What your phone already does well
Let's be fair: the Google Phone app flags "suspected spam" using Google's databases. On Samsung, Smart Call — powered by Hiya — does the same job. And Google Messages filters some suspicious texts. For spam already reported by thousands of users, this works.
The three blind spots
- 1. The silo. Calls are filtered in one app. Texts in another. Nothing connects them. But a modern scam is a story: a reconnaissance text, a call "from the bank," a WhatsApp message to close. Each filter sees an isolated event — none sees the attack.
- 2. The known-number database. These filters rely on reports. A never-reported number gets through. And scammers rotate numbers faster than databases fill up.
- 3. Messaging apps. WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger — where the scam closes — are siloed, out of reach of any built-in filter. A total blind spot.
Your phone has filters. It doesn't have a view.
The table that says it all
| What matters to you | Egidio | Built-in filters |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks already-reported call spam | ✓free, forever | ✓included |
| One engine connects calls + texts + messaging | ✓ | ✗separate, siloed filters |
| Protects WhatsApp, Telegram + 180 apps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Detects a scam from a never-reported number | ✓behavioral analysis | ✗relies on reports |
| 100% on-device verification, nothing in the cloud | ✓ | ✗Google / Hiya server queries |
| Family mode — protect up to 4 loved ones | ✓ | ✗ |
| Price | $0 forever (calls + texts)Premium $29.99/yr · 183 apps | Included with the phone |
The real question
The built-in filter answers yesterday's question: "has this number been reported?" 2026's question is: "does what's happening to me right now — this text, this call, this message — belong to the same attack?" No siloed filter can answer that.
Egidio takes over — and goes further
Android only lets one app at a time filter calls. When Egidio takes that role, you lose nothing: known spam stays blocked, free, forever, no ads.
And you gain what the built-in filter never will: behavioral detection, cross-channel correlation, and protection for 183 messaging apps — 100% on your phone.
Try Egidio free Calls + texts free forever · Messaging apps in PremiumFrequently asked questions
Is Google Phone's spam protection enough?
It blocks already-reported spam, which is useful. But it can't see never-reported numbers or messaging apps.
What is Smart Call on Samsung?
The built-in call filter on Galaxy phones, powered by Hiya. It identifies known calls. Calls only.
Why doesn't my phone protect WhatsApp or Telegram?
Messaging apps are siloed. Only an app like Egidio, analyzing notifications locally, can detect scams there.
Does Egidio replace the built-in filter?
Yes: Android only allows one filtering app. Egidio covers the same ground for free and then goes further.
Is Egidio free?
Calls + texts: free forever, no ads. Messaging apps: Premium at $29.99/year.