# OwnTracks vs Empower Driver

The clearest difference is rating: Empower Driver at 4.6 against OwnTracks's 4.2. Empower Driver also leads on ratings volume (2.8K vs 33) and chart position (#78 vs unranked). OwnTracks's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Empower Driver holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Empower Driver has 2.8K ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of OwnTracks's written reviews are positive against 61% of Empower Driver's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

OwnTracks ships an update monthly, Empower Driver fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OwnTracks | Empower Driver |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/owntracks/id692424691/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empower-driver/id1486383191/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 33 | **2.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **67.4% of reviews** | 61.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Best chart rank | — | **#78** |
| Size | 4 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christoph Krey](https://appshunter.io/developer/692424694) | [Yazam Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454849874) |

## What reviewers say

### OwnTracks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/owntracks/id692424691)

This app lets you create a private log of your locations or share them with others. It prioritizes data security and privacy by using open protocols. Be mindful that continuous GPS use can impact battery life.

**Highlights:** Private location diary, Location sharing, Open-source, Open protocols, Data security and privacy

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Empower Driver

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empower-driver/id1486383191)

**Currently charting:** #78 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

This app connects passengers directly with drivers, offering a more sustainable income for drivers and potentially lower costs and customized rides for passengers. It bypasses large corporate platforms to facilitate direct transactions.

**Highlights:** Direct driver-passenger connection, Sustainable driver income, Less expensive rides, Customized transportation options, Bypass corporate middlemen

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 100% of fare kept by drivers
- 🤝 Drivers set their own rates
- 🚗 Flexible driving hours
- 💳 Daily payouts from Stripe
- 🔒 Gender-specific driver selection

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Poor customer support
- 🗺️ Inaccurate pickup/dropoff locations
- 🚕 Unexpected number of passengers
- 💰 Discrepancies between quoted and actual pay
- 🔒 Safety concerns with unverified passengers

**Reported bugs**

- Background check delays
- App crashes and freezes
- Inability to delete account

**Requested features**

- Destination mode to pick up riders along the way
- Cancellation fees for riders
- Cleanup fees for driver incidents
- Improved GPS accuracy and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OwnTracks free?

OwnTracks is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Empower Driver free?

Empower Driver is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, OwnTracks or Empower Driver?

Empower Driver is rated higher. OwnTracks averages 4.2 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Empower Driver averages 4.6 from 2.8K ratings.

### Do OwnTracks or Empower Driver have ads?

Neither OwnTracks nor Empower Driver shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OwnTracks or Empower Driver?

OwnTracks ships an update monthly, and Empower Driver fortnightly. Most recently, OwnTracks was updated on November 1, 2026 and Empower Driver on October 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*