Tracking Santa Claus 2024: Follow him live with Norad and Google!

What everyone who celebrates Christmas knows is that Santa Claus is coming to town. This cheerful gift dispenser travels the world to please everyone.

Thanks to advances in technologywe can now track his every move and know where he is at all times. Indeed, two popular services are available to follow good old Saint Nicholas: Norad and Google.

Today we're bringing you a quick overview of how you can use these two tracking tools to stay informed about Santa's journey.

What is a Santa Tracker?

Santa trackers aren't a new thing — they've been around since before the Internet age with dedicated call lines.

Now, thanks to the power of the Web, following Santa on his travels around the world has become even more accessible.

Norad remains an option for tracking Santa online, having started this tradition in 1958. In 2004, Google launched its own tracker, giving users two main choices to meet their tracking needs.

How to Track Santa with Norad

3. Navigate the map

(Image : © Norad)

You can move the map to follow Santa's flight, whether on the site or on mobile. On the web version, click and drag to explore, while on mobile you can use the touchscreen in a similar way. You can also click the red Santa button at the top of the screen to decide whether to follow Santa or move freely around the map.

4. Switch to 2D mode

(Image : © Norad)

To switch to a 2D version of the Santa card, click the button in the upper right corner of the screen saying See Santa's route on a 2D map.

How to use Google Santa Tracker

1. Visit the website or download the app

(Image : © Google)

You can download the Google Santa Tracker app from Google Play, or visit the mobile site which works just as well as the app. On desktop or iOS, visit santatracker.google.com to explore the wonders of Santa's journeys.

2. Explore the information

(Image : © Google)

Google's tracker provides a lot of information about Santa. If your geolocation is activated, it will tell you how long it has left before arriving at your home, the number of gifts delivered so far, and much more. You can also discover local guides based on its location.

3. Navigate the map

(Image : © Google)

Navigation is simple and intuitive. You can click and drag on the map or use the touch screen to move around. Zooming is done like Google Maps — just pinch the screen or use the buttons.

4. Other activities to do

(Image : © Google)

Google's tracker also offers many games and videos. To access it, scroll down or tap the menu button at the top of the screen. Then choose the item you want to see and enjoy.

Which Santa tracker is the best?

Choosing which Santa tracker to choose will depend on your personal preferences. Although Norad is the original tracker and has a long history, Google offers a more dynamic design and additional fun elements.

I think it's best to use both trackers. After all, having more information about Santa's whereabouts allows you to be better prepared for his arrival. Since both services are free, there's no reason not to maximize your knowledge.

However, if I had to make a choice, I would lean towards the Google option, due to its aesthetic and the festive atmosphere brought by the additional games and videos.