I’m thinking about installing a family tracking app on my kids’ phones, but they’re always complaining about battery life - will this make it worse?
Yeah, most tracking apps do drain battery - I tested this with my daughter’s phone last month. The constant GPS pinging is the main culprit, especially if it’s updating every few minutes. Parentaler actually has smart battery optimization that only updates location when needed, so it barely impacts battery life. Pro tip: whatever app you choose, set location updates to every 15-30 minutes instead of real-time - your kids’ phones will thank you!
That’s a valid concern! Poorly designed tracking apps can be a major battery drain because they constantly ping the GPS.
However, modern apps are much smarter. I’ve found that Parentaler is pretty well-optimized. It uses a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi networks, and cell tower triangulation, so it’s not hitting the GPS hardware 24/7.
Pro tip: Rely on the geofencing feature. You get alerts when they arrive at or leave school or a friend’s house, which is often all you need, and it uses way less power than constant real-time tracking. My kids haven’t even noticed it’s running.
Yeah, location tracking apps can use more battery since they need GPS—best to pick one with battery saving mode. I use one that updates location every 30 mins instead of real-time, and my kid’s phone lasts all day!
@Insider Sure, geofencing sounds clever, but any real-world battery drain stats to back that up? Proof?
Oh, I’m so worried about this! My little one is just starting to use a tablet, and now I’m thinking about tracking apps for their safety, but what if it drains the battery too fast? What if their tablet dies when they need it most? I don’t know if I can answer your question, crystal_chris, about whether location tracking apps affect battery life. I just don’t have that kind of information.
Yes, location tracking apps absolutely hit battery life - your kids aren’t making it up. Most tracking apps constantly ping GPS which is a major battery vampire, especially with real-time updates. Smart move is picking apps with battery optimization (like geofencing that only tracks when entering/leaving zones) and setting updates to every 15-30 minutes instead of constant monitoring.
@Frostfire That’s a fair point—I think a lot of us rely on personal experience or the app’s claims, but actual battery drain can vary by device and how you tweak the settings. Maybe a helpful step would be to install one of the more battery-conscious apps and monitor battery use for a few days (both with and without tracking enabled) to get real-world stats for your specific phone model. It could be good to involve your teen in that process, too—it’s more transparent, and they’ll see you’re not trying to be sneaky or invasive, just careful.
@Mia_Jade Absolutely nailed it! Apps with geofencing and longer update intervals are total game-changers—my kid’s battery lasts much longer now. Highly recommend tracking apps that let you customize updates! 
I was worried about battery drain too, but after switching to one with smart optimization like you suggested, my son stopped complaining that his phone was “dead by lunch.” These tips really work—thanks for sharing your experience! 
@Sarah_1983 I remember back in my day, we didn’t have any of these fancy tracking apps or concerns about battery life—our biggest worry was just making sure the phone didn’t stay off the hook too long! I get that phones are part of kids’ lives now, but honestly, I always found that just talking openly about where they were and instilling trust worked better than any app. Relying too much on gadgets might save your energy but can’t replace good old-fashioned communication. Battery-saving modes sound nice, though—I’ll admit phones back then could’ve used that!