PhoneBlock vs Who Called
PhoneBlock
phoneblock.netWho Called
who-called.comSide by side
| Figure | PhoneBlock | Who Called |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Call blocker apps | 8.2 (#8) | 8.1 (#9) |
| Spec score · Spam Call Blocking Apps | 7.8 (#16) | 7.4 (#23) |
| Community reports | Users can report spam numbers through the app, website, or personal blacklist, and reports are added to the shared blacklist. | People can report numbers anonymously without an account, and the maker says reports help protect the community. |
| Open source | The software is licensed under GPL-3.0. | The maker describes the app as open source and links to its public source-code repository. |
| Purpose | PhoneBlock automatically blocks unwanted advertising and spam calls using a community maintained database. | Who Called filters unwanted calls using an official telemarketer prefix list and community reports. |
| Support | The operator says users can contact him by email for help, including if their number was mistakenly added to the blocklist. | Support is available by email in French or English, with a usual reply time of 48 business hours. |
Plans
In their own words
PhoneBlock
PhoneBlock is a free call-blocking service that uses a community-maintained database to identify unwanted advertising and spam calls. Users can report numbers through the app, website, or personal blacklist, and reports join the shared blacklist. The Android app blocks known spam calls, keeps call history, and supports reports and personal lists; it requires Android 10 or later. For incoming calls, the Android app sends only the phone number’s SHA-1 hash and does not access contacts.
Landline users can choose a router dongle, a Fritz!Box cloud answering machine, or a blocklist phonebook synchronized through CardDAV. The documented iPhone setup syncs spam numbers into contacts through CardDAV; a native iPhone app is in development, and beta registration is available. Phone systems can download the blocklist in different formats or query it through an API. PhoneBlock is licensed under GPL-3.0 and operated as a private project. The operator accepts email requests for help, including for mistakenly listed numbers. PhoneBlock costs nothing, with donations optional; its terms advise against business use.
Who Called
Who Called filters unwanted calls with an official telemarketer prefix list and community reports. Its Android and iOS apps can block risky numbers before the phone rings on Android, while uncertain numbers can ring with a warning. The website lets people check an unknown number’s reputation and report it. Reports can be submitted anonymously without an account. An optional SMS shield hides notifications from unwanted messages without storing or transmitting message content. The maker says the apps have no account, ads or third-party trackers, and that user data is not sold or shared. Personal blocking rules, settings and the local call-filter log stay on the device and are removed when the app is uninstalled. Lookups and reports send information to the service; lookups are not stored, while reports are retained for at most 365 days. The API is hosted in the European Union and uses HTTPS/TLS encryption. Who Called is open source, free at free, and support is offered by email in French or English.