How To Find Someone’s Name By Phone Number For Free

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How to find someone’s name by phone number for free to stop the guesswork every time someone phones you? A big part of day-to-day communication happens on mobile phones, so it’s no surprise that harassment, scams, and catfishing via phone calls, texts, and social media have become widespread*. Luckily, there are a number of solutions to help identify the name behind who is calling or texting you or someone you love.

As someone who has experienced disturbing calls, I’ve taken a personal interest and dedicated a lot of time and effort to learning how to find out who a phone number belongs to. Getting the name behind someone’s phone number can stop harassment or simply ensure the person you’re talking to is who they claim to be. While spy apps can be great tools, there are other methods that stand out for their safety, efficiency, and reliability. Let’s discuss them.

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Why You Might Need To Find Someone’s Name By Phone Number

Finding someone’s name by phone number can be useful in a variety of situations, whether you’re looking for more parental control over your child’s device or you simply want to know who is phoning you all the time. Here are some common reasons why people search for a name using a phone number:

  • To identify an unknown caller: It’s common to receive calls or messages from numbers you don’t recognize. Whether it’s a spam call, a potential telemarketer, or someone trying to reach you for a legitimate reason, finding the name behind the number can help you determine whether it’s worth answering. This is especially useful in avoiding unwanted calls or verifying legitimate contacts.
  • To reconnect with an old contact: People change their phone numbers, move to different locations, or switch providers, making it hard to stay in touch. If you’ve lost touch with someone and only have their old phone number, searching for their name can be an effective way to find them again. This method is especially helpful if you’ve lost their email or other details but still want to reconnect.
  • To verify someone’s identity: In situations like online transactions, dating apps, or business dealings, you might want to verify someone’s identity. Searching for their name by phone number allows you to make sure you’re dealing with the right person, reducing the risk of scams or misunderstandings. If you suspect your boyfriend of cheating, you may need to identify one of the phone numbers in his phone’s recent calls or contacts, although a boyfriend spy app will give you more insight into his device.
  • For background checks or due diligence: When hiring someone, meeting a new acquaintance, or even considering a roommate, it’s important to know who you’re dealing with. Finding their name by phone number can help you conduct a basic background check, ensuring their identity matches the information they’ve provided and protecting you from potential risks.

How To Find Someone’s Name By Phone Number For Free

I’ve found four useful ways to perform a reverse phone number lookup free of charge or at a modest cost, each with its advantages. Here are the four most popular approaches:

Method 1: Use Reverse Lookup Websites

Using a reputable reverse lookup app or third-party tool is the best way to find someone by phone number. Most of these platforms let you search for someone by name or address, too.

These apps scan data from multiple sources that the public doesn’t have access to and often include additional details like social media profiles, public records, and even criminal record history that a simple search engine might miss. I’ve found the top five tools for the job.

1. Searqle

Starting Price $0.99
Free Trial $0.99 for 3 days
Reverse Phone Lookup
Reverse Address Lookup
Name Search

Like Spokeo, Searqle scans more than a billion publicly available records, including state and federal databases, to provide a slew of information about the person you are looking up.

Apart from finding someone’s name using their phone number, you’ll also get additional details like their current and past addresses, previous phone numbers, aliases, marital status, employment records, traffic records, social media accounts, and more.

In my testing, Searqle took less than a minute to complete the search and compile the data into a detailed report. The service isn’t free, but it’s extremely affordable at just $0.99 for a 3-day trial. The only catch is that Searqle’s searches are limited to the US.

If you opt for a longer-term subscription after the trial ends, Searqle will also automatically update the report with any new information available.

How to Use Searqle to Find Someone’s Name With Their Phone Number

Step 1 – Go to the Searqle website and switch to the “Phone” tab to use the reverse phone number lookup feature.

Step 2 – Type in the US phone number of the person you want to find and click “Search.”

Step 3 – Searqle will take a minute to identify the person and create a detailed report.

Step 4 – Once the report is ready, you will have to enter your email address to create an account.

Step 6 – Pick a payment method and enter the information. Searqle offers a 3-day trial for just $0.99.

Step 7 – Once the payment is complete, you can view and download the detailed report and find the name of the person you want to find using just their phone number.

2. Spokeo

spokeo-logo

Starting Price $0.95
Free Trial $0.95 For A 7-Day Trial
Reverse Phone Lookup
Reverse Address Lookup
Name Search

Spokeo’s reverse phone lookup platform excels at aggregating data from public records and online databases to provide detailed information about a phone number ownerIt can be used to identify unknown callers, avoid scams, investigate potential dates, or reconnect with old contacts—all without the person’s knowledge.

When I tested Spokeo, it quickly revealed the name, address, and social media profiles associated with the phone number I entered. The process is straightforward and requires no technical knowledge. However, Spokeo’s phone number search results are limited to individuals in the United States. On the plus side, they offer universal email and username searches that can help you identify anyone worldwide.

The service isn’t free for more detailed information beyond the user’s phone location, type, and carrier. On the upside, after paying one of the most affordable fees on the market, I enjoyed a convenient 7-day trial period, giving me plenty of time to test the platform. Thanks to their customer support, canceling the trial was hassle-free.

Spokeo has an A rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), underscoring its reliability and safety. With almost two decades of experience, it boasts a trustworthy track record.

How To Use Spokeo To Find Someone’s Name By Phone Number

Step 1 – Visit the official Spokeo website. Choose the Reverse Phone Lookup option.

Step 2 – Enter the phone number you want to identify. Click “Search Now.”

Step 3 – Allow some time for Spokeo to search its records.

Step 4 – When the results are ready, you’ll receive basic info (phone location, type, and carrier). Alternatively, click “Continue” to obtain the full report.

Step 5 – From here, Spokeo will take you to their subscription page, where you can pay $0.95 for a 7-day trial.

Step 6 – Choose the payment method and enter your information.

Step 7 – Once you pay, you’ll receive detailed information on the person whose number you entered, or you can start a new query.

 

3. Social Catfish

socialcatfish-logo

Starting Price $5.73
Free Trial $5.73 For A 3-Day Trial
Reverse Phone Lookup
Reverse Address Lookup
Name Search

Social Catfish is a reverse phone lookup platform that specializes in preventing catfishing. It’s an ideal choice for verifying whether your love interest is who they claim to be. Simply enter their phone number to uncover their online username, social accounts, dating profiles, job information, images, addresses, and more.

Like with Spokeo, the person you are investigating won’t be aware of your search. This means that they’ll never know you had any doubts about them at the start of your relationship. Social Catfish also comes in handy as an alternative to more complex cheating spouse apps when trying to find out who your partner is texting or calling.

The platform is just as easy to use as Spokeo, with a similar procedure. However, the pricing differs. You pay $5.73 for the first three days and then $27.48 monthly. Considering that a subscription grants you 100 attempts to find a truthful partner and significantly boosts your chances for true love, it’s a worthwhile investment.

With an A+ BBB rating, Social Catfish is sure to safeguard your privacy, and the positive rating indicates that the business is reliable and operates in good faith.

How To Use Social Catfish To Find Someone’s Name By Phone Number

Step 1 – Go to the official Social Catfish website. Click on the phone icon.

Step 2 – Enter the phone number of a person you are interested in. Click “Search.”

Step 3 – Wait a minute or two for the database search to end.

Step 4 – A pop-up window will show you the report highlight, such as phone location and the owner’s gender and age. For the full report, click “Unlock My Report Now.”

Step 5 – Enter your email address and phone number and click “Unlock my report now.”

Step 6 – Opt for a Social Search regular plan and click “Activate Plan.”

Step 7 – Choose a payment method, enter your info, and click “Activate My Account.”

Step 8 – Enjoy a detailed report on your search by phone number.

Social Catfish

4. PeopleLooker

Starting Price $1
Free Trial $1 For A 7-Day Trial
Reverse Phone Lookup
Reverse Address Lookup
Name Search

Overall, PeopleLooker is an affordable, reliable, and user-friendly tool for anyone needing quick and comprehensive background checks, whether for personal or professional reasons. With secure 256-bit SSL technology, PeopleLooker prioritizes the privacy of your personal data and the data of the person you are investigating, which I appreciate.

One feature I particularly like is the option to be notified if a target’s reports change or update. This means you’ll get regular updates about the person you are searching for, so you stay one step ahead of tracking their online persona.

As with most services, PeopleLooker isn’t entirely free, but they offer a 7-day trial for just $1, granting you access to 100 reports. You can subscribe for $24.99 a month if you want to use their services continuously. There is also a slightly pricier option that allows you to download, print, and save reports, which is handy if you need to collect hard evidence against someone.

How To Use PeopleLooker To Find Someone’s Name By Phone Number

Step 1 – Visit the PeopleLooker website. Click on the “Phone” option.

Step 2 – Enter the phone number you want to investigate. Click “Search.”

Step 3 – Wait a minute or two for the database search to end.

Step 4 – After a few moments, a pop-up window will ask for your email address. Enter it and click “Submit.”

Step 5 – To get a full report, choose between the Casual and Plus plans. Click “Select.”  Enter your email address and phone number, and click “Unlock My Report Now.”

Step 6 – Next, choose the payment method and follow the instructions to complete the purchase.

Step 7 – You’ll finally get your detailed online report of your phone number, which will include their name and other info.

5. BeenVerified

Starting Price $1
Free Trial $1 for 7 Days
Reverse Phone Lookup
Reverse Address Lookup
Name Search

BeenVerified crawls the web to collect all publicly available information on your search subject and then compiles it into one simple report. While you could theoretically do this yourself, BeenVerified does it faster, covering a number of sources you can’t personally access, including online and social media activity, commercial sources, and federal, state, county, and local records.

In addition to the usual phone number, name, or address search, BeenVerified allows you to search by vehicle identification numbers (VINs), which is useful if you’re buying a car and want to make sure it’s not stolen. My report was quickly generated and included contact information, address history, and social media details. The provider collects any criminal record activity under the name, too, but thankfully, the person I was investigating didn’t have any.

Like PeopleLooker, BeenVerified saves past reports and notifies you if any information changes, so you don’t need to check the same person more than once. You can try their affordable $1 trial period or opt for the $32.89 one-month membership for unlimited searches. If you’re unsatisfied with the results, request a refund – they guarantee your satisfaction. I found BeenVerified’s customer support very responsive and expedient.

How To Use BeenVerified To Find Someone’s Name By Phone Number

Step 1 – Go to the official BeenVerified website. At the top of the page, select the “Phone Lookup” option.

Step 2 – Enter the phone number for which you want to find the name and click “Search.”

Step 3 – Be patient while the record search lasts. Do not press the “Back” button.

Step 4 – Enter your email address and click “Submit.”

Step 5 – Once again, wait for the search to end, then review the BeenVerified user terms and confirm your consent by ticking the box next to “I agree.” Click “Continue.”

Step 6 – See what city the person is from or click “Select” to start a trial period and get the full data report that includes their name.

Step 7 – Choose the payment method and follow the instructions.

Step 8 – Read the full report or save it for future reference.

6. Intelius

 

Starting Price $0.95
Free Trial $0.95 for 7-days
Reverse Phone Lookup
Reverse Address Lookup
Name Search

Intelius is a solid choice if you need to find the name and everything about someone calling or texting you or your loved ones to gather evidence or confront them. It offers tons of daily-updated information, depending on what’s available. Reports generally include public records, addresses, images, criminal and traffic records, social profiles, assets, and licenses.

I had a positive experience using the tool. While it’s not quite as straightforward as Spokeo, it’s still easy to use, just with a few extra clicks. I especially appreciated that I could download or print the results at no additional cost.

Speaking of cost, Intelius is pretty comparable to its competitors. They offer a 7-day trial for just $0.95, which is basically free. After that, the monthly fee is $35.30. I also snagged a great discount while testing their services, so you might, too, if you give it a shot.

Like Social Catfish, Intelius has an A+ rating from the BBB, which means it’s trustworthy. The Internet Society Online Trust Alliance also backs Intelius as a trusted organization, so you can use it with total confidence.

How To Use Intelius To Find Someone’s Name By Phone Number

Step 1 –  Visit the Intelius homepage.

Step 2 – Choose the “Phone” option. Enter the phone number you wish to search and click “Search.”

Step 3 – Verify your age by choosing your birth year.

Step 4 – Wait for the search to end and enter the requested data to save your report. Clicking “Save” also means you agree to Intelius Terms and Conditions. However, you can opt out of receiving marketing and promotional emails.

Step 5 – A warning window will pop up. Read the content carefully and click “I Understand.”

Step 6 – You can get a basic report (phone carrier, line type, and location) or click “Get Phone Report” for full results that include your target’s name.

Step 7 – Agree with the FCRA statement to proceed to the next step.

Step 8 – Read the guidelines and click “Agree and Continue.”

Step 9 – Finally, choose the paying method, pay, and start your trial.

Step 10 – Access your report online. You can download and print it too.

Extra Tip: If you do not want to pay a monthly fee for any of these name-finding apps, simply contact customer service and cancel the subscription before the end of the trial period.

Method 2: Use Social Media

If you understand anything about social media, you’ll know how popular it is, especially among the younger population. One way to find someone’s name by phone number is to use social media, and this method is free of charge. Although not as foolproof as the first method I discussed, this solution represents a quick and easy way to find people by phone number.

Here’s how it works: Users often link their phone numbers to their Instagram or Facebook accounts. While not as robust of a method as the best Instagram spy apps, you can sometimes find the associated profiles by entering a phone number into these platforms’ search bars. Of course, this only works if their privacy settings allow it.

In practice, only a few people share their sensitive information on social profiles. So, this method is better suited for identifying businesses, as they are more than willing to provide their contact information publicly. For other cases, you are better off using a trusted reverse phone number lookup website or even a spy app that offers this service.

Method 3: Use Google Search

If you’re in a hurry and need to find a person’s name by phone number as soon as possible and at no cost, you can try Google search. Google’s search engine can check for the owner of a phone number or look up a phone number for free in seconds.

After all, it has access to literally everything on the internet, and you can even track your loved ones using its useful Google Maps feature. If the person you are searching for has ever listed their phone number online, Google will sniff it out. To better your chances for success, try different search formats, like including hyphens or area codes.

That said, despite its ease and swiftness, this method has limitations. Since it relies on phone numbers publically available online, it won’t work when you search for unlisted numbers or those with strict privacy settings. In such cases, dedicated apps like the ones I’ve listed above offer more comprehensive and accurate results, as they have access to specialized databases and public records.

Method 4: Use LinkedIn & Other Third-Party Sites

My last recommendation for finding a person by phone number is to try LinkedIn and other third-party apps or sites. I found that searching a person’s phone number directly on LinkedIn works best when looking up businesses or upper-level professionals, as they are most likely to have their number listed on the platform. Even then, many users don’t include this information due to privacy concerns.

As far as third-party reverse phone lookup sites are concerned, I advise caution. Many of these sites aren’t trustworthy or reputable. They can compromise your data or the data of the person you are trying to identify. Some third-party apps may even infect your device with mobile malware.

My advice is to stick with trusted and recommended services like Spokeo, Social Catfish, and the others I’ve mentioned. At the very least, use common sense and read reviews from trusted sources before using or downloading any third-party app.

Why Use A Reverse Lookup App To Find Someone’s Name?

Using a reputable reverse lookup app is hands down the best way to find the owner of a phone number. In my experience, many “free” methods are scams that can infect your device or steal your info.

Reliable free apps are rare, so a reputable service with a low-cost trial is a safer bet. These apps can give you not just names but also addresses, social media profiles, and other valuable details. Some even offer unlimited searches for a reasonable fee, making them totally worth it for the peace of mind they provide. If you get the info you need and don’t want to continue your subscription, just cancel before your trial runs out.

What Can I See With Reverse Phone Lookup Apps?

Reverse phone lookup apps can reveal much about a person, pulling data from various public records and databases. Here’s what you can expect to see:

  • Name: The name associated with the phone number so that you can determine if a phone is registered to a real person.
  • Phone Number: The phone number and other numbers used by that person.
  • Address: Current and previous addresses linked to the phone number.
  • Social Media Profiles: The person’s social media profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more.
  • Criminal Record History: The person’s criminal record history, if they have one, including arrests and convictions.

How To Find Someone’s Name By Phone Number For Free - A Step By Step Guide

Since Spokeo is the most straightforward solution to finding someone by phone number, I’ll use it to teach you how to do it.

  1. Step 1 — Go To Spokeo's Phone Number Search

    Visit Spokeo’s homepage. Select the search by phone option.

    <strong>Step 1 — Go To Spokeo's Phone Number Search</strong>
  2. Step 2 — Search Your Phone Number

    Enter the number you wish to investigate. It should have 10 digits, but you don’t have to use hyphens.

    <strong>Step 2 — Search Your Phone Number</strong>
  3. Step 3 - Click Search Now

    Once you enter the number, click “Search now.” Wait for the database search to end. It will take only a few moments.

    <strong>Step 3 - Click Search Now</strong>
  4. Step 4 - Choose a Subscription

    To obtain a full report, choose the Special trial offer on the right side of the page. Click “Continue.”

    Choose your payment method and finalize your purchase. You will be charged $0.95 for a 7-day trial period. To avoid paying a monthly package, unsubscribe by contacting Spokeo’s customer service within seven days.

    <strong>Step 4 - Choose a Subscription</strong>

Conclusion

Although there are a few other methods available, when you want to find someone by a phone number, nothing beats reputable reverse lookup websites I have singled out for you. They deliver the most detailed information on unknown numbers and ensure your safety in a world of rampant fraud and deceit.

Of course, each of the platforms I recommend has its advantages, but here are my top three choices:

  • Searqle is the most powerful option, searching more than a billion records to find you the information you need, plus a lot more. And for a very cheap price.
  • Spokeo is an all-in-one package that delivers detailed and accurate reports quickly. It’s affordable, safe, and reliable.
  • Social Catfish is the best solution for those looking to investigate their potential dates and avoid getting heartbroken.

FAQs

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Tamara Veličković Slavković
Technology Journalist
Tamara Veličković Slavković
Technology Journalist

Tamara V.S. is a versatile professional, combining her roles as a content writer, PR manager, and corporate journalist. Armed with a Master’s degree in English language, she delves into the tech world with enthusiasm. Tamara’s forte lies in crafting highly informative articles on topics like cybersecurity, the newest apps, software, VPNs, and AI.