In case your child is not but prepared for a smartphone however you need a approach to see their location, you may take into account a GPS tracker.
After talking to specialists and oldsters, we have chosen the very best GPS trackers and units to watch your kid’s location. Our high decide goes to the Apple Air Tag, presently on sale for $18, as a result of its ease of use and correct monitoring. We went hands-on with a few of the finest units available on the market. Learn on to seek out which GPS tracker is best for you and your loved ones.
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“As a mom, guaranteeing the security and well-being of my youngster is of utmost significance,” Dr. Kaitlyn Siu, a toddler neurologist and founder and CEO of Teach Your Kids Code, informed ZDNET. “Nevertheless, I might steadiness the necessity for security with respecting [my child’s] privateness and autonomy, utilizing the tracker as a device for peace of thoughts relatively than for fixed surveillance.”
What’s the finest GPS tracker for youths proper now?
ZDNET spoke to oldsters and professionals like Dr. Siu to find out the very best GPS trackers and units to remain conscious of your kid’s location. Our decide for the very best GPS tracker for youths general is the Apple AirTag because it’s moderately priced and makes use of Apple’s complete Discover My community for correct monitoring.
Although dearer, we additionally favored the Garmin Bounce and Xplora XGO3 smartwatches.
Additionally: The best parental control apps to keep your kids safe
The very best GPS trackers and units for youths in 2025
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Why we prefer it: The Apple AirTag is an reasonably priced and correct answer to maintain observe of your kid’s location. It really works with the Discover My app and seamlessly integrates with the Apple ecosystem.
Apple’s AirTags are concerning the dimension of 1 / 4, and there are numerous equipment you should use to connect the small tracker to a jacket, backpack, and even slip it into your kid’s pocket. The gadget makes use of an simply replaceable CR2032 battery lasts that lasts round a yr.
The AirTag provides a stable efficiency. Nevertheless, one caveat is that an AirTag requires one other Apple gadget to be close by and related to the web to share its location with Apple’s Discover My community. For instance, in case your youngster does not have an Apple gadget with mobile capabilities, monitoring a younger youngster on the college bus requires somebody — most certainly one other pupil or the bus driver — to have an iPhone or mobile Apple Watch. If there are not any Apple units on the bus, the placement cannot replace.
Assessment: Apple AirTag
Who’s it for: The AirTag will finest serve households already utilizing Apple merchandise.
ZDNET contributor Jason Cipriani examined out putting AirTags on his youngsters’s backpacks and located that he might nonetheless observe them throughout a college day. “One backpack was situated about half-hour prior, and the opposite had simply had its location reported 2 minutes earlier than I might checked,” he wrote. “Presumably, a instructor walked by their backpack with an iPhone of their pocket, or one of many college students’ iPads picked up the tag’s Bluetooth sign and reported it again Apple, which in flip lets me view the placement in considerably real-time.”
Of the purchasers who bought an AirTag at Finest Purchase, 96% mentioned they’d suggest it to a buddy. The gadget’s general assessment score is 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Who ought to look elsewhere: In case you’re not already an Apple product consumer, you may need to try our different suggestions.
Apple AirTag specs: Value: $29 or 4 for $99 | Battery life: One yr | Actual-time monitoring: No | Month-to-month price: None | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Apple’s Discover My Community
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Why we like it: Garmin’s newest children’ smartwatch, the Bounce, provides real-time location monitoring, communication options, well being and sleep monitoring, and video games.
Additionally: The best Garmin watches
Who’s it for: This can be a nice decide for folks wanting to maintain observe of their children whereas introducing smartwatch tech in a managed setting.
Bounce makes use of location monitoring to indicate dad and mom their kid’s present whereabouts within the Garmin app and be notified when their youngster leaves pre-approved areas.
As well as, you possibly can view well being metrics like sleep, steps, and lively minutes to keep watch over your rising youngster. Garmin additionally contains activity-related video games inside the watch so children can unlock rewards for assembly targets or tasks, like finishing a chore.
LTE connectivity, obtainable from Garmin for $10 per 30 days, permits your youngster to textual content and voice message as much as 20 parent-approved contacts.
Dad and mom on Reddit who’ve purchased the watch for his or her children say it is nice with notifications and site updates, particularly for school-bound children.
Who ought to look elsewhere: Garmin’s smartwatch has a number of bells and whistles. Dad and mom and caregivers who need a extra minimal tracker ought to maintain purchasing. The service additionally requires a subscription.
Garmin Bounce specs: Value: $150 | Battery life: Two days | Actual-time monitoring: Sure | Month-to-month price: $10 per 30 days | Connectivity: Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, LTE
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Why we prefer it: The SyncUp Youngsters Watch 2 is ideal for youths nonetheless too younger for a smartphone however mature sufficient to take care of a gadget.
Who’s it for: This gadget is one other nice choice to securely introduce your children to smartwatch tech. It features a digicam, and your youngster can use the gadget to ship and obtain messages. With the duty supervisor, a guardian can add chores or different duties for his or her youngster to deal with after faculty, together with real-time location monitoring.
The interface is playful and straightforward for a kid to make use of and features a “College Mode” that disables further options throughout class time to restrict distraction.
One T-Cellular reviewer who gave the gadget 5 stars mentioned, “The one individuals allowed to contact the watch are set by you, the guardian. It is a great way to entry your children when they’re away, nevertheless it additionally lets them really feel like they’re rising up some.
Who ought to look elsewhere: The SyncUp Youngsters Watch 2 is likely to be simpler to get began with for those who’re already a T-Cellular consumer. The gadget is pricey at $174, however for those who add a line to your T-Cellular account, you will get the watch free of charge.
As well as, for those who’d want a extra minimal monitoring gadget, it’s best to look elsewhere.
Additionally: The best smartwatches for kids
SyncUp Youngsters Watch 2 specs: Value: $174 | Battery life: 8 hours of speak time | Actual-time monitoring: Sure | Month-to-month price: No | Connectivity: 4G LTE
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Why we prefer it: Verizon’s Gizmo Watch 3 is a location monitoring gadget with particular options to assist your children keep on activity.
Who’s it for: This can be a nice choice for those who like T-Cellular’s SyncUp Youngsters watch, however you are subscribed to Verizon.
You possibly can ship and obtain messages and calls, and it has a built-in digicam. You possibly can add as much as 10 trusted contacts in your youngster to speak with whereas carrying the watch. The provider additionally provides a camera-less model of the watch.
You will additionally get real-time monitoring and geofence help to obtain alerts when your youngster leaves or arrives at a particular location. Equally to the SyncUp Youngsters watch, you possibly can create duties in your youngster and arrange faculty mode to stop them from utilizing the watch in school or throughout different actions.
“We purchased the Verizon GizmoWatch about two years in the past for our kiddos, then aged 6 and eight,” mentioned Kendra Paulson, who’s a contract author. “We stay on a navy base, and whereas it’s fairly protected right here, we needed to have a approach to talk with our women whereas they had been out using bikes and taking part in within the neighborhood. I can look on the Gizmo map and see the place my children are, and we will textual content and name backwards and forwards, so it is like having a starter telephone that straps to their wrist.”
The Gizmo watch prices $150 and have a one-time $35 activation price from Verizon.
Who ought to look elsewhere: Like T-Cellular’s children watch, Verizon’s Gizmo watch will work higher for present clients, in any other case you may want to enroll in a mobile plan.
Verizon clients additionally say the battery life is shorter than marketed.
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Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 tech specs: Value: $150, plus a $35 activation price | Battery life: As much as 3.5 days (standby) or 1.5 days fixed use | Actual-time monitoring: Sure | Month-to-month price: No | Connectivity: GPS, Mobile (4G)
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Why we prefer it: The Xplora XGO3 watch makes use of GPS, lively Wi-Fi, and GSM triangulation to supply real-time location monitoring. It additionally provides geofencing, so you possibly can arrange security zones round key places like dwelling and college. In case your youngster wanders out of those pre-marked areas, you may be notified.
Assessment: Xplora XGO3
Who’s it for: The XGO3 provides a dependable approach to maintain observe of your children however provides some further enjoyable.
The watch does not have any video games, however video games can be found by way of the GoPlay app. For each 1,000 steps that your youngster takes, they’ll earn one Xcoin, which will be saved up and redeemed for actual prizes within the GoPlay retailer. To take action, you may have to entry a smartphone or pill. Verified clients say it is an clever approach to gamify well being and health for little ones.
ZDNET author Maria Diaz examined the watch on her daughter and mentioned it gave her peace of thoughts. “From my testing, the GPS monitoring within the XGO3 is dependable, particularly as a result of I can arrange particular security zones inside the Xplora app, like for dwelling and college, and be notified when my youngster leaves these areas,” she wrote in her assessment. “The app additionally exhibits historic monitoring information, which is helpful when it’s essential to recall previous actions.”
Who ought to look elsewhere: A month-to-month subscription is required to make use of the watch and its companies. The costs vary from $10 to $14 per 30 days excluding tax.
Xplora XGO3 specs: Value: $99 | Battery life: 72 hours (on standby) | Actual-time monitoring: Sure | Month-to-month price: $10-$14 per 30 days | Connectivity: Mobile (SIM card), Wi-Fi, GPS
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Our advice for the very best GPS tracker for youths is Apple AirTag. Nevertheless, any of the choices on this record would make good GPS trackers and units for youths. It simply is determined by what you need, and which options are a precedence to you.
|
GPS tracker gadget |
Value |
Battery |
Actual-time monitoring? |
|
Apple AirTag |
$29 |
One yr |
No |
|
Garmin Bounce |
$150 |
Two days |
Sure |
|
SyncUp Youngsters Watch 2 |
$174 |
One week |
Sure |
|
Verizon GizmoWatch |
$150 |
As much as three days (standby) or 1.5 days of fixed use |
Sure |
|
Xplora XGO3 |
$100 |
72 hours (on standby) |
Sure |
|
Select this GPS tracker… |
If you need… |
|
Apple AirTag |
The very best general tracker for most individuals. There is not any month-to-month price, and the battery lasts round a yr. |
|
Garmin Bounce |
A smartwatch loaded with options and real-time monitoring. Dad and mom can use location monitoring on the Bounce to view their kid’s present whereabouts within the Garmin app. |
|
SyncUp Youngsters Watch 2 |
A wearable watch for youths underneath T-Cellular. The wrist-worn gadget prices $174, however you will get it free of charge for those who add a line to your account. |
|
Verizon Gizmo Watch |
A wearable watch for youths underneath Verizon. You possibly can create duties in your youngster and arrange faculty mode to maintain them from utilizing the watch in school. |
|
Xplora XGO 3 |
A GPS watch that encourages children to play exterior. With geofencing, you possibly can arrange security zones round vital places, like dwelling and college. |
In case you’re shopping for a GPS tracker in your children, it’s best to take into account the next:
- Privateness: Protecting your kid’s info and information is of the utmost significance with any tech gadget, so we checked out trackers and units with privateness options like encryption, parental controls, and two-way communication so you possibly can contact your youngster.
- Actual-time monitoring: We included trackers and units which have real-time GPS monitoring, which makes use of satellite tv for pc alerts to find out the exact location of the gadget, so you realize precisely the place your youngster is at any given second.
- Battery life: A monitoring gadget serves little objective if it is out of battery, so we checked out units with lengthy battery lives so you do not have to recharge consistently.
- Value: These monitoring units can vary dramatically in worth, however we tried to maintain all merchandise underneath a minimum of $200.
The parental controls are set out of your telephone, utilizing the Xplora app.
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Once we take a look at smartwatches, we usually observe the identical routine for each to see which performs finest when tested in the real world.
- Day by day put on: We put on the smartwatch as our main watch, with communications, functions, and different parts being examined as if it had been our solely smartwatch.
- Software choice and efficiency: One facet that makes smartwatches completely different than normal watches is the help for functions. We load up the watch with apps after which take a look at the efficiency and performance of these functions. For instance, Apple notably excels within the space of third-party software help.
- Exercises: Smartwatch makers have embraced well being and health so we take smartwatches out for operating with GPS, rowing on the Hydrow, biking on trails, and strolling with the household. GPS and coronary heart charge information is tracked after which we consider the accuracy towards confirmed GPS sports activities watches.
- Sleep and exercise monitoring: Sleep monitoring has improved with smartwatches over time and we consider and evaluate them to sensible rings and different watches. Nighttime can be an excellent time to cost your smartwatch, so chances are you’ll select to not use your watch to trace sleep so your watch can serve faithfully all day and into the evening.
For a deeper look into our testing course of, try our complete smartwatch testing methodology.
Newest information about GPS trackers
- Skechers launched the Find My Skechers sneaker line with a hidden Apple AirTag slot. The shoe’s insole lifts to disclose a particular plastic compartment for the tracker.
- College buses in Allen Parish, LA can be outfitted with GPS trackers. By a partnership with tech firm SamSara, the trackers can inform dad and mom a bus’ location, if it is delayed, and any potential mechanical points.
The gadget makes use of a satellite tv for pc community to find out its location. A GPS tracker converts these satellite tv for pc alerts into information akin to velocity, time, and place to be able to see precisely the place the gadget and, in flip, your youngster, is.
No, Fitbit makes GPS-enabled exercise trackers for youths, however not location trackers with real-time location monitoring.
Privateness considerations and ethics are the primary considerations about GPS monitoring units usually, particularly on the subject of monitoring youngsters. ZDNET requested dad and mom how they felt.
“As my daughters get older and ultimately head off into the world on their very own, it is going to cross my thoughts desirous to know the place they’re at and whether or not they’re protected,” mentioned guardian and Ling App co-founder Kanyarat Nuchangpuek.
“Alternatively, it bothers me that I may very well be crossing a line peeking into their non-public lives. It is just like discovering out that your mom learn your diary. It is an invasion of privateness and might also deter my youngsters from experiencing life in their very own approach. Having to marvel, “Is mommy watching?” should not be a pure thought.”
No matter your selection, it is a good suggestion to guard your information, particularly when it entails your kid’s location.
Additionally: How to find out if an AirTag is tracking you
For instance, when signing up for an account, use a novel and sophisticated password — ideally saved in a password supervisor — so as to add a layer of safety to your account.
In case you’re not sure a couple of services or products, at all times make sure you learn by the corporate’s privateness coverage.
The AirTag makes use of Bluetooth to assist find gadgets, nevertheless it’s restricted in case your youngster is not close by Apple units. The AngelSense works wherever with mobile protection and is particularly designed for youths. It provides real-time GPS monitoring, together with two-way voice and SOS alerts.
Sadly, many GPS trackers and units for youths require a further subscription cost. That is very true if the gadget requires an app with superior options or a wearable that gives LTE connectivity.
Be sure you issue this further price into your closing choice.
Newest updates:
- In our August 2025 replace, we carried out substantial format and replica adjustments. We additionally added a modern information part on GPS trackers.
Different GPS trackers to contemplate
ZDNET sourced exterior trade specialists for this text. Right here is extra details about them:
For extra on GPS tracker information and opinions, try our fast tips about how to GPS-track a phone and why we love Garmin’s eTrex Solar tracker.
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