“`html
About Call Blocker – Blacklist
As someone who gets bombarded with spam calls about car warranties and fake IRS agents, I downloaded Call Blocker – Blacklist hoping for some peace. It’s a free app from cxzh.ltd that promises to let you build a personal blacklist. After using it for a couple of weeks on my Android, my take is that it’s a functional but pretty bare-bones tool. It does stop the numbers you tell it to, but don’t expect it to be a genius that identifies new spam on its own.
Features & Highlights
The core feature is, of course, the blacklist. You manually add numbers, and the app will block calls and texts from them. I used this for that one persistent telemarketer whose number I finally copied down. It also has a whitelist, which I set up for my family’s numbers to make sure they always get through even if I have a blocking schedule active.
I did play with the scheduling feature, setting it to block all non-whitelisted calls after 9 PM. It worked, but the interface for setting the time was a bit fiddly. The call log is a straightforward list showing you what was blocked and when. I noticed it doesn’t always capture the caller ID name if the number isn’t in your contacts, which makes the log a bit less informative. A feature I wish it had was community-based spam reporting or automatic identification of suspected spam numbers, which other apps offer.
User Experience
My first impression was that the design feels outdated. The menus are simple, which is good for finding things, but it’s not exactly polished. Adding a number to the blacklist is easy: you just tap the plus sign and type it in or pick it from your call history. However, I had a frustrating moment where I tried to block a range of numbers (like all numbers from a certain area code), and the app simply doesn’t support that. You have to block them one by one.
The real test came when I got a call from a “Private Number.” I had the “Block Unknown Callers” option turned on, and the app successfully silenced it. That was satisfying. But later, I missed a callback from my doctor’s office because they called from a main line I hadn’t whitelisted, reminding me that this kind of blunt tool requires careful maintenance.
Pricing
The app is completely free with no in-app purchases that I could find. You get all the features—blacklist, whitelist, scheduling, logs—without paying a cent. For the price, it’s hard to complain too much. It’s worth it if you need a simple, manual blocker for a handful of known nuisance numbers. But if you want a more “set it and forget it” solution that proactively filters spam, you might find the free price tag comes with the cost of more manual work on your part.
Updates & Support
Looking at the update history on the Google Play Store, the developer (cxzh.ltd) pushes updates every few months, usually marked as “bug fixes and performance improvements.” I haven’t noticed any major new features added recently. As for support, it’s minimal. There’s a feedback email address listed in the app’s settings, but there’s no in-app help section or FAQ. This feels very much like a “take it or leave it” kind of app. I didn’t contact support, so I can’t speak to their responsiveness.
Security & Privacy
I downloaded it from the official Google Play Store. The app requires significant permissions to work, like access to your phone and contacts to manage calls. This is normal for a call blocker, but it’s always something to be aware of. The privacy policy is linked on the store page. It states that data is collected for app functionality and analytics. I did see banner ads within the app, which suggests some data might be used for ad targeting. It didn’t feel overly intrusive, but the presence of ads in a utility app can be a minor annoyance. If you’re highly privacy-conscious, the data collection for ads might be a turn-off.
“`
How do I add a number to the blacklist in Call Blocker – Blacklist?
To block a number, simply tap the plus sign in the app and either type the number in manually or select it from your call history. It's a straightforward process, though you'll need to add each number one at a time since the app doesn't support blocking an entire area code.
Does Call Blocker – Blacklist have a scheduling feature for blocking calls?
Yes, it includes a scheduling feature that lets you block all non-whitelisted calls during specific times, like after 9 PM. You can set this up in the settings, but the interface for choosing the time can be a bit fiddly to use.
Why does the call log show blocked calls without the caller's name?
The call log only displays the caller ID name if the number is already saved in your contacts. For unknown numbers, it will just show the number itself, which can make the log less informative when you're trying to identify who was blocked.
Can I block a range of numbers, like all calls from a specific area code?
Unfortunately, no. Call Blocker – Blacklist only lets you block numbers one by one manually. If you need to block an entire area code, you'll have to add each number individually, which can be tedious.
How does Call Blocker – Blacklist compare to apps like Truecaller?
Unlike Truecaller, Call Blocker – Blacklist lacks automatic spam detection and community-based reporting, so it won't identify new spam numbers on its own. It's a more basic tool focused on manual blacklisting and whitelisting, which works but requires more effort from you.
