The Best Free Family Locator Apps for Android

Part 1. How Do Free Family Locator Apps Work?

Free family locator apps are straightforward but provide high security for you and your loved ones. Once you download one and create an account, you’ll connect with your family, friends, or loved ones through the app to always have access to their location.

All free family locator apps use GPS (Global Positioning System) to keep track of your location and share it within a map. All other parties linked to the account will have access to your GPS coordinates and track your activities.

Most apps require internet access to update the real-time locations. Thus, if you’re searching for apps with live location sharing, you should ensure your device always has internet access.

Another advantage of these applications is that you can customize your profiles and preferences. For instance, you can predetermine an area your child should be in during a specific period and receive notifications if their location changes.

Part 2. The Disadvantages of Using Free Family Locator Apps

Although free family locator apps for Android provide numerous benefits, you’ll surely notice their downsides once you step into this world. Some of these disadvantages may be deal-breakers, so we advise you to check them out before searching for your ideal app.

• Advertisements– Free Android apps must earn revenue somehow. Thus, they include numerous ads that may become too much to handle at some point.
• Limited free features– Free apps usually don’t provide too many advanced features to take your experience to the next level. Instead, you’ll use the basic feature set and will have to pay to get more on your journey.
• False notifications– Some free locator apps may sometimes send false notifications about others’ activities due to bugs, so you shouldn’t always expect accurate tracking.
• Lag– Free family locator apps for Android may sometimes lag, meaning you may be misinformed about your family’s location for a minute or two.

Although these disadvantages aren’t too scary and shouldn’t interfere with your experience, they may become annoying in the long run.

Part 3. How We Picked the Best Free Family Tracking Apps for Android

Selecting the best free family tracking apps for Android is challenging due to the many available options. The market is expanding rapidly, and many new apps with fresh features emerge daily. Thus, we’ve created some rating requirements to guide us through the process.

• Features– Each app below provides all the essential tracking features for free, while some even have advanced premium functionalities.
• Testing– We’ve tested each app for more than a month to see how it functions and whether it delivers high-quality results.
• User reviews– We ensured all the chosen apps had a flawless reputation before adding them to our list. Their users have had satisfying experiences, so you can be sure you won’t lose your time and nerves while tracking your family.
• Ease of use– Free family tracking applications should be so simple that even a child could use them. Thus, we’ve selected the most user-friendly options to narrow your choices.

Part 4. Best Family Locator Apps You Can Get for Free

Below is a list of the best family locator applications available in the Google Play Store. We’ll discuss each, present its most notable features, and explore the advantages and disadvantages to help you select the most suitable option.

Wondershare FamiSafe

Wondershare FamiSafe is the most convenient and inclusive parental control app. It’s easy to install and use and has numerous advanced features to protect your loved ones no matter where they are. One of its most prominent features is Geofences, which allows you to set the exact location your loved one should be in during a specific period.

Key Features

As mentioned above, Wondershare FamiSafe is a feature-packed solution, but we’ll name some of the most robust functionalities to give you insight into your future parental control experience.

• Location history– check out your child’s whereabouts and set frequently visited places;
• Real-time tracking– monitor your loved ones’ locations at all times;
• Geofences– get notifications when your child leaves a set place or set a time range they should spend in a specific area.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• The real-time tracking feature is the most accurate on the market.
• The notifications are instant, and you can react fast if your child leaves the set place.
• You’ll get updates every minute about your child’s whereabouts.

Cons:

• The Geofencing notification may occasionally lag for a few seconds.

How to Use It

Wondershare FamiSafe is simple to use and navigate. Here’s a guide to start your location-tracking journey:

1. Install the app to your phone through Google Play.

2. Create a Wondershare account.

3. Use your child’s phone to scan the QR code, install the app, and connect it to the app on your device.

As you can see, starting your location-tracking journey and protecting your little ones will only take three steps.

Life360 for Android

Life360 for Android is an app for family location tracking. You can keep track of your loved ones’ whereabouts and send help within the app if necessary. The user interface is one of the simplest we’ve seen so far, so you’ll have no issues using this app, regardless of your technological experience and knowledge.

Key Features

Life360 doesn’t provide many features, but those you’ll find within the app can benefit your and your loved one’s well-being. Let’s check out some of the most beneficial tools Life360 offers:

• Driving safety– get assistance as a driver or let the close ones call for help in case of a crash over 25 mph when the app notifies everyone in the Circle immediately;
• Emergency assistance– call for help in several emergencies, including phone theft, when other members can activate the feature and send the police;
• Roadside services– call roadside services if you or other members experience car issues and get free towing, tire change, or lockout assistance.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• You can get notifications when your loved ones arrive at the destination.
• The app supports driving tracking and has emergency dispatch available 24/7.
• You can find your stolen phone using its location and the app.

Cons:

• The app doesn’t receive frequent updates.
• You may occasionally experience glitches.

Google Family Link

Location tracking on Google Family Link is a relatively new feature that has exceeded everyone’s expectations. This parental control app contains everything you need to keep your little ones safe, including tracking their physical whereabouts. Although it doesn’t provide many additional features, it’s still one of the most accurate free family locator apps available on Android devices.

Key Features

As mentioned above, Google Family Link doesn’t provide advanced location-tracking features. Instead, you’ll get a standard toolkit to keep track of your loved one’s whereabouts, such as the tools below:

• Notifications– turn on notifications and receive messages when your loved ones arrive at their destinations;
• Boundaries– set boundaries for your child and get notifications if they cross the boundary within the set time.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• The app has an intuitive interface that resembles Google Maps.
• You’ll receive notifications within seconds of your family’s arrival.
• The app is lightweight and won’t take up too much space on your phone.

Cons:

• The app doesn’t have advanced location-tracking features.
• The maps may occasionally stop working.

Findmykids

As the name suggests, Findmykids is an app for always keeping track of your child’s location. It’s currently available in 180 countries, so you can use it even if you go on a holiday. One of the features that makes this app stand out from the crowd is that your child can send you an SOS, and you can react immediately.

Key Features

Some of this app’s most prominent features include the following:

• Location updates– get a notification whenever your child changes its location;
• SOS– your child can send you an SOS signal, and you can immediately react;
• Location history– check where your child moves around the most and what route they take to return home and learn about their safe places accordingly.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• An AI-powered GPS tracker lets you know your child’s exact location.
• The app is certified by the COPPA kidSAFE program.
• It’s available for smartwatches and smart bands.

Cons:

• Some features, such as SOS, require payments.
• The notifications may have a delay.

Sygic Family Locator

After creating one of the best navigation apps on the market, Sygic has developed a GPS tracker that allows you to track others’ activities. Since its release, the app has added numerous advanced features to simplify the tracking experience. For instance, you can view real-time locations and check safe zones within the free version.

Key Features

Sygic Family Locator provides several excellent features to take your tracking experience to the next level, including the following:

• SOS alerts– your child can send you an alert through the app if they’re in a dangerous situation or need your assistance;
• Real-time location tracking– check where your child is at all times;
• Safe and unsafe zones– get notifications if your child steps out of the preset safe zones.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• The app has received the Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) award.
• Flight trackers let you check flights and arrivals of your close ones.
• You can check your loved ones’ history and learn their habits.

Cons:

• The user interface needs an update.
• The app may sometimes stop working and close unexpectedly.

Durcal Family Tracker

Durcal is one of the best tracking apps for smartwatches since you can easily integrate it into your experience. Your child will quickly learn the commands and master the app’s features accordingly. Durcal provides several beneficial features, such as the Help button, to help you protect your family.

Key Features

Durcal doesn’t provide an array of tracking features. Here are some of the tools you’ll find on the platform:

• The Help button– your child can send you an emergency message;
• Fall detection– receive a notification if your child falls;
• Real-time tracking– get instant updates about your child’s whereabouts.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• The app is perfect for smartwatches and smart bands.
• The child can send you emergency messages if they feel unsafe.
• The app is easy to use.

Cons:

• Some features, such as location history, require a subscription plan.
• The app has a slight learning curve.

Conclusion

Keeping track of your children’s and loved ones’ locations is paramount in the modern age, especially if you live in a bigger city or are away on vacation. Thanks to modern-day technological advancements, programs, and systems, you can now use tracking apps and have peace of mind regarding your family’s safety.

This guide has focused on the best free family tracking applications for Android devices. They all have different features, so you can select the one that best fits your preferences. If you want the most universal and powerful tool, we recommend checking out Wondershare FamiSafe, as you’ll gain access to advanced, out-of-this-world features.

safe & secure