Do you want to track your teen driving your vehicle? Or want to keep an eye on your elderly parents? Or is it an important asset you want to track? A portable GPS tracker is the solution you are looking for.
What I like the most about battery-operated GPS devices is that I can use them for various applications. I can use it to track people and objects.
I was researching online, looking for a GPS tracker that I could discreetly place on the underside of my car. Family1st was a brand that came up in several review articles. So, I decided to test the tracker.
The Family1st GPS tracker is small-sized and lightweight. If you intend to use it for your kids, elderly parents, or assets, the tracker in itself should suffice. But, if you want to track your car like me, I highly recommend buying the magnetic case.
You get a 1-year free subscription with the purchase of the tracker. After the first year, you can choose from multiple budget-friendly subscription plans.
The installation process is straightforward. But you may take time to figure out the features as the mobile app is not the most user-friendly, and documentation is limited.
The article covers the GPS tracker’s design, battery, and features, as well as my experience setting up and using the device.
Product Overview | |
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Brand | Family1st |
Model | Family1st Portable GPS Tracker |
Dimension (W x H x D) | 2.8 x 1.8 x 1.1 inches |
Weight | 3.6 ounces |
Type | LTE - CAT M1 |
Nominal Supply Voltage | +/- 5V |
Battery | Li-Polymer 2400 mAh |
Current Consumption | <1000mA |
Operating Temperature | -35°C to 75°C |
Storage Temperature | -40°C to 85°C |
Coverage | USA, Canada, and Mexico |
History | Up to one year |
Customer Support | Phone - Outgoing call serviceEmail support |
Subscription Plan | Plans available after the first free year: • Basic - $21.95 • Plus - $28.95 • Elite - $38.95 |
Warranty | Lifetime |
Price | $185.99 (1-year free subscription included) |
Our Rating
About Family1st GPS Tracker
Family1st is a company that specializes in GPS tracking solutions. It was founded in 2012 and headquartered in St. Charles, Illinois Street.
Their product line includes portable and compact GPS and OBD trackers, Belle+ medical alerts for seniors, and other accessories. Their products can be used to track vehicles, assets, teens, and senior citizens.
With a customer-centric approach, Famil1st offers 24/7 customer support through email.
Who is The Family1st GPS Tracker For?
One of the biggest selling points of battery-operated, portable GPS trackers is that they can be used for several applications. The same goes for the Family1st GPS tracker with its li-polymer 2400 mAh battery.
If you worry about your teen who has recently started driving, or a senior parent driving, you can use the tracker to get real-time location updates on the car. You can place the tracker inside the car. Or you can buy a magnetic case and place it on the vehicle’s underside.
You can also ask your loved one to keep the tracker on themselves to get their location details. For example, your kids could carry the tracker in their pockets or backpacks.
Your elderly parents or grandparents can use a protective pouch and a lanyard and have the device around their necks. This also gives them quick access to the SOS button, which they can use in an emergency.
The tracker battery is expected to last up to 6 months in sleep mode. So if you have to keep an eye on any valuables, place the GPS tracker alongside the asset.
5 Important Factors We Tested The Product On
So now we know how the portable tracker can provide you with a sense of security and peace. But does the tracker deliver in terms of features and applications? Let us find out.
1. Design
I like the design of the tracker. It truly is a portable tracker. The product dimension is 2.8 x 1.8 x 1.1 inches, and it weighs 3.6 ounces. It is as small as a cookie.
So if your parents wear the tracker around their necks or your children place it in their pockets, it will not hinder them.
The tracker is discreet enough to be placed inside a car. However, I highly recommend buying the magnetic case if you want to place the tracker outside. It is a weatherproof case that will help extend the tracker’s shelf life.
I would say design is one of the strongest aspects of the tracker.
2. Battery
The Family1st GPS tracker includes a li-polymer 2400 mAh battery. This is a better capacity than Tracki, which has a 600 mAh battery.
As per the brand, the battery life is supposed to last 14 days in active mode. This would include an hour of motion updates every day. And in sleep mode, the battery is supposed to last six months.
On average, it takes about 4 to 6 hours to charge the GPS tracker. However, a full charge may take 6 to 8 hours if the battery has completely depleted.
Now, the battery life is debatable as it depends on the application. For example, I used the tracker for motion updates for multiple hours a day for a week. The battery lasted for a week.
So the GPS tracker does have a good battery capacity, but its lifespan depends on how frequently you get updates.
3. Usability
You will receive the tracker, a Type C wall charger, and a user guide inside the box. In terms of installation, it is more about downloading the Family1st Pro app, creating an account, and acquiring the GPS signal.
You can visit the Family1st device to activate the tracker. You will need the 15-digit IMEI located on the back of the device.
You must first enter your device and personal details to create an account. Then you need to reset the device by pressing the power button for a few seconds. After that, you should see the red, blue, and green lights appearing on the device.
Once the device locks the GPS signal, you should be able to see its current location. The device is now ready to use.
If you are using the tracker for your car, it can be placed under the front or rear dash, inside the door panel, under the seat, on top of the roof, or under the vehicle frame.
An improvement area In terms of usability would be the performance and UI of the Family1st Pro app. It is a decent app, but I have used better apps for other GPS trackers.
4. Features
You can set up geofences for locations that you deem safe. For example, it could be your home, office, school, or relative’s place. You will receive an alert when the tracker enters or leaves the geofence.
The device wearer can send an SOS alert by pressing the button on the front. This is a helpful feature, especially when your loved one cannot access a phone.
You can choose to get these alerts through app notifications or SMSs.
If you have any issues, you can contact the customer support team, which is available 24/7.
5. Performance
You can get real-time updates with a frequency ranging from 5 to 30 to 60 seconds. The 60-second updates are included with the free subscription plan. The information I received was pretty accurate.
But there were instances wherein the device froze, and it took about 5 to 10 minutes for it to work again. This could be because of poor GPS reception, but note that this is a known issue. I have come across reviews that mention the same issue.
The geofence alerts performed well. I received the notification on the app within 2 minutes.
In my opinion, Family1st can significantly improve the tracker performance, but it is a decent buy considering its price point.
What Sets The Family1st GPS Tracker Apart From Its Competitors?
Family1st claims to be a privacy company. They let you have control over your tracking data. You can request them through their app or email and ask them to delete your tracker data. I personally have not tried this feature yet. But it is an interesting feature unheard from other GPS tracker brands.
Family1st also offers a lifetime warranty on the product. You get a no-cost replacement if the device is damaged. In addition, your purchase comes with a 30 days money-back guarantee.
For a decent-priced GPS tracker, the warranty and replacement conditions are excellent.
Should You Purchase The Family1st GPS Tracker?
If you are looking for an affordable GPS tracker that offers equally affordable subscription plans, consider the portable model by Family1st.
The portable tracker serves multiple applications like vehicle, asset, and people tracking. You can choose to get real-time updates from 5 to 60 seconds. It has comparatively better battery life.
You can set geofences and receive SOS alerts. The mobile app takes some time to get used to. You will have to spend time exploring the device features as the documentation is limited.
If you want to buy this portable GPS tracker, here are some pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
Pros
- The GPS tracker is compact in design and lightweight.
- You can choose to get real-time updates every 60, 30, or 5 seconds.
- The tracker has a good battery life.
- You can receive SOS alerts through SMS and email.
- Family1st offers a lifetime warranty.
- The tracker comes with a 30 days money-back guarantee.
- The company provides 24/7 email support.
- It is compatible with iOS and Android.
Cons
- The product manual could be more descriptive.
- The user interface for the mobile app needs improvement.
- Some customers have reported that the tracker freezes at times.
Price
The portable Family1st GPS tracker is available at $185.99. This includes the device price and 1- year of free subscription. You do not have to worry about monthly fees during the first year of using the tracker.
After the first year, Family1st offers three GPS tracking plans. These plans determine the refresh rate of the device. The plans are:
- Basic – $21.95/month, you get location updates every 60 seconds
- Plus – $28.95/month, you get location updates every 30 seconds
- Elite – $38.95/month, you get location updates every 5 seconds
You will not be charged any extra contract or activation charges. In addition, you can cancel the plan any time you want without worrying about cancellation fees.
You can also buy a magnetic case for the portable tracker. If you want to install the tracker on the vehicle’s underside, the case can protect it from mud, rain, snow, and dirt. The waterproof magnetic case is priced at $17.95.
FAQ’s
Yes. You can use the GPS tracker to track a person. You can have your elderly parents place the tracker in their pockets. Your children or teens can place the tracker in their backpacks.
No. You do not have to buy a SIM card separately. The GPS tracker has a built-in SIM by AT&T.
You can upgrade or downgrade your subscription plan by contacting Family1st directly. You can contact them at [email protected].
You can leave a call on Family1st’s customer service number, and one of their agents will call you back. This service is available from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. You can drop them an email for immediate support, as the service is available 24/7.
Summary
The Family1st GPS tracker is a compact-sized, lightweight, and portable tracker. It supports outdoor and indoor tracking.
The device can track cars, teens, elderly parents, or assets. It provides coverage in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
With Family1st, you can receive updates every 5, 30, and 60 seconds while in motion. You can also receive alerts for geofences, SOS, and low battery. You can go through past location data for up to a year.
Family1st offers a lifetime warranty on the tracker. And if you are not happy with the tracker’s performance, you can always return it as it comes with a 30 days money-back guarantee.
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Meet Klark Kurz, a GPS enthusiast and author with a B.B.A. in Finance from Texas A&M University. With a passion for technology and innovation, Klark provides accessible and user-friendly content to help individuals and businesses make informed decisions. As a regular contributor to TraxFamily.com, Klark’s insights and practical advice make GPS tracking more accessible, affordable, and user-friendly.