BuddySOS is a group safety app for Android and iOS that shares live locations, sends boundary alerts and offers one-tap SOS. An SOS sends the sender’s live GPS location to members of the active group, even when the phone is locked. It can also text emergency contacts a link to that location through Twilio; those contacts do not need the app. Safe zones alert the group when a member enters or leaves. Each zone must have a radius of at least 100 meters, and a group can have up to five. The free plan includes one group and one safe zone, with ads. BuddySOS Pro costs $1.99 per month, removes ads and allows more groups and zones. The maker says it does not sell location data or retain location history, and shares location only with group members. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, but the service is not end-to-end encrypted. Registration uses a phone number and text-message code; sign-up is listed for numbers from the US, Canada, UK and EU.
Who it is for
BuddySOS suits families, friends, festival and event groups, and staff teams coordinating in the field. Staff can use shared live maps and SOS on existing iOS or Android phones without extra hardware or IT setup.
What is good
- SOS shares live GPS location with the active group.
- Emergency contacts can receive a location link by SMS.
- Safe zones alert groups when members enter or leave.
- Location history is not kept, according to the maker.
- Battery Saver Mode adjusts checks based on movement.
What to know first
- Free plan includes one group and one safe zone, with ads.
- Safe zones have a 100-meter minimum radius.
- Service is not end-to-end encrypted.
- Sign-up is listed for US, Canadian, UK and EU numbers.
Verdict
BuddySOS combines group location sharing, boundary alerts and SOS, with a free plan for a single group. Consider its regional sign-up availability and lack of end-to-end encryption when deciding whether it fits your group.
BuddySOS plans and pricing
All plansCompared on family locator apps
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $1.99/mo
- Location alerts
- Yes
- Geofence limit
- 5 places
- Location history
- none
- Platform support
- both
- SOS tools
- Yes
