Tack GPS Tracker Review

This budget-friendly GPS tracker is an affordable and versatile option for anyone needing to keep track of their kids, pets, vehicles, or other valuables. Priced between $60 and $80 (depending on if you want the global version with fall detection and elevation tracking), the Tack GPS Tracker works well for general location tracking but may not be precise enough for total peace of mind. 

Tack GPS was selected as the best pick for long battery life in our second annual Kids Safety Awards.

The Tack GPS tracker is available in two models:

• Tack GPS: $59.00, works in over 30 countries.
• Tack GPS Plus: $79.00, operates in over 185 countries, includes fall detection and indoor elevation tracking.

Tack advertises its plans based on monthly costs, but there is no month-to-month plan available. The website says you can choose from quarterly, one-year, or two-year subscriptions, but when I went to the cart, there was no way to pick the quarterly plan. After speaking to Tack GPS, I learned that you can purchase the quarterly plan directly in the companion app. 

All Tack GPS plans provide unlimited cellular data and varying lengths of location history, depending on the selected tier—standard or premium. The biggest difference between the plans is the intervals at which you get location updates.

The premium plan includes standard updates every 10 minutes, with the standard plan only giving an update once every hour. Emergency update intervals are either every one or two minutes. Tack also has an Active Mode with updates every five or 10 minutes. Depending on your needs, that could be too long for some families. 

Another factor to consider is where you plan to use the tracker. If you're using it in the US, the standard Tack GPS device should meet your needs, but if you're traveling abroad, the global version works in 185 countries. The standard version is still travel-worthy, working in 30 countries. 

Advanced indoor tracking: Utilizes Wi-Fi and IoT connectivity in addition to GPS to provide accurate location tracking even in areas with poor cell signals. This makes it suitable for indoor use, including multi-story buildings—a rarity in tracker tech. However, elevation tracking wasn't always accurate or precise during our tests.

Long battery life: The device boasts a 30-day battery life, thanks to its low-power consumption IoT network. Our tests confirmed this.

Compact and durable design: Weighing only one ounce and featuring a weatherproof exterior, the Tack GPS is both lightweight and tough.

Seamless mobile app monitoring: The mobile app allows you to monitor up to 99 devices on a single dashboard. It supports geofencing, safe zones, and location sharing with trusted individuals.

One-click alert: A single press of the SOS button can trigger an instant notification to designated contacts, ensuring quick responses in emergencies.

Multiple tracking modes: Users can switch between power-saving, standard, active, and emergency modes to optimize battery life and tracking accuracy.

Optional fall detection: Alerts contacts whenever a fall is detected. Confirmed in our tests.

Pet mode: Only tracks pets who are walking or running, not riding in a car.

While the Tack GPS tracker has many strong points, it does have a few notable drawbacks. Firstly, it lacks two-way talk capability, meaning there is no option for voice communication through the device. This could be a significant limitation for those who want to communicate directly with a child or older adult in an emergency.

Additionally, the location updates are limited to a minimum interval of either one or two minutes. While this might be sufficient for many situations, it falls short in scenarios where real-time tracking is crucial. 

Lastly, the device has limited wearing options. It comes with a wrist lanyard and no watch-like strap or way to wear it around the neck. This might make it less versatile compared to other trackers that come with various accessories for different attachment methods.

The Tack GPS Plus has a lot of potential, but unfortunately we ran into some issues while testing it.

For starters, you can't refresh the device to get an instant location update. Instead, you'll have to wait for the device to update according to its current settings, or turn on emergency mode to get more frequent updates. Unfortunately, switching modes doesn't force a location update.

There were times when the Tack GPS Plus failed to update during our tests. However, the missing location pins appeared later when we looked through the location history. 

The Tack tracker knew our general location, but it wasn't as accurate as some of the alternatives we've tested. For example, when we tested the Tack in a neighborhood park, the app showed that we were in someone's backyard about 75 yards away. You can toggle on "Outdoor Mode" to improve the accuracy of the Tack GPS in open sky environments (where there are no trees, roofs, or other obstacles between the device and the GPS satellites), but this will drain the battery. It's also not practical — the device should provide accurate tracking right out of the box and in a variety of situations.

Geofencing alerts follow the usual location update schedule. If you get location updates every 10 minutes and your child exits the geofence boundary one minute after the last update, the app won't notify you until nine minutes later. Most parents expect instant geofencing alerts, so the Tack GPS falls short here.

And as much as we like the idea of elevation mode for indoor tracking, it didn't work well in the Tack GPS Plus. The app said the device was above me when it was actually one floor below. When I wanted another elevation reading a few days later, the app wouldn't display it. Instead, it prompted me to calibrate the device — which I couldn't do since the device wasn't right next to me. 

On the positive side, the Tack GPS Plus detected four out of four "falls" simulated by dropping the device on a rug from about chest height. Alerts (push notifications) are delivered two minutes later. However, it takes some time for the Tack GPS Plus to start detecting falls once fall detection mode is switched on. We recommend thoroughly testing this feature and having a back-up plan in place. Technology can't detect all falls. 

Setup went off without a hitch for the most part. We did have to do some troubleshooting to get push notifications to appear whenever the SOS button is pressed. 

The Tack GPS tracker is a fair budget option for anyone needing general location tracking. The app should get you within about 200 feet of the tracker. For more precise and reliable options, we recommend looking at alternatives:

• Kids GPS trackers
• GPS trackers for people with dementia
• Pet GPS trackers
• GPS vehicle trackers

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