The Best Hiya Alternative in 2026

By OsmO AI Team 7 min read
OsmO answering an unknown caller, beyond caller ID

Hiya is one of the most popular caller-ID and spam-blocking apps, and it's good at what it does. But people still look for a Hiya alternative — usually because they want more than caller ID, or an app that actually handles their calls instead of just labeling them. If that's you, here's the best Hiya alternative in 2026, and how the options compare.

What Hiya does

Hiya identifies incoming numbers, shows you a caller's name, and flags or blocks likely spam and scam calls using a large database. It's available on iPhone and Android with a free tier and a premium subscription, and it has added AI screening features. Its strength — and its limit — is that it focuses on telling you who's calling and blocking the bad ones. It doesn't answer your real unknown calls, take a message, or make calls for you.

The alternative that answers, not just identifies: OsmO

OsmO is an AI phone assistant, not a caller-ID app. When an unknown number calls, OsmO doesn't just put a label on the screen — it answers in a natural voice, finds out who's calling and why, drops obvious spam, takes a message from real callers, and texts you a transcript. So instead of "is this spam?", you get "here's who called, here's what they wanted." On top of that, OsmO makes outbound calls for you — booking appointments, chasing refunds, sitting on hold. It runs on your existing number via call forwarding, on iPhone and Android, and is free to download.

OsmO vs Hiya

Capability OsmO Hiya
Identifies unknown callersYes — AI asks who & why, liveYes — caller-ID database
Answers the call & takes a messageYesNo
Spam & scam blockingYes — screens each callerYes
Makes calls for youYes — bookings, follow-ups, holdNo
TranscriptsFull transcript + recordingNo
PlatformsiPhone & AndroidiPhone & Android
PriceFree to download; store-priced plansFree tier; premium subscription

Other Hiya alternatives worth knowing

  • Truecaller — the biggest caller-ID database, though it's built from uploaded contacts (see the Truecaller alternative breakdown).
  • CallApp — caller ID plus call recording and contact backup.
  • RoboKiller — aggressive robocall blocking with answer bots (how it compares to OsmO).
  • iOS 26 Call Screening — Apple's free built-in screener for iPhone (vs OsmO).

Which Hiya alternative is right for you?

  • Want caller ID and spam labels and nothing more? → Truecaller or CallApp (or stick with Hiya).
  • Want an assistant that answers your calls, takes messages, and makes calls for you, on any phone? → OsmO.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free Hiya alternative?

Yes — OsmO is free to download (with paid plans shown in the app). Unlike Hiya's caller-ID focus, OsmO answers your unknown calls, screens spam, sends transcripts, and makes calls for you.

How is OsmO different from Hiya?

Hiya identifies and labels callers; OsmO answers them — picking up unknown calls, taking a message, and texting you a transcript — and it also makes outbound calls for you.

What's the best Hiya alternative for iPhone?

OsmO works on your existing iPhone number, answers unknown calls, screens spam, and sends transcripts. Truecaller is the closest like-for-like caller-ID alternative.

Try the alternative that answers your calls

OsmO does what Hiya does — and then answers the call, takes the message, and makes calls for you. Free on iPhone and Android.

App Store Google Play

Related reading: Best AI call assistant apps · Truecaller alternative · RoboKiller alternative · Whoscall alternative