Even the best-trained dogs have been known to wiggle free from a leash or weasel their way out of a fenced yard—allowing them to wander off solo. When your dog channels the powers of Houdini to escape, one of the fastest ways to locate them is by having one of the best GPS dog trackers affixed to their collar.
The best GPS dog trackers can help you find your dog fast when he decides to go adventuring solo. Collar Location Equipment
Some GPS dog trackers are built into a dedicated dog collar. Alternately, some tracking units are made to be attached to your canine’s existing collar, like the Whistle Go Explore, our pick for the best GPS dog tracker overall. Depending on where you live and your dog’s roaming habits, you might be able to use a much less expensive Bluetooth tracker, like an Apple AirTag (though that has some significant compromises—read on to find out why). As dog owners, we’ve done the research and testing on GPS dog trackers to make sure you’re getting the best tracker for your needs. Taking into account design, ease-of-use and more, we’ve compiled this roundup of what we believe are the best GPS dog trackers currently available.
GPS: Yes | Monthly fee: $3.33 or $8.25, depending on plan | Waterproof: Yes | Battery life: Up to 30 days
Best for: Reliable activity tracking with a waterproof design.
The Whistle Go Explore wins our vote for the best GPS dog tracker overall. It uses a combination of AT&T’s nationwide network and Google Maps to provide precise and reliable location tracking for your pet anywhere in the world. Because of this, you never have to worry about losing a signal or missing a transmission because AT&T and Google combined bring a reliability rarely seen in dog trackers.
Its features are fantastic. You can see a 24-hour timeline of your pup’s day, complete with smart detection that indicates activity like running, playing, walking and napping. It’s also designed for the outdoors with an IPX8 waterproof rating so you can take your pup on the trails, and has a built-in night light for late-night outings. You also have the ability to set safe zones. If your pet strays from this area, you will receive convenient alerts delivered three different ways: email, text or app.
GPS: Yes | Monthly fee: $19 with six-month commitment, plus $20 activation fee | Waterproof: IP68 | Battery life: Up to 3 months
Best for: Getting the most data out of your dog’s collar.
Waterproof and rugged, the Fi Series 3 comes in five sizes and eight colors. What sets it apart from regular collars is the built in GPS tracking capabilities that allows for real-time tracking. However, the collar also uses AT&T LTE cellular connectivity to track your dog’s whereabouts via the mobile app. The battery needs to be recharged every 3 months or so.
50% smaller than its predecessor, it offers up to 400 pounds of resistance, so it can withstand dogs that both chew and pull. Track your dog’s whereabouts or receive an alert if they leave a pre-defined area with app notifications, and new collar features are constantly being added, including a sleep tracking feature. A monthly membership plans costs $19 per month; if you opt for a two-year membership plan, the monthly fee drops down to $14 per month. There's also a one-time $20 activation fee.
GPS: No (Bluetooth only) | Monthly fee: $0 | Waterproof: Yes | Battery life: Up to 1 year
Best for: iPhone users living is a well-populated area.
On its own, a Bluetooth tracker like the Apple AirTag can only be tracked within a 30- to 50-foot radius. The technology built into AirTags allows the user to mark a tag as “lost,” which then allows it to anonymously communicate with iPhone users anywhere. When another iPhone comes into range of your lost AirTag, your phone will receive an instant alert with its exact location.
Apple sells each AirTag for around $29, and all you get is the AirTag, not the holder. To attach the tracker to your dog’s collar, you’ll need to purchase a separate, third-party accessory, such as the AirTag Dog Collar Holder ($10) from Swincho, the Caisateq Silicone AirTag Pet Collar Holder ($6), or the CityWay AirTag Dog Collar Holder ($13).
The benefits to using an AirTag to track your dog are that it’s inexpensive and the AirTag battery lasts up to a year. The drawback is that you’ll only be able to pinpoint your pooch’s location if he stays within a highly populated area with a lot of iPhone users. Thus, this is not a good option for locating your dog while hiking in remote locations or if you live in the suburbs.
GPS: Yes | Monthly fee: $13 | Waterproof: Yes | Battery life: Up to 7 days
Best for: Tracking your dog’s location and wellness score for international travelers.
Designed for dogs weighing over 8.8-pounds, the Tractive GPS Tracker for Dogs mounts easily onto almost any dog collar and allows pet parents to keep constant tabs on their dog’s location using a proprietary mobile app. This tracker works with AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon’s LTE cellular service and works in more than 150 countries.
Create a virtual perimeter around your house in the app, and if your dog leaves that area, you’ll instantly get an alert. You can set up the app to provide regular location updates or provide live tracking if your dog goes missing. The tracker also monitors your dog’s activity and sleep patterns and will alert you if they're not getting enough sleep or exercise. As a plus, it’s also waterproof.
GPS: Yes | Monthly fee: $6 to $10 | Waterproof: Yes | Battery life: Up to 60 days
Best for: Keeping an eye on your pup’s location—and their health.
Supported by AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, the FitBark attaches to your dog’s collar and relies on a cellular signal and Wi-Fi to track your dog’s location. With the app, you can create virtual fences for your dog and receive alerts if they leave the defined area. You can use it on dogs as small as 5 pounds, too.
In addition to serving as a location tracker, the FitBark (like a Fitbit for humans) continuously tracks and monitors your dog’s activity, sleep quality, distance traveled, calorie balance, anxiety level, skin condition and behaviors. While not a medical device, you’ll receive alerts of any irregularities discovered in your dog’s behavior. The FitBark also pairs with your smartwatch.
GPS: Yes | Monthly fee: $0 | Waterproof: Yes | Battery life: Up to 80 hours
Best for: Tracking your dog in remote locations without worrying about cellular connectivity.
What’s unique about this waterproof tracking and training collar is that it has a nine-mile range, but requires no cell connectivity. This makes it ideal for taking your dog on hikes in the wilderness or for people who live in remote areas. In addition to being able to track your dog’s location, the collar uses 18 levels of vibrations and tones—not shock feedback—when used as a training tool.
The TT 15X device has a built-in LED beacon light, making it easy to spot your dog at night. Real-time tracking requires a separate Garmin Alpha handheld receiver (sold separately or as a bundle for $750), or a Garmin smartwatch. The collar works with GPS and GLONASS satellites for location tracking.
GPS: Yes | Monthly fee: $13 | Waterproof: Yes | Battery life: 14 days
Best for: Hitting the trails with your pup.
The Link GPS Dog Tracker is built for the active lifestyle. The waterproof design, plus the built-in flashlight, make this a great fit for the outdoors. It affixes to your dog collar and works with the app to provide real-time tracking for your pet via GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and cellular technology.
Location tracking is not all it does. The integrated activity monitor is fully customizable, allowing you to set daily goals for your pet based on factors like breed, age and size. Link Health provides a symptom analysis tool, plus a built-in tele-vet service to make sure your pet stays safe and healthy. There’s also a built-in health tracker and storage for PetPass and vet records in case of emergencies.
Here at Forbes Vetted, we’re not only writers and editors—we’re also pet parents. As such, making sure our dogs stay safe is one of our top priorities. The tech team spoke with product experts and industry leaders. We carefully evaluated each dog tracker’s features, connectivity, price and more. We also paid attention to what sets each tracker for dogs apart from its competition.
Additionally, we combined hands-on testing with research, taking into account real customer reviews who reported on pros and cons. All the best dog trackers on our list have at least a four-star rating so you know you’re getting the best tracker to keep tabs on your dog.
The Forbes Vetted tech team brings decades of experience in the technology sector, using our expertise and testing to provide comprehensive, well-rounded reviews that you can trust. A couple of staffers, including Dave Johnson, our deputy editor, have even authored a number of books on the subject. The tech vertical is overseen by Rebecca Isaacs, the consumer tech and electronics editor at Forbes Vetted.
This story in particular was written by Jason R. Rich and Lena Borrelli, who specialize in all things tech-related as a Forbes contributors. Jason has accumulated hours of in-depth product research and has conducted firsthand testing, including for the writing of this story.
Lena has spent several years within the tech space, first working for a web marketing company and now as a freelance writer for her company, LilyMarie Creative. Her work has most recently been published on sites like ZDNET, TIME, ADT and Home Advisor.
We know tech tends to become quickly outdated. To keep this piece fresh and accurate, it’s regularly updated; its current iteration was published in December 2023.
If you have an escape artist for a pet, a GPS dog tracker can help give you peace of mind by keeping your pet safe at all times. It can also save you a ton of time if your dog does get out, helping you to reunite that much faster with convenient maps and GPS navigation.
Pricing runs the gamut for the best GPS dog trackers. You can spend as little as $27 on the Apple AirTag, while the Garmin TT 15x costs as much as three figures. It all depends on the features you are looking for and, of course, your budget.
No, some GPS dog trackers skip the subscriptions and save you the fee. Both the Apple AirTag and Garmin TT 15X have no monthly or subscription fees to use the trackers. Other subscription fees on some of the best GPS dog trackers on our list range from a couple of dollars to around $20 per month. Take into consideration the features you want in your GPS dog tracker and your budget, and make a decision based on what’s best for you and your pup.
Forbes Vetted regularly covers all types of consumer electronics and then reviews and recommends the best products in specific categories. Here are some other articles you might enjoy reading:
I write about billionaires and their companies, financial markets, white-collar crime and cryptocurrencies. I won a SABEW award in 2021 for my coverage of a Chinese billionaire's investments in Texas and the borrowing habits of the ultra-wealthy.
I write about billionaires and their companies, financial markets, white-collar crime and cryptocurrencies. I won a SABEW award in 2021 for my coverage of a Chinese billionaire's investments in Texas and the borrowing habits of the ultra-wealthy.
I'm a deputy editor overseeing the Home & Kitchen vertical. My work has been featured in Food Network Magazine, Woman's Day, Martha Stewart Living, Food & Wine, Country Living, the Lincoln Center Theater Review and more. When I'm not working, you can find me dreaming up new posts for my Jewish-focused lifestyle blog, RebekahLowin.com, where I share holiday ideas, crafts and recipes. Formerly, I was a professional singer/actress and the inaugural winner of 54 Below's city-wide singing competition as well as a 2015 MAC Award nominee and a BroadwayWorld Award nominee.
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Alison is a Philadelphia-based writer and editor who has been sharing buying advice and product reviews for over a decade. She likes martial arts, cats, good food, and saving money. She dislikes writing about herself.
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