Someone can track your location from a text message. They can send you a link with a hidden location request, install a hidden app, or triangulate your location using phone company data.
Thus, if you’ve been receiving weird messages, or you text someone you know, and somehow they know your precise location, it’s because you can be tracked by responding to a text message.
But you can also use such a tracking method by yourself, for the reason of safety. That is at the top of everyone’s thoughts right now. This is because children may be exposed to hazards, and parental supervision requires tracking their whereabouts.
You may also wish to utilize SMS location tracking for locating your spouse, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, elderly relatives, workers, and others. Overall, it is the fastest technique of tracking – send a text message instead of downloading software/apps.
Top Pick Based On Our Research
You may read the whole research, but if it’s too lengthy, here are our top 3 services that monitor location through text messages:
Web-based service that uses only phone numbers for tracking. Create a custom message and send it via any messenger with a hidden link for locating.
? Scannero
Low-cost trial, global coverage, compatible with any cell phone. Stay completely anonymous while tracking someone through SMS link.
All mobile number operators are eligible. This text message location tracking tracker is simple and fast to use. There is no need for installation. Displays the exact target phone location.
Table of Top Best Text Message Location Trackers
There are several services that claim to be the best text message location tracker. But you don’t have time for trial and error when you really need to know how to monitor a mobile phone through SMS, particularly when you’re willing to pay for it.
As a result, to save you from technical hassles, our dream team has put in hours of labor, patience, and a passion for outstanding service to test as many available applications as possible. And here is our summary.
Service | Best for | Compatibility | Price | Free trial | Effectiveness |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scannero | Checking in on friends and loved ones | All devices | $0,89/trial $49,80/month | Almost Free | 4.6 |
Detectico | Finding someone’s phone by their mobile number | Android, iOS, PC | $0,89/trial $49,80/month | Almost Free | 4.6 |
Spybubblepro.com | Parental control | Windows, iOS, and Android | €42.49/m €25.49/m 3 months-package €10.62/m year-package | Offer 7 days of free trials | 4.8 |
GEOfinder | Finding someone’s location by text | All devices | $39.99/month | $1 | 4.8 |
Locationtracker.mobi | Phone number tracking | All devices | €39.99/month €139.99/year | – | 4.6 |
We took some resources from the top reviews of the best, and almost all of them were awful. So trust only verified sources of information or blogs of specialized services related to telecommunications. For example, like our HeyLocate blog.
How Does Triangulation Work For Tracking Location?
Tracking phone location with triangulation requires access to phone company software and hardware. Phone companies have thousands of towers around the country, and phones must connect to these towers to relay messages and calls.
The sender may send you a quiet text message and analyze the signal from your phone to surrounding cell towers if they have access to the necessary equipment.
Android smartphones, as well as iOS devices, may be tracked via triangulation. Based on the cell tower their device used to obtain the delivered text message, one’s position may be approximated. They can figure out where you are by tracking how long it takes your phone to connect to three distinct towers.
You may wonder why they would track text messages rather than phone calls. Because text message monitoring is not influenced by weak connections or interference, it is more reliable. However, triangulation is not widely accessible or sufficiently precise.
Silent SMS Location Tracking
A silent text message (also known as a Type 0 message) requires your device to “acknowledge its receipt but trash its contents.” In other words, your cell phone will inform the sender that the text message was received but will not alert you. The mail will not even show up in your inbox. The sender can correctly triangulate and estimate your position with the appropriate equipment.
However, as internet equipment has grown more affordable, hackers have begun to use modified versions of this method (silent text message) to eavesdrop on individuals and steal their data.
It is also feasible to use an app to simulate and transmit quiet text messages, but the sender’s capability will be restricted. Silent text messages may even be used to disable and deplete a cell phone’s battery. Attackers may flood a device by simultaneously sending hundreds of these messages, and the owner will have no idea what struck them!
You cannot know whether your smartphone has been tapped or if someone has obtained your location via messaging you. It is difficult to track your current position if the SMS message lacks GPS data.
How to Track Someone’s Location Through Text
There are many tools and internet services that provide tracking phone location via sending SMS with location requirements.. Many of the programs also operate on websites, which means they can be viewed and used for tracking on any device with an internet connection.
Fill the Form and Try It Right Now
It should be noted that this service may be used for various objectives, including parental control and monitoring the whereabouts of your spouse, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, elderly relatives, workers, and others. You may be certain that it is speedier than some applications and does not load the phone. So, let’s see how to track someone’s location via text.
1. Scannero
Scannero.io is a practical and affordable solution for tracking the location of any phone number. As a cloud-based platform, Scannero offers precise GPS coordinates and location data by sending a text message to the target’s phone number. You can find the location of unlimited phone numbers with a one-day trial at $0.89 or a monthly charge of $49.80.
Features:
- tracks phones on all networks;
- no installation required;
- instant access to target’s location data;
- one-day trial;
- text and voice messaging available.
Compatibility:
Android, iOS, PC.
User Experience:
I used Scannero to track the location of a friend by creating my Scannero account and entering their phone number. Shortly after sending the location request, my friend received a text message with a location tracking link. Once they clicked the link, I instantly received their GPS coordinates on a map. Scannero proved to be a reliable and user-friendly tool for tracking a person’s location.
Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety | Accessibility |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Pros:
- no technical skills required;
- supports all cellular networks;
- no need to physically access the monitored phone;
- instantly reveals the tracked location.
Cons:
- can prove pricey for occasional phone number tracking;
- requires tracking consent.
2. SpyBubble
Works via installation (at least via iCloud credentials) and quiet SMS messaging.
SpyBubblepro by Spybubble will help you find your relatives and friends without their knowledge. Setting up your account and downloading the program on the target phone takes less than 5 minutes when installing the Spybubble pro app for Android phones. This is because SpyBubble Pro has an automated installation process, making it one of the simplest surveillance programs to install.
This text message location tracker is not accessible on Google Play, but it may be downloaded from the developer’s website by clicking on the Try Now icon.
Unlike Android, the SpyBubble Pro software does not need to be installed on the target phone. This program monitors an iPhone through iCloud backup. As a result, no installation is necessary. All you need is the target person’s iCloud account and password.
Features:
- GPS monitoring;
- call and chat log;
- monitor browser activity;
- keylogging feature to record all user activity, including passwords;
- track text messages, calls, contacts, and snoop on your inbox.
Compatibility:
iOS and Android.
User Experience:
SpyBubble provides its customers with an easy-to-use interface. I had no trouble installing the software.
SpyBubblePro uses multiple software names to avoid detection. If you are considering purchasing SpyBubble, you should know that it is quite well concealed and will be difficult for them to locate. Finally, results were provided in a flash. I saw everything on screenshots as well as real-time location tracking. The data is updated every 5 minutes.
Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety | Accessibility |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Pros:
- simple app installation;
- cross-platform compatibility (only for the monitoring side);
- completely undetectable;
- provides cloud storage;
- quickly performs.
Cons:
- pricing is greater than for other spyware services;
- unless used in stealth mode, the tracking app may be visible in the list of applications;
- iOS needs iCloud access. Android must be installed on the chosen device.
3. GEOfinder
GEOfinder is a powerful phone number tracker that can map any phone number independent of the mobile network. This text message location tracker works with all mobile network carriers and can locate the phone number of anybody via text message.
Furthermore, geolocation is requested anonymously: you will not be identified, and no software is required to follow their movements.
You may also modify the prefilled Text Message and Sender fields. However, it is preferable not to tamper with the structure of the text message. If you decide to alter the message, don’t meddle with the %link% portion at the end.
Features:
- personalize the text message you wish to send to the recipient. You may also use the one that comes standard;
- take a precise coordinate snapshot of your present position;
- tracking is possible for any mobile phone number around the globe;
- you are free to submit as many geolocation queries as you like.
Compatibility:
Android, iOS, and Windows PC.
User Experience:
GEOfinder can help track someone’s whereabouts by SMS, but you must have their phone number. After using the service, I can state that it is user-friendly and quick. I could choose a text message pattern that is more appropriate for the owner of the phone number I was looking for.
I eventually got a place on the map, which took nearly 3 hours. But it obviously depends on when a person clicks on the link in the message.
Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety | Accessibility |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Pros:
- it enables precise position monitoring;
- it does not need the user to physically reach the target device to function;
- it provides the location history of the target individual;
- it may be used for location synchronization.
Cons:
- a single pricing plan that allows just one feature;
- It is rather pricey.
4. Location Tracker
ERSTEN GROUP LTD, a company established in the United Kingdom, operates and owns the service.
This text message location tracker allows you to instantly detect a person’s GPS location from any text. To get started, you don’t need to download or install Location Tracker; register and submit some basic information.
All you have to do is send a text message to the number you choose with a tracking link. When they open the link, you’ve got them on the map!
Features:
- GPS tracking device;
- IP tracker;
- Wi-Fi detector;
- VPN examiner;
- lookup a cell phone carrier;
- track cell phone location via text message.
Compatibility:
Both iOS and Android devices.
User Experience:
The website’s homepage featured instructions for using the service and various client reviews. The website had a section where consumers could learn about phone monitoring applications and the top phone tracker apps without their knowledge.
The website took some time to load, but once it did, it worked well. You should be informed that there is no free trial and that you must first choose a plan.
Then I was asked to upload any photo. The service generated a special tracking link that I could send via any messenger. During my test, I chose Instagram, and when a person clicked on the link, I got their location.
Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety | Accessibility |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Pros:
- the registration procedure is basic and straightforward;
- you can use any messenger: WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
Cons:
- to monitor the device over time, you must upgrade to the commercial version of the software;
- the result depends on a person clicking on the link.
5. Cocospy
Track the phone’s location when a text was sent or received. Need installation at least via iCloud credentials.
Cocospy is a universal parental control and monitoring solution with over one million users from over 190 countries.
Cocospy, according to the developer, wants to help people protect what is important to them, whether it is their children or their business. This is accomplished by simply tracking the phone’s location when a text message is sent or received.
The developer claims that they strive to provide one of the most cutting-edge digital security and risk management solutions on the market.
Features:
- without rooting an Android device, you can monitor instant messaging;
- package for businesses that can monitor up to 25 devices at the same time;
- a phone tracker app for web history that includes site descriptions and timestamps;
- detection of IMEI, carrier, and network data;
- spying on social media platforms such as Whatsapp, Facebook, and Instagram;
- there is no jailbreak.
Compatibility:
Both iOS and Android devices.
User Experience:
Cocospy is simple to install and use, it has an excellent user-friendly layout with a bright background.
Cocospy may be quite simple to secretly spy on a target device. The software tracks the phone’s location when a text is sent or received. It does need installation, but can be done via iCloud credentials for iPhone users. I could try tracking 3 devices of my family at once.
Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety | Accessibility |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Pros:
- you may use Cocospy’s 100% invisibility function to track;
- it includes Geofencing;
- multiple devices may be monitored simultaneously and at a low cost.
Cons:
- given the high quality of the service, the fees may be too expensive;
- installation on the target device is required.
6. Detectico
Detectico phone tracking service can find the location of any phone by its number. It supports all phones and networks and offers a private solution without app installations. You only send a tracking link via text, and when the recipient taps it, Detectico will display the phone’s location. Detectico works on all phone types, including old flip phones, as long they have an internet connection and can receive a text message.
Features:
- universal phone compatibility;
- precise location tracking;
- message customization;
- safe and secure data.
Compatibility:
All devices.
User Experience:
I found using Detectico seamless. Entering the recipient’s phone number and sending a custom message was quick. Within moments, I received precise location details. The website was straightforward, and I could navigate to choose a custom text in a few minutes. Since I chose a compelling message, the recipient clicked it fast, and I could see their live location on a map. The absence of app installations made the experience hassle-free meaning I could track any number of phones easily.
Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety | Accessibility |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Pros:
- can find owner of anonymous text;
- works regardless of someone’s geographical location;
- can send text messages to unlimited phone numbers;
- you can customize text messages.
Cons:
- may experience delays if target does not give tracking consent;
- limited custom messages.
How To Tell If Your Phone Is Being Tracked
Check your phone files for spyware, and pay attention to the unusual performance of your device. Below is the list of signs to be aware of:
- Your cell phone begins to be quite hot.
If you have noticed that your cell phone has been growing abnormally hot recently, this might indicate that it has been hacked. Spyware that is operating in the background on your phone might cause it to work harder, which in turn causes it to produce more heat. - Your battery drains rapidly.
Because a monitored cell phone will constantly transfer data from the phone to the hacker, this will cause your phone to consume more power than usual, resulting in the battery dying much more rapidly than it normally would. - Your average monthly data use is much greater than expected.
Because it constantly transmits information to the hacker’s computer or phone, a cell phone that has been hacked consumes a significant amount of data. - Unexpectedly, your phone reboots itself.
The virus on your phone may interfere with the device’s natural working, effectively causing it to malfunction and restart itself randomly. - It takes a very long time for your phone to turn off.
- Your cell phone has been jailbroken.
- You hear interference from electrical devices or background noise.
- Your mobile phone is slower than average.
- Applications that detect spyware will warn you of any suspicious behavior.
Enter the Phone Number and Find Location Now
Conclusion
So, if it is going about whether someone can track location by text message, the answer is yes. Now you know what methods they can use; thus, you know how to notice this. At the same time, you know that such SMS location trackers can be useful for safety purposes.
Whether you want to monitor the location of your children by text message or you want to keep a tab on the location of your loved ones, with the right tools, you can easily do it. With SMS, sometimes even via different messengers, you can track a person faster than via downloading some apps or googling.
Easily accessible services like our top 3 selections, including LocationTracker, Scannero and GEOfinder.mobi, can perform this task without effort. Once assessed, the position may be easily traced using the online site. The installation procedure for others is straightforward, and the online web app icon stays concealed. So, which one you’d prefer?
FAQ
Spy apps may be installed remotely only on iOS devices if someone knows your iCloud credentials. For Android users, one-time access to the device is necessary.
These applications automatically get fresh and updated data from the target device every five minutes. Consequently, they allow choosing own update intervals and data choices.
Global authorities employ silent SMS messages to reveal the locations of their owners. Nevertheless, these methods depend on cooperation from network operators and/or require the use of sniffers.
There are popular phone number trackers that work via text message: GEOfinder.mobi and Scannero.io.
Yes, you can be tracked via text message if you click on the link in the text.
Leave a Comment