GPS tracking devices have been around for a while. Some older versions of smartphones came with GPS tracking software pre-installed. Nowadays, you do not need to buy an expensive GPS tracker. There are several apps available on the Google Play Store which offer free GPS tracker services to users of their apps.
There is an app for everything these days, and keeping track of the whereabouts of your nearest and dearest is no exception. There are other genuinely valuable things to be done with location-tracking apps – such as keeping tabs on your kids if you're away from home or checking up on your elderly relatives.
Although there are some incredibly advanced Android apps for pinpointing friends and family, my focus is on the best free GPS tracker apps for Android. I've tried dozens of location finder apps on my phone over the past couple of years. These are the most accurate and reliable services, along with great design and ease of use.
Note: If you have Parental controls on your iPhone or Android device, you can also use them for tracking your Kid’s locations.
Glympse is the easiest way for you and your friends to safely coordinate your location in real-time. Whether getting together with friends or making sure that someone knows where you are, Glympse is the best way to share your location.
Glympse uses the devices' location capabilities to show your location on a map, providing visualizations of exactly where you are at all times.
Just open the app, specify who can see your location at a given time, and then specify the amount of time that a person can see your location. From there, Glympse will continue to share your current GPS location.
Glympse turns your Android or iPhone into a crystal ball that shows you where your friends are right now. As long as you have an internet connection, Glympse will work.
Geo Tracker is a robust app capable of recording a lot of crucial information, which you can then use to improve your wilderness expeditions.
Contrary to the previous app, Geo Tracker is tailored more towards those who regularly go on trips to remote areas. You’ll be able to track your movement on the map using your geographical coordinates and altitude, as well as your direction and speed.
Geo Tracker will record all of this for you and automatically compile it into a report that you can then access at any time back home. Each track can be traced and stored in the GPX and KML format. The data can be imported into any number of apps, including Google Earth and Ozi Explorer, for viewing on a larger scale.
It can share your location in real-time with friends and family using GPS. You can also see where your friends are located, pinpoint them on a map, and set time intervals. The Geo Tracker is a high-performance GPS tracker, perfect for mountain bikes or for runners and bikers who train in the woods.
If you have young children or teenagers, you know - what a challenge it can be to keep track of their location. Fear not! Family Locator lets you track the real-time locations of everyone in your family – and even exchange private messages, all from your Android device.
This app keeps you connected to everyone in your family, even when you're away from home. With Family Locator, log into your account on any Android phone or tablet to see the real-time locations of your kids and any other users on the app. There's also an integrated messaging service that enables you to contact them directly.
It's helpful on family trips in large public spaces, where kids are prone to wander off. Download the free app, then activate it through your mobile phone or tablet.
Family Locator offers two modes of operation - Supervised and Alert. The supervised mode will allow parents to set up custom "geo-fence" zones on a map. If their child leaves this virtual boundary, the parent receives an alert.
You can even set up geo-fences around any location you like, so you'll know instantly if your child is approaching your favorite groove bar. Family Locator will also send you alerts when your kids arrive at school, new locations, or have reached a safe destination.
Modern devices possess a whole world of location-finding goodness we can't wait to explore. And since you don't need to spend a ton of money to do so, it's the perfect time to jump in and experience the joys of tracking information with your Android device.
Tracking people can be a tricky thing. Between apps and services, many options can help you keep an eye on the people in your life. Regardless of what hardware or software you choose, make sure you are abiding by local laws. And choose wisely — some of these services can be intrusive, while others stick more to the letter of the law.