Here’s my take on this. I can see both sides of the argument when it comes to free vs. paid monitoring tools.
On one hand, the appeal of a free tool is strong. For basic location tracking, the built-in options like Google’s Find My Device or Apple’s Find My are quite reliable and secure, since they come directly from the OS developers. Some free parental control apps also offer a good range of features at no cost, covering things like app usage and screen time management.
However, the trade-off is usually in the depth of features and support. Free alternatives typically won’t offer the comprehensive dashboard or advanced monitoring capabilities you’d find in a paid service. Things like detailed social media tracking or dedicated customer support are often what you’re paying for. It really comes down to which specific features are essential for your situation.