Truecaller has finally rolled out real-time caller information for iPhone users, a feature that Android users have enjoyed for some time.
This significant update comes alongside Apple’s introduction of Live Caller ID Lookup in iOS 18, allowing third-party apps to access caller information from their servers securely.
This update is particularly noteworthy as it marks the first major release from Truecaller since co-founders Alan Mamedi and Nami Zarringhalam stepped down from daily operations in November 2024. Truecaller has over 2.6 million paying subscribers, with around 750,000 on iOS, contributing to 40% of the company’s revenue.
Given the importance of iOS users to Truecaller’s financial success—where they convert to premium plans five times more often than Android users—the company is keen on enhancing its iOS app. Thanks to Apple’s expanded local storage capabilities, the app had a significant refresh in 2022 to improve spam detection.
Nakul Kabra, Truecaller’s Product Director, explained the challenges faced in high-call-volume countries like India, where not all phone numbers can be stored offline. He also noted the emerging competition from Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) services being rolled out by local telecoms in India.
Before iOS 18, Truecaller depended on a limited local database for caller identification. With the new update, the app utilizes a new server architecture and an encrypted database specifically for iOS users. This setup allows Apple’s Phone app to make encrypted requests to retrieve real-time caller information, employing a method known as “homomorphic encryption.”
Kabra mentioned that while there might be some delays due to the encryption process, the sync between databases is designed to minimize lag.
Recent tests of the live caller ID feature in Truecaller’s beta program showed promising results, providing real-time caller information in most instances, although some calls were missed.
Truecaller’s premium subscription for iOS starts at $9.99 per month or $74.99 per year, with family plans available at $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year. The top-tier Gold subscription costs $249 annually. Users can enable the Live Caller ID Lookup feature through iPhone Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification. The update also includes an interface change, displaying caller names prominently, with plans to add image support for caller IDs in the future.
