Freedom251 › Family Locator Apps
BuddySOS

What BuddySOS is
BuddySOS is a group safety app for Android and iOS with live location sharing, boundary alerts, and one-tap SOS. An SOS notifies members of the active group with the sender’s live GPS location, even when the phone is locked. It can also send emergency contacts a live-location link by SMS through Twilio; recipients do not need the app. Safe zones alert group members when someone enters or leaves. Each zone must have a radius of at least 100 meters, and groups can have up to five zones. The free plan includes one group and one safe zone with ads. BuddySOS Pro costs $1.99 per month and removes ads while allowing more groups and zones. The maker says location is shared only with group members, is not sold, and is not stored as location history. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, but the service is not end-to-end encrypted. Registration uses a phone number and text-message code, with sign-up listed for numbers from the US, Canada, UK, and EU.
Who it suits
BuddySOS suits families, friends, festival and event groups, and staff teams coordinating by phone. It is available on Android and iOS, with sign-up listed for numbers from the US, Canada, UK, and EU.
What it does well
- SOS shares live GPS location with the active group.
- Emergency contacts can receive a link by SMS.
- Safe zones send entry and exit alerts.
- The maker says it keeps no location history.
- Battery Saver Mode adjusts location checks based on movement.
What to know first
- Free plan is limited to one group and one safe zone.
- Each safe zone needs a 100-meter minimum radius.
- Service is not end-to-end encrypted.
- Sign-up is listed for numbers in specific regions.
Limits
The free plan includes one group and one safe zone, with ads. Each safe zone has a minimum radius of 100 meters, and a group can have up to five zones; BuddySOS Pro at $1.99 per month removes ads and allows more groups and zones.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 1 group · 1 safe zone per group · ads | Free |
| BuddySOS Pro | Monthly at $1.99/month · Removes ads · more groups and zones | $1.99 a month |
| BuddySOS Plus monthly | monthly · Up to 10 groups · up to 5 safe zones per group · no ads | $1.99 a month |
| BuddySOS Plus annual | annually · Up to 10 groups · up to 5 safe zones per group · no ads | $19.99 a year |
As buddysos.app lists them, read 20 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the BuddySOS website.
- Install the app on Android or iOS.
- Sign up with a phone number and text-message code; listed regions are the US, Canada, UK, and EU.
- Create or join a group.
- Use the free plan with one group and one safe zone, or choose BuddySOS Pro for $1.99 per month.
Verdict
BuddySOS combines group location sharing, boundary alerts, and SOS messages, with a free plan and a $1.99 monthly Pro plan. Keep its safe-zone limits, regional sign-up availability, and lack of end-to-end encryption in mind.
Questions
How much does BuddySOS cost?
The free plan includes one group and one safe zone, with ads. BuddySOS Pro is $1.99 per month and removes ads while allowing more groups and zones.
Which phones can run BuddySOS?
BuddySOS is listed for Android and iOS.
How does SOS work?
An SOS alerts members of the active group with the sender’s live GPS location, including while the phone is locked. It can also text emergency contacts a live-location link through Twilio; recipients do not need the app.
How many safe zones can a group have?
A group can have up to five safe zones. Each zone has a minimum radius of 100 meters.
Does BuddySOS keep location history or use end-to-end encryption?
The maker says it does not keep location history and shares location only with group members. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, but the service is not end-to-end encrypted.
Where can people sign up?
Sign-up uses a phone number and text-message code. It is currently listed for numbers from the US, Canada, UK, and EU.
Facts from BuddySOS's own pages
- Account and availability
- Sign-up uses a phone number and text-message code, with sign-up currently listed for numbers from the US, Canada, UK, and EU. · buddysos.app, 3 Oct 2026
- API and SDKs
- The official product, download, support and legal pages reviewed provide no public API, SDK or developer documentation. · buddysos.app, 20 Oct 2026
- Battery behavior
- Battery Saver Mode adjusts location checks based on movement, and the app says it does not hold a wake lock while the screen is off. · buddysos.app, 3 Oct 2026
- Battery saver
- Background GPS checks use a movement-adaptive 30-metre or 45-second trigger, while uploads batch every 20 seconds or 25 metres. · buddysos.app, 20 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- The maker identifies itself as Kingbird Solutions LLC. · buddysos.app, 20 Oct 2026
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists Kingbird Solutions as a 2–10 employee company. · linkedin.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- Public documentation consists of feature explanations, setup guidance, FAQs, support contact instructions and legal policies. · buddysos.app, 20 Oct 2026
- Emergency limitation
- Support guidance says BuddySOS does not contact 911 or other emergency services; users must call local emergency numbers. · buddysos.app, 20 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- The company says user data is encrypted in transit and at rest, while acknowledging the service is not end-to-end encrypted. · buddysos.app, 20 Oct 2026
- Event staff
- Staff teams can use shared live maps and SOS on their existing iOS or Android phones without extra hardware or IT setup. · buddysos.app, 3 Oct 2026
- Founded
- An Arizona business-record directory reports Kingbird Solutions LLC was formed on March 28, 2023. · bizprofile.net, 20 Oct 2026
- Founder
- The company identifies Chris King as BuddySOS founder and product and partnerships lead. · buddysos.app, 20 Oct 2026
- Funding
- No funding round or investor information is stated on the company, LinkedIn or reviewed directory pages. · linkedin.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Google Play availability
- Google Play lists the Android app with 5K+ downloads, ads, in-app purchases and data deletion requests. · play.google.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Google Play data disclosure
- The Android listing says the app may share device or other IDs, collect location, personal information and contacts, and encrypt data in transit. · play.google.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Group controls
- Groups can be paused, deleted or left, and invitations can be sent by phone number or link across iOS and Android. · buddysos.app, 20 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- LinkedIn lists Kingbird Solutions headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. · linkedin.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker identifies Twilio as the service used to deliver SOS SMS messages. · buddysos.app, 3 Oct 2026
- iOS listing
- Apple App Store lists BuddySOS at 5.0 out of 5 from 12 ratings. · apps.apple.com, 20 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The EULA grants a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable licence for use on an owned Apple or Android device. · buddysos.app, 20 Oct 2026
- Limit: free-tier ads
- The free plan contains advertising; the paid plan is required for an ad-free experience and additional groups or zones. · buddysos.app, 20 Oct 2026
- Limit: no history
- An independent directory review notes that the lack of location history prevents reviewing past routes or historical movement. · legit.show, 20 Oct 2026
- Limit: public privacy score
- Legit.Show's public-surface benchmark gave BuddySOS a 0/100 privacy frame and reported no consent prompt for cookies or scripts. · legit.show, 20 Oct 2026
- Live map
- Group members appear as named live pins with distance and compass direction, with links for walking directions or calling. · buddysos.app, 20 Oct 2026
Where BuddySOS stands on Freedom251
- Family Locator Apps#4 of 29
