Yes, totally free spam blockers exist, primarily through built-in phone features (like Google's on Android or Apple's Messages on iOS), carrier services, and apps like Hiya or Truecaller (which offer robust free tiers for calls/SMS), though some apps have premium upgrades; for email, solutions like SPAMfighter or built-in Gmail filters work well without cost for basic needs.
Hiya - Caller ID & Block - Best Android Spam Blocker
Hiya Caller ID & Block is a Spam blocker app for Android phones that identifies the calls that the user must take and blocks the numbers and texts that must be avoided. Hiya is easy to use and it is free.
Hiya AI Phone is free to download for Android and iPhone users, with premium features available via subscription for $9.99 per month. Users can access a free two-week trial and cancel anytime through their app store settings.
The free version is limited to 1 email account, no recycle bin and limited preview pane and no support. Upgrade to MailWasher Pro to get unlimited email accounts, recycle bin, preview pane and support.
However, once that trial ends, continuing to use RoboKiller requires a paid subscription. While RoboKiller is effective at blocking robocalls and offers innovative features like answer bots, it's not a completely free solution for the long term.
It's much better to block spam calls and report them as spam rather than just deleting them, as blocking prevents future calls from that number and trains your carrier's filters, while deleting or declining just confirms your number is active, making you a target for more calls. Deleting or declining shows scammers your number is a valid, active mobile line, increasing your risk for more calls and potential fraud, so use built-in phone features, carrier services, or third-party apps to block unknown callers and mark spam.
Yes, Truecaller is free to download and use for basic caller ID, spam blocking, and messaging, but it contains ads and has usage limits; a paid Premium version removes ads and offers advanced features like Incognito Mode, better spam blocking, and who viewed your profile. The free version provides core functionality, while the paid subscription enhances the experience with more control and automation.
There isn't one single "most hacked" provider, but Gmail (Google) and Microsoft Outlook are the most targeted due to their massive user bases, making them prime targets for attackers, with reports showing massive increases in attempts against Gmail and Microsoft being the most impersonated brand in phishing. While these giants face high attack volumes, their security is robust; services like Proton Mail and Tuta (Tutanota) are considered more secure for privacy due to features like zero-access encryption, though they are less frequently targeted because of smaller user bases.
How To Get Fewer Spam Emails
MailWasher Free is free anti-spam software that works with all email programs to eliminate spam and viruses before they reach your computer.
Hiya Toys is a Chinese-based company that specializes in producing high-quality collectible figures and toys.
You'll be targeted by even more scammers
Answering just one spam call is a signal to scammers that you are willing to pick up the phone. So they'll keep calling you, sometimes from different phone numbers, trying to get you to answer again. They'll try different schemes, too, as they think you might be an easy target.
The Best Call Blocker for Seniors: CPR Call Blocker
Designed specifically for landline users, it effectively blocks scam calls while ensuring essential contacts can still reach your loved one. Preloaded with 10,000 scam numbers – Comes with an extensive database of known scam numbers, updated regularly.
Google Messages and your Phone app both have spam filters that can block unwanted calls and texts automatically. You can manually block and report spam numbers if something slips through the filters. Third-party apps like Truecaller or Hiya offer extra spam-blocking power if built-in tools aren't enough.
Robokiller's audio fingerprinting and real-time screening provide a far more effective defense than Hiya's standard blocking via caller ID, and our customizable block and allow lists ensure that important calls don't get caught up in the filter.
Dialing *77 activates Anonymous Call Rejection, blocking incoming calls from private or blocked numbers on landlines and some mobile services, making anonymous callers hear a message that you don't accept their calls. To turn it off, dial *87, and remember that this feature only blocks intentionally hidden numbers, not calls marked as "Unavailable" or "Out of Area," and can sometimes route to emergency services in certain areas or for specific carriers, so check with your provider.
The best course of action is to report them, so providers can develop better ways to identify harmful or unwanted messages. This will improve their chances of detecting them before they hit your inbox. Deleting these emails makes them useless to anyone.
The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls
The star code *60 is used by many network providers to help block spam calls. Simply dial *60 and follow the instructions to block either the most recent number or a specific number. Check with your provider to see if they offer this service. The star code *77 automatically rejects blocked or unidentified numbers.
Here are four types of emails you should never open.
The "most secure" email provider often comes down to Proton Mail and Tuta (formerly Tutanota), both offering strong end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and zero-access architecture, meaning only you and the recipient can read emails, with features like password-protected messages and self-destructing emails. While Proton Mail is known for its comprehensive ecosystem (VPN, storage) and Swiss jurisdiction, Tuta offers free, quantum-safe encryption and a focus on privacy. For professionals, Hushmail is HIPAA-compliant, and Fastmail offers strong Australian data sovereignty for businesses.
Lawyers say Truecaller could be violating POPIA
“The main risk stems from the fact that Truecaller uses personal information of non-users without directly notifying them that their details have been uploaded and are being used,” said Botes.
Truecaller is developed by True Software Scandinavia AB, a public company listed in Sweden with a head office in Stockholm, Sweden, founded by Alan Mamedi and Nami Zarringhalam in 2009, but most of its employees are in India. It was initially launched on Symbian and Windows Mobile on 1 July 2009.
What are the disadvantages of Truecaller? The major disadvantage of using services as Truecaller is that it can reveal personal details, such as phone numbers and names, to anyone with an internet connection.