Let’s have a closer look at how GPS-tracking apps work, how to track a phone location, and what benefits they offer for everyday life.
A mobile phone tracker app is software that can be installed on another device to track its activity. There are various features that a phone tracker can provide:
- Monitoring call logs
- Tracking GPS location
- Tracking incoming, outgoing, and deleted text messages
- Locking the device remotely
- Accessing social networks and messengers
- Providing passcode protection, real-time updates, and panic alerts
- Sharing real-time locations on interactive maps
Different companies offer a combination of these and other features – like detecting suspicious content or blocking problematic websites. It’s essential, for example, for parents who must track a cell phone location online to protect their children.
GPS phone tracker apps vary in functionality and feature sets depending on the purposes of their use. Here are some examples of industries and cases when phone location tracker apps are widely used.
- Traffic control. Transport companies or taxi services use trackers to get time and route information or search for missing vehicles.
- People monitoring. A phone location must be tracked to protect or find children or older people.
- Employee supervision. Today’s market offers plenty of employee tracking software options (relevant to sales representatives, drivers, merchandisers, etc.).
How can I track a cell phone location? To answer this question, let’s have a closer look at phone trackers’ features, functionality, and available solutions.
How Does a Phone Location Tracker Work?
Now that you are familiar with the underlying technology behind GPS phone tracker apps, let’s look at how they work. Most of the apps have quite a straightforward installation and registration process and similar steps. Here are the most frequent steps to perform.
- Visit the vendor’s website and choose Try Now option.
- Create your account.
- Choose the device you want to track.
- Choose the most suitable subscription plan.
- Using the provided earlier information, sign in to your account.
- Now the vendor provides all the necessary instructions for the software installation and set-up. Follow them carefully.
The process may vary slightly for different software. However, this gives you an overview of how to start using a cell phone tracker app.
How to Choose a GPS Phone Tracker
Once you find yourself needing to track phone number location or get remote access to one of your devices, you may become confused. The market is quite overwhelmed with the number of offers. Some services even promise you to track a cell phone location without them knowing.
Most phone tracking apps have similar basic functionality. However, you may need some specific features. Here are points to consider when choosing a phone number location tracker.
- Features
Whether you need to control your device remotely, monitor your employees’ activity, or track your spouse’s movements – tracking features are the most popular and important. But mobile tracking apps have more to offer.
Concerned parents may need the apps with a panic button, web filters, or screen limitation functions. Employers would benefit from features like daily activity reports or typing trackers. In some cases, users need call and screen recorders or text message trackers.
- Ease of Use
While many solutions have very similar feature sets, they also have different user interfaces and bring different user experiences. Ease to use may become the final aspect for many people.
The good news here is that most vendors offer free trials and demo versions. It’s the best way to test the app and the best phone tracker app for you.
- Compatibility
You should remember that not every app is compatible with all platforms. It’s easier in the case of computer operating systems, as most tracking software is compatible with Windows and Mac OS.
However, it may be different for cell phone tracker apps. So you need to make sure that the chosen solution is compatible with the target device.
- Customer Support
Even the best tech solutions can malfunction or have system errors and glitches. This is when users usually need to contact customer support.
Trusted companies offer helpful 24/7 customer support service ready to solve any of your problems using their software. It may be extremely important for some people. Checking online reviews of other users can help you see the software ratings and learn about other people’s experiences.
Can I Track the Location of a Cell Phone Without Rooting and Jailbreaking?
To root or jailbreak a device means to remove its particular built-in restrictions and to get total control of the software and device. These are complicated activities that may harm the target device and result in data loss or permanent damages.
Some companies offer dedicated no-root and without jailbreak packages, while others don’t. However, most phone tracking apps provide additional, more advanced features for jailbroken and rooted devices.
Unless you have advanced tech skills or experience, specialists highly recommend refraining from jailbreaking or rooting. There are products that do and don’t need performing these maneuvers. You can find the necessary information on the vendor’s website before purchasing.
Are Mobile Tracking Apps Undetectable?
The marketing strategy of many companies offering apps that track a cell phone location by number is based on the idea that this software is undetectable. So how to track a cell phone location without them knowing? In fact, this software is detectable. And if you know what you are looking for, you will find the proof. Here’s a list of warning signs.
- Your device uses an unusually high amount of data.
- You hear strange sounds while on call.
- You get random texts or social media messages.
- Your device battery’s life significantly deteriorated.
- Your device’s shut down time increased.
Besides, there are files, apps, and packages that indicate rooting or jailbreaking. Often, they are also a sign of mobile phone tracker apps.
Android
A warning sign may be the permission to download and install software outside the official Play Store. It may indicate a potential rooting threat. There are special apps to check if your device is rooted.
Many tracking apps use generic names like “service update” to cover their tracks. If you see the process you cannot identify, it may be helpful to run an online search for this process’s name.
iOS
Apple devices are usually very resilient to malware unless they are jailbroken. However, there app names that should raise suspicions. For example, Cydia is a package manager for software installation on a jailbroken device.
Installer, Installous, Icy, SBSettings – they are just a few names for known jailbreaking tools. They are unlikely to have an app icon, but you can easily find them if you search your phone.
Can You Track the Location of a Cell Phone with Phone Trackers?
Yes. Special apps using GPS technology allow you to find your device’s location. There are many options from various companies. Some vendors even allow users to track a cell phone location for free.
How to Track a Cell Phone Location Without Installing Software?
Each of the mobile platforms has its options for tracking your device. iOS provides Find my iPhone service to its users. Besides, iCloud and iTunes methods may be helpful to monitor iOS devices.
Android offers its users a similar option – Find My Device. Besides, Google Timeline gives your device’s movement reports.
Is There a Free Phone Tracker?
If you look for a free cell phone tracker by number, there are options offered by Google and Apple. Google’s Find My Device and iCloud’s Find my iPhone are free built-in options to track your mobile device. However, they need to be activated in advance and have limited feature sets. They are often considered unreliable.
Many companies provide free trial periods for their cell phone trackers. It’s a limited-time option to try the software before purchasing.
Is It Legal to Use a Phone Tracker?
In general terms, using a mobile phone tracker app is legal. However, it has some ethical implications. You may have some legal consequences if you violate someone’s privacy without their consent. Also, you should keep in mind that legislation varies depending on the country.
What Is the Best Android App to Track a Phone Location?
One of the most reliable and secure Android solutions today is mSpy tracking software. It’s affordable software that provides an easy installation and monitoring process and 24/7 customer support. Key features include:
- GPS location tracking
- Incoming, outgoing, or deleted text messages monitoring
- Call history checks
- Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat, etc. access
Besides, mSpy easily functions in a background mode and provides data updates every five minutes.
What’s the Best iPhone Cell Phone Tracker?
One of the most popular iOS solutions today is Cocospy tracking software. It’s effective software that monitors the target device’s activity remotely and tracks almost any data – locations, photos, videos, contacts, app list, browser, calendars, and more.
Key features include:
- GPS location tracking;
- No jailbreak – easy to use;
- text messages and calls monitoring;
- Social network access.
Cocospy provides 24/7 customer support and reports 96% customer satisfaction.
