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Best Pet Trackers

Updated August 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Eureka Technology MARCOPOLO Advanced Pet Tracking
Eureka Technology
MARCOPOLO Advanced Pet Tracking
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

An easy-to-use pet-tracking system that will give you good results when used within its limits.

Pros

Device has a long battery life that will last a few weeks before needing recharging. Tracking tags can be used in water for dogs who like to swim. Device will give you an alert if the pet leaves the area you've designated as safe.

Cons

Doesn't have GPS tracking technology included, so it has a limited range of accuracy.

Best Bang for the Buck
Esky Wireless Item Finder
Esky
Wireless Item Finder
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Bargain Pick
Bottom Line

This tracker pack is great for tracking multiple things, be they all pets or not.

Pros

It comes with 4 trackers, each color coded. The remote has color-coded buttons to match. To find an item, click the appropriate color to make the tracker beep. The beep is 75 to 80 decibels, as loud as a vacuum.

Cons

It only has a range of 98 to 131 feet, so dogs that like to really wander are hard to find.

Tractive GPS Tracker For Large Dogs
Tractive
GPS Tracker For Large Dogs
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Most Versatile
Bottom Line

This device tracks not only location but wellness and other metrics.

Pros

You can access the history of your dog’s location and get alerts if they leave a designated area. It tracks your dog's overall wellness score and monitors their sleep quality. The battery lasts up to 21 days before needing a recharge.

Cons

Even basic tracking requires a subscription starting at $13 a month, or $96/$144 for 1 or 2 years, respectively.

Tile Tile Mate
Tile
Tile Mate
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

This tracker is meant for lost items, but it also works great attached to your pet’s collar.

Pros

It has a 'find nearby' mode that uses sound alerts and it also sends recent location data when it’s far from you. The battery lasts up to 3 years and the casing is water-resistant.

Cons

The battery is non-replaceable. It’s too large for the littlest dogs to wear comfortably.

TabCat Homing Tags V2 Pet Cat Tracker
TabCat Homing Tags
V2 Pet Cat Tracker
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Feature-packed
Bottom Line

This tracker set provides high-accuracy tracking needed for cats that insist on wandering far.

Pros

The tracker is accurate to within 1 inch. The handset uses visual and audio cues to guide you straight to your cat. The actual tracker is small, easily fitting on your cat’s collar without bothering them.

Cons

It’s expensive. Some found the handset to be uncomfortable to use.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
Considered
165
Consumers
Consulted
18
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for best pet trackers

Your dog or cat is part of the family, and it’s hard to imagine a worse feeling than being unable to find Rover or Fluffy. If your puppy or kitten is an accomplished escape artist, and you’re worried about the safety of your furry friend, it might be time to clip a pet tracker to his collar.

There are many different pet trackers from multiple brands, and each one has model-specific features that you may or may not need. Are you willing to pay a monthly subscription fee for extremely accurate GPS tracking? Do you really need to monitor how much sleep your cat gets every day when what you need is a way to find her when she hides? Which pet tracker is the best option if your dog is lost in your neighborhood?

It’s ultimately up to you to decide which pet tracker is best for your situation, but we can help. We’ve tested a number of solid devices, and our shopping guide provides some tips on exactly what to look for in a pet tracker. 

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Most pet trackers are designed to be worn by dogs, but lighter and smaller models will comfortably fit on a cat’s collar or harness.

Key considerations

Tracking range

Anyone considering buying a pet tracker should carefully consider the maximum tracking range of each device, and how factors such as environmental conditions and cellular or WiFi coverage may affect the search for your pet. Some trackers utilize a combination of WiFi, GPS, and GSM technologies to locate a missing pet within ten meters of its location, while others rely on a handheld remote for locating lost pets within two miles of the device.

Subscription fee

If you’re afraid that your cat or dog might roam far from home, you’ll want a pet tracker with precision GPS or cellular tracking technology. However, many pet trackers offer this premium service for a monthly subscription fee of $5 to $10, depending on the brand. Although a pet tracking subscription will certainly add up over time, it’s difficult to put a price tag on the ability to effortlessly pinpoint the exact location of a lost or stolen pet with the aid of your smartphone.

Battery life

If you’re considering a device that uses cellular data or GPS technology to track your pet, be prepared to recharge the pet tracker’s battery for a few hours each week or you’ve wasted your money on a high-tech piece of doggie bling. Note that devices that incorporate a handheld tracker for close-range pet tracking usually have far better battery life, some lasting as long as six weeks between charges.

Pet tracker features

No two pet trackers will have exactly the same features, tracking coverage, and pet monitoring options, and it’s up to you to compare and contrast models to find the one that is best for your dog or cat. Here are a few key features to look for:

Waterproof design: Every manufacturer should note that its pet tracker is waterproof because if the device can’t survive a little mud, rain, or moisture, it isn’t very useful.

Durability: Choose a tracker that can stand up to your fur baby’s wild adventures.

GPS and cellular technology: Although many pet trackers need to be set up in a “safe” or “home” location via local WiFi, advanced devices use GPS and cellular signals to monitor your pet’s location. While it’s clearly the superior method for locating a missing pet, this feature is often linked to a subscription fee.

Companion app: Plenty of pet trackers sport a companion app so that concerned pet owners can easily keep tabs on their animals with a glance at their smartphone. Make sure that the companion app is compatible with your device before purchasing a pet tracker.

Pet tracker prices

Because there is such a wide selection of pet trackers out there, prices can range from around $20 on the low end to upwards of $250.

With that said, a device’s set of features and ability to clearly monitor your pet when it matters the most are far more important than the pet tracker’s ultimate price.

Helpful features such as cellular tracking, activity monitoring, long battery life, and user-friendly companion app may drive up the cost of a pet tracker, but if you’re already looking for one, it’s worth spending a little more to make sure that your cat or dog is covered by that extra layer of protection.

Tips

  • Be sure to regularly charge the pet tracker. The battery life of devices that utilize GPS or cellular tracking usually varies from ten days to a week between charges. If you don’t keep it charged, it won’t be able to help reunite you with your beloved pet when you need it most.

  • Opt for a pet tracker with a temperature alert. A temperature alert feature could save the life of your pet. An animal can die of heatstroke if left in a hot car for only 15 minutes!

  • Microchip your pet. While buying a pet tracker will help to put your mind at ease, we highly recommend getting your pet microchipped by your veterinarian as well. This procedure will ensure that anyone who finds your pet can take it to a veterinarian or animal shelter and access your contact information.

  • Check the connection limitations of the pet tracker. Some pet trackers won’t function outside of the United States, so be sure to research the connection limitations of each pet tracker if you intend to use it outside the country.
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You’ll need to buy a pet tracking device for each animal, but some pet trackers have a companion smartphone app that allows you to monitor multiple pets at once.

FAQ

Q. Will I have to pay a monthly subscription to use a pet tracker?

A. It depends on the brand. Although some pet trackers are fully functional without a subscription, others require a subscription fee up to about $10 per month.

Q. Will a pet tracker fit my pet’s collar?

A. Probably! Despite the many differences between models, pet trackers are designed to be small and lightweight and fit most collars and harnesses.

Q. Do I need a pet tracker that also monitors my pet’s daily activity?

A. No, but it’s a nice bonus for animal lovers. You probably have no idea what your puppy or kitten is up to when you leave home for the day, and keeping tabs on the average sleep patterns, calories burned, and distance traveled of your pet will give you some invaluable insight into your animal’s overall health.

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