Comparison

Lighthouse by MapQuest vs PhoneRadar

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Lighthouse by MapQuest

This app enables families to stay connected through live GPS location sharing and custom alerts. It offers peace of mind by allowing users to see when loved ones are traveling, arriving, or heading their way, with features like 'On My Way' and SOS notifications.

Highlights
  • Live location sharing on a map
  • On My Way notifications
  • SOS alert flow
  • Customizable place alerts
  • Check-in feature
  • Permission-based sharing
Features
Read full description

Lighthouse by MapQuest helps families answer the everyday questions that cause worry: Where is my family? Is my loved one on the way? Did everyone arrive safely? Can my family reach me if something goes wrong? Share live location, On My Way ETAs, check-ins, and SOS with your private family circle — all backed by MapQuest's long history of helping people get where they're going. WITH LIGHTHOUSE, FAMILIES CAN: • See everyone on one live map — know where loved ones are in your private circle • Share live ETAs — On My Way shows where someone is headed and when to expect them • Get arrival and departure alerts — know when family gets to or leaves home, school, work, and more • Check in with one tap — say "I'm okay" without another call or text • Send an SOS — quickly alert trusted family members when help may be needed • Get low battery alerts — know when a loved one's phone may be about to go dark • Invite the whole family — one private circle, one simple plan BUILT FOR FAMILIES, NOT SECRET TRACKING Lighthouse uses permission-based location sharing. Family members join your private circle and choose what they share. Your family's location is for the people you trust — never public, never sold. ONE PLAN FOR EVERYONE One person subscribes to Lighthouse Premium and the whole circle is in. Choose a monthly plan, or start the annual plan with a free trial. Pricing is always shown before purchase, and your trial renews into a subscription unless canceled before it ends. Manage or cancel anytime through your Apple account. BACKED BY MAPQUEST MapQuest has spent decades helping people get where they're going. Lighthouse brings that same experience with maps, routes, and ETAs to the moments that matter most: knowing your family is safe, on the way, and able to reach you. Location accuracy, alerts, On My Way, and SOS notifications depend on device settings, permissions, network connection, and location availability. Lighthouse is not a replacement for emergency services. Terms of Use: https://lighthouse.mapquest.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://lighthouse.mapquest.com/privacy/

About

PhoneRadar

This app provides real-time location tracking and family locating services. It allows users to see trusted members on a map, receive alerts for arrivals and departures from designated places, and view location history. Stay connected and informed about the whereabouts of your loved ones.

Highlights
  • Real-time location tracking
  • Family locator map
  • Place arrival/departure alerts
  • Location history
  • Battery status updates
  • Private circle sharing
Features
Read full description

PhoneRadar is a real-time location tracker and family locator designed to help you stay connected with the people who matter most. See trusted members on the map, check their latest location, create important places, and get alerts when someone arrives or leaves. Whether you want to know when your child gets home, when a family member reaches work, or when someone leaves a saved place, PhoneRadar makes it simple. Key Features: - Real-Time Location Tracking See the latest shared location of people in your trusted circle. - Family Locator Map View family members and trusted contacts on one easy-to-use map. - Place Alerts Create places like Home, School, Work, or custom locations and get notified when someone arrives or leaves. - Location History Check recent routes and movement history when available. - Check the Map Anytime No need to send extra texts asking “Where are you?” or “Did you get there?” - Battery Status See battery level updates from connected members when available. - Private Circle Sharing Location is shared only between people who join your circle and choose to share their location. Important: PhoneRadar requires location permission and consent from each user. You cannot track someone unless they install the app, join your circle, and allow location sharing. PhoneRadar Premium may include: Unlimited places, advanced alerts, location history, more circle members, battery alerts, and other premium tracking features. Stay aware. Stay connected. Know when it matters. Privacy Policy: https://conditions.phoneradar.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://conditions.phoneradar.app/terms

Screenshots

Lighthouse by MapQuest4 screens
PhoneRadar4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PhoneRadar at 5.0 against Lighthouse by MapQuest's 4.7. PhoneRadar also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 90%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Lighthouse by MapQuest sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and PhoneRadar sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PhoneRadar holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Lighthouse by MapQuest's written reviews are positive against 100% of PhoneRadar's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lighthouse by MapQuest ships an update every 10 days, PhoneRadar every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Lighthouse by MapQuest versus PhoneRadar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLighthouse by MapQuestPhoneRadar
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (12 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMapQuest Holdings LLCMykhailo Serhiienko

Customer experience

Lighthouse by MapQuest

All ratings12 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%

PhoneRadar

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Lighthouse by MapQuest

Subscriptions2
  • Lighthouse Premium$9.991 Month
  • Lighthouse Premium Annual7 Days trial$79.991 Year
4 purchases

PhoneRadar

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Premium Trial3 Days trial$8.997 Days
  • Monthly Premium$19.991 Month
  • Annual Premium$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$99.99

Questions

Is Lighthouse by MapQuest free?
Lighthouse by MapQuest is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PhoneRadar free?
PhoneRadar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lighthouse by MapQuest or PhoneRadar?
PhoneRadar is rated higher. Lighthouse by MapQuest averages 4.7 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while PhoneRadar averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Lighthouse by MapQuest or PhoneRadar have ads?
Neither Lighthouse by MapQuest nor PhoneRadar shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lighthouse by MapQuest or PhoneRadar?
Lighthouse by MapQuest ships an update every 10 days, and PhoneRadar every 6 days. Most recently, Lighthouse by MapQuest was updated on September 10, 2026 and PhoneRadar on September 8, 2026.

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