Top 7 GPS Tracker Apps for Android to Log Your Coordinates

The purpose of a GPS tracker is to identify, lock down, and then track an object. It can be a person, car, place or anything that has been tagged by a GPS device. It is also used to log useful information. I have a poor sense of direction and tend to forget which way to go in the parking lot all the time. I am happy to say I am not the only one though.

If you are like me, you will find these GPS tracker apps for Android useful in those tricky situations.

1. Glympse

Glympse forever changed the way you share your location with friends and family members. It is so simple, my grandmother could use it. The way it works is simple. You can send a Glympse, as the developers like to call it, to anyone.

The app will create a link that you can share with anyone. The recipient need not have the Glympse app installed. He/she will only need an active Internet connection to view your location. Sweet.

What I like about the app is the ability to create a temporary location link. So, after the set time expires, the recipient will no longer be able to view or track you. There is no sign up process involved. The app is free and there are no ads.

I used it to call all my friends to this amazing (read scary) ride in Imagica last week. It’s a theme park in Mumbai.

Download Glympse – Share GPS Location

2. GPS Logger

GPS Logger is a cool little app with a very very red interface for some reason. The app will log your coordinates, location, and altitude in a kml or gpx file. GPS Logger made the list because it is open source and free. No ads.

You can create placemarks to tell others where you are at. The altitude can be corrected manually if the autocorrect fails to update using NGA EGM96 Earth Geoid Model. In my experience, you will need to use the manual one because sometimes it may not connect.

It will also measure speed and distance traveled which can be useful later. Finally, the results can be seen in Google Earth which makes the route look way cooler.

Download GPS Logger

3. Family Locator

While Glympse makes it easy to share your location with others temporarily, Family Locator makes it easy to track your family members on the move.

You begin by creating a group called Circle where you can add your better half, and the kids. You can also use this for friends. The app will then show their location in real-time. What I like about the app is that you can also chat with them.

The app will notify you when the person concerned reaches his/her destination. You can also use the app to find your mobile devices if you haven’t registered it on Google already.

The app is intelligent can notify family members or friends in emergency situations like a car crash. Family Locator does it by analyzing and recording your driving habits.

The free version will allow only 2 check-ins while the pro version, with all features unlocked, will cost you $2.99/month.

Download Family Locator – GPS Tracker

4. GPX Viewer – Tracks, Routes & Waypoints

GPX Viewer will turn your droid into a GPS navigator in no time. It will help you track waypoints, routes, and locations using kml and gpx. You can quickly annotate and mark your map in different colors and markers to help others find and connect with you.

GPX Viewer was built for those who regularly find themselves going on tracking and field trips. Outdoorsy type? You will love this app.

You can also log your coordinates, speed, elevation, distance, temperature, and even heart rate. I am in the habit of using Google Maps as my de facto choice of navigation app. You might have other favorites. GPX Viewer plays nice with all of them. A real team player!

The pro version costs $5.49, will allow you to save maps and data offline for when you are deep inside the Amazon rain-forests or when there are connectivity issues. It will also use OpenStreetMap.

Download GPX Viewer – Tracks, Routes & Waypoints

5. Life360

Another way to use GPS technology is to keep an eye out for your family members and keep them safe. Life360 is a popular app that allows you to track your friends and family members in real-time on a map. You will receive notifications when they arrive at the destination if they so choose.

A noteworthy feature is the ability to send a silent SOS with your location in case you are trapped or facing some emergency. Life360 will detect car crashes and send help to the location automatically. This is part of Family Safety Assist, including towing, medical help, and even disaster response.

All of this cannot be offers for free. You will have to subscribe to their family plan that will cost you $4.17 per month billed annually. A small price for the safety of your entire family. One of the best GPS tracker apps for Android and even iOS users.

Interesting: 3 women had to be rescued in the middle of the night from a boat launch… Why? Because the GPS device on their rented Merc SUV told them to go there instead of a hotel in Bellevue.

Download Life360

6. Open GPS Tracker

Love Twitter? Like to record audio and video along with your tracking details or maybe add a picture? Open GPS Tracker can do all of this which is why I decided to share it here.

Apart from logging your coordinates from your Android, you can also share a summary of the events in a tweet. The app will allow you to record your adventurous journey in images, audio, and video format. There is also a way to add text if you like messages.

The app is free to download and comes without ads.

Download GPS Tracker

7. Find My Device

Not exactly a logger but more of a dedicated tracker, Find My Device is a GPS tracker app by Google. As the name suggests, you should install and use this app to find your Android smartphone. I installed it on my mom’s phone because she keeps forgetting it everywhere.

You can make it ring, send a custom message to flash on screen, wipe data on device and SD card, and locate the device on a map. Again, totally free one.

Download Find My Device

Follow My Lead

These are some of the best GPS loggers and trackers for Android smartphone users. There exist different GPS apps for different uses and scenarios. Whether you are traveling to new holiday destinations or want to keep an eye on your family members, there are dedicated GPS solutions to help you achieve just that. Note that the more apps you have on your phone using GPS, the faster your battery will deplete. Use them on a need to use basis instead of getting all of them.