5 Best Location Tracking Apps for Families and Safety in 2025

Whether you're keeping tabs on your teen driver, coordinating carpools, or just want peace of mind, location tracking apps have become essential tools for families in 2025. From real-time location updates to privacy settings and safety alerts, the right app can help you stay informed without being invasive.

Here are five of the best location tracking apps available today—each offering unique strengths based on what your family values most

1. OtoZen

OtoZen offers real-time location sharing with privacy-first controls and smart alerts. What sets it apart is the ability to not just track where someone is, but also understand how safely they’re getting there. It combines GPS tracking with driving behavior insights.

Key Features:

  • Real-time location and speed updates

  • ETA-based and proximity alerts

  • Hands-free messaging via Bluetooth or CarPlay

  • Drive Score and safety alerts (e.g., speeding, phone use)

  • Data stored on your device; never sold

Best For: Families with teen drivers, safety-first users

Pricing: Free plan available; Premium from $99.99/year, $9.99/mo

2. Life360

Life360 is one of the most popular family tracking apps. It provides real-time location updates and has added crash detection and emergency SOS features. It's easy to use and has wide name recognition.

Key Features:

  • Real-time location sharing with place alerts

  • Crash detection and SOS button

  • Location history for up to 30 days

Best For: General family tracking

Pricing: Free plan available; Premium from $99.99/year, $14.99/mo

3. Find My (Apple)

Find My is built into all Apple devices, making it a convenient option for families already in the Apple ecosystem. It lets you locate devices and people, and offers simple sharing with close contacts.

Key Features:

  • Real-time tracking of Apple devices and shared contacts

  • Geofence alerts when someone arrives/leaves a location

  • No additional app needed

Best For: Apple users looking for basic location sharing

Pricing: Free with iOS

4. GeoZilla

GeoZilla is a family locator app that emphasizes battery-efficient location tracking. It also includes driving reports and emergency alerts.

Key Features:

  • Real-time location sharing

  • Driving reports and check-in alerts

  • Low battery notifications

Best For: Android users, eco-conscious families

Pricing: Free with optional Premium features

5. Glympse

Glympse is great for short-term, temporary location sharing without needing user accounts. It’s ideal for one-off check-ins like letting someone know when you’ll arrive.

Key Features:

  • Temporary, shareable location links

  • No signup required

  • Works on web and mobile

Best For: Event-based sharing, privacy-focused users

Pricing: Free

Final Thoughts

Each of these apps has its strengths. If you want seamless Apple integration, Find My is a solid choice. For occasional use, Glympse is hard to beat. But for families who care about safety, privacy, and peace of mind, OtoZen is a standout. It combines smart location tracking with real-time safety alerts and driving behavior insights, making it much more than just a GPS tool.