Side by side
Bluelane vs OwnTracks
Both stand on family locator apps. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose Bluelane if you record routes on an iPhone and want others to follow through a browser without signing up. Its route history, GPX support, offline recording, and Apple Watch controls add useful options for trip sharing. Consider the link’s broad visibility and the personal, non-commercial use terms before using it for a route.
Visit BluelaneOwnTracks 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.
Visit OwnTracksThe facts
| Bluelane | OwnTracks | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Not published |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | iPhone, Web | Android, API, iPhone, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Annual Pro Subscription: $47.99 a year | Not published |
| Plans published | 2 | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | bluelane.io | owntracks.org |
| On family locator apps | #3 of 29 | #29 of 29 |
Bluelane: what it does well
- Followers can open shared routes in a browser without an app or account.
- Route recording continues offline, with live updates resuming after reconnection.
- Saved trips show route, distance, and time.
- GPX files can be imported and exported.
- Apple Watch supports starting, stopping, and sharing routes.
What to know first
- Anyone with the route link can view it, even if it is forwarded.
- Stopping a recording does not revoke the shared link.
- The terms limit access to personal, non-commercial use.
OwnTracks: 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
Alternatives to Bluelane Alternatives to OwnTracks The whole list