Every Android phone ships with a default dialer app for viewing contacts and placing calls. While the stock dialer may be enough for most users, it is often basic and conventional. You would be better off switching to another dialer app with more functionalities. This list includes some of the best dialer apps with advanced features.
Good to know: learn how to add custom gestures to Android, and control your phone in more intuitive ways.
1. Truecaller
Price: Free with premium options
Truecaller is perhaps the best-known alternative dialer app for Android, due to its robust caller ID function that can accurately identify unknown numbers, spam and companies. The app also includes an automatic spam-blocking feature that protects against robocalls and aggressive telemarketers. It’s an effective tool that relies on community reports to ensure your safety.
With Truecaller, you can also access and manage your SMS messages from the very same app. In the case of calls, the app keeps suspicious texts away from your inbox. In addition, you have the option to place free HD voice calls, but to use this feature, the person you’re calling needs to have Truecaller installed on their device as well.
On the downside, the app offers few customization options (you can switch to a dark theme) and has ads that can be removed by upgrading to Premium. A paid subscription unlocks other benefits, such as advanced spam calling, a voice assistant and the ability to place ghost calls.
2. Vani Dialer
Price: Free with premium options
Vani Dialer is a unique dialer app, in the sense that it allows you to interact and control calls with your voice. For instance, you can set “Hello” as a hotword for answering calls or “No” for declining.
Another standout Van Dailer feature is that it lets you set various themes for your call screen. The app offers access to a comprehensive free library, which includes static and live wallpapers. Even better, you can upload your own images if you prefer.
While Vani doesn’t have caller ID identification or spam blocker, it does include an unlikely calculator feature that also supports voice dictation. In addition, the app has fast T9 search in your recent calls and contacts. Unsurprisingly, this dialer also has ads, but you can remove them in exchange for a fee, which can also unlock all themes, wallpapers and voice commands.
Tip: check out our post to see how to set custom ringtones on Android.
3. Drupe
Price: Free with premium options
Drupe is a dialer app that offers quite a few customization options, together with some neat advanced options. The standout here is that Drupe lets you record calls. But before you freely take advantage of this feature, make sure you keep in mind that recording without express consent of the other party may constitute a criminal offense in some countries.
The dialer lets you interact with your contacts in various ways. Just drag and drop a contact to initiate a certain operation, such as leaving a message on WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram sending an email, or writing a note/reminder. Drupe also has a call blocker component that lets you block unknown, private or hidden numbers, and set up a number block list.
Drupe is even more impressive when it comes to customization. It lets you tweak how your call screen looks and use different themes. Unfortunately, most of the themes require a subscription, but you can give the free ones a try or upload your own images. On top of that, the app lets you customize a few other things, like what the double-tap gesture does when using the app or the font size. Ads are not that intrusive, so you can use the app just fine without paying for a subscription.
4. Eyecon
Price: Free with premium options
Eyecon can be a great dialer for people with love to stay connected with others through social media. The app’s standout feature is that it scans your contacts and automatically connects their social media profiles, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, and more, so that you can access them directly from Eyecon.
The dialer app also has an SMS function, so you can send your texts, too. There’s a spam blocking feature as well, although it doesn’t have caller ID. It makes up for that by offering a Lookup feature that allows you to search for unknown numbers in a database of millions of numbers worldwide. In our testing, it proved quite accurate.
Customization options are pretty limited with Eyecon, but the app does include the ability to create tasks, which can prove to be quite handy. Uniquely, Eyecon lets you launch and play mini games from within the app and displays the weather. The app has ads, but in exchange for watching a video, you can get the premium experience for free for a day.
FYI: sick of seeing ads on your phone? Check out these apps that can remove ads from your Android.
5. Easy Phone
Price: Free
Compared with other dialer apps, Easy Phone has a minimalist and straightforward interface that allows you to find your way around easily. It includes a spam block feature that can prevent unwanted calls from showing up on your screen. The app can also identify unknown callers for you, so you won’t be in doubt whether to answer a call or not.
Easy Phone bets on simplicity and allows users to choose from various simple color themes, as opposed to more complex ones. The app also includes a Contacts Enrichment option that enables the app to automatically add business data, such as company name and job title, to each contact. However, to achieve this result, Easy Phone has to share your data with a third party. Fortunately, you can opt out of this when setting up the app.
The app is free to use and is not plagued with ads, offering a clean experience. While Easy Phone isn’t the most sophisticated app on this list, it certainly earns a spot thanks to its simplified interface and practical T9 keypad.
6. Phone by Google
Price: Free
Phone by Google is preinstalled on some Android phones, including Pixels. But you can also download it from the Google Play Store and install it on any phone model. The app has quite a lot to offer, including caller ID and spam protection.
While there aren’t many options to customize the app, you do get access to things like call forwarding, quick responses, assisted dialing and voice mail setup (if your carrier supports that).
On Pixel devices, the Google Phone app also has caller ID announcement and Flip to Shhh, which enables Do Not Disturb mode as soon as you place your phone on a flat surface. This being a Google app, it benefits from a smooth and pleasing interface without unnecessary extras.
7. iCallScreen
Price: Free with premium options
If you prefer the iOS dialer app, you can port it to Android with iCallScreen. The app has some pretty fantastic features, such as iOS ringtones, call announcement, T9 dialer and a built-in speed dial option. The app includes fake call and spam blocker functionality.
iCallScreen is pretty generous when it comes to customization, as it allows you to set custom call backgrounds and change the call button (some iOS-style options are included for an even more authentic experience). Its standout feature is probably the fake call function that lets you receive a mock call – if that need ever arises.
Despite all these great options, iCallScreen is riddled with ads, which pop up on your screen at the most inconvenient times, such as when you’re about to place an urgent call. You can get rid of them by upgrading to premium, which also unlocks all wallpaper, ringtone and call button customization options.
Tip: accidentally erased a contact from your phone? Learn how to recover deleted phone numbers on Android.
Being an Android user enables you to customize every aspect of your phone, including the dialer app. If you’re looking for more, learn how to modify your lock screen to suit your preferences. Alternatively, check out our list of Android widgets that can make your home screen better.
Image source: Freepik. All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.
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