OwnTracks

Paid AndroidAPIiPhoneSelf-hosted

What OwnTracks is

OwnTracks is a free, open-source location diary for people who want to keep location data under their control or share it with family and friends. Its iOS and Android apps publish a device’s location to a server chosen by the user through MQTT or HTTP. The app can report coordinates after the operating system detects movement and queue messages when connectivity is unavailable. Maps can show users and friends, while configured regions support entry and exit events, including possible home-automation controls. Users set up the receiving backend; OwnTracks Recorder stores published locations and provides an API without requiring an external database. Security options include MQTT over TLS, broker authentication, TLS client certificates, HTTP Basic authentication with TLS, and optional payload encryption. Users decide where data is stored, processed and retained, and there is no default server. Reverse geocoding uses Apple Maps on iOS, Google Play services in Android’s non-OSS release, or configurable OpenCage support. iOS background operation depends on the operating system, while Android restrictions can delay messages. External configurations are disabled by default after the July 2026 security changes.

Who it suits

It suits people and families who want self-controlled location sharing, geofencing and location history. It requires users to configure and operate a receiving server.

What it does well

Open-source and free
Supports iOS and Android
User-chosen backend
MQTT and HTTP connections
Optional payload encryption

What to know first

Requires a configured server
iOS background operation is OS-governed
Android restrictions can delay messages
Location history is limited

Verdict

OwnTracks offers location reporting and sharing while leaving storage and backend control with the user. Its privacy and security options are extensive, but setup and mobile background limits require attention.

Facts from OwnTracks's own pages

Android background limit: The booklet says Android background restrictions can delay outgoing and incoming messages and prevent MQTT broker connections from being maintained permanently. · owntracks.org, 11 Oct 2026
API: The OwnTracks Recorder makes stored location data available through an API. · owntracks.org, 4 Oct 2026
Backend: Users provide or set up the server that receives location data; the booklet includes a guide for setting up a backend. · owntracks.org, 4 Oct 2026
Connection modes: The apps can publish through MQTT to a broker or through HTTP to a configured endpoint. · owntracks.org, 11 Oct 2026
External geocoding: The apps perform reverse geolocation lookups; iOS uses Apple Maps infrastructure, while Android uses Google Play services in the non-OSS release or can be configured to use OpenCage. · owntracks.org, 11 Oct 2026
How it works: Its iOS and Android apps publish a device’s current location to a server chosen by the user. · owntracks.org, 11 Oct 2026
Integrations: The booklet describes using OwnTracks with Home Assistant to show locations on a map and trigger automations when people enter or leave zones. · owntracks.org, 11 Oct 2026
Location features: The apps support location reporting, geofencing, enter and leave events, and a Friends list. · owntracks.org, 11 Oct 2026
Location updates: The app can send current coordinates after the phone’s operating system reports movement, and queues messages when connectivity is unavailable. · owntracks.org, 4 Oct 2026
Map and geofences: OwnTracks can show users and friends on a map and detect entry to or exit from configured regions. · owntracks.org, 4 Oct 2026
Messaging modes: The apps can send data to a user-configured server using MQTT or HTTP. · owntracks.org, 4 Oct 2026
Mobile apps: OwnTracks provides iOS and Android apps that publish a device’s location to a server of the user’s choice. · owntracks.org, 4 Oct 2026
No default server: The apps do not send location data to a server until the user configures one. · owntracks.org, 11 Oct 2026
Notable limitation: OwnTracks says iOS background operation is governed by the operating system, which wakes the app periodically after it has been suspended. · owntracks.org, 4 Oct 2026
Open source: The site describes OwnTracks as open source and says its apps use open communication protocols. · owntracks.org, 4 Oct 2026
Payload privacy: The apps support optional payload encryption using libsodium’s secret-key authenticated encryption. · owntracks.org, 11 Oct 2026
Privacy: OwnTracks says users decide where to store their data, how to process it, and how long to retain it. · owntracks.org, 4 Oct 2026
Purpose: OwnTracks lets users keep a private location diary or share their location with family and friends. · owntracks.org, 11 Oct 2026
Recorder: OwnTracks Recorder stores and provides access to location data published by the apps, without requiring an external database. · owntracks.org, 11 Oct 2026
Reverse geocoding: The apps perform reverse geolocation lookups; iOS uses Apple Maps infrastructure, while Android uses Google Play services in the non-OSS release and can be configured to use OpenCage. · owntracks.org, 4 Oct 2026
Security: The apps support MQTT over TLS, broker username and password authentication, TLS client certificates, and optional payload encryption. · owntracks.org, 4 Oct 2026
Security settings: Since the July 2026 app security changes, loading external configurations is disabled by default and must be explicitly enabled in Settings. · owntracks.org, 11 Oct 2026
Support: The FAQ directs users to the OwnTracks meta tracker for questions and to the respective Android or iOS GitHub issue tracker to report bugs. · owntracks.org, 11 Oct 2026
Transport security: The apps support MQTT over TLS when configured, and HTTP Basic authentication with TLS for HTTP mode. · owntracks.org, 11 Oct 2026

Where OwnTracks stands on Freedom251

Family Locator Apps#29 of 29