Have you ever wondered if you could use Apple’s Find My Friends for Android phones? The Find My Friends application makes it easy to share your location with friends on Apple devices. But what if you wanted to explore sharing with your friends who use Android smartphones? Here, we will examine alternatives to the Find Friends app that facilitate location sharing between Android and iPhone devices.
Does Find My Friends Work between iPhone and Android?
No, Find My Friends does not work between iPhone and Android. It’s an exclusive app for sharing location within Apple’s ecosystem and requires an iCloud account to run. So, Android users cannot join, share, or view locations through the app. Also, Apple does not offer a Find My Friends app for Android. If you need to share your location with a non-iPhone user, you’ll need other Find My Friends alternatives, which we will talk about in the next section.
6 Best Find My Friends Alternatives for Android Users
Since you can’t use Apple Find My Friends on Android, you still need reliable alternatives to share your location with your friends and family. Now, let’s talk about these great alternatives, including their unique benefits and drawbacks.
Google Haritalar konum paylaşımı
Google Haritalar konum paylaşımı is a fantastic app that allows sharing between Android and iPhone users. Specifically, this app is designed for learning more about your location, getting directions to somewhere, or finding landmarks and services near you. For location sharing, everything happens with Google Maps. And all it requires is a Google account that can work on both operating systems.
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- It works with the Android ecosystem and only requires the Google Maps app to be downloaded and installed on both phones.
- Real-time location sharing with Google contacts.
- You can share your location both temporarily and indefinitely.
- It’s also easy to send directions to your loved ones based on your location or landmarks.
Eksileri
- Can’t work without a Google account.
- You can’t set alerts for specific locations.
- There are no geofencing alerts.
- The app does not show history or past location data.
LocatePhone family locator
Telefonu Bul is another delightful way to locate family and friends. You’ll love how this approach works independently of your phone brand, operating system, or network provider. So, you can enjoy a browser-based tracking solution that you can access from any device. This solution uses Wi-Fi, cellular data, and state-of-the-art GPS technology to provide real-time location tracking with impressive accuracy.
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- You can set up to track multiple family members without grouping them.
- LocatePhone does not require a standalone app. It works entirely from your browser.
- It works in stealth mode(with permission).
- You have a simple setup that only requires entering the target phone number to begin locating them.
Eksileri
- Can’t set up geofencing alerts
- There’s no free tier. It completely requires a paid subscription.
- You need internet access to check the location, as there is no offline mode.
Android Find My Friends
If you and your friends use Android smartphones exclusively, consider trying the Android Find My Friends app. This app allows real-time tracking on a clean and user-friendly interface. You also don’t have to set up Group circles. You can simply have your loved ones share their whereabouts with you and see their location at any moment. Plus, it works for both family and friends.
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- You can easily save your favorite locations and set up alerts for them.
- Real-time location updates for both family and friends.
- No complex permissions are needed; simply install and invite your loved ones to share their location.
Eksileri
- Only for Android (no IOS support)
- Ads in the free version.
- Sometimes, the location does not update until you use the app directly.
Google Aile Bağlantısı
Google Aile Bağlantısı allows you to create a circle with your family members to keep them safe while managing their digital habits. This app combines both location sharing and parental control in one app. All you need is a Google account and the Family Link set up to begin.
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- Parental controls to manage your children’s app access and screen time.
- Location history and real-time tracking.
- You can also automatically block inappropriate content on Google and Chrome.
Eksileri
- Only valid for parent-child tracking.
- Limited customization for older kids who might find the restrictions from Family Link too rigid.
- You also need children-specific Google accounts.
With carrier services
Some U.S mobile carriers also offer location tracking services. These are usually packaged as family tracking plans, allowing you to set up family members and friends to keep an eye on one another’s whereabouts. All this demands is using that specific network provider, and you can access their real-time location sharing and safety features for you and your loved ones.
- Verizon Akıllı Aile: Detailed activity reports plus location tracking and driver speed alerts for parents.
- AT&T Güvenli Ailesi: Simple tracking with geofencing, and it works on both IOS and Android.
- T-Mobile AilesiNerede: Affordable tracking for unlimited phone lines and geofencing alerts for pre-set locations.
- Sprint Safe& Found: Users can share location via text, send curfew alerts to kids, and enjoy an SOS button. Recently, Spring users have been integrated into T-Mobile.
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- Works even if GPS is turned off by using a cell tower.
- Most of these solutions bundle family location sharing and parental control for all-around management of your loved ones’ activities.
Eksileri
- Often requires downloading an additional tracking app to use.
- For these apps, you will need to check specifically if they provide advanced features like geofencing alerts, an SOS button, and driver habits detection.
- It would require everyone to be on the same network plan, or users not under that carrier might be limited.
Geozilla
GeoZilla uses machine learning algorithms to help families keep track of their loved ones. Hence, this is also a great alternative to the Find My Friends application. This application requires setting up apps on both Android and iOS phones to function correctly. That said, simply use their phone numbers to send a special download and invite button to your loved ones’ circle. And in no time, you’re all set up to begin sharing location.
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- AI-powered intelligent alerts to learn their routines and detect anomalies.
- Geofencing for custom safe and unsafe zone notifications.
- Works for both Android and iOS users.
- Comes with location history, driving habits alerts, and an SOS button.
Eksileri
- It can be expensive to use for tracking loved ones.
- Requires that you both install an app.
- Users often report occasional delays with tracking results.
How to set up the Find My Friends app on Android
To set up Find My Friends on Android, you can use the Free Google Maps app. This allows all friends using the Android smartphone to share their location. Plus, it will enable sharing with Apple users as long as they have a Google account and set up the Google Maps app on their phone. When you wish to share your location via Google Maps, here are the steps to take:
- Google Haritalar uygulamasını açın.
- Click the Profile avatar and navigate to “location sharing.”
- Next, click the “New share” button.
- Select the person you want to share with.
- Select the time duration (one hour, until the end of the day, or until turned off).
- You can also generate a link and share it with them using other apps like WhatsApp.
- Recipients will receive a notification on their own Google Maps app or via email. When they click on it, they will see your location on the Google Maps app.
SSS
What is the Samsung version of Find My Friends?
The Samsung version of Find My Friends is Samsung Find. This app also allows you to share your location with your friends and family. It’s also designed for locating your own misplaced Samsung devices. Also, remember that the Samsung Find works exclusively with Samsung smartphones.
Can you share the location between iPhone and Android?
Yes, you can share location between an iPhone and an Android, using apps like Google Maps. All you need is a Google account and the Google Maps application to set up. Another fantastic choice that does not require a Google account or downloading an app is LocatePhone. This smart real-time tracker helps you keep track of as many family members as possible from your browser.
How to track family members on Android?
You can set up the Google Family Link app, which allows you to share and track the locations of your loved ones in a group. All this requires is a Google account signed into their devices and location settings turned on to begin set up.
Çözüm
The Find My Friends app is exclusive to Apple users. But you still have great alternatives to share your location with your friends and loved ones. Many of these solutions work regardless of your phone’s operating system, brand, and more. Whether you want to coordinate meet-ups, keep your kids safe, or secure elderly loved ones, there’s an app for every scenario. And when you want a simple solution, try LocatePhone and you’ll never lose track of what matters most.
