- Life360 alternatives at a glance
- Ten Life360 alternatives to consider
- Why a family member's location sometimes won't show
- What to compare in a family location app
- How to set up location sharing as a family
- Location sharing mistakes to avoid
- Questions to talk through as a family
- Which kind of app suits your family
- My plain advice on Life360 alternatives
- Frequently asked questions
Life360 alternatives are other apps for sharing family members' locations, from features built into phones to parental control apps with location, screen time and alerts. Built-in tools suit families on the same type of phone, while parental control apps suit parents of younger children. Agree the rules as a family, because trust matters more than the app.
Life360 is the best-known family locator, but it isn't the only way to know everyone got home safely. Some families want something simpler, something built into their phones, or something with stronger parental controls.
Here are ten Life360 alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from built-in location sharing to full parental control apps. Each description comes from the app's own website, re-checked today. If you're new to this, my child phone tracking tips cover the basics.
Decide what you need first. Some families only want to see who's home, while others want alerts, driving reports or screen-time limits.
And check everyone's phones. A tool that only works on one platform won't help a family with a mix of iPhones and Android phones.
Life360 alternatives at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free version, free plan or open-source download, Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means neither is stated. Free versions tend to have limits, so check what's included before you build around one.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Find My | Built-in Apple feature | Families on iPhone | Yes |
| Bark | Parental monitoring app | Online safety alerts | Trial only |
| FamiSafe | Parental control app | Location and screen time | Trial only |
| Find My Kids | Child location app | Younger children | Yes |
| GeoZilla | Family locator app | Family check-ins | No |
| Glympse | Temporary location sharing | One trip at a time | Trial only |
| MMGuardian | Parental control app | Phone safety for kids | Trial only |
| Norton Family | Parental control software | Web and location controls | Trial only |
| Qustodio | Parental control app | Screen time and filtering | Yes |
| Securly Home | Parent app for school devices | School-issued devices | No |
Ten Life360 alternatives to consider
Apple Find My
Best for: Families on Apple devices who want location sharing through Family Sharing.
Bark
Best for: Parents who want alerts about online risks alongside location features.
FamiSafe
Best for: Parents who want location, geofences and screen-time controls in one app.
Find My Kids
Best for: Parents of younger children who want location and simple safety features.
GeoZilla
Best for: Families who want location sharing with places and check-in alerts.
Glympse
Best for: People who want to share live location for a set time, then stop automatically.
MMGuardian
Best for: Parents who want app controls, safety alerts and location for a child's phone.
Norton Family
Best for: Parents who want web filtering, time limits and location from a security brand.
Qustodio
Best for: Parents who want screen-time limits, filtering and location in one dashboard.
Securly Home
Best for: Parents whose school uses Securly and who want visibility of school devices at home.
Why a family member's location sometimes won't show
Here's the frustration every location app shares. Google's own Family Link help page says you won't find your child's location in the app if their device is powered off, isn't connected to the internet, or hasn't been used recently.
Every location app has similar limits, because the phone itself has to report its position. So before you panic about a blank map, check the obvious first: battery, signal and whether the phone's been sitting in a drawer.
What to compare in a family location app
- Phones: iPhone, Android or both.
- Alerts: arrivals, departures and places.
- Controls: screen time and app limits if you need them.
- Privacy: who can see what, and how data is used.
- Battery: how hard the app works the phone.
How to set up location sharing as a family
- Talk about why you want it and what it shows.
- Agree who can see whose location.
- Set up places like home and school.
- Test an arrival alert together.
- Review the setup as children get older.
Location sharing mistakes to avoid
- Tracking secretly. It damages trust when found out.
- Ignoring battery. Low battery means no location.
- Too many alerts. Keep them to places that matter.
- Never reviewing. Needs change as kids grow.
If a first phone is on the way, my guide on what to consider before buying a teenager a phone is a useful read.
Questions to talk through as a family
Location sharing works best when everyone knows why it's on and what it shows.
- Who can see whose location, and when?
- Will we use alerts for arrivals and departures?
- What happens when a teenager wants more privacy?
- Which devices does each person use?
- What's the plan if a phone is lost?
Agreeing the rules together tends to work better than switching tracking on quietly.
Which kind of app suits your family
If everyone uses the same type of phone, the built-in location sharing may be all you need, with nothing extra to install.
If you have younger children, a parental control app with location, screen time and app limits covers more ground.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
And if you only want to share location for a trip home or a night out, temporary sharing tools stop automatically, which suits adults and older teens.
Do you make family safety apps? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on Life360 alternatives
Use the simplest tool that does the job. If everyone's on the same phone type, the built-in option may be all you need.
And be open about it. Location sharing works best as a family agreement, not a secret, especially with teenagers.
Frequently asked questions
What's a free alternative to Life360?
Built-in phone features offer location sharing.
Why can't I see my child's location?
Google says it won't show if the device is off, offline or not used recently.
Can iPhone and Android share locations?
Some apps work across both. Built-in tools may not.
Do location apps work without internet?
They need a connection to report location.
What's a geofence?
A virtual boundary that triggers an alert when someone arrives or leaves.
Is it legal to track my child's phone?
Parents can usually manage their children's devices, but laws vary for adults.
Can I share location for one trip?
Some apps share for a set time, then stop.
Do these apps include screen-time controls?
Parental control apps often do. Simple locators don't.
Will my teenager know I'm tracking them?
Most apps show that location sharing is on.
Do location apps use a lot of battery?
Some do. Check settings and update frequency.
Do location apps drain the battery?
Some do. Check battery settings and how often location updates.
Can I share location just for one trip?
Some apps let you share for a set time rather than all day.
Can location apps detect car crashes?
Some apps include crash detection, while phones themselves may offer it too.
Can I hide my location for a while?
Many apps let you pause sharing, though family members may be told.
Do smartwatches share location?
Some kids' watches and smartwatches share location with parents.
What age is right for location sharing?
There's no fixed age. It depends on your child and your family's agreement.
