Comparison

CheckThatPhone vs Abstract API: US and Canada depth or global reach

CheckThatPhone is an Abstract API alternative for US and Canadian numbers. Both return the carrier, the line type (VoIP included) and whether the line is in service; CheckThatPhone adds the porting status and routing number, a send-or-not verdict and TCPA or DNC screening in the same call. Abstract's phone API covers 190+ countries, from $19 a month for 5,000 requests. CheckThatPhone covers only the US and Canada, from $5 a month for 1,000 lookups.

If you need numbers outside North America, a free plan with no card, or registered-name, risk and breach data, Abstract is the better fit. If you call or text North American numbers, the porting, deliverability and compliance fields are what CheckThatPhone adds.

As of October 2026. Abstract facts were checked on October 3, 2026 against Abstract's own product, pricing and documentation pages, linked next to each fact. Prices change, so check the source before you commit budget. CheckThatPhone is our product.

At a glance

Cost at different volumes

Base lookups each month, monthly billing. Abstract figures use the Starter plan, which its pricing FAQ names as the plan that returns carrier and line type, at the smallest listed volume that covers the month. Abstract's pages list fixed volumes and no overage rate, and point to Enterprise pricing above 150,000 requests a month. CheckThatPhone figures are the cheapest plan including overage.

Neither is cheaper at every volume. Abstract comes out lower at 5,000 a month and, by a dollar, at 50,000. CheckThatPhone is lower at 10,000 and 100,000, and its self-serve plans keep going past 150,000, where Abstract moves to custom pricing. Compare what each request returns too: Abstract's Standard and Professional plans add data at the same price by including fewer requests, while every CheckThatPhone plan returns the full response and only the litigator scrub and landline SMS lookup cost extra.

Where Abstract is the better fit

• Numbers outside the US and Canada. Abstract lists 190+ countries; we cover two.
• Trying it without a card. Abstract's free plan needs no credit card; ours does.
• Identity and fraud signals such as the registered name, consumer or business type, risk level, disposable-number and breach data on its Professional plan.
• One vendor for several checks. Abstract also sells email, IP and other APIs alongside phone.
• Volumes such as 5,000 or 50,000 a month, where its Starter plan costs less.

Where CheckThatPhone fits better

• Calling or texting US and Canadian numbers. The current carrier, routing number and ported flag come from a live carrier dip. See the carrier lookup API.
• A send-or-not answer: one action field with a reason, plus deactivationDate for recent carrier deactivations.
• Compliance screening: the TCPA litigator scrub (+1 credit) and the free state DNC and complainer checks.
• Text-enabled landlines: about 7% of landlines we check are SMS-capable, and the landline SMS lookup finds them.
• Large lists: CSV upload up to 1,000,000 rows, each unique number billed once.
• Volumes such as 10,000 or 100,000 a month, where our plans cost less, and anything above 150,000 without a custom contract.

Example request and response

A standard CheckThatPhone lookup:

curl --request POST \
  --url 'https://api.checkthatphone.com/v1/lookup' \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{"phone": "312-555-0188"}'

An illustrative response (a fictional 555 number; field names and formats match the live API). The fields with no counterpart in Abstract's documented response are the porting fields (dipLrn, dipPorted), dipOcn and action:

{
  "success": true,
  "credits_used": 1,
  "data": {
    "subscriber": "3125550188",
    "optDate": "2026-10-03T16:04:11.210Z",
    "action": "send",
    "deliverable": "true",
    "reason": "",
    "nanpType": "mobile",
    "blackList": "false",
    "dip": "success",
    "dipLrn": "3125550188",
    "dipPorted": "false",
    "dipOcn": "6010",
    "dipCarrier": "AT&T",
    "dipCarrierSubType": "WIRELESS",
    "dipCarrierType": "mobile",
    "geoState": "IL",
    "geoCity": "chicago",
    "geoCountry": "US",
    "geoSource": "area-code",
    "timezone": "America/Chicago",
    "tzOffset": 6,
    "error": "false"
  }
}

Sources

Abstract pages, all checked on October 3, 2026:

• Abstract Phone Validation API product page and FAQ
• Abstract pricing page (Phone Validation plans, FAQ and sample responses)
• Abstract Phone Intelligence API documentation (response fields, bulk upload, billing)

CheckThatPhone figures come from our pricing page and API documentation.

Related

• All comparisons: CheckThatPhone compared
• Other options: vs Twilio Lookup and vs Numverify
• Eight vendors side by side: Phone validation API pricing in 2026