01 / REFUSE
Known scammers never ring
Numbers on PhoneShield's shared scam list and numbers with repeated complaints in the FTC's daily Do Not Call data are refused before the phone rings.
Spam call blocker for iPhone, Android and landlines
The call blocker that answers before your phone rings.
Blocking numbers only stops the scammers someone has already reported. PhoneShield refuses those too, then answers everyone else: a front desk asks who is calling and why, turns away sales and scam calls, and rings you only for people you want to hear from.
Not another spam list
Blocking numbers can't keep up. Answering the call can.
A block list catches a number once enough people have reported it. By then the call center has moved to new numbers, often faked to look local, which is why the calls keep coming after you block them one by one. PhoneShield doesn't need to have seen a number before: anyone who isn't one of your people has to say who they are before your phone rings.
| The call | Blocking by number | PhoneShield |
|---|---|---|
| A number already reported as spam | Blocked or labeled | Refused before the phone rings |
| A scammer on a brand-new or faked local number | Rings you, usually with no warning | Answered first and asked who is calling and why |
| A hidden number (No Caller ID) | Rings you, or is blocked along with your doctor's office | Screened like any unknown caller |
| Family and favorites | Ring as usual | Ring straight through |
| A caller with something to say | Voicemail | A message taken by the assistant, summarized in the app |
| A parent's landline | Not covered | Forward it and it is protected the same way |
Protect my phone $29.99 a month, cancel any time.
Real calls this week
What PhoneShield did with them.
Calls to PhoneShield lines on October 11 and 12, with names and numbers removed. The scam and sales calls never rang; the people with a real reason did.
Unknown numberAutomated message pitching a personal loan
Unknown number“There's a verification issue on your Google business listing”
Unknown numberA sales call about online advertising
Her sonGave his name and asked for his mom
A favoriteRang straight through, no questions asked
Unknown numberCalling about an airline ticket
What happens to a call
Three checks before your phone rings.
02 / LET THROUGH
Family rings straight through
Favorites ring you like any call, and so can the contacts you save. Nobody you know has to learn anything new or press a button.
03 / ASK
Everyone else says who they are
The front desk asks unknown callers their name and why they are calling. Sales pitches and scam scripts are declined. A real caller rings you with their name on the screen, or leaves a message with the assistant.
Four minutes
The tale of two calls.
A scammer and a daughter call the same phone, and only one gets through. Four minutes on what PhoneShield does with each call, and why your parent keeps their number, their phone and their habits.
On your phone
Works with the phone you already have.
PhoneShield sits in front of your number, so you keep your number and your phone and set call forwarding once.
Call blocker for iPhone
Calls that pass the front desk ring the PhoneShield app like any phone call, with the caller's name on the screen, and every call is listed with what happened and why. Download on the App Store
Call blocker for Android
The same on Android: calls that pass ring the PhoneShield app with the caller's name, even with the app closed or the screen locked. Get it on Google Play
A parent's landline
Forward the landline the same way. Calls that pass ring a mobile phone or a family member's app, so a parent never has to judge a stranger on the phone. Scam calls on a landline
What $29.99 a month buys
A front desk on your number day and night, an assistant with 150 minutes a month, the shared scam list and FTC data, the app and family summaries. Cancel any time. See pricing
Questions people ask
Before you choose a call blocker.
Is PhoneShield a call blocker app?
It does a call blocker's job and more. Known scam numbers are refused before your phone rings, like any blocker. Then, instead of letting every other number through, PhoneShield answers it: a front desk asks who is calling and why, turns away sales and scam calls, and rings you only for people you want to hear from.
How is it different from blocking spam numbers?
Blocking only works on numbers someone has already reported, and scam call centers change numbers every day. PhoneShield doesn't need to have seen a number before: a caller who isn't one of your contacts has to say who they are and why they are calling before your phone rings.
What do I get for $29.99 a month?
A front desk that answers every unknown caller on your number, day and night; an assistant who answers questions and takes messages, with 150 minutes a month included; PhoneShield's shared scam list and the FTC's daily complaint data; the app, with every call and why it was handled the way it was; and daily or weekly summaries for the family. Or pay $299 a year and get two months free.
Will I miss real calls?
Favorites ring straight through, and so can anyone you save as a contact. An unknown caller who gives a name and a real reason either rings you or leaves a message with the assistant, depending on the mode you choose. Every call is listed in the app with what happened and why.
Does it work on iPhone, Android and landlines?
Yes. PhoneShield sits in front of your number, so it works on any phone you can forward. Calls that pass ring the PhoneShield app on iPhone and Android with the caller's name on the screen. A landline is forwarded the same way, and its calls ring a mobile phone or a family member's app.
Can I set it up for my mom or dad?
Yes. You forward their phone to PhoneShield, add the people who should always ring through, and get a daily or weekly email of what was kept away and who is waiting for a call back. Each further line on your plan is $19.99 a month.
Want to understand the problem first? Read how to stop and block spam calls.
Stop spam calls
before they ring.
$29.99 a month for a front desk on your number. Cancel any time.