The Best Google Latitude Alternatives for Real-Time Location Sharing
Remember Google Latitude? This innovative location-aware mobile app from Google allowed users to easily share their real-time location with friends and family. It was integrated directly into Google Maps and offered granular control over privacy, letting you share anything from an exact location to just your city, or even turn off sharing entirely. While Google Latitude served its purpose well for many years, it has since been discontinued. If you're looking for a reliable way to keep track of loved ones or share your whereabouts, you'll need a modern Google Latitude alternative. Fortunately, there are many excellent options available today.
Top Google Latitude Alternatives
Whether you prioritize privacy, social features, or simple, temporary sharing, there's a Google Latitude alternative out there for you. Here are some of the best picks to help you stay connected.
foursquare
Foursquare is a well-known social network that helps you explore your city and discover new places. While it's evolved beyond simple check-ins, its core still revolves around location-based interactions and sharing. It's a free platform available on Web, Android, iPhone, Blackberry, Telegram, Windows Phone, Apple Watch, Kindle Fire, and Pebble, offering features like GPS Location Tracking, IFTTT integration, and a robust social network aspect, making it a good choice for those who enjoyed the social discovery side of Google Latitude.
BuddyPress
BuddyPress is a unique Google Latitude alternative for those looking to build their own social network. It's a free, open-source, and self-hosted plugin for WordPress, allowing you to create a community for your company, school, or niche group. While not a direct location-sharing app, its emphasis on a custom social network with an iTunes-like user interface means you can tailor it to your specific needs, potentially integrating location features if you have the technical know-how.
Glympse
Glympse offers a straightforward and private way to share your location in real-time, making it an excellent Google Latitude alternative for temporary sharing. It's a free app available on Android, iPhone, Blackberry, Android Tablet, Windows Phone, iPad, Android Wear, and Kindle Fire. What sets Glympse apart is its simplicity – no sign-up or social network management is needed. You simply send a Glympse to anyone via email or SMS, and it includes features like GPS Location Tracking and real-time updates.
OwnTracks
OwnTracks is an open-source and free location companion that allows you to keep a private diary of your location or share it with trusted individuals like family. Available on Android, iPhone, and Apple Watch, it emphasizes privacy and control. While the JSON data indicates "No features added," its open-source nature means advanced users can customize and integrate it with other services for a tailored location-tracking experience, much like the control Google Latitude offered.
Life360 Family Locator
Life360 Family Locator is a popular freemium Google Latitude alternative designed for families to stay connected. Available on Android, iPhone, and Blackberry, it offers invite-only circles for private location sharing and notifications about location changes. Key features include GPS Location Tracking, IFTTT integration, an integrated chat, location-based alerts, and social network capabilities, making it a comprehensive tool for family safety and communication.
Pathshare
Pathshare is a beautiful and simple app designed for real-time location sharing, offering a safe experience akin to what users appreciated about Google Latitude. It's a free platform accessible via Web, Android, iPhone, and Android Tablet. Pathshare provides GPS Location Tracking, group collaboration, location-based services, real-time updates, and social network integration, making it ideal for coordinating with friends or colleagues.
Mapple.me
Mapple.me aims to enhance real-life social contacts by bridging the gap between available time and friend availability using your mobile device. This free Android app focuses on connecting you with friends nearby and includes a chat feature. While its direct location-sharing specifics aren't detailed, its emphasis on real-time social interaction based on proximity makes it a noteworthy Google Latitude alternative for casual meetups.
Viewbubble
Viewbubble is a free geolocation application for Android that helps you see who is around you right now and where to find them online. Available on Web and Android, it scans your vicinity to provide a list of nearby users. While its primary feature is listed as "Dating," its underlying geolocation capabilities position it as a potential Google Latitude alternative for discovering people in your immediate area.
cYou cMe
cYou cMe is a freemium app for iPhone and iPad that allows you to invite people to a session and share your locations in real-time. It offers mutual real-time location visibility, ensuring everyone knows where others are. With its focus on real-time sharing within a defined session, it provides a simple and effective social network for temporary location coordination, similar to the quick sharing Google Latitude offered.
PocketLocator
PocketLocator offers a unique approach by allowing you to update your location on your website directly from your mobile device. It's a freemium web-based service that provides 10 free updates per day. While it doesn't offer a built-in social network like some other alternatives, its focus on easily publishing your location, supported by mobile apps, can be useful for individuals or businesses looking for a simple, web-integrated location sharing solution.
With a diverse range of options from comprehensive family locators to temporary sharing apps and even self-hosted solutions, you can find the perfect Google Latitude alternative to suit your specific needs for location sharing and connectivity. Explore these options to discover the best fit for you and your circle.