Last Updated on May, 2025
PetLink were known for their microchips, now, they’ve started to up their game by stepping into the world of GPS based location tracking devices. Getting a location tracking device right at the first go isn’t an easy job.
Has PetLink pulled it off with their new PetLink GPS Tracker?
Let’s dive into everything I discovered after two months of real-world testing, and whether it’s worth trusting your dog’s safety to PetLink. So, if you’re on the fence to purchase a PetLink GPS for your dog, continue reading, I’ll help you make that purchasing decision.
Table of Contents
- About PetLink
- What’s in The PetLink Box?
- PetLink GPS Location Tracking Capabilities
- Every Feature Present in The PetLink GPS
- The PetLink GPS App
- PetLink Price and Subscription Plans
- What are Others Saying About the PetLink GPS?
- Pros and Cons of the PetLink GPS
- Should You Buy the PetLink GPS?
- Better Alternative to PetLink GPS
- Final Thoughts
- FAQs
The Good
PetLink GPS offers real-time tracking, geo-fencing, health monitoring, and a built-in flashlight. It’s lightweight, waterproof, easy to use, and fits any dog collar.
The Not So Good
It struggles with poor connection areas, slow location updates, and occasional app crashes. Battery life drops fast with active tracking, and better options exist.
The Bottom Line
PetLink GPS is a good option for basic tracking. However, if you’re looking for better reliability and faster updates, the Tractive Dog 6 is a smarter choice. Click here to learn more about it.
About PetLink
PetLink started out with microchips. These are small devices that use RFID technology to store a unique identification number.
After a pet is microchipped, veterinarians and animal shelters can scan the chip to identify the pet and access the owner’s contact information.
On December 2024, PetLink came up with their very first Dog GPS tracker, ensuring pet safety beyond the vet clinic.
What’s in The PetLink Box?
PetLink comes with all the essentials you need to get the device up and running, below, I’ll list out everything you’ll get with the PetLink GPS.
- The PetLink GPS Tracker
- Velcro Strap
- USB Charging Cable
That’s everything in the box. One thing to note here is that, you are not getting a collar, you are getting the device and the strap to attach it to a collar. That means PetLink will suit any dog, no matter its size.
PetLink GPS Location Tracking Capabilities
PetLink’s GPS location tracking performance is good and something you can rely on as long as you have a good connection. That doesn’t mean it struggles in areas with not very good connection.
It does a good job, but I wouldn’t say it’s the best.
From my experience, PetLink does not have live location tracking, you can expect it to update your dog’s location every 10 to 15 seconds, not that fastest.
That said, if the connection isn’t that good, you can expect it to take a little longer.
10 to 15 seconds may not be the fastest, but, considering the performances of the other more expensive trackers I’ve tried, this is one of the better ones.
All things considered, since this is PetLink’s first shot at GPS trackers, I can’t complain too much. I’ve tested products that did much worse on their first try—Fi, for example. This one is far better.
Every Feature Present in The PetLink GPS
PetLink is not only about location tracking, there’s more to it than that. Non are gimmicks, all of them are useful one way or the other.
Geo Fencing and Energy Saving Mode
Geo Fencing is essential for location trackers. If you’re someone who leaves the dog unattended outside, you can take advantage of PetLink’s Geo Fencing capabilities.
All you have to do is create an invisible fence through the app, and you’re good to go. So, now, whenever your dog goes out of the fence you’ve created, you will receive an alert to your phone.
That can be very useful.
Creating a Geo Fence is easy and, like most GPS trackers, you can only create a circular fence.
All that said, PetLink’s struggles in areas with poor connection can be seen here as well, if you have a dodgy connection, there will be a delay in receiving the alert. This happened to me a few times during testing.
PetLink is not short of features, next one is their Energy Saving Zones, this is something you can use to save some battery life. First, create a safe zone, next connect your PetLink to a Wi-Fi and save it. That’s it, you’ll be good to go.
Whenever your dog and the device is in range of your Wi-Fi, live tracking and geo fencing will automatically disconnect, this is where the battery life is saved. If your dog wanders off the Wi-Fi range, tracking and geo fencing will turn back on.
Overall, energy saving zones do a great job in minimizing battery usage, and you can rely on it to give you some extra hours before needing to charge.
Battery Life
While we are on the topic of battery life, let me tell you how PetLink performs in that regard. On paper, PetLink claims that it can run up to 7 days max based on the usage, which is excellent, until you start using location tracking.
With frequent usage of live location tracking, battery life can take a massive hit. We’re looking at about a day or even lower in some cases. So, when using the tracker, make sure your dog does not wander off too far from the device, making you trigger live location tracking.
When the tracker’s inside the geo fence, connected to your Wi-Fi, you can expect top-notch battery life from PetLink.
Durable Device
PetLink is a solid, well-designed device, durable, lightweight, and completely waterproof. So whether your dog jumps into the sea, a pool, or just splashes through puddles, you don’t have to worry about it getting damaged.
What really makes PetLink stand out is its flexibility. Since it doesn’t come attached to any collar, it works with dogs of all sizes. Just pick a collar that fits your dog, clip PetLink onto it, and you’re good to go. Simple as that.
Activity Tracker
You can check your dog’s steps, distance traveled, rest periods, and overall activity with PetLink. During testing, the activity data was organized accurately and was very useful for planning my dog’s exercise and diet.
PetLink, just like most of its competitors, is more than just a location tracking device. It also allows you to monitor your dog’s activity levels.
Built in Flashlight
PetLink has a flashlight built into it. This can come in handy if it comes down to finding your dog in the dark. You can remotely turn in on when in range and that makes things that little bit easier. The light’s pretty bright too, coupled with a loud beep, these are some useful stuff you can take advantage of.
The PetLink GPS App
Like for all the other GPS location trackers, the app plays a main role here as well.
You can download the app on both Android and iOS devices, and it’s essential to get the collar up and running.
From syncing the collar to getting updates on the dog’s location, the app is needed.
The app is also where you get the activity data of your dog and set up geo fences.
Usability wise, it’s easy to understand, everything is laid out perfectly without a lot of technical stuff, no one will come across any issues in usability standpoint.
However, I noticed some couple of bugs with app. One is that, it crashes at least once every day and the most annoying thing is, It disconnects the device, forcing me to sync everything from the beginning.
This happened very rarely, but It’s something worth pointing out. Overall, I’d say it’s a great app considering how easy it is to use with all the data it has.
PetLink Price and Subscription Plans
PetLink, considering everything it offers, is not expensive. At just $49.95 plus a subscription, it’s in the affordable side for most dog owners.
Yes, to use Petlink, you need a subscription, that is the case with all the other GPS trackers. If you are in the market for the GPS tracker without a subscription, you won’t be finding a reliable one.
- PetLink Subscription Plan
PetLink has four subscription options:
- Monthly: $11.99/month
- Annual: $99 ($8.25/month)
- 2 Years: $150 ($6.25/month)
- 5 Years: $315 ($5.25/month)
These are all four of the plans you can choose from, you can choose what’s right for you and go from there. I went with the monthly plan, did not go with other options since this wasn’t my primary tracker.
What are Others Saying About the PetLink GPS?
Petlink has mixed reviews, and being relatively new, I couldn’t find that many reviews outside their website. Below, I’ll add some of the reviews I came across during my research.
Terrible app
One of the worst apps I’ve ever used. And please save yourself a massive headache if you have two dogs with their gps devices. Makes me think this was an afterthought—no company that cares about it’s paying customers releases garbage like this.
Great for my senior dog
I have a senior bulldog, Desi, who’s a bit on the chubby side. Making sure he gets his daily exercise and hitting activity targets is all part of my plan to keep him healthy and help him reach his ideal weight. I’d do anything to keep him around longer and give him the happiest, healthiest life possible. The PetLink monitor and GPS app are a big help—not only can I track his location, but I can also monitor his activity levels and notice any changes right away. I really appreciate the tips the app shares too. It feels like I have extra support in my goal to keep Desi healthy.
Did monkeys design this app?
So frustrated. Can’t connect to the subscription that I’ve already paid for, and there’s no place in the app to do anything until you connect. So stupid. I designed software for years and we never would have allowed an app out the door like this. This isn’t even beta ready. Makes me regret buying the device. If customer service doesn’t solve this by tomorrow it’s all going back.
Is this service real
The app doesn’t work maybe fix it or take it off the App Store.
Pros and Cons of the PetLink GPS
Pros
Cons
Should You Buy the PetLink GPS?
PetLink’s first shot at GPS trackers doesn’t disappoint, it gets a lot of things right with some good extra features, all of which are actually useful. It’s fairly priced, has excellent battery life, comes with a built-in activity tracker and many more.
All that said, if you ask me if I’d recommend PetLink for your dog, my answer will be NO!
There are other options that are marginally higher priced but are more reliable than PetLink. Yes, there are alternatives that perform better. That is the only reason for me to not recommend PetLink, because, if you can spend a little more, you’re simple getting a better device elsewhere.
Better Alternative to PetLink GPS
They say this is the internet’s favorite pet GPS tracker, and there’s nothing wrong in that. I’m talking about Tractive Dog 6 here, they’ve been in the GPS tracker market for a long time, and over the years they’ve only gotten better.
Now, I’d say, Tractive is the best option if you need a GPS tracker.
Consistently reliable, excellent battery life, works in most parts of the world and most importantly is a live location tracker.
Dog 6 has been my primary tracker ever since it came out, and it has been flawless.
It has all the features of the PetLink Tracker, but performs better in every way, and for a slightly higher price ($69), this is a much better option.
Virtual fences, location history, sleep and activity monitoring are all present here from PetLink. On top of all that:
- Bark monitoring: alerts you if your dog is barking more or less than usual
- Health alerts: alerts you if there are any unusual changes in your dog’s behavior.
Are all present.
Looking at the performance, as I said, tracking wise, there are no other dog GPS trackers that do it better than Tractive. Unlike PetLink, which only uses AT&T, Tractive isn’t limited to one network—it connects to the strongest available signal for better performance. That also means it rarely has a bad connection.
From my experience, Tractive, most often than not, updates every step of the dog. There are instances where it can take around 5 to 6 seconds, but that’s rare.
Battery life is another area Tractive shine, you can go up to at least 5 days without needing to charge the collar. Tractive claims it can go for 14 days, but I don’t think so, the max I’ve gotten is eight days, that too with the tracker connected mostly to Wi-Fi and inside the virtual fence.
That is not bad.
Looks wise, there is nothing to complain, it’s a beautiful tracker, and just like PetLink, it does not come with a collar, but one thing to note is that the tracker only fits dogs over 8.8 lbs, which is still a lot of dogs.
The tracker is also IP68 rated, meaning it can handle water from any side and can also be submerged to a certain extent.
When it comes to subscriptions, there are two options, and are priced almost similar to the PetLink. There is a Basic Plan and a Premium Plan:
The Basic Plan is more than enough for most people, and it is what I use, but if you want the additional features of the Premium Plan, I would not say it’s a bad deal.
Overall, I would say Tractive is a much better deal if you’re in the market for a GPS dog tracker.
Still on the fence?
The 28000+ Tractive reviews on Trustpilot might help you make a decision, check all of them here.
Final Thoughts
PetLink is by no means a bad GPS tracker, but at this moment, there are better performing options. If PetLink can correct those connection issues and improve the location update times, then we have a real deal.
But for now, for anyone looking for a reliable GPS tracker with little to no errors, Tractive is the way to go. If you’re interested in exploring more options, check out our picks for the best dog GPS trackers.
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