Last Updated on October, 2025
The reason for me to piece together this content was because of the cheapskate charlie, that is my friend. He went through a nightmarish ordeal when his dog was hit by a car right in front of him due to an unreliable GPS dog fence he had bought from Amazon.
Fortunately, the dog survived the incident unscathed, but it’s a stark reminder of how such incidents can happen to anyone….
So getting a GPS Fence that is cheap or seems fishy from the get-go is like you putting your dog’s life on the line, and it’s simply not a risk worth taking.
If you want the best GPS dog fence, hopefully, you can get that here. However, if you’re still unsure whether or not to trust me, keep on reading.
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Table of Contents
Why Trust Me?
I bought about ten GPS dog fences, tested them on my own dogs, and trimmed the list down to the top six.
Because of that, you can be assured that what you read here is what you actually find in real life, unlike most GPS dog fence reviews online.
That’s the kind of reassurance that would have saved my friend’s dog from getting a knock. Lucky for you, I have found what must be known, what they hold back, and all the info needed to make a decision.
6 of the Best GPS Dog Fences – Reviewed
1. SpotOn Gen 2 (Editor’s Choice)
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The Halo collar was my go-to GPS Fence for a good few years, but the SpotOn Gen 2 might’ve changed that.
After seeing the results of the testings done by me and others, especially Spirent, a renowned GNSS testing firm trusted by industry giants NASA, Toyota, and Meta. There were no second thoughts. Don’t trust me?
Here’s what Spirent had to say after their tests:
‘’SpotOn performed seven times better than Halo, in terms of correction accuracy.’’
That sealed the deal for me, considering ‘’correction accuracy’’ is the most important feature of a GPS fence.
Even though not a huge upgrade from the original SpotOn, this improves on some of the key features that I felt were lacking in the previous model and that makes a huge difference.
Starting off with the most important aspect, GPS accuracy, this is what determines the capabilities of the fences you create. In that regard, SpotOn can connect to 128 satellites, with 30 of those being connected at once, which, along with its patented true location technology, is capable of accurately pinpointing your dog’s location inside the fence and issuing the feedback consistently on time.
The time it takes to issue the correction plays a role, as delays can confuse the dog. Halo had the upper hand here, but the new SpotOn now outclasses it almost all the time by issuing the feedback then and there, NO DELAYS!
Here’s precisely how the GPS fences work on the SpotOn. First, choose the location and create a fence, then select the feedback and warning from the available two types of tone, vibration, and static stimulation, that’s it, the setup process is done.
Now this is how all of these will work; if your dog is 10 feet away from the boundary, the first alert tone will come into play, if that does not work, the warning tone will take over if your dog is 5 feet away and finally, if your dog is on the boundary line, it’ll be either vibration or static stimulation (based on what you’ve chosen).
And no, your dog won’t be corrected in any form when returning to the fence if he has escaped. This is one of the questions I get a lot of times.
When it comes to GPS fences, functionality is king. When you find a device that nails its primary purpose, you’ve found a keeper. And SpotOn is exactly that, no extra bells and whistles, just focusing on the feature that truly matters.
Halo only manages to come close, and the rest, forget it.
Moving on, GPS drift is another thing to keep in mind when dealing with these types of devices.
The fences you create can move from where you created them throughout the day, SpotOn was notorious for this, leading to inaccuracies. Not anymore, even though it’s there, it’s not as bad as it was with the previous version.
The size and shape of the fence you’re able to create should be considered, with the majority of these devices only allowing you to create small circular fences, SpotOn takes it up a notch and allows you to create fences of any shape and size.
However, note that you need at least ½ acre to create a fence.
As for creating the fences, SpotOn gives you two options, the easiest way is to use the app and draw your fences through it, however, this led to inaccuracies when testing.
The next option is much more stable, carry your phone and collar and walk along, and the app will automatically drop fence posts. Speaking of fence posts, you can drop a maximum of 1500, which is more than that of the competitors.
Keep Out Zones is a noteworthy feature of SpotOn, with this turned on, you can create areas where you don’t want your dog to enter such as the garden, pool, or any other potentially dangerous areas in the house. You can create these safe zones even inside the fence you’ve already created.
Apart from the fencing capabilities, other extra features SpotOn hosts are Location Tracking and Alert Notifications. Location tracking, as the name suggests, will allow you to track and keep an eye on your dog’s location no matter where you are, also, especially helpful if you have a large yard.
Alert notifications on the other hand come in handy when your dog is about to escape the fence, allowing you to act quickly.
You will also get notifications when your collar’s battery is about to die. Yes, completely forgot about forest mode and off-grid mode.
Forest mode in the new SpotOn is top-notch, when enabled, it improves the GPS performance while you’re in areas with a lot of buildings, walls and trees. The performance boost is noticeable, mainly if you compare with it turned off.
If you go hiking and camping with your dog, SpotOn is the only GPS fence you can carry at the moment. It’s off-grid mode connects to your phone via Bluetooth and allows you to create fences even in areas with zero cell service. Tested it in my backyard and yeah, it really works.
So yeah, SpotOn will be my go-to fence from now on, not just my tests, every one who’ve tested it up against its competitors has gotten the same results. It’s the king of the pack at the moment.
Key Specs:
- Fits dogs with neck sizes of 10 to 26 inches
- Battery runtime of 25 hours
- App available on App store and Play Store
- Two tones, Vibration or Static Stimulation with 30 levels
- Keep out Zones, Off-grid mode and Forest Mode
- Supports LTE, and Bluetooth
- IP67 Water and Dust Resistant Rating
- One-Year warranty and 90-day money-back guarantee
You can do so much more with this device, so check out our full review of SpotOn dog GPS fence.
Pros
Cons
SpotOn, being the best at what it does, comes at a small cost, the price. This is the most expensive collar on the market, coming in at $300 more than its closest competitor, Halo, at $999. Even though the device will work without a subscription, you will also need one if you’re to take advantage of location tracking and notification alerts, which I think is very important.
Yeah, It is expensive, but at the end of the day, what’s most important is that, it gets the fundamentals right. Works like a charm, literally!
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2. Halo 4 (#2nd Best Choice)
This was my favorite fence option before SpotOn came out with an update.
Even though SpotOn gets the job done better than Halo in most aspects, its price may not be for everyone.
That’s where Halo 4 shines, for a lower price (even though not the cheapest), it’s something you can totally rely on.
Both Halo and SpotOn are almost the same devices with different names. The set-up process, feedbacks and how each work are all basically the same. No difference. That said, the tech both pack are completely different.
Halo’s GPS correction accuracy is based on 151 satellites and their own PrecisionGPS™ tech which works to reduce “drift,” which is when GPS accuracy gets worse due to interference from buildings, trees, or other obstacles.
While I can’t verify if it connects to all 151 satellites, what I can tell you is that the PrecisionGPS™ works. GPS drift on in the new collar is almost non-existent, you can come across slight movements, but nothing close to SpotOn, which tends to drift a few feet more.
That said, what makes SpotOn clear of Halo is its consistency. SpotOn works with little to no errors even in cloudy days, the same cannot be said for Halo, the performance can also take a slight hit in areas with a lot of building and trees in some instances.
But not always.
Most of the time, I’d say the performance of both SpotOn and Halo is equal.
The corrections when your dog gets close to the boundary happens on time and overall, there is very little to split between the two.
It’s only because of Halo’s rare inconsistencies, SpotOn takes the care here.
But, I think, for Halo, one or two software updates can solve this issue.
One area Halo excels is, Location Tracking. The location updates I got were marginally better than SpotOn, basically instant. Moreover, the new version can connect to all cell carriers globally, making it the only device in its class that can work worldwide.
As mentioned already, Halo’s feedback system is almost similar to SpotOn, the difference is that, in place of the second warning tone on SpotOn, here it’ll be vibration, and reaching the boundary and going past it would result in static stimulation.
Also, another neat addition on the Halo is its encouragement feedback, if your dog goes out of the boundary and returns back in, it’ll receive a return whistle, to encourage the behavior.
The fences can be of any shape, as well, not limited to just circular.
Halo, has its own version of forest mode and off-grid mode too.
As far as the GPS features go, there’s nothing much to talk about in the Halo, that’s pretty much it.
That said, there is no end to other extra features on Halo. A very useful one is the Activity Tracker. This will track your dog’s Distance Walked, Overall Activity like moving, resting and eating. All of these infos can come in handy when the doing checkups with the VET.
Training materials in the Halo is top-notch, conducted by Cesar Millan (you know who he is), this is far better than any training programs that come with these devices.
All in all, if you cannot bash out $999 for SpotOn, Halo, at $599 is the next reliable option you can go for without hesitation.
Key Specs:
- Fits dogs with a neck sizes of 11 in. to A Maximum of 30.5 in.
- Battery runtime of 24 hours
- Activity tracking to keep your dog’s health and activity levels in check
- Tone, Vibration and Static Stimulation with 15 levels
- Beacons included to create safe zones
- Supports Wi-Fi, LTE, and Bluetooth
- IP67 Water and Dust Resistant Rating
- 12-Month Warranty
Learn more about this GPS fence, checkout this review of Halo smart collar here.
Pros
Cons
Halo Collar, as I’ve said, was the device I was using prior to SpotOn Gen 2, and I loved it, and I still love it. For $599 plus a subscription, it gets many of the things right and you cannot go wrong.
3. PetSafe Guardian® (#3rd Best Choice)
Petsafe has finally shown that it can also make a GPS dog fence that can compete with the big dogs Halo and SpotON.
At this point, every dog owner knows about PetSafe and their reliability when it comes to pet-related products, and their first shot at a GPS fence does not disappoint either.
First of all, this is probably one of the few cheapest dog fences that actually work. Yes, far cheaper than both Halo and Spoton. I already tried out the subscription free Guardian, and it did a great job, I’d say that was the best subscription free GPS fence, but, it’s no longer available.
So, with that said, here’s what you need to know about the PetSafe Guardian®.
Now, PetSafe have also come up with a subscription based GPS dog fence, and from what I’ve seen, it is mostly similar to the subscription free Guardian, but there are some much-needed additions, such as the luxury to create different sized fences, location tracking and some other useful features.
Let’s start off with the GPS fence capabilities first. There are no compromises here, you get everything you would get in the more expensive competitors: Unlimited fence size, support for any fence shape are all present.
Moreover, you get all the same feedback options as well, tone, vibration and 10 levels of static stimulation.
So, you’re not missing out on the features, however, don’t expect the performance to be on the same level as as the first two picks. The Guardian does an excellent job, and you can rely on it without any problems.
There are some inconsistencies, especially in areas with a lot of trees and buildings, Halo has the same problems, but here, it’s more noticeable. That wouldn’t be an issue if the feedback setup was similar to what you’d get in Halo or SpotOn, but no, it’s a basic setup here, where your dog will be corrected when it’s close to the boundary or goes past it. I’m referring to the SpotOn’s alert/warning tones and Halo’s encouragement feedback here.
That also makes training super important. Thanks to the excellent training materials provided, you can get that done without any issues.
You will also get alert notifications whenever your dog crosses the boundary line, allwing you to take quick action before anything worse.
Location tracking is something completely new for PetSafe’s fences, and there are no issues here. Location updates, even though aren’t instant, refreshes every 5 to 6 seconds, which is not bad.
You will get updates on your dog’s location evey 5 to 6 seconds.
Moving on, with PetSafe, you can create and store up to 20 fences and can use any of them at any time. To create a fence, all you have to do is, draw on the app. This is the only option available.
Above all, there’s an area where PetSafe puts both TOP 2 to shame, and that is the Battery Life. Guardian probably has the best battery life out of all the GPS Dog Fences I’ve tried. On paper, it has a maximum runtime of 72 hours, even though I was not getting anywhere close to that, it still lasted a full two days without needing a charge. Which is impressive.
That said, this can change based on the usage, so I’d recommend you charge the every night, so you have a full charged collar ready to go the next day.
PetSafe Guardian is an excellent option if you’re on a budget. This gets the job done in most cases and you can rely on it without any issues. It can get a little unpredictable with the climate and other environmental factors. But, that’s not the case always, for the price, it remains a solid choice, providing reliable performance in most situations.
Key Specs:
- Suitable for dogs with neck sizes ranging from 15 inches to 28 inches
- Up to 72 hours of battery life with a 4-hour full recharge time
- Includes a step-by-step 2-week training program
- Offers 10 adjustable levels of static correction
- Real-time GPS tracking for accurate location updates
- Compatible with Wi-Fi, LTE, and Bluetooth
- Waterproof collar for all-weather use
- Backed by a 12-month warranty
Pros
Cons
4. Tractive GPS Tracker
Tractive dog tracker, the GPS dog containment system, has been made by an Austrian company since 2012, and pet owners love it.
The tracker is 2.81 inches long, 1.1 inches tall, and 0.68 inches wide, weighing only 1.2 ounces.
The Practice collar fits dogs 44lbs(20kgs) and above.
It’s available in five colors; dark blue, light blue, light pink, coffee, and snow.
This is a waterproof smart collar, with an IPX7 waterproof rating, and the durability is further certified with the build quality.
This smart collar is shockproof too. The Tractive GPS dog collar brings seven days of battery life; mine lasted for 5 and a half days with moderate use.
With one of the famous GPS systems, this pet containment system delivers 2-3 seconds of location updating rate, with worldwide unlimited GPS tracking.
You can store and export the GPS data too. Not only that, but you can also share the pet’s location with family and friends.
All you need is the free Tractive app installed on your mobile.
You can’t customize the shape of Tractive’s wireless fence. The minimum radius of a circular, wireless fence is 160 feet. If it’s rectangular, it is 330 feet by 330 feet. You can define wireless fences as safe or no-go zones.
While the collar has no corrective feedback, you will receive real-time alerts if your dog crosses the boundary.
This tracker lets you track your dog’s activity in terms of calories burned, time spent at a location, and even sleeping time.
Since it uses GPS data, you need a subscription plan to use the Tractive dog’s collar.
Key Specs:
- Lightweight
- Seven days of battery
- IPX7 waterproof collar
- 2-3 seconds location updating rate
- Circular or rectangular fences
Read more about tractive GPS tracker and fence here.
Pros
Cons
5. Garmin Alpha 100 Bundle
Based in the US and killing it since 1989, Garmin is one of the pioneers in location-tracking devices for multiple industries.
Their Alpha 100 bundle is next in this GPS dog fences list.
Almost all Garmin devices would work with no mobile app if you didn’t know. Instead, you should buy a handheld locator.
In the Alpha 100 bundle, Alpha 100 is the handheld locator, and the TT 15 is the collar.
The Alpha 100 comes with 2.5 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches and a weight of 8.8 oz, including the standard antenna and battery. Its waterproof rating is IPX7. Maximum battery life is 20 hours, and mine ran for 17 hours and 30 mins with intense use.
The TT 15 collar is 3.5″ in width, 1.75″ in height, and 1.85″ in thickness. It weighs 10 oz with the collar. The waterproof rating is 1 ATM. The expected maximum battery life is 40 hours.
The screen resolution of the handheld is 240 x 400 pixels with a TFT touchscreen.
The location update speed is 2.5 seconds, and that’s because of the GPS and GLONASS receiver. You can track multiple dogs(up to 20 at once) in a range of 9 miles.
The virtual fence is equally impressive; you can set custom wireless fences using multiple points. If the dog crosses the boundary, you will receive alerts on the handheld, and the collar will emit either sound or vibration. With 18 levels of intensity, you can choose what suits your dog.
You also use rescue mode to find a lost dog easier.
It requires no monthly subscription.
With advanced features such as a compass, auto-routing, and custom maps, the Garmin Alpha 100 bundle is a pet GPS tracker for hunting dogs with invisible fence features.
Key Specs:
- Comes with a handheld and a collar
- IPX7 and 1 ATM waterproof rating
- 2.5 seconds location updating frequency
- 9 miles of radius
- Comprehensive geofencing
Pros
Cons
6. Pawious GPS Wireless Dog Fence
Pawious is a company based in Canada, and its pet containment system is another excellent product.
Weighing 11.68 ounces, the tracker that enables the invisible fence has these dimensions; 6.81 x 4.69 x 2.09 inches.
The company doesn’t recommend the collar for smaller dogs like Chihuahuas, but it works fine with medium to large dogs.
Durability is assured by the resilient design and IPX7 waterproof rating.
With 2 hours of charging time, the maximum expected runtime is 36 hours; mine worked for 32 hours with continuous use.
The GPS system is impressive since the accuracy is up to 5-10 yards. Pawious recommends using the tracker in medium or large yards.
The Pawious shock collar does a magnificent job regarding the dog fence features. All you need to do is set the origin and position the invisible boundary.
However, the virtual fence has no custom shapes; it’s circular and has a maximum radius of up to 1000 yards. The collar will give out beeps when your dog comes near the boundary.
If it crosses the boundary, you can have vibrational corrective feedback in 6 levels or static shock in 6 levels in this GPS e collar.
Either way, your furry friend is certified to be safe.
But what’s interesting is that this dog fence tracker requires no mobile phone or handheld device; the collar controls everything. So, there is no monthly subscription because of that.
Overall, the Pawious dog fence is very reliable.
Key Specs:
- 36 hours of maximum runtime with one charging
- IPX7 waterproof rating
- Circular GPS fence with 1000 yards maximum radius
- Multiple types and levels of corrective feedback
Pros
Cons
#1 Tip to Make Maximum Use of a GPS Dog Fence
It is none other than training your dogs to know what they need to do for each corrective feedback; sound, vibration, or shock. The better the dog training, the better the results will be.
Related article: Are GPS dog fences effective?
Factors to Consider When Buying a GPS Dog Fence
Location Accuracy and Updating Rate
The location accuracy must be within at least 50 feet; the lower the number, the better. You’re unlikely to find a GPS tracker with real-time updating GPS technology. So, even if it comes to 2 seconds, you should remember that you’re buying a GPS dog fence, not just a GPS tracker.
The Durability of the Collar
Most high-end dog collars, which enable virtual dog fences, are designed to be resilient. So, it’s better if the dog collar also has an IP waterproof rating.
There also should be at least 1m of impact resistance. Other than that, the better the design and the quality, the longer it will last.
Battery Life
What’s the point of a dog fence that lasts longer as a product but drains the battery in an hour? So, ensure you’re okay with the runtime and charging time.
In addition, it’d be better to check whether you can operate the tracker in different modes. Typically, this allows you to elongate the battery runtime with one charge.
Type and Range of the Fence
Some invisible dog fences are circular; this means the range is radial. If so, you should know the maximum radius. Similarly, some trackers let you draw the fence, and the range matters in this case too. It’s up to you to decide which type you need.
Respond When the Dog Crosses the Boundary
Dog fences are supposed to stop dogs from running away further. But how can they stop the dogs if the fence can’t be seen?
Ideally, there should be three features; alerting you via the phone, warning the dog, and emitting shock, vibration, or sound when the dog leaves the boundary. The response always matters.
Performance Dependence on the Location
GPS tracking technology theoretically shouldn’t be able to work without GPS signals. But some trackers work without cell service, too, just not in the same operational conditions.
So, you need to check whether the chosen GPS fence device would work at the intended location.
Whether it Requires a Buried Fence
A handful of GPS dog fences require you to bury a physical fence along the boundary.
That way, GPS works separately, and the fence acts like an invisible dog fence. This might be a little difficult. So, make sure whether you need to bury a fence for the GPS dog fence to work.
Benefits of GPS Dog Fences
- Track your dog’s location accurately and remotely
- Protect your dog from leaving and entering specific areas
- Enjoy your camping adventures with your dog on board
- Save a little fortune you spend on dog daycare centers
- Free your dog from the feeling of being caged
- Replace a space-consuming traditional fence in your yard and inside your house
- Focus better on your work life
- And much more!
In Conclusion
GPS dog fences are not cheap; if you find one for less than $50 or even $100, STAY AWAY FROM IT!
You can’t afford a collar that has GPS along with a fully-fledged wireless fence for that much; if you do, remember that you’re putting your pet’s life at risk.
That said, SpotOn Gen 2 becomes the top recommended device thanks to all the outstanding features it brings to the table. That’s what my friend and I use right now. It does everything it needs to in the best possible way.
What matters is keeping our dogs safe in a financially sustainable way. That’s why I use and recommend efficient solutions.
At the end of the day, investing in these systems is an investment that makes pet parents feel relieved and proud.
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