Ondrej Holzman Blocking annoying and unsolicited calls has been a big topic lately, especially because several Czech applications have appeared that solve this problem. Mobile application Nevolejte.cz, Avast Call Blocker a Pick it up? they can do the same thing at first glance, but they differ in details...
In principle, it is really one and the same thing. All the mentioned applications have a certain database of annoying numbers (or telephone spammers if you prefer) and thanks to them you have the possibility to be notified whenever such a number calls. Or simply block such numbers that they do not call you at all.
Applications Pick it up? we are already at Jablíčkára presented in more detail and the other two applications mentioned really work the same in principle. That's why we want to focus now on the small differences if you were to decide which call blocking app to choose in the App Store.
Probably the simplest distinguishing sign is the size of the database, i.e. the number of numbers that each application has reported in some way. The current status is as follows:
- Pick it up? over 18 thousand numbers
- Do not call.cz over 8 thousand numbers
- Avast Call Blocker over 50 thousand numbers
Looking at these numbers, it might be easy to say that Avast is the best, but let's take a closer look at how all the applications work with their databases.
Nevolejte.cz
Regarding the Nevolejte.cz project, it is good to mention at the beginning that it operates under the auspices of Telephone Harassment Protection Association and in addition to active protection, it also offers associated passive protection, which the competition does not have, but more on that later. We can also mention in advance that the only Nevolejte.cz application is completely free.
Nevolejte.cz works with its own database of blocked numbers, which is created by the users themselves and on which an internal control system is deployed to prevent abuse of blocking. The maximum proclaimed goal of Nevolejte.cz is that only those numbers that belong there should be on the blacklist. Therefore, compared to the competition, the service has "only" over 8 numbers in its current database, even though it has 140 blocking requests.
The user can easily block any number via the application, but only a verified number belonging to a spammer will actually get on the Nevolejte.cz public blacklist. Therefore, the process is as follows: as soon as the same number is added independently by two other users, the number undergoes one more internal check. If this check also evaluates that the number is suitable to block across the board, the Nevolejte.cz system will add the number to the block list of blocked numbers.
For each number, users always mark whether it is "telephone sales", "annoying person" or, for example, "financial trap", after which you immediately see this additional information when you receive a call. After all, this is also how competing applications work.
In addition, the Nevolejte.cz service also has passive protection, which you will find on the project website as the so-called Register Nevolejte.cz. It mainly serves people who do not have a smartphone. They can sign up to this register and thus let sellers know by phone that they do not want to be contacted for marketing purposes. The protection is not that effective, but at least it's something. This register functions as a so-called public list according to Section 96, Paragraph 1 of the Electronic Communications Act.
However, there is one flaw associated with this (at least for some users) - for the blocker to work, you must first enter your phone number into the Nevolejte.cz application, which you use to log in to the aforementioned registry. Other applications do not require any such information.
[appbox app store 1219991483]
Pick it up?
The application Zvednout to? also had a database similar to Nevolejte.cz. The developers collected the first roughly eight thousand numbers from their own sources, or from well-known and various publicly available websites and databases. The growth to the current 18 came after acquiring ten thousand numbers from partner Merk.cz, which has a giant database of companies.
Numbers from Merk.cz are often not even spammers, which is why they are Zvednout to? it clearly marks them as partner numbers, and they represent an advantage for users mainly in that they know who is calling them, even if it is not an unsolicited call (e.g. banks, etc.) - in which case the incoming call is marked with a green whistle.
Now already Pick it up? similarly to Nevolejte.cz, it adds only those numbers that are reported by the users themselves and which the developers themselves subsequently verify. In the last update, about 400 of them were added in this way. The control mechanism works again in such a way that as soon as the user reports the number, it is automatically blocked only for him and he gets on the public blacklist when it is certain that he is a spammer.
For proper functioning Pick it up? you don't have to enter any of your data or phone number, you just need to pay 59 crowns to download it from the App Store. On the other hand, you get the option to completely block only negative or neutral numbers that the application distinguishes in the database. In addition, you can completely block only your own reported numbers or a public database.
[appbox app store 1175824652]
Avast Call Blocker
In the end, we kept the Avast Call Blocker application, which boasts by far the largest database of numbers and also the fact that it uses machine learning to recognize spammers. However, one of the reasons why Avast's database is so extensive is that it also draws from foreign public sources, such as the FCC (American Federal Telecommunications Committee) or Google Maps, so the question is whether all the numbers are really relevant for the Czech market.
From my own experience with significantly smaller databases from Nevolejte.cz and Zvednout to? I can confirm that I have only had one unmarked number call me in over half a year. If the numbers from the aforementioned public foreign databases were really interesting for the Czech market, it would be surprising if these two services did not also download them.
From Avast's point of view, the large database is understandable because, unlike its competitors, it does not only target the Czech market. Similar to Pick it up? it does not require the user's phone number, and moreover, in the eyes of many users, Avast Call Blocker may automatically enjoy more brand credibility. In the case of a call blocker, who usually do not have access to any of your data, however, there should be no similar concerns.
In the end, what may be the most important thing when comparing this trio of services is the price. Avast Call Blocker is free in the App Store, but after a trial month you have to pay an annual subscription of 209 crowns. It's certainly not too much for what the service offers, but when there are cheaper alternatives, the question is whether it makes sense to invest.
Avast is the only blocker that prides itself on using unique machine learning algorithms to determine whether a given number is a spammer or not, but this can ultimately have its flaws. Algorithms compare the obtained numbers against various publicly available information, but the developers themselves admit that such automation can sometimes result in the wrong number being assigned to the blacklist.
Again – given Avast's larger reach, the use of the algorithm is understandable, but a manual solution from Nevolejte.cz or Zvednout to? is perhaps more effective for the small Czech market.
[appbox app store 1147552667]
I use https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/truecaller-spam-identification-block/id448142450?mt=8 and quite satisfied .. don't you want to add it to the comparator? :)
I don't want I have already referred to it here many times, but they always ignored it and preferred to praise to the heavens "pick it up?", which was created by their friends :-)
ah, so much for the topic of objectivity .. something like the articles on the program that shows you places for photos .. Fripto, or something like that .. I haven't read about it here for a long time, no mention :))
Mára recently promoted "pick it up" on YouTube .. well, I probably won't change it yet :) ... trucaller is free and works :)
It promoted more of the site. On the same day, the articles appeared on maybe 3 websites and nowhere were they marked as advertising, although they obviously were. Besides, these "what I'm playing" and similar ads are quite often here
Your great application is paid for with a monthly and annual membership, so it's automatically the worst of all, so I'm not surprised that they don't use it :-).
Hello,
I ask, can any of the blockers block the call of that hidden number? Or record calls?
I don't understand that iOS doesn't have these functions natively. Thank you
Hi, why isn't True Caller the best app of its kind on the list? :)
Hello. We focused mainly on Czech applications, otherwise there are more blockers. We will consider whether to test some others, including Truecaller, but in essence they all do the same thing.
I use the built-in number blocker in the iPhone. I'm fine, it's enough for the few numbers a year that called me and I blocked them, so I've been quiet for about a year now. If I received more spam calls, I would probably consider such an application, but for now, what the iPhone knows is enough for me.
I use the built-in number blocker in the iPhone. I'm fine, it's enough for the few numbers a year that called me and sent advertising SMS. I blocked them, so I've been quiet for about a year now. In this way, you can also block advertising SMS messages from different 3-digit numbers as shown on the screen. So I don't know if that application can also block SMS messages, but if not, then I'll stick with what the iPhone knows. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a26c9d33cc292f9368f503ade2c6574cc4521600c6b8b9052bd9897a917a5107.png
I use this app http://nevolejte.cz/?128587 and complete satisfaction. I recommend