The Tractive beat out the other GPS dog collars we looked at thanks to its great price. But don't miss our other picks for the best GPS dog collar trackers. We didn't just focus on the best dog tracking collars though. Check out our picks that work for cats too.
8 min readSafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review.
Here are the best GPS dog collar trackers of 2024
- : Budget overall
- : Runner-up best GPS tracker for dogs
- : Best for cats
- : Best GPS tracker for training dogs
- : Best for no monthly fee
Compare the best pet GPS trackers
Product | Best for | Up-Front Price | Subscription Cost | Battery Life | Shop Link |
| Best overall | $13.00/mo. | Up to 7 days | View on Tractive | ||
| Runner-up | $8.25/mo. | Up to 20 days | View on Amazon | ||
| Best for cats | $8.99/mo. | Up to 365 days | View on Amazon | ||
| Best for training | $8.25/mo. | Up to 14 days | View on Amazon | ||
No monthly fee | None | Up to 8–16 hours | View on PETFON |
Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
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Best GPS pet tracker reviews
1. Tractive: Best overall
Best overall
Tractive
$34.99
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
You don’t have to blow your monthly budget to keep an eye on your best friend with this clever tracking device. The Tractive pet GPS tracker comes in under $50 and has subscription fees that work out to $5 a month if you pick a two-year plan.
In addition to live tracking, this GPS dog tracker also has a hunting dog version with more durable, waterproof construction. That kind of durability lets your buddy run free through the bush, water, and other rugged terrain—without causing you worry.
Pros
24-hour location history
Rugged design
Real-time tracking
100% waterproof rating
Robust activity tracking 
Cons
Cell coverage required In addition to its dog GPS tracker, the company also makes cat-specific trackers. We love this because typically GPS trackers can be a bit bulky for tiny cat necks.
Get all the details on the Tractive GPS dog collar and cat collar in our full Tractive review.
2. Whistle Switch: Runner-up for best dog tracker
Runner-up
Whistle Switch:
$199.95
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
The Whistle Switch is our runner-up pick for best dog tracker and takes the place of the currently unavailable Whistle GO Explore. It has a dedicated collar to provide both GPS and health tracking. You’ll get alerts on when your dog is on the move and information about how long they’ve been, making it easy to monitor location and fitness habits for your pooch.
Pros
Live GPS tracking
Waterproof
Sleep, rest, eating, drinking and exercise monitoring
Nationwide coverage Cons
Required subscription
Dedicated collar so your pup will need to get used to it 
Image: SafeWise
With rave reviews on Amazon (and just about everywhere else—including the review from our in-house tester), Whistle is a standout among pet GPS trackers. Its reliability, durability, and accuracy make Whistle a true partner when it comes to keeping your four-legged friends safe.
3. Tractive GPS Tracker for Cats: Best for cats
Best for cats
Tractive GPS Tracker for Cats
$34.99 (mini); $49.99 (regular)
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
The Tractive GPS Tracker is the best tracker for cats on the market. It comes in two sizes: mini (6.5+ lbs) and regular (9+ lbs). The waterproof collar provides live tracking with location history and virtual fence so you can mark safe zones. You can monitor activity level if you’re trying to get your feline friend in shape. We liked that it attaches to your cat’s existing collar as well.
Pros
Attaches to collar
Accurate location tracking
Two size options
Waterproof Cons
Required subscription
Might not work for especially small felines The Tractive GPS tracker has solid Amazon reviews. It has an average battery life of 365 days with a lightweight body. Some reviewers call out slow charging time, short charging cable, and bulky attachment.
4. Link: Best dog tracker for training
Best for training
Link Pet Tracker
$99.00
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
The Link pet tracker is easily the most stylish option on our list thanks to optional vinyl wraps in a range of patterns and pastel colors.
But the cute factor isn't the only thing that makes Link worthwhile: it also has some built-in training tools.
Pros
Location tracking
Activity tracker
Nightlight
Temperature alerts Cons
Too bulky for cats and small dogs Nope, it's not a shock collar. Instead, you can program the Link to vibrate or make sounds (including a traditional "click" sound) when you tap a button on the app. With a little classical conditioning, you can teach your dog to associate those vibrations or sounds with yummy treats, toys, or tummy rubs, making it possible to capture and reward behaviors even when your dog is working at a distance.
If that sounds a little gobbledy-gooky, check out Links' free dog training series on YouTube.
PETFON: Best for no monthly subscription
No monthly fee
PETFON 2
$239.99
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
The PETFON 2is the only tracker on our list that doesn't have a monthly fee. So if you're on a budget and still want to keep your furry friend safe, this may be a good option.
Pros
Highly accurate location tracking
Rainproof
Long standby battery
Include voice command Cons
Too bulky for cats and small dogs
No health tracking Since there's no monthly fee, it probably comes as no surprise that this cat or dog GPS tracker has limited features. It doesn't track the health of your pet. It does feature a light and alarm, which can help you find your little runaway at night.
This GPS tracking collar is also rain- and dust-proof. It's not waterproof, though, so your pet won't be able to swim in it.
What about the Ring Pet Tag?
Ring launched its Pet Tag last fall. You can add the tag to your pet's collar and if they get lost, anyone who finds them can scan the QR code to help figure out who the runaway is and who they belong to. We didn't include the Ring Pet Tag in this list because it's not a pet tracker—it's a pet identifier. This device won't help you find your wandering pet, but if someone finds your pet, they can learn how to get in touch with you through the QR code (similar to how a pet microchip works).
Fi Collar
Image: Matt Polus, SafeWise
We got to try out Fi collars on a few pups and we found a lot to like. While we finish our full review of Fi, here are a few initial takeaways:
- The collar is like a Fitbit for your dog—no bulky device to add to the collar.
- GPS tracking is about as accurate as any GPS tracking, with a few glitches here and there, but overall wasn't quite as accurate as Tractive.
- The app, health metrics, and community metrics (see where your dog's activity falls against other dogs in its breed, your state, and the whole Fi network) are robust and offer extended insights into your pup.
Overall, we like the Fi Collar, and the company responded to input from early users and has already delivered multiple updates to improve the collar. Stay tuned for our full review, coming soon!
How to choose a GPS pet tracker
Pet size
Pet trackers are not one-size-fits-all, and many are designed for medium-sized or larger pets. Pay attention to the size and weight of the tracker. Even though most are designed to attach to your pet’s existing collar, tracking devices can be bulky and uncomfortable for smaller pets.
The good news is that most pet trackers disclose up front if their product works for cats and other diminutive pets. So, if you need to find the right GPS pet tracker for a 7-pound dog, consider searching for trackers that specify compatibility with felines.
Activity level
If you have a rambunctious pup that never seems to sit still, you want a pet tracker that has a good track record for battery life. Most pet trackers let you select different modes depending on whether you’re out on a hike, at the dog park, or just chilling at home. The difference between the settings is how often the tracker checks in on your pet’s location and how often it sends you alerts.
Trackers that offer live tracking usually update every 30 seconds, so you have a constant stream of notifications about your pet’s location. That’s a great feature, especially if you have a runner, but it drains battery life quickly. If you want to use live tracking often, seek out a pet GPS tracker with rock-star reviews for battery life when in active mode.
Where you go with your pet
Maybe you’ve got a city dog (like me) or perhaps your pooch is more free-range, like Chevy Chase’s Irish Setter in the movie Funny Farm. If your dog is likely to jump in ponds after ducks and engage in other similar shenanigans, you want a pet tracker that can stand up to the elements. And it needs to be waterproof.
While most pet GPS trackers are water-resistant, there are different levels of water durability. You don’t want your investment to go kaput the first time Rover gets a penchant for waterfowl, so look for waterproof not water-resistant, and don’t be shy about combing customer reviews to find out how waterproof a tracker really is. The Whistle Go is rated waterproof IPX7, which means it can be submerged in up to four feet of water for up to half an hour.
GPS pet tracker FAQs
The difference between a microchip and a GPS collar is the way each one helps keep your pet safe. With microchips, you can’t track your pet in real time and they can be identified only once they end up at a vet or shelter. Also, chips are inserted into an animal’s shoulder—they can’t be slipped off like a collar or clip-on device.
With a GPS collar, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2G, and 3G technologies ping your animal’s location, allowing you to track them in real time or download a map of their most recent jaunt. This is one of the big reasons GPS collars for dogs and cats have become so popular. But GPS pet trackers rely on battery life and they can be removed or lost.
Not necessarily, but smart GPS collars can do a lot more than a microchip. In addition to letting you track your pet’s location, a smart collar can detect things like heart rate, body temperature, and daily activity. Again, this can be nice if you want to keep a watchful eye on your sick kitty or aging hound.
On the other hand, if you choose to go with a GPS collar on its own, you risk losing your pet for good if the tracker runs out of juice or gets removed somehow. A microchip is extra insurance if your pet’s tracker gets lost or stops working.
Some do, some don’t—it all depends on which kind you get. For instance, Whistle runs on AT&T’s network, though that doesn’t mean you’ll have to switch providers if your phone plan isn’t with AT&T.
Many do, but not all of them. Most have plans for as little as $5–$10, but others don’t require a monthly fee.
This depends on the type of GPS collar you have, but many are capable of being submerged in at least three feet of water—and that’s definitely a feature you want to have.
If you have a cat, you don’t run the risk of water damage as much as you would with a dog, but having a waterproof tracker is helpful if your feline falls into water or gets caught in a rainstorm.
Yes. Generally speaking, the smart collar industry is focused on dogs, but most collars are advertised for both dogs and cats.
Image: Tractive
We prioritized these features when researching the best GPS tracker for dogs:
- Customizable geofencing and safe zones
- Accurate GPS tracking and alerts
- Reliable notifications to your cell phone or mobile device
- Battery life that lasts long enough for a day-long romp
- Waterproof ratings for pets that love to swim
- Adjustable sizing for a snug fit
We tested the Whistle 3 and Jiobit on two dogs and a cat before adding them to our lineup.
Learn more about how we test products here at SafeWise on our methodology page.
Disclaimer
Product prices and availability are accurate as of post date and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
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