Affiliate Disclaimer Have you been receiving calls from an unknown phone number? Maybe it’s an old friend or family member. But what if it’s harassment or spam callers, telemarketers, robocalls, or even scammers? Better to know who this number is registered to for your safety and calmness. There are different methods to know the unknown caller – with free search, messengers, and special reverse phone lookup services.
Note: There’s no mandatory SIM card registration in the US. Hence, when an unregistered number calls, the caller ID will only show the number without the caller’s name. You can’t know who is calling unless the person’s phone number is registered.
Enter The Phone Number And Discover Its Owner Right Now
- Phone Lookup
- Number Tracking
Our HeyLocate team tried all methods and are ready to share the results. Please remember, if you’re receiving threats or harassment calls, it’s important to contact the police. You can file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center if the stalker calls through an online application like Whatsapp.
Top Pick Based on Our Research
You can read this review further, but if it’s too long, here are our top 3 services to find out who a certain number is registered to:
This service can help you prevent online scams by letting you know the person behind a phone number. It has over 60,000 5-Star reviews based on ratings from actual TruthFinder reports.
? Intelius
Intelius can save you from browsing phone directories by giving you fast and quick results about a person. Its detailed reports include the owner of a phone number and even their criminal records.
? Spokeo
Spokeo has both online and public records, so if you’re worried that a number belongs to a catfisher, you can find out this information with this service.
Table of Best Tools to Check the Phone Number Owner
Here is a comparison table of the best reverse phone lookup tools. We’ve included the prices and the information you can get about the phone number for free. When you pay for any of these services, you can find out any information available on the web about a phone number and the person behind it.
We say that phone numbers are like fingerprints and the eye into any individual. So, before you ring anyone back, use these tools to find out who is calling you.
| Service | What Info You Can Get for Free | App | Price | Trial | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TruthFinder | n/a | Android/iOS | $4.99 -$29.73 | $1 for 5-day trial | 4.9 |
| Intelius | Phone number type Location | Android/iOS | $34.95/mo | 6-day trial for $0.95 | 4.8 |
| Spokeo | n/a | Android | $19.95/mo | 7-day trial for $0.95 | 4.8 |
| Instant Checkmate | Carrier type Location | Android/iOS | $5.99/mo | n/a | 4.7 |
| USSearch | Phone number’s carrier Location Line type | – | $19.95/mo $49.85 per quarter | n/a | 4.7 |
| BeenVerified | n/a | Android | $26.89/mo | Casual 7-day trial – $1 Plus 7-day trial – $5 | 4.8 |
| PeopleLooker | n/a | Android | $22.86/mo $18.28/mo paid quaterly | n/a | 4.7 |
| PeopleSmart | n/a | – | $2.95 – Basic $29.95/mo – Pro $59.95/mo – Unlimited | Casual 7-day trial – $1 Plus 7-day trial – $5 | 4.6 |
| NumberGuru | n/a | Android/iOS | $29.99/mo | $1 7-day trial $5 7-day trial with PDF downloads | 4.7 |
| White Pages | Owner’s name Spam risk Number type | Android/iOS | $9.99 – single report $4.99/mo – Premium $20.99/mo – Business $29.98 – Enhanced Background Report Paid Once | 5-day trial for $1 | 4.8 |
| NumLookup | Owner’s name Carrier Phone type Risk summary | Android | Free | n/a | 4.7 |
| TrueCaller | Owner’s name Carrier Location | Android/iOS | Free $4.99/mo $14.99/mo for 6 months | n/a | 4.8 |
Start with Search Through Google And Social Media
If someone has left their phone number online, Google can help you find out who they are. First, input their number on the Google search bar in quotes and click enter.
Google will return the results of the person who’s registered to that number. It can also show you the websites where the cell phone number has been reported for scamming or spoofing.
For example, this phone number returned multiple results from different websites. I clicked on the first result and found details about the person behind the number. This information included details about their address and associates. It also provided a list of people with the same name and her closest neighbors. This report provided insight into the person, allowing me to understand who they were before calling them back.
Another simple and free method of knowing who an unknown number is registered to is by using social media sites. You can search for the number on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. to see if anyone is associated with that number.
Use WhatsApp or Snapchat to Check the Phone Number
WhatsApp and Snapchat store information associated with phone numbers. If you receive a call from an unknown phone number, save it on your contact list and then head to WhatsApp or Snapchat.
On there, search for the number in your contact list and choose “send message” to see the information available about the number, like what I found out with this number that I saved as unknown. I used WhatsApp to discover who they were and found out it was a telemarketer calling me earlier.
Check Who Is This Number Registered To With Reverse Phone Lookup
There are lots of reverse phone lookup services in the USA. Most claim they can help you identify the owner of a phone number. We tried the most popular ones to find out if their claims are true.
TruthFinder
TruthFinder is a people search engine that helps people find official government records online.
The company has 8 m+ users, uses 350 m+ public records, social media, and deep web searches to provide an in-depth report of the person you are searching.
What Information You Can Get:
- personal details like the person’s age;
- possible images of the person;
- possible relatives;
- associates;
- full contact details;
- location history;
- traffic and criminal records;
- sex offender information;
- social profiles;
- business profiles, licenses, and finances.
Price:
$4.99 -$29.73.
User Experience:
I first used the free TruthFinder version to see if it could turn up any information. However, it went through a long process of indicating it was searching for the number’s owner and the possible information I could find out. The last stage revealed blacked-out results that I needed to pay for.
I paid for a subscription plan, and TruthFinder searched its database for the owner of the phone number. It revealed a couple of results. I looked into the first one, which showed the person’s name.
Upon clicking on the full background report, TruthFinder gave me the person’s contact info, location history, criminal & traffic records, business and social media profiles, and sex offenders’ information.
TruthFinder also has an app for Android (with 1m+ downloads, updated on Apr 10, 2023) and TruthFinder app for iOS (4.6 stars) to conduct reverse phone lookups, but you can’t use it to identify unknown callers or block numbers.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 5 |
Pros:
- searches are private, and the person is not notified;
- provides detailed information about a person;
- obtains information from various sources;
- monthly plans start at $4.99.
Cons:
- it does not offer free reverse phone lookup;
- lacks a discounted annual plan.
Intelius
Intelius is a credible background check service. Infospace founded the tool in Seattle in 2003, and it has an A+ rating on Better Business Bureau. One of its affiliates, anywho.com, leads to this reverse phone lookup service.
What Information You Can Get:
- personal information, including date of birth;
- known aliases;
- possible photos;
- all licenses information;
- criminal & traffic records;
- businesses;
- sex offenders info.
Price:
- $34.95/mo;
- 6-day trial for $0.95.
User Experience:
Intelius free search took around five minutes to finalize. It only provided the person’s general location and that the phone’s number’ was a landline with the free search.
However, the paid search provided the results I was looking for. During my experimenting with it, Intelius presented me with the name of the phone number’s owner and their other contact details, location history, criminal records, and other owner information.
The Intelius app for Android (updated on 4th November, 2022; with 100k+ downloads) and Intelius for iOS (with 4.5 stars) allows you to do reverse phone lookups on mobile devices, but it does not help to identify calls as the person calls. Moreover, you won’t be able to use the app to block unknown callers.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 5 |
Pros:
- carries out background checks on anyone;
- delivers private reports;
- paid results are speedy;
- can run a phone number search on any 10-digit number.
Cons:
- pricing is not straightforward when you start a search;
- does not reveal the phone number’s owner with a free search.
Spokeo
Spokeo can help you find the information you wouldn’t otherwise know with just a phone number. The company was founded by four Stanford University students in 2006. It claims to have:
- 130 million property records;
- 6 billion consumer records;
- 3.9 billion historical records;
- 600 million court records;
- 89 million business records;
- 120+ social networks.
What Information You Can Get:
- full contact information;
- court records;
- homeowner’s information;
- social media report;
- historical records.
Price:
$19.95/mo.
User Experience:
Spokeo is another simple reverse phone number lookup service that helped me find who is an unknown number registered to. I first tried the free option and found out none of the information was free.
I then purchased a trial for $0.95. After this, Spokeo gave me a detailed report that gave me the owner’s full name, current address, family members, address history, phone type, and phone carrier.
During my test, it took less than three minutes to get results with Spokeo. Here is Spokeo’s video how to use its phone number lookup.
I like that Spokeo has an app (with 4.1 stars and 100k+ downloads) that can identify unknown callers and block scammers and telemarketers. However, the app is only available for Android.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 5 |
Pros:
- plans are reasonably priced;
- offers unlimited PDF downloads;
- pulls data from 12 billion records;
- customer service is available every day.
Cons:
- you have to call to unsubscribe;
- some services attract add-on fees.
Instant Checkmate
Instant Checkmate allows users to feel safe before venturing into meeting new people. It allows you to find out more about a person using their phone number, name, or address.
What Information You Can Get:
- owner’s name and address;
- possible relatives;
- photos and videos;
- social media profiles;
- possible associates;
- address history;
- location data.
Price:
$5.99/mo.
User Experience:
Instant Checkmate proved to be a useful tool for finding out the owner of an unregistered number. It allowed me to conduct a reverse phone lookup, which led to the subscription page for the full phone report. Instant Checkmate then presented its findings with one result of the possible owner, followed by a full background report.
It took longer than five minutes to get results with Instant Checkmate. However, it could retrieve data not on other search engines, such as someone’s dating profiles. It also has Instant CheckMate mobile app available for iOS (4.7 stars) and Android (4.4 stars, 500k+ downloads). During my testing, it allowed me to check phone numbers on the go. Nonetheless, it can’t block scammers or show a caller ID.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 5 |
Pros:
- accesses multiple searchable databases;
- offers different support options like Facebook, FAQs, help desk, and phone support;
- can search any number, including landline phone numbers;
- up-to-date information.
Cons:
- report preparation is slow;
- you cannot buy one report.
USSearch
USSearch is an online search engine that is over 25 years in business and gives access to people’s searches and background checks.
It also abides by the fair credit reporting act; hence you cannot use the information to determine health insurance, employment, or other uses afforded by credit reporting companies.
What Information You Can Get:
- owner’s full names;
- full contact details;
- social media information;
- possible photos.
Price:
- $19.95/mo;
- $49.85 per quarter.
User Experience:
While USSearch is not completely free, it showed the owner’s location, phone carrier, and phone number type for free. A paid search revealed the person’s name, social networks, property records, address history, and criminal records.
It also showed me their aliases and associates, misdemeanors, lawsuits, and sex offender data. The last is important as, according to Safehome.org, more than 786,000 US people are currently listed on states’ sex offender registries (as of February 2023).
So, my search took less than three minutes, providing access to data I couldn’t otherwise access in such a short time. As my test showed, the only drawback is that it does not have an app to check unknown phone numbers on the go.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 5 |
Pros:
- basic searches are free;
- report includes full contact information;
- it does not notify the unknown caller;
- can perform three types of searches.
Cons:
- works only with a North American phone number;
- one subscription does not give access to all add-ons.
BeenVerified
BeenVerified is a website that helps users access a searchable database. It can find information from mobile phone numbers, addresses, and names.
What Information You Can Get:
- owner of unknown phone calls;
- current address;
- businesses;
- person’s age;
- social media accounts;
- email addresses.
Price:
$17.48 – $26.89/mo.
User Experience:
BeenVerified was a good option to find out more about a number. During my testing, it helped me identify whether an unknown caller was legitimate or a scam. After about two minutes of search, BeenVerified produced search results that included the owner’s full name, location, social media accounts, and email addresses.
The phone number search is not as detailed as searching with a name. I liked that the search only took a few minutes. There’s also BeenVerified app available for Android (3.7 stars, 1m+ downloads, updated on Apr 3, 2023) that helps you check phone numbers. I could update my phone book by identifying scammers through the app.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.9 |
Pros:
- shows available background information about the unknown caller;
- consolidates data from public sources;
- one subscription can run up to 100 reports per month;
- customer support is quite responsive.
Cons:
- reverse phone search does not have lots of information;
- you cannot pay per report.
PeopleLooker
PeopleLooker is based in New York. It can produce current and past information about anyone. It compiles information from local, federal, and social media sources.
What Information You Can Get:
- phone number’s owner and aliases;
- criminal records;
- known relatives;
- public photos;
- social media information.
Price:
- $18.28/mo;
- $14.62/mo paid quarterly.
User Experience:
PeopleLooker reverse phone number lookup does not compile reports for free. As such, I needed to pay for a 7-day trial to get results for the phone number I was searching.
The search took around three minutes to produce results. The wait time was reasonable, and the report was comprehensive.
The PeopleLooker standard report included who the phone number is registered to, their aliases, location, and known relatives. It also provided information about sex offenders in the person’s area code.
PeopleLooker has an Android app (3.7 stars, 100k+ downloads, updated on Feb 3, 2023), ideal for cell phones and other mobile devices. Still, you won’t be able to identify unknown incoming calls, but you can do so before calling the person back.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.8 |
Pros:
- in-depth search using the unknown number only;
- conducts private searches;
- finds information from social media sites too.
Cons:
- does not have deep web searches;
- lacks live customer support.
PeopleSmart
PeopleSmart is a highly-rated reverse phone lookup service popular among social media users. CloudFlare, Inc hosts the website and has an estimated 15.1K visits per month.
What Information You Can Get:
- social media information;
- phone numbers;
- personal and work emails;
- company name;
- employment history.
Price:
- $2.95 – basic;
- $29.95/mo – pro;
- $59.95/mo – unlimited.
User Experience:
PeopleSmart was another fantastic option for finding out who an unknown number registered to in a few steps. I entered the number of a missed call on the search bar, and it started a reverse lookup.
It completed the search in less than three minutes, and I promptly got what I needed. Some of the information in the comprehensive report was the full names of the owner of that particular number, their email addresses, and location details.
My research showed that PeopleSmart does not produce any free results. Furthermore, it does not have an app with caller ID.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 |
Pros:
- organizes all search results;
- updates users when the records change;
- you can reach the company through phone, email, or postal mail;
- offers detailed background service.
Cons:
- in-depth reports can be expensive in the long run;
- does not have the option to pay for a single report.
NumberGuru
NumberGuru aims to help users identify unknown callers and unidentified phone numbers. This website lists 50% of mobile phone numbers and 99% of landline numbers. For you to understand, according to Statista, in 2021, there were approximately 97.11 million fixed telephone line subscriptions in the United States. Not only older people, but plenty of companies use them, for sure.
What Information You Can Get:
- spam comments;
- background reports;
- photos and contact info;
- criminal records;
- address info.
Price:
$29.99/mo.
User Experience:
NumberGuru is available as a website and as an app. The website was fantastic in identifying the number. The first thing I did was type the number I wanted in the search bar. I then hit search, and NumberGuru initiated a search.
After completing this search, NumberGuru indicated it had the results, and I needed to pay for them. This reverse phone lookup search engine showed the owner’s name, locations, and associates. There was also an option to explore background reports.
The NumberGuru Android app has 4.2 stars and 10k+ downloads on PlayStore, while it was updated on Oct 13, 2022. NumberGuru iOS version was also updated on Oct 17, 2022 after minor bugs reporting.
This app allowed me to comment and tag a telephone number as a telemarketer. In addition, I could add top spammers in my phonebook, so if someone called me from those numbers, I immediately knew they were spam.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.7 |
Pros:
- can search any number;
- shows spam reports;
- shows the location of spam numbers;
- the app can help to update your phonebook.
Cons:
- customer service is only available on business days;
- other services attract additional charges.
White Pages
White Pages helps you find anyone, even with insufficient information. It has a few different ways of searching for a person, including reverse phone lookup, address, and name lookups.
What Information You Can Get:
- owner’s details;
- owner’s address;
- full address history;
- relatives and associates;
- background report;
- property records.
Price:
- $9.99 – single report;
- $4.99/mo – premium;
- $20.99/mo – business;
- $29.98 – enhanced background report paid once.
User Experience:
Using White Pages was quite simple. I got the answer to my search in seconds. White Pages offered reverse phone lookup free since it revealed the owner’s name without paying for a subscription. It also showed that the number was a landline number, and it was a low spam risk.
During my test, the search was a few seconds long and the shortest among all the reverse phone lookup sites I tried.
White Pages also has an app that can help you update your contacts and know the owner of an unidentified phone number. WhitePages App for iOS was updated on Apr 15, 2023, and WhitePages Android app (5m+ downloads) – on Apr 17th.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5 |
Pros:
- no customer funnel to lead users into paying for a subscription;
- offers some free information;
- reveals data from credible sources;
- extensive court records data.
Cons:
- only free basic searches;
- payment options are not clear.
NumLookup
NumLookup is a completely free reverse phone lookup service. It can look up any number in the US while providing free and accurate results.
What Information You Can Get:
- owner’s name;
- phone type;
- phone carrier;
- risk summary.
Price:
Free.
User Experience:
NumLookup has a pretty easy-to-use interface. I typed in the number and hit search. NumLookup returned results with the owner’s name, phone type, carrier, and a risk summary. It indicated that level 3 Communications service the number, and being a landline, its risk of being spam was low.
NumLookup has an Android app to do reverse phone lookups for free. It can look up any number, whether a cell phone, landline, or fax number. It can reveal the caller ID, zip code, and city or state of the unknown number.
NumLookup works for Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Singapore, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, and India.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 5 |
Pros:
- completely free reverse lookup;
- no registration is required;
- it can make calls to an unknown number.
Cons:
- offers only basic details.
TrueCaller
TrueCaller is a free service that shows you a caller’s name even if they are not on your contact list. It can give you information about telemarketers and spam calls.
What Information You Can Get:
- owner’s name;
- spam information;
- location details.
Price:
- free, $2.99/mo;
- $14.99 for six months.
User Experience:
Truecaller was one of the most straightforward reverse phone lookup tools I used. After opening the website, it asked me to sign up, which I did. I then input the number in the search bar and Trucaller gave me an instant report showing the name of the possible owner of the number and the owner’s location.
The Truecaller app helps you know a caller, not in your phonebook, like spam callers and marketers. It helped me block unwanted calls. It can be the ultimate help when you want to know who this number is registered to for free.
On Apr 24th, 2023, Truecaller announced a big update for iOS app with better SMS filtering and live Caller ID. Truecaller Android app is also very popular with 1b+ downloads and updated on Apr 21.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 5 |
Pros:
- efficient at identifying unwanted callers;
- extensive spam listings;
- can block calls and SMS.
Cons:
- does not have detailed reports about a caller;
- does not store blocked SMS.
Note: There are lots of famous affiliates of the main reverse lookup services that I have discussed here. These affiliates lead back to tools like Intelius, Spokeo, and Instant Checkmate. Some of them include the following:
- Cocofinder
- TruePeopleSearch
- PeopleFinderFree
- FastPeopleSearch
- FindPeopleFast
- USPhoneLookup
- USPhoneSearch
- NumLooker
How to Block Unknown Numbers on Android and iOS
Here are the instructions on how to block unknown numbers on iOS and Android.
Conclusion
Don’t wonder who called you from an unknown phone number. Our top reverse phone lookup tools will help you find out who is this number is registered to and know their full details.
TruthFinder, our top choice, can help you learn more about someone you met online. Spokeo also includes criminal records to know who you’re dealing with. Lastly, Intelius can access online and offline records; hence it’s your best bet for a well-detailed report.
If you’re not sure about the best option, the HeyLocate search engine can connect you with the best option for your device and region with the help of AI. All you need to do is to create an account to try out its services. I hope you’ll know who called you from an unknown number from my top-researched tools.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can find out who a number belongs to by performing a reverse phone lookup with different online services. For example, TruthFinder can reveal more than just the owner’s name.
TrueCaller and NumLookup allow searching for a number for free. The only drawback is that you’ll get basic information about the person. Better to pay minimal payment and get full report with TruthFinder.
Services that offer 100% free phone lookup only show you the owner’s name and perhaps their location. A paid search engine is your best choice for a detailed report.
You can Google search for a phone number to get to the websites that have information about the number. However, you’ll likely find insufficient information from these sites.
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