Introduction

Colota is a self-hosted GPS tracking app for Android. It sends your location to your own server over HTTP(S), works offline, supports geofencing, and has no analytics or telemetry.

Key Features

Self-Hosted - Send location data to your own server. Works with Dawarich, GeoPulse, Home Assistant, OwnTracks, Overland, PhoneTrack, Reitti, Traccar or any custom backend.
Privacy First - No analytics, no telemetry, no third-party SDKs. Open source (AGPL-3.0).
Works Offline - Fully functional without a server. Export as CSV, GeoJSON, GPX, or KML.
Offline maps - Download map areas to your device for use without an internet connection.
Scheduled Export - Automatic daily, weekly or monthly exports to a local directory with file retention management.
Encrypted Backup - Single password-encrypted archive of locations, settings, geofences and credentials.
Location History - View daily summaries, trip segmentation with manual merge and split, calendar with activity dots, per-trip export and per-point notes or deletion.
Import Your History - Bring in existing tracks from GeoJSON, Google Timeline, GPX, KML or CSV.
Reliable Tracking - Foreground service, auto-start on boot and exponential backoff retry.
Geofencing - Pause zones that stop recording locations. Optionally stop GPS entirely when on WiFi or when the device is motionless.
Tracking profiles - Automatically adjust GPS interval, distance filter and sync settings based on conditions like charging, Android Auto, speed or stationary detection.
Flexible Sync - Instant, batch, Wi-Fi only or offline modes.
Display Settings - Choose between metric and imperial units, 12h or 24h time format. Auto-detected from device locale on first use.
App Shortcuts - Long-press the app icon to start or stop tracking from the home screen. Compatible with automation apps like Tasker and Samsung Routines.
Quick Setup - Configure devices via colota://setup deep links or QR codes.
Authentication - Basic auth, bearer token or custom headers. Optional mutual TLS (mTLS) with a PKCS12 client certificate stored in Android Keystore.
Dark Mode - Full light and dark theme support, optionally coloured from the Android wallpaper.

App Screens

Colota has twenty-seven screens, each focused on a specific task:

Screen	Purpose
Dashboard	Live map with current coordinates, today's track overlay, tracking controls, database stats, and geofence status
Settings	The hub: Tracking, Display, Data, Help and About, each row showing the value it holds
Connection	Server endpoint URL, offline mode toggle and connection test
Tracking & sync	GPS polling interval, distance filter, accuracy threshold and sync strategy preset
Appearance	Light/dark theme, wallpaper colors, unit system, time format and custom map tile URLs
Request format	How the request is shaped: the backend template, the HTTP method, the field names and any custom fields
Backend template	Pick the backend Colota formats its payload for, each option describing what it sends
Authentication	Endpoint authentication (None, Basic auth, Bearer token) and custom HTTP headers
Client certificate	Client certificate from the device store or a .p12, and the trusted server CA
Geofences	Create pause zones by tapping the map, view all zones with pause option indicators
Geofence Editor	Configure a zone: name, radius, record pause, WiFi pause, motionless pause and timeout, stationary heartbeat
Place zone	Pick a zone's centre on a map with its radius drawn live, handing it back to the editor
Offline maps	Download map areas to the device for use without an internet connection
Tracking profiles	Create and manage condition-based profiles that automatically adjust tracking settings
Profile Editor	Configure profile name, condition trigger, GPS interval, distance filter, sync interval, priority, and deactivation delay
Location History	Browse recorded locations on a track map with calendar day picker and trip-colored segments, view segmented trips with per-trip stats; tap a point to add a note or delete it
Trip Detail	Full trip view with dedicated map, stat rows (distance, duration, avg speed, elevation), speed and elevation profile charts, export and delete
Location Summary	Distance, trips, active days and average per day for a week or a month, stepped with chevrons, with each day opening in Location History
Export & import	Write locations to CSV, GeoJSON, GPX or KML, and read them back from GeoJSON, Google Timeline, GPX, KML or CSV with a preview before committing
Auto-export	Configure scheduled exports: directory, format, frequency, time of day (with weekday or day-of-month for weekly/monthly), export range and file retention
Data management	Delete by sync state or age, compact the database
Backup & restore	Create or restore a single password-encrypted `.colota` archive of all data (locations, settings, geofences, credentials)
Setup Import	Confirmation screen for deep link configuration imports (`colota://setup`)
Share setup	Build a `colota://setup` link or QR code from selected settings to configure another device
Logging	In-app activity log viewer (level filtering, search, export) plus opt-in persistent file logging
About	Version and build, then the privacy policy, licence and source code