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The 7 pet trackers we'd shortlist, GPS and Bluetooth
Updated
Short version: for most dogs, the Tractive DOG 6 is the GPS pick, light at 39 g with a LIVE mode for a real chase. For an outdoor cat of at least 6.6 pounds, the Tractive CAT Mini is the lightest GPS tracker here. If your pet never leaves the house, you do not need GPS at all. An AirTag (iPhone) or a Tile Pro (Android) will find a pet hiding in the house with no plan to pay for.
Not sure which kind you need? Use the checker.
Quick comparison
| Tracker | Kind | Weight | Plan needed | Battery, maker's range | Pet size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tractive DOG 6 | GPS + cellular | 39 g | Yes | 6 to 14 days | Dogs 8.8 lb and up |
| Tractive CAT Mini | GPS + cellular | 25 g (42 g with collar) | Yes | 2 to 5 days | Cats 6.6 lb and up |
| Fi Series 3+ | GPS + cellular | 47 g | Yes, after month one | About 2 days (Lost Mode) to 3 months | Dogs |
| Tractive DOG 6 XL | GPS + cellular | 70 g | Yes | 20 days to 6 weeks | Dogs over 44 lb |
| Halo Collar 5 | GPS fence + cellular | 4.2 oz | Yes | Up to 48 hours | Necks 8 to 30.5 in |
| Apple AirTag | Bluetooth tag | 11 g | No | Over a year (coin cell) | Any, iPhone needed |
| Tile Pro | Bluetooth tag | About 12 g | No | About a year | Any |
Battery ranges are the makers' own numbers. The low end is the one to plan around: Tractive's without a Power Saving Zone, Fi's in Lost Mode. Weights are the tracker alone from the maker or the listing. The Halo figure is the listing's item weight.
- Apple AirTag11 g
- Tile Pro12 g
- Tractive CAT Mini25 g
- Tractive DOG 639 g
- Fi Series 3+47 g
- Tractive DOG 6 XL70 g
- Halo Collar 5119 g
The picks
Specs and owner feedback checked on Amazon September 19, 2026.
Tractive DOG 6 GPS Tracker
Get this one if your dog is 8.8 pounds or more and you want real GPS with escape alerts and a live mode for the moment your dog gets out. Skip it if you will not pay a monthly plan, or if your area has weak cell coverage. The listing's two big numbers are 2 to 3 second updates and up to 14 days of battery. Tractive's own help center says the 2 to 3 seconds is LIVE mode only, and the 14 days is with a Power Saving Zone at home. Without one, Tractive estimates up to 6 days.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Tracker weight: 39 g (1.38 oz) per Tractive. The listing says 1.3 oz
- Pet size: Dogs 8.8 lb (4 kg) and up per Tractive. The listing says over 8 pounds
- Updates: 2 to 3 seconds in LIVE mode. Default mode averages about every 10 minutes while moving (Tractive)
- Battery: up to 14 days with a Power Saving Zone, up to 6 days without (Tractive)
- Plan: subscription required. The listing says it covers the built-in SIM and data
- Also: virtual fences, location history, heart and breathing rate and bark monitoring. IPX7 per Tractive. 2-year warranty on the listing
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners say it tracks daily activity well, the app is easy to follow, and it gives them peace of mind.
- They complain about: Battery reports range from about two weeks down to about one week. Some units broke within 60 days, and several owners say the GPS or the cell network would not connect.
Good
- Light for its size class
- LIVE mode for a real chase
- Escape alerts and location history
Watch out for
- Does nothing useful without the paid plan
- The 14 day headline needs a Power Saving Zone
- Owners report connection problems in some areas
Tractive CAT Mini GPS Tracker
Get this one if your cat goes outside and weighs at least 6.6 pounds. Skip it for a kitten, a very small cat, or an indoor-only cat, where a Bluetooth tag is enough. It is the lightest GPS tracker here at 25 g, or 42 g with the included collar. The listing says up to 5 days of battery. Tractive's help center puts that at 5 days with a Power Saving Zone and 2 days without, so plan on charging often.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Tracker weight: 25 g (0.88 oz), 42 g (1.48 oz) with the included collar (Tractive). The listing says 0.9 oz
- Pet size: Adult cats 6.6 lb (3 kg) and up per Tractive. The listing says 6.5 lbs and up
- Updates: 2 to 3 seconds in LIVE mode, about every 10 minutes on average in default mode while moving (Tractive)
- Battery: up to 5 days with a Power Saving Zone, 2 days without (Tractive)
- Plan: subscription required, per the listing
- Also: virtual fences, territory map, activity and sleep. IPX7 per Tractive. 2-year warranty on the listing
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners find it easy to use and say it gives them peace of mind about where their cat is.
- They complain about: Battery life and accuracy get mixed reports. Some say both are great, others report short battery life, off-target locations and connection problems.
Good
- Lightest cellular GPS pick here
- Made for cats, with a cat collar in the box
- Virtual fence alerts for roamers
Watch out for
- Short battery life, especially away from home
- Not for cats under 6.6 lb
- Needs the paid plan and cell coverage
Fi Series 3+ GPS Dog Collar
Get this one if you want a dog collar you charge less often and your dog spends most days at home or on walks. Skip it for cats. Fi's help center gives three battery ranges for this model: up to 3 months for a mostly home dog, 4 to 6 weeks for moderate activity, and up to 2 weeks for a dog outside most of the day. Once you switch on Lost Mode for rapid live updates, Fi says to expect about 2 days.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Tracker weight: 47 g (Fi help center). Item weight on the listing is 2.72 oz
- Battery: up to 3 months (low activity), 4 to 6 weeks (moderate), up to 2 weeks (high), about 2 days in Lost Mode (Fi)
- Plan: first month of membership included, then it renews to keep GPS active (listing)
- Escape alerts for safe zones, Lost Dog Mode with rapid live updates
- IP68 on the listing, LED light, wireless charging, 1-year warranty
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners say it is easy to set up and like the step, distance and rest tracking. Many mention peace of mind.
- They complain about: Battery gets split reports. Some say it is great, others charge it every 5 days. Accuracy is mixed too.
Good
- Longest everyday battery claim among the dog picks
- IP68 rating on the listing
- Household members can share alerts
Watch out for
- Lost Mode cuts battery to about 2 days
- Needs the membership after month one
- Owners are split on accuracy
Tractive DOG 6 XL GPS Tracker
Get this one if your dog is over 44 pounds and you want the longest Tractive battery. Skip it for small and medium dogs. It is heavier than the DOG 6. The listing says up to 6 weeks of battery. Tractive's table shows that is with a Power Saving Zone. Without one it is up to 20 days. This is a newer listing, and we did not see an owner summary on it yet.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Tracker weight: 70 g per Tractive. The listing says 2.47 oz
- Pet size: Dogs over 44 lb (20 kg), per the listing and Tractive
- Battery: up to 6 weeks with a Power Saving Zone, up to 20 days without (Tractive)
- Updates: 2 to 3 seconds in LIVE mode (listing and Tractive)
- Plan: subscription required, per the listing
- Listing says water resistant. Tractive lists IPX7 for its trackers. 2-year warranty on the listing
Good
- Longest Tractive battery
- Same LIVE mode and escape alerts as the DOG 6
- Heart rate and bark monitoring
Watch out for
- Only for big dogs
- No owner summary on the listing yet
- Needs the paid plan
Halo Collar 5
Get this one if you want a wireless GPS fence that warns your dog at a boundary, plus tracking. Skip it if you only want to find a lost pet, if you will not charge a collar every night, or if your dog is small. It is the heaviest pick here. Halo's help center says to charge it nightly and rates the Halo 5 at up to 48 hours per charge. Its warnings include sound, vibration and an optional static correction. Ask your vet or a certified trainer before you use static.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Weight: 4.2 oz item weight on the listing
- Fit: strap fits necks from 8 to 30.5 inches (Halo help center)
- Battery: up to 48 hours, about 1 hour to charge. Halo recommends charging nightly
- Plan: subscription required to activate GPS and fence features (listing)
- Maker claims: location updated 20 times per second, accuracy within 2 feet
- 1-year warranty on the listing
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners say it works for keeping a dog in bounds and like the safety features.
- They complain about: Battery life and accuracy are mixed, with some reporting GPS drift and false alerts. Many say the collar did not last a year.
Good
- Fence and tracker in one
- Multiple fences, including on rural land, per the listing
- Warnings step up from sound to vibration
Watch out for
- Heaviest pick here
- Daily charging
- Owners report GPS drift and collars that did not last a year
Apple AirTag (4 pack)
Get this if you have an iPhone and want to find an indoor cat under the bed or a dog that slips out in the neighborhood where lots of iPhones pass by. Skip it if you need real-time tracking in a park or the woods. It is not GPS. Apple describes AirTag as made to help people find their belongings. It reports a location only when an Apple device nearby picks it up. There is no plan to pay for. The holder to put it on a collar is extra.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Weight: 11 g (0.39 oz) per Apple and the listing
- Finding: Bluetooth, Ultra Wideband Precision Finding on select iPhones, the Find My network
- Needs: an iPhone or iPad. Apple lists iOS 14.5 or later
- Battery: user-replaceable CR2032 coin cell. The listing says it lasts over a year
- Water and dust: IP67, up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes (Apple)
- No subscription. 1-year limited warranty on the listing
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners say AirTags are easy to set up and useful for keeping track of things.
- They complain about: Some report connection problems and shorter battery life than they expected.
Good
- Lightest pick here
- No monthly plan
- Battery lasts about a year, per the listing
Watch out for
- Not real-time GPS
- iPhone or iPad only
- Can set off unwanted tracking alerts on a stranger's phone
Tile Pro
Get this if you use Android, or a mix of phones, and want to find a pet inside the house or yard. Skip it if your pet roams. Life360, which makes Tile, says a Tile helps you find a pet by Bluetooth within your home or property and does not give real-time location. The listing says 500 feet of range.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Weight: 0.423 oz (about 12 g) on the listing
- Range: 500 feet, per the listing
- Works with iOS and Android, per the listing
- Battery: about 1 year, replaceable, per the listing
- No water rating in the part of the listing we read
- 1-year limited warranty on the listing
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners say it is a useful finder and the ring is reasonably loud.
- They complain about: Some say the location does not update quickly, and some say the battery runs down fast. Phone compatibility gets mixed reports.
Good
- Works with Android
- No plan needed for ringing and finding nearby
- Loud ring to find a hiding pet
Watch out for
- Not real-time GPS
- Owners say updates can lag
- No water rating seen on the listing
Before you buy any of these
- Decide tag or GPS with the checker.
- For GPS, check the cell signal where your pet goes. See trackers without cell service.
- Budget for the plan. Every GPS pick here needs a paid subscription to track. The tags do not.
- Keep the microchip registered and the ID tag on. A tracker adds to those, it does not replace them.
A tracker is not a microchip
The AVMA says a microchip gives permanent ID that cannot fall off like a collar can, and that microchipped pets should still wear a collar with current ID tags. A chip has no battery and no GPS. It only helps once someone scans your pet, and only if the registry has your current phone number. Keep all three: a registered chip, an ID tag, and the tracker. See microchip vs GPS tracker.