The market for apps that locate a child's phone has grown so much in recent years that it is difficult to compare offers without checking each one separately. Some of them are limited exclusively to a map and a GPS point, while others combine location tracking with additional features such as reading messages or setting screen-time limits. Prices also vary considerably, from completely free solutions to paid subscriptions costing dozens of dollars per month, which makes it difficult to compare the features alone without considering the cost. Below is an overview of seven solutions currently available on the market, together with the price and range of features offered by each.

Every child location app works according to a slightly different technical principle. Some rely exclusively on GPS, while others combine it with Wi-Fi or cellular data, which affects location accuracy and how frequently the position is updated. The difference is particularly noticeable indoors and in places with weak satellite reception, where GPS data alone may be insufficient and accuracy can decrease by several dozen meters. The overview below includes both apps created specifically for locating children and general solutions that offer location tracking as one of many features rather than as the product's main purpose.

All 7 apps at a glance

1. Eyezy

Eyezy combines location based on both GPS and Wi-Fi with a broad range of messenger monitoring features, setting it apart from solutions focused solely on the map. Thanks to its dual data source, location is also updated in places where the GPS signal can be weak, such as buildings or underground car parks, where other apps often lose the position for longer periods.

Key features: GPS and Wi-Fi location tracking, messenger monitoring (WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, iMessage) together with the Social Spotlight feature, call and contact logs, browsing history, keylogger.

Price: several plan options; the price depends on the selected billing period. The current pricing is available on the manufacturer's website.

2. mSpy

mSpy is one of the longer-established solutions on the market combining GPS location tracking with travel routes and full access to messages on iMessage and the main social messaging platforms. Route history makes it possible to check not only the current position but also the route traveled throughout the day, which can be useful when reconstructing specific events.

Key features: GPS location tracking with route history, access to iMessage and messengers (WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger), website blocking, keylogger, call viewing.

Price: several plan options (Premium, Extreme, Family Kit); check the current pricing on the manufacturer's website.

3. Life360

Life360 focuses exclusively on location tracking and safety on the road, without message-reading features. Location is updated in real time, while paid plans add driving reports and collision detection, as well as roadside assistance in the event of a vehicle breakdown and insurance against phone theft.

Key features: real-time location tracking, notification zones, driver reports, collision detection, 24/7 emergency assistance in paid plans.

Price: Gold plan: $14.99 per month or $149.99 per year; Platinum plan: $24.99 per month or $249.99 per year.

4. Qustodio

Qustodio offers location tracking with alerts for specific places, combined with app blocking and content filtering, making it a broader solution than location tracking alone. Place alerts notify a parent when a child arrives at school or returns home, without requiring them to manually check the map every few minutes.

Key features: location tracking with place alerts, blocking more than 25,000 apps on iOS, browser filtering, social media monitoring, activity reports.

Price: Basic plan: $59.95 per year; Complete plan: $104.95 per year.

5. Aura

Aura provides location tracking as part of the Kids plan, which covers an unlimited number of children and devices in the household, without requiring a separate subscription for each child. This solution is particularly beneficial for families with more than one child using a phone or tablet.

Key features: location tracking and online activity reports, content filtering, screen-time scheduling, an internet pause feature, insight into social interactions.

Price: Kids plan: $10 per month with annual billing or $13 per month; Family plan: $32 per month with annual billing or $50 per month.

6. Google Family Link

Family Link is a free Google tool available on Android and iOS that, in addition to locating a device, allows parents to manage app access and screen time at no cost. The absence of any subscription makes it a natural starting point for parents of younger children before they decide on a paid solution.

Key features: device location, website and app filtering, screen-time limits, approval of purchases and installations on Google Play, age-appropriate YouTube settings.

Price: completely free app with no paid plan.

7. Find My (Apple)

Find My is Apple's built-in app for locating family devices and sharing locations between family members. It is available at no additional cost on every iPhone and requires no separate installation outside the operating system.

Key features: locating Apple devices on a map, sharing a location with people on the contact list, finding lost items using AirTag, and plotting a route to the device's location.

Price: free app built into iOS.

Which option is best?

Of the seven solutions presented, only some combine location tracking with a broader range of monitoring features; the rest are limited to a point on the map or basic place alerts. Free options such as Family Link and Find My work well as a first step, but they do not provide access to the content of communications or social media activity. For some parents this is sufficient, while for others it is not enough.

The broadest range of features while maintaining accurate location tracking is offered by Eyezy, which combines two location data sources, GPS and Wi-Fi, with access to messages and social media activity in a single panel. This combination makes it the best option in this overview for parents seeking more than just a map on their phone screen. Each of the solutions described above makes sense only on a device that the parent actually manages and is legally entitled to access, regardless of how broad its features are or how attractive it looks on the manufacturer's website.