Prey

Overview

Prey is device-security software for people who want to locate and protect personal devices, and for organizations managing fleets. It is strongest when location tracking and remote response matter more than general-purpose asset inventory.

Its combination of tracking, security actions and fleet controls makes it a practical fit across individual and organizational use. The trade-offs are meaningful: retrieved files are tightly capped, Linux support is limited to Ubuntu, and Prey advises against installing its iOS app unless it can remain open.

Key features

Tracking and recovery

Active tracking, missing reports, location history, Wi-Fi triangulation and geofences give users several ways to locate devices and organize a response. Admins can mark a device missing, lock its screen, sound an alarm or send a message remotely. That pairing of location tools with direct action suits recovery workflows; it is less compelling if the priority is simply cataloguing assets.

Data protection and administration

Data-protection options include custom wipe, remote encryption, factory reset and a Windows kill switch. File retrieval is more limited: it handles one file at a time, up to 25 MB, and hosts retrieved files for 30 days. That may suit retrieving a small, specific file, but not recovering a large set of data.

For fleet administrators, Prey provides automated and mass actions, a status dashboard, labels and search, roles and permissions, and a developer API. The API can support external integrations, and Prey publishes deployment instructions for JAMF. These controls make it more suitable for coordinated device management than for a one-off lost-device utility.

Prey says agent communications use encryption and authentication protocols; its security features also include two-factor verification, SAML/SSO and SSL/TLS support. These are relevant controls for organizations managing access, though they do not remove the platform limitations.

Pricing

Prey uses a freemium model. Prey Free costs 0.00 USD per free; the page gives no device limit for this plan. That makes it possible to start without a subscription, but the plan's capacity cannot be compared against a stated device cap.

The annual per-slot plans have no minimum slot purchase, and the price per slot decreases above 50 slots:

• Prey Tracking: 1.30 USD per month, billed annually. It is the lowest-cost paid option and suits buyers whose priority is tracking.
• Prey Protection: 1.95 USD per month, billed annually. It costs more than Tracking; the plan's included features are not described here, so buyers should not assume which additional protections it adds.
• Prey Full Suite: 2.25 USD per month, billed annually.

Prey Starter is a separate purchase for 5 devices at $2.99/mo. It includes up to 20 missing reports and a 24-hour device activity log, making its limits clear for a small deployment but potentially restrictive for frequent reporting or longer activity review. Prey says it no longer offers an automatic self-service 14-day trial; customized trials may be arranged for qualified organizations.

Platforms

Prey lists Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows support, as well as an API. Its download page offers installers for Mac ARM, Mac Intel 64-bit, Windows 64-bit and Ubuntu 64-bit, and the maker documents mobile apps. Linux support is officially limited to Ubuntu. iOS capabilities are heavily constrained by the operating system, and Prey advises against installation unless the app will remain open. Those caveats make Prey a less suitable choice for mixed Linux fleets beyond Ubuntu or for iOS devices that cannot keep the app open.

Who it's for

Prey suits individuals seeking device recovery tools and businesses or educational organizations administering multiple devices. Its mass actions, roles and permissions, dashboard and API are most relevant when administrators need to coordinate fleet response. It is a weaker fit for teams that need broad file recovery, Linux coverage beyond Ubuntu, or dependable iOS operation while the app is closed.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Tracking combines active location, history, Wi-Fi triangulation and geofences, giving recovery users multiple ways to follow devices.
• Pro: Remote lock, alarm, message and missing-status actions let admins respond as well as locate.
• Pro: Fleet controls include automated and mass actions, roles and permissions, and a developer API, supporting organized administration.
• Con: File retrieval is limited to one file of up to 25 MB at a time, with hosting for 30 days, so it is not suited to bulk recovery.
• Con: Official Linux support covers Ubuntu only, while iOS use is constrained enough that Prey advises keeping the app open.
• Con: The named Protection and Full Suite tiers do not have their inclusions described, making plan selection harder to assess by capability.

Alternatives

For a broader set of asset-tracking options, see Asset Tracking Software.

Choose Shelf instead if you want a personal asset workspace with an explicitly stated free tier: Personal costs 0.00 USD per month and includes unlimited assets, one user and three custom fields.

Snipe-IT is an alternative for buyers who prioritize open-source, self-hosted asset management; its Self-Hosted plan includes unlimited users and assets.

Asset Giant offers a free plan with 100 assets, one user and 50 MB storage, which may suit a small web or mobile inventory that does not need Prey's device-recovery emphasis.

AssetTiger is another asset-tracking alternative to compare.

Reftab may be a better fit for teams wanting a free inventory plan capped at 50 assets, with mobile apps and barcode and QR-code support.

AssetCenter offers a free plan for 25 available or deployed assets, but without reports, making it a possible fit for a small inventory that can forgo reporting.

MapYourTag offers a free plan for 10 assets, two users and email alerts, which may suit a small tracking setup.

Simple Asset Tracker is another option to compare.

Verdict

Choose Prey if you need location tracking, remote security actions and fleet administration in one product, particularly across an organization managing multiple devices. Look elsewhere if you need to retrieve more than small individual files, rely on Linux outside Ubuntu, or need iOS tracking without keeping the app open.