The Best Kids GPS Trackers of 2024

We tested GPS trackers for kids—including kids smartwatches—to bring you our faves based on GPS tracking, location accuracy, alerts, portability and battery life. See why AngelSense is our best tracking device for kids.
Best overall
AngelSense
  • pro
    SOS button
  • pro
    1-day battery
  • pro
    Two-way calling
Smartwatch pick
Gabb Watch 3
  • pro
    SOS button
  • pro
    2-day battery
  • pro
    Approved contacts
Budget pick
Tack GPS
  • pro
    IoT connection
  • pro
    Smaller than a credit card
  • pro
    SIM card included

Want to keep your little one safe at school, play, and everywhere in between? The best GPS trackers for kids can help you keep tabs on your kiddos and ensure their safety with location tracking.

The AngelSense GPS tracker was designed for kids with special needs in mind. It has two-way talk, a listen-in function, transit alerts, and location updates to pinpoint your child when needed.

Gabb Watch 3 is a simple, wearable smartwatch with GPS tracking designed for kids, including IP68 water resistance and an ultra-strong Gorilla Glass 3 screen.

Our budget pick, Tack GPS, is a bite-sized device that has advanced indoor tracking that can even sense elevation and tell you which floor it's on. 



What is the best GPS tracking device for kids?

Product
Best for
Price
Monthly subscription
Max. battery life
Geofences
Two-way talk
Learn more
Best overall $44.99/mo.24 hours
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Smartwatch pick $17.99/mo.**48 hours
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Budget pick $3.00/mo.30 days
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo

Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
*Limited time deal.
**$30 activation fee. No contract required. $14.99/mo. with 1-yr. contract or $12.99/mo. with 2-yr. contract.

Reviews of the best kids' GPS trackers

1. AngelSense Kids’ GPS tracker: Best overall and for kids with disabilities

Best overall GPS tracker for kids

AngelSense GPS tracker is our overall favorite tracker for kids, but it comes with features like drop-in listening to its sensory sensitive wearing options which makes it perfect for kids with special needs and autism. 

As a small tracker or wristwatch, AngelSense allows kids their full range of motion while delivering accurate readings to parents in the app. 

Some our favorite features include Safe Ride monitoring for kids who take public transit or the school bus, near-instant location alerts, and a two-way talk feature. 

pro
Pros
pro Two-way calling and listen-in function
pro Transit alerts, including speed and ETA
pro Location updates every 10 seconds
con
Cons
con High monthly fees

Standout feature: Regular updates

AngelSense sends consistent updates throughout your day, so you can feel assured of your child's safety. Check in, listen in, and hold onto your peace of mind while your kids go about their day.

"My son eloped from school! We knew right away and found him so quickly!!" —Stephanie D., AngelSense customer

2. Gabb Watch 3: Smartwatch pick

Best value
Gabb watch 3
$144.99* + $14.99/mo

 *No contract required. $30 activation. New lines only.
Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Gabb Watch 3 is an affordable and simple watch with GPS tracking, no camera, and a digital pet helps motivate kids to stay active and complete chores. 

It's also one of the easiest kids smartwatches to set up since it comes with its own SIM card. Plus, Gabb is one of only two COPPA-certified devices on our list and the newest model (Gabb Watch 3) includes IP68 water resistance and an ultra-strong Gorilla Glass 3 screen to withstand whatever kids put it through.

pro
Pros
pro Geofencing and GPS tracking
pro SOS button
pro Wearable watch
pro Voice calls to parent-approved contacts
con
Cons
con No video calling
con Requires Gabb Wireless plan
Light Bulb
NEW: Gabb Music+

Along with smartwatches, Gabb also has kid-safe smartphones with its own music streaming service. Your kids can choose from family friendly libraries to create their own playlists and share with their friends. 

Gabb Watch 3 Review: Hands-on Testing

While testing the Gabb Watch 3, our tester took her son to a community event at a Botanical Garden to see how location tracking, calling and texting worked in a crowded place with a spotty cell connection. The cell connection worked fine when making a call or sending texts, which was great, but the gps locator was way off, which is not helpful if you're trying to pinpoint your child at a crowded event. Since they were able to call each other it wasn't an issue.

The battery only lasted about a day even though it says it should last 48 hours. However, when the battery is low, you get a notification, so that's helpful. As long as you remember to charge the watch at night it's not an issue and the new magnetic charger is super slick.

"My son loves his Gabb Watch. He likes the digital pet he can feed and take care of. Having the watch helps us feel more connected because we can send each other messages throughout the day. It's also been helpful to message him if I need to remind him that I'm picking him up early for an appointment."

—Krystal R., Gabb Watch 3 tester

3. Tack GPS: Budget pick

Budget pick
track gps tracker
Tack GPS
$59.25

 *Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

If you're looking for a GPS tracker that works for kids, vehicles, and even pets, Tack GPS is a low-budget option that works around the world. This super-simple GPS tracker trades some of the more kid-focused features for advanced location abilities. 

Along with GPS tracking, it also works with Wi-Fi and IoT to keep it accessible indoors and in areas with a poor cell signal. That IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity keeps the battery drain to a minimum, stretching it to 30 days between charges. 

From the Tack app, you can share your child's location and permissions with trusted adults such as your spouse, their grandparents, and other guardians. 

pro
Pros
pro Affordable monthly fee
pro SOS button
pro Colorful protective cases
pro Location history and geofences
con
Cons
con No two-way talk
con 2-minute updates max
con Limited wearing options

Tack has two GPS trackers available, both with similar abilities. The standard Tack tracker starts at $59 and works in over 30 countries. Or if you and your family travel often, you can opt for the $79 Global version that operates in over 185 countries

But what really won us over about Tack's pricing was its monthly plans, which start at $3.00 per month. However, that cost-cutting price needs to be paid up front with the device, leaving you with a hefty initial purchase and a year of service minimum. 

Bell
Watch smartwatches in the classroom

We like smartwatches to help keep kids and parents in touch, but your child's device might not be welcome in the classroom. Schools are concerned about distraction, privacy, and cheating.

Be sure to talk to your child's teacher or principal before sending them to school with a smartwatch. And you can help educators out—use parental controls (it's called "Do Not Disturb," or something similar) to shut down the device during class. 

Final Word: Best GPS tracker for kids

AngelSense is our top pick for the best kids' GPS trackers. We love its features for parents and kids with special needs, like the sensory-sensitive design. But it's also a handy device for anyone watching over small children or even older adults. Although its monthly price is the highest of the bunch, that price includes the confidence of constant location updates and quick access to your loved ones. 

Our other picks—Gabband Tack—are small but mighty. They all offer accurate location reporting using multiple methods beyond GPS, geofencing, and a mobile app to manage your settings. 

So whether you're sending your kids off to school on their own for the first time or going on a family outing together, GPS trackers are handy for parents with youngsters who are too little for their own devices. 

GPS tracker for kids FAQs

While helicopter parenting is rarely necessary, there are some cases that call for giving your child a GPS tracker. For example, a GPS device can help parents with kids who live in multiple households or have special needs keep tabs on their whereabouts. Toddlers and little tykes may also benefit from a small tracker on their shoelace or clothes in crowded places. 

Of course. GPS trackers use the same technology we have in our phones. Bluetooth, GPS locating, and cellular signals are the main methods these devices use.

Most charges last for a couple days. If you plan to use a tracker every day, charge it at night when they get home just like you would charge your cell phone. 

Geofencing is a feature found in many different types of GPS trackers. It allows you to draw digital boundaries around trusted areas like schools, homes, and neighborhoods. When your child enters or leaves that area, you’ll get a notification.

How we reviewed GPS trackers for kids

To get the best results for our lineup, we tested some of the best kids' GPS trackers ourselves.

We tested each for features like location accuracy (hide and seek, anyone?), portability, battery life, and tracking range. 

We also wanted to make sure we picked products kids actually wanted to use. So features like games and activity tracking earned extra points in our testing. 


Disclaimer 

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

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