Technology does not stand still. More and more achievements appear in this niche every day. This includes remotely tracking someone’s location with a phone number.
You don’t need to hire a detective or follow someone physically. Tracking a cell phone’s location is not rocket science as long as you have the right app and the knowledge to use it.
This article contains the most informative data about monitoring applications and other ways to know someone’s location, including top paid and free options.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- Tracking a cell phone’s location is not rocket science as long as you have the right app and the knowledge to use it.
- To be able to monitor a child’s location and internet behaviors helps parents respond to possible threats and risks.
- uMobix is the only service that enables you to access and interact with a person’s account as if it were your own.
- While Whitepages can give you information, the data can be outdated. The cell phone location they give you may be from the number’s previous owner.
- You cannot do much without knowing the person’s Google account information.
- With Find My iPhone, you can find the exact location of your phone, ring it, and lock it if you know it has been lost.
Can You Find Someone’s Location by a Cell Phone Number?
As long as the number is registered, the short answer is yes.
In this lifetime, you’ll have situations where you need to track someone’s location. Sometimes, these result from compelling reasons like parental control. To be able to monitor a child’s location and internet behaviors helps parents respond to possible threats and risks.
| 📝 Note: Although tracking someone’s location through a mobile phone is technically possible, it’s not always legal. Unless you’re in law enforcement or have a valid reason to do so, it’s illegal to track the location of an adult without their consent. |
In the following sections, analyze in more detail all the ways to use the location-sharing feature to track someone’s phone.
3 Best Paid Apps to Track Someone’s Location with a Phone Number
You will encounter many options once you enter a search engine request for paid location monitoring applications with a phone number. Choosing the most worthwhile depends on your budget and your upcoming tracking targets.
Below are the three best tools in the market:
1. uMobix – The Best Choice to Track a Cell Phone Location and Much More
Thanks to its geofinder feature, uMobix has demonstrated its effectiveness in tracking a cell phone number for as low as $30. For many years, it has had regular users who respond only positively.
uMobix is also a good mix of a reasonable price and great functionality. Using it will allow you to receive real-time location reports and find many other features, like tracking social networks.
| 💡 Did You Know? uMobix is the only service that enables you to access and interact with a person’s account as if it were your own. With its service, you can: |
Generally, this phone tracking service is a great choice to track someone’s location with a phone number. You’ll see the benefits from the first seconds of using the site. Plus, it’s user-friendly.
2. GEOfinder – Track a Cell Phone For as Low as $1
If you want to track a cell phone, GEOfinder is another way to do so without installing software on the target phone for $39.99 monthly.
This phone tracker is an excellent website for tracking a cell phone’s location using text. It is also possible to customize the text so that someone is more inclined to open it.
| 📝 Note: You’ll get a 48-hour trial for just $1 if you want to test the services without breaking the bank. While some may wish the trial was free, you buy very few things with a dollar nowadays. |
The one downside to this service is that your target may ignore the text or refuse to turn on their location. There are no refunds if it doesn’t work like that. You must figure out how to entice a person for the location sharing to work.
For example, you may want to share a significant weather alert or craft another text message they can’t resist. Make its content irresistibly enticing, leaving them no possibility of saying no.
Overall, GEOfinder is an excellent software if you want to track someone’s location with a phone number and can’t install an app on their phone.
As long as you know their phone number and how to send a text they can’t resist opening, GEOfinder may be the next best thing to track locations because it’s pretty simple, and very few actions are required.
| 👍 Helpful Article: Browsers automatically impose geolocation services to detect your location and tailor your results. Fortunately, you can change your browser’s location to maintain privacy and avoid targeted ad displays. |
3. Whitepages – Obtain Instant Data About a Cell Phone Number
Whitepages is a website that has been around since 1997, and it’s a great way to see who is calling you and what information about a person is available. If you keep getting calls from a number and wonder if it’s legitimate, Whitepages may be a good tool for only $4.99 monthly.
| 📝 Note: While Whitepages can give you information, the data can be outdated. The cell phone location they give you may be from the number’s previous owner. Many also tested this service, and its information was often inaccurate. |
Despite its data inaccuracy, Whitepages remains one of the great ways to track down someone who scammed you. Although it’s a bit archaic, it’s worth checking out if you need help with where to look next.
As of 2020, someone can request their information to be removed from Whitepages. If the person you want to track is skilled at covering their tracks, Whitepages may not be the most effective tool at your disposal.
Top 3 Apps to Track A Cell Phone Location for Free (Android-Based)
If your target has an Android phone, here are some ways to track a phone and find the exact location on Google Maps:
1. Google Maps – Popular Method of Finding Someone’s Current Location for Free
You can request the person to share their real-time location using Google Maps through the location-sharing feature. Alternatively, if they are willing, you can briefly borrow their phone and add your email to the list of authorized users to access their location information.
| 📝 Note: You cannot do much without knowing the person’s Google account information. If you log in, you can see their location history and learn more information about where they have been. However, it’s not the most discreet phone tracking method, as it may trigger a person’s two-factor authentication. |
You must confirm the login via a person’s phone to log in. If you don’t have the target’s phone, you may be unable to do it and alert the person that you’re trying to track them.
Bear in mind that if they have enabled two-factor authentication (2FA), this can pose a problem, especially if you don’t have access to their phone to track their location for free.
2. Find My Device – Used for Locating an Android Phone (Find and Manage Your Child’s Location)
Find My Device lets you see where your phone is with its detailed GPS location tracking and the ability to ring a device from anywhere.
It can also be an excellent way to track someone’s mobile phone. You need to have someone’s account information and be sure to log on without triggering any alerts.
It’s also a great location-sharing app if you have a family plan, as you see where your kids are without using their phones. Setting up your child’s account there is a breeze, allowing you to track them at your convenience.
| 📝 Note: Using Find My Device alerts the device being tracked. If you’re the one who gets this kind of alert, it’s a good idea to change your password and enable two-step verification on your Google account. |
3. Where’s My Droid – A Phone Tracking App for Your Phone
Where’s My Droid is a phone tracking app different from other spy apps, as it’s exclusively for your phone. This is especially helpful if your phone gets lost, as you can track its location by phone number.
This phone tracker app has a premium version if you wish to track someone’s location with a phone number with more features. You won’t necessarily need the paid version, but it’s affordable to other tracker apps if you do.
A yearlong plan costs less than $10 a year, which is quite surprising. With so many apps charging hundreds annually, you can’t go wrong if you want to try it.
Top 3 Apps to Track Cell Phone Number Location for Free (iPhone)
If you’re an iPhone user, these three powerful tools are an effective way to locate a lost phone or keep tabs on the whereabouts of your loved ones:
1. Find My iPhone – Used to Track an Apple Device’s Location
It works similarly to Android’s Find My Device counterpart. It is necessary to log into someone’s iCloud account and see where their iPhone is.
With this app, you can find their exact location, ring the phone, and lock it if you know it has been lost.
| 📝 Note: Find My iPhone lacks any discreteness. It may alert your target if they have two-factor authentication, so use it wisely. |
2. iCloud Location Tracking
iCloud Location Tracking is similar to Find My iPhone, where you see someone’s activities if you know their iCloud account credentials. You’ll also need access to their phone if they have two-factor authentication turned on.
Once logged into iCloud, click on the “Find iPhone” icon. A map will appear, displaying the location of all the devices connected to that Apple ID.
The device’s location will be displayed in real-time on the map. You can zoom in, zoom out, or switch between different map views to better understand its whereabouts.
3. Find My Friends
Find My Friends lets you share your location with loved ones. Although it doesn’t offer the ability to track someone’s location with just a phone number, Find My Friends can be extremely useful in coordinating meetups or sharing your location with others.
Find My Friends can be a fantastic tool if you want to connect with someone or let them know where you’re located. However, someone can fake their location with this app, so take all locations carefully. You may want another solution if you can’t find the person.
Final Thoughts
The ever-evolving technology has made mobile phone tracking commonly available to law enforcement and regular citizens.
There are various ways to track a cell phone’s location for free. If you want to take advantage of advanced features, you also have the option to pay for the service for as low as a dollar.
While tracking a location isn’t entirely legal, it can be a relief to know there’s something you can use if your phone gets lost or if you want to know the whereabouts of your family and friends.
| 👍 Helpful Article: If you’re on the other side of the fence and worried about being monitored without your consent, there are five ways to know if someone is snooping on your mobile devices. |
FAQs
Is it illegal to track someone’s location with a phone number?
Tracking your child’s location under 18 years old is generally considered legal. However, if you are monitoring someone else without their permission, this may not be legal. It would be best if you did your research to ensure that you are in the legal clear.
Can you track someone’s location with a phone number if the phone is turned off?
One can’t track someone’s phone when it’s turned off since the cell phone tower stops sending signals to the phone.
Can you track someone’s location by their IP address?
Many IP addresses can tell you valuable information, such as someone’s ISP and the city they are in. However, you cannot determine someone’s exact location through an IP address, only what city they are in.
Can you track a phone without installing an app?
Several websites let you see a phone’s current location without spy apps. One example is GEOfinder, which can send a text to the target phone asking to turn their location on.
By Harsha Kiran
Harsha Kiran is the founder and innovator of Techjury.net. He started it as a personal passion project in 2019 to share expertise in internet marketing and experiences with gadgets and it soon turned into a full-scale tech blog with specialization in security, privacy, web dev, and cloud computing.