Pinpoint links
A pinpoint link records the visitor's precise GPS location — but only with their explicit consent. Visitors always see a clear screen explaining what the link does before anything is captured, and they can continue without sharing.
The consent model
Consent is not a checkbox buried in fine print — it's a two-step gate that the visitor walks through before any precise location leaves their device:
- A disclosure screen
Instead of redirecting instantly, the link shows a page that says, in plain words: "This link is asking for your location" — including where they'll be sent afterwards. Nothing has been captured at this point.
- The browser's own permission prompt
Only if the visitor taps Share my location & continue does the browser show its native geolocation prompt. They must tap Allow there too. Two explicit yeses — the page cannot bypass the browser.
The visitor can instead tap Continue without sharing and go straight to the destination. In that case you get only the approximate, IP-based location that every regular link click already has.
Use this lawfully and openly. Pinpoint links are for people who expect to share their location — drivers, field staff, someone returning your lost item. Covert tracking of people is prohibited. Every consent screen carries a Report this link option; reported links are reviewed and abusive ones are disabled.
Accuracy tiers: IP vs GPS
| Source | When you get it | Typical accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| IP lookup | Every click, no consent needed | City level — often kilometers off, sometimes the wrong city |
| GPS (consented) | Only when the visitor allows it | Meters — includes an accuracy radius with each fix |
When a visitor consents, the click that was already recorded is upgraded with the GPS coordinates and the accuracy radius the device reported. The coordinates are also labeled with a city and region name so your dashboard shows a readable place, not just raw numbers. Each click stores which source it came from, so you always know whether a location is a GPS fix or an IP estimate.
Create a pinpoint link
- Go to Pinpoint Links in the sidebar
- Click New Pinpoint Link
- Enter a name (e.g. "Delivery confirmation") and the destination URL — where the visitor lands after the location step
- Click Create, then copy the link and share it
The link looks like any other tracked link (gettrack.link/r/<slug>) — the consent screen is what makes it different.
Pinpoint links are a paid feature. On the free plan you can't create them, and existing ones stop asking for location — see "Plans" below.
What the visitor experiences
- They open your link and see the disclosure screen, including the destination host they'll be sent to
- They choose:
- Share my location & continue — browser prompt appears; on Allow, the location is captured and they're redirected
- Continue without sharing — immediate redirect, IP-level data only
- Report this link — a report form; submitting it blocks the redirect entirely
- If they allow sharing but the browser denies or times out, they're redirected anyway — the destination is never held hostage by a failed location fix
The location capture is bounded to a few seconds and never blocks the redirect. If the visitor denies the browser prompt, they still reach your destination.
Use cases
- Delivery confirmation — a driver opens the link on arrival and shares their position; you get a GPS-stamped proof of where the drop-off happened
- Field teams — technicians or inspectors check in from a site by tapping a link, no separate app to install
- Lost & found — put the link behind a QR tag on keys, luggage, or a pet collar; the finder scans it, consents, and you see where your item is
- Event check-in — confirm attendees are actually on site
- Logistics spot checks — verify a shipment or asset location with a shared link instead of dedicated hardware
A common pattern is combining a pinpoint link with a QR code — print the QR on a tag or a delivery slip, and the scan-to-consent flow takes care of the rest.
Viewing the location data
- The Pinpoint Links page lists each link with its click count and a Location data button to its detail page
- On the link detail page you see each click's location — GPS-consented clicks carry precise coordinates and the accuracy radius; the rest show IP-based city data
- The geography view and map reflect the upgraded, consented positions
Privacy by default: pinpoint links can never be turned into public stats pages. The location data is visible only inside your account.
Plans
- Creating pinpoint links requires a paid plan
- If your plan lapses to free, your pinpoint links keep redirecting — visitors just aren't asked for location anymore (the consent screen is skipped and no capture happens)
- Upgrading again resumes capture automatically on the same links — nothing to rebuild
FAQ
Can I capture location without the consent screen?
No, and that's deliberate. Browsers require a user-visible permission prompt for geolocation, and Track Link adds its own disclosure on top. There is no silent mode.
What do I get if the visitor declines?
The click is still recorded with the usual IP-based data — country, region, city estimate, device, browser, referrer. You just don't get the precise GPS fix.
Does it work on all devices?
Any modern browser with geolocation support works — that covers current iOS and Android browsers and desktop browsers. GPS accuracy is best on phones; desktops often return a Wi-Fi-based position instead.
What happens when someone reports my link?
The report blocks that visitor's redirect and goes to review. Links used for covert tracking or other abuse get disabled. If you use pinpoint links openly with people who expect them, reports are rare.
Do pinpoint clicks count toward my limits?
Yes — a pinpoint link is a link. It counts toward your link limit, and its clicks count toward your monthly click quota like any other link.
Next steps
- QR codes - Put a pinpoint link behind a printed tag
- Plans & limits - Which plans include pinpoint links
- Link tracking - The analytics every click gets
Need help?
Questions about pinpoint links or the consent flow? Contact us at [email protected]