Onloc Review, Pricing & Features

Onloc review 2026: a free, self-hosted, open-source device tracking tool for de-Googled Android phones. See features, setup, and alternatives like OwnTracks.

Category
Internet of Things (IoT) & Home Automation
Pricing
Open Source, from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
AndroidOpen SourceSelf-Hosted

Overview

Onloc is a free, open-source, self-hosted alternative to Google's Find My Device, built specifically with de-Googled Android users in mind. It lets device owners track location history, share location with trusted contacts, and send remote commands like ring and lock to their own devices.

The project is community-maintained rather than run by a commercial company, and is split across several open-source repositories covering the backend API, Android client, and web frontend, all of which users deploy on their own server infrastructure.

Key Features

Onloc's core feature is real-time and historical device location tracking, viewable through a self-hosted web frontend. Device owners can also send remote commands, including ring and lock, to help recover a lost or stolen device.

The Android client is distributed through F-Droid, GitHub releases, and Obtainium, and the platform includes a Home Assistant integration for incorporating device location into broader home automation setups.

Pricing

Onloc is entirely free and open source, with no paid tiers, subscriptions, or licensing fees. Users are responsible only for the cost of hosting their own server, such as a small VPS or home server running Docker.

Because there is no commercial entity behind Onloc, there are no enterprise or support-tier pricing options; support comes from the open-source community via GitHub.

Key Features

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Completely free and open source with no paid tiers or hidden costs
  • Full data ownership since all location data stays on self-hosted infrastructure
  • Purpose-built for de-Googled Android devices that lack access to Google's Find My Device
  • Includes Find My Device-style remote commands like ring and lock, not just passive tracking
  • Home Assistant integration extends functionality into broader smart-home setups

Cons

  • Requires technical ability to self-host, unlike consumer-friendly commercial alternatives
  • No official mobile app for iOS, limiting it to Android devices
  • Community-maintained project with no formal support SLA or dedicated company backing
  • Smaller feature set than mature commercial fleet-tracking or family-safety apps
  • Relies on the user maintaining their own server uptime and security patching

Pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Onloc free to use?

Yes, Onloc is completely free and open source. There are no paid tiers or subscription fees; users only pay for their own server hosting if they choose to use a VPS rather than a home server.

Do I need to self-host Onloc?

Yes, Onloc is a self-hosted platform. Users deploy the API and web frontend on their own server, commonly via Docker, and there is no official managed cloud version.

Does Onloc work without Google Play Services?

Yes, Onloc was built specifically to support de-Googled Android devices, including distributions like GrapheneOS, LineageOS, and CalyxOS, where Google's Find My Device is unavailable.

What remote commands can Onloc send to a device?

Onloc supports remote commands including ring (to help locate a nearby device) and lock (to help secure a lost or stolen device).

How do I install the Onloc Android app?

The Onloc Android client can be installed via F-Droid, downloaded directly from GitHub releases, or installed and auto-updated through Obtainium.

Does Onloc support iOS devices?

No, Onloc's client app is currently Android-only, targeting de-Googled and privacy-focused Android users specifically.

Who maintains Onloc?

Onloc is maintained by a community of open-source contributors credited as 'Onloc Maintainers,' rather than a commercial company, with development happening in the open on GitHub.

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