Best Ways to Share Your Ride in Real Time with Family and Friends

Imagine knowing you’re always just a tap away from ensuring someone’s safety. Tracking their location isn’t just about staying connected; it’s about peace of mind, especially when every second counts. If something goes wrong, you’ll spot it early and act fast. And when you’re on a trip with friends, you can effortlessly keep track of each other’s journey, making sure no one’s ever left behind.

In today’s digital world, there are countless apps designed to help you track or share someone’s location in real time—and many of them are completely free.

With smartphones now our go-to travel companions, location tracking has never been more relevant. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been digging into the most reliable ways to track someone’s location with precision.

This guide will introduce you to the methods on how to share real-time location with your family or even friends, including third-party methods and other gadgets for more advanced location-based tracking to keep you safe and offer peace of mind.

If you are in a hurry and don’t want to read all the methods, you can view the quick table below listing all the methods in this guide. With that in mind, if you are ready, let’s get started.

How to Share Ride and Location Details in Real Time: Complete Guide

Method	How It Works	Best For
Share Live Details Using Maps	Use Google Maps or Apple Maps to share live trip and ETA	Everyday users
Share Location via Messaging Apps	Send live GPS location in WhatsApp, Messenger, or Telegram chats	Quick sharing
Share Trip Details in Ride Apps	Use built-in features in Uber, Ola to share ride status	Passengers
Use Family Safety Apps	Life360, Find My Kids offer tracking, alerts, SOS, geofencing	Families and parents
Use Dedicated GPS Devices	Hardware trackers like Airtag, Jiobit work without a smartphone	Kids, pets, elderly people
Use Temporary Link Apps	Glympse shares real-time location via temporary links	One-time, private use

There are plenty of methods you can use to track someone’s real-time location. These options include apps, services, and built-in features, and you can also use third-party hardware, in case you don’t have a smartphone. Let’s look at each method in detail, the process, the cost, and how to use it.

Using Google Maps

Google Maps is the most reliable and the best for sharing a ride route in real time with your family. It not only lets you share your location, but it can also let you share your live trip progress, including location, estimated time, and more. Your family or friends can see exactly where you are if you are on the expected route, and when you will arrive, all in real time.

Google Maps is a default application on most Android smartphones, so you don’t need to install any third-party apps. It also supports cross-platform sharing, meaning that you can also share your live progress with the other person if he has an iPhone.

You can also install Google Maps for free on your iPhone and share your location or get location updates in real time.

Here is how to use Google Maps to share the live trip with your family:

1. If you don’t have the Google Maps app, install it on your phone. For Android, you can visit the Play Store, and for iPhone, you can download it from the App Store for free.
2. If you are using it for the first time, open the app and sign in with your Google account.
3. Next, start the navigation. Open Google Maps, enter the destination, and tap on Start. If you are unfamiliar with the user interface, we have a detailed guide explaining what icons and symbols mean on Google Maps. You can visit and get familiar with the UI first.
4. Now, swipe up from the bottom information card when you are navigating, and select the option that says Share progress.
5. Tap on it and choose the recipient. Here, you can select a contact. Google Maps automatically shows your Google contacts, or you can share your ride location using other apps like SMS and WhatsApp.
6. Once you’ve selected it, click on Send to share the link and invite. If you have selected your Google contact, they will receive an in-app notification and can view your trip in Google Maps. If you choose the other app or method, the link will be sent, and they can open and track your journey in their browser or in Google Maps if the app is installed.
7. Your live location will be shared until you reach the destination. However, if you want to stop the location sharing in the middle, you can follow the same process, swipe up on the bottom, and tap on Stop sharing.

Download: Android | iPhone

Using Apple Maps

If you are in the Apple ecosystem, Apple Maps is the best option for sharing your real-time ride location with your family or friends. Like any other Apple app, Apple Maps is deeply integrated with the Apple ecosystem.

It lets you share your location automatically, including your estimated time of arrival and route, with your trusted contacts during navigation. Plus, there is a handy check-in feature in Messages where you can let others know that you have reached your destination successfully.

However, unlike Google Maps, Apple Maps is not available on other platforms, such as Android, in full (it is available on the web for all platforms). Although there is a web version, it only works best within the Apple ecosystem. For the best experience, both the sender and receiver need iPhones for the full and best experience.

Here is how to use Apple Maps to track real-time location:

• If you are using an iPhone, Apple Maps is preinstalled on your iPhone. Similar to Google Maps, you need to start directions to enable and share your live location. First, open Apple Maps on your iPhone and set a destination. Tap on the go to begin navigation.
• Now, on the navigation screen, tap on the Share ETA. However, if you don’t see this option, you need to enable it first. You can go to the settings > Maps and enable Share ETA on your iPhone.
• Next, select the contacts you want to share with. You can pick from suggested contacts or tap on and choose someone. You can also share it with multiple people. Now the selected contacts will automatically get notified that you have shared your ETA.
• You can also choose to stop at your location whenever needed. Similar to Google Maps, location sharing stops automatically when you arrive at the destination. You can also manually stop sharing for the contact by stopping.

Next, there is also a handy Check-In feature in iMessage that lets the other person know that you have reached the destination. If you are unaware of the Apple Check-In, Apple Check-In is a new safety feature that was introduced in iMessages starting with iOS 17. It lets you notify the other person when you reach the destination.

If you don’t arrive in time, it automatically shares your location, route, battery status, and more with your trusted contact. However, what makes it different is that it doesn’t share your live location, and it only alerts the other contact when you reach the destination.

To enable the Check-In feature on your iPhone, open the Messages app and select the conversation with someone you want to share with or someone you want to notify when you reach your destination.

Tap on the + icon button next to the text input field, select more, and tap on Check-In. Now set your destination and choose the mode of travel, and here you need to choose the option either automatically when you arrive safely or after a timer, which you can select if you want to notify them after a set duration. Lastly, tap send. Your contact will be updated and will get notified when you arrive at the destination.

Download: iPhone

Share Ride Details in Third-Party Ride-Hailing Services

Most ride-hailing services allow you to share your ride details with your trusted contacts. Depending on the type of ride-sharing service you are using, you can share your ride details.

For instance, if you are using an Uber, you can request an Uber ride, and once you are on the ride, you can open the Uber app and start a trip requesting a ride. Once your ride has started, you can share the status. You can swipe up from the bottom panel of the Uber app and share the trip status.

Using Messaging Apps To Share Live Location

In addition to the maps and ride-sharing services, popular messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, and others allow you to share your real-time location for a specific time.

If you are already using apps like WhatsApp or Messenger to stay in touch with your family, you can easily share your live location with your contacts without leaving the app. However, compared to the maps and other ride-sharing apps, these messaging apps have some limitations.

While they offer the convenience of messaging + location sharing in a single chat, you can only share your live GPS location, and these services don’t allow you to share route estimation, estimated timeline, or destination.

However, you can view the destination based on this and use live location. However, these offer the quickest way to share your live location with others for free. Here are three popular messaging apps. Popular messaging apps around the world and how to use their live location sharing features.

How to share your live location on WhatsApp

WhatsApp is the most popular app with billions of users around the world. In India, it is the default messaging app for most people. It is available for both the Android and iPhone platforms. So here is how to share your live location on WhatsApp. We also have a detailed guide covering more detailed steps.

• Open the WhatsApp app on your smartphone. If you are using an older version, I would recommend updating it to the latest version. You can update it from the Google Play Store, Android, and App Store for iPhone.
• Now go to the chat where you want to share the live location. Click on the plus icon on the right side next to the text and select a location. Here you can select it. You can share your current location or share the live location for your selected period of time based on your use. You can select either of these options.
• Once you have selected, your location will be automatically shared with your contacts.

How to share live location on Facebook/Messenger

Depending on where you are using, both Instagram Messenger and Facebook Messenger allow you to share your live location in real time. Here is how:

• Open the Instagram app, go to chat, or open the standalone Messenger app on your phone.
• Click on the plus icon next to the text input field. Now, click on the start sharing location. By default, Instagram Messenger and Facebook Messenger allow you to share your live location for an hour. If you want, you can click on the stop sharing your live location by taking on the end location.

How to share a live location using Telegram

Telegram is the third-largest messenger after WhatsApp and WeChat in China. It also supports a live location sharing feature similar to WhatsApp. How you can use Telegram to share your live location.

• Go to that open telegram and go to the chat, you want to share the live location
• Click on the attachment icon and from the bottom menu, select location
• From here, you can send your current location. Share your live location for a specific time you want to.

So this is how you can share location details on these popular messaging apps, you can also share live locations on Snapchat.

Share location using Google Find Hub and Apple Find My

With the recent update to Google Find My Network (now FindHub), you can share your live location with your friends or family. The update is already rolling out to all Android users. You can install the FindHub app from the Play Store.

For iOS users, Apple is offering Find My to help you keep track of devices and share your live location with specific people. You can use both of these apps to share your live location. However, these don’t offer full ride details such as ETA and all.

How to share live location using Google FindHub:

• Install the FindHub app from the Play Store. If the app is pre-installed, open the app and sign in with your Google account.
• Now go to the People tab and click on New Share. Here you can select and share the location. You can also view people who shared their location with you, especially useful for families and kids you want to keep track of.
• While sharing location, you can select to share location for one hour, a custom duration, or until you turn this off.

How to share location using Apple Find My:

• Apple Find My comes pre-installed on most iPhones. Open the app
• Go to the people tab and start sharing your live location.

Best Location Sharing Apps for Android and iPhone

There are plenty of apps that are built around specific live sharing with other people, unlike sharing a live location on Google Maps or even accessing apps like WhatsApp.

These apps offer more advanced tools like geofencing, SOS crash detection, and family groups to monitor someone’s location in real time. There are several apps that allow you to share your live location in real time for both free and paid. Here are my top three picks.

1. Life360 – Complete Location Tracking App

Life360 is my favorite among all of the live location sharing apps I have tested. There are several reasons, but before that, I had a terrible experience signing up for this app.

For some reason, my primary email address hasn’t received the email code despite trying several times. I don’t know whether it’s an issue with the app, but I was able to sign up with another account. If you are facing the same issue, you can use another email address to get the code.

Now, back to my experience, the app allows real-time location sharing with your family or friends and keeps track of each other’s locations.

It also comes with other useful features like check-in, SOS automatic drive, automatic drive detection, crash detection, and more. The best part of the app is that it supports cross-platform, meaning that the app is available for both Android and iOS. Anyone with the app can sign up, and you can add them as your family members and keep track of their real-time location.

The app’s live location sharing allows you to share real-time GPS tracking of all the members in your group. It shows the live location of all the people on your dedicated map, which is super handy.

You can also group them together and track them all at once. There are handy geo-tracking and geofencing features where you can set up automatic alerts when someone enters or leaves a specific location, especially useful for kids. Also, there are useful Drive reports that keep track of all the rides in your family.

The app comes with both free and paid versions. The free version allows tracking of real-time location sharing, and you can get 2+ crash detection for the US and battery.

However, like any other real-time location on GPS live sharing apps, the constant use of your location can impact your battery life and most of the features, and if you’re someone who should track more people, you want to upgrade to the premium, which offers better features.

Download: Android | iPhone

2. Glympse – Best Alternative to Maps and Messaging Apps

Glimpse lets you share your real-time location for up to 12 hours and is great for someone who is looking for an alternative to Google Maps and messaging apps for more private location history sharing.

It lets you set an estimated time or distance, and the app shows your estimate and also sets it up. You can also share your location for 15 minutes to up to 12 hours.

You can also create your own groups and create and share your real-time location with the group. The best part of this app is that it doesn’t require any sign-in. You can sign up as a guest and start sharing your location.

The free version contains ads. It also comes with a premium version with additional features for custom messages and custom colors to personalize your experience. For most people, the free version is more than enough.

Download: Android | iPhone

3. Find My Kids – Track Your Kids’ Location

Find My Kids is a dedicated app for parents to track their kids’ real time location so that they can see exactly where their child is. It also supports geofencing, where you can set an alert when they arrive and leave a specific location. Plus, there is a handy “listen to the surroundings” feature, where you can control your child’s mobile and see what’s happening nearby.

It also supports battery level monitoring and lets you know your child’s current battery percentage, handy for going on trips and keeping track of it. There is a loud sound trigger, which can help you to ring your child’s phone loudly without a remote.

The app comes with both free and premium tags. The free version lets you track in real time with limited history, and you can set up two accounts. However, if you upgrade to the premium, it gives access to more location tracking features, up to a 30-day location history, and you can set unlimited safe zones, and get access to other useful features.

Download: Android | iPhone

Track Location Using GPS Tracking Devices

While these apps and services offer a free way to track your real-time location and share your right details with your family, a dedicated hardware device can help you to keep the location always on without needing a smartphone.

These can be useful, especially if you are tracking pets and kids or people who are not familiar with using smartphones.

These GPS trackers can work 24/7 without needing to recharge them regularly, and they cannot easily run out of battery like this smartphone.

However, there are different kinds of hardware tracking devices starting from the affordable option and all the way to the higher option that has more features like position tracking you can you can offer any hardware device and connect and track your real-time location or share your real location with your family or friends while you are sharing the ride.

Best GPS Trackers

• Apple Airtag
• Samsung Smart Tag
• Jiobit for Kids

Stay Safe on the Move

So those are the methods and services you can use to share live locations, and you can share your ride location with your family in real time. The built-in apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps are among other available options.

If you want more advanced features, you can also try out third-party apps, which offer a better experience, and you can also use a dedicated GPS tracking device. I hope you find this guide helpful.

FAQs on Live Location Sharing

1. Can I share my location with someone who doesn’t use any of these apps?

Yes, most of these apps, like Google Maps and Glympse, allow you to share web-based links. The other person doesn’t need to install any of these apps.

2. How accurate are these live location-sharing features in remote or low-signal areas?

Since most of these apps and services don’t have dedicated hardware except GPS, the accuracy can depend on signal strength, mobile network coverage, and device settings.

3. Are there any privacy risks or permissions I should be aware of when using third-party location-sharing apps?

Yes, these apps require continuous location tracking of persons and battery-operating settings. All these apps have been carefully tested, and they are safe to use.

4. Do any of these apps alert me if the person I’m tracking turns off location services or loses connection?

These alerts may vary depending on the app, since its live location, in some apps, displays like locations, speed sharing, weak signal, unable to find, and more.

5. Can I schedule location sharing ahead of time for planned trips or events?

No, most apps don’t support scheduling location sharing in advance. However, you can plan and share your trip route and details in advance using Google, Apple Maps, and also using third-party apps like Glympse.