Live tracking for a charity ride where supporters want to follow on their phones

For a charity ride, I’d look at Map My Tracks first: it’s built for events and charities, with riders tracking from their phones and supporters following on an interactive map. It also offers event pages, sponsor features, and live timing. (mapmytracks.com)

Other options, depending on the setup:

• TrackTour — a simpler event-focused option that says supporters can follow in a phone browser without downloading an app; it also supports donation links on participant profiles. (tracktour.app)
• livedot / Windline — says it’s free for organizers and followers, with one event map supporters can open in a browser. Check phone compatibility before choosing: as of October 2026, its Android app is available, while its iPhone app is still under App Store review. (livedot.me)

Typical setup: riders enable location tracking on their phones; supporters open a shared link to watch the map. Test it on the route beforehand, make sure riders know when their location is visible, and plan for battery life and stretches with poor cell service. If you tell me roughly how many riders you have and whether you need a free option, I can narrow this down.

Several services now let riders' phones or trackers feed a map that supporters open in a browser, usually with no app install. The main choice is whether riders carry their own phones or you hand out dedicated trackers.

Option 1: Phone-based event tracking (riders use their own phones)

• Event platforms like Map My Tracks say participants use their phone to track live. No third-party devices required.
• komoot's approach: each participant uses the komoot app on their phone, which transmits their GPS position in real time. Friends and family can follow any participant from a simple browser link, with no app download or account required on their end.
• TrackTour is built for charity rides specifically and ties donations to participant profiles: integrate donation links directly with participant profiles. Watch donations pour in as supporters follow their progress live.
• This is the cheapest route, but tracking depends on each rider's battery and signal.

Option 2: Dedicated trackers (hardware)

• Follow My Challenge's LEJOG service provides a USB-rechargeable tracker that transmits your location every five minutes (or as regularly as every second if needed). This location then updates on the dedicated and customized map built for you. A rider-testimonial on that page says tracking was critical to the fund raising, though that is vendor marketing.
• Tracker hire is available in the UK. Realtimetracking.co.uk offers tracker hire, a live map at your own event link, full replay.
• Trackers give more consistent updates than phones, but cost money and need to be handed out, charged, and returned.

Option 3: Ride-specific sites and apps

• RouteRally is aimed at convoy-style events, including charity runs. It offers one link for everything — live map, route info, donations, and event details. It also lists "Free for your first event", so check current terms.
• CycLocator is a rider-side app that also covers safety: join your event, tap Start Tracking — your live dot shows on the event map for organizers and SAG. Request water, mechanical, or a SAG pickup. That is useful if you need support-vehicle coordination.

Things to check before choosing

• Update interval: Race-tracking systems vary. One example says trackers send out signals at intervals, ranging from every 2.5 minutes to every 10 minutes. Ask vendors for the actual rate.
• Map features for supporters: Look for a route overlay, checkpoints, and search by rider name, which Realtimetracking lists as course overlay from your GPX, with checkpoints and distances and search by name or bib number.
• Donations and Gift Aid: If you're in the UK, check whether the platform captures Gift Aid, as RouteRally does.
• Privacy: Confirm that riders' locations are visible only during the event. CycLocator says its location is shared only with your event, only while tracking.
• Battery and dead zones: Test on a real route with phones, and have a backup plan for rural sections.

Most of these sources are vendor marketing pages, and I did not verify current pricing or the specifics of any plan. Tell me your ride's size, distance, and budget, and I can narrow the options down.

To choose the right live tracking solution for your charity ride, you should first decide whether you need a professional event-management platform (best for large events with many participants and fundraising integration) or a simple tracking app (best for smaller, informal group rides).

1. Professional Event Platforms (Recommended for Organized Charity Rides)

If you are organizing an event where you want to engage donors, showcase sponsors, and track multiple participants simultaneously, these platforms are designed specifically for that purpose. They often include built-in fundraising integration and interactive maps.

• TrackTour: A dedicated charity event platform that allows participants to track their ride via a smartphone browser (no app download required). It features integrated donation links so supporters can donate as they watch progress.
• Charity Track: Designed to make charity events safer and more engaging. It uses a simple QR code setup to connect participants and provides real-time location sharing for organizers and supporters.
• Map My Tracks: Offers a professional console for event organizers to track participants in real-time, stream data (like speed or heart rate), and provide an interactive map for fans.
• Enthuse (Virtual Journeys): Excellent if your ride has a virtual or hybrid component, offering map-based challenges with integrated fundraising and Strava connectivity.

2. Simple Apps for Smaller Groups

If you are coordinating a smaller ride and just need a reliable way for friends and family to follow along, these apps are excellent:

• CycLocator: Allows participants to join an event with a short code. Supporters can follow the map without needing an account or app.
• WHIP LIVE: Great for outdoor sports, offering live public webcasts of events and turn-by-turn navigation for riders.
• Strava (Beacon): While mostly for individual training, its "Beacon" feature allows you to send a live tracking link to specific contacts. It is widely used and very familiar to most cyclists.

Summary Checklist for Organizers

• Ease of Access: Do your supporters need to download an app (less ideal) or can they view it via a browser link (preferred)?
• Fundraising Integration: Do you need donation buttons visible on the tracking map to capture spontaneous support?
• Privacy: Ensure the platform you choose offers participant-controlled privacy settings so riders can share their location safely.
• Reliability: For large events, choose a platform that supports "buffering" locations if a rider passes through a dead zone (re-uploading the data once they have signal).

For a charity ride, Ride with GPS Live Logging is a good fit if you want supporters to follow riders on a shared map. Riders can share a link that supporters open in a browser, and supporters can see the route traveled and ride metrics. It requires a Basic or Premium subscription for each rider using Live Logging, plus mobile data coverage; updates resume when a rider regains service.¹

Simpler option: Strava Beacon shares a live-location link that supporters can view in a phone browser without a Strava account. It’s designed for sharing with safety contacts, so it may be less convenient for a large audience of supporters.²

A practical setup: Pick one tracking approach, test it on the route, and put the shared link somewhere easy to find—such as the event page or a QR code. Ask riders to start tracking before setting off, keep their phones charged, and make clear when and with whom their location will be shared. Cellular dead zones can interrupt updates.¹²

If you tell me roughly how many riders you have and whether you need one public event map or individual links, I can suggest the simplest setup.

¹ Ride with GPS: Live Logging
² Strava Beacon Help Center