Updated October 2026 · Written by the Who's Calling + SPAM Guard team. We make one of the apps below, so we've stuck to facts each company publishes. Check each app's Google Play page for current prices.
The best call screening apps for Android in 2026
Call screening means something answers an unknown number before you do and finds out who it is. The best apps go further and show you, as text, what the caller is saying. Then you decide: pick up, let it go, or block it.
The catch on Android is that the best-known screening tools only work on certain phones or in certain countries. Here's what each option does, who can use it, and how you pay for it.
Quick comparison
| App | Which Android phones | Live text of what the caller says | How you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Call Screen | Pixel only | ✅ Yes | Free, built in |
| Samsung Call Screening | Newest Galaxy flagships (One UI 8.5) | ✅ Yes | Free, built in |
| Truecaller | Any Android | ✅ Yes, with the AI Assistant | Subscription for the Assistant |
| Hiya | Any Android | Call Screener is Premium-only | Subscription for Premium |
| RoboKiller | Any Android | Screens callers and blocks spam | Subscription |
| Who's Calling + SPAM Guard | Any Android brand | ✅ Yes, word by word while your phone rings, translated into your language | No subscription: a one-off plan, or a 10-minute trial for 49¢ (US) |
1. Google Call Screen (Pixel phones)
Google's Call Screen is built into the Phone app on Pixel phones. It answers, asks who's calling, and shows a live transcript. Google says automatic screening works in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK and the US, with manual screening in more countries.
Best for: Pixel owners in those countries. The catch: Samsung, Motorola, Oppo and most other Android phones can't use it.
2. Samsung Call Screening (newest Galaxy flagships)
Samsung added AI call screening with One UI 8.5. It launched on the Galaxy S26, and Samsung is bringing it to the Galaxy S25 range, Z Fold7, Z Flip7 and TriFold. It answers with a digital voice, asks the caller for their name and reason, and shows the conversation as text. Other supported Galaxy models have Bixby Text Call, which you start yourself on each call.
Best for: owners of those Galaxy flagships. The catch: Samsung hasn't confirmed it for older or mid-range Galaxy phones, including most of the A series. Every Samsung option, explained.
3. Truecaller
Truecaller is best known for caller ID, built from a very large database of numbers. Its AI Assistant can answer calls and show what the caller says in real time, but you need a paid Premium plan. Availability varies by country.
Best for: people who mostly want to see a name on unknown numbers. The catch: screening is behind a subscription.
4. Hiya
Hiya's free app gives spam alerts and caller ID for businesses and known spam numbers. Hiya says its Call Screener is only in Premium, which starts with a 7-day trial.
Best for: spam warnings on a budget. The catch: no screening on the free plan.
5. RoboKiller
RoboKiller focuses on blocking spam. It's known for "Answer Bots" that waste telemarketers' time, and it's sold as a subscription after a free trial.
Best for: people in the US mainly fighting robocalls. The catch: it's an ongoing subscription.
6. Who's Calling + SPAM Guard
Who's Calling + SPAM Guard brings live call screening to Android phones from any brand, not just Pixel or Galaxy. When an unknown number rings, it asks the caller who they are and why they're calling. You read their words live while your phone is still ringing, and then you answer, take a message, or block them.
- ✅ Works on Samsung, Motorola, Oppo, Pixel and other Android brands
- ✅ Live transcript before you answer, with a spam-risk score
- ✅ The caller's language is detected and translated into yours: 56 caller languages and 56 reader languages, with the translation done on your phone
- ✅ Contacts ring straight through and never use minutes
- ✅ Caller audio is never recorded or stored
- ✅ No subscription and no ads. Try it for 10 minutes for 49¢ (US; your local price is on Google Play)
Best for: anyone not on a Pixel, multilingual households, and small businesses that can't miss a real customer. The catch: setup takes one call-forwarding code from your carrier (the app shows you the exact code), and it's available in a growing list of countries.
How to choose
- You have a Pixel in a supported country: start with Google Call Screen. It's free.
- You have a Galaxy S26, S25, Z Fold7, Z Flip7 or TriFold on One UI 8.5: try Samsung's built-in Call Screening first.
- Any other Android phone, or callers who speak other languages: you need an app. If you don't want a subscription, Who's Calling + SPAM Guard is the pay-once option with live screening.
- You only want to see who's calling, not what they say: a caller ID app like Truecaller or Hiya may be enough.
FAQ
Can I get Google Call Screen on a Samsung phone?
No. Google says Call Screen is available on Pixel phones. Samsung has its own Call Screening on its newest flagships with One UI 8.5. On other Galaxy phones you can use a screening app such as Who's Calling + SPAM Guard.
Is there a call screening app without a subscription?
Yes. Who's Calling + SPAM Guard has no subscription and no monthly fee. You buy a plan once on Google Play and can add minute packs at any time.
Do call screening apps record my calls?
It depends on the app, so check each one's privacy policy. Who's Calling + SPAM Guard never records or stores caller audio.
Will my friends and family get screened?
Not with Who's Calling + SPAM Guard. Calls from your contacts ring straight through as normal.
More guides
- How to stop spam calls on Android
- Call screening on Samsung Galaxy phones
- The best Truecaller alternatives
- The best Hiya alternatives
- Is there anything better than RoboKiller?
- All guides
Sources: Google Phone app Help, "Screen your calls before you answer them"; Hiya Spam Blocker Help, "What is Hiya Spam Blocker Premium"; SamMobile, "Galaxy S26 Call Screening explained"; Dataconomy, "Samsung brings AI call screening to more Galaxy flagships" (April 2026). Facts checked October 2026.