Many sites promise a "free IMEI check". Most of the time, only the first step is free: identifying the model from the first 8 digits of the IMEI. The rest, exactly the information you were looking for, is paid.
Below is the list of checks you can do yourself, for free, from Romania, and of those for which you need a paid service, with the source of each claim.
Side-by-side comparison
| Check | Free, from Romania | codat.ro report |
|---|---|---|
| Valid IMEI and indicated model | Yes: *#06# on the phone, then the TAC on imei.info or IMEI24 | Yes, plus confirmation that the real model matches |
| Apple warranty | Yes, with the serial number, on checkcoverage.apple.com (CAPTCHA, no iCloud) | Yes, with the estimated purchase date |
| Samsung warranty | Only with a Samsung account and a registered product | Yes |
| Blacklist (stolen, lost, instalments) | Not for the GSMA registry: Device Check is B2B, stolenphonechecker.org is region-blocked; "free" checks cover only some lists | Yes, including country and reason when reported |
| iCloud / Activation Lock | No: Apple removed the public tool in January 2017 | Yes |
| Knox Guard, MDM, Mi account | No | Yes, depending on brand and level |
| Carrier lock (SIM lock) | No; Romanian carriers have no public tool | Yes |
| Apple service history (GSX) | No | Yes, with Apple Complet |
| Cost | RON 0 | 3,99-24,99 lei, one-off payment |
Data about codat.ro comes from the live catalogue and updates automatically. Data about the other services is what they published on the date checked. Trademarks belong to their owners.
Why the important checks are not free anywhere
The GSMA device registry is available by subscription, to companies. Apple data on Activation Lock, MDM and service history comes from systems where access costs money. As a result, every service in the field, from credit-based ones to full-report ones, charges for these fields. IMEI24, for example, explains on its pro page that the payment covers "the cost of collecting" the data.
The difference between services is not whether you pay, but how much, for what, in which language and with what invoice.
What you can do yourself, in 5 minutes, before paying anything
- Dial *#06# on the phone and compare the IMEI with the box and with Settings. A different IMEI ends the conversation.
- Check the TAC on a free site: if the model shown is not the one advertised, do not continue.
- For an iPhone, ask for the serial number and check the warranty on the Apple page. The purchase date also tells you how old the phone is.
- Ask the seller to turn off Find My in front of you, before paying. No report replaces this step.
What to choose
When free is enough
- You only want the model or to confirm the IMEI is valid.
- You have the serial number of an iPhone and only care about the warranty.
- You buy from a shop that gives you its own invoice and warranty.
When the paid report is worth it
- You buy from a private seller and cannot verify the origin otherwise.
- You want blacklist, iCloud/Knox, carrier lock and warranty in one report, in your language.
- The price of the phone is hundreds of times the price of the report.
Sources and date checked
Information about other services comes from their public pages, read on the date below. Their prices and offers can change at any time; if you spot a difference, write to contact@codat.ro and we will correct it.
- Apple removed the public Activation Lock tool (AppleInsider, 29 January 2017)https://appleinsider.com/articles/17/01/29/apple-removes-icloud-activation-lock-status-tool-from-website · checked on 27 October 2026
- Apple Check Coverage (warranty by serial number)https://checkcoverage.apple.com/ · checked on 27 October 2026
- Samsung Romania, warranty check (account and registered product)https://www.samsung.com/ro/support/warranty/ · checked on 27 October 2026
- GSMA Device Check (service for businesses)https://www.gsmaservices.com/device-services/device-check/ · checked on 27 October 2026
- stolenphonechecker.org (unavailable from Romania)https://www.stolenphonechecker.org/ · checked on 27 October 2026
- imei.info, free check by TAChttps://www.imei.info/ · checked on 27 October 2026
- pro.imei24.com, explanation of the payment for datahttps://pro.imei24.com/service/690/ · checked on 27 October 2026
Codat.ro technical team · 27 October 2026
Read the verification methodologyFrequently asked questions
Is the free blacklist check on some sites real?
It usually covers certain lists or countries, not the full GSMA registry, and the sites note that reporting by carriers is voluntary. A free "clean" result does not mean the phone is not reported somewhere.
Can I check iCloud for free?
Not through a public Apple tool, since 2017. You can ask the seller to turn off Find My in front of you, or use a paid report that reads the Activation Lock status.
Why does codat.ro not offer the report for free?
Because every query to the data sources costs money. Model identification in the form is free; the full report costs 3,99-24,99 lei, with an invoice.