bellow the caller’s number and provide you with all the information it could find on it. Scam calls are displayed in red with an easily noticeable warning sign, to let you know that you shouldn’t waste your time picking it up. The only real issue is that it can sometimes take quite a while before Hiya identifies the caller, especially if you are using a slower connection.
Pros
- Free with no ads
- Large contact database
- Easy-to-use
- Reliable call and SMS blocking
Cons
- Occasional speed issues
Download it now: Google Play
2) Truecaller
First released in 2009, Truecaller is a popular dialer replacement app for Android that far exceeds the functionality of the one that comes with the stock operating system. The app is developed by True Software Scandinavia AB, a Swedish company founded by Alan Mamedi and Nami Zarringhalam.
Its life started in 2009, when it was first launched on BlackBerry. From there, the app quickly expanded to other platforms, including iOS, Series 40, Symbian s60, Firefox OS, Tizen, BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone, and, most importantly, Android. Truecaller is very popular in India, where it has a user base of more than 150 million users.
Features
Truecaller is powered by a large, community-backed spam list created by the combined effort of more than 200 million users from all around the world. This list gives the application the ability to match nearly any number with the corresponding information, allowing users to see who’s calling.
Unlike Hiya, Truecaller aims to be a full-fledged dialer replacement. This means that you can not only block unwanted calls and SMS messages but that you can also make calls directly from the app. Searching for an unknown number is a breeze: just type the name of the place or person you want to get in touch with, and Truecaller will take care of the rest. You can even copy a random number from a website to save yourself from having to memorize it just to input it into the app.
By far the biggest selling point of Truecaller is how it can help you network with others. Not only does the app allow you to see when your friends and colleagues are free to talk, but you can also send friend requests to friends of your friends.
Usage
After you complete the initial setup procedure, you will be greeted with a simple user interface that is separated into five different tabs. The first tab gives you the access to the search functionality. You will use it whenever you need to contact someone who you don’t have in your contact list. Right next to it is the Discover tab. This is the gateway to Truecaller’s networking features. It makes it very easy to send contact requests to people who your friends have in their contact lists. In the middle is the Block tab, which is the main control center for the blocking functionality. This leaves us only with the Notification tab and the Me tab.
The application automatically pops up when you receive a phone call, giving you all information about the caller that it can find in its large database. You can even move the pop-up window across the screen to continue with your work.
Pros
- Full-fledged dialer replacement
- Networking features
- Reliable blocking
- Simple user interface
Cons
- Past security issues
Download it now: Google Play
Other alternatives
You can see that both Hiya and Truecaller have some awesome features that help you stop spammers and telemarketers from blowing up your phone with unnecessary phone calls. That said, not everyone loves what Hiya and Truecaller have to offer them, but luckily, since Android is such as vast platform, you have so many other options as well.
Here are a few of our favorites:
3) Showcaller
Showcaller sounds pretty familiar to Truecaller; however, they’re two different Caller ID apps, but with pretty similar features. With Showcaller, you can instantly identify the people that are trying to reach you — it might even be able to give you a location from where someone is calling from. Much like Truecaller, it’s able to identify spam calls and let you know about any potential telemarketers. If it misses one, you can report it, and Showcaller will add it to its database of spam callers. Showcaller gives you the ability to blacklist specific numbers from calling you as well — perfect for making sure that annoying ex can’t continue blowing up your phone!
Showcaller actually gives you the ability to record calls with it. If there’s a call that you think you need to record for your safety or a call that you want to remember, you can do that; however, make sure your state’s laws allow you to record folks on the other line without their knowledge — some consider that a federal wiretapping crime.
Download it now: Google Play
4) WhosCall
WhosCall is last up on our list, but this one is still a best caller id app. WhosCall is supported by advertisements, but does provide you the same basic functions as the other two we mentioned; however, we would say that the UI isn’t nearly as good, though some might enjoy its simplicity. Just like the others, you can see who’s calling you, add people to a blacklist, report spam callers, and so much more.
Download it now: Google Play
5) Supercaller
Supercaller is another great choice, allowing you to easily identify incoming phone calls. If a phone number comes through that you don’t want calling you, just like Showcaller, you can put it on the blacklist and you won’t get a call or text from that number again. You can always remove numbers from the blacklist, too.
Supercaller, like the others, is able to warn you of spam calls, but if one gets through, you can report it and Supercaller will add it to its database of telemarketers and warn other people, too. Supercaller already has a massive database of spam callers, but it’s almost impossible to know all of those numbers right off the bat. Supercaller, with some numbers, is even to tell you the location of the phone number that’s dialing your phone, which can also better help you identify spam callers (i.e. if you don’t know anyone from China, why would you be getting a call from China?)
Supercaller also gives you the ability to record phone calls, but once again, make sure that’s legal in your State.
Verdict on the Best Caller ID App to Filter or Block Spam Phone Calls
The final decision between Hiya and Truecaller essentially boils down to your personal preference. The only exception is if you live in India, then Truecaller might work better for you. However, if you don’t like either of those apps, there are at least three other good ones that’s worth taking for a spin — WhosCall, Supercaller, and Showcaller.
What’s your favorite Caller ID app?
I’ve been using TrueCaller for several years, but am dumping it because it is very annoyingly and persistently pushing their SMS tool. I use other apps for that and don’t want to switch.
Truecaller has been excellent for me until recently. It is basically forcing me to use their new texting format. My problem with it is that you can’t do a scheduled text on it and I need that function. So I have been using another app but Truecaller doesn’t like that. It has become a problem and frustrating every time I go to a contact and try to text. I have to go into the texting app only and set it up from there every time.
I have been using Hiya for a couple years with satisfaction. The only annoyance is tagging an incoming call with an inaccurate name. I recently switched from a Note 4 to a Note 8 and after searching for the latest and greatest I decided to try True Caller. It’s been a week or two and I see no improvement, just the addition of advertisements. I was also trying their SMS and once returning to VZW messaging I received new messages that did not come through with True Caller.
I am back to the satisfaction of Hiya, not perfect but it works for me.
To me, the biggest problem with Truecaller is, that you must contribute your private address book. The fact that I upload all the data that there is would be unbearable to me. Anyway, most of the time I talk to people I know. What really bothers me is spam calls and for this, I have Clever Dialer. Simple app, just warns me against spam callers and lets me report spam callers. That’s it. Just my 2 ct.
Caller ID apps can be dangerous. Besides the vulnerabilities that have been discovered to use the services to cull phone numbers and even change account settings, there have been leakages to reveal to the hackers your phone and e-mail.
TrueCaller is DEFINITELY an adware platform. See their own article on helping advertisers use their adware platform: https:// advertisers. truecaller. com/ (remove spaces need to avert the inane anti-spam filter used by this web form). Using this app represents a privacy invasion for both the app’s user and everyone listed in that user’s contacts that this app will harvest. See: http:// www. ethow. com/ 2015/ 10/ how-Truecaller-works-is-what-you-might-not-like.html and http:// preview. tinyurl. com/ yb37zkd7. Yes, they have an unlist page at https:// www. truecaller. com/ unlisting but it is bogus. You can request only YOUR phone number be removed. You cannot request all your contacts get removed. Each of your contacts have to make their own separate request for removal. Yet all that effort is wasted since none will get removed. The number is supposed to get removed within 24 hours. You can check many days later and the number is still listed. This app was built to be a revenue-generating adware platform and to harvest your phone number and those of all your contacts to make them public for any other app user to access. You are forced to opt-in and then have to later opt-out (but can do so only for yourself, not for all your contacts).
As for Hiya, beware of what you actually end up installing. The Google Play Store says you will get the Hiya app but only if you have Android 5, or later; else, they covertly switch to the Whitepages CallerID app (old and abandoned). The Hiya app only works on cellular voice calls (not for wifi calls) but requires cellular data to check the Caller ID or phone number in their database. Info pop-up on incoming cellular voice calls only appears about half the time. Option to generate a notification for missed or identified calls does not work (no notification generated). The only notification of a missed call is the one generated by the Phone app. UPDATE: My initial review on Hiya was when you got the Hiya true freeware (no ads) app from here (Hiya is now pushing their Mr Number adware app). The Hiya app now offered at the Google Play Store may instead install the antiquated “Whitepages Caller ID” app. UPDATE: Hiya informed me they changed the minimum system requirement to Android 5 Lollipop but don’t announce it at the Google Play Store or on their web site. I have 4.4.4 Kitkat. They deliver the wrong old app if you don’t have Android 5.x, or higher, something that violates security at the store (deliver the wrong app than is presented). This store page should also say my device is NOT compatible with the Hiya app – and offer me the choice to install the old and unsupported Whitepages CallerID app. They should supply the old Hiya version for pre-5 Android users instead of deliberately delivering the wrong app.
ASIDE: Eagerly looking forward to NoMoRobo’s Android app when released at the Google Play Store.
Truecaller assumes my phone number begins with a 1 area code and number. Anyone trying to call locally using a cell phone doesn’t dial a 1. Sometimes calls won’t come through because of this if they are friends in nearby areas.
I use Truecaller in tandem with Extreme Call Blocker. I can’t stand when harassment calls get bounced straight to voicemail. If you tweak the settings of Extreme Call Blocker, you can set a delay to prevent the rejected call from making its way into your voicemail. It does require a little work to get the two apps not to work at cross purposes with each other at first, but the end result is well worth it!
Lol Obama, lol…
I have used Truecaller for last few years but it does not work well with all phones. I changed my phone to LG and it disabled some of the key phone functions such as 3 way calling, second waiting and call forwarding. Also, the SMS in TrueMessenger does not allow to use mic instead of typing. So I switched to HIYA. Will give it a try and see if there are any bugs/flaws in design.
Also forgot to mention, I can block legitimate bill collectors too. It is great. Once blocked the only way they can call is from a different number, unless you unblock. Then you can block their new number just as easy. Mine doesn’t offer a code for them to enter. They just receive message this person is no longer receiving calls. I also get notices of numbers with area CODES coming from over seas for nefarious reasons. They buy American phone numbers via internet and call you, when you call back your actually calling a third world country in most cases. Hiya warns you.