Quick answer
Life360 is built for families; travelers usually want something lighter. Apple Find My and Google Maps location sharing are built into most phones and share your live location with people you pick. If you want to share only an approximate area with friends you meet on the road, use a traveler app: RME’s Friends Map offers Ghost, Town, Approximate (within 20 miles) and Precise, shared only with mutual friends, and Crossroads lets you set location detail per friend.
Key points
- Life360’s plans page lists a free tier and paid plans at $9.99, $16.99 and $24.99 (shown under its monthly toggle).
- Apple Find My shares for an hour, until the end of the day, indefinitely, or a custom time.
- Google Maps shares your real-time location with people you choose.
- Traveler apps add approximate and town-level sharing, so new friends don’t see your exact campsite.
How do the location-sharing options compare for travelers?
| Option | Built for | How precise | Price, as listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life360 | Families: location history, place alerts, driving and crash features | Live location for your circle | Free tier; paid plans shown at $9.99, $16.99 and $24.99 with 7-day trials |
| Apple Find My | Sharing with people in your contacts | Live location; for an hour, the rest of the day, indefinitely or a custom time | Built into Apple devices |
| Google Maps location sharing | Sharing with people you choose in Google apps | Real-time location, plus name, photo and battery | Built into Google Maps |
| Crossroads | Nomads sharing with friends | Approximate location, set per friend, or Hidden Mode | Free; invite code needed |
| RME Friends Map | Travelers sharing with friends they met on the road | Ghost, Town, Approximate (random point within 20 miles) or Precise; mutual friends only | Friends Map is included with a free RME account. The app shows current plan details. |
Why do travelers want different location sharing?
Family apps assume everyone in the circle should see exactly where everyone is. On the road your circle is different: people you met at a hot spring last month, a caravan you joined for a week, friends you’d like to cross paths with again. You may want them to know you’re near Moab without pinning your campsite.
That’s why town-level and approximate sharing matter. They let friends plan to meet up without broadcasting where you sleep.
How does RME’s Friends Map work?
Friends Map shares your location only with mutual friends, at the level you pick: Ghost (hidden), Town (your general town), Approximate (a random point within 20 miles) or Precise. Precise can go to all mutual friends or only the friends you choose, for 2 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours or until you turn it off.
Friends Map lives on the Roam map, next to spots and events, so you can see who is near a place you’re heading. See Friends Map for the details.
Roam spots, Trailprint, Events and Friends Map are included with a free RME account. The app shows the current plan details, so check there for anything that is still optional. Available on the App Store for iPhone and on Google Play for Android.
What are good location habits on the road?
- Share precisely only with people you’d give your campsite to in person.
- Use a timed share (a couple of hours) when you’re meeting someone, then let it expire.
- Keep one person, family or a close friend, on precise sharing for safety, and tell them your plans.
- Remember that photos can carry location data and that posting “here right now” shares the same thing.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Life360?
Yes. Apple Find My and Google Maps location sharing come with most phones. For approximate sharing with travel friends, use RME’s Friends Map or Crossroads (free with an invite code). Friends Map is included with a free RME account. The app shows current plan details.
Can I share an approximate location instead of my exact spot?
In RME, choose Town (your general town) or Approximate (a random point within 20 miles). In Crossroads, set location detail per friend.
Who can see my location on RME?
Only mutual friends, at the level you choose. Precise can go to all mutual friends or only the ones you pick, and Ghost hides you.
How long does RME share my location?
For 2 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours or until you turn it off.
Sources
Sources and further reading are listed below. Research dates and any illustrative assumptions are identified in the article. Tell us at support@roammeetexplore.com if something has changed.
Disclosure: RME publishes this page. We make RME. Other apps, events and tours mentioned are run by their respective organizations. Check their current details before making plans.