Phone validation · Phone carrier lookup
Free tool
Phone Carrier Lookup
What you get
Get 100 free checks a monthNo credit card required.
Look up a phone number's carrier.
Start with + and the country code. 5 free checks a day. Results never get a public URL.
Or try
Example: a number that moved carriers
Example data. A real result for +1 415 992 9960.
Valid
+1 415 992 9960
This number is valid and shows no risk signals.
- Carrier type
- Virtual number provider (CPaaS)
- Line type
- VoIP
- VoIP type
- Non-fixed VoIP
- 1
Lumen is the original carrier
Lumen holds the number range that +1 415 992 9960 comes from.
- 2
Twilio is the current carrier
The number was ported. Twilio serves it now, so the ported flag is Yes.
- 3
Virtual number, non-fixed VoIP
Twilio is a virtual number provider (CPaaS) and the line is non-fixed VoIP. That is the kind of number one person can buy many of in a few minutes.
How to look up a phone number's carrier
Type the number
Press Validate
Read the carrier
What the result means
Six fields, with the values for the example number. Every field and value is in the API documentation.
| Field | What it tells you | Where | +1 415 992 9960 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original carrier | The operator that holds the number range. | Any country, where known | Lumen |
| Current carrier | The operator that serves the number now, from the US porting database. | US numbers | Twilio |
| Ported | Yes when the number left the operator that holds its range. | US numbers | Yes |
| Carrier type | Mobile network, virtual mobile network (MVNO), virtual number provider (CPaaS) or fixed line provider. | Any country, where known | Virtual number provider (CPaaS) |
| Line type | Mobile, landline, VoIP, toll free and others. Some countries use the same ranges for fixed and mobile lines, which shows as Fixed line or mobile. | Any country | VoIP |
| VoIP type | Fixed or non-fixed. Shown for VoIP numbers only. | VoIP numbers | Non-fixed VoIP |
Original carrier vs current carrier
Number ranges are assigned to one operator. When a number is ported, it moves to another operator and the range stays with the first.
Holds the number range. Shown for any country where the data is known.
Serves the number now. From the US porting database, so US numbers only.
For a ported number, the line type and carrier type describe the current operator. Outside the US the lookup returns the original carrier only.
Is it a mobile network number or a virtual one?
Carrier type says what kind of operator serves the number. VoIP type splits VoIP numbers in two.
Mobile network (MNO)
mnoVirtual mobile network (MVNO)
mvnoVirtual number provider (CPaaS)
cpaasVirtualFixed VoIP
fixedNon-fixed VoIP
nonFixedWhat a carrier lookup can't tell you
A carrier lookup reads numbering and porting data. These questions need other data.
Who owns the number
Whether someone answers
Porting outside the US
Port date or roaming
What businesses use carrier lookup for
Flag virtual numbers at signup
Skip SMS to lines that cannot receive it
See if a US number moved carriers
Check carriers from your code
The same data comes from POST /v2/phone/validation, one number per request. 100 checks a month are free with no card. The Standard plan is $49.99 a month for 20,000 checks, then $0.0025 a check. Median response is under 500 ms.
curl -X POST https://api.trueguard.io/v2/phone/validation \
-H "X-API-KEY: $YOUR_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"phone":"+14159929960"}'Questions about phone carrier lookup.
Anything missing? Contact support or read the documentation.
What carrier is this phone number on?
Type the number with + and the country code. You get the original carrier when it is known. US numbers also get the current carrier and the ported flag.
Why does the lookup show two different carriers?
The number was ported. The original carrier holds the number range, and the current carrier serves the number now. For +1 415 992 9960 the original carrier is Lumen and the current carrier is Twilio.
Can I see who owns this phone number?
No. The lookup returns operator data, not a person. Trueguard does not offer reverse phone lookup or caller names.
Will the person know I looked up their number?
No. The lookup reads numbering and carrier data. It does not call or text the number.
Does it tell me if the number is active?
No. There is no HLR lookup and no contact with the mobile network. Valid means the number matches the numbering plan of its country and belongs to a real range.
Can it tell if a number is VoIP or a landline?
Yes. Line type shows mobile, landline, VoIP and other types, and VoIP type tells fixed from non-fixed. Some countries use the same ranges for fixed and mobile lines, which shows as "Fixed line or mobile".
What is a virtual (CPaaS) number?
A number served by a communications platform or virtual number provider instead of a mobile network. Twilio is an example.
Does it work for numbers outside the US?
Validity, line type, carrier type and original carrier work worldwide where the data is known. Current carrier and porting come from the US porting database, so they cover US numbers only. Canadian numbers do not get them.
Is this carrier lookup free?
5 checks a day in the browser with no account. A free API key gives 100 checks a month with no card. Above that, the Standard plan is $49.99 a month for 20,000 checks, then $0.0025 a check.
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