Being able to accurately track someone’s phone has long ceased to be the privilege of hackers and detectives. In fact, the consumer market of apps that allow you to track a cell phone is so oversaturated that a regular user has more trouble navigating through the supply than actually establishing the whereabouts of their own or another person’s device. To save you the trouble of comparing dozens of similar phone tracking apps and methods, we hand-picked six reliable options that can do the job gratis.
Find Someone’s Phone Location with uMobix in 3 Easy Steps
uMobix is a next-generation tracker app that can be best described as a Swiss army knife of oversight tools. Having one installed on your target’s phone, you can not only track the location thereof but also gain access to the stored and recently deleted data in its entirety.
The setup is different for Android and iOS, but the end output is equally empowering. To get started with uMobix, you’ll have to do as follows:
- Create an account on the service website and activate the free trial;
- Install the app on the target device (for Android phones) or hook it up to iCloud using the target’s credentials (iOS);
- Use the uMobix dashboard to sync the phone data. Allow up to 15 minutes, and you’re good to go.
As soon as the integration is complete, you will obtain real-time cell phone location data, logs of messages across all the installed apps, a full overview of multimedia files, contacts, and even control options. You are basically in full remote possession of your target’s phone, and they don’t have a chance to discover it accidentally unless you act conspicuously with external control.
If you feel you’d be better off with a much wider range of functions than simply tracking the GPS data, uMobix is readily available on a subscription basis, the full feature package for $49.99 monthly.
Track a Cell Phone Number Location for Free on Google Maps
Arguably the quickest method on the list, in addition to being completely free, relies on either consensual GPS spot sharing or programming your target’s phone to do it automatically. As a result, you’ll become able to request and receive the Contact number location data.
If sending a sharing request is not an option, you need to access the person’s Google account and proceed to Maps. There, in the app settings, you can toggle the real-time location sharing on and select who to share the data with from the Contacts. To start tracking, open Google Maps on your device and go to the location-sharing menu. Now the linked device will be displayed – tap on it to see the current cell phone location.
How to Track a Cell Phone Location for Free with GEOfinder
GEOfinder allows you to track a Cell Phone whereabouts by offering an ingenious combination of GPS data scanning and click-bait tactics. The tracking request that you can send from the service website must contain an editable message that would compel the device owner to willingly share their location.
The obvious problem here is that, of course, not everyone is gullible enough to follow a link from an unknown phone number, so you must think of something genuinely believable to make it work. When it does work, though, you can obtain the following:
- Location-based on GPS data;
- Last IP used to go online;
- The presence of a VPN in the target’s connection chain;
- Reverse Phone Lookup.
GEOfinder is a subscription-based tool that can be manipulated into being a one-off free service with a trial option. For prolonged use, you’ll need a paid account that costs $39.99 per month and allows for unlimited search queries.
Find My – Best Way to Track iOS Device
The comprehensive cell phone location solution from Apple saw the light of day back in 2010 and has since evolved to integrate all the existing iDevices. Find My has a unique Precise Location feature that allows it to pin down a gadget to a couple of meters, thus surpassing the accuracy of standard GPS systems (8-meter radius). Installing and activating the app on the target device is necessary to enable the tracking features. As of now, this is the full list of supported Find My features:
- Precise location in real-time;
- Getting map directions leading to a device;
- Forcing the device to play a sound;
- Location of different owner’s devices via iCloud;
- Lost mode and total device erasure;
Find My Device – Go-To Option to Spot an Android Phone
Google was several years behind Apple in terms of launching its own phone tracking app, but when Find My Device finally appeared in 2013, it set a new standard in gadget security. A powerful tandem of Google Maps and Find My Device is definitely the best free solution to finding your phone.
Google’s ecosystem is built around a single account across all services, and that makes using Find My Device especially convenient. If you are logged into your profile from a desktop and a cell phone, all you need to do is open the web-based app in your browser. The same logic applies to tracking someone’s cell phone location – you need to have their Google credentials to do so.
Being powered by Android and thus possible to track with Google’s app, Samsung devices have their native Find My Mobile product linked to a Samsung account. This is what both apps can do:
- Real-time GPS tracking;
- Remote control;
- Sending a message to the phone’s lock screen;
- Erasing the device completely.
You want to be careful with the latter as it will break the connection with the location service for good.
Reverse Phone Lookup
The services that offer reverse phone lookup act as a modern version of the white pages – you put in the cell phone number, and the software hooks up to a database. This allows you to obtain the following:
- Person’s full name;
- Place of residence;
- Last registered SIM card cell tower connection.
Advanced phone tracking apps of this kind, like Spokeo, will also automatically link this data to the available social network pages, thus allowing you to get a full profile of your target. While this method is efficient for the US, it may yield zero results in some other countries, where one can buy a SIM card without any documents.
Reverse phone lookup tools are almost exclusively web-based and are monetized on a subscription basis, with the mean monthly fee amounting to around $25. As usual, you can use the offered free trial to your advantage if you only need to track someone’s location and data once.
How to Choose the Best Free Phone Tracker App and What to Pay Attention to?
Before opting for one of the tracking methods reviewed above, you must clearly understand what scope of functions you will need. Answering the ‘what for?’ question will be your best guide in picking a perfect phone location service. In addition to that, there are several technical aspects that we shall address next.
Does It Require Jailbreak or Rooting?
Both of these terms refer to the methods of hacking an iOS or an Android phone with extraneous software to gain full control over the otherwise restricted device functions. Thankfully, none of the reviewed solutions requires undergoing this complex procedure that can often result in irreparable damage to your cell phone.
In addition to that, if you happen to own the target’s Apple account credentials, you can skip the installation completely and sync via iCloud. To track Android devices with uMobix, for instance, installing software is obligatory, but it only takes a moment to download the setup package and let the system do its thing.
Does It Have Features That You Need?
Some apps on the list can go much further than simply acquiring someone’s cell phone location. This usually includes real-time activity surveillance, remote control of certain apps’ features, access to the stored and deleted data, streaming the audio and video of the gadget’s surroundings, and much more. By opting for all-inclusive phone tracking apps, you can ensure a whole new level of protection for your loved ones.
Compare Pricing and Make Use of a Free Trial
If you’re going to buy a subscription for one of the third-party apps to track a cell phone, make sure you use the competition on the market to your advantage. Not only do some tracking apps offer occasional discounts, but they also provide free trial periods that usually last one or two days if you sign up for the service with your credit card. Thus, a one-off check-up on someone’s phone can cost you literally nothing.
What Users Say About a Spy App You Select on the Internet?
Don’t buy into the accolades you’ll find by following the first couple of links on Google – do research and read through feedback from at least remotely reliable sources. Always look for the negative or, at least, neutral reviews – those have a much lower chance of being paid and can reveal things you wouldn’t know otherwise.
Is It Compatible with Android, iOS, or Both?
As stressed as you might be when approaching the task of finding out someone’s cell phone location, don’t make the mistake of confusing the native Android and iOS apps that have almost identical names. Most non-native GPS tracking apps or services on the market are adapted for both operating systems, but they must explicitly state so in the product description, and it wouldn’t hurt to double-check.
Final Words
The current market of location services allows you to pick a cell phone tracker solution that is tailored to your needs and budget. The capabilities of the existing location tracker apps are virtually limitless, so one should never settle for a product that doesn’t meet their requirements. With a bit of effort, there is a 100% probability of finding an alternative tracking app that will do exactly what you expect it to for a reasonable price.
FAQ
Please find the substantiated answers to the commonly asked tracking app questions below:
Is it legal to obtain data about someone’s cell phone location?
It may depend on your current place of residence, but there is a general consensus envisaging that phone tracking is acceptable from the legal standpoint if the two following conditions are fulfilled: a) this is your cell phone or a cell phone that you bought as a gift to someone; b) the phone tracker is not used without the prior consent of the surveyed person.
Is it possible to find apps that can track a cell phone for free?
The native iOS and Android device apps are your only reliable location tracking options that are completely free and don’t have any additional in-app purchases. Do not trust any third-party services unaffiliated with Google or Apple that offer completely free cell phone tracking – the trustworthy providers have their services monetized for a good reason, but you can still get a taste with their free trial.
Can I track a cell phone of any type or model ever released?
Yes, if you are using the right type of cell phones location tracker, such as GEOfinder or LocationTracker. There is a misconception that the older generation devices, not equipped with GPS, are impervious to phone tracking attempts. However, knowing someone’s IMEI number is enough to establish their last known phone location as registered by the nearby cell tower.
