Live tracking that keeps the finished route on the map afterwards for sharing

Strava is a good fit for runs or rides: Beacon lets chosen people follow your location live, and when you save the GPS activity, its route stays on the activity map for you to share afterward. The live Beacon link itself isn’t the lasting route share—the saved activity is. (support.strava.com)

If you mean hiking, Map My Tracks also offers live tracking and keeps completed activities in your history; live tracking is a PLUS feature. (mapmytracks.com)

What are you tracking—hikes, runs, bike rides, or something else—and on iPhone or Android?

Several apps do both: a live share link while you move, then a saved route you can replay or send to others afterward.

• Tracio: Viewers open a share link in a browser with no account needed. When you tap "End Trip," live tracking stops and the trip link becomes inactive. Your route history is kept in your account dashboard for 30 days. Its replay feature traces a finished journey from start to finish. The 30-day history limit matters if you want routes kept long-term.

• Track My Adventure: Friends follow a live route on one map through a shared link, on any browser. It also lets you replay finished routes, and it can keep recording in the background.

• Route Recorder: A free iPhone and Android app that saves each trip to your route history, replays it, and exports GPX, KML or GeoJSON files. Live sharing is limited on the free tier: share for 30 minutes free, or for 1, 4 or 8 hours with Premium.

• Greenalp: Broadcasting requires the Android app, but viewers just open a browser link. It shows route history, speed and altitude, and you can embed a live map on a website.

• GPS Tracks: Strong for keeping and exporting tracks. Its live sharing is a paid add-on: GPS Tracks account required.

• Share Track: Focused on saving and sharing routes. Shared routes can include GPS tracks, photos, videos, voice notes, and you can export routes for other navigation tools.

Some popular options don't fit your use case well. Glympse shares your location for a set period before automatically switching itself off, so it doesn't leave a route behind. Google Maps and Life360 are built more for ongoing family sharing than for keeping a shareable trip record.

For a quick pick: Track My Adventure or Tracio if the people following you shouldn't need to install anything, and Route Recorder or GPS Tracks if you want to export files. I'm going by app store and vendor descriptions, so check current pricing and limits before you commit.

To track your route in real-time and ensure the completed path remains available for sharing afterward, the best tools generally fall into two categories: Activity/Adventure Trackers (which record specific journeys) and Location Sharing Apps (which offer continuous, long-term tracking).

1. Activity & Adventure Trackers (Best for Routes & Journeys)

These apps are designed to record a specific "trip" or workout. They generate a map with a visible route line that you can share with others, either during or after the activity.

• Polarsteps: Excellent for travel and road trips. It tracks your route automatically in the background and creates a beautiful, shareable map of your journey, including photos and notes for specific stops.
• Strava (Beacon feature): While widely used for cycling and running, Strava is highly effective for sharing real-time progress via a "Beacon" link. Once you finish your activity, the route is saved to your profile, where it can be shared with others or kept private.
• LocaToWeb: Specifically designed for live GPS tracking of trips. It allows friends and family to follow your live progress on a map, and the completed route is saved and available for review afterward.
• AllTrails (Live Share): If you are hiking or biking, the AllTrails "Live Share" feature allows you to share a link with safety contacts. They can see your real-time location, your planned route, and your progress.

2. Location Sharing & Safety Apps (Best for Ongoing Tracking)

If your goal is to let someone see where you are throughout a day or a regular commute—rather than recording a specific "activity"—these are the most reliable options.

• Google Maps: The most universal option. You can share your real-time location with specific contacts indefinitely or for a set duration. While it is primarily for real-time viewing, it also maintains a "Timeline" (if enabled) that records your travel history, though it is not primarily designed to "share" a specific finished route as a graphic.
• Life360: Best for families and groups. It provides constant location updates and includes a history feature so members of your "Circle" can see where you have been.
• iSharing: Similar to Life360, this app offers real-time location tracking and detailed location history, which is useful for checking the routes someone has taken throughout the day.

Comparison Summary

Important Tip for Success

• Battery Management: Continuous GPS tracking is battery-intensive. If you are going on a long trip, consider carrying a portable power bank.
• Permissions: For all these apps to work correctly, ensure you have granted them "Always Allow" location permissions in your phone's settings, or the tracking may pause when you lock your screen or put the phone in your pocket.

Strava sounds like a good fit for running, cycling, walking, or hiking: Beacon shares your location live with up to three contacts, and after you save the activity, they can view the finished route. ³ You can also share the saved activity, with visibility and map-privacy controls. ⁶

If you already use a compatible Garmin, Garmin LiveTrack is another option: it shares your location during an activity, while Garmin’s saved activity tools keep track data for later. ¹²¹¹

Are you looking for an app for a particular activity or device?