Finding out who’s behind a phone number, email, or address is easier than ever, thanks to a range of reverse lookup tools. While Spy Dialer is a recognizable name in this space, along with its alternatives. This article takes a close look at these services, with a clear focus on real user experiences, and how each tool stands out in actual use.

Everything About Spy Dialer

What You Can Do:

  • Look up phone numbers, emails, and addresses using public data.
  • Listen to voicemail greetings to help confirm identities.
  • Use the tool without signing up or paying.

How It Works:

  • Enter the detail you want to check (phone, email, or address).
  • Spy Dialer scans public records and gives you any info it finds.
  • You can request to remove your information if it appears.

Where Users Are Dissatisfied:

Accuracy Problems: Many people say the information is outdated or flat-out wrong. One user found their number listed under an ex-spouse who never used it, while another saw completely unrelated names and locations for numbers they tested.

Limited Results: A lot of searches end with “no results found” or a prompt to try a paid service elsewhere. This has led to frustration, as the tool is advertised as free but often doesn’t deliver.

Heavy Ads and Redirects: The site is packed with ads and sometimes redirects users to other sites, making the experience confusing and sometimes feeling like a bait-and-switch.

Privacy Worries: Some users are uncomfortable with how easily their information can be found, or misrepresented, and question how their data is being handled.

Technical Hiccups: There are reports of the tool not working as expected or being hard to remove if installed as an extension.

“Just tried it out and it was 100% inaccurate for every search I did. It has my phone number registered as my ex-wife's with her married name. We have been divorced for 9 years, and she was never on my mobile bill. It also lists the location in a completely different area code from the number.”
“Bait and switch page. Nothing but an advertising redirect page. There are no pros.”

How the Alternatives Stack Up

Recent traffic and engagement data show that Spy Dialer is not the top choice for most users. Here’s a quick look at how it compares to its main competitors:

Feature/MetricSpy DialerNumLookupThat’s Them
Reverse Phone LookupYes (US only)Yes (US only)Yes (US focus, some global)
People SearchYesYesYes
Address SearchYesNoYes
Voicemail PreviewYesNoNo
Registration NeededNoNoNo
PricingFree (basic), unclear for premiumFree (basic), paid API ($9.99–$89.99/mo)Free basic
Trust ScoreAverage to Good (Scamadviser)High (Trustpilot: 4.7/5)High (Scamadviser)
User Review TrendMostly Negative/MixedMostly Positive, some negativesMainly Negative
Data AccuracyMixed to PoorMixed, mostly accurate for USMixed, often outdated
Ads and RedirectsYes, frequentMinimalPresent
Privacy ConcernsModerate to HighLow to ModerateModerate to High
API AccessNot prominentYes (paid)Not prominent
SupportEmail, ticketEmail, phoneNot prominent

NumLookup

Features of NumLookup

  • Reverse Phone Lookup: Instantly identify the owner of a U.S. phone number, including full name, address, and sometimes family information.
  • People Search: Find individuals by name and get contact info and social profiles.
  • Reverse Image Search: Compare images to find visually similar results.
  • Plagiarism Checker: Check for originality in writing, useful for students and professionals.
  • Spam and Scam Detection: Flags suspicious or scam numbers, helping users avoid unwanted calls.
  • No Registration Required: Most features are available without creating an account.
  • Premium Reports: For a fee, get more detailed information like age, family members, and social media profiles.

User Reviews and Drawbacks:

  • Positive: Many users praise NumLookup for its speed, accuracy (especially for recent numbers), and the fact that it’s free for most searches.
  • Negative:
    • Inconsistent Accuracy: Some users report outdated or incorrect information, such as names not matching the current owner or addresses for businesses that have closed.
    • Hidden Limits: There are daily limits on free searches, which aren’t always disclosed upfront. Users have reported being prompted to pay after a few lookups, which can feel misleading.
    • Incomplete Data: Not all searches return full reports, and sometimes only basic info is available.
    • US-Only: The service is limited to U.S. phone numbers.
    • Support Issues: Some users found customer support unresponsive, especially when dealing with subscription or access issues.
    • Ads: While generally not intrusive, ads are present on the free version.

“NumLookup claims to be free, but after a few lookups, I was prompted to pay for further searches. This wasn’t disclosed upfront, which feels dishonest. The support team is also unresponsive, leaving users with no clarity on how the system works.”

“Sometimes the info seems incomplete or inaccurate. For example, it listed an address for a business that closed down months ago. It's a gamble - sometimes it's spot-on, other times not so much.”

Trustpilot Rating:

That’s Them

Site Trustworthiness:

  • High Trust Rating: That’s Them is considered a legitimate and reliable website, with a high trust score and a long-established online presence.
  • SSL Certificate: The site uses valid SSL encryption, which helps protect user data.
  • Popularity: The site is popular and ranks well in web traffic, indicating regular use and relevance.
  • Technical Safety: Deemed safe by DNSFilter and other security tools.

User Reviews and Concerns

  • Potential Issues:
    • Data Accuracy: Like many people search tools, users have reported outdated or incorrect information.
    • Privacy: As with similar services, there are concerns about personal data being easily accessible or misrepresented.
    • Manual Verification Advised: It is recommended that users always manually check any unfamiliar website before sharing sensitive information, even if the site appears safe.

Additional Notes:

The website’s age and popularity are good signs, but these do not guarantee a flawless user experience. Some scammers have been known to buy old, trusted domains for malicious purposes, so vigilance is always recommended.

IPQualityScore

What It Does: Focused on fraud prevention—validates emails, phone numbers, IPs, and transactions for businesses.

Why People Use It: Advanced analytics and risk scoring. Best for companies, not casual users.

Drawbacks: Most features are paid. The interface can be confusing for non-technical users. A high bounce rate suggests many visitors leave quickly.

Real-World Reach: 2.74 million visits per month, the highest authority score among these tools.

What the Numbers Say

NumLookup dominates organic search, with 2.6 million visits monthly and a traffic value of $924,600.

Top audience: 83% United States, 15% India.

Pros and Cons Table

ToolProsCons
Spy DialerFree, simple, voicemail featureInaccurate, ad-heavy, privacy issues, unreliable, US-only
NumLookupAccurate, free, privacy-focusedUS-only, fewer features
That’s ThemDetailed, bulk/API, high engagementSome outdated info, privacy concerns
IPQualityScoreAdvanced fraud tools, business-gradePaid features, less user-friendly for individuals

Conclusion

After trying all four tools, here’s my honest take: Spy Dialer just doesn’t hold up. It’s overloaded with ads, often inaccurate, and feels outdated. 

  • NumLookup is the best choice among these, free lookups, especially if you're in the U.S. It’s simple, fast, and mostly accurate, though there are some limitations after a few free searches.
  • That’s Them offers deeper data and bulk features, ideal for professionals, but it’s not always up to date and raises some privacy flags.
  • IPQualityScore is clearly built for businesses, not casual users. It’s powerful for fraud detection but requires technical know-how.

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