The 5 Best Dog GPS Trackers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

There’s no worse feeling than when your dog goes missing. If you worry about your furry friend wandering off, you can give yourself peace of mind by outfitting them with a GPS tracker. The best dog GPS trackers provide real-time location updates directly to your phone, allowing you to quickly find your pet and bring them home safely if they wander out of your yard or get lost while out hiking.

Trainers Say

"Technology is for connection, communication, and relationship. I encourage technology tools that will help keep your dog safe. More importantly, you want a collar that makes your dog comfortable and responds positively to it."—Cesar Millan, dog trainer and host of Better Human Better Dog

When you’re looking at different GPS trackers, you’ll want to consider things like the size of the tracker, battery life, tracking range, and whether it requires a monthly subscription. There is a wide range of products to choose from for your pet, and we tested more than a dozen of the top-rated dog GPS trackers to see which ones performed the best. We have to be honest: We have yet to come across the perfect dog GPS tracker, and we've outlined the pros and cons in detail below. We take our pet's safety seriously, and if you're reading this, you likely do, too.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Petfon Petfon2 at Petfon.com

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Best Overall (Cheaper):

Apple AirTag 4-Pack at Amazon $102

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Best for Tracking Activity:

FitBark GPS Dog Tracker at Amazon $100

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Best for Large Dogs:

SALE

Link Smart Pet Wearable at Amazon ~~$149~~ $90

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Best for Small Dogs:

Tractive GPS Tracker for Dogs at Amazon $50

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Best Overall

Petfon Petfon2

PHOTO: Chewy

View on Petfon.com $215 at Chewy

Our Ratings

Ease of Setup

5/5
Accuracy

4/5
Performance

4.5/5
Design

5/5
Value

5/5

Star Qualities

Accurate GPS location updates make tracking easy
Battery can last for several days (depending on your usage)
No monthly subscription fee required

Red Flags

Occasionally turns itself off during use

If you don’t mind spending a little more upfront, the Petfon 2 is a non-subscription option that performed well during our tests, earning it high all-around scores. It has a compact design that can easily be attached to your dog’s collar, and we were able to set it up in just a few minutes. We especially liked that there are comprehensive training videos that explain the different features of the tracker, and the brand has gone to lengths to ensure they’re accessible for users of all ages.

When we tested this tracker, it displayed accurate locations, and the map was labeled with street names and other details that make it easier to pinpoint your lost pet. The tracker itself will also light up and/or play a ringtone to help you find it. The Petfon app also keeps track of data such as your pet’s daily steps, minutes of activity, and minutes of rest, and it keeps an accurate history of your pet’s location.

While the brand lists this tracker’s battery life as eight to 16 hours, we found that it lasts significantly longer if you don’t frequently use the live tracking mode. In our testing, it was able to go 10 days before needing to be recharged, but we did notice that it occasionally shut itself off without notifying us. When this happened, we often didn’t realize the tracker was off until we opened the app, and this could pose an issue if it happens while your dog is wearing the device.

Dimensions: 42 x 42 x 18 millimeters | Weight: 0.97 ounces | Battery Life: 8-16 hours | Waterproof: No | Subscription: None

PHOTO: People / Jodi Espinosa
PHOTO: People / Jodi Espinosa
PHOTO: People / Jaclyn Mastropasqua

Best Overall (Cheaper)

Apple AirTag 4-Pack

PHOTO: Amazon

$102 at Amazon $100 at Target View on Verizon

Star Qualities

Can withstand being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes
One of the smallest and lightest options we tested
Doesn't require a subscription

Red Flags

Less accurate when its out of range of your phone
Can only be used with Apple phones

The Apple AirTag is just over 1.5 inches in diameter and extremely lightweight, making it well-suited for both large and small dogs, and there is a wide selection of accessories you can use to attach the AirTag to your dog’s harness or collar. The AirTag can handle being up to one meter underwater for as long as 30 minutes. Each AirTag is reasonably priced, and it’s one of a few products that doesn’t have a monthly subscription fee, making it the best budget-friendly choice.

The AirTag is simple to operate using the Find My app, and it has the longest battery life of all the trackers we tested, lasting up to a full year. Regarding accuracy, the AirTag was pretty good but not perfect. (You’ll see that none of the trackers we tested wowed us with their accuracy.) If the tracker is within Bluetooth range of your phone, which is roughly 33 feet, the Precision Tracking feature will provide an exact location and allow you to ping the AirTag. However, we found that once it’s out of range of your phone, the accuracy suffers a bit as your phone works to locate it.

The biggest downside of this tracker is that it’s only available for iPhone users. Additionally, because of how it works, this GPS tracker is most effective and accurate in locations where there are a lot of iPhone users around — a.k.a. a city or busy neighborhood. When the tag is out of your phone’s Bluetooth range, its signal is tracked by other nearby Apple devices, which confidentially transmit the location of your AirTag to iCloud. If you’re in a more rural location, such as a hiking trail, with no one else around, the long-distance tracking abilities are essentially rendered useless.

Dimensions: 1.6 x 1.6 x 0.1 inches | Weight: 0.39 ounces | Battery Life: 1 year | Waterproof: Yes, IP67 | Subscription: None

PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples
PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples
PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples

Best for Tracking Activity

FitBark GPS Dog Tracker

Amazon.

$100 at Amazon View on Fitbark.com

Our Ratings

Ease of Setup

4.5/5
Accuracy

4.5/5
Performance

4.5/5
Design

4.5/5
Value

4.5/5

Star Qualities

Very precise live tracking data
Collects health data and sends notifications if your pet hasn’t reached their daily goals.
Smaller than most and fits comfortably on small dogs

Red Flags

Attaches to your dog’s collar with zip ties, which makes it difficult to remove
Took several tries to connect to our Wi-Fi network
Requires a subscription

Of all the GPS trackers we tested, the FitBark GPS 2nd Gen offered some of the best activity-tracking features. In addition to keeping tabs on your dog’s location, this device tracks a variety of other health metrics, including your dog’s daily calories, activity time, sleep score, and miles traveled, and you can even link the app to Apple HealthKit and set goals for yourself and your dog. You'll need to pay a monthly subscription with this tracker, but we think it's worth it for the extremely accurate tracking — not only does it track measures of health, but this tracker also connects to three cellular networks for precise location tracking.

The FitBark GPS is one of the smaller trackers we tested, and it wasn’t too cumbersome for our 13-pound dog. However, we didn’t like that the tracker must be connected to your dog’s collar using two zip ties — it took some trial and error to get the tightness right, and you also have to cut and replace them every time you need to take the tracker off. The good news is that the battery lasts for up to 60 days per charge, though it depletes much faster if you use the live tracking mode, which refreshes its location once per minute.

Experts Say

"GPS trackers have a lot of benefits. There is the obvious one of tracking our pets in the event they should get out, but there’s more than that. Quite a few GPS trackers will give you insights into your dog's health, from how much exercise they are getting to the amount of itching and licking going on."—Nicole Ellis, certified professional dog trainer with Rover

Dimensions: 1.85 x 1.18 x 0.59 inches | Weight: 16 grams | Battery Life: Up to 60 days | Waterproof: Yes | Subscription: $9.95/month

PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples
PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples
PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples

Best for Large Dogs

Link Smart Pet Wearable

PHOTO: Amazon

$90 at Amazon View on Linkmypet.com $90 at Chewy

Our Ratings

Ease of Setup

5/5
Accuracy

5/5
Performance

5/5
Design

4/5
Value

4/5

Star Qualities

Provides extremely accurate location data on Google Maps
Logs activity data and can even differentiate between running and walking
App is user-friendly and easy to navigate

Red Flags

Bulkier than others we've tried
Requires a subscription

For larger dogs, the Link Smart Pet Tracker is another worthwhile option. While the tracker itself is somewhat bulky, we found that this device offered extremely precise location data — it could even tell us what room of the house the dog was in! Plus, it displays the tracker’s location on Google Maps, allowing you to see street names and other landmarks to find your dog faster.

This tracker also captures a variety of additional health data, such as steps, miles traveled, and even time spent walking vs. running. You can also set daily fitness goals for your dog if desired. The app has a very user-friendly design — it reminded us of the Fitbit app — and it’s easy to set up and navigate. The battery on the tracker itself only goes down about five percent on an average day, so it really only needs to be charged once a week.

The Link Tracker is fairly expensive upfront and also includes a monthly subscription fee, but like most devices, you get a discount if you opt for a longer contract. Your subscription also includes a few additional features, such as 24/7 access to televet services and discounts on products and services from the brand’s partners.

Dimensions: 2.25 x 1.4 x 0.8 inches | Weight: 1.1 ounces | Battery Life: Up to 14 days | Waterproof: Water-resistant, IPX8 | Subscription: $9.99/month

PHOTO: People / Alyssa Kingham
PHOTO: People / Alyssa Kingham
PHOTO: People / Alyssa Kingham
PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples

Best for Small Dogs

Tractive GPS Tracker for Dogs

PHOTO: Amazon

$50 at Amazon $40 at Walmart View on Tractive.com

Our Ratings

Ease of Setup

3.5/5
Accuracy

3/5
Performance

4.5/5
Design

4/5
Value

4/5

Star Qualities

No range limit on the tracker as long as it has a GPS signal
Easy to attach/detach from your dog’s collar
App accurately records location history

Red Flags

Requires monthly subscription fee
Sometimes struggles to find a signal for real-time updates

Some GPS trackers are fairly bulky and might be too cumbersome for small dog breeds, which is why we like the Tractive GPS Dog Tracker. This product is more compact than many other options we tested, and it comes with a handy rubber clip that makes it easy to remove from your dog’s collar for charging. It has an affordable upfront cost, but you do have to pay a monthly subscription fee to operate this tracker. The good news, however, is that it has unlimited range, so you can locate your pup no matter how far they’ve wandered.

During testing, we found that the Tractive wasn’t the best option in terms of real-time updates, sometimes struggling to find a signal, but it did create an accurate location history map. It’s automatically set to provide a location update every five minutes, but we liked that you can adjust this setting if your dog ever gets loose and receive updates more frequently — as often as every two to three seconds. The app also allows you to create virtual fences and will send you notifications if your dog wanders outside of them, and the tracking unit itself is completely waterproof, so you can leave it on your dog's life vest when he goes swimming.

Dimensions: 2.8 x 0.65 x 1.13 inches | Weight: 1.2 ounces | Battery Life: 7 days | Waterproof: Yes | Subscription: $13/month

PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples
PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples
PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples

What to Know About Dog GPS Trackers

Data Source

There are several different ways that GPS trackers gather location data. Some use cellular networks, some use GPS satellites, and others use both. “Depending on the location of your dog’s activities, collars that operate off cellular towers may not be an option, so you might need to consider one that runs off satellite,” explains Kait Hembree, Head of Training at GoodPup. “Collars run off cellular towers are great for helping find lost dogs, but if you need to be able to monitor the movement of your dog, then a satellite GPS would be the better option.”

There are also some trackers, such as the Apple AirTag, which rely on Bluetooth connections to smartphones to provide location information. These devices are only effective in more populated areas, which is important to keep in mind as you shop.

Range

Your GPS tracker will only be effective if it's within range of your phone — some products have an unlimited range, while others only work up to a few miles — and you’ll want to select a product based on your dog’s habits.

If your dog tends to take off after wild animals, you’ll likely want a product with a longer range, such as the Tractive GPS Tracker for Dogs, which has an unlimited range. On the other hand, if your dog tends to just wander around the neighborhood, a shorter-range device might suit your needs.

For those who travel with their dogs, it’s also important to note that not all devices work outside the US: “When I filmed The Pack for Amazon, we used GPS collars just in case a dog should get loose while filming, but we were limited to devices as not all work outside of the United States,” explains Ellis. “For example, Whistle trackers work in the US and Canada, while Tractive works pretty much worldwide.”

Subscription

In addition to the initial purchase price, some dog GPS trackers have a monthly (or yearly) subscription fee, typically between $10 and $20 per month, to access their GPS abilities. If you don’t want to pay a recurring fee, you may want to look for a subscription-free option, such as the Apple AirTag or the Petfon 2 Smart Tracker.

Battery Life

The battery life on dog GPS trackers can range quite dramatically: Some need to be charged every day, while others can be used for a full year before needing a new battery. You’ll want to think about how you plan to use the dog GPS tracker to find the best fit for your needs. If you want to simply attach it to your pet's collar and leave it there, look for a product with a long battery life. However, if you only plan to use it during short outings, such as daily hiking trips, a shorter battery life might not be a big deal.

Features

Some of the dog GPS trackers we tested are specifically designed for pets, while others, like the AirTag, are general GPS trackers. Dog-specific GPS trackers often have additional features that you may be interested in, such as activity or sleep tracking.

“Through activity tracking, we can notice trends,” says Ellis. “For example, if your dog hasn't been as active lately, maybe she is not feeling well or sick. Some of them also give us goals, providing that extra motivation we may need to get out and walk our dogs, spend time together, and get them outdoors.”

Some trackers can also be used as training tools. For example, the Halo Collar (which we haven't yet tested) uses a variety of sounds and vibrations to teach your dog which areas are off limits — whether that be rooms of your home or the boundaries of your lawn.

"The collar stores unlimited wireless fences that you create, and continuously calculates when your dog is near the boundary to prompt them to turn around," says Cesar Millan, dog trainer and Halo founder. "Halo Collar will communicate with your dog at exactly the right time, allowing them to seamlessly form the associations they need to keep them safely within their designated boundaries."

Apple AirTag testing — People / Tamara Staples

Behind the Scenes

Accuracy: We’ve conducted two different rounds of testing on more than a dozen of the most popular dog GPS trackers. After setting up each tracker, we worked in pairs to test the device’s accuracy, having one person walk a designated path while the other monitored the app. We also tested each of the tracker’s features to see if they were truly waterproof, how loudly they ping, and so on.
Performance: To see how each dog GPS tracker performs in real-life scenarios, we also gave each one to a dog owner and had them use the device for several weeks during their day-to-day routine to pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of each product. We also asked each owner to evaluate whether they felt the upfront price and monthly fees were worth the expense.
Overall Value: After all our testing was complete, the dog GPS trackers were then rated for ease of setup, accuracy, functionality, design, and value.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do dog GPS trackers work?

In general, dog GPS trackers work by connecting to nearby GPS satellites, which send the tracker’s location coordinates to your phone. Some trackers can also use Wi-Fi networks, cell towers, and/or Bluetooth connections to track your pet’s movements.
How long does a dog GPS tracker battery last?

The battery life of a dog GPS tracker can vary quite substantially. Some products need to be charged every day, while others can be used for several months before needing to be plugged in. Battery life may also depend on how you use the tracker — for instance, certain trackers last longer if the unit is close to the receiver or connected to Wi-Fi.
Do dog GPS trackers work without cell service?

Some dog GPS trackers, including the Petfon GPS Tracker, work without cellular service, but others may not. You’ll want to read your tracker’s user manual for details on whether it will work when your phone doesn’t have service.

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her over six years of experience as a product tester, she's reviewed hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as PEOPLE, The Spruce, and Homes & Gardens. For this article, she consulted two different PEOPLE tests and compared the features, benefits, and uses of some of the GPS dog trackers we tested. She compared these products based on price, size, ease of setup and use, tracking range, and battery life. She also spoke with Nicole Ellis, a certified professional dog trainer with Rover, and Kait Hembree, head of training at GoodPup, to find out what makes an excellent tracker.

This story was most recently updated by PEOPLE shopping writer Genevieve Cepeda and shopping editor Madison Yauger, who spoke with Cesar Millan to gain further insights into the capabilities of dog GPS trackers.

Meet Our Experts

Kait Hembree is the head of training at GoodPup.
Nicole Ellis is a certified professional dog trainer with Rover.
Cesar Millan is a dog trainer, founder of the Halo Collar, and star of TV shows like Dog Whisperer and Better Human Better Dog.

What Is PEOPLE Tested?

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval—because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust—every day, every purchase.

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