What is a VoIP number?

A VoIP number runs over the internet instead of a mobile or landline network. Many are legitimate business lines, but they are also free and quick to create in bulk, which makes them a common choice for fake signups and one-time-code abuse.

What is the difference between the validity check and the VoIP check?

The validity check tells you if a number is real and dialable, and returns its carrier, line type, location and SMS capability. A VoIP number comes back as risky. The VoIP check answers one question, whether the number is a VoIP line, using a separate source dedicated to it.

Do you call or text the number?

No. Both checks read numbering-plan and carrier data. The person who owns the number is never contacted and never notified.

What format should the number be in?

Send it in international format with the country code, such as +44 7700 900123. We normalise spaces, dashes and brackets for you.

Am I charged when you cannot classify a number?

Not for the VoIP check: an invalid number or an unknown verdict is free. Checking the same number again within six months is free on both checks.

Can I check a list of numbers at once?

Yes, for the validity check. Upload a spreadsheet in the app and we return it with the results filled in. The VoIP check runs one number at a time.

Is this phone number
real or VoIP?

Check if a number is valid and dialable, and whether it is a VoIP line - with its carrier, line type and location in one call.

Examplehttps://developer.encrata.com/api/lookup/phone/validity

1{
2  "phone": "+447700900123",
3  "status": "valid",
4  "reason": "Active, dialable number",
5  "line_type": "mobile",
6  "carrier": "Vodafone",
7  "country": "United Kingdom",
8  "region": "England",
9  "timezone": "Europe/London",
10  "prefix": "+44",
11  "is_voip": false,
12  "sms_capable": true,
13  "format": "+44 7700 900123",
14  "signals": [
15    "SMS-capable",
16    "mobile line"
17  ],
18  "credits": 1
19}

Try one

Every phone lookup, explained

Know who is behind a number before you trust it.

+44 7700 900123Valid

Line typeMobile

CarrierVodafone

SMSYes

England, United Kingdom · Europe/London

Phone validity

Check if a phone number is real, active and dialable, with its carrier, line type and location.

+1 415 555 0132VoIP line

Line typeVoIP

CarrierBandwidth.com

CountryUS

Unknown verdicts are never charged.

VoIP detection

Check if a phone number is a VoIP line, the kind that is free to create in bulk and popular for fake signups.

Everything behind a phone check

One request tells you if a number is real, what kind of line it is and where it is from.

Select a detail to explore the response

Example response

Verdict

JSON

1{
2  "phone": "+14155550132",
3  "status": "risky",
4  "reason": "Valid but voip number",
5  "line_type": "voip",
6  "carrier": "Bandwidth.com",
7  "country": "United States",
8  "region": "California",
9  "city": "San Francisco",
10  "timezone": "America/Los_Angeles",
11  "prefix": "+1",
12  "is_voip": true,
13  "sms_capable": true,
14  "format": "+1 415-555-0132",
15  "signals": [
16    "VoIP number",
17    "SMS-capable",
18    "voip line"
19  ],
20  "credits": 1
21}

Illustrative schema and sample values

Simple, credit-based pricing

Validity checks cost one credit and VoIP checks cost two. Checking the same number again within six months is free, and a VoIP check we cannot classify costs nothing.

Data field	Details	Credits	Rate limit
Phone validity	Check if a number is real and dialable, with carrier, line type and location	1 credit	200/min
VoIP detection	Check if a number is a VoIP line	2 credits	200/min

Common questions

Should you have any questions, our team is at your service.

Built for
humans and AI

Start with 500 free credits

$curl https://developer.encrata.com/api/lookup/phone/validity -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"phone": "+447700900123"}'

Is this phone numberreal or VoIP?