If you want to know how to find someone’s name by phone number for free, there are a few methods to put a stop to the guesswork every time an unknown number calls you. A big part of our communication today happens on mobile phones, so it’s no surprise that harassment, scams, and catfishing via phone calls and texts have become widespread*. Luckily, there are a number of solutions to help find a name for who is calling or texting you, or someone you love.
As someone who’s been on the receiving end of scam attempts and unwanted calls, I’ve taken a personal interest in finding out how to find someone by phone number — whether that someone is a person or a business. In this article, I’ll share what I’ve learned and explain several free or low-cost methods including using Google, social media platforms, and reverse lookup apps.
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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:
- 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 protect your children: With digital risks to children and teens feeling more rampant than ever, you can breathe a little easier knowing that there are ways to find out who your children have been speaking to on the phone. This could be important if you think there is something worrying about their call behavior. There are also plenty of parental control apps available to help keep your children safe.
- To avoid scams: In situations like online transactions, dating apps, or business dealings, you might want to verify someone’s identity to ensure they’re not a scammer or catfish. 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 by Phone Number For Free
I’ve found four useful ways to perform a reverse phone number lookup free of charge or for a very affordable price. I’ll start with the three ways that are completely 100% free, but I’ll also touch on some low-cost reverse lookup apps that will give you the most comprehensive results. These are:
- Searqle: the most powerful option, searching more than a billion records
- Social Catfish: the best solution for identifying scammers
- Spokeo: the best for full identity reports, fast.
One way to find someone by phone for free is to use social media. Some users link their phone numbers to their Instagram or Facebook accounts, meaning you can find an associated profile by entering a phone number into the platforms’ search bars.
Of course, this only works if the account’s privacy settings allow it. Plus, there aren’t a huge amount of people who include their contact information on social profiles any more. So, I’d say 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. You could also take a look at my dedicated guide on how to find an Instagram account by phone.
Method 2: 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 that are publicly available online, it won’t work when you search for unlisted numbers. In such cases, dedicated reverse lookup apps, like the ones in Method 4 below, offer more comprehensive and accurate results, as they have access to specialized databases and public records.
Method 3: Conduct a Free Professional Contact Search
If the entity calling you is a person or business with professional contact information available to the public online, you should be able to uncover it easily and for free by doing a quick professional contact search.
LinkedIn is an accurate source of phone number and contact information for individuals or businesses that have provided it. Like with the social media platforms described in Method 1, you can sometimes find entities associated with a phone number by typing it into the LinkedIn search bar. Creating an account to do this is free.
If you suspect the call is coming from a certain business or professional, you can review About Us, Contact, or Meet the Team pages of the company website, or even check for the number in the directory of the company. The latter my require you to actually work for the company, but this could still be good for checking if a certain colleague or someone from within the business has tried to contact you.
Method 4: Use Reverse Lookup Websites
Using a reputable reverse lookup app isn’t free but it is the most comprehensive approach if you want to find someone by phone number. Most of these tools let you search for someone by the email, address, or even images of the person, too.
These apps scan data from multiple sources that the public doesn’t have access to, often covering social media profiles, public records, and even criminal record history that a simple search engine might miss. Based on my product knowledge and testing, these are the three I think are the safest, easiest, and most affordable.
1. Searqle
Starting Price | $0.99 |
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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.
Read our full Searqle review.
2. Social Catfish
Starting Price | $5.73 |
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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.
Read our full Social Catfish review.
3. Spokeo
Starting Price | $0.95 |
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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 informationabout a phone number owner. It 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.
Read our full Spokeo review.
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 Using a Reverse Phone Lookup Apps - 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.
Step 1 — Go To Spokeo's Phone Number Search
Visit Spokeo’s homepage. Select the search by phone option.
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.
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.
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.
Conclusion: How to Find Someone by Phone Number for Free
There are a few ways to try to find someone’s name by phone number for free, including searching for the number on social media platforms, on professional networks like LinkedIn, and by using search engines. These methods can be effective, but they are becoming increasingly limited as fewer and fewer people publish their contact information online for people to discover through searches.
Although not free, reverse lookup websites 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.
- Social Catfish is the best solution for those looking to investigate their potential dates and avoid getting heartbroken.
- Spokeo is an all-in-one package that delivers detailed and accurate reports quickly. It’s affordable, safe, and reliable.
FAQs
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References
- * Dealing With Harassing Calls, Texts, and Messages – (WESNET)