--- title: "Is there an app that blocks spam calls?" url: https://isthereathing.com/an-app-that-blocks-spam-calls/ answer: "yes" summary: "Yes: Google's Phone app, iPhone settings, Truecaller, Hiya and some UK networks all flag or block spam calls. Google itself says not all spam calls and robocalls can be detected." category: "Safety & privacy" published: 2026-10-02 updated: 2026-10-02 author: "Jack Stovell" publisher: "Adapt Progress Evolve Limited" language: en-GB --- # Is there an app that blocks spam calls? **Answer: yes.** Yes: Google's Phone app, iPhone settings, Truecaller, Hiya and some UK networks all flag or block spam calls. Google itself says not all spam calls and robocalls can be detected. (Source: [Google Phone app Help: Screen your calls before you answer them](https://support.google.com/phoneapp/answer/9118387)) Yes. Your iPhone's settings, Google's Phone app, Truecaller, Hiya and some UK networks all flag or block spam calls, though Google itself says not all spam calls and robocalls can be detected. Which one suits you mostly comes down to what phone and network you're already on. ## The shortlist ### iPhone Silence Unknown Callers and Call Screening Built-in iPhone settings (Screen Unknown Callers, set to Silence) that silence calls from numbers not in your contacts and send them to voicemail, plus call screening that asks callers to say why they are calling. - Link: https://support.apple.com/en-us/111106 - Free tier: yes. Built into the Phone settings; no separate price. - Paid from: not checked (no separate price) - Best at: Needing no extra app: Apple says Silence Unknown Callers automatically silences calls from numbers not in your contacts and sends them to voicemail. - The catch: Apple advises adding expected callers such as family, friends, your child's school or your doctor's office to Contacts so their calls ring, and says calls are not screened while you are roaming. - Platforms: ios - Source: [Apple Support: Manage unknown callers on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/en-us/111106) ### Google Phone app: caller ID and spam protection Caller ID and spam protection in Google's Phone app, with warnings about potential spam callers and, on Pixel phones, Call Screen. - Link: https://support.google.com/phoneapp/answer/3459196 - Free tier: yes. Built into the Phone app on supported Android devices (Android 6.0 and up for basic caller ID and spam protection). - Paid from: not checked (no separate price) - Best at: Warning you about likely spam callers: Google says it gives information about callers outside your contacts or warnings about potential spam callers. - The catch: Google says not all spam calls and robocalls can be detected, and its numbers of unknown callers are sent to Google for identification. Call Screen is mainly for Pixel phones and does not screen calls automatically while roaming; on phones without automatic Call Screen you can turn on 'Filter spam calls', which means no missed call or voicemail notifications for filtered calls, though they stay in your call history. - Platforms: android - Source: [Google Phone app Help: Use caller ID and spam protection](https://support.google.com/phoneapp/answer/3459196?hl=en-GB_ALL) ### Truecaller Caller ID and spam-blocking app that says it identifies and blocks spam calls and helps search unknown numbers. - Link: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/truecaller-block-spam-calls/id448142450 - Free tier: no. Free to download, but the UK App Store listing says caller ID and spam blocking on iPhone need a paid subscription. - Paid from: £2.99 per month (UK App Store, checked 2026-10-02: Premium £2.99 a month or £19.90 a year; Family £5.19 a month; Gold £179.99) - Best at: Identifying unknown numbers: the App Store listing describes spam detection plus a search for unknown numbers. - The catch: Its UK App Store privacy label lists data linked to you, including purchases, location, contact information, search history and identifiers, and the listing carries user reviews saying some blocked numbers still get through. - Platforms: ios - Source: [Truecaller on the UK App Store](https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/truecaller-block-spam-calls/id448142450) ### Hiya Spam-blocking and caller ID app. - Link: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/hiya-spam-blocker-caller-id/id986999874 - Free tier: not verified. Free to download with in-app purchases (UK App Store); which features are free is not stated. - Paid from: £2.99 per month (Lookup Plan) (UK App Store, checked 2026-10-02; Premium monthly £3.49 to £3.99, quarterly £9.99, yearly £22.49 to £24.49) - Best at: Caller ID and spam warnings, per its UK App Store listing. - The catch: The UK App Store listing says its AI voice detection and intelligent call screening are only available in the United States and Canada, and that features vary by device, OS, carrier and plan. - Platforms: ios - Source: [Hiya on the UK App Store](https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/hiya-spam-blocker-caller-id/id986999874) ### Vodafone Scam Call Protection A network-level feature of Vodafone's Secure Net Mobile that flags scam, spam and nuisance calls on screen before you answer. - Link: https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/press-release/ai-powered-scam-call-protection-secure-net/ - Free tier: no. Free for the first three months for Vodafone customers, then paid. - Paid from: £2 per month (Vodafone press release, checked 2026-10-02: £2 a month after three free months; launched 15 April 2026) - Best at: Working with nothing to download: Vodafone says it works automatically in the background for Secure Net Mobile customers. - The catch: Only for Vodafone mobile customers, and it is part of Secure Net Mobile, which costs £2 a month after the first three months free. - Platforms: network - Source: [Vodafone UK: Scam Call Protection press release](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/press-release/ai-powered-scam-call-protection-secure-net/) ### O2 Call Defence An O2 network feature that checks phone numbers and tells you when a call might be a scam or spam, alongside Brand ID for genuine business callers. - Link: https://www.o2.co.uk/help/safety-and-security/fraud-scams-and-unwanted-calls/nuisance-calls-and-texts - Free tier: yes. Free to eligible O2 customers (Pay Monthly custom plans, SIM Only plans, O2 Business accounts). - Paid from: not checked (no extra cost, per O2) - Best at: Showing a warning for possible scam or spam calls at no extra cost to eligible O2 customers, automatically, with no action needed to turn it on. - The catch: Only for O2 Pay Monthly custom plans, SIM Only plans or O2 Business accounts, and iPhone users need iOS 18 or later. - Platforms: network - Source: [O2: nuisance calls and texts](https://www.o2.co.uk/help/safety-and-security/fraud-scams-and-unwanted-calls/nuisance-calls-and-texts) ## How they compare ### If you're on an iPhone You don't need an app at all. Apple's Silence Unknown Callers (find it under Screen Unknown Callers in the Phone settings, set to Silence) sends calls from numbers not in your contacts straight to voicemail. There's call screening too, which asks the caller to say why they're ringing. It has no separate price. The catch is that it's a blunt tool. Apple says to add the people you expect to hear from, such as family, friends, your child's school or your doctor's office, to Contacts so their calls still ring. Miss one and a wanted call goes to voicemail with the spam. Apple also says calls aren't screened while you're roaming. So you risk missing wanted calls from numbers you haven't saved, and get no screening abroad, in exchange for paying nothing. ### If you're on Android Google's Phone app does caller ID and spam protection, and it's built in on supported Android devices (Android 6.0 and up for the basics). It gives you information about callers outside your contacts, or warns you when a call might be spam. Again, there's no separate price. Google itself says not all spam calls and robocalls can be detected, so some will still get through. It also says the numbers of unknown callers are sent to Google for identification, which is worth knowing if that bothers you. Call Screen is mainly for Pixel phones and doesn't screen calls automatically while roaming. On phones without automatic Call Screen you can turn on Filter spam calls instead, so you get no missed call or voicemail notifications for filtered calls, though they stay in your call history. ### If you're with O2 O2 Call Defence checks phone numbers and tells you when a call might be a scam or spam, with Brand ID alongside it for genuine business callers. For eligible customers it costs nothing extra, and O2 says the labels appear automatically, with nothing to turn on. Eligible means Pay Monthly custom plans, SIM Only plans or O2 Business accounts, and iPhone users need iOS 18 or later. If you're outside those, it isn't for you. ### If you want number lookup or a paid service Truecaller's App Store listing describes a search for unknown numbers as well as spam detection. Its UK listing says caller ID and spam blocking on iPhone need a paid subscription, though. Hiya is free to download with in-app purchases, from £2.99 a month for its Lookup Plan. The listing doesn't say which features are free, and it says AI voice detection and intelligent call screening are only available in the United States and Canada. Features also vary by device, OS, carrier and plan, so check what you'd get before paying. Vodafone's Scam Call Protection is a network version. It flags scam, spam and nuisance calls on screen before you answer, working automatically in the background for Secure Net Mobile customers. It's only for Vodafone mobile customers, and Secure Net Mobile costs £2 a month after the first three months free. ### When paying is worth it On an iPhone, Truecaller Premium is £2.99 a month or £19.90 a year, and its UK listing says you need a subscription for spam blocking there. That makes sense mainly if you want number lookup on top of what the built-in settings do. If a free option already covers your phone or network, start there. ## What to watch for Truecaller's UK privacy label lists data linked to you, including purchases, location, contact information, search history and identifiers, so read it before you sign up. The listing also carries user reviews saying some blocked numbers still get through, so don't expect a clean sweep from any of these. The Telephone Preference Service is free to join, and Citizens Advice calls registering the best way to reduce nuisance calls, but it says it won't stop scammers or automated marketing calls. ## How we checked On 2026-10-02 we read Apple's Manage unknown callers page, Google's Phone app help pages for caller ID and spam protection and for Call Screen, and the UK App Store listings for Truecaller and Hiya. We also read Vodafone's Scam Call Protection press release, O2's nuisance calls help page, BT's Call Protect help page, EE's nuisance calls guide and Citizens Advice's guide. Truecaller's own site refused our fetch. Nothing was hands-on tested, so this is what those pages say. ## If none of these fit On a landline, BT Call Protect is a free service for BT home phone customers. It sends known nuisance callers, and any numbers you add (up to 100), to a junk voicemail. Registering with the Telephone Preference Service is free, though Citizens Advice says it won't stop scammers or automated marketing calls. You can forward scam texts to 7726, which Citizens Advice says is free and reports the sender to your network. O2 also says you can report nuisance calls to nuisance@telefonica.com. ## Also typed as - is there an app that can block spam calls - is there an app that stops spam calls ## Related questions - [Is there a website that can check if a link is safe?](https://isthereathing.com/a-website-that-can-check-if-a-link-is-safe/) - [Is there an app that can detect hidden cameras?](https://isthereathing.com/an-app-that-can-detect-hidden-cameras/) ## Sources - [Apple Support: Manage unknown callers on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/en-us/111106) (checked 2026-10-02) - [Google Phone app Help: Use caller ID and spam protection](https://support.google.com/phoneapp/answer/3459196?hl=en-GB_ALL) (checked 2026-10-02) - [Google Phone app Help: Screen your calls before you answer them](https://support.google.com/phoneapp/answer/9118387) (checked 2026-10-02) - [Truecaller on the UK App Store](https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/truecaller-block-spam-calls/id448142450) (checked 2026-10-02) - [Hiya on the UK App Store](https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/hiya-spam-blocker-caller-id/id986999874) (checked 2026-10-02) - [Vodafone UK: Scam Call Protection press release](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/press-release/ai-powered-scam-call-protection-secure-net/) (checked 2026-10-02) - [O2: nuisance calls and texts](https://www.o2.co.uk/help/safety-and-security/fraud-scams-and-unwanted-calls/nuisance-calls-and-texts) (checked 2026-10-02) - [Citizens Advice: stop getting nuisance calls and texts](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/phone-internet-downloads-or-tv/stop-getting-nuisance-calls-and-texts/) (checked 2026-10-02) - [BT: BT Call Protect](https://www.bt.com/help/landline/calling-features-and-security/bt-call-protect-help-with-nuisance-calls) (checked 2026-10-02) - [EE: how to stop nuisance calls](https://ee.co.uk/tech/buying-guides/how-to-stop-nuisance-calls) (checked 2026-10-02) ## Questions people ask ### Does the Telephone Preference Service stop spam calls? Citizens Advice says registering is free and the best way to reduce nuisance calls, but it will not stop automated marketing calls or calls from scammers. ### How do I report a scam text in the UK? Forward it to 7726, which spells SPAM on a phone keypad. Citizens Advice says this reports the sender to your mobile network and you are not charged for forwarding it. ### Is BT Call Protect an app? No. BT describes it as a service for BT home phone (landline) customers, managed online or by dialling 1572, and it is free. It sends suspected nuisance calls to a junk voicemail that holds 20 messages. ### Does Silence Unknown Callers block calls I want? It can, because it silences any number not in your contacts. Apple suggests adding people such as family, friends, your child's school or your doctor's office to Contacts so their calls ring normally.