Robocalls have become an incessant nuisance plaguing phone owners today. In 2022 alone, Americans received over 50 billion robocalls according to YouMail’s Robocall Index. Fortunately, apps like YouMail and Truecaller offer powerful call blocking capabilities to help combat this problem.
In this in-depth comparison, we’ll evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these two leading robocall blocking solutions to help you choose the best app for your needs in 2024.
Key Features Compared
Call Blocking
Both YouMail and Truecaller automatically detect and block known spam numbers using constantly updated databases. However, YouMail has a slight edge with its “Audio Fingerprinting” technology that analyzes and flags new robocall messages in real-time. Truecaller relies more heavily on its community-reported spam list.


Caller ID
Truecaller is best known for its Caller ID functionality, with a database of over 5 billion phone numbers worldwide. It can identify the name and even photo of unknown personal and business numbers. YouMail offers Caller ID as well but its database is not as extensive as Truecaller’s.


Reverse Number Lookup
With Truecaller, you can easily look up any phone number to see the owner’s name and location if available in its database. YouMail offers a similar reverse lookup feature in its paid plans.


Customization
YouMail provides more flexibility to personalize your call blocking. You can create custom block/allow lists, set up auto-reply messages, and enable different behaviors based on your current status (busy, driving, etc). Truecaller allows you to block by number or name but doesn’t offer as much control.

Spam Text Blocking
YouMail focuses solely on blocking robocalls and doesn’t currently offer any spam text message (SMS) filtering. Truecaller provides spam SMS blocking but only for Android users.

For more detailed comparisons of Truecaller with other popular call blocking apps, check out Truecaller vs Showcaller, Truecaller vs Eyecon, Truecaller vs RoboKiller, and Truecaller vs Whoscall.
Pricing & Plans
YouMail Pricing
- Free plan with basic call blocking, voicemail, and Caller ID
- Plus plan for $5.99/month with additional features like reverse lookup, customization, auto-reply
- Professional plans starting at $14.99/month for businesses needing a full virtual phone system
Truecaller Pricing
- Free plan with basic Caller ID, spam blocking, and reverse number lookup
- Premium plan for $4.49/month with no ads, 30 contact requests, premium badge, one business card, more social info, who viewed your profile, incognito mode
- Gold plan for $8.99/month with additional benefits like getting notified when contacts become available, 100 contact requests, 3 business cards, premium customer support
Pros & Cons
YouMail Pros
- Advanced robocall blocking with Audio Fingerprinting technology
- Customizable call handling based on personal preferences
- Visual voicemail stores messages in the cloud for access anywhere
- Professional plans with virtual receptionist for businesses
YouMail Cons
- Caller ID database not as extensive as Truecaller
- No spam SMS blocking
- Free plan has limited features compared to paid versions
Truecaller Pros
- Extensive Caller ID database with over 5 billion numbers worldwide
- Identify unknown personal and business callers by name
- Quick reverse phone number lookups
- Spam SMS blocking (Android only)
Truecaller Cons
- Collects more personal data than other apps
- Many useful features like Who Viewed My Profile only for paid plans
- Interface contains ads unless you upgrade
Privacy & Data Collection
It’s important to consider what data these apps collect and how it is used. Both require access to your contacts to match numbers against their databases.
YouMail states it only uses your data to provide its services and doesn’t sell it to third parties. However, it does share some data with business partners and uses it for targeted ads.
Truecaller collects more extensive information about you and your contacts, including social media data. It has been criticized for a lack of transparency around data collection in the past. In 2019, it was caught signing up users for UPI accounts without clear consent.
Overall, YouMail appears to handle privacy better than Truecaller but you should carefully review any call blocking app’s privacy policy before installing.
For a more comprehensive look at Truecaller’s features and privacy policy, read our full Truecaller review.
Which Robocall Blocker App is Best?
Choosing between YouMail and Truecaller depends on your specific needs:
YouMail is best if you want:
- The most effective spam call blocking with real-time audio fingerprinting
- Customizable call flows and scheduling
- A full virtual phone system for your business

Truecaller is best if you want:
- Extensive global Caller ID coverage with names/photos
- To quickly look up unknown numbers
- Spam text message blocking (Android)

For the strongest spam call blocking, flexible customization, and best privacy practices, we believe YouMail has a slight edge over Truecaller. However, both are capable solutions that can significantly reduce annoying robocalls.
If neither YouMail nor Truecaller seem like the perfect fit, there are several other capable Truecaller alternatives worth exploring.
Key Takeaways
- Robocalls continue to be a major problem, with over 50 billion received in the US in 2022 alone
- Spam call blocking apps like YouMail and Truecaller can effectively reduce unwanted calls
- YouMail has superior robocall blocking AI and customization; Truecaller has better Caller ID and reverse number lookup
- Carefully review privacy policies, as these apps collect your contacts data
- Choose the app that best aligns with your priorities – blocking performance, Caller ID coverage, customization, or price
FAQ
- What are robocalls? Robocalls are automated phone calls that deliver a pre-recorded message. They are often used for telemarketing, scams, or spam purposes. Robocalls are frequently unwanted and disruptive to recipients.
- How do YouMail and Truecaller stop spam calls? Both apps use constantly updated databases of known spam numbers to automatically detect and block them. YouMail also employs its unique Audio Fingerprinting technology to analyze and flag new robocall messages in real-time for even better protection.
- Do I need to pay for YouMail or Truecaller? Both apps offer free plans with basic spam blocking and Caller ID. However, many of the advanced features like reverse number lookup, customization options, and ad-free interfaces require upgrading to a paid plan.
- Which app has better Caller ID? Truecaller has the edge when it comes to Caller ID, with a database of over 5 billion numbers globally. It can identify more unknown personal and business calls by name compared to YouMail. However, both apps offer reliable Caller ID functionality.
- Can these apps block spam text messages too? Truecaller offers spam SMS blocking but only for Android users. YouMail currently does not provide any protection against spam text messages.
- Are robocall blocking apps safe to use? Generally yes, as long as you choose a reputable app from a trusted developer. However, these apps do require access to your contacts and call information, so it’s important to carefully review the privacy policy to understand what data is collected and how it is used. YouMail and Truecaller are transparent about their data practices.
- Will using YouMail or Truecaller drain my phone’s battery? Not significantly. Both apps are designed to run efficiently in the background without consuming excessive battery power. You may notice a slight increase in battery usage when the app is actively blocking many spam calls.
- Do these apps work on both iPhone and Android? Yes, both YouMail and Truecaller offer versions for iOS and Android devices. However, some features like spam SMS blocking may only be available on certain platforms.
- Can I customize how calls are blocked? YouMail offers the most flexibility in customizing call blocking. You can create allow/block lists, set up custom rules based on time or status, and enable different auto-reply messages. Truecaller allows you to block specific numbers but doesn’t provide as much control.
- What happens when a spam call is blocked? Typically the caller will receive a message that the number is disconnected or no longer in service. The call will not ring through to your phone. YouMail and Truecaller also log the number so you can see which spam calls were intercepted.
Conclusion
As robocalls continue to grow in volume and sophistication, it’s more important than ever to use a trusted call blocking solution on your phone. YouMail and Truecaller are two of the most popular and effective apps for identifying and preventing spam calls and texts.
While both offer robust spam blocking, YouMail delivers more advanced AI, better customization options, and enhanced privacy compared to Truecaller. However, those wanting the most extensive Caller ID coverage may prefer Truecaller.
Ultimately, the right app for you depends on your unique needs and priorities. By carefully evaluating the features, pricing, and privacy policies, you can choose the best robocall blocker to protect against disruptive spam calls. No matter which you choose, taking proactive steps to block robocalls can save you significant time and frustration.