As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links to Amazon on this page are affiliate links.
Microchip vs GPS tracker: you want both
Updated
They do different jobs. A microchip is permanent ID with no battery and no GPS. It cannot show you where your pet is. It helps after someone finds your pet and a vet or shelter scans it. A GPS tracker shows where your pet is right now, but it can run flat, lose signal or come off with the collar.
What the AVMA says
- A microchip gives permanent ID that cannot be lost or removed like a collar or tag.
- Microchipped pets should still wear a collar with current ID, such as a license tag, rabies tag and a personal ID tag.
- A microchip has no internal power source. It stays inactive until a scanner is passed over it.
- You must register the chip and keep your contact details current, or a found pet may not make it home.
How the three layers work together
| Microchip | ID tag | GPS tracker | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shows where the pet is | No | No | Yes, with signal and battery |
| Can fall off | No | Yes | Yes |
| Needs power | No | No | Yes, recharge |
| Who it helps | A vet or shelter with a scanner | Anyone who finds the pet | You, in the app |
| Ongoing cost | Keep registry details current | None | Paid plan |
Where a Bluetooth tag fits
A tag like an AirTag or a Tile Pro is not a microchip and not GPS. Life360 says a Tile on a pet's collar helps you find the pet by Bluetooth around your home or property, and that it does not give real-time location. It is a handy fourth layer for a pet that hides.
A checklist
- Look up your pet's chip number and check the registry has your current phone and address.
- Put an ID tag with your phone number on the collar, next to the tracker.
- If your pet goes outside, add a GPS tracker. Tractive says its trackers need cell coverage to send positions, so check coverage where you live.
- Keep the tracker charged. A flat tracker is just weight on the collar.
Pick a tracker type with the checker, or compare picks on the roundup page.