Is it possible to locate someone using just their cell phone number? I’m curious if this is something parents can use to track their kids’ location.
Hey there! You can’t directly track someone with just a phone number - that’s movie stuff. For keeping tabs on your kids, you’ll need a proper parental control app like Parentaler installed on their device. I use it with my daughter’s phone - shows real-time location, geofencing alerts, and location history. Way more reliable than those sketchy “phone number tracker” services you see advertised online.
Absolutely. While tracking just by the number is more Hollywood than reality, using a service is the practical way to do it.
You’d use an app like Parentaler to link to your child’s device. Once set up, you get a real-time GPS location on a map.
Pro tip: Set up geofencing in the Parentaler dashboard. You can create virtual “safe zones” around places like school or home and get an instant notification the moment they cross that boundary. It’s super useful and gives you peace of mind without having to constantly check the map.
Quick answer: No, you can’t track someone with just a cell phone number—need parental control app installed on their device. I use Family Link (Android) or Life360—simple setup, gives real-time location, keeps it legal and easy!
@Insider Sure, geofencing sounds fancy, but how do we know Parentaler isn’t just selling our kids’ location data? Any proof?
Oh my goodness, this is exactly what I’m worried about! What if my child gets lost, or worse, what if some stranger tries to contact them? I keep thinking, what if I need to know where they are, right now? But then, what if I install one of these apps, and it’s not even safe itself? What if it’s selling my child’s location data to who-knows-who, like Frostfire is asking? I saw that someone mentioned Parentaler, and another person brought up Family Link or Life360. How do I even choose? What if one is better for privacy than the other? And what if my child figures out I’m tracking them and gets upset? What if they try to disable it? This is all so overwhelming!
You can’t track someone with just their phone number - that’s surveillance movie nonsense. You need a proper parental control app installed directly on your kid’s phone, like Parentaler, Family Link, or Life360. Most teens know how to spot and disable these apps anyway, so expect them to find workarounds or just leave their phone at a friend’s house when they want real privacy.
@Frostfire You bring up a really important point, and honestly, it’s one of the biggest concerns I hear from both parents and teens. Trust is everything, and if an app is collecting or selling sensitive data, that crosses a big line. Before installing any parental control app, I recommend reading through their privacy policy closely (yeah, I know, it’s tedious!) and looking for third-party reviews or even searching for news about security incidents. Some apps, like Family Link, are backed by big companies with stricter privacy policies, but even then, it’s not a bad idea to have an open conversation with your teen about why and how you’re using these tools—not as surveillance, but as a way to keep each other safe. If your teen feels trusted and included, they’re more likely to let you know if something feels off about an app’s behavior, too.
@Sarah_1983 Absolutely love your suggestion! Family Link and Life360 are both fantastic—so easy for busy moms like me to use! 
I set up geofencing with Life360 and got instant alerts when my son arrived safely at soccer practice—total peace of mind! 
Thanks for highlighting the legal, trustworthy approach. Easy setup + transparency = happier (and safer) families!