Ever wondered if it is possible to track your vehicle using a mobile app in Kenya?
Well, the good news is that you can easily do so thanks to modern-day technology.
All you need is a smartphone and a tracking device installed in your car.
This tracker will be sending signals to your phone in real-time thereby enabling you know the whereabouts and status of your motor vehicle.
In fact, there is not just one, two, or even three but multiple car tracking apps in Kenya.
The type of tracking device you choose will dictate the app you will use or vice versa as each device has its own unique requirements.
That said, there are certain car tracking apps that can support several types of devices.
In a nutshell, YES, there are apps that you can actually use to track your vehicle throughout the 47 counties that comprise the Republic of Kenya and even beyond.
We asked members from different car groups and car forums in town to give insights about the car tracking apps they use or have used and they can vouch for.
Turns out, in as much as there are many options available, only a few are popular and gets the job done.
The following 5 apps stood out as they appeared to be the most preferred and many motorists had a lot of good things to say about them.
5 Best Car Tracking Apps In Kenya
- Itrack Car Tracking App by Seewold
- Protrack Car Tracking App by Itrybrand Tech Co.Ltd
- WhatsGPS Car Tracking App by Seeworld
- TrackSolid Car Tracking App By Schenzen Jimi Co Ltd
- Whitelabel Tracking
Let’s take a closer look at each one of them and what they have to offer.
1. ITrack Car Tracking App By SeeWorld
Itrack is a professional car tracking platform, it’s offered as an App as well as a Web Application.
It’s designed to be compatible with multiple car GPS trackers, therefore the features and capabilities will depend on the type of GPS tracker being used.
According to user feedback available online, the App has stood the test of time and proven to be a reliable solution for car tracking in Kenya.
In addition, the App is available for both Android and iOS devices. The Web Application can also be accessed via any internet browser.
Lastly, the App is ideal for tracking one or a fleet of vehicles as it can host multiple devices in one account. What’s interesting is that not only can it be used to track cars it can as well be used to track Motorbikes, TukTuks, or even trains & boats, Go figure.
Having been released on 5th March 2018, the App has garnered over 100,000 downloads and counting.
App Features
The App offers the following basic but very important features.
- Real-time Tracking
- Route Playback for up to 3 months
- Remote engine cut-off / Restore
- Geo-fencing
- Instant Alerts and reports
Here is a demo account and a comprehensive guide on how both the App and web application work.
Pros
- The App is easy to use
- It’s available for both Android and iOS
- The App can track Multiple vehicles in a single account.
- It can also be used on multiple phone devices
Cons
- The App is only free to use for the 1st one year thereafter it’s charged. Refer here for the charges.
- It’s not compatible with devices running below iOS 8.0 and Android 4.2
- You will need the help of a licensed Itrack distributor in Kenya to be able to onboard your device on the system as well as to create an account for you.
In Summary
Most if not all people who recommend this App laud it for its easy-to-use user interface. It’s evident that this App is a favorite to many and the positive Google reviews cement on this fact.
2. Protrack Car Tracking App by Itrybrand Tech Co. Ltd
Protrack was first released on 27th March 2017 and enjoys more than 500,000 downloads on the App store. Massive downloads are usually an indication of a good product.
Most people who recommend this product laud it for its easy-to-use user interface.
It’s however worth noting that the App shares the same user interface with Itrack. Sources suggest the reason for this is that both Apps are a franchise, You know like there are many shell petrol stations but owned by different people. Yes, that’s the same thing happening here.
Therefore the 2 platforms share the same technology but are owned by different organizations.
Moving on, Protrack is available on both Android and iOS, the web application can also be accessed from any web browser.
App Features
The App offers the following features.
- Real-time Tracking
- Route Playback for up to 3 months
- Remote engine cut-off / Restore
- Geo-fencing
- Instant Alerts and reports
Android users can access a demo account here while iOS users can access it here. Desktop users can access the account here or copy and paste the following link onto your browser https://www.protrack365.com/
Pros
- The App is easy to use
- It’s available for both Android and iOS
- The App can track Multiple vehicles in a single account.
- It can also be used on multiple phone devices
Cons
- The App is only free to use for the 1st one year thereafter it’s charged.
- It’s not compatible with devices running below iOS 8.0 and Android 4.2
- You will need the help of a licensed distributor in Kenya to be able to onboard your device on the system as well as to create an account for you
In Summary
Users using this app laud it for its easy-to-use user interface and also the fact that it can host multiple car tracking devices from different manufacturers. Likewise, it’s a popular App as is evident in the massive downloads on the App store.
3. WhatsGPS Car Tracking App By SeeWorld
WhatsGPS was released on 31st August 2018 since then it has been downloaded by more than 50,000 people across the globe.
The App has a more modern feel to it and looks almost like an Uber App. The developer describes it as an IoT location service management platform built on high-end technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain, and big data.
Wait a minute!
That’s a lot of big words. I guess what they want us to understand is that the App has been developed with high-end and advanced technology.
This is not far from the truth as the App feels and looks advanced.
It’s offered as an App as well as as a web application. As usual, the App is available on both Android and iOS devices the web application can also be accessed via any web browser.
App Features
The platform offers the following features:
- Real-time Tracking
- Route Playback for up to 6 months
- Remote engine cut-off / Restore
- Geo-fencing
- Instant Alerts and reports
- Temperature monitoring
- Fuel management
Android users can access a demo account here while iOS users can access it here. Desktop users can access the account here or copy and paste the following link onto your browser https://www.whatsgps.com/
Pros
- Easy to use
- It’s available on both Android and iOS
- One can track multiple vehicles on a single account
- The app is compatible with multiple car tracking devices.
Cons
- The App is only free to use for the 1st one year thereafter it’s charged.
- Not compatible with devices running below iOS 8.0 and Android 5.0
- You will need the help of a licensed WhatsGPS distributor in Kenya to be able to onboard your device on the system as well as to create an account for you.
In Summary
WhatsGPS is a decent platform, people using it laud it for the modern look it has. The App, however, can be a little bit tricky to navigate as it’s very advanced but with just a few days of acclimatization, you will get a hang of it.
The App receives periodic updates and this means the development team is always up to date with the current trends in the car tracking world.
4. Tracksolid Car Tracking App By Shenzen Jimi Co Ltd
Tracksolid was released on 17th Feb 2017 since then the app has garnered more than 500,000 downloads.
It’s also a very popular App in Kenya. In addition, the user interface is somewhat similar to both Itrack and Protrack.
Don’t get me wrong though, they are not similar just that there is some sort of similarity in how they look and operate.
The App is available on both Android and iOS, the web application can also be accessed from any web browser, as a result, the platform has seen massive growth since its inception as it can be used by literally anyone.
A demo account for the App is not available online, however one can access a demo of the web application here, though sign-in is required.
App Features
- Real-time Tracking
- Route Playback
- Remote engine cut-off / Restore
- Geo-fencing
- Instant Alerts and reports.
Pros
- The App is easy to use
- It’s compatible with multiple car tracking devices
- The App can be used on multiple phones
- It can be used to monitor multiple vehicles on a single account
Cons
- A demo account is not available online
- You will need the assistance of a licensed Tracksolid distributor in Kenya to be able to use the app.
- The app is free to use for the 1st one year thereafter it is charged.
In Summary
Tracksolid is an above-average car tracking platform, users have lauded it for its stability and easy-to-use user interface.
The massive download is a clear indication that it’s an App that does the job.
5. Whitelabel Tracking Smartphone App
Unlike the other 4 mentioned car tracking Apps which are more end-user focused Whitelabel is more commercial focused.
Let me explain.
As an end-user it simply means you are using the system as is, you have no access to the back end. But with Whitelabel, it’s the direct opposite. They give you full access to the system.
You’re therefore at liberty to customize it to your liking. This is mostly applicable to companies who are in need of a fleet management system that they can customize to suit their needs or an individual who wants to start a car tracking company.
Over and above the basic tracking features, extra functionality can be added on request, sounds amazing right?
That’s not all, the system can be used by both Android and iOS users and the web application can be accessed via any web browser.
In addition, no setup cost is required, you will however be required to pay a monthly fee for the assets in use.
More information can be found on their website https://www.whitelabeltracking.com/
Pros
- Provides full autonomy on how you can use the App
- Can be customized to be used with any car tracking device there is
- The software is modern
- The company handles the servers, security, and development so you do not have to do the setup yourself
Cons
- Requires a monthly subscription
- Not suitable for individual users
In Summary
Whitelabel is a company that’s way ahead of its competition as far as innovation is concerned.
The fact that they handle the servers and the setup is a big plus as this means one does not need to have in-house developers, that alone is a huge cost saving for any individual or company using their services.
Are Kenyan Car Tracking Apps Really Free?
Well, for most of the car tracking apps in this list are available for free for the first year of use. Thereafter you’ll be required to pay a small subscription fee for each year afterward.
Typically, the subscription fee range from as low as Kes 1,500 to as high as Kes 7,500 per year. So make a point to enquire from your car tracking company about this and ask for a discount whenever possible.
I would advise against going for Apps with no subscription.
I know now you’re wondering! But why pay a subscription when there’s a free option available?
I’ll tell you why.
The companies that own these apps carry out intensive research and development (R&D) and are periodically updating the Apps so that they can be up to date with the current technology. Therefore to be able to sustain this they charge a subscription fee.
This goes without saying, Apps that do not require a subscription fee do not carry out R&D and therefore are never updated and as a result, they are outdated and downright ineffective in some cases.
How To Choose The Best Car Tracking App In Kenya
The decision to choose the best tracking App in Kenya will mostly be guided by these 3 factors:
- Price.
- The type of tracking device to be used.
- After-sales service.
Price
As mentioned earlier all the above car tracking Apps are premium apps and require a subscription.
It’s however worth noting all approved distributors in Kenya do not own the Apps, it’s mostly a partnership with the App developers.
Therefore the subscription fee or renewal fee as popularly known in Kenya will vary from company to company as this depends on the type of partnership between the two.
According to information available online the iTrack app has the lowest renewal charges and also has an option for lifetime renewal.
2. The Type Of Tracking Device to be Used
Most App developers are in partnership with car tracking device manufacturers as a result they offer a one-year free usage of the car tracking App for some approved car tracking devices.
An onboarding fee will be charged for a new device that’s not on the approved list.
3. After-Sale Service
Good after-sale service is top tier in the car tracking industry. You of course want to invest in an App that in case there’s an issue you’re assisted promptly.
At Scepture Empire we know choosing a company with the best after-sale service can be a nightmare that’s why we prepared this guide on the best car tracking companies in Kenya to help you make an independent choice.
Verdict
As you can see, each one of these car tracking apps has its fair share of pros and cons.
Generally, considering the information provided in the various car forums, iTrack appears to be a common favorite for many car owners.
The majority vouch for its reliability, user-friendliness, and affordability.
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