92 / 100

In a world where staying connected is essential, real-time location tracking has become more than just a convenience, it’s a necessity. GPS tracking apps like Glympse have revolutionized the way we share our whereabouts with friends, family, or colleagues.

Whether it’s for coordinating meetups, ensuring safety, or tracking deliveries, these apps have gained massive popularity. The global GPS tracking market is expected to reach $6.2 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 15.8% from 2020. This shows the increasing demand for location-based services.

To develop a GPS tracking app like Glympse, it isn’t just about building a map on a screen. It’s about designing an experience that’s easy to use, reliable, and safe for people who want to stay connected in real-time.

If you’re interested in tapping into this growing market, understanding the key features and technologies behind a GPS tracking app is crucial. So, read this blog till the end.

Let’s begin!

What is a Glympse Application?

Glympse is a mobile app that lets you share your real-time location with friends, family, or coworkers. You choose who can see your location and for how long, so it’s safe and private. For example, you can send someone a Glympse application to show them you’re on your way or stuck in traffic.

However, they don’t need the GPS location tracker app to see your location, just a link. It’s useful for meeting up, letting someone know you’re safe, or coordinating travel.

Glympse is simple to use and works on most smartphones, making it easy to keep others updated without calling or texting. You should first validate your GPS tracking app idea with an IT consulting company.

Future Predictions & Projections of GPS Tracking App

Source: Market.us

The market for GPS tracking devices is expected to reach about $10.2 billion by 2033, up from $3.1 billion in 2023. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.70% from 2024 to 2033.
By 2025, the world market for GPS tracking devices is expected to have grown to about $1.66 billion.
31% of GPS tracking users said they made money in the first 6 months.

How Does a Glympse App Work?

If you are planning to build a GPS tracking app like Glympse, then it is vital to know about how the application works. So, we have explained the working mechanism of the Glympse application below.

1. Download the App

First, download the Glympse application from the App Store or Google Play. Open the app and allow it to access your location.

2. Create a Glympse

Tap the “Share Location” button to create a Glympse. Choose who you want to share your location with friends, family, or coworkers.

3. Set Duration

Similar to an app like Family360, decide how long you want to share your location from a few minutes to a few hours. After the time ends, your location automatically stops sharing.

4. Send the Link

Send the Glympse link via text, email, or any messaging app. The person doesn’t need the Glympse application to view it. They can use any web browser.

5. Track in Real Time

The recipient can see your live location on a map, including your speed and estimated time of arrival.

Steps To Develop a GPS Tracking App like Glympse

Creating a GPS tracking application like Glympse involves several steps, including defining the core features, choosing the right technology stack, handling real-time location sharing, and ensuring data privacy and performance. Below is a high-level roadmap to help guide your Glympse mobile application development process:

1. Define the App’s Purpose

The first step to develop a GPS tracking app like Glympse is to clearly define what the app will do and which features it will offer. At its core, a GPS location finder app helps users share their real-time location with others for a certain period.

Decide on the primary use cases: Will it be used for personal safety, delivery tracking, ride-sharing, or social meetups? The core features should include real-time location sharing, a live map interface, temporary access to location data, notifications, and privacy controls.

You may also want to add features like estimated arrival time, chat, or the ability to set a tracking duration. Getting clarity on features helps align the development process and user experience from the start.

2. Choose the Right Technology Stack

To create an app like Glympse, choosing the right tools and frameworks is essential. For mobile development, you can go with native tools or cross-platform frameworks like Flutter or React Native.

For real-time tracking, you’ll need location services APIs and backend services that can handle real-time data processing. Firebase or AWS can help with real-time database, authentication, and notifications.

It’s also important to consider battery efficiency, as GPS can drain power quickly. You should hire mobile app developers to choose libraries and tools that support low-power location tracking in navigation app development, where possible.

3. Design the User Interface

Once your technology is selected, the next step is creating a clean, simple, and intuitive user interface. Users should be able to easily start sharing their location, choose how long to share it, and see others’ locations on a map.

Before you develop a GPS tracking app like Glympse, design wireframes or mockups using tools. Focus on usability, for example, ensure buttons are large enough to tap on mobile screens, and the map view is always clear. Also, plan for permission prompts in a non-intrusive, user-friendly way.

4. Developing the Mobile App

With the backend ready, you should build an app like Glympse. Use Swift or Kotlin for native apps or a framework for cross-platform development. Integrate GPS and mapping services to display real-time location.

The iPhone app development company implements features like location sharing, session expiration timers, route tracking, and contact integration.

Make sure the app can run efficiently in the background to continue tracking without draining the battery too much. Test the navigation app development on different devices to ensure smooth performance and accurate location tracking.

5. Test & Launch the App

After development, thoroughly test the app to find and fix bugs. Test various scenarios: what happens if GPS is off, if the internet connection is lost, or if the app is in the background?

Make sure battery consumption is optimized and location updates don’t lag. Once testing is complete, publish the Glympse GPS tracking app development to the App Store and/or Google Play.

But your job doesn’t end there, gather user feedback, monitor performance, and release updates regularly. You should avail the mobile app maintenance service to keep your app secure, fast, and competitive.

Key Features of Glympse App Development

Features are essential for your mobile application’s success. When you create a mobile app similar to Glympse, you should integrate the following features in your app to deliver a smooth and functional user experience:

1. Real-time Location Sharing

Users can share their live location with others for a set period of time. This feature makes it easy to let friends, family, or coworkers know where you are and when you’ll arrive.

2. Time-Based Sharing Control

Similar to an app like MapQuest, users can choose how long to share their location, whether it’s 15 minutes or 3 hours. After that time, sharing automatically stops, ensuring privacy.

3. No App Sign-Up Required for Viewers

People don’t need to install or sign up to view a shared location. They can open the link in a browser and see the real-time location instantly.

4. Group Location Sharing

Create groups like for a road trip or an event so everyone can see each other’s locations on a single map. It’s perfect for families, teams, or carpools.

5. Interactive Map View

Similar to an app like Waze, your app displays all shared locations on a clean, interactive map that updates in real time, making tracking simple and visual.

6. ETA and Speed Info

Users can see the estimated arrival time and current speed. This helps others know exactly when to expect someone or if there are delays.

7. Custom Tags and Notes

When you develop a GPS tracking app like Glympse, add a message or tag to a location share like “Running late” or “Almost there.” It gives context to your location without extra calls or texts.

8. Geofencing Alerts

Similar to an app like GEO Tracker, get notifications when someone enters or leaves a specific area. This is great for tracking deliveries or knowing when kids arrive at school.

9. In-App Messaging

Users can chat within the app while tracking location. This helps keep communication smooth without needing to switch Glympse alternatives.

10. SOS / Emergency Feature

In case of emergencies, users can tap a button to quickly share their location with emergency contacts. This improves safety during travel or solo trips.

11. Battery Saver Mode

The app like GeoZilla, automatically reduces location updates to save battery when needed, especially during long trips or when the battery is low.

12. Privacy Settings

Location is only shared with the people you choose, for the time you set. Users are always in control and can stop sharing anytime.

Top GPS Tracking Apps Like Glympse

If you are looking for the best gps tracker application, then you should check out the below Glympse alternatives. They are the most popular GPS tracking apps similar to Glympse that have an immense user base.

Best GPS Tracking Apps Like Glympse	Available Platform	Downloads	Ratings
Life360	Android \| iOS	100M+	4.6
Family360	Android \| iOS	1M+	4.7
Waze	Android \| iOS	500M+	4.1
Mapquest	Android \| iOS	10M+	4.3
GeoZilla	Android \| iOS	10M+	4.0

How Much Does It Cost To Build a GPS Tracking App like Glympse?

The cost to develop a gps tracking app like Glympse is between $10,000 – $25,000 or more. However, the Glympse app development cost can vary on the basis of your project complexity and customizations.

Let’s say, you want to build a simple GPS location finder app with basic features, then it will cost less while a customized application will cost high.

So, it is essential to first set your budget and then strategize your requirements. For best results, you can consult with a mobile app development company. Now check out the below factors that affect the cost to build a GPS tracking app like Glympse.

1. Features You Want to Add

The more features your app has, the more it will cost to develop an app like Glympse. A basic GPS tracking app might just show a user’s real-time location and allow location sharing.

But if you want to add extras like in-app messaging, geofencing, history of locations, speed alerts, or integration with maps and calendars, the cost to develop GPS tracking software. Think of it like building a car: adding more gadgets and features increases the Glympse app development cost.

Feature	Estimated Cost
User Registration/Login	$1,000 – $2,500
Real-time GPS Tracking	$1,500 – $3,000
Interactive Maps	$500 – $1,500
Location Sharing	$1,000 – $2,000
Geofencing	$1,500 – $3,000
Location History	$2,000 – $4,000
ETA Calculation	$1,000 – $2,500
Push Notifications	$500 – $1,500
User Profile Management	$1,000 – $2,000

2. Design and User Interface

A good-looking app that’s easy to use will always attract more users, but great design takes time and money. If you want a polished, user-friendly interface like Glympse has, with smooth animations and a clean look, you’ll need to invest more in UI/UX design.

Feature/Aspect	Complexity Level	Estimated Cost
UI/UX Design	Basic	$2,000 – $4,000
	Moderate	$4,000 – $6,000
	Advanced	$6,000 – $8,000+
Core Features Development	Basic	$1,000 – $2,000
	Moderate	$2,000 – $4,000
	Advanced	$4,000 – $7,000+
Backend Development	Basic to Advanced	$6,000 – $9,000+

3. Platforms Choice

If you develop a GPS tracking app like Glympse for both Android and iOS, the cost to build an app like Glympse is more than choosing just one. You should hire dedicated developers who can write different code for each platform, even if the app looks and works the same. If you’re trying to keep the budget low at first, you could build for just one platform and expand later.

Platform Choice	Estimated Development Cost
Single Platform (iOS or Android)	$8,000 – $12,000+
Cross-Platform Development	$12,000 – $15,000+
Native (iOS and Android separately)	$15,000 – $25,000+

4. Developer Team’s Location

Who builds your apps similar to Glympse and where they’re based makes a big difference in Glympse app development cost. Hiring an Android app development company in North America or Western Europe is more expensive than working with a team in India. But you also want to balance cost with quality and experience.

Locations	Costs Per Hour
North America	$80 – $140
Western Europe	$70 – $120
India	$15 – $25
UAE	$40 – $80

How To Monetize Your GPS Tracking Application Like Glympse?

Monetizing a GPS tracking device application like Glympse involves leveraging your app’s core functionality, real-time location sharing, into viable revenue streams. Here’s a breakdown of proven strategies you can adopt to earn revenue.

1. In-App Advertising

You can allow businesses to place ads inside your GPS tracking system app. For example, nearby restaurants, gas stations, or car services can show location-based ads to users. These ads can be shown as banners, pop-ups, or even suggestions in a route planner app development.

You earn money every time a user sees or clicks an ad. The more active users your app has, the more ad revenue you can earn. Just make sure the ads are not too annoying; otherwise, users might stop using the good GPS tracker application.

2. Subscription Services for Businesses

Instead of just individual users, you can offer your GPS tracking app development as a service to businesses like delivery companies, taxi services, or logistics firms. These businesses need to track their vehicles and staff in real-time.

You can provide them with special dashboards, reports, and tools to manage fleets or deliveries. From apps like Life360, you can charge them a monthly or yearly subscription based on the number of vehicles or users. This is a stable source of income and can grow as the business grows.

3. Freemium Model

This is one of the most common ways to make money from GPS tracker apps. You offer a basic version of your GPS tracking app for free. Users can use key features like real-time location sharing, navigation, or tracking for free.

But if they want advanced features, like extended location history, custom alerts, or group tracking, they’ll need to pay. You can charge a small monthly or yearly fee for these extra features. This model works well as it attracts many users with the free plan and converts some into paying customers.

4. Pay-Per-Use or Microtransactions

In this model, users pay only when they use certain features. For example, when you develop a location-based app, you could charge a small fee to share a live location for a limited time, access old location records, or use premium maps.

This is great for casual users who don’t want a subscription but are willing to pay for occasional use. The key is to keep prices low so that users find it affordable and worth it.

Final Thoughts

Creating GPS tracking apps similar to Glympse is an exciting venture that can offer real-time location sharing and enhance user experience. With the right features, user interface, and attention to privacy and security, you can build a successful product.

However, developing such an app requires expertise and dedication. To bring your vision to life seamlessly, it’s wise to hire a GPS tracking software development company that specializes in GPS-based solutions. Their experience will ensure your app is robust, user-friendly, and ready for the market!

FAQs

Q1. How Long Does It Take To Build A GPS Tracking App like Glympse?

The time to create a GPS tracking app like Glympse typically takes between 2 to 6 months. This depends on the complexity of features and the development team’s experience.

Q2. How Much Does It Cost To Make A GPS Tracking App like Glympse?

The cost to make a GPS tracking app like Glympse varies but can range from $10,000 to $25,000, depending on the app’s features, design, and platform compatibility.

Q3. How To Create A GPS Tracking Device Application?

To create a GPS tracking application, you’ll need to define features, choose the right tech stack, develop both frontend and backend, and test for user-friendly experience.