Utilities · head to head
CrystalDiskInfo vs Truecaller
CrystalDiskInfo
Utilities
Free Windows tool that reads S.M.A.R.T. data from drives and warns before they fail
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Truecaller
Utilities
Caller ID and spam blocking app that identifies unknown numbers by crowdsourcing users' contact books
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: CrystalDiskInfo many USB enclosures do not pass S.M.A.R.T. commands through, so external drives often report nothing at all and users read that as a healthy result.; Truecaller its caller ID database is built from other users uploading their contact books, which means a person's name and number can be listed without them ever installing or consenting to Truecaller directly.
- They diverge on capability: CrystalDiskInfo covers S.M.A.R.T. reporting, Truecaller covers Caller ID.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CrystalDiskInfo and Truecaller actually diverge.
| Attribute | CrystalDiskInfo | Truecaller |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Open source, no licence fee | Free tier plus subscription |
| Platforms | Windows | iOS, Android |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in CrystalDiskInfo
- S.M.A.R.T. reporting
- NVMe support
- Threshold alerts
- Temperature monitoring
- Standard and Shizuku editions
- MIT licensed
Only in Truecaller
- Caller ID
- Spam blocking
- Call recording
- SMS spam filtering
- Truecaller for Business
- Premium profile controls
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
CrystalDiskInfo
- Checking the true condition of a second-hand drive before trusting data to itnot Truecaller
- Watching SSD endurance on write-heavy machines such as build servers and video workstationsnot Truecaller
- Getting early warning of mechanical failure while a backup can still be takennot Truecaller
- Auditing power-on hours and wear across a small fleet of machines one at a timenot Truecaller
Truecaller
- Someone wanting to identify unknown numbers calling from delivery services, banks or scam operationsnot CrystalDiskInfo
- A user who wants unknown-sender SMS automatically filtered out of the main inboxnot CrystalDiskInfo
- A small business wanting its verified name and logo to show when it calls customersnot CrystalDiskInfo
- A person who wants to check whether their own number is unexpectedly listed and request removalnot CrystalDiskInfo
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CrystalDiskInfo
- Many USB enclosures do not pass S.M.A.R.T. commands through, so external drives often report nothing at all and users read that as a healthy result.
- It is Windows only, and there is no central console, so checking a fleet means visiting each machine or scripting an alternative.
- A good status is not a prediction: drives fail suddenly with clean attributes, and treating the summary as an assurance leads people to skip backups.
- The Shizuku edition ships anime artwork and voice packs, which is unsuitable on company machines and is often downloaded by mistake because it is the more visible option.
- Vendors define raw attribute values inconsistently, so the same number means different things on different drives and the detailed view needs interpretation to be useful.
Truecaller
- Its caller ID database is built from other users uploading their contact books, which means a person's name and number can be listed without them ever installing or consenting to Truecaller directly.
- Removing a number requires actively finding and using the unlisting tool; it is opt-out, not opt-in, so most people never realise they need to do this.
- The free tier is ad-supported, and ads appear on the call screen itself, which some users find intrusive during otherwise mundane phone use.
- Call recording availability depends on local law and has been restricted or removed in some regions and OS versions, so it cannot be relied on everywhere.
- Regulatory and app-store scrutiny of the contact-upload model has led to restrictions or bans in some countries, so availability and feature set are not consistent globally.
Pricing, plan by plan
CrystalDiskInfo
Free- CrystalDiskInfoFree
- MIT licensed
- Commercial use permitted
- All features in the free download
Truecaller
Free- FreeFree
- Caller ID and spam blocking
- Ad-supported
- Limited profile privacy controls
- Premium$2.99/month
- Ad-free
- See who viewed your profile
- Priority spam list updates
Which should you pick?
Choose CrystalDiskInfo if
- You need s.m.a.r.t. reporting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want nvme support.
Choose Truecaller if
- You need caller id.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android.
- You also want spam blocking.
Questions people ask
- Is CrystalDiskInfo or Truecaller better?
- Neither clearly leads. CrystalDiskInfo starts at Free and Truecaller at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CrystalDiskInfo or Truecaller?
- CrystalDiskInfo starts at Free and Truecaller at Free.
- Does CrystalDiskInfo or Truecaller run on more platforms?
- CrystalDiskInfo runs on Windows. Truecaller runs on iOS, Android.
- Can I use CrystalDiskInfo for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is CrystalDiskInfo best used for?
- CrystalDiskInfo is most often used for checking the true condition of a second-hand drive before trusting data to it, watching ssd endurance on write-heavy machines such as build servers and video workstations, getting early warning of mechanical failure while a backup can still be taken, auditing power-on hours and wear across a small fleet of machines one at a time. Of those, checking the true condition of a second-hand drive before trusting data to it and watching ssd endurance on write-heavy machines such as build servers and video workstations are not what Truecaller is typically brought in for.
- What can CrystalDiskInfo do that Truecaller cannot?
- CrystalDiskInfo covers S.M.A.R.T. reporting, NVMe support, Threshold alerts, Temperature monitoring. Truecaller covers Caller ID, Spam blocking, Call recording, SMS spam filtering.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
CrystalDiskInfo: Can I use it in a business?
Yes. It is MIT licensed with no personal-use restriction, which distinguishes it from several other free Windows utilities.
Truecaller: How does Truecaller know who is calling me from an unsaved number?
It matches the number against a database built largely from other users' uploaded contact lists, plus spam reports from its user base.
CrystalDiskInfo: Why does my external drive show no data?
Most USB bridge chips do not pass S.M.A.R.T. commands through. Connecting the drive directly by SATA or NVMe usually reveals the attributes.
Truecaller: Can I remove my number from Truecaller if I never installed it?
Yes, Truecaller provides an unlisting search and removal tool at truecaller.com/unlisting, though you must find and use it yourself.
CrystalDiskInfo: Does a caution status mean I should replace the drive immediately?
It means an attribute has crossed a vendor threshold, most often reallocated sectors. Back up now, then decide. It is a warning, not a countdown.
Truecaller: Does Truecaller read my messages or call content?
Truecaller states it does not access call or message content, only caller ID and spam-reporting metadata.
CrystalDiskInfo: What is the difference between the editions?
Function is identical. The Shizuku edition adds themed artwork and voice packs; the standard edition is the plain one you want on a work machine.
Related pages
More on CrystalDiskInfo
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