BuddySOS
7.6#2 in family locator appsFrom $19.99 a yearFree planAndroidiOS
VisitBuddySOS vs OpenFamily
OpenFamily
7.7#1 in family locator appsFree planFree planAndroidiOSWebAPI
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | BuddySOS | OpenFamily |
|---|---|---|
| Documentation depth | Public documentation consists of feature explanations, setup guidance, FAQs, support contact instructions and legal policies. | Documentation covers Docker installation, production environment variables, TLS, push setup, tile configuration, backups, encryption and custom domains. |
| Integrations | The maker identifies Twilio as the service used to deliver SOS SMS messages. | Android notifications use UnifiedPush through ntfy, and the app does not require Google Play Services. |
| Licence | The EULA grants a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable licence for use on an owned Apple or Android device. | OpenFamily is released under the GNU Affero General Public License 3.0. |
| Live map | Group members appear as named live pins with distance and compass direction, with links for walking directions or calling. | The map displays family members on OpenStreetMap with avatars, battery status, last-seen time, movement state and WebSocket updates. |
BuddySOS plans
- FreeFree
- BuddySOS Plus monthly$1.99 a month
- BuddySOS Pro$1.99 a month
- BuddySOS Plus annual$19.99 a year
OpenFamily plans
- Open source self-hostedFree
- Self-hosted OpenFamilyFree
Pick BuddySOS if…
BuddySOS may suit festival and event groups, families, friends, or staff teams who need shared live maps, safe-zone alerts, and SOS messaging. Sign-up is currently listed for phone numbers from the US, Canada, UK, and EU.
Pick OpenFamily if…
It suits households whose member can run a small Docker stack and who want shared location and safety tools. It is not designed for fleets or public tracking.