GPS Child Tracking Pendant

The Top 7 GPS Child Tracking Pendants

Are you worried about your child while at school, their friend’s house, or the playground?

We totally understand. 

We put the top child GPS tracking pendants to the test and ranked our favorites based on location accuracy, tracking radius, usability, and value for money.

These trackers will show you exactly where your child is at all times, right from your phone, regardless of whether they’re at school, with a friend, or playing in the yard. Even better, they’ll alert you instantly if something goes wrong, so you can quickly spring to action (aka just text them).

We prioritized simple-to-use and affordable GPS trackers for children, because even young kids can figure out how to use them.

Just one more thing - it’s important to read as many reviews from real people as possible with these pendants. During our testing, we found that most trackers CLAIMED they were waterproof, had a large radius, or were pinpoint accurate. But in reality, they broke quickly, didn’t work across town, or were dangerously inaccurate. Just keep your head up and do some digging. We’ve covered most of the key points in this review, but it never hurts to do some more research.

Disclaimer: We want to assure parents like yourself that we have not received any compensation from the companies or products mentioned in this list. At GPS Tracker Shop, our goal is to provide parents with a helpful guide of GPS child tracking pendant devices designed to enhance child safety. This is a comprehensive list of 7 products designed to help you make informed decisions, but it’s not a ranking from best to worst. Now, let’s explore these GPS trackers for kids that can add an extra layer of security for your family!

Apple Air Tag – Best Wearable GPS For Tracking Child

• Find My App Integration: Easily track your child’s location using Find My App, which also allows tracking with friends and devices.
• Small & No Monthly Fee: Apple AirTags are only $29 and small enough for your child to wear comfortably. There’s also no subscription, so you just pay once and you’re done. Some services can cost $10-$20 a month or more, which gets annoying.
• One-Tap Setup and Siri: Quickly set up with an iPhone or iPad and use Siri to locate your child. 
• Accurate Within a Short Range: AirTags are ultra accurate within a short range because they use Ultra Wideband technology. In English, that basically means they are super accurate over short ranges, but not so great over long distances.
• Leverage Apple’s Massive Network: Everyone has an iPhone - Apple runs the world. With AirTags, you’re plugged into this massive network that essentially turns everyone’s Apple devices into a homing beacon. This means you’ll get extra accuracy in places normal GPS devices would struggle - like indoor locations. Long story short, if there’s an Apple device nearby, your AirTag will have greater accuracy.

Apple AirTags are our top pick for the best kids’ GPS tracker due to their accuracy, simplicity, and affordability. They work well for tracking your kids at school, riding their bike around the neighborhood, or anywhere else where they’ll be in the vicinity of other Apple devices (more on this below - please read it).

All you need to do is attach one to your child’s backpack and you can see where they are right from the Find My App application on your phone.

Our recommendation comes down to this: you probably already have an Apple device and know how to use one. With AirTags, you’ll just need to buy it, attach it to your child somehow (why is this funny to us?), and then connect it to your phone. Plus, you only pay for the device and not a subscription - like the rest of the items on the list.

That’s probably why the Apple AirTag is the most popular kids’ GPS tracker or pendant-style monitoring device on the market today - it’s dead easy.

In fact, the Washington Post published a great article on how parents are using AirTags to keep tabs on their kids at school with a lot of great information about how GPS trackers help give you peace of mind.

But do they work?

The answer is: Yes, they work, but there’s a bit more you need to know.

Apple AirTags don’t have their own cellular connection. They rely on other devices in the Apple network nearby to “tap into” the GPS network. That shouldn’t be an issue when they’re at school, since, you know, everyone has an Apple device. It’s also fine in crowded malls, grocery stores, and public places.

It could be a problem if you’re in a rural area, though. AirTags are also a bit slower and less accurate than devices with their own dedicated GPS connection like an Apple Smartwatch.

Jiobit Child Tracker – Best For Clothing

• Compact Design: Jiobit attaches easily and discreetly to clothing, shoes, and backpacks. It’s ideal for children, because they’re hard to find and remove.
• Nationwide Tracking: Utilizes GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for real-time, accurate location tracking across the country.
• Smart Alerts: Set custom alerts for specific locations and access a history timeline to track any deviations.
• Enhanced Security: The Jiobit TrustChip prevents unauthorized parties from intercepting your child’s location data, and it’s fully COPPA compliant.
• Compatible With Android and Apple: Jiobit works with both major phone providers without needing an extra sim card or data plan.

The Jiobit is a true GPS tracker designed for kids that shows real-time location at all times no matter where your kids are or if they’re near another device. It attaches discreetly to their clothes or backpack, and is so small that it’s virtually undetectable. The company claims it’s about the size of a cookie

It comes with detailed child tracking features like:

Real-Time Location: You can see exactly where your child is at all times.

Geo-Fencing: Receive notifications when your child leaves a certain area.

Trusted Places: Program in trusted places like school or grandma’s house and get alerted when they arrive or leave.

Mapping: See where your child is moving turn-by-turn in real time.

Location History: This is ideal for kids who are always on the move or have busy schedules. Did they really go to “basketball practice”? Or were they off with their friends somewhere else?

SOS Mode: Send emergency details to a dispatcher when you’re in need.

Care Teams: Know who your child is with at all times. Add trusted caregivers to your account and the app will show you that they’re with them.

During testing, we found that the Jiobit showed an accurate location within a second or two of opening the app, and that we received quick notifications when leaving trusted areas. This is great for tracking kids to and from school - you’ll be able to see when they arrive and leave.

The only real downside is that Jiobit is definitely not cheap. It costs $129.99 plus a subscription of around $100 per year. That’s an amazing deal for complete peace of mind, but if you’re on a budget, we suggest starting with AirTags or one of the other devices listed below.

AngelSense – Best Kid GPS Tracker With SOS Button

• Well-Being Features For Special Needs: AngelSense comes with advanced well-being features such as pill reminders, Angel photo, one-way listening to hear what your child is experiencing, and search & rescue alerts for children who can’t help themselves.
• Real-Time Tracking: Continuously monitor your child’s precise location, both indoors and outdoors.
• Alert System: Immediate alerts for unexpected movements, such as early departures or late arrivals.
• Communication Tools: Directly communicate with your child using the assistive speakerphone, and use the SOS button for emergencies.
• Safe Ride Monitoring: Keep track of your child’s transit, receiving updates and alerts for any unexpected delays or stops.
• Emergency Location Sharing: In emergencies, quickly share your child’s real-time location with a search team.

AngelSense GPS tracker is designed to provide extra care above and beyond location tracking, especially for children with special needs such as autism. They even have a customer support team run by moms of children with autism - that’s something no other company has.

These lifesaving location and well-being features include:

• Showing a photo of your child to emergency workers
• Wandering alerts
• First responders list
• SOS call request button
• Safe ride monitoring (great for monitoring bus rides)
• Fall detection (coming soon)
• 2-way and 1-way voice calls (this lets you listen to what’s happening around your child)

AngelSense provides extra services above and beyond typical child location tracking for parents whose children need that extra layer of care.

One testimonial from their website describes how they used location tracking, alerts, and ride monitoring to discover that their child had been dropped off at the wrong location by the bus. And another describes how they used 1-way voice calling to hear their child being bullied at school and immediately took action. 

We obviously weren’t able to test the product on a child with special needs. However, we did test out a few of the features like live location, voice calls, alerts, and emergency contacts, and the tracker nailed it.

We can tell that AngelSense are truly professionals when it comes to children with special needs like autism. The tracker has a number of sensory-sensitive options for wearing as well as a non-removable option in case your child tries to pull the device off.

AngelSense definitely takes a while to get the hang of, though. There’s just so much to learn. And it’s also not cheap. The annual plan starts at about $44 per month. However, the device is free if you sign up for a plan (as of writing this article).

Bewinner GPS Necklace Tracker For Kids

• Multiple Positioning Systems: Integrates GPS, LBS (Location Based Services), and Wi-Fi positioning for accurate and versatile location tracking.
• SOS Call and Two-Way Voice Function: Equipped with an SOS button for emergencies and supports two-way voice communication for instant contact.
• Diverse Working Modes for Power Efficiency: Offers fast positioning (1-minute intervals), standard positioning (10-minute intervals), and power-saving positioning (hourly intervals) to balance accuracy and battery life.
• Electronic Fence and History Track: Allows setting up a geofence for safety boundaries and keeps a history of locations, enhancing monitoring capabilities.

The Bewinner GPS necklace is a cool looking, stylish child GPS location device that kids will actually want to wear without feeling like they’re being “forced to wear a GPS tracker”.

It’s one of the most popular necklace pendants for kids these days, because it doesn’t feel like their parents are really tracking them - it’s more of a fashion accessory.

The necklace can be worn throughout school without giving a child their own cell phone or smart watch. It’s not the best or most accurate tracking device, but if you’re the parent of a child who’s a bit older and doesn’t want to wear a tracker, this necklace is a good substitute.

You wouldn’t expect this small pendant to have a great battery life, but the Bewinner GPS necklace tracker for kids can last up to 5 days when updating every 10 minutes.

Throw geo-fencing, two-way voice calling, and international travel abilities into the mix, and you’ve got a pretty dang good device.

All in all, the Bewinner GPS necklace is a solid alternative to more expensive options that actually appeals to kids. Nobody will know they’re wearing a GPS device.

Apple SE – Best Apple Watch For Kid’s Safety

All Standard GPS Features: Real-time tracking, location services, location history, geo-fencing, etc.

Plus Apple Features: Connection to Apple ecosystem (use with iPhone or iPad), App Store access, downloading apps, etc.

Apple Health Features: Irregular heartbeat detector and fall detector included, as well as step counter and standing time tracking.

Monitor Everything From Your iPhone: Your child does not need an iPhone for you to use the watch. 

Waterproof: Not water-resistant. Waterproof. You can even swim with it on!

The Apple Watch SE is one of the best watches for tracking older children and teens, because it’s the ideal blend of smartphone and GPS tracking device. It’s not specifically designed for usage as a child tracker, but it’s easy to configure things that way, and your kid can still have calling, texting, and apps just like a normal iPhone (just the screen will be smaller, obviously).

Most “tweens” and teens will hate a GPS tracker, but we guarantee they’ll never say no to having a cool-looking smart watch.

The Apple SE has all the features you’d want in a GPS tracking device like real-time location, route tracking, SOS, geo-fencing, and historical location tracking. But it’s also got a ton of smartphone-like extra features that both you and your child will like. 

For example:

• Health-related apps
• A step counter
• Call and text (if you get the cellular version)
• Fall detection
• Heartbeat detection
• Apple Pay
• Their own music and media

Imagine your child walking to school. You can check their route in real-time, ensuring they arrive safely. If they need assistance, they can use the SOS feature, and you’ll be notified instantly. Plus, you can encourage healthy habits with the built-in step counter, tracking their daily activity right alongside their safety. The Apple Watch SE offers a comprehensive solution for keeping your child safe while fostering independence.

We think it’s a win-win for both sides: You get to track their location at all times with alerts and emergency services if anything goes wrong. And they get a smartwatch.

The reason it’s not #1 on this list is because, for one, it’s overkill. Do you really need all of those extra features? Most people never use them. And two, it’s Apple, so it’s not cheap. You’re looking at $299 JUST for the watch, unless you find a good deal.

Mini A9 GPS Tracker Necklace

• Comprehensive Positioning: You can accurately track your loved ones outdoors with GPS and indoors with Wi-Fi and LBS positioning
• SOS and Two-Way Voice: In emergencies, they can press the SOS button for help and communicate with you directly
• Voice Monitoring: Activate this to discreetly listen to the surroundings of the device, ensuring their environment is safe
• Geofence Alerts: Set up a virtual boundary and get notified if they leave this safe zone
• Multi-Platform Monitoring: Whether you use Android, Apple, or a computer, you can monitor their location in various modes for efficiency

The Mini A9 GPS tracker necklace’s best features are its compact design and versatility. It's easy to wear, so it’s perfect for kids or elderly loved ones. It’s roughly the size of a small coin, making it functionally invisible to anyone checking for GPS trackers.

That makes it super comfortable to wear as well - the child won’t even notice they’re wearing it.

What we liked about it:

• Voice Monitoring: Listen to the surrounding environment discreetly.
• Real-Time Tracking: Accurate GPS with Wi-Fi and LBS support for enhanced indoor tracking.
• Geofencing Alerts: Set up safe zones and get notified if they leave.

Long Battery Life: The battery can last up to 7 days.

After a few rounds of testing, we noticed that the location wasn’t nearly as accurate as other products on the list (like AirTags or Jiobit), and that it lacked advanced features like the Apple SE or AngelSense. It’s a nice middle ground though.

Lil Trackers – Small Wearable Personal GPS

• Versatile Positioning: Track your child’s location anytime using GPS, LBS, and Wi-Fi positioning.
• Remote Monitoring: Listen to your child’s surroundings anytime with the high-sensitivity microphone.
• Two-Way Voice Calls: Stay connected with your child through voice calls, ensuring they can reach you when needed.
• SOS One-Key Calling: Your child can quickly call for help by pressing the SOS button for 3 seconds.
• Geofencing Alerts: Receive alerts if your child leaves a preset safe area, helping you monitor their movements.

The LilTrackers GPS tracker watch is a nice alternative to more expensive watches like the Apple SE (it’s about half the price or less). It’s a pared-down version that offers the same 4G LTE real-time GPS tracking services as most other smartwatches. 

It’s basically just a bare bones kid’s smartwatch with basic location and emergency services without all the bells and whistles of something from Apple.

It does the trick and comes in a bunch of different “kids colors”, so it feels more appropriate for a young kid than a super advanced smartwatch.

Related Content:7 Best Portable GPS Trackers

Benefits of Child Tracking Pendants

The main benefit of a child tracking pendant is peace of mind. Not knowing where your child is, especially if they have special needs, is a huge source of stress for parents across the world. We know, we’re parents too.

But they offer so much more than just peace of mind. Think about it this way: With child tracking devices, you can improve their health, safeguard their wellbeing, and take immediate action when something goes wrong, and find them safely if they ever run off, or worse, something bad happens to them.

Here are just a few of the benefits of child tracking pendants summed up:

• Ensure they remain at school during normal school hours.
• Offer your kids a chance for independence while guaranteeing their safety.
• Mark off trusted areas of the map with geo-fences and get notified when your child leaves these boundaries.
• GPS smartwatches for kids like Lil Trackers’ GPS watch offer two-way voice calling and texting for check-ins.
• Some work during international travel. 
• Many also have an SOS button that allows a child to automatically call for help at any moment and update the parent or guardian with their exact location.
• Location history can show a pattern of behavior, detailing how much time kids spend at school versus their friends’ houses or the local arcade.

Drawbacks of Child Tracking Pendants

Before we get into the drawbacks of child tracking pendants, we just want to say that they are 100% worth any hassles they create. You can’t put a price on peace of mind.

However, there are a few issues you need to look out for.

• Personal information, such as a child’s location history or real-time location, may be collected by tracker devices and sold to third parties. That’s why we recommend sticking with trusted brands like Apple or AngelSense.
• You might need to recharge tracker devices every few days because of their small batteries.
• Accurate location tracking may not be available in areas with poor GPS coverage. So be wary if you travel to rural areas or if your kids are going on a camping trip or hike - they might not always have coverage.
• GPS tracking devices such as a watch or necklace could potentially be lost by the child if they’re playing or forget to put them back on after a sporting event.
• Necklaces, GPS devices, and watches may require a monthly subscription, so be careful not to make your decision solely on the price you see listed on the Amazon or company page.
• Some tracker devices may require a contract lasting up to a year or more.

Key Features That Matter In A GPS Child Tracking Pendant

Real-Time Location Tracking

Keeping tabs on your child in real-time is priority #1. 

When choosing a GPS pendant, look for one that updates frequently, like every few seconds. This way, you always know exactly where they are, whether they’re at the park or walking home from school.

Look for a tracker that uses GPS as well as cellular data so you always have connection.

SOS Button Functionality

The SOS button could literally be a life-saver.

Make sure the button is big enough and easy to press. And make sure the device has a direct line to emergency personnel.

Battery Life

Nobody wants a tracker that dies halfway through the day. Aim for one that lasts at least 24 hours on a single charge. Some devices even have power-saving modes to stretch the battery life, so you don’t have to worry about constant recharging.

In a perfect world, you’d find one that lasts up to a week on a single charge.

Geofencing Capabilities 

Geofencing is a handy feature that lets you set up safe zones, like around home or school. If your child steps out of these areas, you’ll get an alert. Look for a tracker that lets you customize these zones and notifies you quickly.

Two-Way Voice Communication 

Being able to chat directly with your child through the pendant is a big plus. Whether they’re feeling unsure or just need to hear your voice, this feature keeps you connected. Go for a tracker with clear sound and easy calling.

Location History Tracking 

Want to know where your child has been all day? Location history tracking lets you see their daily routes, helping you keep an eye on their routine. It’s useful for spotting any detours or unexpected stops.

Ease of Use and Setup 

The easier, the better! Choose a GPS tracker that’s simple for both you and your child to use. A straightforward setup process and a user-friendly app make all the difference, especially when you’re busy. That’s why we love AirTags so much. They’re dead easy.

Tips For Monitoring Your Kid With A GPS Tracker The Right Way

We find that a lot of our customers ask similar questions about monitoring their children, so we thought we’d give you a few tips on using GPS trackers with your kids the right way. 

For the most part, it’s just like any other phone app: Don’t overdo it. Yes, you want to make sure your child is safe, just don’t be overbearing and take their childhood away.

Here are a few tips:

• Get Consent: Start by discussing the tracker with your child, explaining your reasons, and asking for their agreement to build trust.
• Set Boundaries: Clearly outline what you’ll track and what you won’t, respecting their privacy by limiting tracking to specific situations.
• Use as a Secondary Tool: GPS tracking should support, not replace, traditional parenting methods—keep it as a backup for safety.
• Avoid Helicopter Parenting: Give your child space and independence, avoiding constant monitoring to allow them to grow.
• Make It Positive: Encourage your child to explore and learn using the tracker, turning it into an exciting adventure.

Child Tracking Pendant & Wearable GPS Device FAQs