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OpenFamily
What it is
OpenFamily is a free, open-source, self-hosted GPS tracker for household location sharing. Its live map uses OpenStreetMap and shows family members with photo avatars, battery level, last-seen time, and movement state, with WebSocket updates. Saved places can trigger arrival and departure alerts. Safety tools include SOS with a ten-second countdown, check-ins with notes, and non-emergency requests for family help. Location history records map trails, stays, stops, and in-transit segments, with detailed history retained for 90 days. People join by invite code and receive admin, member, or child roles. The web administration panel manages accounts and families, creates invites, configures optional SMS, downloads the Android APK, and displays the live map. OpenFamily runs as a Docker Compose stack on a VPS, Synology NAS, home server, or LAN machine. Android notifications use UnifiedPush through ntfy, and Google Play Services are not required. Accounts, coordinates, places, and history are stored in PostgreSQL on the operator’s server. Default map tile hosts can see viewed areas; iOS push uses APNs and optional SMS uses Twilio.
For and against
For
- Self-hosted household location sharing
- SOS and check-in safety flows
- Arrival and departure place alerts
- No Google Play Services required
- Open-source AGPL-3.0 deployment
Against
- Requires operating a Docker Compose stack
- Detailed history retained for 90 days
- Database rows are not encrypted by the app
- Map tile hosts can see viewed areas
The verdict
OpenFamily gives households control over location data through self-hosting, with live maps, alerts, history, and safety workflows. Running the infrastructure and understanding the listed privacy tradeoffs are essential before choosing it.
Who it suits
It is designed for households with someone comfortable operating a small Docker stack. It is not aimed at fleets or public tracking.
Plans and prices
Self-hosted OpenFamily
Requires your own Docker server · 90-day detailed history · household use
Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
Open source self-hosted
Self-hosted deployment · AGPL-3.0
Read 9 Oct 2026 · openfamily.app
On the record
- Analytics
- The software states that it contains no analytics SDK, crash reporter or advertising identifier.openfamily.app · read 15 Oct 2026
- Android notifications
- Android push uses UnifiedPush through ntfy and does not require Google Play Services or a Google account.openfamily.app · read 15 Oct 2026
- API
- The public Go API documents health, configuration, authentication, family, place, device, location and alert endpoints plus a WebSocket stream.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- API examples
- The quick start shows curl calls for health checking and account registration and login.openfamily.app · read 15 Oct 2026
- Data custody
- Accounts, coordinates, places and history are stored in PostgreSQL on the operator's machine rather than a vendor location cloud.openfamily.app · read 15 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The product runs as a Docker Compose stack on a VPS, Synology NAS, home server, or LAN machine.openfamily.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment stack
- Docker Compose bundles Caddy, a Go REST and WebSocket API, PostgreSQL with PostGIS and TimescaleDB, and ntfy.openfamily.app · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- Documentation covers Docker installation, production environment variables, TLS, push setup, tile configuration, backups, encryption and custom domains.openfamily.app · read 15 Oct 2026
- External services
- Default map tile hosts can see the viewed area, iOS push uses APNs, and optional SMS uses Twilio.openfamily.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- Family access
- People can join by invite code and have admin, member, or child roles.openfamily.app · read 9 Oct 2026
- Family roles
- Invite codes support admin, member and child roles within a family.openfamily.app · read 15 Oct 2026
- History
- History includes trails, named-place stays, stops and transit segments, with detailed records retained for 90 days.openfamily.app · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent alternatives
- AlternativeTo names Life360 Family Locator and OwnTracks as listed alternatives.alternativeto.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent listing
- AlternativeTo lists the product as free, open source under AGPL-3.0, and developed by Frank Johnette.alternativeto.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent platforms
- AlternativeTo lists Android, iPhone, self-hosted and Docker support.alternativeto.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent positioning
- AlternativeTo marks the product as privacy-focused and categorizes it under Development, Home & Family, and Travel & Location.alternativeto.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent store coverage
- AlternativeTo links the project to GitHub rather than Apple, Google, Chrome or Microsoft app stores.alternativeto.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Android notifications use UnifiedPush through ntfy, and the app does not require Google Play Services.openfamily.app · read 9 Oct 2026
