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No NordVPN plan? Its new free HangUp app still screens your scam calls on Android

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NordVPN running on an Android device.

Credit: NordVPN

  • NordVPN has launched HangUp, a free anti-scam call Android app

  • HangUp needs just a free Nord account to get started

  • The app is built upon NordVPN's existing Call Protection technology

NordVPN has released HangUp, a standalone Android app designed to identify and block unwanted calls that's completely free to use.

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HangUp identifies and categorizes incoming calls, displays caller information, and lets users block entire categories such as scam or telemarketing calls. It's a notable move from a company better known for topping best VPN lists, and it signals another step in NordVPN's shift toward becoming an all-in-one security brand.

NordVPN research says that 2 in 5 Americans feel unsafe because of scam calls, and for many people, dodging fraudulent numbers has become a daily chore rather than an occasional annoyance.

"Scam calls are a basic digital safety problem at this point, and we felt that basic protection shouldn't be behind a paywall," NordVPN's spokesperson told TechRadar, explaining the reason why the company decided to build a free app.

The app is available worldwide on the Google Play Store, and NordVPN confirms to TechRadar that they are working on making it available for iOS soon.

Why a free call-blocking app is needed

The state of spam calls varies depending on where you live, but according to NordVPN's survey, nearly two in five Americans say they feel unsafe because of scam calls.

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Plus, according to Hiya's State of the Call 2026 report, Americans receive an average of 10 unwanted calls a week, and nearly 30 million lost money to a phone scam in the past year, with an average loss of $682.

How HangUp works

HangUp is powered by NordVPN and uses caller reputation data to flag potentially harmful numbers before you decide whether to pick up. When a call comes in, the app checks the number, warns you if it looks like spam or a telemarketing attempt, and can sort callers by type so you know what you're dealing with at a glance.

The blocking works at the category level, so rather than blacklisting numbers one by one, you can choose to automatically block entire groups such as scam or telemarketing calls.

HangUp can also handle that blocking for you automatically, and it keeps weekly, monthly, and yearly stats so you can see how many unwanted calls it has stopped.

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The provider already offers a Call Protection feature built into the main NordVPN app, which flags suspected scam calls before you answer and requires a premium subscription. That feature was developed in partnership with Hiya and has been rolling out to Android and iPhone users across a growing list of countries.

HangUp, by contrast, is a separate, standalone app that doesn't need a paid NordVPN plan at all. It brings the same core idea, warning you about and blocking dodgy callers, to anyone willing to sign up for a free Nord account.

Getting up and running is straightforward.

Download HangUpfrom the Google Play Store on your Android phone, sign in with a free Nord account(or create one on Nord's website if you don't have one), and grant the app the caller ID and spam permissionsit needs to screen your calls.

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Check out Yahoo's latest VPN advice, based on hands-on testing.

Best VPNs in 2026 | The best VPNs for streaming in 2026 | The fastest VPNs in 2026 | Best VPN for Mac in 2026 | Most secure VPN in 2026 | 8 ways to make your VPN run faster | Does using a VPN impact internet speeds? | Are VPNs really safe? | See Yahoo Tech's full VPN coverage

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