2018 Best Wearable GPS Trackers for Kids Buyers Guide

Being a parent is hard. Being a parent to a child with autism or other disabilities can be even harder. There are many known cases where children with disabilities will wander away, often getting lost. AngelSense was created with one purpose in mind: to help protect these children. Beyond the plethora of tracking capabilities—from safety-zone setup to 30-second updates—AngelSense’s Listen-In function lets parents listen to how their child’s day is going, ensuring they’re not mistreated, neglected, or lost.

Read one mom’s full review of the AngelSense Kids GPS Tracker.

Fitting in matters to most kids—from the way they talk to the way they dress. And although GPS trackers for kids come in all shapes and sizes, the hereO GPS watch is the way to go when it comes to aesthetics. The variety of vibrant colors appeals to your child’s fashion sense, while the slender design makes it comfortable for all-day wear. And with real-time tracking, proximity alerts, safety-zone setup, location history, and more—you’ll have the safest and most fashionable kid on the block.

Kids love rewards—and now their GPS watch can help you promote good behavior. The AmbyGear Smartwatch does more than track your kids—it keeps them busy throughout the day with fun games and learning activities. Every time your kid does something right, the watch rewards them with positive reinforcement and points. And unlike other tracking devices for kids, this locator lets your kids track you too. This feature can come in handy anytime your child feels panicked or scared.

Weenect works in over 100 countries; however, it’s not available in the US and Canada. But this locator’s advanced tracking capabilities grabbed our attention. With a live map, compass, and distance countdown tracking, the Weenect child GPS tracker delivers unmatched location accuracy, which provides strong peace of mind if you’re on vacation or live outside the US or Canada. Along with safety zone setup, a panic button, and two-way calling capabilities, this device covers all the must-haves that a kid needs to feel safe. It also comes with a long battery life—up to seven days—so you won’t have to worry about the device dying while your kid is away.

Sometimes the only thing your kid wants to do is jump in the pool—but pools can often lead to accidental drownings. That’s where My Buddy Tag comes in. Like many other tracking devices for kids, My Buddy Tag helps you track your child when they’re out of sight. But one of the features that makes it stand out is its alert system. When the band is submerged in water for five consecutive seconds, it sends out a notification—helping to keep your kid safe when they’re playing in the pool.

Parenting and budgeting often go hand in hand. Lineable is a budget-friendly GPS tracker for kids, but it comes with no additional features. One of the most unique things about this device is its crowdsourcing GPS. Anyone with the Lineable Application, within range of the device, can assist parents in locating their missing child. While this is a unique and trailblazing function, it works only if people actually download the app.

As a parent, you do your best to keep your children safe, but you can’t anticipate everything. Sometimes the unexpected happens—and child GPS trackers like Amber Alert can help reduce the chances of worrisome scenarios. With impressive features like location tracking, alerts, and speed detection, the Amber Alert GPS locator helps you keep tabs on your child’s whereabouts at all times. It even taps into the National Sex Offender Database to show whether your child is within 500 feet of a sex offender, so you can potentially prevent a crime before it takes place.

There you are, enjoying the day at a theme park, when you turn around to see your child is missing. You frantically scour the area as panic begins to set in. Crowded areas are one of the toughest places to find a child—especially if they’re too young to talk. If you have a toddler that just started walking, Trax Play is the solution for you. With simple features and functionality, Trax Play is a no-frills option for finding your child. It can easily be clipped onto a belt loop or slipped into your child’s pocket for all-day wear. However, since it doesn’t offer two-way communication, it’s best for checking in on younger children.

Most kids like imitating grownups—and the GizmoGadget allows them to feel a little more like an adult. Out of all the GPS tracking devices for kids on this list, the GizmoGadget is the closest to resembling the look and feel of an Apple smartwatch. With this GPS watch for kids, your kiddo can send texts and emojis and add up to ten contacts. Note that the GizmoGadget does not include any distractions because, as your kids will soon learn, being an adult is not all about fun and games.

Your little ones are the biggest part of your life, but you can’t be with them at all times. From daycare to after-school activities, your kids have a life of their own. The GizmoPal 2, the sibling of the more sophisticated GizmoGadget, lets your kids stay in touch with you, even when they’re away. The simple design and functionality make it easy for younger kids to know exactly what buttons to press if they need to reach you.

Losing a child is scary—losing a child abroad is a parent’s worst nightmare. And while most GPS wearables work well at home, the KiGO Watch stands out with the capability to track your child abroad. Not only is the lightweight, small design easy and comfortable to wear—you can now feel at ease while letting your child go sightseeing and explore the world.

Nothing is more reassuring to a lost child than seeing their parent’s face. And the dokiWatch is the first smartwatch for kids to make that possible. The built-in camera and integrated video calling capabilities make it easy for parents to see their children, no matter the distance. Your kids will also appreciate the virtual pet, which grows in strength the more active and healthy your kids are throughout the day.

TickTalk is a cellphone and child locator in one. Unlike most other trackers on our list, this GPS wearable can be used independently of a smartphone or other mobile device. Best of all, the calling interface is ideal for little fingers to operate, so it’s easy for your child to call for help if they need it. TickTalk also supports voice and text messages, and the band is comfortable enough for kids to wear in the classroom or on the playground.