One of our most successful articles here at Smartwatches is our list of the best smartwatches for children. That list contains a wide variety of devices, from entertainment wearables to full-on GPS tracking watches for kids.
Strapping a wearable with tracking support to your child’s wrist makes a lot of sense, especially when it allows you to monitor their current location and habits in real-time.
In the past, it was perfectly acceptable to allow your children free roam of the neighborhood without supervision. Parents would usually set a dinner curfew, and children were expected to return at the appropriate time.
The world isn’t so forgiving anymore; at least it sure doesn’t seem to be. Every day we hear stories about children being abducted, going missing, or being involved in some kind of accident. As a parent, you can never be too safe with your child.
Features such as geofencing are becoming popular methods parents use to ensure the whereabouts of their child.
That’s why we’re going to take a look at some of the best GPS tracking watches for kids.
Some things to note first:
- There are not truly “tamper-proof” models, it seems. Most include a silicone band that can be easily removed. Some of the devices have tamper alerts to let you know if the child – or someone else – tries to remove it, but nothing stops them from doing so.
- Pay attention to the GPS limitations. If the device is SIM-enabled and has an active subscription, it can usually be tracked anywhere, even internationally. If the device does not connect to mobile networks, the range is going to be severely limited.
- Identify the features you want most, which are most important to you and your family, and go from there. Some devices sacrifice features to make room for others. For example, if you want to track your child’s location no matter where they are, without fear of range limits, you’ll need to pay the cash for a wireless subscription. In this case, that might mean your budget will suffer more than expected.
- A “water-resistant” rating rarely means waterproof. In most cases, it’s not safe to submerge water-resistant devices, nor is it safe to go swimming, take a bath, or get in the shower with them. Be responsible.
- Android and iOS are the most common smartphones supported when it comes to companion apps. If you have another type of phone – or an out-of-date model – you might want to consider an upgrade.
- An overwhelming majority of these devices are crowdfunded through platforms like Kickstarter or IndieGoGo. This means people have the opportunity to financially back and support a project before it’s commercially available. For whatever reason, sometimes these projects fail, and the devices are not released. We do our best to keep you updated, but just be aware of this.
We’ve done our best to choose safe, family-friendly devices that have a good reputation. Sometimes, there’s just not enough info. This is where we rely on you – our community – to weigh in with your experiences as you have done in the past. Thank you.
The Best GPS Tracking Watches for Kids
By choosing one of these GPS tracking watches for kids, you will monitor your child’s location and call them back if they stray too far. The idea is not to be a burden on your child — as if any parent is more concerned about that than safety — but instead to ensure they are safe at all times.
Each device on the list includes its own features and a unique price tag. However, with so much variety, you should be able to find something that fits your budget.
We recommend considering everything that’s here before making a final decision about which of the GPS tracking watches for kids you will buy.
GPS Watches for Kids: What to Know
Before we get into our list, let’s take a closer look at what you should consider when purchasing GPS watches for kids.
GPS Tracking
One of the biggest fears for a parent is losing their child. It is something no parent wants to experience. Fortunately, there are GPS watches available on the market that allow us to keep track of our child’s location for greater peace of mind.
You can download the mobile app Find My Kids and then connect it to your child’s smartwatch. It offers reliable global positioning, and some even allow for geofencing.
SOS Alerts
When the watch has the SOS feature, your child can press the button when they find themselves in an emergency situation, and they can get help as quickly as possible.
Two Way Calling
With two-way calling, you can maintain even better lines of communication with your children. However, not all smartwatches have this functionality. So, when reviewing your options, see if two-way calling is a feature.
Camera
A kid’s smartwatch can also be used for entertainment purposes as well. While the camera really doesn’t have any safety benefits, it is fun for the kids. You might even be able to find a camera that you can monitor remotely from the mobile app to view your child’s location.
Waterproof
Finding a waterproof watch for your kids is especially ideal because they are made to be more durable and long-lasting. It is safe for your child to wear while swimming, washing their hands, and splashing around in the rain.
Tech Specs
Finally, make sure to look at the technical specifications of each GPS tracking watch as well. Check for a good battery capacity and make sure it comes with a reasonable amount of storage space.
Now, let’s get into our top recommendations of the best GPS watches for kids currently available online.
1. Xplora X5 Play
The Xplora X5 made our list of the best GPS watches for kids simply because of its many features and functionalities, making it ideal for both kids and parents. This smartwatch can make and receive phone calls from pre-saved numbers. It can also receive text messages, emojis, images, and voice messages and reply to those messages.
With the SOS button, you can rest assured that your child will have access to help. All they have to do is press the SOS button to notify emergency contacts of their location. Multiple services are used to show the location of this device when needed. You can also choose to set up Safety Zones around key locations if you wish.
This kid’s smartwatch can also be connected to Wi-Fi. It is compatible with several different networks, including Sprint, Verizon, and US Cellular. However, you will need to purchase a SIM card separately, as one is not included.
The device is rated waterproof IP68 up to 1.5 meters. It also features a pedometer and a 1.4-inch touchscreen, making it easier for your child to use. Overall, this GPS watch for kids allows parents to have the ultimate control and visibility.
The parents can control all the settings and functionality easily from the mobile app. You can even activate School Mode, so only the watch is on display during school hours. It also disables all calls and messages but still allows you to track your child’s location.
The Xplora X5 watch is suitable for children ages 5 to 12 and helps your child stay connected.
Pros
- Good style, not too childish
- Easy to use applications
- Easy to set up
- Waterproof
- Safe Zone and geofencing feature for safety
- Reliable
- Good for older children
- Works on a 4G network
Cons
- Some reported that the app is not stable on Android and may show as network not available
- Child can access APN and Wi-Fi settings and can also shut down the device
- May be too complicated to use for younger kids
- A bit on the expensive side
2. Generies Smart Watch for Kids with GPS Tracker
If you are looking for a more affordable list of GPS watches for kids, then this Geneseries Smart Watch with GPS Tracker definitely tops that list of options. It is a multifunctional watch with features that include voice chat, two-way calling, class mode, camera, LBS tracking, security zone setup, remote camera, SOS alarm, remote monitor, alarm clock, and low battery notification. It also allows your children to access up to three math games to continue their learning while still being entertained.
When your children are out of the house, you can use this GPS tracker watch to keep track of their real-time location through the Setracker 2 app. When your children are in trouble, they can press the SOS button for three seconds, and it will call the numbers programmed into the phone. Up to three SOS numbers can be programmed into the watch at one time.
The built-in HD camera is also fun for the kids to use to take selfies and photos with their friends. It is also waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about your child wearing it while washing their hands or splashing around in the rain.
Parents can set up safety zones for their children with this watch as well. They will be notified if their child is outside of these zones and has exceeded the safety range.
Pros
- Great battery life
- Easy to set up
- Waterproof
- Affordable
- Suitable for both boys and girls
Cons
- May have signal trouble
- No text message capabilities
- GPS can be a hit or a miss
Buy this Geneseries Smart Watch Now
3. Willow Wind Kids GPS Smart Watch
The Willow Wind smart GPS watch for kids features GPS+LBS two location ways, meaning there is a historical footprint available of your children, so you can ensure their safety in real-time. You can also use the app to set up safety zones for your children. When your child is outside of the designated safety zone, you will receive an alarm through a message.
There is also an SOS function on this GPS watch. When your kids find themselves in an emergency situation, they can press the SOS button for two seconds to quickly call the three phone numbers programmed into the watch.
With two-way calling, it is easier to keep in touch with your children. You can have a maximum number of 10 contacts saved into the smartwatch at one time. You add them to the app, and the numbers are synced to the watch. Voice message and chat time are up to fifteen seconds.
Class Mode or do not disturb can be enabled during school hours, so your child is not distracted; however, SOS mode will still be fully functional.
Pros
- Easy to navigate
- Good battery life
- Comfortable for long time wear
- Durable and long-lasting
Cons
- Can be hard to set up
Buy this Willow Wind Kids GPS Watch Now
4. Themoemoe Kids GPS Watch
This Kids GPS Watch uses LBS positioning technology, so you can track your child’s movements and set safe zone areas in the app. When they are outside of the safe zone you have set, you will receive a notification through the app. This tracking feature depends on the local signal and GPS base station. If the signal strength is low, then the positioning error could result in a 0.3 to 5-mile radius.
With the SOS function, your kids can call for help quickly and easily when they find themselves in an emergency situation. They just have to press the SOS button for three seconds, and it will call up to three numbers that have been programmed into the watch.
With the Class Mode function, your kids will not be disturbed by their watch. All functions will be paused except the SOS emergency feature while the watch is in do not disturb mode.
If you insert a SIM card, your child can have access to two-way calling, which allows you to stay in even closer contact with your children throughout the day. This watch is compatible with SpeedTalk or T-Mobile. Among its other features, you will also find voice chat, a flashlight, camera, phone book, talk-back feature, footprint, and alarm clock.
This GPS watch for kids is suitable for children between the ages of 4 and 12 years old. However, the simplicity of its design and its style may be tailored more toward younger children.
Pros
- Has an accurate GPS tracker
- Multifunctional
- Has games and fun designs your child will love
- SOS feature in case of emergencies
Cons
- Best suited for younger children
Buy this Themoemoe Kids GPS Smartwatch Now
5. Rayph Store Kids Waterproof Smart Watch with GPS/LBS Tracker
If you have more of an active child, you will want to find a durable GPS watch for kids that can stand up to the active lifestyle your kid leads. This smart watch has amazing functionality and even allows your child to keep up with their very active fitness level. It can be used during almost any sport as well, including swimming, because it is waterproof.
You will also find that it has a camera and a photo album. You can easily connect to the app to keep track of your child and also set alarms, and do not disturb times. It is multifunctional and supports two-way calling, LBS positioning, SOS emergency, Voice chat, and more.
In the app, you can also set up safety zones for your children and remotely control the camera at any time so you can see your child’s location. The fence radius when setting up safety zones is 500 meters. Once your child has walked outside of this fence, you will receive a notification.
The maximum standby time for this smart watch is three to five days. It has a long battery life which is perfect for your children. This watch is suitable for children between the ages of 5 and 12 and comes in your choice of pink or black.
Pros
- Has a fitness tracker
- Easy to read high-definition screen
- LBS capability
- Accurate GPS tracking
Cons
- You have to purchase a compatible SIM card, or many of the more essential functions will not work
Purchase this Kids GPS Smart Watch Now
6. Blackview Smart Watch with Tracker
While it may not necessarily be advertised for kids, this Blackview Smart Watch with Tracker has been praised by parents for its functionality and GPS accuracy. If your child participates in a lot of afterschool activities, you will find that this watch will definitely benefit you and your child.
Your child can use this watch to call, text, and set alarms. Parents can easily track their child’s whereabouts with the accurate built-in satellite positioning system, and they can control everything. All you have to do is download the app on your smartphone, and you can easily control the watch remotely and always know your child’s location in real-time.
This smartwatch supports GPS, Glonass, Galilean precise positioning. It is also made with waterproof materials so it can be worn at all times. It is water-resistant for up to 50 meters and within ten minutes.
It also has a sleep tracker that can track your child’s sleep quality and sleep time. The advanced HR sensor allows for accurate and effective heart monitoring as well and can keep you and your child more up to date on their health.
You will also find an impressive 45-day battery life. Its low power consumption design offers endurance. When it is time to charge, it only takes 2.5 hours and can be used again for up to 10 days with a standby time of up to 45 days.
Pros
- Accurate and precise GPS tracking
- Made of waterproof, durable materials
- Long battery life
- Sleep and fitness tracker
Cons
- App notification on the watch may be distracting for some children
- May be better suited for older children
Buy this Blackview Kids GPS Waterproof Smart Watch Now
Final Thoughts
Choosing to invest in a smartwatch for your child with GPS capabilities can grant you the peace of mind you need when your child is outside the home. You will know your child’s location in real-time, and your child will be able to call you whenever they need you.
The best GPS watches for kids will feature an SOS button, two-way calling and be made with durable and long-lasting materials. When looking for the best GPS watches for kids, make sure to check for high accuracy when it comes to GPS tracking.
I LOVE AngelSense! However, the device doesn’t snap photos. It uses Google Map images based on the location of the device.
Updated! Thank you!
Single (Divorced) father of 3 kids; 6, 7, 8 years old. I think the best option would be the FiLIP watch for all three, but I was wondering if they allow any extra apps to load?
I seen the KidiZoom watch by Vtech which does not have GPS or phone capabilities… it’s a calculator, watch, and built in Camera, with I think upto 8 entertaining apps for the wearer to use, playing games and what not… but than I thought of tracking, and communicating so I found this article after google search.
So I’m carious; is there any Kids Watch with Tracking, built in phone, SOS, and maybe some useful apps for young kids; Calculator, time, maybe a couple games? Maybe a built in Camera?
Also, one thing I noticed with ALL the watches listed, though their was SOS or emergency procedures mentioned on most of them, do any of the include emergency contact with local authorities? Call the police or something? Maybe call police, but simultaneously alert either parent or guardian, which is conference called in with 911 and child??
angelsense has the call the police feature – you can create a list of people /numbers it will call with a one button tap on your app if your kiddo runs off/goes missing – it then links all those people with the tracking app!
Quick question
Im in South-Africa my son is 13years I need one for his b-day?
Can I have the cost please in Rand if not in South-Africa
Regards
Belinda
Can you activate any phone on the AT&T network or do you have to get the Filp phone with AT&T?
if someone wants to track a kid why can’t they just give them a phone with a gps on it, set it to always be connected to the internet and use a free app like android device manager to find it. The only problems I can see with this idea is that the kids would have to carry a phone instead of a watch and the costs of being connected to the internet all the time might add up. It still might be cheaper then paying for a service plan. Actually I just did a search and found out that there are a lot of watches android and otherwise that come with gps. I don’t know if they can be tracked or not.
The reason why someone would rather buy a GPS tracking watch for their child is the following: 1) They don’t feel the child actually needs to become glued to their phone all the time, 2) they can limit exactly who the child can communicate with as these watches offer two way communication to selected people 3) Children lose phones 4) as you mentioned data plans 5) bad guys who abduct a child would be wise to throw away a phone but not necessarily give a second thought to removing a watch (which tends to send a signal to the parent when removed anyway).
because kids will set a phone down somewhere and leave it where as a watch is attached to their arm.
What si the best GPS watchs which also a Power Meter as and options and whar are the best pricces you get aound now ?
I prefer iGPS Watches. They are the smallest, made for kids and have live tracking with their own mobile app.
Do you own one? I’m having trouble finding info outside of their website.
IGPS has many issues with setup and the app really is not user friendly
I currently own the iGPS watch and I have never had any issues with it. The company is coming out with a brand new app at the end of April. The set up for us was very easy as long as you follow the step by step instructions. I will stay with this company because they are always moving forward and making the product better.
Hello Samantha
I just got an IGPS for my kiddo. It’s all set up but I can not figure out how to get the Live Tracking GPS or GeoFence to work. Any suggestions? Heidi
I really hope they come out with a new app. The current one is terrible, so difficult to navigate.
kigowatch is definitely the smallest there is, and waterproof, works woorldwide. I have it myself.
Hi Samantha. Is there a video on YouTube showing it being used by someone? All I can find is a video of someone unboxing the watch. And also a video from the company showing some of its features. But that’s it. You said that the company was doing an update or a new app in April 2016…can you update us as to how the app is working now and if it is still working well for you? Please and thank you
Totally true, waiting for the company tech assistance to get back to me. Hopefully they can provide some instruction.
I just bought one. It’s strange how there is such little outside information on them. Watch is solid but the WeChat app it uses is awful.
completely agree, watch is fine but WeChat experience to manage the watch is horrible
What about the iGPS watch kept it from the list?
The iGPS Watch went to market after this article was published.
Hi… I’m thinking to get 1 for my kids but I was thinking that is the watch waterproof??
kigowatch is waterproof!
where can we buy kigo watch in USA?
Is there something that is waterproof that a child CAN NOT GET OFF? That is an extremely important feature that I am looking for.
Tinitell is waterproof.
In this case it’s best to surgically implant a chip in their wrist.
Actually David, the chip is implanted in the child’s neck, typically under the child’s collar so it won’t be as noticeable to the other children. I have found that vets do it for a much better price than pediatricians. Hope that helps. Cheers!
kigowatch is waterproof, shockproof and has on/off detection. You’ll receive an alert whit location when the watch has been taken off
Hello, is there something I can use with my almost 3 year old that only I can remove/disable?
any recommendations for gps watches for the elderly with dementia?
Hey Aristotelis, we actually have an entire article on wearables for the elderly: https://smartwatches.org/learn/the-best-wearables-for-the-elderly/
Hi, you would want to checkout http://www.vlinderalarm.com…it‘s a GPS tracker especially designed for the elderly with very smart functionalities!
Kidsport and Caref has the WORST customer service. It was a waste of time and money. Steer clear! Buy ANYTHING else. My son has Autism and during our trial run of him wearing it he chewed into the rubber of it. It was never even activated. After numerous calls, emails, and comments on their FB page, no one is answering or I’m getting the run around. They have now banned me. I’m not the only one either. Such a waste of money.
Which of these work in Canada?
The Kigo watch works worldwide, so also in canada and you can bring it to any trip abroad!
Does the igps watch work in Canada ? I bought a GPS tracker watch Q50 and I can’t get it to work properly! The watch won’t stay connected and can’t get it to work with the app at all and now my clock part in my watch is back to 2004 :/ and can’t change it if it’s not connected to the app:/
And anyone give me any more information on the igps watch ?
My girls are 9 and 11 and I don’t want them to have a phone that they can lose or play on/with I am just wanting a watch to communicate with for things like change of plans or if someone forgets to pick them up from activity or stuff and a GPS so I can tell where they are and once and I while have them walk home from school when needed
Hi Becky, The Kigowatch works worldwide, also in Canada! And you can bring it to any trip abroad!
Our son has had the Filip since August, it’s always crashing and has many bugs that need to be fixed. We have found it very unreliable and are in the process of researching to purchase a new gps watch
Thanks for the comment Heather! Sorry to hear that. I’ll make sure to edit the post if I notice a pattern.
Have you reached out to customer service?
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THE KIDSPORT GPS. My wife and I recently purchased the Kidsport GPS for my ten year old adopted son with FASD and RAD. Recently he has developed a very alarming tendency to run off and go missing. We have had to call the police multiple times for assistance in finding him. We have tried almost every conceivable option to keep track of him but finally decided we had to find a GPS device that would stay on him. We really hoped that this device would be an important piece to us keep him safe. We were terribly disappointed in this product. It began with the annoying tendency for the device to tell us that our Joey had gone outside the boundaries of the geofence we set up even though he was sitting in the room right beside us. Then it would bounce back and forth between him being in the geofence and being outside of it even though we had set the fence up for two houses in each direction. Then within 4 hours (4 hours!!!!!) of putting the band on my son the band had broken. It had torn across and split up the seem. $200 for 4 hours of use. When I contacted customer service, their reply was “It is stated in our website that broken devices will not be covered by warranty. What we can do on our end if you will not be using the band, we can cancel/remove this from your account.” They won’t even stand behind the quality of their device for 4 hours. Extremely disappointing. I strongly recommend looking elsewhere for a product to protect your special needs child.
Yes, the product quality is lousy, the geofence function is a joke, and the company is dishonest.
Hi Blaine Markland.
What a story you experienced. We need to solve the problem with your son. We are the manufacturer of KiGO watch, a competitor of Kidsport. Our watch has no geofencing option, and no voice calling. So when these features is very important to you I can’t help. We have some experience with children with special needs.
When you think KiGO is suitable for your little one please let me know. KiGO has a standbye time of 20 hours, it’s very small, light and is extremely strong. As a one time exception, I would like to support you. So send me an email, I hope I can help you and give your child the freedom he deserves.
[email protected]
Hi
my daughter is going on a trek from UK to laos, vietnam & china. which would be a good GPS tracker watch please for her. she is 17
Word to the wise: DO NOT buy any GPS tracking bands from Precise Innovation. They are crooks as far as I’m concerned. First the [insert swearword of choice here] thing (Kidsport band) didn’t work, I went around and around with their customer service. Sent it back to them and now almost 3 weeks after returning it, am having to go round and round for my $200 back. I’m so infuriated. Thought I’d share 😛
It seems to be their business model. I’m sure they get away with stealing from lots of people who just don’t have the time to pursue these thieves.
Thanks for the warning. The post has been updated to reflect your experience with the company.
To be fair, I did finally get a refund from them. It was still a nightmare of a customer service experience, but I hope they are ironing out their issues.
Anna, I was informed by my customer service director that we issued you a refund. Is that not the case?
I did finally get a refund, thank you. It was still one of the the worst customer service experiences I’ve ever had, but I appreciate you stepping in and making that happen!
Thanks Anna. So sorry we didn’t meet expectations. We try to learn from each experience. I wish you the best of luck.
You can also consider SantWatch. It is compact and packs a lot of features.
http://www.santwissen.com/guardian/santwatch.html
Any information on the doki watch?
http://www.doki.com
We added the Doki watch to the latest update!
Hi Brian, great post! Perhaps there could be an extension to the GPS tracking devices category for kids? Snowfox trackerphone: https://www.facebook.com/NowThisFuture/videos/1161787687195743/
While back our team was wondering how much kids spend time with smart devices and thought we wanna make a Nokia-quality device that does the opposite. So we made Snowfox. It’s a GPS tracker and a phone without a screen. It’s got 1-week battery life, real-time locationing, and it can be placed freely anywhere you like – also wrist band in accessory lineup coming up. Ready out-of-the-box with fixed monthly cost on data+calls.
These products are already being manufactured and sold in Finland, built-in SIM+connectivity allows fast deployment to new countries. Looking at rest of Europe, UK, US and Canada where it works already!
Thanks Kari, the post has been updated!
I’m looking for a watch for my 3 year old son. He has issues with running away and also leaving the house. He’s a very smart boy. He’s figured out how to unlock all the doors even the ones with child proof locks !! So I’m looking for a watch that will tell me where he is, will alarm me if he goes out of area, will alarm me if he takes it off. I don’t need the SOS feature. I don’t want to call his watch or text his watch. I just want something simple and durable. Must be waterproof as well. Also must work in Ontario.
Stay far away from the Caref watch. It does not work as advertised and the company has TERRIBLE customer service. You will be out money with no functionality.
Do Not Buy Caref GPS watch. The seller in the US, Precise Innovation in Leawood, KS will steal your money.
I bought one and the battery did not last but a few minutes to a few hours even when making no calls or texts, in an area of solid cellular coverage. They sent a replacement, but it came with a demand to ship the defective unit back at my cost, threatening to charge me more than the purchase price if I didn’t. After contacting the company and being refused a return label I got them to agree to refund my purchase. I finally got one shipping label from them and had to pay to ship the replacement back. USPS confirmation of delivery of both was 21 days ago and they claim they have not received them and will not issue a refund. They also charge more for the monthly service than they quote you. The baseline plan is $9.95 but they billed $10.44, adding 5% for some reason (more money).
When the watch was working the GPS accuracy was poor, within about 40-50 meters with lousy precision (standing still the watch would show it is moving around an area about the size of 2-3 residential blocks. A simple cell phone can reliably give you 6 meter accuracy and much better precision. The Geofence feature was also a problem. It kept alerting me that the watch(and presumably my child) had, somehow, gone to Iowa in a period of about 5 minutes (from Denver). A few minutes later a message would come that the watch was miraculously back in the Geofence area. I tried to turn off the Geofence due to the excessive text messages it was sending to me but it would not go off, even after deleting all geofence definitions from the account.
In summary, product does not work as described and the company is dishonest and will steal from you.
Anna and Paul, my name is Brian Sullivan and I am Founder and CEO of Precise Innovation. I sincerely apologize for the experience you faced with your Kidsport band. As a husband and father of three kids myself, I can assure you our #1 goal is to create happy customers. Regarding your issue, I am going to personally ask my Director of Customer Service. Our policy states that as long as the band is unbroken and is returned within 30 days, we will always do the right thing. Please email at [email protected] if you would like to chat directly. Again, so sorry you didn’t have a five star experience.
Paul, please email me at [email protected] to discuss your experience. I am the Founder of the company and will always do what is right for the customer.
Paul, my Customer Service Director told me we gave you a refund. Is that not the case?
Hello there! I’m glad I bumped into this article cause I think I can contribute with an idea here. I just bought a “Top Watch” gps watch for children, and it doesn’t look like any of the smartwatches shown in your research. Instead, this watch looks like any analog kids toy watch, and that’s what makes it more secure, in my opinion. In case of a kidnapping -sadly a more and more common situation in the city where I live- hopefully they will not notice it is a gps traceable watch. I still haven’t received it, since I bought it online, but the comments from other buyers showed they were very satisfied in general.
There are some youtube video reviews showing its functions, and even though the watch is Chinese, the instruction manual, website and App are in English. Well, I hope it adds up to your yet thorough watch review. Cheers!
please let me know how it goes with this watch. I really just want a regular watch with geofencing, gps, and sos for my son. Thanks.
Hi Rachel. Well, the watch arrived and has been in use for like a week. The first thing is to get a phone SIM card and to always have credit on it (like a prepaid system or so.)
That being said, then the watch is pretty cool. It looks great, it seems to be made of good materials, and it charges wirelessly, so kids don’t have to plug in cables.
The GPS function is not very accurate at all when indoors. I’m talking about a 400-700 meter error misplace. Or perhaps even 1 kilometer. When outdoors, the GPS is pretty accurate. The app comes in English, it has geofence, tracking, whitelist and family number settings. You can set the 3 phones the kid can call when pressing one of the watch’s buttons, among other functions. The audio for the phone calls is acceptable and easy to hear on both sides of the call. When a phone number in the white list calls the smart watch, it vibrates with no sound, so the kid can answer or reject the call. Another cool function is that on your app you can see how much battery life is left in the smart watch. All in all, it’s a cool way to stay in touch with the kids when they’re away, but the GPS function is not the most reliable. Still, your kid can easily call you anytime if there’s a problem, and I think it was worth the money I paid for it (around U$ 50)
This is the link where I bought mine, since they also ship to Mexico:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/TD01-Kids-Quartz-Smart-Wristwatches-GPS-SOS-Monitor-Call-Tracker-Safe-Top-Brand-Luxury-Phone-Watches/32704282780.html?ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_0,searchweb201602_3_10057_10056_10065_10037_10068_10055_10054_10069_301_10059_10033_10058_10032_10073_10017_10070_10060_10061_10052_10062_10053_10050_10051,searchweb201603_4&btsid=f7460c5d-9d2f-466d-8786-b6a63001b2f7
…but if you live in the US, it is even cheaper:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Smart-Kid-Safe-GPS-Watch-Wristwatch-SOS-Call-Location-Finder-Locator-Tracker-for-Kid-Child-Anti/32472661005.html
I hope it helps you make a more informed decision. Cheers!
Thanks for the comment. We do our best to steer clear of the ultra cheap, generic devices. Not because they are necessarily bad – or good – but because they are usually a hit or miss.
It’s good to hear from our community about them though, so thank you for sharing!
Hi. I work in the GPS tracking industry and wanted to share my thoughts. Typically, if a tracker does not have wifi included for indoor tracking or even cellular triangulation (which if it just roams on US networks it probably doesn’t), it will send the last location of the tracker when it got its last GPS fix. So if the tracker hasn’t been near a window or outside during a GPS fix the location will be off. Also, there is what is known as GPS drift which means the device can show in another location. This has to be fixed in the firmware of the device. So you should share those instances with the manuf. Hope that helps.
This is a great tip Danyelle. Our current Caref Watch has GPS and also LBS (which is cell triangulation as you mentioned) however it isn’t an exact science. We have learned that when parents purchase a product like this they expect it to be perfect. As a father of three, I totally get it. Our next product that will be released in January will also have Wifi triangulation to help with tracking indoors. Again, it’s not perfect but is much better than having no way to track your child. Take Care Danyelle!
Mr. Sullivan – What is the name of your product that was released in January? I have been reading reviews and am trying to decide between the GizmoPal2 and the Caref. Does the Caref now have wi-fi triangulation? Thank you for your response.
Stacie, it’s good to hear from you. Our new product that does have Wifi triangulation will be launched in about 3 weeks. We have been putting it through a ton of tests (including on my daughter Maggie) making sure it works great. And it does! I will keep you updated here when we are good to go! In the meantime, you can go to kidsportgps.com to learn more. Thanks Stacie!
Learn from my mistake… i bought the iGPS smartwatch for my six year old daughter. According to the website the watch will use GPS to track your child’s location, allow inbound calls and outbound calls from 8 predetermined numbers and well as receive incoming texts. Also, says it includes Geo Fencing. However, when I received my watch I found out that is all a lie!! The gps was off by two miles, which is huge with a missing child. Also, you cannot view on a map (which the website claims) instead you just get an address and coordinates. Only ONE number can call the watch, and that is your primary contact (SOS). You can program 8 numbers, but can only call the SOS number, all others are for when the SOS button is pushed. Also, you cannot change names so it is listed as Family1 #, Family2 #and so on. As far as the texting goes, you can only send the watch a “command text”. (For example: when programming the watch you send it a text with a code to program the time zone.) You cannot send a text that can be read. The “Geo Fencing” says that is unavailable. The screen is also only the middle third of the screen.
Continued:
I also called their customer service and first the tech told me it was all normal. Then got me over toJamie, the supervisor, who hung up on me when i said i wanted to return and get a refund. So i called back, got Jamie again and she told me they’d refund the $109 but not the $13 activation fee, $16 monthly fee, $9 shipping and I have to pay shipping back. So i am out over $50 when it is all said and done. Jamie also hung up on me the second time while Iwas asking how to return the watch. The positive on the watch is the feature that tells you if the watch is removed worked great!!! Also, when it displays the time it is very easy to read and clear.
I have looked for the FiLIP 2 for weeks. I was told by AT&T Customer Service and several stores in my area that the item is out of stock, discontinued, and that FiLIP Technologies has ceased manufacturing. AT&T will continue to service the item but no longer sell it. FiLIP’s Facebook page continues to say that the the FiLIP is available at AT&T and Best Buy – they are not. Their support email is also a dead end/unmonitored vacuum.
Just ran into the same thing!
Verizon also has the Gizmo Gadget – it’s a higher model than the GizmoPal2 – it allows more contacts (10) and you can text through the Gizmo App. My son has one and we LOVE it. It’s $149 but still only $5 a month on your Verizon plan.
The Amazon listing for the LG “watch” has several reviews saying there are newer models out there. Can anyone tell me what they are? I can’t get Verizon site to work right now for some dumb reason. LG is actually a company I’ve heard of and I would prefer to deal with their customer service than one of these fly by night crowd funded quick start and quick death companies…..
We have the newer Gizmo Gadget for our 9 year old son who has been recovering from brain trauma and still in therapy most of the week. I believe we paid about $150.00 for it about 6 months ago. Bought it from Verizon Store. We program the only people / phone numbers he can dial and only those numbers can call the gizmo. Additionally, I believe you are allowed to program 8 primary care givers and that allows them to GPS track child on the gizmo app you install on each caregivers phone. App is free. We pay a $5.00 per month fee to our existing Verizon account. You can pre program many text replies and emojis as well, which my son really loves, being 9 years old. The silicone/plastic band is replacable luckily, (our dog chewed his first band into pieces!) The GPS on this Gizmo Gadget is HIGHLY accurate and dependable. Very pleased with this purchase and the minimal monthly fee.
We purchased one for our daughter and she lost it. We couldn’t track it bc it said it wasn’t charged. While I can easily purchase another, I am somewhat concerned that this cannot be tracked after a certain point. I don’t think someone stealing a child is going to charge their watch….
Wow I think it’s crazy that people have hadifferent bad experiences with the kidsport caref GPS watch. I bought one for my then 4 year old for pre k and bus riding then church and anywhere we went really. That was about a year and a half or two ago and it’s still going strong. We have had excellent service, clear calls, and texting, my little one is now 6 in 1st grade and loves his “smart watch.” It is 100x easier to conceal or make it seem like a normal watch to potential predators. The GPS tracking works great and I loved that i can set zones and alerts. The emergency system is set up perfect to call through the contacts. More than anything it gives me peace of mind being able to check on my little one at school. The company has excellent customer service and has always gone above and beyond for any questions or issues. In fact, our neighbor purchased 4 and uses them with her kids to this day after seeing our. We will definitely continue giving them our business and telling everyone we know. You never know what can happen these days with school shootings, terrorists, creeps, and clowns walking around. I can sleep a little easier knowing when we go to amusement parks or the zoo if my kids get separated I have a fast and excellent source to find them. Also, the price is incredible and I love that I can just go to Walmart or Amazon and order if needed.
Thank you for the comment. Good to hear!
As the Founder and CEO of the Caref GPS Watch I was floored when I read the comments below which lead to our product going from being the #1 Tracker on the list above to suddenly not being recommended. First thing I did was research the individual issues regarding the reviewers below who posted negative comments. NOTHING is more important than happy customers to me and I must say I was ready to “lose my mind” on my customer service department. After digging into each case however, I learned we had refunded two of the customers (after testing the products we found them to be functioning well), and learned the other two products that were returned were completely damaged.
As owner of the company, I constantly track comments on Facebook and blogs such as this to make sure we are doing the right thing. Sometimes we do fall short of expectations. But I will promise should you choose my product, you can be assured that the owner of the company cares enough to always do the right thing. I hope you give us a shot. And if you have any direct questions for me, please email me directly at [email protected]. Thanks so much!
Just so we’re clear. I didn’t remove the recommendations simply because of a few comments on our post. I also looked up reviews where the watches are available including Amazon. Both elements influenced my decision to amend this list.
You may want to view some of those, as well.
Briley, as we have all learned in the child’s GPS watch space, few companies receive 5 stars. The technology is new (and difficult to build) and parents expectations are very high (as they should be). More reviews, many positive can be viewed at https://www.walmart.com/ip/Caref-GPS-Phone-Watch/40498355. In addition, we get reviews like the one you see below every day. We will work hard to win back the trust of your community.
Precise, I can not thank you enough. I am so impressed with all the efforts you made to get me the watch on time. That is epic customer care. You should be very proud of the way you represent your company I would be more than happy to write an evaluation/survey to report my VERY positive experience.
You have earned me your customer for ever, because you truly treat your customers with at most respect.
Best regards
Bouthaina Dabaja MD Professor and Section Chief Hematology
Department of Radiation Oncology
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
DONT USE THE KID TRACKER GPS SMART WATCH!!! SCAM
Recently I had tried most all of the kid tracker watches… They came with non-American instructions, (meaning they were not correct English and they were hard to follow). The scannable code did not work, and there was no instructions on which app to download. There was no Sim card
Needless to say, I read the reviews below re GPS Caref watch, and decided to write him an email myself because of his clear dedication to his company.
I had a great online conversation with the owner of precise innovation. For a company owner to go site by site and dig out the negative comments in order to fix them, is admirable, ethical, and moral.
He actually offered me a free caref GPS watch because of my bad experiences with other companies products, and it is in the mail!!!!
As a business owner, I can tell you that people like this are few and far between. There will always be someone to complain. But it’s clear that he puts hard work and dedication into his product .
Iwould easily buy from precise innovations again! And recommend to my friends and neighbors! Thank you!
Julie, please give me an update on how things are going! I want to make sure you are still happy. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
I purchased 2 Caref Watches for my daughters. One watch worked perfectly, still going strong! The other watch quit working after about 4wks. When I called it was replaced super fast! No hassles! It did come with a problem. Volume wouldn’t lower down. It took a little longer to get it taken care of but, it was finally replaced! I am happy with watches!!
My daughter has ADHD & this is a way to help her remember important things! Her teacher LOVES it!! Has been showing other teachers. It has given me great peace & kids independence! I’ve had 4 friends purchase watches from Precise Innovations with no problems. They love them too!!
Candice, I am so happy to hear that! Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us. Again, we aren’t perfect, but I want EVERY customer to be happy. Happy Holidays!
I purchased a tracker from Precision Innovation back in April. It has been a headache ever since. We had to wait for my son to get used to wearing it and when we tried to set up the service via their app, it stated it was an invalid band. That took about 10 emails back and forth (you’d think with an invoice # they could pull it up right? Apparently not). Now that the band is “validated” it has no record of me paying $120 for a year’s worth of service. Now I need to send them a copy of my invoice that says it’s paid because they have “no record of that”. How do you function as a company without being able to verify a simple payment based on your own invoice #? I’m at a point now of requesting a supervisor or billing dept call me back. Based on that conversation I may be asking for a full refund. Glad this company is no longer recommended. It seems like it isn’t a legitimate business.
If they can’t track your payment, why would you let them “track” your son?
Hi Im looking to buy a GPS watch that my kids can wear and can talk to me when they want. I live in Canada and am having a hard time find something. I dont want to pay more then 170$ per watch and dont want much of a monthly fee as i need to buy 2 of them. Id like it to have a watch aspect not something with a blank screen or one they put in their pocket (they will lose it). thanks for the help
If you want to use the GizmoPal without an existing Verizon plan the monthly cost is $40 + taxes. You must purchase the minimum 2GB data plan to pay the minimum monthly fee.
does Caref smart watch support ATT 3G/4G?
It uses its own network through TMobile so as long as you have good TMobile coverage in your area you should be fine
Thanks for the reply Dr. Dad!
April, Caref uses T-Mobile network and is 2G. 2G is supported through 2020 through T-mobile and they recommended we stay on 2G rather than go to 3G at this time. Thanks for checking in. -Brian Sullivan, Founder
I’m so confused how this works. I have been a T-Mobile customer for 15yrs and still don’t understand. Do we buy a sim card from T-Mobile? Do I pay a monthly fee to T-Mobile?
I got my son the Gizmo Gadget through Verizon, which is the next level up from the Gizmopal. We have been very happy with the watch. 🙂
I just bought a iTRAK Kids GPS Tracker Smart Watch in South africa. Does anyone else have one? Does it work well?
Any word on when doki watches will be in stock again for U.S. Customers (1900 MHz)? I can’t find any info on it on their website.
I have to say my experience with Precise Innovation was very different. I emailed the company with questions before purchasing and received answers from the founder immediately, even at night. I ordered the watch (which I won for free) and the one year subscription for the cell service which was about 9.99/month. The watch came and I had to email one more time to set up and then was ready to go. The watch works perfectly! The battery lasts all day plus some. I set up geofences around my home and my daughter’s school and it alerts me when she leaves. I can even see when she is in gym class because she is running all over the place in one location! One day I was confused why my husband text messaged me to get him a coffee too, then realized he was tracking my daughter’s watch and we were at Tim Horton’s! I love the security it offers. She loves calling myself and her dad on the watch. I also send her a text at lunch sometimes to tell her I love her and she adores that. The watch stopped working over a year later. I emailed the company to let me know when they have another deal so I can buy a new one and they offered a free watch if I pay 9.99 for shipping. What other company offers a free replacement after a year of use? If I break my phone a day after leaving Verizon I don’t get a free replacement. Technology sometimes doesn’t work. Technology breaks. This is to be expected! I am very impressed with the company and how they stand behind their product. It’s still new and making improvements and the T-mobile cell service still needs to get a little better out by my country home but this is a company I would stand behind and you really can’t beat the price.
We have had the Gizmopal 2 for six days, and have already gone over the 1gb data cap. I’m not sure if maybe I need to make sure it’s turned off at night, or only use the call/ping options under the direst of circumstances, but we’re clearly not using the device to call and ping all day long; she’s at school, we’re at work. We bought the item so that she could ride the bus and have contact with us during the walk from the bus to the front door (roughly a two- five minute walk). At this rate, we’d be paying an extra one hundred dollars a month for her service. We’re looking at new options now. I liked the product a lot before this happened, though.
Don’t buy the Doki watch – it has major issues in the United States. There’s even a Facebook support group where everyone complains about it (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1378091645555412/). No one in the US has gotten the video calling to work. The GPS is way off. It has so many technical glitches, it isn’t worth the effort. Even after paying $200 and waiting for shipping from China, we only got half the features to work, and then it completely stopped working after one month. Run away!
I have bought several of these child location tracking devices I loved our mommy I;m here teddy bear for when we had very young child. Then we moved to Flilip2 watch which worked fine most of the time but very big. Changed to a couple I bought from china for size but found no 2g network in my area SE USA to support them. Finally decided on Verizon Gizmo gadget. Works great almost always precise on location price is $5 a month service but water proof it is not. It is also very big on my now 7 yr old. Although still works currently the screen cracked not easy cheap fix so may be moving on again. And even though they say water proof they are only life proof for water. Would like to see same kind of features in a smaller child size watch like the gizmo…and make water proof for swimming since we need watch for all activities.
The biggest thing I want is REALTIME tracking for my 3 kids. If we can do it for cars, why can’t we do it for kids? Also I would like to be able to ciommuncate with them through it. Does anyone have a suggestion that won’t break the bank? I have the gizmopal 2 for each of them now but it is so big, the tracking takes FOREVER to find them, there is no geofence that I can figure out, and it kept making noise during school so they ended up taking it off and putting it in their book bag and then would “forget” to put it back on. I just want to keep my kids safe and some of these designs are so huge or bright that, should a predator snatch them, of course it would be the first thing they rip off. Any ideas?
Hi! I have tmobile and need these features in a kids watch. Can anyone recommend which one would be best? Thanks! 🙂
Features:
-Good gps tracking
-2 way calling
-Messaging (not a must)
-Being able to listen in
-Durable
-Water resistant
-App able to track 2 kids
-Remove alert
-Geo fencing (not a must)
I know it’s a tall order to fill but I couldn’t quite tell from reading all the descriptions of the watches if there is one that meets all that criteria. Thanks in advance for your help!!
Did you find anything?
This is my list as well.
Sounds like GizmoPal 2 by LG is the only kid’s tracker that is reliable and has no complaints. Other kid’s trackers all have their problems and have many complaints. Am I right? Too bad GizmoPal 2 only works with Verizon. I wonder why no mainstream smartwatch provider is willing to build kids tracker? Like Apple, Samsung or even Lenovo, Xiaomi.
Im looking for a GPS tracking watch for my kid that can be supported by AT&T. is there any reliable out there?
I have found numerous GPS tracking watches that fit my needs, But I have a question, Why is it that most of the GPS tracking watches are for children? There is a great demand for the elderly as well. Looking for SOS features tracking watch…
Media sensationalism and abductions by family members may make things seem worse, but you and your kids are safer by an order of magnitude now than we were back in the “good ‘ol days.”
I would never recommend Caref watch. The customer service is horrible. I had purchased a watch in the summer of 2016 it worked great for 1 month. I no longer used it . Late summer of we moved to another state and My child needed it. To turn the service on I was told that I had to pay 4 mos of service that I NEVER used because I didn’t go through their process of discontinuing service. Angerly I paid the money. Then I paid for two months service while I fought to get the watch to work. They sent me a new watch and it still did not work. I then had told customer service to forget it. Oddly they continued to charge me for service. You would think that if the service isn’t working they would quit charging you especially if you have had constant contact with customer service. Almost $100 later I have two watches that sit and collect dust. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE look up this watches reviews on You Tube and other sites. DON”T WAIST YOUR TIME AND MONEY!!!
The watch is not throwing the removal (tamper) alert. The child can take it out and leave at some place without any notice. Anyone have experienced this kind of issue? Also, I couldn’t identify the manufacturer (vendor) of the watch https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Android-Phone-SOS-Call-Safety-Child-Smart-Watch-Waterproof-GPS-Tracker-/252958604099?var=&hash=item3ae581fb43 any clue?
It looks like the Caref watches are now Kidsport Bursts and require a $15/month fee to use them. 🙁