Hauk

Overview

Hauk is a self-hosted service for sharing a live location by link, built around an Android companion app. It suits people meeting friends or family who want to choose the server receiving their location and can manage a web server. The appeal is direct control over the destination; the cost is taking responsibility for installation and secure operation.

Key features

In the Android app, a user sets a sharing period and sends a link that opens a live map. Sharing ends when the period expires or the user stops it, making Hauk useful for a planned meetup rather than ongoing family tracking. It has no location history.

Location data goes only to the Hauk backend configured in the app. Anyone with the link can see the location for as long as the share is active; the default link uses eight randomly generated letters and numbers. That keeps access simple for recipients, but the link itself is the gate, so it should be sent selectively.

Hauk keeps location data in Memcached memory rather than on disk, and restarting Memcached clears it. The project supports end-to-end encryption and recommends exposing the service only over HTTPS through a reverse proxy, because unencrypted traffic can expose location data in transit. This is a privacy-conscious design, not a substitute for secure deployment.

Administrators can use LDAP authentication, while the Android app supports HTTP and SOCKS proxies. Tasker support can trigger shares. These are useful options for users with particular infrastructure or automation needs, but they do not make Hauk a managed service: the backend requires a PHP web server plus Memcached or Redis and the corresponding PHP extensions.

Installation can be manual or scripted, and the project also offers an Arch Linux AUR package and official Docker image. The F-Droid version 1.6.2 requires Android 7.0 or newer; the project README gives Android 6 or later as the app requirement. The public demo is limited to two-minute shares and is meant for demonstration, not extended use.

Pricing

Hauk is free and open source under the Apache-2.0 license. Its sole plan costs nothing and is self-hosted; there is no paid tier or free trial. The price removes a software subscription, not the need to provide and maintain a PHP-compatible server and cache service.

Platforms

The companion app is for Android, with a web map for people opening a share link. The backend is self-hosted on Linux or another environment that meets its PHP and Memcached-or-Redis requirements. This setup is best for Android users able to operate the server; it is not a fit for someone seeking a ready-to-use iOS app.

Who it's for

Choose Hauk if you want to share your current position with a specific person for a limited time and prefer to direct location data to infrastructure you control. It is especially suitable for technically capable Android users who value self-hosting and do not need a movement archive. Look elsewhere if you want location sharing without server administration, or need a broader device mix.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The app connects only to the backend you specify, and the service is open source and free, giving server operators control without a recurring software fee.
• Pros: Shares expire or can be stopped, and Memcached stores location data in memory rather than on disk.
• Cons: Users must deploy and secure a backend requiring PHP and Memcached or Redis; HTTPS and a reverse proxy are recommended to protect data in transit.
• Cons: Anyone with an active share link can view the location, and Hauk provides no location history.
• Cons: The companion app is Android-only, limiting its usefulness for groups using other mobile platforms.

Alternatives

OpenFamily is another free, self-hosted option, with Android, iOS, API and web platforms; consider it if iOS support matters. Family Locator has a free version with complete functionality and a 14.99 USD one-time Lifetime plan for premium features, making it a better fit for people who prefer an app-based option to running Hauk's backend.

Findmykids offers Android, iOS and web access, a free Básico plan and a Cuidar plan at €3.58 a month; consider it for a service spanning those platforms. Glympse has a free mobile app and a Glympse PRO plan starting at $15 a month, with Android, iOS, API and web support; it is an alternative for readers seeking a mobile or professional-service option rather than self-hosting.

iSharing has Android, iOS and web apps, with a free plan that includes one place alert and standard SOS; it may suit readers who want those features in a hosted service. OtoZen is an Android and iOS freemium alternative. Be Closer offers real-time location on Android and iOS, with a free plan and a 3.99 USD monthly Premium plan that includes unlimited location history; consider it if history is important. Bluelane is an iOS and web alternative with a free option and a 47.99 USD annual Pro subscription.

For more choices, browse Family Locator Apps.

Verdict

Hauk is a strong fit for Android users who want time-limited location sharing through a server they control, without paying for the software. Its defining compromise is also its barrier: you must run and secure the backend, and an active link grants access to anyone who has it. If you want sharing without server upkeep, or need iOS support or location history, choose a different service.