6 Phone Tracker Apps and Other Methods to Pin Down Someone’s Location

Given the existing number of tracking apps and tools, it is virtually impossible to lose one’s phone without a trace or remain oblivious to the last known whereabouts of your loved ones. It only adds to the confusion when you find out that such phone tracker apps aren’t the only way to pin down someone’s whereabouts. 

The native solutions offered by Google and Apple are as good as the commercially distributed tools when you need to track a cell phone location – in addition to being completely free. You’d think this renders commercial spyware useless, but the reality is far more complex. For this article, we’ve selected a dozen apps and tools to illustrate the flaws and virtues of each phone tracking method relevant in 2023.

uMobix – The Cutting Edge of Tracking Tools

Our first entry is considered a trendsetter in the world of phone tracker apps – whatever function uMobix comes up with, it soon gets copied by the competing software. On the one hand, opting for this app allows you to get access to innovative spying features first – however, it may take some time before a new tool is polished to perfection, so we recommend testing the updates on your own device first. 

The main features currently supported by uMobix are as follows:

• Seamless integration with all portable devices released in the previous decade;
• Complete secrecy of use – the spyware won’t manifest itself in any way unless you do it via remote control;
• Full access to most of the data stored on the device, in the cloud storage, and in common third-party apps (messengers, social media, dating services, etc.)

Overall, uMobix feels like the most balanced solution among tracking apps – they mercilessly weed out the features that left users cold or proved inefficient and make up for it by frequently introducing exciting updates. The monthly subscription to uMobix costs $49.99, and the free trial is available upon signing up.

GEOfinder – Phone Tracker by Number

If you find all of the apps above too pricey or simply don’t need that many functions, consider using a number tracker like GEOfinder. Picking this solution saves you the trouble of fishing out the target’s Google or iCloud login credentials and offers a 100% chance to remain unexposed. 

This is what GEOfinder can do:

• Accurate GPS tracking of any iOS or Android phone;
• Extra location data based on the last known IP address;
• A VPN test to establish whether the target has been using proxy servers.

Note that the app doesn’t magically deduce the location from the phone number. You’ll have to think of a message that would accompany the sharing request, and it had better be something persuasive since the target has no way of identifying the sender. A one-off free use is possible while on a 48-hour trial – upon its expiry, GEOfinder charges $39.99 monthly.

Spyic – Unparalleled Social Apps Support

When it first appeared on the market, Spyic was little more than a cheap yet quality clone of the most sought-after tracking apps of the time. Later, the developers began adding original features to it on a regular basis, thus earning Spyic the title of authentic spyware.

With Spyic, you can empower yourself with the following tools: 

• Screenshots and logs of all the calls, conversations, visited pages, and opened media;
• Adjustable real-time notifications about any actions and changes done by the target user;
• Tracking user activity in dozens of popular apps, including such rarities as Tumblr, LINE, POF, and Kik.

Spyic undoubtedly has the longest list of supported social platforms that we’ve ever seen in a phone tracking app, so consider buying yourself a $49.99 monthly subscription if you suspect that your target’s activity is focused on the less common messengers and dating services. 

Cocospy – Access Deleted Data in One Click

Cocospy is advertised as your go-to app to track the activity of family members vulnerable to online scams, abuse and bullying, and you can indeed count on it in this regard. Cocospy users often praise the unrivaled responsiveness and competence of the app’s support crew, available round the clock.

These are the features that make Cocospy a truly powerful tool:

• Unhindered access to all the device directories, including those restricted for the owner;
• The ability to restore erased and damaged data, including media, browsing history, and call logs;
• Concealed real-time streaming from the microphone and camera, even when the lock screen is active.

After you register and provide your credit card credentials, the chosen payment plan activates automatically. Like with Spyic tracker, free trial of Cocospy is not available, but it has a demo. For $49.99 per month, Cocospy will equip you with most of the features offered by its competitors.

XNSPY – Leave No Stone Unturned

XNSPY is a cell phone tracker app for those who prefer uncompromising solutions. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to feel omniscient and all-powerful, this app is the closest thing you can get, owing to its impressive set of remote control tools.

XNSPY’s standout features include:

• The ability to block the target device, delete data from its memory and cloud storage, and control most of its normal functions remotely;
• A multi-layered security system that repels reverse spying attempts;
• Convenient line chart visualizers of the logged action timeline.

Such abundance in terms of functionality may seem like overkill, but that’s until you have to deal with someone who is tech-savvy and anticipates spying attempts. The extended range of tools comes at a price – a monthly subscription to this phone tracker app will cost you $49.99.

LocationTracker – Track a Phone with a Picture

At first glance, LocationTracker seems like another single-purpose tracking solution. While its primary function is indeed obtaining the target’s whereabouts, this location tracking app actually packs some other curious features that may provide you with valuable data.

LocationTracker is currently capable of:

• Attaching location sharing links to any images you choose;
• Obtaining data on the current or last known Wi-Fi connection;
• Improving the search results by checking the target’s IP address.

For $39.99, you’ll get a month of unlimited service. The only difference that sets LocationTracker apart from GEOfinder is that it traces a person by picture. A single-time use is also monetized and costs $1.

Tracking Someone Else’s Phone with Find My Device for Android

Google’s native phone monitoring app Find My Device is a must-have for all Android users, as it allows for an unprecedented level of remote control over all the gadgets signed into one Google account. It makes searching for a lost phone a breeze and comes with a number of precautionary tools on board.

Once you manage to log into the target account, proceed to the web dashboard. It enables you to track the location of the linked device, write a message that will be displayed on the lock screen, and initiate a complete memory erasure that will, among other things, interrupt your connection with the gadget. Note that you don’t need to install the app on the target device to track it.

Locate a Cell Phone for Free with Find My for iOS

Another free alternative to mobile tracker software, Find My is claimed to have the most advanced positioning algorithm that allows improving on the typical results you get with GPS data (3 to 5 meters compared to the standard 8).

In addition to real-time device location, the app allows you to track other gadgets linked to the iCloud account, gives directions for the optimal route from your current whereabouts to the device, can make the lost phone emit a sound signal, and, if nothing else works, forces a total memory wipeout, thus resetting the phone to factory settings.

How Google Maps Location Sharing Feature Works 

There are two ways to obtain the GPS tracking data using the Google Maps tools. The first one involves sending an explicit request from one Google account to another. If accepted, the sender’s smartphone will make its location visible for a certain period or indefinitely (duration can be tweaked in the Maps app). 

If you can’t get the target’s consent, the alternative way is to gain access to their Google account credentials. When logged in from a desktop, you are free to control some parameters of the device remotely – including location sharing with a chosen range of contacts. Google Maps is often criticized for inaccuracy, so while you’re at it, take time to calibrate the device positioning, as suggested in this Business Insider article. 

Track IMEI Number to Find Your Lost Phone 

Last but not least comes the method that utilizes a somewhat obsolete technology but can still prove useful in some cases. Cell phone monitoring with IMEI is possible due to the fact that it is used in establishing a connection between the device and the nearest cell site.

The action radius of one cell tower can be anywhere from one to three miles, and this is the highest accuracy achievable with the method. While IMEI search is certainly inferior to GPS phone tracker tools, it has one undeniable advantage, and that is being able to locate basic phone models that aren’t equipped with positioning modules.

Parting Shot

The market of spyware solutions has come a long way – the first plans to improve school security by using cell phone tracking apps were reported by BBC News as far back as 2007 when the original iPhone saw the light of day. The idea never took off, but it laid a foundation for what would become a sprawling industry with dozens of spying apps competing for your attention, and this variety can often feel perplexing. 

The problem of making the right choice is greatly facilitated by the trial options that are a standard on the market. The tracking software reviewed in the article is either distributed free of charge or can be tried out gratis, so we recommend you test-drive three or more options before settling for a go-to family locator.

FAQ

What is the best app to track someone’s phone?

The market leaders in the phone tracker segment are all built upon the same formula, to the point where it becomes fairly difficult to tell one from another. Hence, deciding which one deserves the laurels of the best phone tracker is a matter of personal preference. Download them all on a free trial basis and have a user experience showdown – the mobile tracker that handles the best wins.

Which cell phone activities can I track?

With the right app, you can access literally anything on the monitored phone. This includes real-time actions across all the apps on board, streams from the camera and microphone, the exact location of a target device, contacts, calls, messages, and even the data that was erased days and months ago.

Is it legal to use phone tracker apps?

Not a single country has a law that would explicitly ban the use of tracking apps, but the correct question here is ‘how’ rather than ‘what’. If it comes to light you’ve installed a phone tracker app without permission of the device owner, then you’re in trouble. 

The loophole that allows some overly caring parents to spy on their child’s phone without them knowing derives from the wording of such laws, stating that it’s fine if you bought the phone and thus are its rightful owner.

Is it possible to track location from a text message?

Yes, if it’s a text message sent with GEOfinder’s unique mobile phone tracking method. The idea is to think of a message that would convince the target to click on the link attached and thus share their current GPS location. The message can’t be tracked to its sender, so it can’t possibly backfire, and the recipient’s phone number is all you need to know.

How can I find a location from a picture?

Sending a picture with a masked location request inside is made possible with LocationTracker’s know-how. When the recipient clicks on it, their device will instantly share its location on a map – simply pick an image that you think will attract your target’s attention, and the tracking software will do the rest.