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SPECIFICTION
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BuddySOS

buddysos.app

From $1.67/mo Free plan iOSAndroid
Visit buddysos.app
Spec score 9.1 #1 of 29 in Family Locator Apps

What it is

BuddySOS is an Android and iOS app for groups that combines real-time location sharing, boundary alerts, and one-tap SOS. An SOS alerts members of the active group with the sender's live GPS location, including when the phone is locked. It can also text emergency contacts a live-location link through Twilio, and recipients do not need the app. Safe zones alert the group when a member enters or leaves; each zone must have a radius of at least 100 meters, and a group can have up to five. The free plan costs nothing and includes one group, one safe zone, and ads. BuddySOS Pro is $1.99 a month and removes ads while allowing more groups and zones. The maker says it shares location only with group members, does not sell it, and does not keep location history. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, but not end-to-end encrypted. Sign-up uses a phone number and text-message code; listed availability currently includes US, Canada, UK, and EU numbers.

Spec sheet

What it does
BuddySOS is a group-safety app providing shared live location, SOS alerts and boundary notifications.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Integrations
The maker identifies Twilio as the service used to deliver SOS SMS messages.Read 3 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Support
BuddySOS says it aims to reply to support and partnership messages within one business day.Read 3 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Headquarters
LinkedIn lists Kingbird Solutions headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.Read 20 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Founded
An Arizona business-record directory reports Kingbird Solutions LLC was formed on March 28, 2023.Read 20 Oct 2026 · bizprofile.net
Account and availability
Sign-up uses a phone number and text-message code, with sign-up currently listed for numbers from the US, Canada, UK, and EU.Read 3 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
API and SDKs
The official product, download, support and legal pages reviewed provide no public API, SDK or developer documentation.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Battery behavior
Battery Saver Mode adjusts location checks based on movement, and the app says it does not hold a wake lock while the screen is off.Read 3 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Battery saver
Background GPS checks use a movement-adaptive 30-metre or 45-second trigger, while uploads batch every 20 seconds or 25 metres.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Company legal name
The maker identifies itself as Kingbird Solutions LLC.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Company size
LinkedIn lists Kingbird Solutions as a 2–10 employee company.Read 20 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Documentation depth
Public documentation consists of feature explanations, setup guidance, FAQs, support contact instructions and legal policies.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Emergency limitation
Support guidance says BuddySOS does not contact 911 or other emergency services; users must call local emergency numbers.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Encryption
The company says user data is encrypted in transit and at rest, while acknowledging the service is not end-to-end encrypted.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Event staff
Staff teams can use shared live maps and SOS on their existing iOS or Android phones without extra hardware or IT setup.Read 3 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Founder
The company identifies Chris King as BuddySOS founder and product and partnerships lead.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Funding
No funding round or investor information is stated on the company, LinkedIn or reviewed directory pages.Read 20 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Google Play availability
Google Play lists the Android app with 5K+ downloads, ads, in-app purchases and data deletion requests.Read 20 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Google Play data disclosure
The Android listing says the app may share device or other IDs, collect location, personal information and contacts, and encrypt data in transit.Read 20 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Group controls
Groups can be paused, deleted or left, and invitations can be sent by phone number or link across iOS and Android.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
iOS listing
Apple App Store lists BuddySOS at 5.0 out of 5 from 12 ratings.Read 20 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Licence
The EULA grants a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable licence for use on an owned Apple or Android device.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Limit: free-tier ads
The free plan contains advertising; the paid plan is required for an ad-free experience and additional groups or zones.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Limit: no history
An independent directory review notes that the lack of location history prevents reviewing past routes or historical movement.Read 20 Oct 2026 · legit.show
Limit: public privacy score
Legit.Show's public-surface benchmark gave BuddySOS a 0/100 privacy frame and reported no consent prompt for cookies or scripts.Read 20 Oct 2026 · legit.show
Live map
Group members appear as named live pins with distance and compass direction, with links for walking directions or calling.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Location privacy
BuddySOS says it does not sell location data or keep location history, and shares location only with members of the user’s group.Read 3 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Notable news
The App Store listing shows the product was renamed from RaveDaddy to BuddySOS in 2026 while retaining the same team and SOS function.Read 20 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Phone-only signup
Account creation uses a phone number and SMS code, with no email or password required.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Praise: ease of use
Uneed commenters repeatedly describe the interface as clean, smooth, simple and easy to use.Read 20 Oct 2026 · uneed.best
Praise: safety value
Uneed commenters praise the real-time location and SOS combination for travel, family use and peace of mind.Read 20 Oct 2026 · uneed.best
Privacy data collection
The privacy policy lists phone number, consented geolocation and anonymous usage data as information collected.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Privacy promise
BuddySOS states that it keeps no location history and does not sell location data to advertisers or data brokers.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Privacy sharing
The policy permits legal, safety, business-transfer and aggregated or de-identified disclosures; phone numbers and SMS consent are excluded from marketing sharing.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Safe zones
Users draw or address-place geofenced circles; the minimum radius is 100 metres and entry or exit alerts go to the group.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Security controls
The privacy policy states that BuddySOS uses encryption, access controls, security audits, anomaly detection and an incident-response plan.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Self-hosting
The official pages reviewed describe a hosted mobile service and provide no self-hosting deployment option.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
SMS escalation
SOS can text emergency contacts through Twilio, and recipients do not need the BuddySOS app.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
SOS
Holding the SOS control for two seconds starts a five-second cancel countdown, then alerts the active group with live location.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
SOS alerts
One tap alerts members of the active group with the sender’s live GPS location, including while the phone is locked.Read 3 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
SOS background operation
During an SOS, location broadcasting continues after the phone screen locks.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Support response
The support page promises replies within one business day and asks for phone type, app version, signup country and incident details.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Terms availability
The terms disclaim uninterrupted or error-free availability and allow database maintenance that could lose user-generated data.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Tracking windows
A tracking window starts and stops sharing automatically and sends a reminder before it begins.Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
Who it is for
The maker describes the app for festival and event groups, families, friends, and people coordinating staff teams.Read 3 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app

Plans and prices

Free Free 1 group · 1 safe zone per group · ads Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
BuddySOS Plus monthly $1.99 a month monthly Up to 10 groups · up to 5 safe zones per group · no ads Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
BuddySOS Pro $1.99 a month Monthly at $1.99/month Removes ads · more groups and zones Read 3 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app
BuddySOS Plus annual $19.99 a year annually Up to 10 groups · up to 5 safe zones per group · no ads Read 20 Oct 2026 · buddysos.app

Every BuddySOS plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • SOS shares live GPS location with group members
  • Emergency contacts can receive a location link by SMS
  • Safe zones alert on entry and exit
  • No location history is kept, according to the maker
  • Available for Android and iOS

Limits

  • Free plan includes one group and one safe zone
  • Safe zones require a 100-meter minimum radius
  • Data is not end-to-end encrypted
  • Sign-up listed for US, Canada, UK, and EU numbers

Who it suits

BuddySOS is aimed at festival and event groups, families, friends, and staff teams coordinating on their existing iOS or Android phones. Its group map and SOS tools are relevant where members need shared location and alerts.

Verdict

BuddySOS combines group location, safe-zone alerts, and SOS escalation, with a clear free-plan limit and monthly Pro price. Consider the stated encryption scope and sign-up region availability before choosing it.

Where Specifiction places it

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