Free location sharing apps for iPhone and Android

The free options at a glance

As of 7 November 2026, per each vendor's own App Store listing, Google Play listing or help page (linked):

"Not stated" means the vendor page we checked doesn't say; it doesn't mean the feature is missing.

How we checked

On 7 November 2026 we read each app's own App Store and Google Play listings and help pages, linked in the table. "Free" here means what the vendor says on its own page. We didn't count ad-supported trial screens or rank by ratings.

Which free app fits your circle

The honest answer depends on one thing: what phones your people carry.

Best free family locator apps

Find My — free for all-iPhone families

Find My is free and made by Apple; it runs on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch (App Store). With Family Sharing, Apple's iOS 27 guide says to share with family:

1. Open Settings > Family > Location Sharing.
2. Turn on Location Sharing for each family member you want to share with.
3. To include people who join the family later, turn on Automatically Share Location.

Each family member gets a message and chooses whether to share back (Apple). To share with a friend outside Family Sharing: open Find My, tap Me and turn on Share My Location, then tap People, tap the add button, choose Share My Location, enter the name and choose how long (Apple). Apple says Live Location needs an iPhone with iOS 15 or later on both ends (Apple).

Google Find Hub — free for all-Android families

Find Hub is Google's own Android app; its Google Play listing shows no in-app purchases. Google's help page describes it like this (Google):

1. Open Find Hub and sign in.
2. Tap Start share (or + if you already share with someone).
3. Choose One hour, Until the end of the day, Until you stop the share or a custom duration.
4. Pick the people and tap Create share. People with Find Hub or Google Maps get a notification, others an email.

People who receive your share can add arrive and leave notifications for a place, and you get an email when they do (Google). Samsung Galaxy phones use the same Google apps; see share location on Samsung and Google Find Hub.

Google Maps — the free option for iPhone and Android together

This is the free answer to "free location sharing app for Android and iPhone". On Android, Google's steps are: open Google Maps, tap your profile picture or initial > Location sharing > New share, choose how long, pick the person, then tap Share (Google). On iPhone, the Google Maps app has the same Location sharing menu (Google). Two limits from Google's page: the person you share with must have a Gmail account, and a link share for someone without one lasts up to 24 hours. Full steps: share location on Google Maps.

Free tiers of paid apps

Life360 Free

Life360 says its "basic service is free to download and use", with Silver, Gold and Platinum adding features (Life360). Its App Store listing says the free app gives access to "Advanced Location Sharing, Location History, Crash Detection, and Place Alerts". The free plan keeps 2 days of location history; Silver 7 days and Gold or Platinum 30 (Life360). What the paid tiers cost: Life360 cost.

iSharing free features

iSharing's App Store listing invites you to "start protecting your family today with iSharing's free features", then unlock Premium for driving reports, emergency sound recording and 365-day location history, with a 7-day free trial. Its Google Play listing shows "Contains ads".

GeoZilla free version

GeoZilla's App Store listing says "you can get the complete functionality with a free version", and lists Premium extras: unlimited location alerts, unlimited circles, driver protection, "2 weeks of location history" and "an option to stop sharing your location".

Glympse free

Glympse is "free to use, with optional Premium features for events and businesses", and shares expire automatically (App Store). The person you share with opens a link: no app, no sign-up.

Snap Map

Snapchat is free to download. Snapchat says location sharing on Snap Map "is off by default"; you choose My Friends, My Friends, Except..., Only These Friends... or Ghost Mode (Snapchat).

Warden (top pick): when free stops being enough

Free apps are great when your circle fits one platform or the share lasts one evening. They get awkward when your partner has an Android phone and you have an iPhone, when your parents live across town on different phones, or when roommates want to know "she's home" without a group chat. That is the gap Warden fills:

• iPhone and Android on one map, same features on both.
• Arrive and leave alerts for unlimited places, so nobody has to text "home safe?".
• Both of you choose. Sharing starts off; only the person sharing can switch it on. Pause anytime and the circle sees "Paused".
• One plan for the circle. It isn't free, but one subscription or a lifetime purchase covers up to 10 people, people you invite join free, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.

To try it: install Warden, create a circle, send the invite code, and start the yearly plan's free trial. Each person enters the code on their own phone and switches sharing on themselves.

Troubleshooting free location sharing

Location not updating on Find My

Apple says that if others still can't see your location, check that Location Services is on for Find My: Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Find My (Apple). Also check that the right device is listed next to Sharing From under Me. More: location not updating.

Find Hub shows an old time

In Find Hub, tap the person, then More > Refresh. If the timestamp doesn't change to "now", Google says the person's device may be offline or off, or they turned off location services or location sharing (Google).

Google Maps sharing stops working after a day

Google's page has a section for issues lasting more than 24 hours: verify your age first; if that doesn't help, start a new share with Until you turn this off and pick the person again (Google).

Snap Map shows where someone was hours ago

Snapchat says that with "Only while using" location, the map shows the last place someone had Snapchat open and doesn't update until they open it again; "Always" keeps it current (Snapchat).

"No location found" on iPhone

That message usually means the other phone is off, offline or not sharing. See what "No location found" means.

Where Warden doesn't fit

If everyone you share with has an iPhone, Find My is free and enough. If everyone has Android, Find Hub is. For one concert or one road trip, Google Maps or WhatsApp is already on your phone. Warden has no free version, its SOS reaches your circle only, and it can't show anyone who hasn't joined and switched sharing on.

FAQ

What is the best free location sharing app?

For all-iPhone circles, Apple's Find My; for all-Android circles, Google's Find Hub; across both, Google Maps. For everyday sharing across iPhone and Android with arrival alerts, Warden (top pick) is the better fit, but it isn't free.

Is there a free location sharing app for Android and iPhone?

Yes. Google Maps location sharing and WhatsApp Live Location run on both and are free to download. Google says the person you share with in Maps needs a Gmail account.

What is the best free family locator app?

Find My with Family Sharing if your family is all on iPhone, and Find Hub if everyone is on Android. Life360, iSharing and GeoZilla also have free tiers, per their own listings, with paid upgrades.

Is Life360 free?

Life360 says its basic service is free to download and use. The free plan keeps 2 days of location history; Silver, Gold and Platinum add more history and services like crash dispatch and roadside assistance.

Is there a free Life360 alternative?

Find My (iPhone) and Find Hub (Android) are free, built-in options, and Google Maps covers mixed circles. iSharing, GeoZilla and Glympse are free to download with paid upgrades.

Is Warden free?

No. Warden has no free version. One subscription or lifetime purchase covers a circle of up to 10 people, people you invite join free, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.

Can I share my location for free without an app?

Glympse lets the person you share with open a link without an app or sign-up, and Google Maps can send a link that works for up to 24 hours. You still need the app on your own phone to share.