Today, GPS location apps have transformed how we ensure family safety.

With smartphones as allies, parents and guardians can peacefully monitor where their loved ones are. Evidence of this growth is Life360, currently the sixth most downloaded app in the United Kingdom and the United States.

What are family tracking apps?

These are tools that use GPS to create a safety circle among family members. They show the location of connected devices in real-time, creating a shared location experience that combines security and convenience.

Why use GPS location apps?

Family safety is a priority in today’s world. Tracking apps offer:

• Real-time monitoring

• Arrival and departure alerts for important locations

• Movement history

• Emergency buttons for risky situations

• Facilitated communication between family members

After extensive testing, we’ve selected the best GPS apps for family location tracking in 2025. Learn about their features and discover which is most suitable for your family.

Life360: The Family Safety Hub

Life360 is one of the most recognized names when it comes to GPS apps for locating people, especially focused on families.

It creates private “Circles” where members can continuously share their real-time locations.

Download the app by clicking the button below for your app store.

Main Features:

• Real-Time Location: Interactive map showing where each Circle member is.

• Place Alerts (Geofencing): Create virtual zones (home, school, work) and receive automatic notifications when a member enters or leaves these locations.

• Location History: Access the history of recent routes taken by members (availability varies between free and paid plans).

• Driving Reports (Premium): Information about maximum speed, cell phone use while driving, hard braking (typically in paid plans).

• Crash Detection (Premium): Automatically alerts emergency contacts and services in case of a serious car accident (paid feature).

• SOS Button / Help Alert: Allows sending a silent alert with your location to Circle members and emergency contacts.

Download the app by clicking the button below for your app store.

Ideal for:

• Families who want constant monitoring and robust security features.

GeoZilla: Complete Family Alternative

Similar to Life360, GeoZilla also positions itself as a robust GPS application for family safety, offering a comparable set of features to keep loved ones connected and secure.

Main Features:

• Precise Real-Time Tracking: See the exact location of family members on the map.

• Smart Geofencing: Receive notifications of arrival and departure from predefined locations.

• Detailed Location History: Review routes and places visited by members.

• Driving Safety Alerts (Premium): Monitoring of driving habits (speed, etc.) to promote road safety.

• Panic/SOS Button: Send emergency alerts with your location to family quickly.

• Activity Monitoring: Some plans may include reports on device usage or physical activity level.

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works well between Android and iOS devices.

Ideal for:

• Families looking for a solid alternative to Life360, perhaps with a slightly different interface or a set of premium features that better suit their needs.

Things to Consider:

• Like other continuous tracking apps, battery consumption can be a concern. The most advanced features usually require a paid subscription. The issue of privacy and consent is equally important.

Glympse: Temporary Sharing with Privacy Focus

Glympse takes a different approach. Instead of continuous tracking, it focuses on temporary location sharing, giving the user complete control over who sees their location and for how long.

Download the app by clicking the button below for your app store.

Main Features:

• Time-Based Sharing: Send a “Glympse” to a contact (or group) defining how long your location will be visible (from minutes to hours). After the time expires, sharing automatically stops.

• No App Required for Recipient: Those receiving a Glympse can view your real-time location through a secure link in any web browser, without needing to have the app installed.

• Focus on Task or Event: Ideal for specific situations like “I’m on my way”, “heading to the meeting point”, “leaving work”.

• Simple and Direct Interface: Very easy to use for sending or requesting a location share.

• Integration (in some cases): Can be integrated with some messaging apps or calendars.

Download the app by clicking the button below for your app store.

Ideal for:

• Situations requiring location sharing for a limited period, coordination of meetups, informing about a specific journey, or for users who value privacy more and don’t want constant tracking.

Things to Consider:

• Not suitable for continuous family monitoring or passive security features like geofencing or history. Depends on the user’s initiative to share their location each time.

Find My Kids (GPS Tracker): Dedicated Child Safety

As the name suggests, this GPS application is specifically designed for parents who want to monitor the location and safety of their young children or teenagers.

Main Features:

• Precise GPS Location: Real-time tracking of the child’s location on the map.

• Geofencing (Safe Zones): Define areas such as home and school and receive alerts when the child enters or leaves.

• Sound Around (Controversial Feature): Allows parents to hear the environment around the child’s phone to verify safety (raises important ethical and privacy questions).

• Loud Sound Signal: Allows sending a loud sound signal to the child’s phone, even if it’s in silent mode, to help locate it.

• SOS Button in Child’s App: The child can press a button to send an immediate alert to parents with their location.

• Battery Monitoring: Alerts when the child’s phone battery is low.

• App Usage Statistics (optional): Allows seeing which apps the child is using and for how long.

Ideal for:

• Parents concerned about the safety of children who already have smartphones.

FamiSafe: Complete Parental Control Solution

FamiSafe, developed by Wondershare, goes beyond GPS tracking, offering a complete parental control package.

Main Features:

• Real-Time Location Tracking: See where your children are at any time.

• Customizable Geo-Fences: Create safe zones and receive notifications when your children enter or leave them.

• Screen Time Control: Set time limits for device usage and block access at specific times.

• Web Content Filter: Block inappropriate sites in more than 21 different categories.

• App Monitoring: Control which apps can be installed and used.

• Explicit Content Detection: Identifies potentially dangerous texts and images.

• Detailed Reports: Track online activity history, including social networks, calls, and messages.

Ideal for:

• Families looking for a complete solution that combines location tracking and comprehensive parental control.

mSpy: Advanced Monitoring

mSpy is an award-winning tool that offers comprehensive monitoring beyond GPS tracking.

Main Features:

• Real-Time GPS Tracking: Track the precise location of monitored devices.

• Geofencing: Create safety zones and receive alerts when the device enters or leaves these areas.

• Communications Monitoring: Track calls, SMS, emails, and messages in popular apps.

• Internet Control: Monitor browsing history and block unwanted sites.

• Wide Compatibility: Works on all iOS and Android devices from version 5.x.

• Hidden Mode: Operates without being detected by the monitored device user.

Ideal for:

• Parents who need detailed monitoring of their children’s online and offline activities.

How to choose the ideal app for your family

Choosing the best GPS tracking app depends on your family’s specific needs:

• Consider the main objective: Continuous monitoring, temporary sharing, or complete parental control?

• Evaluate necessary features: Geofencing, SOS button, location history, or app monitoring?

• Check compatibility: Make sure the app works with all family devices.

• Take cost into account: Compare free and paid plans to find what best fits your budget.

• Prioritize privacy: Choose apps with good security and data protection policies.

Conclusion

GPS location apps have transformed how we care for family safety. Whether monitoring children, coordinating meetups, or ensuring parents’ peace of mind, there’s an appropriate app for every need.

When choosing a solution, balance features, privacy, and ease of use. Remember that the main goal is to create a safe and connected environment where all family members can feel protected.

With the right tools, it’s possible to leverage technology to strengthen family bonds and ensure your loved ones are always safe, wherever they may be