The Best Family Tracking App for iOS and Android in 2025

The best family tracking app lets you monitor the location of your loved ones so that you can ensure they’re safe outdoors. With increasing reports of missing persons, on-road accidents, and teenagers ditching school, knowing where your family members are, especially kids and the elderly, is an unfortunate necessity.

If you’re looking for the best family tracking app, you’re at the right place. I’ve tested several family tracking apps, assessing their features, value for money, and pros and cons to include only the best. Read on to find out my top picks and how they stack up against each other.

mSpy – Best Family Tracking App With Robust Geofencing

mSpy – Best Family Tracking App With Robust Geofencing

  • Free Demo
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Umobix – Beginner-Friendly Family Tracking App

Umobix – Beginner-Friendly Family Tracking App

  • Free Demo
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Scannero – Best Way To Track Family Members With Just Their Phone Number

Scannero – Best Way To Track Family Members With Just Their Phone Number

  • 1-Day Trial for $0.89
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Phonsee – Best Family Tracking App For Pinpoint Location Accuracy

Phonsee – Best Family Tracking App For Pinpoint Location Accuracy

  • Free Demo
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Spybubble Pro – Best Family Tracking App For Android Devices

Spybubble Pro – Best Family Tracking App For Android Devices

  • 14-Day Money-Back Guarantee
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Eyezy – Best Family Tracking App With Magic Alerts

Eyezy – Best Family Tracking App With Magic Alerts

  • Free Demo
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The Best Family Tracking Apps Ranked

  1. mSpy – Best family tracking app with robust geofencing
  2. uMobix – Beginner-friendly family tracking app
  3. Scannero – Best way to track family members with just their phone number
  4. Phonsee – Best family tracking app for pinpoint location accuracy
  5. SpyBubble Pro – Best family tracking app for Android devices
  6. Eyezy – Best family tracking app for AI-powered location alerts

The Best Family Tracking Apps Reviewed

Several hours of extensive testing have helped me compile detailed reviews of the best spy apps for family monitoring. Following is a detailed study of their best features, advantages, and disadvantages.

1. mSpy – Best Family Tracking App With Robust Geofencing

  • Starting Price: $11.66/month – 12-month plan
  • Free Version: Demo
  • Number of Devices: 1
  • Guarantee: 14 days
  • Compatibility: Android, iOS

mSpy is one of the best tracking apps if you want to keep tabs on the exact location of your family members. I found mSpy’s route tracking feature to be very accurate in my testing, and location history provided plenty of detail, including full addresses and location coordinates.

With its powerful geofencing feature, you can set up a virtual fence on the map and get an alert every time they leave these boundaries. This is very helpful if you want to know exactly where your child is or want to make sure they haven’t skipped school. I found it really easy to set up a geofence on mSpy, and with its large radius, I was able to cover entire neighborhoods.

Additionally, let’s say you have an older parent to take care of, and you want to ensure they’re safe outdoors. I found mSpy’s remote camera and ambient recording features quite handy for this, working in tandem with the geofencing features.

The remote camera and mic feature secretly record the person’s surroundings using the phone’s camera and microphone. Not only was I able to see where they were on a map, but also saw and listened in to make sure they weren’t in any trouble. Both features worked really well, providing clear visuals and audio during my testing.

Apart from its excellent family tracking features, I also found mSpy’s other features useful, like the ability to block apps and websites, monitor social media, and look at call logs and text messages. If you’re looking for a complete package, mSpy is one of the best.

Pros

  • Timely and accurate geofencing alerts
  • Large geofencing radius
  • Detailed location history
  • Comes with remote camera and screen recording

Cons

  • A bit expensive
  • Requires physical access to the other device

2. Umobix – Beginner-Friendly Family Tracking App

  • Starting Price: $14.99/month – 12-month plan
  • Free Version: Demo
  • Number of Devices: 1
  • Guarantee: 14 days
  • Compatibility: Android, iOS

uMobix is one of the most feature-packed family-tracking apps out there, and it has an accurate GPS location tracker and Geofinder. The latter is particularly useful if you don’t want to worry about installation or getting physical access to the other device. Simply send a link to the other person, and once they open, you will be able to see their precise location.

For more detailed information, including location history with timestamps and precise route tracking, you will need to install uMobix on the other phone. However, what I also really liked is how easy uMobix is to install on the target device, making it one of the most beginner-friendly family spy apps. Once you set up an account, you’ll receive detailed step-by-step guidelines on installation depending on the type of device – Android or iOS. I only need physical access to the device for a few minutes to set the app up.

uMobix is also one of the best parental control apps because of its other features like app blocking, social media tracking, browser history monitoring, and more. You can even block websites, set screen time limits, and disable Wi-Fi connections to make sure your kids, especially teens, aren’t wasting time online while they should be studying or sleeping.

The only location tracking feature uMobix lacks is geofencing, which can be useful for passive monitoring. If it is a necessity, I recommend checking out mSpy or Eyezy.

Pros

  • Allows blocking apps and device
  • Accurate GPS tracker
  • Beginner-friendly geofinder feature
  • Allows remote camera snapshots

Cons

  • No geofencing

3. Scannero – Best Way To Track Family Members With Just Their Phone Number

  • Starting Price: $49.80/month
  • Free Version: 24-hour trial for $0.89
  • Number of Devices: Unlimited
  • Guarantee: NA
  • Compatibility: All phone types

If you just want a simple way to track someone’s phone, Scannero is the perfect solution. You can track the exact location of your family members via GPS with just their phone number.

Simply enter the number on Scannero, and it will send a text message with a tracking link to them. When the recipient clicks the link, you will receive the location via email and can even view it on the map in your dashboard.

The thing I liked the most about Scannero is that it is non-intrusive – you can view the location only if the recipient agrees to it. This ensures there’s transparency between both parties.

Scannero also comes in handy in case you lose your phone. You can send a message with details like your name, email, alternative phone number, and a custom message. You can even offer a reward for returning the phone. Now, the person who finds the phone can read this message, and you may find your phone back.

That said, Scannero lacks other tracking features like call and SMS monitoring, social media monitoring, geofencing, and keylogger.

Pros

  • Tracks location with just phone number
  • Works only with the recipient’s consent
  • Helps find lost phone

Cons

  • No social media tracking
  • No call monitoring

4. Phonsee – Best Family Tracking App For Pinpoint Location Accuracy

  • Starting Price: $8.85/month – 12-month plan
  • Free Version: Demo
  • Number of Devices: 1
  • Guarantee: 14 days
  • Compatibility: Android, iOS

Phonsee is also a good all-around family tracking app for both Android and iOS devices. I liked the detailed location information it manages to provide. Besides real-time information, you can view the person’s entire route history as well as the most frequently visited places.

Now, if your kids wander off on the way to places they shouldn’t be, route history lets you see the exact route they followed. This can also come in handy when you’re trying to catch a cheating spouse or tracking your off-site employees. You can also set up unlimited geofences, so you don’t have to actively monitor someone all day.

That’s not it – you can even get details like the address they visit, a timeline of their visit, and even the exact coordinates of their location. Phonsee lays everything out in an easy-to-read dashboard, and I liked how pinpoint accurate the location information was.

There’s also a WiFi analyzer that lets you view all WiFi networks they have connected to in the past, giving you another point of note for places they might be visiting without your knowledge. I also found the ability to block access to certain WiFi networks very useful.

Like other apps on this list, Phonsee also has extensive online monitoring features. For instance, you can view browser history, block inappropriate sites and apps, and monitor a few social media apps.

Pros

  • Extensive location history details
  • WiFi scanner and blocker
  • Detailed location and route history
  • More affordable than others

Cons

  • Few device control options

5. Spybubble Pro – Best Family Tracking App For Android Devices

  • Starting Price: $10.62/month – annual plan
  • Free Version: NA
  • Number of Devices: 1
  • Guarantee: 14 days
  • Compatibility: Android, iOS

SpyBubble Pro is one of the best tracking apps for Android devices. It works with all phones with Android OS 4+ or more, and it was released way back in 2011. So, even if you have an older Android phone, you don’t have to worry about compatibility with SpyBubble Pro.

Vast compatibility doesn’t matter if the app doesn’t work. Luckily, SpyBubble Pro has one of the more accurate GPS trackers I’ve tested, behind only Phonsee and similar to mSpy. You can easily keep track of your family members on a detailed map. SpyBubble Pro also provides more information than some competitors, including full addresses instead of just coordinates or a street. Unfortunately, it lacks a geofencing feature, making mSpy the better option if needed.

SpyBubble Pro also has a slew of other monitoring functions that worked really well in my testing. These include the ability to view deleted calls and messages, see renamed contacts, and even completely block incoming and outgoing calls to certain numbers.

Its remote functions are also better than most, with the ability to block apps, websites, and Wi-Fi networks and access to the phone entirely if required. It’s a great way to ensure your kids aren’t accessing sites and apps they aren’t supposed to and lets you set usage time limits with ease.

Pros

  • Accurate GPS tracker
  • Detailed location information
  • You can view deleted calls, messages, and emails
  • Delete and restrict unwanted apps

Cons

  • Better suited for Android than iOS

6. Eyezy – Best Family Tracking App With Magic Alerts

  • Starting Price: $9.99/month – 12-month plan
  • Free Version: Demo
  • Number of Devices: 1
  • Guarantee: 14 days
  • Compatibility: Android, iOS

If you’re a working parent, you likely don’t have the time to monitor your family 24/7. That’s where Eyezy’s Magic Alerts come in handy for genfencing. You can mark an area on a virtual map, and Eyezy will actually notify you just before the person crosses the boundary instead of after, like other apps. It’s quick and accurate, and I always receive an alert when needed.

The geofencing feature also includes permitted zones that won’t receive alerts about, like your home or your kids’ school, so you aren’t being disturbed throughout the day. Eyezy’s Pinpoint feature, a GPS tracker, is also very accurate and provides detailed information like full addresses. It also comes with a useful “View on Google” button to make things easier.

Magic Alerts also extends to keyword tracking. For instance, alerts can be set for words involving profanity, illegality, drug use, or even romantic words. I also liked Eyezy’s detailed phone analyzer, which gives you insight into device usage, including call logs, text messages, and more.

Pros

  • Affordable family tracking platform
  • Instant alerts on keywords and location
  • Excellent social media tracking

Cons

  • Not as feature-packed on iOS

The Best Family Location Tracking Apps Compared

Here’s a quick table summarizing the most important pieces of information of all the family location tracking apps on my list.

Provider Cheapest Price No. of Devices Top Features Compatibility Refund policy
mSpy $11.66/month 1 Geofencing alerts, real-time location, TikTok monitoring Android, iOS 14 days
uMobix $14.99/month 1 Website monitoring, Call and SMS blocking, social media monitoring Android, iOS 14 days
Scannero $49.80/month Unlimited Phone number location tracking, lost phone tracking All phone types NA
Phonsee $8.85/month 1 Detailed location route, WiFi analyzer, call monitoring Android, iOS 14 days
SpyBubble Pro $10.62/month 1 Call monitoring, Email spying, Remote device blocking Android, iOS 14 days
Eyezy $9.99/month 1 Magic Alerts, phone analyzer, Plans Breaker Android, iOS 14 days
Methodology
How We Test and Review Monitoring Software

To ensure our recommendations of monitoring and spyware apps are completely accurate and unbiased, we appraise each of them on the following criteria:

✓ Features: We evaluate each app not only on the range of key features it provides, but also how well they perform their function. Key features we examine include, but are not limited to, call monitoring, screen recording, keylogging, GPS tracking, remote device control, and ambient recording. 

✓ Price and value for money: The overall value for money of an app is determined by examining its features and how well they perform, in relation to its cost. We take into consideration a software’s different pricing tiers, as well as score it on whether it offers a free trial, any money back guarantees, and flexible payment structures. The cost is also compared to its competition to determine where it sits in the market in terms of price point.   

✓ Device compatibility: Some monitoring software is only available on certain types of device. We assess which operating systems the software is compatible with, such as iOS and Android, and whether the apps offer dashboards that are accessible on both mobile and desktop. 

✓ User experience: We spend days using the app to evaluate whether it operates as advertised, as well as analyzing how intuitive its menus are, whether the data is easy to understand, and how easy it is to install onto a device. Critically, we interrogate whether installation requires jailbreaking (for iOS) or rooting (for Android) the target device. 

✓ Privacy and security: We deep-dive each piece of software’s encryption measures to ensure it provides true protection of user data. We also assess how often and thoroughly the provider updates its security systems, as well as whether they adhere to privacy regulations. We will never recommend an app that puts user data at risk. 

✓ Customer support and experience: We assess each software provider’s documentation and support measures, such as helplines and chatbots, to establish how well its customers are supported once the purchase is made. We also analyze existing customer feedback to create a picture of user satisfaction. 

50

Monitoring Software Reviewed

6

Key Criteria

450+

Research Hours

3

In-house Experts

 


Why You Need a Family Tracking App

There are quite a few important reasons why you should consider subscribing to a family tracking app. Firstly, it’ll help you ensure your kids (or other family members, including the elderly) are safe – both offline and online.

You can track their location when they’re outdoors and even receive location-based alerts. This way, you’ll always know about the neighborhoods they visit. While it’s possible to track someone with Google Maps, it won’t be nearly as discrete as the apps mentioned above.

Additionally, you can view and manage the person’s internet activities, restrict websites, and set keyword alerts. This is not only an effective way to use it as a cheating spouse tracker but also to keep track of your kid’s online behavior. For example, you can restrict your child from visiting adult and other harmful websites and get alerts if they mention ‘drugs’ (or other such words) in their conversations.


Free vs Paid Family Location Apps: Are Free Options Good?

Although free family location apps may look tempting from the outset, they are, simply put, ineffective, seeing as they offer limited features and lack continuous monitoring functions.

For instance, Life360 offers a free plan but only shows two days of location history and covers just a couple of places. This massively restricts the area of surveillance and makes it super easy for the other person to escape the radar.

Paid family location tracking apps, on the other hand, come with a bunch of features that help you stay on top of the person’s activities. Plus, they work silently in the background and cannot be turned off, ensuring constant and uninterrupted monitoring.

What’s more, the paid-for family trackers we’ve picked offer a wealth of tracking features. Teenagers spend hours on their phones, especially on social media, and you can track various platforms, like Instagram, TikTok, Tinder, Facebook, and Snapchat. You’ll also benefit from keylogger alerts, remote screenshots, and ambient recording features, which will help you ensure the safety of your kids and parents outdoors.

It’s also worth noting that free spy apps are often rife with security potholes. They may end up selling your data to notorious third parties without your consent. However, the paid apps we’ve suggested in this article are governed by privacy laws such as GDPR and follow clear-cut security protocols like end-to-end encryption, ensuring your data remains private.

Last but not least, considering how affordable paid family monitoring apps really are, it makes little sense to opt for a potentially privacy-invasive and limited free program.


Is it Legal to Use a Family Tracking App?

The legality of using a family tracking app depends on the purpose for which you’re using it. If you have an underage child or teenager below 18 and want to monitor their online and offline activities, it’s 100% legal to use a monitoring app.

The same goes for consenting adults. For instance, you may have old parents you want to ensure are safe or track your boyfriend’s location if he travels a lot for work. If they consent to their devices being monitored, then it’s perfectly legal for you to do so. Similarly, if you’re at your workplace and want to monitor the devices of your employees, you’ll also need their explicit consent.

However, it’s worth noting that you cannot legally spy on your spouse so long as there’s no consent involved.


Things to Consider Before Buying a Family Tracking App

Picking a family tracking app doesn’t have to be an uphill task; just make sure you consider the following aspects before making your decision, and you’ll be golden:

  • Location accuracy – A lot of platforms claim to provide accurate location of the target device. However, it’s important to consider (and check) the accuracy of the locations they provide. If the accuracy is way off, it’s usually a red flag, and we recommend staying away from such apps.
  • Geofencing capability – The platform you pick should have geofencing features and alerts. You must be able to set up boundaries on a map and receive alerts whenever the target device goes beyond that.
  • Sync time – Monitoring apps take a bit of time to sync the data from the target device to your dashboard. This varies from platform to platform; some may do so every 15 minutes, while some may take up to an hour. If you want 24/7 monitoring, pick an app with less sync time.
  • Location history – In addition to live location, check whether the app allows you to view a history of all past locations. This way, you don’t have to constantly check your dashboard to track the target’s physical movements – you can simply check the location history whenever you have the time.
  • Ease of installation – Often, devices need to be jailbroken for the spy app to work perfectly. So, it’s crucial you choose an app that’s easy to install and doesn’t involve a lot of technical processes.
  • Pricing – The average price of a family monitoring app can fall between $8 and $15 per month, depending on the features you’re looking for. Shorter plans, however, such as monthly or quarterly subscriptions, can cost you more. We recommend deciding on a budget and then looking for apps that offer the most value for your needs.

How To Use a Family Tracking App - Step-By-Step

Setting up a family monitoring app isn't super difficult, but it does involve a few steps. To make sure you set it up perfectly, I've outlined a step-by-step guide below.

It's worth noting that although I've used my #1 pick, mSpy, for this illustration, the process is very similar regardless of the software you choose.

  1. Purchase A Subscription

    First things first, you’ll need to get a mSpy subscription. Go to the official mSpy website and create an account, for which you’ll need to provide certain details, like your email.

    Next, choose the type of device you want to monitor and select a package. Then, make the payment to complete your purchase.

  2. Disable Play Protect On Target Device

    To install mSpy, you’ll need to disable Play Protect on the target device. Here’s how you do it:

    • Open the Play Store and click on the three-line icon in the top left corner.
    • Click on Play Protect.
    • Select Settings from the top right corner.
    • Toggle off the option that reads ‘Scan apps with Play Protect.’
  3. Download mSpy On the Other Device

    Open the browser on the target device and enter the link mSpy sends you. Fill in the CAPTCHA and download the file. Make sure you allow downloads from unknown sources to initiate the download.
  4. Install mSpy On the Other Device

    Once the file is downloaded, click Open. You’ll see a bunch of prompts asking for permission to view details, like calls, messages, and media. Click Allow on all of them.

    Next, enter the registration code. You’ll receive this in your email soon after your purchase. Once this is done, click ‘Complete Installation.’

  5. Start Monitoring

    That’s all there is to it, and you’re now ready to monitor the target device. One last step: log in to your mSpy account and head over to the Control Panel. This is where you’ll see all the details of the target device.

Final Verdict – What Is The Best Family Tracking App in 2025

mSpy is, hands down, the best family tracking app I’ve tested. It provides you with accurate real-time location of the target device through GPS. Plus, there’s a robust geofencing feature that sends you alerts whenever the target device goes beyond an area you pre-defined.

That said, mSpy isn’t your only option. For instance, Scannero lets you track someone with just their phone number. Similarly, Eyezy is ideal for those who cannot monitor the target device 24/7, thanks to its Magic Alerts.

In short, there are quite a few good options when it comes to family tracking apps, and the ideal platform for you depends on your exact needs and budget. The bottom line, however, is that mSpy is possibly the best all-around choice suitable for most use cases.


FAQs

What is the best app for tracking family members?

Is there a better app than Life360?

What is the most accurate location-sharing app?

Can you locate family members without them knowing?

Is there a free app to locate family?

 


References

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech, gambling and blockchain industries for major developments, new product and brand launches, AI breakthroughs, game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to in-house staff writers with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Radek Zielinski
Tech Journalist

Radek Zielinski is an experienced technology and financial journalist with a passion for cybersecurity and futurology.

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