10 Best Free Family Tracking Apps for Android & iPhone

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Emilie Burke

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Whether you're a parent worried about your child's safety, someone caring for elderly family members, or simply wanting to stay connected with loved ones, finding a reliable and free family tracking app can bring real peace of mind.

This article will explore the top 10 family tracking apps of 2025, including the key features, pros and cons, and pricing, so you can choose the one that perfectly fits your needs. Let's explore these powerful yet free tools to help you stay close to those you love, no matter how far away.

 

What Is the Family Tracking App?

A family tracking app is a mobile application compatible with Android and iOS, designed to help you stay connected, ease your worries, and protect the people who matter most with real-time GPS location tracking and geofencing alerts to screen time control, and emergency SOS features.

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or simply want to stay close to the people who matter most, a family tracking app helps you build trust, reduce anxiety, and stay informed—anytime, anywhere.

 

Why Use a Family Tracking App?

Family tracking apps offer numerous benefits, including:

 Safety: Instantly locate family members in emergencies.

 Convenience: Coordinate meetups without constant texting.

 Parental Control: Monitor children’s whereabouts and set safe zones.

 Elderly Care: Ensure aging parents are safe when out alone.

 Battery & Data Efficiency: Many apps use minimal resources while running in the background.

 

If you're searching for a good family tracking app that's free for Android and iPhone, several powerful, cost-effective options let you monitor your family’s safety anytime, anywhere. 

 

10 Best Free Family Tracking Apps of 2025

Let’s explore some of the best free family tracking apps with essential location-sharing features. If you need some advanced features, some other options are effective and not a burden for most people.

Google Maps

As we all know, Google Maps is not a professional family tracking app, but its built-in location-sharing feature offers a straightforward and cost-free way to track the GPS location of family members in real-time. It's ideal for families seeking a basic solution without additional downloads or subscriptions.

Google Maps.

Key Features of Google Maps: 

  1. Family locator app: Real-time location sharing with selected contacts
  2. Cross-platform support for Android and iOS
  3. Customizable sharing durations (e.g., one hour, until turned off)
  4. Displays the contact's name, profile photo, device battery level, and charging status
  5. Seamless integration with Google services like Calendar and Contacts

 

    Pros

    pros

    Completely free with no hidden costs

    pros

    Utilizes existing Google accounts for easy setup

    pros

    Accurate real-time location data using GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular networks

    pros

    No need for additional app installations

    Cons

    cons

    Lacks advanced parental controls such as geofencing or alerts

    cons

    Users can disable location sharing at any time, limiting oversight

    cons

    No built-in features for managing screen time or app usage

Pricing: Free

 

Google Family Link

Google Family Link is a free family tracking app designed to help parents monitor and manage their children's device usage while ensuring their safety. It provides real-time location tracking and screen time controls, making it an ideal tool for families with younger kids.

Google Family Link.

 

Key Features of Google Family Link:

  1. Real-time location tracking of family members.
  2. Screen time management and app activity monitoring.
  3. Ability to set daily device usage limits and bedtime schedules.
  4. Receive alerts when kids arrive at or leave specific locations.

 

Pricing: Free

 

If you're looking for a free family tracking app to monitor the real-time location of children, elderly family members, or others, Google Maps and Google Family Link are excellent choices. These tools not only allow you to track GPS locations but also offer features like managing contacts. 

However, if you’re also concerned about detecting cyberbullying, sexting, or signs of depression or suicidal thoughts on your children's devices, you’ll need more advanced phone monitoring tools. In such cases, specialized family tracking apps for Android and iPhone come into play. Let's move on and have a look!

 

SpyX

SpyX is a user-friendly parental control and family tracking app offering over 40 features for parental control. This family tracker, without requiring app installation on the Android and iOS devices groundbreaking advantage in the market. This cross-platform solution works in stealth mode, ensuring your monitoring activities remain discreet. 

In today’s digital age, where children are exposed to various online threats, having a family tracking tool like SpyX allows parents to stay one step ahead, detect warning signs early, and foster healthier digital habits in their family. 

SpyX.

 

Key Features of SpyX: 

  1. Flexible Binding Options: SpyX enables no-install iOS monitoring via iCloud and offers both APK and cloud-based Android tracking, all working discreetly without physical access.
  2. Location tracking: SpyX provides real-time GPS tracking and allows users to set up geo-fencing with customizable radius options. This feature ensures enhanced safety by alerting users when the device enters or exits specific areas.
  3. Social Media Monitoring: SpyX includes tools to track activities across social media platforms, enabling users to review interactions, posts, and messages. This helps ensure appropriate online behavior and mitigates risks associated with inappropriate content.
  4. Call and Text Logs: Users can access detailed logs of calls and text messages, including timestamps and contact information, ensuring transparency in device usage.
  5. Photos, videos, browser history monitoring: SpyX provides detailed monitoring of web activities and app usage. This includes access to full browsing history and frequently used apps. Parents can assess what type of content their children are consuming and take steps to block access to unsafe or inappropriate content.
  6. Keylogger and live recording capabilities: It records every keystroke and taps on the device's keyboard. It gives parents access to search queries, unsent messages, and notes, and provides deeper behavioral insights when paired with screen capture and screen recording.

 

    Pros

    pros

    Comprehensive Monitoring Tools

    pros

    Easy setup and installation process

    pros

    Works in the background without detection

    pros

    Accurate location tracking and timely alerts

    pros

    Cross-platform compatibility

    pros

    24/7 customer support

    Cons

    cons

    No free trial, but cost-effective

    cons

    Some advanced features may require a premium upgrade

    cons

    iOS features may be slightly more restricted than Android

Pricing:

  1. $11.66 per month for the most affordable annual plan. 

 

Qustodio

Qustodio is a popular monitoring solution designed to help families stay connected and safe. It offers real-time location tracking and a panic button feature for emergencies. 

Qustodio.

 

Key Features:

  1. 24/7 real-time GPS tracking
  2. Geofencing with customizable zones
  3. Panic button for children
  4. App and web activity monitoring

 

    Pros

    pros

    Intuitive interface

    pros

    Comprehensive monitoring tools

    pros

    Available on both Android and iOS

    Cons

    cons

    Requires Installation on Child’s Device

    cons

    Premium Features Come at a Cost

Pricing: Offers a free version; premium plans start at approximately $54.95 per year.

 

mSpy

mSpy is a robust monitoring tool designed for parents to keep track of their children's digital activities and locations. The app supports both iOS and Android devices and offers a robust suite of features to track and manage device usage effectively.

mSpy.

 

Key Features

  1. Tracks real-time location and geofencing alerts.
  2. Monitors texts, calls, and social media activity.
  3. Provides detailed logs of app usage and browsing history.

    Pros

    pros

    Comprehensive monitoring features

    pros

    User-friendly interface

    pros

    Compatible with both Android and iOS

    Cons

    cons

    Require physical access to the target device for installation

    cons

    Premium features can be costly

Pricing: Plans start at $11.66 per month

 

Life360 

Life360 is one of the best free family tracking apps available in 2025, offering real-time location sharing, driving safety features, and crash detection. It is particularly popular among families looking to enhance safety and stay connected.

Life360.

 

Key Features of Life360:

  1. Real-time GPS location tracking for all family members.
  2. Driving safety features, including speed monitoring and crash detection.
  3. Location history for up to 30 days (basic plan).
  4. Customizable Place Alerts to notify when family members arrive or leave specific locations.

    Pros

    pros

    The free version offers essential tracking and safety features

    pros

    User-friendly interface with cross-platform compatibility

    pros

    Provides additional safety tools like crash alerts and driver reports

    Cons

    cons

    Some advanced features are locked behind a paid subscription

    cons

    Privacy concerns due to constant location sharing

Pricing:

Free version available with basic features. Premium subscription starts at $7.99/month for additional features like extended location history and roadside assistance.

 

Bark

Bark is also a good family tracking app that focuses on monitoring children's online interactions to detect potential safety concerns and provides location tracking features.

Bark.

Key Features:

  1. Monitoring of texts, emails, and social media
  2. Content filtering and screen time management
  3. Content Scanning: Scans posts, images, and videos for concerning content across various platforms
  4. Screen Time Management: Allows parents to schedule screen time and block specific websites or apps

 

    Pros

    pros

    Offers tools and resources to educate both parents and children on safe online practices

    pros

    Emphasizes child safety with proactive alerts

    pros

    Supports a wide range of platforms

    pros

    Non-invasive monitoring approach

    Cons

    cons

    Limited real-time location tracking compared to competitors

    cons

    Limited Image Scanning

Pricing: Plans start at $14 per month.
 

FamiSafe

FamiSafe is a comprehensive family tracking app designed to help parents monitor and manage their children's digital activities. It offers features such as location tracking, screen time management, website filtering, and app usage monitoring. FamiSafe positions itself as a reliable tool for ensuring children's online safety while fostering healthier device habits.

FamiSafe.

 

Key Features:

  1. Real-time GPS tracking allows parents to monitor their child’s or elder's location history and ensure their safety. 
  2. App usage and screen time monitoring help parents understand how much time their children spend on specific apps.
  3. Web content filtering: Blocks inappropriate websites and filters out harmful content, including adult and pornographic material.

 

    Pros

    pros

    Comprehensive feature: including location tracking, screen time limits, and content filtering

    pros

    Cross-Platform Compatible on both Android and iOS devices

    Cons

    cons

    Some features may require additional setup

    cons

    Require physical access to the target device for installation

Pricing: Plans start at $9.99 per month.

 

Mobicip

Mobicip provides parental controls with a focus on screen time management and content filtering, along with location tracking.

Mobicip.

 

Key Features:

  1. Real-time location tracking
  2. Screen time scheduling
  3. Web content filtering
  4. App management

 

    Pros

    pros

    Easy to set up and use

    pros

    Supports multiple devices

    Cons

    cons

    Location tracking may not be as precise as other apps

Pricing: Plans start at $4.99 per month.

 

Norton Family

Norton Family is a parental control app designed to help parents monitor and manage their family members' online activities while fostering healthy digital habits. The app emphasizes open communication between parents and children, aiming to educate kids about safe online behavior rather than imposing strict restrictions

Norton Family.

 

Key Features:

  1. Web and search supervision: Offers insights into video-watching habits on platforms and websites.
  2. Time supervision: Allows parents to set daily screen time limits and schedule device usage during specific times, such as "School Time" or "Bed Time."
  3. Location tracking: Provides real-time location updates and location history, helping parents keep track of their child’s whereabouts

 

    Pros

    pros

    Comprehensive monitoring features, including web browsing, app usage, and search queries

    pros

    Integration with Norton Security products

    pros

    Cross-Platform Compatibility

    Cons

    cons

    The free version offers basic features but lacks advanced functionalities

    cons

    Limited support for iOS compared to Android

Pricing: Included with Norton 360 Deluxe and Norton 360 Premium subscriptions, starting at $49.99 per year.

 

Eyezy

Eyezy is a sophisticated monitoring app explicitly designed for detailed tracking of your family device activities, making it a popular choice among parents who aim to ensure safety. The app provides a wide array of features that allow users to monitor various aspects of a target device’s usage seamlessly.

Eyezy.

 

Key Features:

  1. Keystroke capturing: Eyezy includes a keylogger feature that records every keystroke made on the monitored device. 
  2. Social media monitoring: Eyezy enables users to track activities across social media platforms. 
  3. Location tracking: It provides real-time GPS updates and allows users to set up geo-fencing with customizable radius options ranging from 500 meters to 8 kilometers. 
  4. Screen recording: allowing users to capture visual evidence of activities performed on the device. 

 

    Pros

    pros

    Various monitoring features, from live location tracking to social media oversight

    pros

    Operates in stealth mode

    Cons

    cons

    Requires device access for installation

    cons

    May raise privacy concerns

Pricing: Varies based on subscription plan; specific pricing details not publicly listed.

 

Conclusion

If you need a completely free family tracking solution, Google Maps and Google Family Link are great options for basic real-time location sharing and simple parental controls. For more advanced features—such as social media monitoring, call logs, or web history—consider SpyX, which operates without requiring app installation or device permissions, making it a discreet choice. Other strong alternatives include Life360 for driving safety alerts, Qustodio for comprehensive parental oversight, and mSpy for detailed activity tracking.

 

The best family tracking app depends on your specific needs—whether you prioritize ease of use, stealth monitoring, or extra functionality. Check out our full comparisons to choose the right free family tracker app for Android or iPhone and keep your loved ones safe in 2025.


 

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