Managing family life is like running a small remote team: a bit chaotic, unpredictable, and quite often, you’re not sure where everyone is. Group chats make check-ins easier, sure, but not when all your family members text at the same time.
For those who haven’t put “stress-resistant” on their résumés, there’s a better solution for staying connected: a family location app.
At its most basic, a family tracker is a tool for real-time group location sharing. But the best apps offer more, so we cherry-picked the top family trackers for 2025. Let’s see what they can do for you!
What is a Family Tracking App?
A family tracking app is like your personal “family-members-only” interactive Snap Map. It shows your devices’ icons (or profile pictures) on a map, working as live location pins. You can view the real-time location of all your family members at the same time.
A regular tracking app is usually request-based. You have to send a message with a tracking link every time you want to track someone. A family tracking app, on the other hand, works from the start. Set it up once, and you’ll always be able to see where your loved ones are on a map.
How Did We Choose the Apps?
A basic family locator app lets you track your loved ones’ locations in real time. It’s similar to other mobile software with tracking capabilities.
So, what is the best family tracking app then? The one that meets the quality standards. We looked at a few factors when determining which apps made the cut:
- Features. These include location history tracking, geofencing, and route mapping, along with additional tools like parental controls. Having these features is more convenient because you don’t have to juggle between multiple apps to keep an eye on your kids.
- Ease of use. We looked for intuitive apps with simple controls and a clean layout.
- Compatibility. Wide compatibility is a must-have feature.
- Reviews. Of course, we checked family locator app reviews to see what users had to say and if there were any downsides to watch out for.
7 Best Family Locator App Solutions
To help you find the best family tracking app, we tested over 20 tools and narrowed our list to the top 7 solutions for 2025. Here’s a brief overview of apps that stood out during our testing.
Our Top 3 Recommendations
| Name | Key Features | Compatibility | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parentaler | -GPS tracking -Location history monitoring -Geofencing -Stealth mode | Android iOS | $9.60/month | 10/10 |
| mSpy | -Live tracking -Smart notifications -Route mapping | Android iOS | $11.66/month | 9/10 |
| Eyezy | -Real-time location tracking -Detailed log of location history -Geofencing | Android iOS | $7.99/month | 9/10 |
1. Parentaler – The Best Family Tracking App 2025
Introducing Palentaler: the best family locator app, compatible with both Android and iOS devices. The app features a simple and intuitive interface. With Parentaler, you can quickly find out where your loved ones are through your Control Panel.
Key Features
- Track your kids and family members on a map in real time.
- View location history in a timeline format.
- Create custom Safe and Dangerous zones. Receive notifications when your loved ones enter or leave these zones.
- Use parental controls for added safety: social media activity monitoring, browsing activity tracking, and more.
Pros
- Offers a 14-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
- Runs in Stealth mode.
- All-in-one app for location tracking and parental control.
- Comes with live customer support.
Cons
- It doesn’t offer a demo version.
Compatibility
The family tracking app Parentaler supports Android and iOS devices, including smartphones and tablets. You can log into a web-based control panel from any Internet-connected device to access collected data.
Price
The app offers three subscription plans. An annual plan starts at $9.60/month, while a quarterly subscription costs $22.83/month. You can also get a monthly subscription for $40.68.
Rating
10/10
2. mSpy – Accurate Live Location Tracking + Route Mapping
mSpy is a trustworthy family tracking app that has been leading the market since 2011. Designed with parental needs in mind, it accurately locates your kids’ devices, no matter where they go. Outside of this, mSpy provides text monitoring and Internet usage control.
Key Features
- Check real-time location via an interactive map. Get additional data such as exact address and location time.
- Set virtual boundaries on a map and get alerts if your kid enters or leaves a designated area.
- Get directions to their location by importing coordinates into Google Maps.
Pros
- Provides detailed and accurate location data.
- Easy to install and user-friendly.
- Lets you explore all features via a live demo.
Cons
- May drain the battery of older devices.
Compatibility
It is compatible with all iOS devices and Android devices running 5.x and higher.
Price
The family tracking app mSpy will cost $11.66/month if you opt for a 12-month subscription, $26.10/month for a 3-month subscription, and $46.51 for a 1-month subscription.
Rating
9/10
3. Eyezy – Great for Tracking Your Child’s Daily Routes
Eyezy is another high-level family tracking app for Android and iOS devices. You can set up Eyezy to run in Stealth mode to keep tabs on your teenagers or elder relatives without being intrusive. There’s no need to worry about missing crucial updates: Eyezy immediately sends you notifications whenever they visit new locations.
Key Features
- Track your family’s movements in real time from any device.
- Check their daily routes using the location history feature.
- Receive geo-fencing alerts when they enter or leave specific areas.
- Get detailed information about their activities, phone calls, and texts.
Pros
- Accurately tracks location in the background.
- Lets you set customizable geofences of any radius.
- Comes with parental control tools.
Cons
- You might need some time to get used to the interface.
Compatibility
This app to track family members works on most Android devices and iPhones. It’s also compatible with tablets.
Price
The price for Eyezy starts from $7.99/month. For new subscribers, discounts are available.
Rating
9/10
4. Find My Friends – Good Free Tracker for iPhones
If you’re wondering, “How do you track a family member’s iPhone?” Apple has a solution for you. Find My Friends is a free app designed specifically for location-tracking, whether it’s an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.
Key Features
- Track live locations of your family members on Apple Maps.
- Receive location-based notifications.
Pros:
- Clean and intuitive interface.
Cons:
- Your family members can disable location-sharing anytime they want to.
- Some users report glitches.
Compatibility
Runs on iOS 10.0 or later.
Price:
You can download this app for free from the App Store.
Rating
8.0/10
5. Family Link from Google – Simple Family Tracker for Beginners
Family Link from Google is a must-try app to see where your family is. Beyond basic GPS tracking, it offers screen time monitoring. You can install it from your official app store or use the web version.
Key Features
- Tracks location on Google Maps in real-time.
- Features several parental control tools.
Pros:
- Works from a web browser after a quick setup.
- Set limits on Internet and app usage on kids’ devices.
Cons:
- Doesn’t have as many features as other family tracking apps.
- Requires a Google account for each family member.
Compatibility
Works with Android phones 5.0. To install it on an iPhone, you have to update your device to iOS 11.0 or later.
Price:
The family tracking app iPhone version is free on the App Store. Android users can also download the free version.
Rating
8.0/10
6. Life 360 – Free Family Locator With Built-In Safety Features
Life360 is the best free family tracking app. At the basic end, it covers real-time location tracking and driving speed monitoring. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive experience, you can always opt for the paid version.
Key Features
- Track your family members on a map and build routes in one tap.
- Encourage safe driving habits with speed reports.
Pros:
- Offers built-in messenger for check-ins
- Creates brief reports on location history, including any stops made along the way.
- Has a Panic Button tool.
Cons:
- The free plan allows you to set only two place alerts, like home, school, or work. You’re also limited to a 2-day location history.
- Drains battery quickly.
Compatibility
The Life360 family tracking app runs on Android 8.0+ and iOS 13.0+ devices.
Price:
The cost for the premium version ranges from $14.99/month to $24.99/month.
Rating
8.5/10
7. Phonsee –Intuitive Family Location Tracker with History
Phonsee is a family tracker app for Android and iOS devices. It’s so easy to use that you can track someone’s location in a few taps. If you miss a location update (it happens to the best of us), Phonsee saves location history for you to review. You’ll always know where they’ve been throughout the day with saved routes.
Key Features
- Track the real-time locations of your loved ones on an interactive map.
- Check location history to see where they’ve been throughout the day.
- Set safe and dangerous areas on the map. Get alerts when a family member enters or leaves them.
Pros
- Packs all essential features in one app.
- Has a clean interface and intuitive navigation.
- Offers extra features for remote device access.
Cons
- Might not work properly on old devices.
- An interactive demo isn’t available.
Compatibility
The Phonsee phone tracker family locator supports Android devices (5.0 and up) and iPhones (iOS 7 and up).
Price
The starting price is just $9.92/month.
Rating
8.5/10
How to Choose the Best Family Tracking App?
You need a tool that fits your needs, but how do you outline them? Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your perfect app to locate family:
- Who’s in your family? If it’s just adults, a request-based app (like Find My Friends) might be the right choice since everyone can manage it themselves. Little kids need extra supervision, so it’s better to look for a tool that tracks their real-time location and other activities automatically.
- What devices are you using? Some apps only work with specific operating systems like iOS. Others are cross-compatible, which means they can be installed on all kinds of phones. Think about your family’s devices and choose a tool that works for everyone.
- What’s your budget? Don’t overspend on expensive apps. High price tags don’t always mean better quality. Many apps better than Life360 cost less than $10 per month—keep that in mind.
- How tech-savvy are you? If chatting with a customer support team isn’t your idea of a perfect evening, look for simple, intuitive, and beginner-friendly apps. A good tracking app can (and should) be easy to use.
FAQ
Parentaler is one of the best apps for tracking your child. It offers a GPS tracker, screen time control, and online activity monitoring features, all in one.
Parentaler comes with a Steal mode feature that enables you to track family members secretly. Keep in mind that if you want to monitor an adult, you have to ask their permission first.
You can use the solution from Google Family Link. It’s a free family tracking app for Android and iPhone.
Make the most of the free trials offered by paid apps to test out the advanced features. Once you are sure that app meets your needs, you can purchase a subscription and start tracking your family members.
Conclusion
You don’t need to text your family group chat to find out where everyone is. You need a family tracking app. To help you get the right one from the start, we’ve rounded up the best tried-and-tested family trackers in this post. These apps deliver on their promises and offer extra tools that can be pretty helpful for your parenting.
So, check out our list, pick the best family tracking app for your needs, and enjoy your stress-free days!
Is it difficult to set up geofences?
Thank you for your comment! Setting up geofences is quite easy. For instance, with mSpy, you just need to draw a circle on a map and mark the “safe” and “dangerous” areas for your child.