Kids' Smartwatches and GPS Trackers: How They Work and What to Ask

Your 8-year-old is walking home from the bus stop for the first time, or heading to a friend’s house down the street. You want to be reachable and to know they got there. You don’t want to hand them a full smartphone yet.

That’s the gap kids’ smartwatches and GPS trackers fill. They let a child call or message a few trusted adults and let you see where they are, usually without a web browser, app store or social media. But they vary a lot in what they can do, what the monthly plan costs and how they handle your child’s location data.

Here’s how they work, what the plans cover and what to ask before you buy.

How a kids smartwatch works

A kids smartwatch has 3 core parts:

1. Location. GPS, plus Wi-Fi and cell tower positioning, works out where the watch is. GPS is accurate outdoors but weaker indoors, which is why watches mix in Wi-Fi and cell signals. Our explainer on how GPS works covers why location can drift.
2. Connection. A cellular radio, usually LTE, sends that location to a parent app and carries calls and messages. Many watches use an eSIM rather than a physical SIM card; see what an eSIM is.
3. Controls. A parent app on your phone decides who can call the watch, sets quiet hours for school and shows location history.

Without the cellular connection, most kids’ watches lose their main features. That’s why the plan matters as much as the hardware.

Types of kids’ trackers compared

That last row matters. Bluetooth tags like AirTags locate items using nearby phones. They don’t have their own GPS or cellular connection and are designed for belongings. Apple, for example, says AirTag is intended to keep track of items, not people. For a child, you need a device with its own cellular connection. Our guide to tracking luggage with a Bluetooth tracker explains how tags work.

What the cellular plans actually cover

Every cellular kids watch needs a plan, and the structure differs:

• Carrier watch lines. Apple says you can set up any cellular Apple Watch for a family member without them owning an iPhone, using a supported carrier. A cellular plan isn’t required to set the watch up, but it is needed for features like calling away from Wi-Fi. Pricing is set by the carrier and usually billed as an add-on line.
• Maker subscriptions. Google’s Fitbit Ace LTE requires its Ace Pass plan for calling, messaging and location sharing. Google’s store lists it at $9.99 a month or $119 a year. Google says that if the plan is canceled, the watch loses LTE connectivity and may stop working.
• Carrier-branded watches. These typically require a line on that carrier’s account, often with a device payment plan.

Compare the full cost over 2 years: the watch price plus 24 months of the plan. A cheaper watch with a pricier plan can cost more than a better watch on a cheap line. Prices change often, so check the carrier or maker’s current page before buying.

Calling limits and emergency calls

This is where watches differ most, and where parents should read the fine print.

Who can your child contact? Most kids’ watches only allow calls and messages with contacts you approve. Google says Fitbit Ace LTE lets a child reach parents and up to 20 trusted contacts. Apple Watch For Your Kids uses contacts you share from your iPhone, managed through Screen Time.

Can it call 911? Don’t assume. Google states that Fitbit Ace LTE is not capable of calling emergency services; its Call for Help feature contacts the child’s designated emergency contacts instead. A cellular Apple Watch set up through Apple Watch For Your Kids can make phone calls on its own line. If an emergency call matters to you, confirm it on the maker’s support page and test what the watch does (without actually dialing 911).

Does it have a phone number? Some watches have a real phone number and can receive calls from any approved number. Others place calls only through the maker’s app, which means grandparents may need that app too.

School hours. Many watches offer a school mode. Apple’s Schooltime limits watch features during school hours on a schedule you set. Check your school’s device policy, because some schools restrict any connected device; our explainer on school cellphone bans covers how those rules usually treat watches.

Key takeaway: The plan and the calling rules matter more than the watch. Before buying, confirm the monthly cost, exactly who your child can call, and whether the watch can reach emergency services in an emergency.

Privacy questions to ask before you buy

A kids’ watch collects some of the most sensitive data there is: a child’s real-time location, voice and daily routine. The FBI has warned that connected toys with GPS, microphones and cameras can expose a child’s identity and location if the data is mishandled. In 2018, the FTC sent warning letters to a company selling a kids GPS watch, reminding it that services collecting children’s geolocation must follow COPPA’s parental notice and consent rules.

Ask these questions, and walk away if the answers are vague:

• Who makes the watch, and where is the data stored? Prefer established brands with a clear privacy policy and a US support presence.
• Who can see the location? Only you and people you approve should have access.
• How long is location history kept, and can you delete it?
• Is there a remote listening or “monitor” feature? Some cheap watches let an adult silently call the watch and listen in. That feature is a serious privacy and security risk if someone else gains access.
• Does it get security updates? Ask how long the maker supports the device.
• Is the data used for ads or shared with third parties? COPPA requires parental consent before collecting personal information from kids under 13.
• Can your child see when they’re being located? Being open with your child builds trust and makes the watch feel like a tool, not surveillance.

Where to start: choosing a watch in 6 steps

1. Define the job. Walking home? Calling you after practice? Being findable at a theme park? The simplest device that does the job is the right one.
2. Check your phone ecosystem. Apple Watch For Your Kids requires a parent with an iPhone and Family Sharing. Other watches work with both iPhone and Android parent apps.
3. Confirm coverage. The watch uses a specific carrier network. Check coverage at home, school and the places your child goes.
4. Add up 2-year costs. Device price plus 24 months of the plan, plus any activation fee.
5. Read the support pages on calling. Confirm contact limits, emergency calling and whether it has a real phone number.
6. Set it up together. Add contacts, set school hours, and explain to your child how location sharing works and when you’ll check it.

Once it’s running, pair the watch with family rules. Our guides on a first phone for a kid and sharing location with family can help you plan the next step when your child is ready for more.

When to move from a watch to a phone

A watch is a starting point, not a forever device. Signs your child may be ready for a phone include needing group chats for school or sports, managing their own schedule, and showing they can follow the watch rules. When that time comes, use parental controls on iPhone and Android from day one, and keep the same openness about location sharing.

Conclusion

Kids’ smartwatches and GPS trackers give younger children a way to reach you and give you peace of mind without a full smartphone. Pick one based on the plan, the calling rules and the privacy answers, not the colors or games. Test it together, set clear expectations and revisit the choice as your child grows.

Sources

• Apple Support: Set up Apple Watch for a family member — requirements, cellular plan, contacts, Schooltime and feature limits
• Google: Fitbit Ace LTE Help, Call and send messages — calling and contact limits
• Google Store: Fitbit Ace LTE — Ace Pass pricing and emergency calling limitation
• FBI IC3: Consumer notice on internet-connected toys (PSA170717) — risks of GPS, microphones and data collection
• FTC: Warning letters on geolocation and COPPA coverage — COPPA rules for kids GPS watches