The Best Dog GPS Trackers, Tested With Real Dogs In the Real World

Best Overall

Whistle Go Explore Dog GPS Tracker

$199 at Amazon $135 at Chewy $180 at Walmart

The Whistle Go Explore is very popular with the rescue volunteers and dog owners we consulted. It has unlimited range, live tracking, and a long-lasting battery. The collar is not included, but you can buy a Whistle collar separately. The device comes in three colors—green, gray, or magenta—so you can match with your gear or pick a color that’s easy to spot.

When we tested the Whistle Go setup was super easy and instructions were very clear. The device also had clear printed instructions with diagrams and it only took a couple of minutes to get it working properly. The app design is modern and intuitive, from download through navigation.

One of the dog rescue people we spoke with said that the Whistle has always provided consistent, accurate locations without a lag. The tracker immediately issues a notification when a pup leaves the designated safe area. “You know how you can’t leave the house without your cell phone? That’s how I feel about my dog’s Whistle,” expressed the dog rescuer.

It has a built-in light you can activate remotely and includes health and fitness monitoring. It tracks calories burned and how much time your dog spends eating, drinking, sleeping, licking, and scratching.

_{Collar included: No | Subscription: Yes | Weight: 7.4 ounces | Battery life: 2-10 days | Range: Unlimited | Water resistant: Yes}

Best for Small Dogs

Tractive GPS Tracker for Dogs

$35 at Amazon $50 at Chewy $50 at Walmart

The Tractive GPS Tracker for Dogs offers real-time GPS tracking with no distance limits. It allows you to set up a virtual fence around your property and it will alert you if your dog leaves that safe space.

Depending on whether you use Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity, and how active your pet is, the battery can last from a day or two to as long as two weeks. It is waterproof, small, lightweight, and comes in three colors, but a collar is not included.

While testing, the app gave mostly consistent live information, but sometimes struggled to update, or would lose connection due to weak signals. It allows tracking in five-minute increments to conserve battery life, but you can adjust that in the settings.

The device is able to track sleep quality and activity and it keeps a tracking history log. Our tester liked the tracker's compact size. “It's a clever design because it's easy to put on and take off and it looks aesthetically pleasing, simple yet sleek.”

_{Collar included: No | Subscription: Yes | Weight: 1.23 ounces | Battery life: Up to 15 days | Range: Unlimited | Water resistant: Yes}

Best Collar

Fi Series 3 Smart Collar

$189 at Amazon View on Tryfi.com

The popular Fi Series 3 Smart Dog Collar is an all-in-one tracker and collar. The waterproof nylon band comes in four colors, but you can buy lots of other designs and patterns from independent makers online. The tracker itself is made of stainless steel to help it hold up to horseplay and rough adventures.

Fi uses Wi-Fi and AT&T's LTE-M cellular network. You don’t have to use AT&T for your own phone, but Fi suggests you check coverage in your area before signing up for a subscription. Our tester said that it gives a general location, which can be within dozens of feet away. Updates can take 10 minutes from each former location. The battery can last as long as three months depending on where your dog goes and how active they are.

Our testers like that it was easy to set up with the process taking less than 3 minutes. It has lights that you can activate with a selection of different colors. There’s community interaction with other users and it’s waterproof, even working when submerged in water.

One tester really liked the collar’s appearance, saying it was “a great design and sleek look.” The collar and gadget are sturdy and seem built to last.

_{Collar included: Yes | Subscription: Yes | Weight: 1 ounce | Battery life: Up to 3 months | Range: Unlimited | Water resistant: Yes}

Best Multi-Use

Cube GPS Tracker

$100 at Amazon $95 at Chewy $100 at Walmart

The Cube GPS Tracker can keep tabs on your dog, but it can also do double-duty watching your luggage or your car. For a suitcase or vehicle, just pop it inside. For your pet, slide the device onto your dog’s collar, but it’s a bit bulky and doesn’t fit all collar sizes. It probably would be very overwhelming for a very small dog.

Our testers said the setup was very easy and intuitive. The tracker updates quickly and location is precise. You can start by setting it to default to two-minute reporting intervals. Quicker updating is an option, but it will take a toll on battery life. Batteries can last as long as two months with little use.

The tracker has a ring function to help you find your pup. If your dog is relatively close, you should be able to hear it. One tester said their dog was startled to hear the sound, but you could train your pup to come when they hear it go off.

Our testers like that the app is simple—you can see the route your dog took and where they’ve been. There aren’t a lot of features, which makes it very easy to use.

_{Collar included: No | Subscription: Yes | Weight: 2.22 ounces | Battery life: 10-60 days | Range: Unlimited | Water resistant: Yes}

Best for Big Dogs

Link Smart Pet Wearable

$99 at Amazon $99 at Chewy View on PETCO

Like many trackers, Link My Pet GPS and Activity Tracker uses a combination of GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular coverage to keep an eye on your pup. But it is notable in that it shows your dog’s location using Google Maps. One of our testers was very impressed with the accuracy. Not only did it pinpoint the exact address, but it showed precisely where in the house the dog was hanging out.

The app design is very clean and easy to understand. You can set up alerts and set daily goals for your dog. It shows how many calories were burned, how many steps were taken, and how many miles were walked. The app monitors heart rate and gives temperature alerts. There’s 24/7 access to televet information if you have concerns.

The device is pretty bulky and may not be a good fit for a tiny dog. The device is made of a hard plastic material which our testers said seemed very durable. Testers also liked the battery life, saying it could probably last all week on just one charge.

_{Collar included: No | Subscription: Yes | Weight: 1.6 ounces | Battery life: Up to 14 days | Range: Unlimited | Water resistant: Yes}

Best for iPhone Users

Apple AirTag

$24 at Amazon $25 at Walmart View on Sweetwater.com

You don’t need a subscription for the small, lightweight Apple AirTags, but you do need to use an iPhone or other Apple device in order for them to work. AirTags don’t need to be charged and the battery lasts about a year. They are easy to pair with an Apple device and can send alerts to your phone. Use your “Find My” app to locate the tag and your pet.

You can get a small rubber sleeve that slips on to your pet’s collar to keep it in place. The AirTag is waterproof and is affordable compared to many options. The AirTag makes sense if you’re nearly always around good cell service. It only tracks within a distance of about 33 feet, but its accuracy depends upon how many iPhones are nearby. It’s effective in larger areas if there are a lot of iPhone users around which, as one tester pointed out, isn’t helpful if you’re in the woods hiking with your dog. 

The AirTag, however, could be a smart, cost-effective, accurate option if you’re in the city or other crowded areas where lots of Apple products are likely to be in use.

_{Collar included: No | Subscription: No | Weight: 0.39 ounces | Battery life: 1 year | Range: 33 feet | Water resistant: Yes}

Most Promising

Invoxia Smart Dog Collar

$99 at Amazon View on Invoxia.com

We have not tested the Invoxia Minitailz yet, but we think it sounds promising. It tracks location, health, and activity, keeping logs of where your pet is and what’s going on in their life. It records how much walking and running your dog does, as well as barking, eating, scratching, and car rides. It tracks heart and respiratory rates and gives alerts when they go above or below normal. (The company utilizes a science advisory board of veterinarians and veterinary professors.)

You can set up a geo-fence for your dog with the tracker, which just means you’ll get an alert if your pup leaves that safe area. It is designed to slide onto most collars and is very lightweight. The tracker is powered by AI and has received some rewards for innovation. Invoxia has created other GPS trackers for objects.

_{Collar included: No | Subscription: Yes | Weight: 1.3 ounces | Battery life: Up to 15 days | Range: Unlimited | Water resistant: Yes}