How to Find Someone’s Phone Number [8 Free & Paid Methods]

Phone numbers are the most convenient way to get in touch with someone. But how do you find them?

Many years back, people used to manually search through phonebook records just to find outdated numbers.

Also, it doesn’t work when you want to find phone numbers in bulk. 

Now, here is the secret. I have found some ways that can actually help you find updated phone numbers quickly (even if you want to search in bulk).

How do I do it? Well, it is not a secret. I will share the methods with you in this blog.

TL;DR – Quick Overview of 8 Ways to Find Phone Numbers

8 Simple Ways to Find Someone’s Phone Number

I have tested a bunch of methods to find phone numbers, but I am only sharing the ones that actually work properly.

Moreover, I have sorted them based on speed, accuracy, and practicality. Why? Because not every method can be used when you really want to find someone’s phone number fast.

FYI: Our cold outreach expert created this detailed video, where he breaks down the exact steps to find someone’s phone number (from start to finish). Check it out.

1. Use a Phone Number Lookup Platform

Phone number lookup platforms are built explicitly for the purpose of finding phone numbers!

Here is why it is my first and best recommendation 👇:

• These platforms usually have a huge database of professional profiles, along with their contact information.
• It is super fast and gives verified contact information.

So, how is a phone number finder platform able to do all this?

Simple, it collects and organizes data from multiple public sources like business websites, social media profiles, public records, online directories, and even marketing databases.

Basically, whatever methods you are going to see below. These platforms have already done the aggregation for you by pulling data from all those sources into one place.

Here is a screenshot of the tool I used to find the phone number of a person I recently wanted to connect with. (I used Saleshandy Lead Finder btw)

There is one more reason Saleshandy’s phone number finder is good…

You can do an AI lead search and find phone numbers of multiple people in bulk.

All you need to do is give a prompt, and the AI will conduct the search for you.

Also, it is not limited to name-related searches. You can even do a reverse phone number lookup.

2. Search on Google

We all know that Google has answers to all our questions, so if you ask it “phone number of John Doe from ACME Corp”, there is a good chance you will find it.

This is because Google constantly indexes billions of web pages, including:

• Social media profiles
• Company websites
• Online directories
• Event pages
• Press releases

So, if there is a phone number anywhere on the internet that Google can index… you will have a good chance of finding it.

That said, you will need to know the right keyword combinations to use!

 Here are some search combinations you can try:

• “[Name] + [Company] + phone number”
• “[Name] + contact information”
• “[Name] + site:linkedin.com”
• “[Company] + team directory”

3. Explore Online Directories

Online directories are your modern-day phone books (well, I personally consider them outdated, but hey, they still work surprisingly well!).

If you are looking for someone’s phone number, especially in the US, then online directories like Whitepages, YellowPages, TruePeopleSearch, and AnyWho can be really helpful.

You might not always get 100% accurate phone numbers, but for a quick and free lookup, they work.

Another drawback of using online directories is that they offer a limited number of search filters.

So, they are more useful when you want to find a specific person’s phone number and already roughly know where they reside.

4. Use People Search Engines

People search engines (aka People Finders) help you find and locate individuals based on their personal details or identifying information.

These platforms are known for aggregating information from public records, social profiles, and even court records.

This makes them ideal for reverse phone lookups or finding mobile numbers by name.

Here is how you can use these tools (Below is an example of Spokeo):

1. Visit Spokeo.com and sign up
2. Enter the person’s name, address, or phone number in the search bar
3. Add optional details (e.g., city or company) to refine your search
4. Review results for phone numbers, emails, or professional details

The best part? Spokeo has a global database with millions of profiles and a free trial for basic searches, making it accessible for users everywhere.

5. Search on Social Media Platforms

Social media (especially LinkedIn) is like a goldmine for finding phone numbers of professionals. You can even get their work emails and other details useful for your outreach.

It can help you find your prospects’ phone numbers in the “Contact Info” section of their LinkedIn profile (if they have made it public).

Although it is a manual process, it is highly accurate. And this is by far the best way to find phone numbers for free.

If you are willing to put in a little time, you can build a super-targeted list without spending a single dollar.

An added benefit of using LinkedIn is that it shows you the profiles of other people working in your prospect’s organization.

So, if the person you want to contact has not listed their phone number on LinkedIn, you can always try to reach others working in the same organization.

Also read: How to get phone numbers from LinkedIn?

6. Visit Company Websites & Team Pages

I think it should be clear by now that, as you go down the list, the methods become more manual and time-consuming.

And yes, visiting company websites to find phone numbers is no exception! 😅

That said… it can be the most reliable way to find phone numbers, especially if they are listed and kept up to date, as it is direct from the source.

Where to look on company websites:

• Team or Leadership page
• Contact Us page
• About page

So, if you and your team have the time and patience to go from one webpage to another, you may just get lucky and find a valid phone number!

7. Check Domain WHOIS data

Most people forget this one, but if the person or company you are trying to contact owns a website, you can often find their phone number in the domain registration data.

That is what WHOIS records are for. They store details about who registered a particular domain, including the name, email, organization, and sometimes the phone number.

So if you are trying to contact a business owner or verify a lead, this method can work surprisingly well.

Here is how you can do it 👇

1. Go to any free WHOIS lookup site like who.is, ICANN WHOIS, or DomainTools.
2. Enter the website URL (for example: example.com).
3. Hit search, and you will instantly see domain registration info.
4. Look for “Registrant Contact” or “Admin Contact.” If the number is not hidden by privacy protection, it will show up right there.

Note: Many modern registrars use privacy masking, so the phone number might not always be visible.

But even then, WHOIS data can still help you trace related emails, company names, or regions, which you can use for a cross-search on LinkedIn or Google.

8. Network and Look for Referrals

If all else fails, you can try this method. You have to reach out to your professional network and ask for referrals.

It is pretty direct but requires a lot more time and effort.

Here is a simple and effective way that has worked for me 👇:
Say you want to reach someone from the executive team of a company you want to work with.

Look for a mutual connection who used to work or is currently working at that company. 

Try sending them a message like:

“Hi [Connection Name], I hope you are well! I noticed you are connected with/working with [Contact’s Name] at [Company].

I’m interested in connecting with them regarding [a brief reason]. Would you mind introducing us or sharing their contact information?”

Here are some upsides of this method:

• It will help you speak one-on-one with other professionals and expand your network 
• It will give you a chance to explain why you need someone’s phone number
• A referral means you have an increased chance of success in contacting your prospect.

So, while finding phone numbers by networking can be time-consuming, your hard work will definitely pay off in the long run.

How to Verify and Validate Phone Number & Contact Information

I am sure that you will be able to find phone numbers with the methods I have shared above. But you must also cross-verify the contact information.

Do not worry, I will suggest only quick methods that will not take much time.

1. Use a Verified Lead Database
2. Cross-Check Multiple Sources
3. Test Direct Signals
4. Validate Formatting and Region Codes
5. Look for Professional Confirmations

1. Use a Verified Lead Database

The reason I have mentioned this method is that it is the fastest way to verify a phone number with almost sure-shot accuracy.

It will help you to:

• Reduce errors from manual searching
• Save time by getting verified contact info instantly
• Access both email addresses and phone numbers for complete outreach

You can use tools like Saleshandy Lead Finder, Apollo, or UpLead that maintain databases of phone numbers and emails that are regularly verified.

2. Cross-Check Multiple Sources

Here are the places you can cross-verify the contact details: (They are kind of similar to the methods I mentioned above)

• LinkedIn profiles: Some professionals include phone numbers in their contact info or “About” section.
• Company websites or staff directories: official listings are usually accurate.
• Social media profiles: Twitter, professional Facebook pages, or personal blogs sometimes contain direct numbers.

Numbers that match across multiple sources are far more likely to be correct.

3. Test Direct Signals

If possible, you can confirm the number by direct engagement.

All you need to do is simply have to send a brief, polite text or WhatsApp message to see if it reaches the intended person.

You can even make a short test call if it is appropriate. There is a chance that an assistant can answer, and you can verify the contact details then.

4. Validate Formatting and Region Codes

Numbers with missing area codes, wrong lengths, or unusual prefixes may be outdated. You should ensure that:

• The country code matches the region of the contact
• The number length is correct for that region

Correct formatting reduces the chances of failed calls or messages.

5. Look for Professional Confirmations

Some contacts include direct numbers in:

• Email signatures
• Press releases or interviews
• Public bios or portfolios

Most of the time, these sources can be trusted because they are self-reported and updated regularly.

Find Valid and Accurate Phone Numbers!

This brings us to the end of my blog on the 8 ways you can find phone numbers.

Let us quickly recap the best ways of finding verified phone numbers. The three best methods are:

• Using a lead finder tool
• Searching on Social Media

Although there are many methods you can use, but why go though all the hassle?

Just pick a reliable B2B phone number finder like Saleshandy and get what you need in minutes.

Take the free trial and test it for yourself… You get a forever-free plan with 5 free rolling credits every month!

FAQs

1. How do I find a phone number on Android or iPhone?

If you are trying to find your own number: Go to your device’s settings ➜ About Phone ➜ Status ➜ Phone Number.

If you are trying to find someone else’s number stored on your phone, then you can:

• Use your contact list search bar.
• Sync your contacts with Google or iCloud.
• Check message threads or WhatsApp contact info if you have chatted before.

2. Can I find someone’s phone number using their email address?

Yes, some phone number lookup tools (like Saleshandy Lead Finder) let you do reverse lookups using an email address. They can cross-check multiple public and business databases and help you find valid phone numbers with just an email address.

3. Is it legal to look up someone’s phone number online?

See, it is fine as long as you are searching through publicly available or consent-based data. Try to avoid using leaked databases or shady lookup services that do not disclose data sources.

4. Is there a free way to look up a phone number?

If you don’t want to spend money, then you can use the data that’s openly available. You can find it by using Google, social media, or free online directories like Whitepages and TruePeopleSearch. Just note that these free methods can have limited accuracy.

5. What is the difference between a phone number lookup and a reverse phone number lookup?

A phone number lookup helps you find someone’s phone number when you already have personal details like their name or email.

On the other hand, a reverse phone number lookup works the opposite way. You enter the phone number to find out who it belongs to.