The FTC says it takes spam calls seriously, but its resources for actually stopping them are…slim. “Just block ‘em and report ‘em” only goes so far without any actual recommendations.
Robokiller
At $3.99 per month, Robokiller’s stellar reputation is definitely worth the cost, if you’re really bogged down by spam calls. You can screen calls with real-time transcription — something most free apps don’t offer.
Oh, and you can also let Ice-T (yes, that Ice-T) answer spam calls for you, if you so desire.
TrueCaller
TrueCaller has been around for more than a decade and boasts more than 250 million active users around the world. At $4.49 per month, it’s slightly more expensive to use than the other offerings on this list. It also includes a “smart lookup” database that provides info on any phone number.
Check with your carrier
Apps are useful for blocking most robocalls, but they can’t capture everything. If you’re dealing with repeated, targeted harrassment from a spam company, for example, it’s worth logging into the web portal for your carrier — or calling them directly — to flag the problem.
Bonus for Pixel owners
Pixel phones are a step ahead of the rest of the crowd in blocking spam. Pixel owners can turn on a feature called “Call Screen” that will transcribe the audio of unknown calls before you pick them up.
Turn on Call Screen in the Pixel’s Phone app settings by navigating to the Spam and Call Screen menu.
Add yourself to the Do Not Call database
No matter your preferred method of spam-blocking, it’s a good idea to add your name to the National Do Not Call registry. Technically it only covers telemarketers, so it won’t stop everything — and even telemarketers ignore the registry at times. Still, it’s easy and free, so it’s worth adding your name there nonetheless.
You can add your name at DoNotCall.gov.