Location tracking apps allow you to track any phone. That is, if they install the same app as you and give you permission to see their location. There are many similar apps on iOS and Android, and many of them are completely free.
An app that tracks someone’s phone can be useful for many reasons. Maybe you are a parent and want to see your kids go to school, or your spouse is traveling to earn a living, and it is important for you to make sure they are safe. You and your friends may find a location tracking app useful so you know where everyone is without having to text or make calls.
Obviously, you can use a location tracker for many reasons. Fortunately, many location finder apps in app stores are completely free to use the basic functionality. You may have to pay a monthly fee to get additional special features.
Life 360
Life360 is the best family member tracking app. It allows you to create locations on the map so that when people arrive and / or leave these areas, you are notified. You can also freely browse the map at any time to see where they are.
This location tracker is one of the best, not only because you can add many people to your location group, but also because you can even create additional family circles, each of which can include different people. Maybe you want one for friends and another for family.
Life360 is also very accurate. In my experience, as long as the person has a good internet connection, you can zoom in on the map so close that you can determine which part of the building they are in, or which house, from a block of other houses.
The free version supports two people and two places. You can pay to add more family members and space, as well as additional features like traffic reports, hard stop notifications, speed alerts, and emergency services.
Download Life360 for iOS from iTunes., or download it for your Android from Google Play. You can also view the map from your computer.
Google Maps
Google Maps is a well-known route finder app and you may know that it can also track your own location history. Unsurprisingly, it also doubles as a phone tracker. This location tracking app is completely free and allows you to see the people you are tracking while browsing Google Maps.
This app is on our list because it is very easy to set up if you both have a Google account with the Google Maps app installed. There are no location-based alerts like Life360, but you can see the address where the person is, get directions to him, easily see what is nearby, and determine how much battery they have left in their phone.
Tracking your location on Google Maps is also something you don’t even think about. Since there are no push notifications for when people arrive or leave a specific area, you are not bombarded with messages. Just open the map and browse as usual, but also see where your friends or family are.
To use this feature in Google Maps, select Transfer Location from the application menu. You can share your location for a specific period of time, such as an hour, or select “Until you turn this off” to allow geodata transfers indefinitely.
Google Maps works on iOS and Android devices. You can also visit Google Maps from your computer to find out where people are.
Glimpses
Another application made specifically to track others while driving. this is Glimps. It is available for Android, iOS and Windows Phone, is very easy to use and has some really great features. You can even connect this app to your car if your car GPS navigator supports it.
When you share your location via Glympse, you choose how long you want the other person to see your location. The options include everything from five minutes to 12 hours, and then you are presented with a link to the driving session that you can share anywhere, like text, email, or even social media. While you are driving, you can add 15 minutes with a single tap so that the recipient does not lose your location.
Anyone who opens your dedicated link will be able to view the map and follow you in real time from the native Glympse app or from any web browser, including a computer. They see your speed (if you have enabled this option), the path and estimated time of arrival to the destination (if you have added a destination) and the current traffic information.
Messaging applications
Messaging apps are another way to keep track of friends and family, or even people you just met. What makes using a text-based app to track people different is that most often it only includes tracking for a short time, which you will find useful if you only need it for a day or even an hour or so.
WhatsApp is one example. Tap the attachment icon next to the text box, then select Location and then Share Current Location to select 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 8 hours. You can also use WhatsApp to send your current location without telling the other person your current location.
The Facebook Messenger app is similar. Select the menu with four dots to the left of the text message area and select Location from the options. Select Share My Current Location to instantly start sharing your location within an hour. Another person can view updates to your location as you move, and can even get directions to where you are.
Another popular messaging app, Snapchat has a so-called Snap Map to share your location with all or some of your Snapchat friends. Go to your settings and select a map to see the location of your friends. Tap the settings icon on the map to set up sharing so your friends can find you anytime they view their map.
If you do not have these applications, then the one you are using now supports geodata transfer. This option is usually readily available next to the area where you send texts and images.
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