Hauk review
A focused, encrypted live-location tool for people comfortable running their own service.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Hauk is an open-source, self-hosted location-sharing service for people who want to share live positions without relying on a third-party location provider. It combines a PHP backend installed on a web server with a companion Android app and web-based map viewing. Users create sharing sessions that generate unique links, allowing others to follow a position in real time. Group sharing supports multiple participants, while sessions can expire automatically or be stopped manually. Hauk is best suited to technically confident individuals, families, or small groups who want control over deployment and encrypted sharing.
The strongest part of Hauk is its focused live-location workflow. End-to-end encryption, time-limited sharing sessions, unique links, and manual stopping provide practical controls around when a location is visible. The platform also supports LDAP authentication for environments that already use directory-based access, plus Docker deployment for a containerized setup. Memcached or Redis can provide storage, giving administrators two supported options for the backend configuration. The published platform support covers Android and web use. A separate community iOS client exists, but it is not part of the original repository.
Hauk is a strong fit when self-hosting, live maps, and encrypted sharing matter more than a broad family-safety feature set. It is less suitable for households that expect location history, location alerts, or SOS tools alongside live tracking. Setup requires installing and configuring the PHP backend, web server, and Memcached or Redis, so it places more responsibility on the operator than a hosted family locator. Choose Hauk for direct control over the service and its sharing sessions; choose an alternative when mobile-platform breadth or historical and emergency features are central to the decision.
Hauk pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Self-hosted PHP backend with Docker deployment
- End-to-end encryption, groups, and time-limited sessions
- Live maps with unique links and manual session stopping
- Where it doesn't
- Android and web support; no original-repository iOS client
- No location history
- No location alerts or SOS tools
Hauk fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update