GPS Trackers

Most cellular trackers do. Devices that ride on LTE networks, like Tractive, Whistle, and Fi, need a paid plan (often around $5 to $13 a month) because that fee covers the cellular data that keeps them connected. The main exceptions are handheld radio systems such as the Garmin Alpha and Dogtra PATHFINDER lines, which skip the monthly cost but ask more up front and work over a fixed range instead of anywhere with signal.

Related: How we compare

An LTE tracker only reports its location where its network has service, so coverage at home and along your usual walks matters more than the map on the box. Updates arrive quickly in strong-signal areas and can lag or drop in rural gaps until your pet moves back into range. If you live somewhere with patchy service, a handheld radio system that does not lean on cell towers tends to be more dependable.

It varies widely by design. Compact LTE trackers commonly run from a few days to about two weeks per charge, some collar systems advertise several weeks, and radio-based training collars are rated in hours of active tracking. Live, high-frequency tracking drains any of them faster, so read the headline number as a best case and compare the specs side by side.

Several makers sell cat-sized trackers that weigh roughly an ounce and clip onto a collar, which suits most adult cats and small dogs. Weight and collar fit are the details to check against your pet, and a breakaway collar is worth using for cats so the device cannot snag. For a very small or very young pet, ask your veterinarian before adding a wearable.

An LTE tracker uses cellular data to show a live location almost anywhere it has signal, in exchange for a monthly plan. A no-subscription field system, meaning the handheld GPS units built for hunting and training, talks directly to a paired handheld over radio, so there is no recurring fee but you are limited to its broadcast range and have to carry the handheld. City and suburban owners usually prefer LTE, while people working dogs in the backcountry often choose the radio systems.

For a device that lives on a collar through rain, puddles, and the occasional swim, look for a clearly stated water rating such as IPX7 or higher. An IPX7 rating covers brief submersion, while IPX8 and IPX9K handle tougher conditions. A tracker that lists no rating at all is a gap worth noting before you buy.