Ways to screen a parent's calls, compared
Start with what's free: the call screening built into your parent's phone and the free spam filter from their carrier. Add an app such as Nomorobo or Robokiller if spam still gets through, or a call-blocker device for a traditional landline. Protect & Assist, from $49.99 a month, is for families who want to be part of it: unknown callers must name your parent and say why before the phone rings, and the family sees every screened call and can get alerts.
On this page
What to compare
- What happens to an unknown caller: blocked, labeled, sent to voicemail, or asked who they are before the phone rings.
- Whether it fits your parent's phone: iPhone, Android, a traditional landline or a home phone that runs over the internet, and which carrier.
- Who sees what: only your parent, or the family too.
- Cost and setup: free, monthly or a one-time purchase, and who has to set it up.
- Calls it might stop by mistake: the FTC warns that call-blocking services might block some calls you want.
At a glance
| Option | What it does with unknown callers | Cost, as of October 2026 | Family involvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone Call ScreeningBuilt into the phone | Can answer unknown numbers, ask for a name and reason, then ring with the answer; or silence unknown numbers to voicemail. | Included with the iPhone | None built in |
| Google Pixel Call ScreenBuilt into the phone | Asks who's calling and why, shows a live transcript, and can hang up on calls it judges to be spam. | Included on Pixel phones; manual screening on selected other Android phones | None built in |
| T-Mobile ScamShieldCarrier tool | Labels likely scam calls as Scam Likely, offers Scam Block, sends spam calls to voicemail, and blocks numbers you choose. | Free for T-Mobile customers; Premium $4 a month per line | None built in |
| AT&T ActiveArmorCarrier tool | Fraud and spam call blocking: you choose to block unwanted calls or send them to voicemail. | Free with every AT&T wireless plan; ActiveArmor advanced $7 a month | None built in |
| Verizon Call FilterCarrier tool | Spam detection and a spam filter that sends high-risk spam calls to voicemail; lets you allow numbers and report spam. | Free for Verizon customers with a compatible device; Call Filter Plus $3.99 a month | None built in |
| NomoroboApp and home phone service | Blocks or identifies spam callers, your choice; the Max plan adds call screening and block and allow lists. | Basic $2.99 a month or $19.99 a year; Max $59.99 a year; Family $79.99 a year for up to 4 devices | None built in; a Family plan covers up to 4 devices |
| RobokillerApp | Asks unknown callers to state their name and why they're calling; block and allow lists; spam voicemail filtering. | Free trial; subscription prices on its site | None built in |
| CPR Call BlockerLandline device | Plugs into the home phone line; preloaded with known nuisance numbers; a one-touch BLOCK NOW button. | Bought once; no app, Wi-Fi or monthly subscription | None built in |
| Protect & AssistScreening service | Unknown callers must name your parent and say why before the phone rings; an AI reads the reason; your parent says yes or no. | $49.99, $67.99 or $79.99 a month | Shared family dashboard, text and app alerts, family code word check |
Built into the phone
As of October 2026, both major phone makers build call screening in, at no extra cost.
iPhone
In Settings > Apps > Phone, Screen Unknown Callers offers three choices, according to Apple's iPhone guide. Ask Reason for Calling has the iPhone answer calls from unknown numbers; after the caller shares their name and reason, the iPhone rings and shows their response, so your parent can choose whether to pick up. Silence sends unknown numbers to voicemail, and Never lets them ring as usual. A separate Spam setting silences calls the carrier marks as potential spam or fraud and sends them to voicemail.
Where it fits: it's free and already on the phone. Your parent reads the screen and makes the choice, and the family doesn't see what happened.
Google Pixel and other Android phones
Google's Call Screen asks unknown callers who's calling and why and shows a live transcript. On Pixel phones in the US it can screen calls automatically, hanging up on calls it determines are spam and ringing for the rest; selected other Android phones in the US can screen calls by hand. Google notes that not all spam calls and robocalls can be identified, and that automatic Call Screen shouldn't be used with call forwarding.
Where it fits: a Pixel owner who is comfortable reading transcripts. As with the iPhone, the family isn't part of it.
Your carrier's tools
The three largest mobile carriers each include a free spam-call tool, with paid upgrades. As of October 2026:
T-Mobile ScamShield
T-Mobile says ScamShield is built into its network at no extra cost. Its free features include the Scam Likely caller label, Scam Block, personal number blocking, Potential Spam identification, spam calls sent to voicemail, Callback Protection and Safe Web Browsing, managed in the T-Life app. It can also warn you before an outgoing call to a risky number connects. ScamShield Premium, $4 a month per line, adds sending categories of calls to voicemail, reverse number lookup and voicemail transcription. T-Mobile notes that turning on Scam Block might block calls you want.
AT&T ActiveArmor
AT&T says ActiveArmor is free with every AT&T wireless plan and includes fraud and spam call blocking, where you choose to block unwanted calls or have them sent to voicemail, plus data breach alerts and device security alerts. It needs the ActiveArmor app and a compatible device. ActiveArmor advanced, $7 a month, adds features such as identity monitoring and public Wi-Fi protection. AT&T notes that it may not detect all threats and may block calls you want.
Verizon Call Filter
Verizon says Call Filter screens incoming callers to alert you if a number may be spam, a robocall or fraud, and sends high-risk spam calls to voicemail. The free version, for customers on a standard monthly or prepaid plan with a compatible device, includes spam detection, a spam filter, a spam and blocked call log, allowed numbers and spam reporting. Call Filter Plus, $3.99 a month, adds caller ID, spam lookup, a personal block list and blocking by category. It's managed in the Verizon Protect app, and basic phones can use it through My Verizon.
Where carrier tools fit: they're free for customers and a sensible first layer. They mostly judge a call by its number, so a brand-new or faked number can still ring, and the family doesn't see what happened.
Call-blocking apps
Nomorobo
As of October 2026, Nomorobo's site describes apps that block or identify spam callers, your choice, and protection for supported internet-based (VoIP) and digital home phone lines. The Max plan adds call screening, personal block and allow lists, and voicemail transcription. Its listed prices are Basic at $2.99 a month or $19.99 a year, Max at $59.99 a year, and Family at $79.99 a year for up to four devices, with AARP member pricing on Max and Family. Nomorobo says legal automated calls, like school closings and prescription reminders, are allowed through.
Robokiller
As of October 2026, Robokiller's site describes an app with call screening that asks unknown callers to state their name and why they're calling, so you can choose whether to answer in real time; custom filters to block or allow numbers; spam voicemail protection; and Answer Bots that pick up spam calls to waste the callers' time. It offers a free trial, and subscription prices are on its site.
Where apps fit: spam still gets past the free tools, and your parent is comfortable with a smartphone app. Like the built-in tools, they're set up and checked on your parent's phone.
Call blockers for landlines
CPR Call Blocker
As of October 2026, CPR's site describes a device that plugs into the home phone line. It comes preloaded with known nuisance numbers, holds a personal block list, and has a large one-touch BLOCK NOW button for blocking a new caller. CPR says there's no app, no Wi-Fi connection and no ongoing subscription.
trueCall
We also tried to check trueCall's official site, truecall.co.uk, in October 2026. It showed only a "back soon" message, so this guide doesn't describe trueCall's features, prices or US availability.
Where devices fit: a traditional landline, where phone apps and settings don't apply, and a parent who prefers a single button to managing settings.
Protect & Assist
Protect & Assist is a call screening service for families of older adults. When a number that isn't saved calls your parent, the call comes to Protect & Assist first. The caller has to name the person they're trying to reach, say why, and give their own name. A caller who can't name your parent is ended before the phone rings, which helps prevent robocalls and random dialers from getting through. An AI reads the reason, and a questionable one goes to the emergency contact you saved first, or your parent is warned. Unless your emergency contact ends the call, your parent then hears who's calling and why, and says yes or no.
What it adds: the family shares a dashboard of every screened call and can get alerts by text or app; a caller who says they're family can be asked for your family code word; every plan checks the start of each connected call for phrases like "wire money" (the first minute, or 5 or 15 minutes on Guardian plans) and, with a hang-up rule turned on, can end a call; and every plan includes medication reminder calls. As of October 2026, plans cost $49.99, $67.99 or $79.99 a month.
Where it fits, and where it doesn't: it suits families who want to be involved: to see who is calling, hear about problems, and add a family code word check. It costs more than the free tools. It needs a mobile phone and carrier that support conditional call forwarding (Cricket doesn't, for this setup), and landlines work only in specific cases. Screening can make mistakes, and a robocall or scammer that says your parent's name reaches the yes-or-no step. If spam volume is the only problem and your parent handles their phone well, the free tools may be enough.
Which should you choose?
- A smartphone, and the problem is mostly spam: start free, with the carrier's tool and the phone's own screening.
- Spam still gets through: add an app such as Nomorobo or Robokiller.
- A traditional landline: a call-blocker device such as CPR Call Blocker, or Nomorobo for a supported internet-based home phone line.
- You want the family involved: Protect & Assist, for the shared dashboard, alerts, the family code word check and care reminders.
- Combining tools: don't run two screeners on the same calls. Google, for example, says not to use automatic Call Screen with call forwarding, which Protect & Assist relies on. Ask us before combining them.
Whatever you choose, register your parent's numbers on the Do Not Call Registry, save family and doctors as contacts, and agree on the family rules in our phone scams guide.
Common questions
What is the best call blocker for an elderly parent?
It depends on the phone and on how involved the family wants to be. For a smartphone, start with the free tools: the phone's own call screening and the carrier's spam filter. For a traditional landline, a call-blocker device. If the family wants to see screened calls and get alerts, a service like Protect & Assist adds that.
Are there free ways to screen a parent's calls?
Yes. As of October 2026, iPhones and Pixel phones can ask unknown callers who they are before ringing, and T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon each include a free spam-call tool for their customers. The Do Not Call Registry is free too, though it doesn't block calls.
Do call blockers ever block calls my parent wants?
They can. The FTC warns that call-blocking services might block some calls you want, and AT&T and T-Mobile say the same about their tools. Save doctors, the pharmacy and family as contacts, and check the blocked or spam call list now and then.
Does Protect & Assist work with a landline?
Only in specific cases, when the phone provider lets calls be routed through Protect & Assist. If your parent has a landline, contact us before signing up; a call-blocker device may suit a traditional landline better.
How is Protect & Assist different from a spam filter?
A spam filter mostly judges a call by its number. Protect & Assist asks every unknown caller to name your parent and say why before the phone rings, and the family shares a dashboard of screened calls and can get alerts. It can also ask a caller who says they are family for your family code word, and every plan includes medication reminder calls.
How did you check these products?
We read each vendor's own website in October 2026 and link to it from each description. Features and prices change, so check the vendor's page before you buy. We couldn't check trueCall, because its official site was unavailable when we looked.
Still have a question?
Sources
- Screen and block calls on iPhone (iPhone User Guide), Apple, checked October 2026.
- Manage unknown callers on iPhone, Apple Support, September 14, 2026.
- Screen your calls before you answer them (Phone app Help), Google, checked October 2026.
- ScamShield, T-Mobile, checked October 2026.
- AT&T ActiveArmor, AT&T, checked October 2026.
- Verizon Call Filter FAQs, Verizon, checked October 2026.
- Nomorobo, Nomorobo, checked October 2026.
- Robokiller features, Robokiller, checked October 2026.
- CPR Call Blocker, CPR Call Blocker, checked October 2026.
- How To Block Unwanted Calls, FTC Consumer Advice, July 2023.
- Call Blocking Tools and Resources, Federal Communications Commission, updated September 16, 2026.
- National Do Not Call Registry FAQs, FTC Consumer Advice, September 2023.
We read every source on its publisher's site in October 2026. Figures are the latest each publisher had released.