Free HLR Lookup — Check If a Phone Number Is Active
Enter a number in international format and find out if it is live on its carrier network — before you call, text, or waste a message on a dead number. No sign-up. First 20 lookups free.
Check a number
ReadyInternational format: + + country code + number. Example: +447772000001 (UK), +1 415 555 0132 (US). Spaces, dashes and brackets are stripped automatically.
Or upload a CSV / TXT file (one number per line or per cell).
| Input | Normalized (E.164) | Status | Carrier | Line type | Country | Ported | MCC / MNC | Checked at |
|---|
Numbers are sent only to the lookup provider for the check, and are not stored. The check runs through a backend proxy so the provider API key is never in your browser.
How it works
Three steps. No call, no text — the check asks the network, not the phone.
Enter a number
Type one number, or paste up to 20 numbers in batch mode. The tool normalises them to E.164 first and rejects anything that is not a valid international format.
The network is asked
The backend queries the carrier's Home Location Register (HLR) through the lookup provider — the same register operators use to route calls. No SMS is sent and the phone does not ring.
Read the result
You get Active / Inactive / Invalid / Unknown, plus carrier, line type, country and porting status. Export the table as CSV for your CRM or outreach list.
What HLR can — and cannot — tell you
An HLR lookup answers one question well: is this number live on a network right now?
It can tell you
Whether the number is active, inactive, or invalid; which carrier serves it now (including after porting); whether it has been ported; and its country and network codes (MCC/MNC).
It cannot prove the handset is on
“Active” means the number is live on a network and can be reached. It does not guarantee the phone is switched on at the moment of the check.
It cannot prove WhatsApp is active
Whether the same number has an active WhatsApp, Telegram or other social account is a separate platform check, with different signals (last seen, profile, activity). Do not read a carrier result as a social-account result.
It cannot tell you who owns the number
HLR returns network status, not a name, address, or identity. This tool does not do reverse lookup or personal data.
Pricing
Live lookups are billed by the provider, per successful lookup. This page is free to use; the first 20 live lookups are free on the provider's trial.
| Provider | This tool (Dexatel-powered) | Twilio Lookup | OKLA |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it checks | HLR live network status, carrier, line type, porting | Line Status (HLR) + line type, sold as separate packages | Bulk social screening platform (WhatsApp / Telegram / other apps) — a different job from a carrier HLR check |
| Free allowance | First 20 lookups free | Basic format lookup free; Line Status is paid | — |
| Price per lookup | $0.006 per successful lookup, no setup fee, no subscription | Line Status $0.007 down to $0.00385 per query at volume | — |
| Batch | Up to 20 per batch on this page | One number per API request | Bulk upload |
“—” means no verified price is published here. Twilio Line Status was in public beta in July 2026. Prices change — check each provider's own site before you rely on them.
Questions
What is an HLR lookup?
An HLR lookup queries the mobile network operator's Home Location Register to check whether a mobile number is currently live on its network. It returns the number's status, current carrier, whether it has been ported, and roaming information — without sending a text or making a call.
Does “Active” mean the phone is switched on?
No. “Active” (valid) means the number is live on a network and can be reached. It does not guarantee the handset is switched on at the moment of the check.
Can an HLR lookup tell me if a WhatsApp account is active?
No. HLR checks the phone number on the carrier network. Whether the same number has an active WhatsApp, Telegram or other social account is a separate check against that platform, with different signals.
How many numbers can I check at once?
Batch mode accepts up to 20 numbers per batch. Each number is checked one at a time, about one second apart, to stay within provider rate limits.
Are my numbers stored?
No. Numbers are sent only to the lookup provider to run the check and are not stored on this site. The lookup runs through a backend proxy so the provider API key is never exposed in the browser.
What does DEMO MODE mean?
Demo mode means no live lookup key is configured, so the tool only validates the number format (E.164). A format-valid number shows as Unknown in demo mode — that is not a live HLR result. Live mode requires a Dexatel API key on the server.