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OwnTracks Recorder vs Traccar: catalog facts
OwnTracks Recorder	Traccar
Best for: People who want to keep their phone location history on their own server	Best for: Fleet owners and individuals who want to run their own GPS tracking server
Free Free and open source under GPL-2.0.	Free + paid options Free to self-host, with paid managed hosting and professional support.
Linux, Self-hosted, Command line	Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, Web, Self-hosted
No external database needed Runs on low-end hardware All 4 strengths for OwnTracks Recorder No external database needed Runs on low-end hardware REST API, live map and command-line access to data Lua hooks for custom processing	Supports a wide range of GPS tracker devices and protocols Free to self-host on Windows or Linux All 4 strengths for Traccar Supports a wide range of GPS tracker devices and protocols Free to self-host on Windows or Linux Geofence, driving and maintenance alerts Trip reports with Excel export
Only useful together with the OwnTracks apps or compatible publishers Setup involves MQTT or HTTP configuration and a reverse proxy	Running your own server takes setup and upkeep Tracking people requires their consent and should respect local law
Downloadable app, Self-hosted	Downloadable app, Self-hosted, Hosted service
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for OwnTracks Recorder github.com/owntracks/recorder Catalog checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Traccar traccar.org play.google.com/store/apps/details apt.izzysoft.de/fdroid/index/apk/org.traccar.manager apps.apple.com/us/app/traccar-manager/id1113966562 Catalog checked September 23, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.