OwnTracks
OwnTracks is free, open-source location software for keeping a private location diary or sharing location with family and friends.
What OwnTracks is
OwnTracks is free, open-source location software for keeping a private location diary or sharing location with family and friends. Its iOS and Android apps publish a device’s location to a server chosen by the user, using MQTT or HTTP. The app can send coordinates after the operating system reports movement and queue messages when connectivity is unavailable. Maps can show users and friends, while configured regions detect entry and exit events. OwnTracks Recorder stores published location data and provides access through an API without requiring an external database. Users set up the receiving backend and decide where data is stored, processed, and retained. Security options include MQTT over TLS, broker authentication, TLS client certificates, HTTP Basic authentication with TLS, and optional payload encryption. Reverse geocoding uses Apple Maps on iOS; Android uses Google Play services in the non-OSS release or can be configured for OpenCage. Geofence events can also control home automation.
Good
- Open-source and free
- User-chosen server and data retention
- MQTT and HTTP connection modes
- Geofencing with enter and leave events
- Optional encrypted payloads
Watch out
- Requires a user-configured backend
- iOS background operation is operating-system governed
- Android restrictions can delay messages
Who it suits
It suits people who want location sharing or history while choosing their own server and retention practices. It requires users to configure a backend and understand platform background limits.
Verdict
OwnTracks gives technically minded users control over location storage, transport, and sharing. Its self-hosted setup and mobile background constraints require configuration and ongoing attention.
The facts
Each one read from OwnTracks's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- Android background limit
- The booklet says Android background restrictions can delay outgoing and incoming messages and prevent MQTT broker connections from being maintained permanently.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Mobile apps
- OwnTracks provides iOS and Android apps that publish a device’s location to a server of the user’s choice.checked 4 Oct 2026
What it does
- API
- The OwnTracks Recorder makes stored location data available through an API.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Connection modes
- The apps can publish through MQTT to a broker or through HTTP to a configured endpoint.checked 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.checked 11 Oct 2026
- How it works
- Its iOS and Android apps publish a device’s current location to a server chosen by the user.checked 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.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Location features
- The apps support location reporting, geofencing, enter and leave events, and a Friends list.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Map and geofences
- OwnTracks can show users and friends on a map and detect entry to or exit from configured regions.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Messaging modes
- The apps can send data to a user-configured server using MQTT or HTTP.checked 4 Oct 2026
- No default server
- The apps do not send location data to a server until the user configures one.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Open source
- The site describes OwnTracks as open source and says its apps use open communication protocols.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Payload privacy
- The apps support optional payload encryption using libsodium’s secret-key authenticated encryption.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- OwnTracks says users decide where to store their data, how to process it, and how long to retain it.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- OwnTracks lets users keep a private location diary or share their location with family and friends.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Recorder
- OwnTracks Recorder stores and provides access to location data published by the apps, without requiring an external database.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- The apps support MQTT over TLS, broker username and password authentication, TLS client certificates, and optional payload encryption.checked 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.checked 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.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Transport security
- The apps support MQTT over TLS when configured, and HTTP Basic authentication with TLS for HTTP mode.checked 11 Oct 2026
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