Methodology
How we test robocall blockers
Every product in our rankings is installed on a real test line that receives ~25 spam calls per week, run for 30 days, and scored on the same five dimensions. Methodology is public so readers can judge whether our priorities match theirs.
The test line
We maintain a dedicated mobile number — purchased fresh in 2023 and aggressively listed on every public data broker we could find — to ensure a steady, representative volume of inbound spam. Over the most recent 12 months it has received an average of 25 spam calls per week, distributed across categories that match the FCC's public Consumer Complaints dataset (robocalls majority, telemarketing, scam, debt-collector, political).
The five dimensions
1. Blocking effectiveness
What percentage of incoming spam calls never reach the ringer? Measured against the previous-30-day baseline before the product was installed.
2. Setup ease
How many steps does it take to get the product working? We time the installation from sign-up to first call screened, on a standard iPhone 14 and a Pixel 8.
3. Pricing
Annual cost at the tier most users actually need (not the loss-leader free tier). Includes hidden charges (in-app purchases, per-device fees, family-plan markups).
4. Business features
For users who run a business off their phone: multi-user accounts, transcripts, dashboards, rule engines, callback scheduling, CRM integrations.
5. Privacy posture
Does the product require contact-list upload? Does it sell or share user data? Is its caller-ID database crowdsourced from users without explicit consent? We read every privacy policy and flag concerns.
Our policies
- We accept advertising from companies we review. These relationships are disclosed on each product page and at the bottom of every review. Advertising relationships do not influence rankings — we publish rankings before approaching any vendor for an advertising deal, and we have ranked advertisers below non-advertisers in past iterations.
- We do not accept payment to change rankings or remove negative findings.
- We re-test annually. Vendors ship updates; rankings change. The dated version in our header is the most recent test cycle.
- We disclose contradictions. When we recommend a product despite cons that would matter to some users, we say so explicitly in the “Best for” line of each review.
Corrections + disputes
If you find a factual error in a review, email editorial@stoprobocallsai.com. We publish corrections inline with a dated note. Vendors who believe a rating misrepresents their product can request a re-test for the next cycle — the response window is 30 days from publication.