For years, Truecaller, the well-known caller ID app, lacked a key feature for iPhone users: real-time caller ID. While Android users have enjoyed this convenience for a long time, iPhone users were left behind. That changes now. Truecaller has finally rolled out real-time caller ID for its iOS subscribers, thanks to a major update.
Made Possible by iOS 18’s Live Caller ID Lookup
This update is possible because of Apple’s introduction of Live Caller ID Lookup in iOS 18. This feature allows third-party apps, like Truecaller, to securely fetch caller information from their servers in real time. Truecaller built a new encrypted database tailored for iOS users to make this happen.
This release is also significant as it marks the company’s first major update since co-founders Alan Mamedi and Nami Zarringhalam stepped back from daily operations in late 2024.
Why Truecaller Prioritizes iOS Users
Even though fewer iPhone users subscribe to Truecaller compared to Android users, they are a key focus for the company. Of Truecaller’s 2.6 million premium subscribers, about 750,000 are iOS users. However, iPhone users generate 80% more revenue and are five times more likely to upgrade to premium than Android users.
To meet the needs of this high-value audience, Truecaller continues to enhance its iOS app. In 2022, the app was redesigned for better spam detection. Now, real-time caller ID takes the experience to the next level.
Advanced Technology for Real-Time Caller ID
Truecaller uses cutting-edge homomorphic encryption to ensure caller data remains secure. This technology processes encrypted data without ever decrypting it, guaranteeing privacy. Only the user’s iPhone decrypts the data to display caller details in real time.
While this encryption adds a small delay, it ensures a high level of security. Product Director Nakul Kabra explained that the process is resource-intensive but effective. Despite minor delays, real-time caller ID works well in most cases, as confirmed during TechCrunch’s beta testing.
New Features for iPhone Users
The updated app introduces a cleaner interface, showing the caller’s name in bold above their number. Truecaller is also working on adding caller images to make the experience even better.
To activate the new feature, users can go to iPhone Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification.