The best GPS trackers for kids with real-time location tracking

Tech specs: Price: $129 | Battery life: One week | Real-time tracking: Yes | Monthly cost: $8.99 to $16.99 per month | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cellular, GPS 

Jiobit's Smart Tag is our pick for the best GPS tracker for kids. It's a small tracking device that clips onto a belt, but you can also use accessories to place the Smart Tag on your child at all times. The device comes with a charging cradle for powering the battery, which typically lasts around a week per full charge depending on your settings and use. 

In addition to the device price, the smart tag requires a monthly subscription with three different plans to choose from. The "Basic" plan costs $8.99, Plus is $14.99 and Protect is $16.99 per month. Each plan includes always-on connectivity and real-time location tracking, along with navigational directions to the Smart Tag's location. The Plus and Protect plans include extra features such as unlimited users (to share the location with), unlimited GeoFence locations (basic is limited to 2), and 30-day location history, along with push, SMS and email alerts. 

Also: The best Bluetooth trackers

There's a small button on the front of the tracker that a child can press to alert a guardian of their location and, if needed, dispatch emergency services by calling 911. This feature is only available when you sign up for the Protect plan. 

The Jiobit Smart Tag is designed specifically for kids and includes ample features to help you keep tabs on your child at all times. However, it's also one of the most expensive trackers on a monthly basis, out of every GPS device we tested. 

Tech specs: Price: $29 or 4 for $99 | Battery life: 1 year | Real-time tracking: No | Monthly cost: None | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Apple's Find My Network 

Apple's AirTags are about the size of a quarter, and there are countless accessories you can use to attach the small tracker to a jacket or backpack -- or you can even slip it into a pocket. There's no monthly fee, and the battery lasts around a year -- after which you can replace the CR2032 battery. 

Apple has tried to make it clear that AirTags are not meant to track pets or children, but it's only natural to be curious: How well can an AirTag keep track of your kid? In general, an AirTag does an okay job. The problem is that an AirTag requires another Apple device to be nearby and connected to the internet in order for its location to be shared with Apple's Find My network. 

Read the review: Apple AirTags review: Tile can't compete with Apple's Find My network

For example, tracking a young child on the school bus requires someone -- most likely another student or the bus driver -- on the bus to have an iPhone or cellular Apple Watch. If there aren't any Apple devices on the bus, the location can't update. 

Another potential drawback to AirTags is that you need another Apple device to view the location. That means you'll need an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch for the initial setup, and after that, you can use a Mac to view the AirTag's location. If you use a Windows or Android device, AirTags just won't work for you. 

An AirTag is better suited for tracking a lost backpack, keys, or another random item that you can be (somewhat) patient about tracking down. The AirTag is arguably the best tracker available for items, period. But for tracking a child, there are better options. 

Tech specs: Price: $129 | Battery life: 4 months | Real-time tracking: Yes | Monthly cost: $39.90/year after first year | Connectivity: Bluetooth, GPS, LTE 

Invoxia's Cellular GPS Tracker looks more like a long USB drive than it does a tracking device. The blank housing has all of the hardware for LTE and GPS connectivity and a battery that can last up to four months.

For $129, you'll get the device and a year's worth of service. After the first year, you'll pay $39.90 for another year's worth of service. 

Using the Android or iPhone app, you can create alerts that are triggered whenever the tracker enters or leaves a specific area. For example, you can create an alert that lets you know when your child has arrived at school or got home. However, the timeliness of those alerts will depend on how often you have the tracker reporting its location. 

A new feature Invoxia added this year is Real-Time Boost, which will report the tracker's location every 30 seconds for the next 30 minutes. This feature only becomes active once your tracker does its next scheduled location update, and that's based on how often you currently have it set to update its location. 

There's also a button on the tracker that a child can press to send their current location. 

If you don't mind charging the device via a microUSB connection, and the 5-minute alert interval is acceptable to you, then the Invoxia Cellular GPS Tracker might make sense. However, due to its size, it's better suited for placement in a backpack. 

Tech specs: Price: $150 | Battery life: 2 days | Real-time tracking: Yes | Monthly cost: $10/month | Connectivity: Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, LTE

Garmin just released its latest kids smartwatch known as Bounce this month. Along with real-time location tracking, it includes communication features, health and sleep tracking, games, and much more. As far as tracking goes, parents can use location tracking on the Bounce to view their child's current whereabouts in the Garmin app, and be notified when they leave pre-approved areas. 

LTE connectivity (that you can purchase from Garmin for $10/month) lets you have two-way texting and voice messaging with your kid for up to 20 parent-approved contacts. 

There are also great health metrics like sleep, steps, and active minutes to keep an eye on your growing child's health. Plus, Garmin includes activity-related games within the watch so kids can unlock rewards for meeting their active goals, or responsibilities parents set like completing a chore.

Tech specs: Price: $174 | Battery life: Up to a week | Real-time tracking: Yes | Monthly cost: $10 | Connectivity: 4G LTE 

For kids who are too young for a smartphone but mature enough to take care of a gadget, there are products like T-Mobile's SyncUP Kids Watch and the Verizon GizmoWatch (more on it in a minute). 

The wrist-worn gadget costs $174. However, if you're adding a line to your account, you can get the watch for free. It's $10 a month for service, which allows you to talk to and track your child in real-time using T-Mobile's network. 

In general, the SyncUP watch has similar functionality to what you'd find on a normal smartwatch. It includes a camera, and your child can use the device to send and receive messages. With the task manager, a parent can add chores or other tasks for their child to focus on after school.   

The interface is playful and easy for a child to use. And, parents, rest assured that you can use the School Mode to disable extra features during class time, ensuring your kid won't be too distracted by their new wrist computer. 

If you want a device that tracks your child's location and allows for two way communication, the SyncUP Kids watch makes a lot of sense.

Tech specs: Price: $200 | Battery life: Up to 3 days (standby) or 1.5 days constant use  | Real-time tracking: Yes | Monthly cost: $10 | Connectivity: GPS, Cellular 

Verizon's GizmoWatch has been around for years. For my test, I received the Disney version of the GizmoWatch, and it has more features than the Verizon GizmoWatch 2 (it also costs $100 more). This watch features animated characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, creating an interactive user experience. Characters react in lively ways on the home screen when checking the weather and when notifications come in. 

The watch has a lot of the same features as T-mobile's SyncUP Kids watch. That is, you can send and receive messages, take calls, and it even has a built-in camera. You can add up to 10 trusted contacts for your child to communicate with while wearing the watch. 

You'll also get real-time tracking and geofence support, so you can receive alerts when your child leaves or arrives at a certain location. 

Just like the SyncUp Kids watch, you can create tasks for your child, set up school mode to keep them from using the watch at school, and more. 

Keep in mind that both GizmoWatch models have a one-time $35 activation fee from Verizon.

Tech specs: Price: $150 | Battery life: 72 hours (on standby) | Real-time tracking: Yes | Monthly cost: $7.99/month | Connectivity: Cellular, Wi-Fi, GPS

The Xplora X5 Play watch uses a GPS, active Wi-Fi, and GSM triangulation to provide real-time location tracking. The watch also offers geofencing, so you can set up safety zones around key locations like home and school. If your child wanders out of these pre-marked areas, you will be notified. 

It comes in three color options (blue, black, and pink) and has other features: Voice calling from pre-saved numbers, text messaging, emojis, an SOS mode, and a camera with 4GB of storage space. 

The watch itself doesn't have any games, but there are games involved via the GoPlay app. For every 1,000 steps that your child takes, they will earn one Xcoin, which can be saved up and redeemed for real prizes in the GoPlay store. (For this experience, you'll need to use a smartphone or a tablet.)

You'll also need a SIM card to use the cellular functions of the watch, which is included with the watch and works with most mobile carriers except Verizon. 

In addition, a minimum one-year subscription is required, and it runs at about $8 per month.