Hauk is a free, open-source service for sharing live phone locations through a self-hosted backend. A user sets a sharing period and sends a link that lets others follow the location on a map; anyone with the link can see it while sharing is active. The share ends when its time expires or the user stops it. The Android app sends location data only to the Hauk server specified in the app, so using it requires installing the backend. That server needs a PHP web server and Memcached or Redis, plus the corresponding PHP extensions. Deployment options include manual or scripted installation, an Arch Linux AUR package, and an official Docker image. The project supports end-to-end encryption and LDAP authentication, while the Android app supports HTTP and SOCKS proxies and starting shares via Tasker. Hauk is licensed under Apache-2.0. The project recommends exposing it only over HTTPS through a reverse proxy, since unencrypted traffic can reveal location data in transit.
Who it is for
Hauk suits people who want to share location with friends or family and can install and maintain a PHP-compatible server. It is available for Android and is self-hosted.
What is good
- Free and licensed under Apache-2.0.
- Location data goes only to the configured Hauk server.
- Supports end-to-end encryption and LDAP authentication.
- Offers Docker and Arch Linux AUR deployment options.
What to know first
- Requires a PHP web server and Memcached or Redis.
- Anyone with the share link can view the location.
- The companion app is for Android.
- Unencrypted traffic can expose location data in transit.
Verdict
Hauk gives users control over the server that receives location data, but that requires setting up its backend. Share links grant live-location access, so secure deployment and careful link sharing matter.
Hauk plans and pricing
All plansCompared on family locator apps
- Location history
- none
- Platform support
- android
