Choosing the Right Gps Tracker for Phone – What to Consider

Variety of Phone Trackers: What to Choose?

People who have never used a phone tracker before might be surprised by the variety of offers: web-based phone trackers, installable trackers, GPS tracker for phone, number trackers, etc. What is the difference between them all? What to choose? Which one is better for your particular case? Calm down. There is nothing complicated in this matter; it is just some information unknown to you before. Sit down comfortably, and let’s find out what is what and what you might need!

A Brief Introduction to Phone Tracking History

We do not want to scare you with tons of information and historical data about how phone tracking was invented and how it developed, as in this case, we would write a 500-page book. Instead, we will just briefly show you the evolution of this technology and how it got to the point when it is accessible to everyone.

The most popular technology for phone tracking is GPS, and although it is thought by many to be quite new, it dates back to the middle of the XX century, when the first GPS satellite was launched. For a very long time, it was only used for military purposes, and this started changing at the end of XX – beginning of the XXI century.

This was when GPS tracking started to be used by private businesses and companies and, later on, by individuals for everyday tracking. Nowadays, it is hard to imagine our life without GPS, and even if you do not launch any trackers deliberately, you still use it in many cases:

• when you call a taxi;
• when you order a food delivery;
• when you decide where you want to go and build the shortest route;
• when you buy a metro or tram ticket using a phone app.

Reasons to Track Someone

The most obvious implication of GPS-tracking technology in everyday life is checking a person’s location. Of course, it may sound tricky because of GDPR, data-protection laws in different countries, different attitudes to tracking, and so on, but generally, it is not illegal. So, why would people need to use a tracker?

1. To check if their child is at school/class/extracurricular activity. Children may be lazy and interested in having fun more than in studying and developing, and going to a playground instead of the math class might be very tempting. With the help of phone trackers, parents can check whether their kid is not cutting anything.
2. Safety is a great priority for everyone. Of course, there is no need to check every step of your loved ones, but if they are late or disappear for a whole night, a phone tracker is a great solution as it saves time and nerves.
3. In some countries, tracking workers’ locations is allowed to ensure their effectiveness. While in Europe, it is strictly forbidden, some Asian countries may see nothing bad about this.
4. Trackers are often used by people who suspect their partners of adultery. It is very convenient to check if your spouse is late because they are busy at work (as they say) or because they went to meet their lover in a hotel.

Generally, these are the main reasons, but if you come up with something else – you can always drop us a line.

Types of Phone Trackers

Phone trackers can be roughly divided into two main types: online (or web-based) and installable. This classification is unofficial and only implemented for convenience. Generally, all trackers are online as they require an internet connection, but it is hard to find another corresponding name for the first category, so we decided to go on with such “marking”.

Online Trackers

Services that do not require installation are usually called online trackers. One of the most popular online tracking services is GEOfinder.mobi, and almost all of them follow the same algorithms, with some minor differences, which are usually described directly on the service website.

If you want to use an online tracker, there is a very simple guide.

1. Register with the service. It is always a must, and without registration, you won’t be able to use any online tracker. The procedure is very standard, though: you provide your name, e-mail, and some data, and you are all set.
2. Pay the subscription fee. Some services have only one option here, and some offer several, but the monthly fee is the most popular payment scheme in the industry. It is always a good idea to check if there is a free trial. For instance, GEOfinder has one, and you should ask the support agent to activate it for 24 hours. When the free trial period has expired, you can decide whether you will keep using the app and pay the subscription fee.
3. Enter the phone number in the search field on the website. Online phone trackers usually require you to know the phone number you want to track. They will generate a tracking link, which will be sent to the number provided.
4. See the location on Google Maps after the person who received the link taps on it.

Online trackers are great for situations when you have no access to the device or you want to track someone in another country. And yes, they work worldwide and ensure anonymity. Imagine your child goes to study in another country, and you only have one or two Skype calls per week. Still, as a parent, you worry about them, and when they tell you about their plans to go to a club on Friday night, it is natural for you to ensure that they are safe and sound after the event. Launch the online phone tracker and check where they are, not disturbing them with a call – GEOfinder or any other of its analogs is great for this.

Installable Trackers

Unlike the online ones, installable trackers do not operate with phone numbers, and they must be installed on a device. Basically, they will track only the phone they are installed on and all its activity, but they are helpless if you want to check where someone who lives on the other side of the world is.

Installation is usually simple and has detailed guides on how to go through it, so even if you are not a computer geek, there is no need to worry; chances are you will not have any issues with it (well, almost 100%). Some trackers, like uMobix, can even be installed remotely on Apple devices via the iCloud service, but only manual installation is available for Android.

When you pay for the subscription, install the tracker, and give it all the required permissions, you can start checking all the synced information via an online dashboard. It is worth mentioning, though, that such trackers provide not only location information, and there are lots of various features:

• Facebook tracking;
• messages tracking;
• Instagram tracking;
• access to browsing data;
• access to media files, etc.

Such trackers are a great option when there is a particular person you want to track and, basically, know everything they do on their phone. Parents often use them to be aware of what is going on in their kids’ lives, and spouses use them to check that there is no cheating happening. However, to be honest, in the second case, if you start doubting your partner – it may be better to break up completely. Relationships without trust never lead to anything good.

Conclusion

If you need a phone location tracker, there are two main types: online and installable. Each of those is good for some situations and may be not so useful in others. Before you decide which one to stick to, analyze your needs and think about what exactly you need from a tracker. Check whether there is a free trial, it always helps to understand how the app works better. Lastly, read the reviews, of course. GEOfinder.mobi is the leader among online trackers by phone number, while uMobix is one of the best installable spying apps (and it also has a 1-day free trial)!