Best 8 Family Tracking Apps for iPhone & Android
Family means a lot to most of us. One of the essential things that you can do to enhance the security of your family members is to monitor their movements, especially for kids and elders.
It is becoming increasingly imperative to know where your loved ones are for their safety. Thankfully, family tracking apps offer a convenient solution by utilizing GPS technology to help you stay connected and informed about your loved ones' live locations. Hence, here we'll get you covered with the best 8 family tracking apps.
Part 1. Best 8 Tracking Apps for Family
Without further ado, let’s take a look at these family location tracking apps!
1Google Family Link
As a free family tracking app for Android and iPhone, Google Family Link could be your go-to solution if you are looking for a free option. Being developed by Google, it not only allows you to monitor your family's digital activities but also includes location tracking features. It works by sharing the location via satellite.
Using it, you can view your loved one's location in real-time for free. Even though Family Link doesn’t support setting a geofencing zone, you can set location-based reminders to receive notifications when your family members arrive or leave a specific area.
Features:
- Real-time location tracking and sharing
- Geofencing alerts for leaving and entering an area
Number of Devices: Up to 10
Supported Devices: Android, iOS, and Web
Monthly Price: Free
Pros
- It is 100% free.
- It allows setting other parental controls.
- You can manually change the location accuracy.
Cons
- No location history.
- Its location function is rudimentary.
- It can only track Android phones.
Real Users' Reviews:
"My child's location not updating and notifying me when she gets to school or home like I have it set up to do." - Nicky from Play Store
"I use this app to control phones for all my kids. It is really good at blocking payments in App Store, allowing me to block sites, setting a bedtime and very accurate location." - Neisha504 from App Store
2AirDroid Family Tracker
AirDroid Family Tracker is a comprehensive family tracking app designed for parents to keep kids safe, whether online or offline. With it, you can locate your family members who use an Android phone anytime and anywhere, track where they visited, set geofences for them, and receive alerts when they enter or leave a specific place.
What makes AirDroid stand out from other options is its remote monitoring feature. It lets you monitor your kid’s surroundings remotely by watching or listening to the environment through their phones.
Features:
- Real-time GPS and WiFi tracking
- 15-day past route history on a successive timeline
- 0.062–0.62 miles of geofencing
- Watch and hear your family member's surroundings
Number of Devices: Up to 10
Supported Devices: Android, iOS, and Web
Monthly Price: $9.99
Pros
- It offers a 3-day free trial.
- It works in a 100% stealth mode.
- It boasts multiple parental control features.
Cons
- It can track Android devices only.
Real Users' Reviews:
"Amazing features that are accessible and accurate no matter how far away from devices with or without cellular service or WiFi! Location is on point and multiple ways to monitor are effectively executed." - Ashleigh Bonner from Play Store
"5 plus stars in my opinion! View all notifications ur child receives, see their battery charge, their location, open up their camera and see in real time video of what’s happening and one way audio!" - C&K's mommy1119 from App Store
3Life360
As an excellent family location-sharing tool, Life360, an excellent family location sharing app, puts all your family members in a "circle" so you and your family can see each other's real-time whereabouts. Its geofencing tool is so powerful that you can create bigger geofenced zones than AirDroid.
Amazingly, Life360 boasts a unique feature called "Bubble" which lets you keep your family informed of your general whereabouts instead of the precise address. If there is an emergency being detected, the “Bubble” will automatically burst.
Features:
- Live location tracking
- 2-30 days of location history
- Up to 2 miles of geofencing
- Bubble for less precise location tracking
- Location check-ins
Number of Devices: Unlimited
Supported Devices: Android and iOS
Monthly Price: $14.99 for Gold, $24.99 for Platinum
Pros
- It has a private messaging feature.
- You can start it with a 7-day trial after subscribing.
- You can get a detailed view of each family member's driving habits.
- It boasts an SOS button.
Cons
- All of the devices that users want to track must be invited.
- Comparably expensive.
Real Users' Reviews:
"My daughters phone died while they were there and wasn't able to give me the address, but because it keeps track of the location the app gave me directions to the exact address to be able to pick her up." - Roaming With Zelda from Play Store
"I highly recommend this app! You can also message them on the app and react like 'love' or 'thumbs down' on their location. One more thing that I love is it also tells you their route and the locations they have been the whole week." - Unknown reviewer!! from App Store
4FamiSafe Family Locator
FamiSafe is an all-in-one entity that can do a variety of location tasks. It grasps your family member's current location via GPS and allows reverse location tracking so your loved ones can find your location, too. Similar to the above tools, it is capable of setting up a geofence and setting the time range. Besides, it also allows you to know where your loved one is driving and get a driving history report.
Features:
- GPS location tracking
- 2-30 days of location history
- 0.06–0.60 miles of geofencing
Number of Devices: Up to 10
Supported Devices: Android, iOS, and Web
Monthly Price: $9.99
Pros
- It allows you a 3-day free trial.
- It delivers a comprehensive driving report.
- It supports tracking smartphones, computers, and Kindle Fire.
Cons
- It takes too long to show the location results.
- Most features don't work in the free trial.
Real Users' Reviews:
"Fairly good app, but PLEASE enable the satellite view option on the live location map (it clearly uses Google Maps). I need to know if my child is inside a building or outside of it, especially when the location shows he's not where he's supposed to be!" - Erin Pidgeon from Play Store
"Great idea .......however location services are not accurate or reliable. Often shows the phone in the same place and just stays there for days on end." - Churchill312 from App Store
5Find My Kids
As its name reveals, Find My Kids is a family tracker app for parents to keep track of children under 18. Making use of not only GPS technology but also GPRS and WiFi networks, it's able to track your child's smartphone or GPS watch with the battery level and trigger low battery notification in time. Its geofencing tool also enables you to define the radius of positions.
In my test, Find My Kids pinpoints your child’s location every 15 minutes. And I used it for 16 days, so it backs up the location history of 16 days. If it could trace the history further, I'll update the data later.
Features:
- Highly accurate location
- 16 days of location history
- Geofencing alerts
- Listen to your kid's surroundings
Number of Devices: Up to 3
Supported Devices: Android, iOS, Web
Monthly Price: $2.99 (only 1 device tracking)
Pros
- It works with some GPS watches.
- It includes an SOS button for emergency alerts.
Cons
- It lacks most parental control features.
- The Sound Around feature needs to be purchased separately.
Real Users' Reviews:
"I've used this app for over a year so far. It seems to be a lil slow, loading the location takes forever, I'm assuming its lack of service sometimes." - Andrea from Play Store
"I am able to see where my children are at at all times. If they leave where they are currently at, it notifies me that they are on the move and shows me where they are within yards." - MamaBear27938 from App Store
6Family360
Like Life360, Family360 brings your family together with several Circles. This family-oriented GPS tracker allows you to locate your family members with their consent through their mobile phones and know their location at any time and in real-time. What's more, by tapping the profile of your family member on Family 360, you're able to view how far away he or she is and get the optimal route to your loved one.
If you are hesitating between Life360 and Family360, I suggest Life360 because it lets you create bigger geofenced zones and boasts more extra features.
Features:
- GPS location tracking with a precision of up to 12 meters
- Up to 30 days of location log
- Up to 1 mile geofencing
Number of Devices: Up to 5
Supported Devices: Android and iOS
Monthly Price: $5.49
Pros
- It provides newcomers with a 21-day free trial.
- It integrates an emergency panic button.
Cons
- No other parental control features.
- It doesn't update the location sometimes.
Real Users' Reviews:
"The location isn't accurate. It does state there is a few feet discrepancy, but it's way off. I got notified at 2 am that my daughter arrived at the park. Shot out of bed, had a panic attack, and checked on her. She was fast asleep, and her phone was on the charger." - Darci Shannon from Play Store
"This app has got the most important features and it was instrumental in tracking my family's location." - Hanna wilfredo from App Store
7T-Mobile Safe & Found
Safe & Found is a Sprint-developed native application that allows you to helps you keep tabs on your family members, share your live location with them, and send SOS alerts when in trouble. This tracker utilizes GPS, cellular towers, and nearby WiFi networks so it can reliably provide real-time location quickly and then display the location on the map within Safe & Found.
It could be a good option if your bound device is lost or stolen because Safe & Found allows you to locate, lock, and wipe it.
Features:
- Accurate location tracking with different technologies
- Location history for last 7 days
- Small geofencing zones
- Location check-ins
Number of Devices: Up to 10
Supported Devices: Android, iOS, and Web
Monthly Price: $6.99
Pros
- It provides a 15-day free trial for new subscribers.
- It supports tracking Apple Watches.
- It has a built-in SOS service.
- Full-featured parental control app.
Cons
- You should be a Sprint customer.
- Location data latency for 30 mins.
Real Users' Reviews:
"The app has improved significantly over the last year. I like the real time location feature especially." - A Google user from Play Store
"I had the app on my son’s phone to use the specific location tracking. It is hidden and his phone is restricted (iPhone parental controls) so he cannot delete the app." - DesignerSeller from App Store
8Family Locator
Family Locator lets you see your family members on the map as they move from activity to activity and stay in touch with each other by sending instant messages. In case your kid or elder gets lost, its SOS button is helpful to let you know the exact GPS location immediately. Most amazingly, its In-flight Mode lets you locate your family member during the flight.
Features:
- GPS location tracking
- Location history for the past 7 days
- Geofencing alerts for leaving and entering respectively
- In-flight mode
Number of Devices: Up to 5
Supported Devices: Android and iOS
Monthly Price: $13.06
Pros
- It integrates the SOS call function.
- It can track the location when your family is on the airplane.
Cons
- 3-day free trial for $1.02.
- No more other features.
Real Users' Reviews:
"Update (July 27, 2022) fixed prior issue with location info. Now all family members are showing location updates within a group. Thanks for the quick fix." - Kent Tab from Play Store
"This app is amazing! I can see my whole family as they move from activity to activity. I have a sibling who travels for work, and I can see her all over the globe! I can keep tabs on my kiddos as they hang out with their friends or go to their after school activities." - Emsammm from App Store
Part 2. How to Choose the Best Family Tracking App
As mentioned above, there are a slew of tracking apps for family members in the market today. However, it is crucial to note that some of them are way better than others. Therefore, we must be keen before deciding on the family tracking app to purchase. The following are a few crucial aspects you should care about:
Real-time location
Generally speaking, a family tracking app works by utilizing GPS technology so it can periodically update the GPS location on a map. Because of this, you can see where your loved one is in real time.
The Most Accurate Family Locator App: AirDroid Family Tracker
Location History
Apart from real-time tracking, a powerful family tracker app allows you to see the previous route of your family members along with historical data available for checking. This displays where and when he or she has been on a virtual map.
The Family Locator App with Long History Data (30-day): Life360, FamiSafe Family Locator, Family360
Geofencing Tool
Geofencing is also an important criterion. With this feature in a family tracker app, you can create boundaries around key locations. and receive an alert when your relative enters or exits this zone. This is perfect to ensure the security of your family members and give you peace of mind.
The Family Locator App with The Best Geofencing Tool: AirDroid Family Tracker, Life360, FamiSafe Family Locator, Family360, T-Mobile Safe & Found
Budgets
Everyone likes free stuff. If there is a free family tracking app that meets your standard needs, then it must be the best choice.
The Free Family Locator App: Google Family Link
Security
Besides, data privacy is of utmost importance when searching for a reliable tracking app for family. So, select an app that employs robust security measures such as encryption and strict access controls to safeguard your information.
All of the above family locator apps are safe to use without ads and with a strong privacy policy.
Part 3. Benefits of Using a Family Tracking App
These family locator apps provide powerful location tracking features that allow you to view the location of your family members in real-time, ensuring their well-being and peace of mind. Here, we list down some admirable benefits of using family tracking apps.
Enhanced Safety and Security
Family tracker apps provide an extra layer of safety and security by tracking the accurate location and sending geofencing alerts. Whether you're tracking your children, elderly parents, or other family members, knowing their location can offer peace of mind. It can also help you respond quickly in case of an emergency.
Efficient Communication and Coordination
Most tracking apps allow you to know where your family members have been. This feature is handy when coordinating meetups or ensuring everyone arrives safely. It also eliminates some wrong communication and mistrust, like yelling at your loved ones, "Where have you been?".
Helpful Emergency Assistance
Family tracking applications can save lives in an emergency. Some apps include panic buttons or SOS help alerts that enable family members to notify each other and request assistance quickly. Emergency assistance is invaluable during critical situations, providing immediate support and coordination.
Part 4. Additional Tips to Protect Your Kids
Given that the reason you are looking for a family tracking app is to protect your little one, here are a few other things you can do to protect your child from harmful experiences:
- Educate your child about stranger danger and setting body boundaries.
- Teach your child to observe the traffic rules and how to cross the street.
- Set clear boundaries and rules for your child’s outdoor activities.
- Being a friend so your child feels comfortable talking with you.
- Monitor your child’s online and offline activities without invading their privacy.
- Encourage your child to seek help when he or she feels uncomfortable.
- Teach them about online safety and the potential risks of the Internet.
Conclusion
In conclusion, navigating the digital world is made easier with our top 9 family tracking apps. Among them, AirDroid Parental Control provides a web-accessible platform with comprehensive features and subtlety. We encourage parents to seek out tools like these that respect privacy, create a safe digital environment, and promote open dialogue within the family.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tracking Family
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