Hey ThunderHub, good question.
Honestly, tracking in real-time with just a phone number is something you see in movies. For accurate, live location data, you absolutely need an app installed on the phone.
On my iPhone, this is handled perfectly with the native “Find My” app. My wife and I share our locations with each other. It’s built right into iOS, so it’s incredibly reliable and secure, which is a huge plus for Apple. You always know your data is handled properly.
This is one area where Android feels a bit behind. The ecosystem is so fragmented that you often have to rely on third-party apps, which can be less secure and don’t feel as integrated as Apple’s solution.
For iOS, using the built-in “Find My” feature is definitely the way to go if you have her consent.