The best GPS trackers for kids in 2024: Expert recommended

Apple's AirTags are about the size of a quarter, and there are countless accessories you can use to attach the small tracker to a jacket or backpack—or even slip it into a pocket. There's no monthly fee, and the battery lasts around a year—after which you can simply replace the CR2032 battery. 

As far as performance goes, the AirTag does a solid job. The one caveat is that an AirTag requires another Apple device to be nearby and connected to the internet to share its location with Apple's Find My network. For example, if your child doesn't have an Apple device with cellular capabilities, tracking a young child on the school bus requires someone -- most likely another student or the bus driver -- to have an iPhone or cellular Apple Watch. If there aren't any Apple devices on the bus, the location can't update. 

Review: Apple AirTag

ZDNET contributor Jason Cipriani tested out placing AirTags on his children's backpacks and found that he could still track them during a school day. "One backpack was located about 30 minutes prior, and the other had just had its location reported 2 minutes before I'd checked," he wrote. "Presumably, a teacher walked by their backpack with an iPhone in their pocket, or one of the students' iPads picked up the tag's Bluetooth signal and reported it back Apple, which in turn lets me view the location in somewhat real-time."

96% of customers who purchased an AirTag at Best Buy said they would recommend it to a friend, and the device's overall review rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Apple AirTag specs: Price: $29 or four for $85 | Battery life: One year | Real-time tracking: No | Monthly cost: None | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Apple's Find My Network 

Garmin's latest kids' smartwatch, the Bounce, offers real-time location tracking, communication features, health and sleep tracking, games, and more. Regarding GPS, parents can use Bounce's location tracking to view their child's current whereabouts in the Garmin app and be notified when they leave pre-approved areas. 

Also: The best Garmin watches 

LTE connectivity (which you can purchase from Garmin for $10/month) allows you to text and voice message your kid for up to 20 parent-approved contacts. 

You can also track health metrics like sleep, steps, and active minutes to keep an eye on your growing child. Plus, Garmin includes activity-related games within the watch so kids can unlock rewards for meeting their active goals or responsibilities parents set, like completing a chore.

Parents who have bought the watch for their kids say on Reddit that the watch is good with notifications and location updates, especially for school-bound kids.

Garmin Bounce specs: Price: $150 | Battery life: Two days | Real-time tracking: Yes | Monthly cost: $10/month | Connectivity: Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, LTE

For kids who are too young for a smartphone but mature enough to care for a gadget, there are products like T-Mobile's SyncUp Kids Watch 2 and the Verizon GizmoWatch (more on that below). The wrist-worn gadget costs $174. However, if you add a line to your account, you can get the watch for free.   

In general, the SyncUp watch has similar functionality to that of a regular smartwatch. It includes a camera, and your child can use the device to send and receive messages. With the task manager, a parent can add chores or other tasks for their child to focus on after school, along with real-time location tracking.

Also: The best smartwatches for kids

The interface is playful and easy for a child to use and includes a"School Mode" that disables extra features during class time to limit distraction.

One T-Mobile reviewer who gave the device five stars said, "The only people allowed to contact the watch are set by you, the parent. It's a good way to access your kids when they are away from each other, but it also lets them feel like they are growing up some."

SyncUp Kids Watch 2 specs: Price: $174 | Battery life: 8 hours of talk time | Real-time tracking: Yes | Monthly cost: No | Connectivity: 4G LTE 

The Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 has many of the same features as T-Mobile's SyncUp Kids watch. You can send and receive messages, take calls, and even have a built-in camera. You can add up to 10 trusted contacts for your child to communicate with while wearing the watch. 

You'll also get real-time tracking and geofence support to receive alerts when your child leaves or arrives at a specific location. Similarly to the SyncUp Kids watch, you can create tasks for your child and set up school mode to prevent them from using the watch at school and in other activities. 

Also: The best kids' phones for keeping you in touch

"We bought the Verizon GizmoWatch about two years ago for our kiddos, then ages 6 and 8," said parent Kendra Paulson, who is a freelance writer. "We live on a military base, and while it is pretty safe here, we wanted to have a way to communicate with our girls while they were out riding bikes and playing in the neighborhood. I can glance at the Gizmo map and see where my kids are, and we can text and call back and forth, so it's like having a starter phone that straps to their wrist."

Remember that both GizmoWatch models have a one-time $35 activation fee from Verizon. Another downside is that Verizon customers say the battery life is shorter than advertised.

Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 tech specs: Price: $150, plus a $35 activation fee | Battery life: Up to 3.5 days (standby) or 1.5 days constant use  | Real-time tracking: Yes | Monthly cost: No | Connectivity: GPS, Cellular (4G)

The Xplora XGO3 watch uses GPS, active Wi-Fi, and GSM triangulation to provide real-time location tracking. It also offers geofencing, so you can set up safety zones around key locations like home and school. If your child wanders out of these pre-marked areas, you will be notified. 

The watch doesn't have any games, but games are available via the GoPlay app. For every 1,000 steps that your child takes, they will earn one Xcoin, which can be saved up and redeemed for real prizes in the GoPlay store. (For this experience, you'll need to use a smartphone or a tablet.) Verified customers say it's an intelligent way to gamify health and fitness for little ones. 

Review: Xplora XGO3

ZDNET writer Maria Diaz tested the watch on her daughter and said it gave her peace of mind. "From my testing, the GPS tracking in the XGO3 is reliable, especially because I can set up specific safety zones within the Xplora app, like for home and school, and be notified when my child leaves those areas," she wrote in her review. "The app also shows historical tracking data, which is handy when you need to recall past activities."

You'll also need a SIM card to use the watch's cellular functions. The SIM card is included with the watch and works with most mobile carriers except Verizon. Keep in mind that the watch requires a minimum one-year $9.99 subscription. 

Xplora XGO3 specs: Price: $100 | Battery life: 72 hours (on standby) | Real-time tracking: Yes | Monthly cost: $9.99/month | Connectivity: Cellular (SIM card), Wi-Fi, GPS