Phone (great, no ads, simple) review
A simple offline dialer with T9 search and blocking for numbers outside your contacts.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Phone (great, no ads, simple) is a free Android calling app from Martin Tobola, developed as a fork of the original Simple Mobile Tools phone app. It is aimed at people who want a straightforward dialer, contact search and basic call controls rather than a feature-rich calling suite. The app can place calls to dialed numbers or contacts, and its keypad supports T9 contact search. It also works without internet access and is open source under GNU GPL v3, making it a fit for users who value offline operation and code they can inspect.
The feature set stays focused on calling and contact handling. Users can enable blocking for incoming calls from numbers that are not saved in contacts; this is a contact-based filter, not spam identification. The developer offers a separate optional anti-spam companion app for checking unknown numbers, but that functionality is not part of this dialer. The app also provides hidden contact storage, a distinct option for users who want contacts stored within the app. Buyers seeking a dialer that identifies or blocks spam callers should look elsewhere or assess the separate companion app rather than expect those functions here.
There is no charge for the app, and the developer describes it as ad-free. Its platform is Android, with mobile deployment and email as a support channel. That combination suits solo users looking for a basic phone app without an internet dependency or a subscription decision. The trade-off is a narrow scope: the stated blocking rule only covers callers absent from contacts, while the app is not presented as a broader communications or spam-protection tool. Choose it for simple offline dialing, T9 lookup and contact-based blocking; choose another option if spam-call blocking is central to your requirements.
Phone (great, no ads, simple) pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Works without internet access and is free with no ads.
- Finds contacts from the dial pad using T9 search.
- Open-source under GNU GPL v3, with blocking for numbers not in contacts.
- Where it doesn't
- Does not include spam-call blocking in the base app.
- Available for Android only.
- Call blocking is limited to numbers not saved in contacts.
Phone (great, no ads, simple) fact sheet, pricing and score →
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