“Who called?” - the best applications for Android: review, setup and secrets of use

Have you ever received a call from an unfamiliar number and wondered: this important client, courier or just another scammer? In the era of spam calls and telephone phishing, applications for identifying incoming calls have become a must for owners of Android smartphones. But how to choose among dozens of options in Google Play? This article will help you understand the nuances: from basic functions such as number identification to advanced options such as blocking regional codes or integration with instant messengers.

We tested 15 popular applications, filtered out dubious ones (with suspicious permissions or hidden subscriptions) and selected 5 best solutions for different tasks: from minimalistic identifiers to multifunctional "Swiss knives" for phone protection. We will pay special attention hidden threatsto which even legitimate applications from the official store are hidden - for example, how some services sell data about your contacts to advertising networks.

Important: the effectiveness of a call ID depends not only on the number base, but and how you set it up. The article contains step-by-step guide for optimizing each application, as well as life hacks on how to bypass the limitations of free versions. Let's start with the selection criteria, which even experienced users often miss.

Why the standard Android identifier does not save you from spam

The built-in function Caller identification in Google Phone (Google's "Phone" application) only works with numbers from public business directories (for example, restaurants or beauty salons). It does not recognize:

• 📞 Private numbers (hidden or with a spoofed Caller ID)
• 🤖 Robocalls with dynamically generated numbers
• 🕵️‍♂️ Fraudulent schemes like “your relative is in trouble”
• 📊 Numbers widely used by spammers (for example, for selling microloans)

Moreover, Google databases are updated once every 1–2 months, whereas specialized applications analyze numbers in real timeusing data from millions of users. For example, the service Truecaller blocks up to 14 billion spam calls per year - this is 40% of all unwanted call traffic in the world.

⚠️ Attention: In 2023, Google tightened the rules for call detectors in Play Market. Apps are now required to disclose how they collect and use data about your contacts. Check the section Privacy Policy before installation - some services sell anonymized data to marketing companies.

Another nuance: the built-in Android detector does not work. But 30% of fraudulent schemes begin with messages like “Your account is blocked, please call the number...”. The best applications from our rating close this gap. block SMS spam. But 30% of fraudulent schemes begin with messages like “Your account is blocked, please call the number...”. The best apps in our rankings close this gap.

TOP 5 applications for identifying calls on Android

We evaluated applications according to 7 criteria: detection accuracy, database update speed, presence of a blocker, battery consumption, integration with instant messengers, price and privacy protection. Here is the final rating:

Application	Accuracy, %	Free features	Subscription/year	Cons
Truecaller	92%	Number identification, blocking spam, search by name	1 200 ₽	Collects contacts, aggressive advertising
GetContact	88%	Identification + call history, blacklist	900 ₽	No SMS blocking, databases for Russia are weaker
Who called? (from Mail.ru)	85%	Identification + blocking of regions, integration with VK	Free	Lots of advertising, no English version
Hiya	90%	Blocking of robocalls, protection against phishing	1 500 ₽	Plugins for browsers require separate installation
Sync.ME	87%	Detection + social profiles, backup	1 100 ₽	Slow synchronization, bugs with Android 14

The leader of the rating - Truecaller - is ahead of competitors thanks to deep integration with telecom operators (partnership with Beeline, MTS, Tele2). This allows it to recognize even numbers with a spoofed Caller ID. However, the service has a serious drawback: it uploads your phone book to its servers (even if you disable this option in the settings).

An alternative for those who value privacy - Hiya. This application does not collect contacts, but uses operator databases and crowdsourcing (data from other users). Its feature is protection against vishing (voice phishing), when scammers imitate the voices of bank employees.

How to set up an application for maximum protection

Installing a call detector is half the battle. For it to work effectively, you need to configure it correctly. Let's take for example Truecaller (the settings of other applications are similar):

1. Activate spam blocking: go to Settings → Blocking → Automatic spam blocking and enable the option. Select the level of aggressiveness (we recommend "High").
2. Set up a regional filter: in Settings → Blocking → Regions add country/region codes where you often come from scammers are calling (for example, +224 for Guinea or +234 for Nigeria).
3. Enable SMS verification: Settings → SMS → Spam filtering. This will block messages with suspicious links.
4. Disable collection contacts (if you do not need the "Search by name" function): Settings → Privacy → Contact synchronization.

For GetContact i Sync.ME there is an additional life hack: these applications can show subscriber names from social networks (for example, VK or Facebook). For this to work, log in through your social network account in the application settings. The downside is that this will increase battery consumption by 5–7%.

Enable spam auto-blocking|Add dangerous regional codes|Activate SMS filtering|Disable contact collection (if not needed)|Synchronize with social networks (optional)-->

Important: after setting up, check whether the detector conflicts with other applications. For example, Truecaller can block notifications from banking applications (such as SberBank Online), if they use SMS to confirm transactions. In this case, add bank numbers to white list.

⚠️ Attention: Some identifiers (for example, Who called? from Mail.ru) automatically add numbers marked by other users to the blacklist as "scammers". This can lead to false positives - for example, if someone mistakenly flagged your doctor's or courier's number. Regularly check the list of blocked contacts!

Hidden threats: what call detectors know about you

Few people think about it, but call identification applications collect much more datamore than just phone numbers. Here's what they can know about you:

• 📱 Your phone model Android version (transferred during installation)
• 🌍 Your location (by IP address or GPS, if you gave permission)
• 🕒 Time and duration of calls (even if you did not answer)
• 📞 All contacts from the address book (if you do not disable synchronization)
• 🔄 Interaction history (who you called, how often)

Truecaller i GetContact use this data to create “user profiles”, which they then sell to advertisers. For example, if you often call car repair shops, you may be shown targeted advertising from insurance companies. In 2022 Truecaller came under investigation in the EU for violation GDPR - it turned out that the service stores user data even after deleting the account.

How to minimize risks:

1. Refuse to synchronize contacts when you first start.
2. In Android settings (Settings → Applications → Permissions) disable access to:
   • 📍 Geolocation
   • 📂 Files and media
   • 📋 Call log (if the application is not Hiya or Sync.ME)

Use alternative authorization methods (for example, through Google Account instead of a number phone number).

How to completely delete your data from Truecaller?

To request removal of your information from the database Truecaller, go to page truecaller.com/unlisting (open in a browser on a PC. Enter your phone number in international format (for example,). +79123456789) and confirm the deletion via SMS. Please note: the process may take up to 24 hours, and some data (for example, reviews about you from other users) will remain in the system.

Alternative ways to determine who called

If you do not want to install third-party applications, there are several ways to find out who is hiding behind the unknown. number:

1. Google search: enter the number in international format (for example, +74951234567) in the search bar. This often helps to find mentions on forums or in business directories.
2. Operator services:
   • 📱 MTS: send an SMS with the text number (for example, 9123456789) to the short number 6677.
   • 📱 Beeline: use USSD request *141*number#.
   • 📱 MegaFon: the "Who called?" service is available in your personal account.
3. Social networks: VK and Facebook allow you to search for people by phone number (enter the number in the search bar).
4. Specialized sites:
   • 🌐 Numspider —international database of numbers.
   • 🌐 PhoneTracker —determines the geolocation of the number.

The disadvantage of these methods is that they do not work in real time. For example, if they call you from virtual number (like Zadarma or Sipnet), it will be almost impossible to determine the owner. In such cases, only specialized applications with updated databases help.

⚠️ Attention: Some sites for checking numbers (for example, offering to “find out the owner’s full name”) may be fraudulent. They ask you to send an SMS to a short number or enter card details for “identity verification”. Never do this!

How to block unwanted calls without applications

If you do not want to install third-party software, you can use the built-in Android tools:

1. Blacklist in the "Phone" application:
   1. Open Google Phone (or the standard "Phone" application).
   2. Go to Call log, find the unwanted number.
   3. Click on the number → Block/report spam.
2. Spam filtering in Android settings:
   1. Go to Settings → Google → Phone services → Calls and SMS.
   2. Enable options Spam filtering and Caller identification.
3. USSD operator commands (does not work for all tariffs):

   For Beeline: *110*789# - blocking the last incoming number
   For MTS: *441*number# - adding to the black list
   For MegaFon: *130*number# - number blocking

Limitation of built-in tools - they do not know how to block entire numbers number ranges (for example, all numbers from Nigeria or with code +375). To do this, you will still need a third-party application like Hiya or Truecaller.

Another nuance: blocking at the phone level does not work if they call from hidden number (Caller ID is blocked). In this case, only the telecom operator will help - contact support with a request to activate the "Barring Hidden Calls" service.

What to do if the caller does not recognize the number

Even the best applications sometimes cannot identify a call. Here is the algorithm for action in such a situation:

1. Check the number format: sometimes identifiers do not recognize numbers without a country code. Try manually adding +7 before the number (for example, +79123456789).
2. Use reverse search:
   • Enter the number in Google or Yandex in in quotation marks: "+79123456789".
   • Check the number in Telegram —some bots (for example, @PhoneInfoBot) can show information about the owner.
3. Complain in the application:
   • In Truecaller: open the call log → select a number → Complain → specify the category ("Spam", "Fraud", etc.).
   • B GetContact: click on the number → Report spam → select the type of complaint.

Add the number to the black list manuallyeven if the application did not recognize it.

If the number belongs scammers, report it:

• 📞 B Roskomnadzor (section "Complaints about telephone spam").
• 🏦 To your bank (if the call was "on behalf of the bank") - most have special forms for such cases.
• 🛡️ To the website Antifraud —this helps prevent attacks on other users.

Tip: if you often receive calls from suspicious numbers, enter personal black list to Google Sheets or Notion. There you can enter not only numbers, but also:

• 🗓️ Date and time of call
• 🎤 What they said (brief description)
• 🔗 Links sent via SMS

This will help identify patterns (for example, that scammers always call on weekdays from 10 to 12 o'clock).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about call detectors

🔍 Can I use identifiers for calls without the Internet?

Yes, but with reservations. Applications like Truecaller or GetContact caches part of the database on the device, so they will be able to show information about numbers that have already been identified previously. However, to check new numbers or update the database, an Internet connection is required.

It is better suited for offline work Sync.ME —it allows you to download databases for individual countries (for example, only for Russia) and use them without connecting to the network.

🔒 How to completely remove your data from the identification databases?

Each application has its own procedure:

• Truecaller: go to truecaller.com/unlisting and follow the instructions.
• GetContact: write to support@getcontact.com with the subject "Remove my data".
• Hiya: use form on the website hiya.com/opt-out.

Please note that the process may take up to 30 days, and some data (for example, reviews about you from other users) may remain in the system.

📵 Why does the identifier not block some spam calls?

There are several reasons:

1. The number is not yet entered into the database (especially relevant for new fraud schemes).
2. The call comes from virtual number (for example, through VoIP), which is difficult to track.
3. The level in the application settings is set too low filtering (for example, “Medium” instead of “High”).
4. The telecom operator does not transmit the correct one Caller ID (sometimes spammers replace it with legitimate numbers).

Solution: manually add the number to the blacklist and report it in the application.

💰 Is it worth paying for premium versions of identifiers?

It depends on your needs. Premium accounts (for example Truecaller Premium for 1,200 ₽/year) provide:

• 🔍 Extended information about the caller (for example, company address).
• 🚫 Blocking entire categories of numbers (for example, all collectors).
• 📊 Call statistics (how much spam was blocked per month).
• 🔄 Priority support.

For most users, the free features are enough. Premium makes sense if you:

• Receive >10 spam calls per day.
• Work with clients and need to check numbers before calling back.
• Want to block entire regions (for example, all international calls).

🛡️ Can you trust call detectors from a security point of view?

Conditionally yes, but with reservations:

• 🔹 Truecaller and GetContact are certified to ISO 27001 (security standard), but they collect a lot data.
• 🔹 Hiya positions itself as a “private” service and does not sell data to third parties.
• 🔹 Who called? from Mail.ru stores data on servers in Russia, which can be a plus or minus depending on your attitude to 152-FZ.

Recommendations for security:

1. Disable contact collection in the application settings.
2. Do not use the same password for the identifier and other services.
3. Regularly check what permissions the application gives (Settings → Applications → Permissions).