Best Kids GPS Trackers
Thanks to technology, it’s easier than ever to find a missing phone, locate a lost car in the parking lot, and even track packages and food deliveries. But what about keeping up with kids? Now, more than ever, parents want to be able to stay in touch with their children throughout the day and be able to verify that their children arrived safely at school, made it home okay in the afternoon and are safe while they’re out playing and visiting new places. Despite that fact, many parents aren’t ready to give their children access to a mobile phone. The next best thing is a GPS tracking device.
GPS trackers allow parents to monitor their children’s whereabouts, get important alerts about their locations and activities and communicate with their kids in the event of an emergency. There are a number of these trackers on the market, and all of them function a little differently. Here, we’re breaking down the top GPS trackers for kids and sharing which features we think set them apart from the rest.
Reviewed by Ashley Austrew
Our Favorite GPS Trackers
| | Amber Alert | HereO V2 | Trax 4G | LG Gizmo Watch | AngelSense Guardian | Jiobit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $15-25.00 | $4.95 | Varies | Varies | $39.99 | $8.99 |
| Contract | None | None | 6/12/24 months | 2 years | 1 year | 2 years |
| Style | Attachment | Wristwatch | Attachment | Wristwatch | Attachment | Attachment |
| Waterproof | Splash-proof | Splash-proof | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Calling | Two-way voice | None | None | Two-way voice | Two-way voice | None |
| Update frequency | 5 minutes | Real-time | Real-time | When initiated | 30 seconds | Real-time |
| Acceleration alert | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
1. The Amber Alert GPS Locator
The best part of the Amber Alert GPS Locator is how versatile the device is. Unlike a watch, it can be worn via a clip on any shirt, waistband or backpack. It can also be worn on a breakaway lanyard or as a bracelet. One of the most popular features of the tracker is that it gives parents and children the ability to talk via two-way voice calls, and one of the most unique features is the predator alert, which notifies parents when their children are within 500 feet of a registered sex offender’s home. Like other devices, the Amber Alert GPS also allows you to set up safe zones and tracks when your child arrives at and leaves these spaces. Most importantly, the GPS is accurate within 49 feet 90 percent of the time.
Pricing and Tech Specs
- Price: $135.00 at AmberAlertGPS.com
- Monthly plan options: Choose from standard monitoring for $15 per month or 24/7 monitoring for $25.00 per month.
- Sends alerts via SMS, email, or the Amber Alert GPS SmartLocator app
- Dimensions: H: 2.9”, L: 1.6”, W: .8”
- Weight: 2.36 ounces
Nerd Pros
- Two-way voice capabilities allow kids to receive calls from parents at any time and make calls to one pre-set phone number at the press of a single button.
- Safe zones, speed alerts and predator alerts signal parents anytime their child may be at risk.
- Battery lasts up to 40 hours and child’s location information is updated every five minutes.
- Lower price than some competitors and requires no annual contract.
Nerd Cons
- GPS tracker is splash-proof but is not fully immersible in water.
- The device can be worn a number of ways but the design is not particularly kid-friendly.
2. The HereO V2 Smartwatch
The HereO V2 Smartwatch boasts the title of world’s smallest real-time cellular-connected GPS tracking device, but don’t let the size fool you. This watch, designed to be worn by children as young as 3, ticks almost all of the boxes for what parents want in a tracking device. The watch and accompanying HereO phone app allows parents to set “safe zones” for their children and receive automatic phone alerts every time a child arrives in or leaves a safe zone.The watch also has a discreet panic button that can be used to send an immediate alert and exact location to family members in an emergency. In addition to the watch, the HereO app can track the locations of multiple family members using their cell phones and provide the quickest directions for family members to reach each other using real-time GPS locations.
Pricing and Tech Specs
- Price: $199.00 at HereOFamily.com
- Monthly plan options: $4.95 per month with no annual contract
- Works with the HereO app for Android and iOS
- Dimensions: 120-160 millimeters
- Weight: 45 grams
Nerd Pros
- Small, lightweight, splash-proof, and available in multiple colors so children will love wearing it.
- The safe zone and panic button features allow parents to give children freedom with peace of mind.
- Rechargeable battery has a long 48-hour life and sends text alerts to parents when the battery is low.
Nerd Cons
- The device does not have voice call capabilities.
- Watch is splash-proof but not fully waterproof.
3. The Trax 4 GPS Tracker
The Trax 4 GPS Tracker has everything parents want in a GPS, and some incredible bonus features they may not have realized they were looking for. Proximity alerts allow parents to set up a perimeter around themselves and receive notifications if their children stray too far. Parents can also get alerts when their kids enter and exit safe zones set up via geofencing, schedule the tracker to monitor safe zones in certain locations at specific times of day (such as when a child is on their way home from school) and parents can track multiple Trax devices within the accompanying Trax phone app. Perhaps the coolest feature of Trax is the augmented reality capability, which allows parents to view the Trax device’s location via their smartphone camera. The Trax 4 GPS is also lightweight, durable and can be worn a variety of ways.
Pricing and Tech Specs
- Monthly plan options: one-time payment of $52 for six months; $72 for 12 months; $96.00 for 24 months
- Works with: the Trax App on Android or iOS
- Size: 2.2″ x 1.5″ x 0.4″
- Weight: 26 grams
Nerd Pros
- Lightweight and comes with a wireless charging pad for added convenience.
- Allows parents to set proximity alerts, in addition to creating geofences, which is particularly beneficial in crowded places.
- Includes augmented reality feature that can access the camera on your smartphone to show live images of the tracker’s location.
Nerd Cons
- Device does not have capability for voice calls.
- Requires a 6-24 month Trax data plan contract with payment up front.
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4. The LG Gizmo Watch by Verizon
The LG Gizmo is not just a GPS tracker, it’s also a step tracker and a smart watch that allows children to play games and make calls or send messages to up to 10 pre-set phone numbers. It’s available in pink or blue, fully waterproof, and has up to four days of battery usage when fully charged. Parents can check their child’s location using the GizmoHub. There, they also have the ability to set GPS boundaries for their children and schedule event reminders. As a fun bonus, the Gizmo is compatible with any standard 20 mm watch strap, so it’s more customizable than most devices. It’s a great choice for older children who are ready for a device with more capabilities but aren’t quite ready for a cell phone.
Pricing and Tech Specs
- Price: $179.99 at Verizon.com
- Monthly fee will vary based on Verizon plan
- Works with GizmoHub app for Android or iOS
- Dimensions: H: 1.65”, W: 1.85”
- Weight: not specified
Nerd Pros
- Easy to use and durable for active kids.
- Fosters independence by helping children track events, encouraging them to move more, enforcing GPS boundaries, and giving kids the ability to message and call several people.
- Has an extra long battery life.
Nerd Cons
- Requires a long term contract through a cellular provider.
- Messaging and data charges may apply.
- Fewer alerts and safety features than other GPS tracking devices.
5. The Angelsense Guardian GPS Tracker
The Angelsense Guardian offers many of the same features as other GPS trackers with one important addition: it was designed with special needs children in mind. The device offers two-way voice calling with an auto pickup speakerphone, in the event that you need to communicate with others around your child. It also offers several options for non-removable wear, including a waist belt and a special shirt with a built-in AngelSense pocket. The device can alert parents if their child leaves a designated area or is in an unfamiliar place, like at the wrong bus stop. It can also alert you to late departures and sound an alarm to help you locate your child in a crowd.
Pricing and Tech Specs
- $229.00 at AngelSense.com
- Monthly plan options: $39.99 paid monthly for a 1-year contract or $52.99 per month for a month-to-month plan.
- Works with the AngelSense app for Android or iOS
- Dimensions: 3.03” x 1.85” x 0.78”
- Weight: not specified
Nerd Pros
- Designed specifically to meet the needs of children with differing abilities.
- Highly specific location tracking that can also alert parents to late arrivals or unfamiliar places.
- Includes a first responder group alarm that allows you to instantly alert authorities to a missing child and provide their location information.
Nerd Cons
- High price in comparison to other trackers and requires a monthly service plan.
- Device is not waterproof and is slightly larger than other brands.
6. The Jiobit GPS Tracker
The Jiobit tracker is a tiny tracker (it’s the size of an Oreo cookie!) with huge capabilities. The device can provide departure and arrival notifications, track your child’s location in real time, monitor designated safe areas for your child, pre-set proximity ranges and notify you when your child is too far away, and it’s fully waterproof with multiple colorful sleeve options available so kids can customize it. The Jiobit also has a longer lasting battery than most other GPS trackers–it can go an entire week without being charged!
Pricing and Tech Specs
- Monthly plan options: $8.99 monthly data plan with two-year commitment
- Works with Jiobit for Families app on Android and iOS
- Dimensions: not specified
- Weight: not specified
Nerd Pros
- Versatile wearing options mean the device can be carried in a child’s shoe, worn on their wrist or ankle, or clipped to a belt, backpack, shirt, or other clothing items and accessories.
- Kid-friendly, durable design with one of the longest lasting batteries on the market.
- Can provide arrival and departure notifications to track kids’ locations in real time.
Nerd Cons
- Requires a monthly data plan with a long term contract.
- Does not support voice calling or text messaging.
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What to consider before you buy a GPS tracker for your kids
- Budget
- Kid-friendly design
- Battery life
- Voice-calling capabilities
- Options for wear
- Durability
- Desired alarms, alerts, and notifications
- Monthly costs and contracts
The bottom line
No two GPS trackers are exactly alike, and the kind of tracker you decide to purchase will ultimately depend on the ages and needs of your children and your specific concerns as a parent. While all of the trackers on this list provide important information about your child’s whereabouts, some are able to offer more detailed protection, like geofencing, predator alerts, and proximity alarms. These detailed features may be more beneficial to parents of young children or those with special needs, while parents of older children may opt for a more scaled back device with fewer capabilities.
The good news is, there’s a tracker out there for every kind of parent and to fit a variety of budgets. Once you know what kinds of alerts and reminders matter most to keeping your child safe, you can choose a GPS tracker that will give you peace of mind and give your child an invaluable sense of confidence that they can go out and explore the world because, no matter what, you’re only as far away as the push of a button.
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About the Author
Ashley Austrew
Ashley is a freelance journalist and writer. Her work has been published by Cosmopolitan, Scholastic, Dictionary.com, Scary Mommy, and many other outlets. She lives with her family in Omaha, Nebraska.