How to Find Someone’s Phone Number (Top Methods & Tools

Searching for someone’s phone number? Whether you’re searching for a direct dial for a business prospect, planning a marketing campaign or enriching your CRM, being able to find someone’s phone number online is an essential skill.

What’s the best way to find phone numbers online? 🤔 In this post, we’ll explore 8 ways to find someone’s phone number, alongside the top platforms and tools to make it effortless and insider tips.

Let’s dive in👇

Key Takeaways 

• There are lots of ways to find someone’s phone number, some more accurate than others.
• If you’re on a budget there are free tools, but they’re not necessarily going to be accurate.
• For the best accuracy, use a dedicated phone number finder like Swordfish.ai.
• Other options include checking social media profiles, specialized directories, Google searches or local reocrds.
• There’s a lot to consider when finding phone numbers including if they’re on a DNC list or valid.

 

The 8 best ways to find someone’s phone number

If you’re searching for someone’s phone number online – you’re not short of options including tools, social media, directories and google searches. We’ve rounded up the 8 best ways to find someone’s phone number including free and premium options.

1. Using phone number finder tools and people search engines

If you’re searching for accurate direct dials for prospects or hard-to-reach candidates, a dedicated phone number-finding tool is one of the best investments you’ll make.

Tools like Swordfish.ai have billions of data points and unique matching algorithms to be able to accurately find someone’s phone number. Tools like Reverse Phone Lookup allow you to find direct dials and cell phone numbers with just a name, social media profile or email address.

You can try Swordfish.ai’s Reverse Phone Lookup tool for free by signing up here.

2. Checking social media profiles

If you have the person’s social media like Facebook or LinkedIn, sometimes you’ll strike it lucky and find their number right on their profile.

Finding someone’s details works best when they choose to make this information public on their profiles. Yet, keep in mind, that a lot of people today prefer keeping their contact info private.

If it’s not on their profile, don’t worry – specialist Google Chrome extensions or Reverse Lookup tools still mean you can use social profiles to find phone numbers.

3. Using a specialized directory

While the web is full of database directories, not all are equally reliable or safe so it’s best to stick to the well-known ones like WhitePages, TruePeopleSearch, and SpyDialer.

4. Do a Google search

As the saying goes – just Google it. The more details you add the more likely you are to find a result. So if just a name isn’t working out, try adding their company, job title or location.

5. Visiting company websites

Many companies list their employees’ departmental or direct phone numbers on their websites. So, visit company websites, specifically the contact page of the company website where your prospect works. This approach is often the best way to find phone numbers of prospects.

If you can’t find a specific number, the general company number might lead you to an operator or directory. Such company directories are great for finding phone numbers associated with a specific department.

6. Checking online business listings

Online business directories often list contact information such as phone numbers for various businesses. 

You can look at business directories like Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Y Combinator, Yellow Pages, LinkedIn, or even Google Business Profiles.

These can provide direct numbers or mainlines that help you find their phone number and get in touch with your prospect.

7. Using a Google Chrome extension

Google Chrome extensions can collect verified phone numbers and other information from social media and websites. Noteworthy options include Swordfish,ai, Lead 411, Datanyze, and AeroLeads. 

Among these, Swordfish stands out for having the most platforms covered to collect valid phone numbers, cell phone numbers and email addresses. It works on sites including; Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, GitHub, Dribbble, StackOverflow, Google and Bing.

8. Exploring local records

Whilst it might seem old school, another option when trying to find someone’s phone number online is to explore local records in your area.

These details are usually stored in county databases, available for you to explore online or in person at the courthouse.

When searching online, you’ll need to enter a phone number or have some identification ready, such as a government-issued ID. For in-person searches, a driver’s license or another form of ID will be necessary. 

It’s essential to know the name and location of the person you’re looking for.

Top 9 Tools to Find Someone’s Phone Number 

Now that you know how to find the contact number of a person through multiple methods, let’s talk a bit more about the tools. With tools, the process is much faster and easier to find someone’s phone number and often, the most accurate. 

Hence, here are the top 9 tools you should consider and check out.

1. Swordfish.AI

Swordfish.AI stands out as the go-to option for anyone looking to find phone number by email efficiently. It leads the way when you’re on the hunt to connect with key decision-makers, powered by its vast reach into 3.5 billion data profiles. 

What sets it apart is its exclusive access to cell phone data and direct dials with a special method to find verified numbers. Using its own algorithms, the platform matches phone numbers you find with the right prospects, ensuring you get accurate information.

For those concerned about legality, Swordfish.AI operates within strict compliance with laws, giving you peace of mind. And the numbers speak volumes: an impressive 82% accuracy rate on the first try and 95% overall accuracy across all profiles.

It’s why over 50,000 professionals rely on Swordfish.AI’s contact information for precise and immediate decisions. Whether you’re in sales, recruitment, or any field in need to look up someones phone number, Swordfish.AI is your go-to tool for bridging the gap to success.

Pros

• Over 3.5billion data points and the largest contact database.
• Verifies phone numbers in real-time with validation checks.
• Matches contacts quickly and accurately, saving time.
• Direct data from carriers makes for reliable information.
• Choose from several tools to find phone numbers in a way that fits your workflow.
• Stays within legal boundaries including CCPA and GDPR, ensuring peace of mind.

Cons

• Only provides data for people within the USA.

Try Swordfish Ai

2. AnyWho

If you want toll-free numbers or something to generate leads, AnyWho is fantastic. It allows you to look for phone numbers on the White Pages. Additionally, its reverse lookup feature lets you find out who owns a specific phone number. 

It’s incredibly easy to use. Enter the leads’ first and last names and their zip code into the website. 

To run a thorough person search of users with that last name in that location, you can search for the last name and zip code if you want more results.

Pros

• Explores a comprehensive directory for locating individuals by name, address, or phone number.
• Offers a regularly updated database for current and reliable nationwide phone numbers.
• Navigates easily with a user-friendly interface and clear search options.
• Utilizes national coverage for a wide range of contact information searches.
• Features reverse phone lookup capability to find information quickly.

Cons

• AnyWho has very little information, some of which may not be accurate or current.

3. Whitepages 

White Pages, set up in 1997, is a well-known site for finding people’s contact details. It has a massive list of over 250 million people in the U.S., making it one of the best websites for finding phone numbers and other contact info.

The site also does background checks quickly, using records from all over the U.S. This is really helpful if you need to know more about someone’s background for safety or business reasons.

Every day, over 2 million people use White Pages to search for people’s phone numbers and other information. It’s behind popular sites like Whitepages, 411, and Switchboard, showing how many people rely on it for finding contact details.

White Pages is great for different kinds of searches. Whether you’re looking to get back in touch with someone, check who someone is, or do a detailed background check, it’s a useful and trusted tool.

Pros

• Provides extensive nationwide contact information access.
• Offers reliable, detailed background check capabilities.
• Handles millions of searches efficiently daily.
• Features an intuitive, easy-to-use interface.
• Connects with well-known, trusted search domains.

Cons

• Certain services may require a subscription
• It only works in the USA and is ineffective in other nations.

4. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a fantastic tool for finding phone numbers for professional networking and connections. It enables you to search a database of more than 950 million members from 200 nations, including companies, professionals, and other organizations.

The search engine on LinkedIn is best way to find someone’s verified phone numbers of businesses and other contact information. It would help if you first connected with them; they must accept your request to connect.

Once your request has been received, you can obtain their contact information, including their phone number and email, from their business profile.

However, this will only function if the leads or professionals have added their phone numbers and made them openly accessible. If it is hidden, look for alternatives using tools or services like email finders.

Pros

• Extensive global database of companies and employees.
• Displays skills and achievements to potential employers.
• Enables job seekers to discover and apply for jobs.
• Facilitates industry insights and networking with professionals.
• Helps employers find ideal candidates via detailed profiles.

Cons

• It can’t find numbers unless they’re publicly shared.
• Requires careful management of privacy settings.

5. Google

Google is a wonderful resource for finding a company’s phone number if you’re looking for it online. You may use it to find someone’s phone number by searching for the company name and the keyword “phone number,” as shown in the screenshot above. 

If a company is large enough or has a Google profile, Google will display its phone number or company profile.

Despite being a free phone number lookup service, this service only functions if your lead is listed on Google. Additionally, it will probably only provide their company’s phone number rather than other ways to contact them.

Pros

• Offers detailed contact info in business profiles.
• Google’s wide accessibility ensures user convenience.
• Free access to Google, making it ideal for cost-saving searches.
• Simple phone number search yields quick results.
• Frequently leads to additional and relevant information.

Cons

• Not all phone numbers will yield useful information.

6. SpyDialer

Robert Scott, a best-selling author and certified private investigator specializing in discovering phone numbers online, invented SpyDialer. 

With the help of his team of experts and the countless articles and investigations he has worked on, SpyDialer has grown to be a highly-liked tool for conducting internet person searches and locating phone numbers.

You have three choices using SpyDialer to find out their phone number: their name, address, zip code, or email. It may also be used to find the owner of a mobile phone number by running a reverse phone lookup on the number.

Pros

• SpyDialer offers a basic version for free.
• Allows anonymous search for user privacy.
• Effectively identifies callers with reverse lookup.
• Rapidly provides information in most cases.

Cons

• It’s only effective in the USA.

7. BeenVerified

With BeenVerified’s reverse phone number lookup, you can sift through billions of public records to uncover personal and commercial contact details. This tool is especially useful if you’re trying to identify who is behind a mysterious call or text from an unfamiliar number. It’s one of the best way to find someone’s phone number.

Beyond just providing the caller’s identity, BeenVerified can offer additional insights about the individual. It includes information like their location, email address, age, and social media platforms to find phone numbers and contact information. It might even be possible to identify relatives or other connections.

The platform offers a range of interesting features beyond just reverse phone searches, setting it apart from many other platforms. While most sites typically provide the caller’s name and address to verify a phone number, BeenVerified goes further.

Not only can you use BeenVerified to search for a phone number using usernames and VINs (Vehicle Identification Numbers), but it also allows you to explore unclaimed funds linked to your name or the names of others. This multifunctionality makes BeenVerified a versatile tool for various lookup needs.

Pros

• Provides a wide range of information about individuals.
• The platform is easy to navigate and use.
• Beyond phone lookup, it provides other background check services.
• Offers different subscription options to suit various needs.
• You can only get information using VINs on this platform, hence secured 

Cons

• It might take time because its searches are manual.
• Many of the advanced features require a subscription or payment.

8. AeroLeads

AeroLeads is a powerful web-based prospect generation software designed to identify relevant prospects and retrieve their contact details. It enables you to save, export, and transfer data to platforms like Salesforce, Zapier, HubSpot, and Mailchimp.

It’s one of the top sales intelligence tools that specializes in prospecting and  working smoothly with different sites. It includes LinkedIn, Crunchbase, and AngelList, and even allowing you to find the phone number by uploading your lists.

The platform offers different pricing tiers to accommodate varying needs and budgets, making it a versatile tool for businesses and professionals seeking to expand their network and generate leads.

Pros

• Effective for naturally increasing lead generation.
• Easy and convenient online browsing with browser extension.
• Access to a vast database of potential leads.
• Includes a feature to find valid email address.
• Seamlessly integrates with CRM systems.

Cons

• Not all searches may yield comprehensive information.

9. LeadIQ

LeadIQ is one of the top lead-generation tools that allows you to browse through their lead generation database to identify the best leads. It provides you access to millions of contacts with verified emails and phone numbers for people.

Its extension allows you to swiftly find phone numbers and contact details on an online company profile, including phone number on LinkedIn, during your sales prospecting efforts. Simply install it and start your search.

After that, you may use the extension to save your leads into campaigns and save their data.

However, this approach might be pricey if you need to find someone’s phone number using LeadIQ’s extension. 

Pros

• Excellently integrates with CRM for lead discovery.
• Seamlessly works with well-known CRM platforms.
• Offers dependable contact details for leads.
• Improves lead information for targeted outreach.
• Enables refined searches with specific criteria.

Cons

• Some contacts may lack phone numbers.
• Dashboards can be limited and inconsistent.

FAQs 

How can I find out if a phone number is legitimate?

The simplest method is to call the number directly. You’ll likely receive a voicemail or an error message if it’s not valid. While this may involve an additional cost, it verifies each number against public and proprietary databases, providing relevant information about their validity.

How do you find out if a phone number is available?

Phone validators retrieve comprehensive information about a cell phone number, including its availability status. Once you’ve confirmed a suitable number, you’ll need to contact your phone service provider to discuss obtaining it. 

How can I ensure the accuracy of phone numbers found using lookup tools?

Whilst no platform is perfect, sticking to reputable tools like Swordfish.ai gives you the best chances of accurate numbers. 

Is it safe to find phone numbers using a lead generation tool?

Using a lead generation tool to find phone numbers is generally safe, if you choose reputable tools that comply with data privacy laws like GDPR or CCPA. Ensure these tools have proper consent mechanisms and robust data security measures.

Conclusion – What is the best way to find someone’s phone number? 

Learning how to find someone’s phone number is more about knowing where to look online than flipping through a phone book. You can now use a variety of effective strategies, such as social media, professional online directories, and cutting-edge search tools. 

Each of these approaches offers its own set of benefits, including a wide range of data, easy access, and detailed information. So, exploring these strategies to find phone numbers in several ways. You can use social media networks, LinkedIn’s professional settings, or specific search engines for specific results. 

Swordfish AI, in particular, excels for its effectiveness and precision in locating phone numbers. It uses a powerful algorithm to comb through data, ensuring that the information you get is trustworthy. So, try Swordfish AI for its vast database and straightforward interface, which makes your search process smoother. 

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