There’s a way out of this: voluntary location sharing apps. These apps are specially designed to give access about your specific location to your friends and family when you want. The apps support live updates so your friends can see you inching towards them with time. Some of the apps generate a unique link accessible from any browser, which means your friends don’t need to be using the same mobile OS as you. Which are the best apps? Read on to find out.
1. Glympse
Open the app (iOS, Android) and tap the big G icon to get started. Tap the send a glympse button. Here you can select the phone number or email of the friend you want to share your location with. The link auto expires after a set time. The default is 30 minutes and the max share time is 4 hours. From the bottom menu you can select the destination if you want. That’s it. The receiving party will be given a link that will stop updating after the set time.
2. Jink
Jink is a cross-platform app (iOS, Android) made specifically to solve the problem of location sharing when meeting up with someone. Both parties can set the destination, join meet-ups and once you’ve reached the destination, the tracking stops automatically. Jink allows you to track multiple parties on the same map.
3. Life360
Life360 (iOS, Android) is a family tracking app that, depending on your point of view, is either the best app ever or the worst. Life360 lets you track every move your family member makes, quite literally, all the time. Thankfully they need to have the app installed, GPS enabled, and opt into the tracking. Use this app if you’re pretty close with your family or have a young child with a smartphone. Just don’t suggest this idea to your angsty teenager, or if you do, don’t tell them you got it from me!
4. Find My Friends – Only For iOS Devices
If all your friends and family members only use Apple devices, you can use Apple’s own Find My Friends app. It’s not as detailed or responsive as Glympse or Jink but it will pinpoint the location of your friends. Send an invitation via email to request location sharing permissions for any of your friends or family members. The app has an option to temporarily share/disable location sharing if you truly want to go off the grid.
