Life360 vs Glympse

Side by side

As of 7 November 2026, per each vendor's own App Store listing, Google Play listing and help center (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 Life360's and Glympse's US App Store listings, Google Play listings and both help centers (through their public help-center APIs). We didn't run hidden tests and didn't rank by ratings.

The real difference: one trip vs every day

Glympse and Life360 answer different questions.

• Glympse answers "where are you right now, on the way here?" You send a link, the other person watches your dot until it expires. Good examples: a friend picking you up at the airport, a parent waiting for a carpool, a contractor telling a customer when they'll arrive, a group following a race or a parade.
• Life360 answers "where is everyone, all the time?" A Circle stays on, with place alerts, history and, on paid tiers, crash detection with emergency dispatch and roadside assistance.

If you're between the two because you want something lighter than Life360 but more lasting than a link, that's the gap Warden was made for (below).

How Glympse works, step by step

Send a Glympse on Android

Glympse's help center lists these steps (Glympse):

1. Tap the menu in the top left of the map screen, then Share Location (or tap the Glympse icon in the lower right, then Share Location).
2. Choose one or more recipients, then tap the back arrow.
3. Optionally set the duration, a destination or a message.
4. Tap the send icon in the upper right.

Extend a Glympse on iPhone

Tap the sharing icon in the upper right to see the current Glympse, then tap +15 to add 15 minutes, as often as needed up to the 12-hour maximum (Glympse).

Make a Glympse disappear right away

Expired Glympses stay visible for 48 hours. To remove one immediately, delete it in the Recents screen of the app (Glympse).

How Life360 works, step by step

1. Install Life360 and create a Circle.
2. Scroll to the bottom of your Circle member list and tap Add a person, then Send Code. Life360 says invite codes expire after 72 hours (Life360).
3. Each person downloads Life360 and creates an account.
4. To stop sharing in one Circle: Settings > Location Sharing, then turn the toggle off. The Circle sees "Location Sharing Paused" (Life360).

What the paid tiers cost: Life360's US App Store listing shows Silver Membership $9.99, Gold Membership $16.99 and Platinum Membership $24.99 among its in-app purchases, without naming the billing period; more on Life360 cost. Glympse's Premium items on the same store, such as Premium Share Single Monthly $9.99, are aimed at businesses and events.

Troubleshooting: the dot isn't moving

Glympse link not updating

Glympse says sharing can stall when GPS loses signal (weak cell signal, weather, buildings), and that it turns location sharing off when the phone's battery gets low. To check, add yourself as a recipient, open the link in Safari or Chrome and see if your path updates; then check that Location Services is on and Glympse has location permission (Glympse).

Life360 location not updating

Life360 asks for location set to Always with Precise Location on: on iPhone in Settings > Life360 > Location; on a Pixel in Settings > Location > Life360 > Allow all the time; on a Samsung Galaxy in Settings > Location > App permissions > Life360 > Allow all the time, plus Use precise location (Life360). More fixes: location not updating.

Warden — best overall for adults who share every day (top pick)

Warden sits between a 12-hour link and a family safety suite. It's a location-sharing app for iPhone and Android where both people choose to share, for partners, friends, family and roommates who want to know the other got home without asking.

• Ongoing, but honest. Sharing starts off; only the person sharing can switch it on, on their own phone. Pause anytime and the circle sees "Paused", with no location and no battery.
• Arrive and leave alerts for unlimited places, so "home safe?" texts stop.
• Quick messages like "On my way" and "Got home safe", plus check-ins and circle chat.
• Locate now: ask for a fresh position on request.
• SOS to your circle, battery level, 30 days of history that deletes itself.
• Private. Data stored in the EU, no ads, no data selling, no listening feature.
• One plan for the circle of up to 10; people you invite join free, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.

Start a circle in Warden

1. Install Warden on your iPhone or Android phone and create a circle.
2. Send the invite code; it's valid for 7 days and renews automatically.
3. Each person enters the code on their own phone; you approve each join request.
4. Each person reads the consent screen and switches sharing on.
5. Add places like home and work so arrive and leave alerts start.

Which one should you choose?

Where Warden doesn't fit

For a one-off link to someone who won't install anything, Glympse is the better tool; Warden needs everyone in the circle to join. For crash detection, emergency dispatch or towing, Life360 is the one; Warden's SOS reaches your circle only. Warden has no free version, and it can't show anyone who hasn't joined and switched sharing on.

FAQ

Is Glympse better than Life360?

For temporary sharing, yes: Glympse sends a link that anyone can open without an app and that expires on its own. For an always-on family circle with place alerts and safety services, Life360 does more. For adults who share every day, Warden (top pick) fits better than both.

Is Glympse free?

Glympse says it is "free to use, with optional Premium features for events and businesses". Premium items on the US App Store are aimed at branded shares and public event maps.

How long can a Glympse last?

Glympse's help center says a Glympse can initially last up to 12 hours and can be extended back to 12 hours at any time, so you can keep one going as long as you keep extending it.

Does the other person need Glympse to see my location?

No. Glympse says viewers can follow your link "from any device, no app needed". Private Groups are different: members need a Glympse account and groups can't be viewed in a browser.

Does Glympse keep my location history?

Glympse says expired Glympses stay visible for 48 hours and are then permanently deleted, unless you delete them sooner in the Recents screen.

Does Glympse work on Android?

Yes. Glympse is on Google Play, and its listing says it "works across Android and iOS".

What is a good Glympse alternative for everyday sharing?

Warden (top pick), if you want ongoing sharing with arrival alerts across iPhone and Android. For one-off sharing, Google Maps can also send a link that lasts up to 24 hours.