Peace of mind can be scarce when you live in a sketchy neighborhood. Even if you’re not a parent, you’ll worry when your siblings or partner goes out for the day. However, apps like Life360 can take some stress away. You can use any live location tracker application to keep in touch with your family whenever they go out. These tools access the GPS data on the installed device and ping live location to all the connected users. So, whether you’re a parent or a concerned partner, you will always know where your loved ones are.
On the other hand, the crime rate isn’t that low in decent neighborhoods either. Now and then, you’ll see a story on unsuspecting people getting targeted in the most secure areas out there. So, you can’t just rest easy after scoring a home in a safe region. Instead, you need to still be on your toes about personal and family safety. At the very least, having a live location tracker linking you with your family is a must.
7 live location tracker apps
Before I get started with the list of top live location trackers, let’s discuss what makes a good tracking app. Here are a few things we test to rate live location tracker apps.
- Location accuracy
- Update frequency
- Route details and alerts
- Complete location history
- Geofencing features
- Driving statistics
Sadly, no app is perfect, and there are a few drawbacks, even in the most well-known live trackers. Still, the following list should suffice your tracking needs.
FlashGet Kids live location tracker
FlashGet Kids live location tracker is a parental control tool to track your kids and loved ones. The unique thing about FlashGet Kids live location tracker is that it offers stealth mode. If your kids are rebellious or don’t yet understand why you need to track their location, FlashGet Kids is a decent way to address that problem.
Follow these steps to install the FlashGet Kids live location tracker.
Step 1. Launch the App Store and search FlashGet Kids: parental control.
Step 2. Start this app and register your account.
Step 3. Download FlashGet Kids for your child using the phone browser at https://flashget.kids.
Step 4. Connect your kids’ devices to your FlashGet Kids account and track them.
Once you’re through with the binding process, you can access many features from the parental control application. Here is a brief list of what you’ll get from the FlashGet Kids live location tracker.
Features
Real-time tracking
Location history (15 days)
Geofencing
Emergency alerts
Pros
- Exceptional tracking accuracy
- Minimal update delay
- Affordable pricing plans
- Works on all devices (iOS and Android)
Cons
- It doesn’t offer route details
Ratings
5-stars
Personally, I didn’t find anything wrong with the layout or the features of this application. This live location tracker will always be at the top with a 5-star rating for me. So, try it if you wish to track your kids or any loved ones.
Life360
It is hard to find someone talking about live location trackers and not mention Life360. Even though there are some complaints about Life360 glitches, it is still the most famous tracker out there. You’ll find that teenagers often badmouth about this app because of helicopter parents. So, even if you see a ton of bad reviews on particular platforms, they were likely left by angry teenagers.
As far as the Life360 features are concerned, you’ll get access to free and paid options. Depending on your budget, you’ll get the following value from Life360.
Features
Location tracking and history
Place alerts
Geofencing
Driving summary
SOS help alert
Pros
- Several free features
- Amazing safety alerts
- Works on all devices (iOS and Android)
Cons
- The other person can block location tracking at any time
Rating
4.5-stars
If you’re looking for a live location tracker to track your kids, then Life360 isn’t the ideal option. Your kid can turn off their location sharing within the app, and you won’t have a clue about their location. So, be prepared if you do decide to go with Life360. Other than that, Life360 is pretty great, surely deserving of 4.5 stars, in my opinion.
Find My iPhone
Unlike the apps above, Find My iPhone is not marketed as a safety tracker. Instead, you’ll find this app to be more helpful in locating lost iPhones. In theory, you can indirectly use this app as a live location tracker. However, the features are pretty limited in that aspect. So, if you’re a parent, I’d suggest that you go with either one of the apps above.
Features
Real-time location
Brief location history
Pros
- Free service
- Compatible for iOS devices only
Cons
- Limited features
- No dedicated alerts or safety features
Ratings
3-stars
The only positive thing I can say about this app is that it is free. The value is pretty basic, and you should only use the Find My iPhone app for misplaced items. It is not intended for family security purposes. Overall, three stars seem reasonable for this live location tracker.
Google Maps
Google pretty much set the standard for live location trackers. You can’t beat the Google Maps in terms of consistency and accuracy. Moreover, it is free. While the features are less extensive than FlashGet Kids or Life360, you’ll still get decent details. Here is what you can expect from Google Maps.
Features
Location details
Route data
Live directional view
Complete location history
Pros
- Easy location sharing with contacts
- No paid features
- Works both on iOS and Android devices
Cons
- Lacks safety alerts
Ratings
4-stars
Don’t get me wrong, Google Maps can be a great location tracker, but it still lacks emergency alerts and other safety features. Using Google Maps as a temporary location tracker for your family might be right. All in all, Google Maps is still decent at a 4-star rating.
Glympse
Glympse is another dedicated location-tracking solution that you can use daily. It is less intrusive than any options listed above and is more marketed towards corporations. Unlike the permanent live location trackers above, Gllympse offers temporary location sharing. You’ll only be able to see the live location of your family or coworkers for a limited period. Moreover, there are mixed reviews of this application.
Here is what you can expect from Glympse.
Features
Temporary location sharing
Public location tags
Private group sharing
Location History
Route management
Pros
- Better suited for mature users
- Offers more privacy
- Compatible with iOS and Android
Cons
- Tons of bug reports and app issues
Rating
2-stars
Honestly speaking, I am not a fan of this live location tracker. Even though it has more features and better flexibility, managing this app is still annoying. So, you can’t really use it to keep your family secure. I give it a solid 2-star rating out of 5 stars.
Find My Kids
Find My Kids app is like a personal guardian that you can assign to your kids. This live location tracker doesn’t just keep your kid safe by updating their location but also offers safety features like surrounding audio. Moreover, you’ll get alerts whenever your kid mutes their phones or leaves their school. So, you’ll always have this guardian with your kid while you work on your projects.
You’ll get this value from the Find My Kids application.
Features
Geofencing
Surround audio
Safety alerts
Data safety
App usage details
Battery alerts
Pros
- A ton of safety features
- Easy to install and use
- Works both on iOS and Android
- Decent customer support
Cons
- Sometimes, notifications are delayed
Rating
4.5-stars
The only thing wrong about this app is that it doesn’t work well with a poor data connection. So, if you live in a region where the service is not great, you will not have a good time with this application. Other than that, you’re pretty much sorted with the Find My Kids location tracker. It is easily a 4.5-star application on my list.
Geo Tracker
Lastly, you have Geo Tracker, which is only available for Android devices. Even though you can find similar app names on the App Store, the developers behind each project are different. Anyhow, Geo Tracker is a decent app that will help you log your journey. It is not intended as an app to connect people. Instead, you can use it as your personal travel log. It will act as a live location tracking and record wherever you go and how long you wait at a particular spot.
Here are some points on Geo Tracker
Features
Route details
Map statistics
Location History
Personal notes
Pros
- Decent personal log
- Minimal glitches
Cons
Confusing UI
No safety feature
Rating
3-stars
You can’t really use the Geo Tracker to track your kids or loved ones. Moreover, the user reviews for this application are not great. Still, as far as a personal log is concerned, you won’t find a better option on the market. So, let’s call it a solid 3-star live location tracker.
Which app is best for live location tracking?
Out of all the options above, the only solid app is FlashGet Kids. It offers a blend of Life360 and Find My Kids app features. You’ll get the location tracking on par with Life360 while benefiting from the safety features in the Find My Kids app. So, you’re getting a one-stop solution when sticking to the FlashGet Kids application. Moreover, it is cheaper than Life360 at under 5 dollars a month on the yearly plan.
How can I track a live location of a phone?
You can use FlashGet Kids as a live phone location tracker. Here are the steps to help you along the way.
Step 1. Get the parental control app on your device.
Step 2. Create an account after launching the app.
Step 3. Get the kids’ version on the target device.
Step 4. Bind both devices by following the in-app instructions.
Step 5. Open FlashGet Kids on your phone and tap “live location.”
Aside from the location tracking features, you can access the surround audio and notification alerts. So, take your time and set up each feature accordingly. It will be a hassle at first, but you’ll surely thank yourself in the end.
FAQs
What is GPS live tracking?
GPS live tracking is a method to track your device location using satellites in real time. As long as you have a data connection, this tracking method constantly monitors your location data.
How to do live tracking on Google Maps?
You can ask the other person to share their live location with you. If you’re in contact, they can choose to temporarily or permanently share their location with you.
Can Google Maps be used as a tracker?
Yes, Google Maps can be used as a tracker. You can use the share live location feature to connect with your family.
Can someone track my location through Gmail?
No, unless a motivated hacker is targeting you, you can’t be tracked through Gmail. Moreover, even the hackers will only get a rough idea of your location through Gmail.
