The 10 Best Real-Time GPS Trackers of 2022

• People want to use a GPS tracker for a wide variety of reasons, many of which are not malicious or illegal.
• Tracking a new teen driver or an elderly parent with dementia may give you peace of mind and help boost your confidence in their ability to drive alone.
• There are many trackers on the market, some of which are discreet and others which must be plugged in to a vehicle.
• Consider what features you need, as well as upfront cost and monthly subscription fees when choosing a real-time GPS tracker.

Whether you want to track your teenage driver’s location, your luggage’s whereabouts on a flight, or track your movements on a hike, a real-time GPS tracker is the best solution. A GPS tracker is battery operated, and you can use it to track another person’s movements discreetly.

A quick note: If you want to monitor a person’s online activity – not their whereabouts – you’re looking for something a bit different – mobile monitoring apps.

You can attach the device to the chassis frame of the vehicle, place it in a console, or carry it in your pocket. Most models let you track another person’s location on a digital map and receive status alerts on their location, speed, and driving habits. Some models also let you monitor a live audio feed.

In this article, we review the key features to consider when choosing a real-time GPS tracker and the best ones on the market.

Shutterstock

Key Features to Look for in a GPS Tracker

Before buying a GPS tracker, consider the following features, as well as any others you’re concerned about:

Taking these into consideration, we’ve reviewed the top ten real-time GPS trackers currently available to consumers.

Shutterstock

1. Optimus 2.0 GPS Tracker

Best Value GPS Tracker for Cars

The Optimus 2.0 GPS tracker has a host of safety features and an attractive price point. You can hide it discreetly in a door pocket or glove box without being noticed. This GPS tracker comes with a water-proof magnetic case that you can attach to the chassis frame or bumper.

You can use the companion app to track real-time location, set alerts when the car goes out of range, and access driving reports. The app also allows you to change real-time tracking from 60 seconds to less than 30 seconds. Optimus 2.0 comes with a rechargeable battery that lasts up to two weeks on a full charge.

The Optimus 2.0 GPS tracker has subscription plans that start at $19.95 per month.

Pros

• Magnetic case
• SOS button for emergency alert
• Up to 10 seconds of real-time tracking
• Sends alerts if the car goes out of range

Cons

• Only available for use in the U.S. and Canada

Screenshot: optimustracker.com

2. Spytec GPS GL300 GPS Tracker

Most Popular GPS Tracker

The Spytec GL300 is a popular GPS tracker that you can use to track elderly parents or unruly teenage drivers. Its companion mobile app allows you to create a geofence, and send notifications if the vehicle enters or leaves the designated location. You also get an alert for excessive speeding.

This GPS tracker has an integrated battery that can last up to 20 days, but you can buy additional batteries to replace the current unit when it runs out of power. However, the magnetic casing is sold separately.

Spytec GPS GL 300 requires a subscription, with plans start at $24.95 per month for a basic plan.

Pros

• Has an SOS button
• Uses 4G for satellite tracking
• Email and SMS alerts
• Long battery life

Cons

• Magnetic case sold separately
• Has limited alerts

Screenshot: Spytec

3. Americaloc GL300 MXW

Best Premium Tracker for Vehicles

This real-time GPS tracker sends more alerts than any other tracker we’ve covered; it sends geofence alerts, excessive speed, harsh driving, when the car is turned off or on, and it also alerts to bad weather. It offers real-time tracking in 60, 30, 20, and 10 increments. It has an SOS button for emergency alerts.

You can set up a geofence, monitor vehicle movements, and check the battery life. Americaloc GL300 has an integrated rechargeable battery that lasts up to two weeks and provides different power modes that you can use to prolong the battery life.

This GL300 GPS tracker requires a $25 monthly subscription fee, but you get two free months upon purchase.

Pros

• A higher number of alert
• Email and SMS alerts
• Provides one-year travel history
• Available for international use
• Two free months on service purchase

Cons

• Optional magnetic case
• Pricey

Screenshot: Americaloc.com

4. LandAirSea 54 GPS Tracker

This GPS tracker is built to withstand tough weather conditions when mounted on the exterior of a vehicle. Its waterproof casing protects the device from water, dust, and sunlight so that it can last a long time. It has an internal high strength magnet that allows you to conceal the tracker in the bumper or wheel well.

The companion app gives users real-time tracking that can be set to send updates every 3 seconds to 3 minutes. It sends multiple alerts like geofence alerts, speed alerts, low battery alerts, and InstaFence alerts. The in-built battery can last up tosix6 months on the low power mode.

A unique addition to the LandAirSea 54 GPS tracker is the ShareSpot feature. This feature allows users to share the device location with family and friends for quick action in emergencies.

LandAirSea 54 requires a monthly subscription, with pricing starting at $19.95 per month for 3-minute updates and $49.95 per month for a 3-second update plan.

Pros

• Long battery life
• Dark mode, with lights turned off
• Unique ShareSpot feature
• Integrated high-strength magnet for quick mounting

Cons

• Long update interval for the cheapest plan

Screenshot: LandSeaAir

5. Bouncie GPS Tracker

This GPS tracker offers real-time tracking updates every 15 seconds, and you can receive alerts for the geofence, hard braking, and other driving habit information. It plugs into any OBD port, and it does not need a rechargeable battery for power.

Bouncie GPS tracker provides diagnostic information on your vehicle’s condition. You can monitor the gas levels, annual emissions inspections, and other vehicle maintenance issues. This tracker is Alexa-compatible, and you can use Alexa to check gas levels and mileage.

This GPS tracker requires a monthly fee of $8, making it one of the cheapest GPS tracking plans.

Pros

• Impact detection for accidents
• Detects vehicle diagnostic issues
• No battery required
• Cheap monthly fees

Cons

• High one-time fee
• Frequent glitches with Alexa

Screenshot: Bouncie.com

6. MOTOSafety GPS Tracker

Best for Teen Drivers

If you want to track the driving habits of a teen driver, you can use the MOTOSafety GPS tracker. This tracker offers real-time tracking of their speed, direction, and location. You will receive alerts for harsh braking, speeding, geofences entry and exit, excessive idling, and rapid acceleration. It does not need a battery; just plug it into the OBDII port to power.

You can use the mobile app to set up geofencing and receive customizable location alerts. This app also allows you to set up curfew rules, making it easier to set a routine for your teenage daughter or son. You can access monthly driving reports to see any unsafe driving habits like harsh braking, speeding, and rapid starts.

A unique feature of the MOTOSafety GPS tracker is the driving coach program. This program provides access to education content on safe driving, and short questions to prepare them for a driving test.

This GPS tracker has a subscription fee of $19.50 per month.

Pros

• Enforces curfew rules
• Has a driving coach program
• No battery required
• Month driving report card

Cons

• Sensitive to acceleration
• Not discreet

Screenshot: Motosafety.com

7. Vyncs Link GPS Tracker

Best GPS Tracker for Company Fleet

Vyncs GPS tracker is good for monitoring several family cars, or a fleet of commercial cars. You can track the vehicle in real-time to see updates on the vehicle speed, location, cases of device tampering, etc. This tracker also tracks engine diagnostic and maintenance needs to help resolve issues before they become dangerous.

You can use this GPS tracker in over 200 countries, and you can use a single model on the entire fleet to reduce costs. The real-time tracker sends updates every 15, 30, or 60 seconds. The default refresh rate is 3 minutes. It does not require a battery; just plug it into the OBDII port.

Vyncs has a one-time activation fee of $39.99 and an annual renewal fee of $79.93.

Pros

• A low annual subscription fee
• Engine diagnostic alerts
• No battery required
• Can be used in 200+ countries

Cons

• Charges an activation fee
• Long refresh rate

Screenshot: Vyncs.com

8. Logistimatics Mobile-200 GPS Tracker

Best for Audio Monitoring

This GPS tracker allows you to monitor live audio from the vehicle through a dedicated phone number. If the driver is unreachable on their cell phone, you can use the live audio stream to know what is going on and provide information to emergency workers.

The mobile app lets you set up a geofence and you’ll receive an alert when the vehicle exits the designated area. The tracker provides real-time updates every 30 minutes. Logistimatics Mobile-200 also includes a magnetic case that can be mounted on the wheel well, bumper, or chassis frame. It has an integrated rechargeable battery that lasts up to two weeks.

Logistimatics Mobile-200 has a subscription plan that starts at $24.95 per month.

Pros

• Live audio monitoring
• International use with the global SIM card
• A built-in magnetic case for quick mounting
• Long battery life

Cons

• Provides only 2 hours of free audio per month, after which you will be billed

Screenshot: logistimatics.com

9. Brickhouse Security GPS Tracker

Best for Long-term Tracking

If you are looking for a GPS tracker with extended battery life, the Brickhouse GPS Tracker is worth considering. This tracker has a built-in battery that lasts 15 days on standby, but you can get up to 140 days with the extended battery.

This tracker offers real-time tracking, and you can get speed and location updates every 60 seconds. You can set up geofences in the free mobile app so that you receive an alert when your cargo vehicle or teen driver exits the designated area or exceeds the speed limit. It comes with a magnetic case that you can attach to the vehicle for discreet tracking.

Brickhouse Security requires a subscription, which starts at $17.99 per month when billed annually.

Pros

• Panic button for emergencies
• Magnetic casing
• Long-lasting battery
• Available in North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico)

Cons

• Limited number of alerts
• Pricey

Screenshot: BrickhouseSecurity.com

10. PETFON Pet GPS Tracker

Best Real-Time GPS Tracker for Pets

If you are looking to track your pet’s movements, you can use the PETFON Pet GPS Tracker. This GPS tracker comes with two modules, the tracker and the control terminal. The tracker is attached to the dog collar, while the control terminal is carried by the owner.

You can track your pet’s movements in real-time to see their current location, and the distance covered. If your pet gets lost, you can use the Rada searching feature in the device to know their likely location and direction. You can also set up multicolor alerts to emit colored lights in dim lighting for easy tracking.

This pet tracker is compact, and only measures 42 mm long. Its battery lasts up to 16 hours, but you can recharge it using the included charging station.

PETFON GPS tracker does not charge subscription fees. Once you purchase this device, you won’t be required to pay additional fees for continuous service.

Pros

• No monthly fees
• Anti-lost radar search
• Customizable voice commands
• Multicolor alerts for night time

Cons

• High one-time fee
• Low battery life

Screenshot: Petfon.com