RootLock vs Life360
Life360 is a family locator with driving and safety extras that works on both iPhone and Android. RootLock is for iPhone and iPad only, and it adds real parental controls (app blocking, web filtering, schedules and Lock Devices) to family location and teen driving reports, for $9.99 a month or $44.99 a year for the whole family. Choose Life360 if you need Android, crash help with emergency dispatch, roadside assistance or identity protection. Choose RootLock if your kids use iPhones and you want location and parental controls in one app.
Updated October 27, 2026
RootLock vs Life360 at a glance
| RootLock | Life360 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99/month or $44.99/year | Free plan; Silver $9.99/month, Gold $16.99/month, Platinum $24.99/month |
| Free trial | 14 days | 7 days on paid plans |
| Who's covered | Every parent and child in the family | Everyone in your Circle |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad only | iPhone and Android |
| Live family map | Yes | Yes, every plan |
| Place arrival and departure alerts | Yes | 2 places on Free, 5 on Silver, unlimited on Gold and Platinum |
| Location history | Saved drive routes | 2 days Free, 7 days Silver, 30 days Gold and Platinum |
| Teen driving reports | Every drive: route, distance, duration, top speed, safety events, score | Family driving summary on every plan; individual driver reports on Gold and Platinum |
| Crash detection with emergency dispatch | No | Emergency dispatch on Gold and Platinum |
| Roadside assistance | No | Gold (5 miles towing) and Platinum (50 miles) |
| Identity and stolen phone protection | No | Stolen phone protection on Silver and up; ID theft protection on Gold and Platinum |
| Block apps on a child's iPhone | Yes, apps, categories and websites | Not offered |
| Web filtering | Block adult content, or allow only sites you choose | Not offered |
| Downtime schedules | Yes | Not offered |
| Lock a child's phone instantly | Lock Devices, with a timer and a message | Not offered |
| SOS and check-ins | Yes, SOS goes to every parent with location | SOS help alert on Silver and up |
Competitor prices and features checked on their own websites on October 27, 2026. Prices are US list prices and can change. "Not offered" means Life360's plans page lists no such feature.
Where Life360 is the better choice
- Android. Life360 works on Android and iPhone in the same Circle. RootLock is iPhone and iPad only.
- Crash and roadside help. Gold and Platinum add emergency dispatch after a crash, 24/7 roadside assistance and towing.
- Identity protection. Paid plans add stolen phone protection, and Gold and Platinum add ID theft protection and stolen funds reimbursement.
- A free plan and longer history. Life360 has a free tier, and Gold and Platinum keep 30 days of location history.
- Trackers. Life360 shows Tile trackers and pet GPS devices on the family map.
Where RootLock is the better choice
- Parental controls in the same app. Block apps, app categories and websites on your child's iPhone, filter the web, and set downtime schedules. Life360 doesn't list any of these.
- Lock Devices. Pause your kids' apps in one tap, with a timer and a message like "Call me now".
- Unlock requests. Your child can ask for more time from the block screen and you can say yes from the notification.
- One price for everything. Location, driving and parental controls are all on one plan at $9.99 a month or $44.99 a year. With Life360, parental controls mean a second app and a second bill.
- No ads. RootLock shows no ads and never sells your data.
Which should you pick?
Pick Life360 if anyone in the family uses Android, or if crash dispatch, roadside help or identity protection matter more to you than app blocking.
Pick RootLock if your kids have iPhones and you'd rather have location, teen driving reports and parental controls in one app than pay for a locator and a parental control app separately.
Comparing more options? See the best Life360 alternatives for iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
Is RootLock cheaper than Life360?
RootLock is $9.99 a month or $44.99 a year with every feature included. Life360 has a free plan, and its paid plans are $9.99, $16.99 and $24.99 a month for Silver, Gold and Platinum. Life360's paid plans include crash and identity features RootLock doesn't have, while RootLock includes parental controls Life360 doesn't offer.
Does Life360 have parental controls?
Life360's plans don't list app blocking, web filtering or screen time limits. It focuses on location, driving and safety services. RootLock includes app and website blocking, web filtering, downtime schedules and Lock Devices for iPhone.
Does RootLock work on Android like Life360?
No. RootLock is for iPhone and iPad only. If anyone in your family uses Android, Life360 or another cross-platform app is the better fit.
Can I switch from Life360 to RootLock?
Yes. Install RootLock, start your family on your iPhone, and invite everyone with a code. Your Life360 history doesn't carry over, and you can run both apps side by side during RootLock's 14-day free trial.
$9.99 a month or $44.99 a year after the trial, for the whole family. iPhone and iPad, iOS 18.6 or later.