Carrier lookup
Carrier lookup for US and Canadian phone numbers
Enter a number and see which carrier holds it, what kind of line it is and whether it was ported.
Verdicts describe reachability. They are not compliance checks.
What you get
What you get back
Every field below is in the API response, with the type to expect.
| Field | Type | What it means |
|---|---|---|
number_e164 | string | null | The number in international format, such as +14155550132. null when it could not be read. |
valid | boolean | Whether the number can be a real one. This is a format and numbering check, not proof that anyone answers. |
country | string | null | The two-letter country code, such as US or CA. |
region | string | null | The two-letter state or province code, such as CA or ON. null when we have none. |
carrier | string | null | The carrier that holds the number, as our data source names it. |
ported | boolean | null | Whether the number was moved between carriers. null when the data source does not say. |
line_type | string | null | The kind of line: mobile, fixed_line, voip, toll_free and the other types a carrier reports. null when unknown. |
Verdicts
A verdict for every row
Read the verdict first. The reason field says how we got there.
| Verdict | What it means | What to do with the row |
|---|---|---|
| Valid · Mobile | A mobile number. It can be called and texted. | Keep it. Whether you may text it depends on consent, and this check does not look at consent. |
| Valid · Landline | A line that can be called: a landline, a toll-free number, VoIP or another type. A VoIP number is flagged because texting it is unreliable. | Call it. Do not count on texts, and send VoIP rows to your call list. |
| Invalid | Not a working number. It is not a real phone number, or no carrier holds its exchange. | Drop the row. If the number looks like a typo, fix it and check it again. |
| Unknown | We could not tell what the number is. You are not charged. | Set the row aside and check it again later if it matters. |
Verdicts describe reachability. They are not compliance checks.
How it works
How it works
Four steps, and none of them needs a call with us.
- Step 1
Enter what you want to check
Type a phone number or an IP address in the box at the top of this page. Numbers can be written in any common format.
- Step 2
Pass a quick check
A short Cloudflare check confirms you're a person. It keeps the free tool free and needs no account.
- Step 3
Read the result
A phone number returns whether it is valid, the line type, the carrier, the region and a verdict. An address returns its country, its network and a risk level.
- Step 4
Go further
A free account starts with free credits and no card. Use them on single checks, whole lists or the API.
Limits
What this check cannot tell you
Knowing where a check stops is what lets you trust the part that works.
- Live data covers numbers in the United States and Canada. A valid number anywhere else gets a format check, the verdict unknown and no charge.
- Carrier answers are cached, so a number that changed carrier very recently may still show the old one.
- We do not say who owns a number. A carrier is a company, not a person, and we do not look people up.
- A number that was real once and is now out of service can still come back callable. A carrier lookup shows what kind of line a number is, not whether anyone picks up.
FAQ
Questions about this check
Short answers. If yours is not here, write to support@numberlookup.io.
How does a ported number show up?
The ported field is true when our data source says the number moved from one carrier to another, false when it says it did not, and null when it says nothing. The carrier field is the carrier name as the data source gives it. Carrier answers are cached, so a recent move may not show yet. For what to do with each answer on a phone list, read what it means when a phone number is ported.
Which countries are covered?
Live phone data covers the United States and Canada. A valid number in any other country gets a format check, the verdict unknown, the reason outside_coverage and no charge.
Can you tell me who owns a number?
No. We return the line type, the carrier and the region, and nothing about the person or business behind the number. A carrier is the company that holds the number, not the person who uses it. We do not offer name lookups or reverse lookups.
What am I charged when a result is unknown?
Nothing. A result of unknown costs 0 credits. So does input that is not a phone number at all, an empty row and any error. In a bulk list, duplicate rows are free, and rows that come back unknown are returned to your balance when the list finishes.