Wagz vs Halo [2024 Upd.] Which is the Best Smart GPS Collar?

Last Updated on December, 2024

Wagz and Halo are two impressive GPS dog collars. Both of the products offer a range of superb features.

Even if Wagz and Halo have similar features, they have distinct aspects too.

In this article, we’ve put together all the key information on Wagz and Halo.

So, keep reading to find out how Wagz and Halo compare so that you can make a better decision when purchasing the product.

About Wagz and Halo

So here’s a quick overview of Wagz and Halo.

Wagz

Wagz is a GPS pet tracker that keeps track of your dog’s location and activity levels.

The Wagz collar’s origin story revolves around the founder’s lost dog.

When the Wagz founder’s pet dog got scared by fireworks and ran away, he got the idea of staying connected with pets in real-time.

From that moment, he decided to create a pet tracker to ensure our pets’ safety and health.

Read Wagz freedom smart dog collar review, if you want to learn more.

a human holding wagz collar

Halo

The Halo collar is a GPS pet tracker that provides an all-in-one safety solution for your dog.

It is not only a pet tracker but also it offers a range of dog training activities.

Halo’s founder, Ken Ehrman was encouraged to build a device to ensure dog’s safety.

He came up with this idea after his niece’s dog, Ruby, escaped from the yard and was hit by a car.

Moreover, Ken and his brother Micheal, have technological expertise in developing safety and tracking tools.

a human holding halo collar

Using this knowledge, they co-founded Halo to save countless dogs’ lives.

Learn more about the halo dog collar device here.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the features of both collars.

GPS Location Tracking 

Wagz

The Wagz device uses GPS technology to keep track of your furry friend.

It detects five different types of GPS satellites to track your dog’s location.

These satellites keep communicating with the tracker to inform you about the pet’s whereabouts.

But DON’T FORGET!

The signals’ strength can get affected by the surroundings, weather, and other obstructions.

wagz collar live tracking in wagz app

And Wagz requires a strong cellular network for location tracking to work.

Halo

Just like Wagz, Halo provides real-time location using GPS technology and 44 satellites.

OH! WOW! Do you know what that means?

It means that Halo offers 50% more coverage to give you the BEST possible GPS performance and accuracy.

Halo lets you keep a keen eye on your pup at home or on the go.

It has an enhanced built-in GPS to offer more accurate location tracking and keep your dog safely where you want them.

location tracking in halo 2+ app

Plus, Halo is much MORE THAN a GPS dog collar. Want to know why?

It has a built-in navigation system that guides your pup to stay inside the safe zones. This feature uses world-class GPS and GNSS on par with autonomous cars.

Halo offers a wide range of sounds, vibrations, and optional static prompts to customize your dog’s feedback. This is beneficial because you can change it according to your pooch’s learning style.

And this feature also does not require a WiFi or cellular connection.

Sounds pretty AMAZING, right?

Apparently, Halo has many ADVANCED and MAGNIFICENT features than Wagz.

The Winner: Halo

Geo-fence

Wagz 

Wagz enables you to set up and control geo-fences around your house, or anywhere you go.

This feature allows pet parents to create a boundary at least 15 feet from a road or a house. It lets you keep your pup away from dangerous areas like roads or pools.

And the Wagz app will send instant alerts whenever your pet leaves a safe zone.

Moreover, you can manage multiple geo-fences too. And Wagz uses ultrasonic sounds, vibrations, and audible tones to stop your dog from roaming into dangerous areas.

Halo

Halo lets you instantly create up to 20 geo-fences. Dog owners can set up these virtual fences by walking the boundary or using the app.

If your pup leaves a fence, Halo uses a return whistle to guide them back to a safe zone.

And unlike Wagz, these geo-fences work even without WiFi or cellular technology. This is because the fences are stored in the Halo collar and it autonomously guides your dog to stay inside the boundaries. Well, that’s AWESOME!

In addition, Halo uses Bluetooth-enabled beacons to train your pup, keep them away from dangerous zones, and create portable safe zones.

Also, Bluetooth beacons have multiple functions, including ‘Keep Away’ and ‘Ignore’, according to the geo-fences you have created.

The Winner: Halo

Design and Durability

Wagz 

Wagz collar comes as a separate device. So you will have to attach it to an existing collar.

Moreover, it best suits dogs weighing more than fifteen pounds.

And the Wagz device is IP67 water-resistant. So it will only work in the rain, drizzle, or brief rain showers.

Wagz weighs around 50 grams.

And its dimensions are as follows, 2.37” wide x 2” high x 1.5” deep, including the clip and without the collar.

a dog laying on the bed and wearing wagz collar

Halo

Halo itself is a dog collar. So you do not have to attach it separately to another collar.

And it is a one-size, flexible, and comfortable collar. So while Wagz is only suitable for bigger dogs, Halo fits almost every dog.

But you can also choose a replaceable strap in small, medium, or large.

Moreover, pet parents can easily adjust and swap out the Halo collar’s custom strap for a larger size as your dog grows.

a dog is wearing halo collar

The Halo collar comes in two colors: black and white.

And Halo also has an IP67 waterproof rating. So it can work even if immersed in the water. Plus, it is salt water resistant too!

Your pooch can play for hours in the water, and you do not have to worry about that!

The Winner: Halo

Battery Life

Wagz

The battery life of the Wagz collar depends on the activity level and network connection.

Also, you can customize its features to maximize the battery life.

And it comes with two removable rechargeable lithium-ion 4.2V batteries.

So, if one battery dies, you can replace it with the other.

Isn’t that IMPRESSIVE?

Here’s how the battery life changes:

  • Mostly indoor pups: 12-24 hours
  • Medium activity pups: 6-12 hours
  • Active outdoor pups: 4-6 hours
wagz collar on charge

Halo

Halo has an OUTSTANDING rechargeable battery that lasts up to 20+ hours

Of course, you can spend more time exploring and less time charging!

The Winner: Wagz 

Activity and Fitness Tracking

Wagz

Wagz provides dog owners with activity and fitness tracking details, including the dog’s temperature, exercise level, sleep time, and the daily number of steps.

However, according to my experience, these features do not function as great as the manufacturers claim.

Although it could track the approximate number of steps, the temperature and sleep time readings were inaccurate.

Activity and Fitness Tracking of wagz collar

Halo

In addition, the Halo app provides the following health and fitness details:

  • Daily, weekly, and monthly activity charts to track how much time your dog spends active vs resting
  • Preventions your dog receive to return to safe areas
  • Activity and training progress

Clearly, Halo has many more AMAZING health and fitness features than Wagz.

The Winner: Halo

Smartphone App

Wagz

Wagz smartphone app is compatible with iOS 11 and later and Android 6 and later.

And you can download it for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

The Wagz app uses its patent Kognition platform to process your dog’s data.

You can use the Wagz app to track your pup’s location, receive notifications, create geo-fences, and monitor his overall health.

However, the Wagz app freezes sometimes, and location updates are somewhat slower and inaccurate.

Also, sometimes the app cannot connect with the tracker properly.

wagz collar ios app

Halo

The Halo app is the hub for managing your pup’s details.

The app lets you create up to 20 wireless fences, access training, view your pet’s real-time safety status, receive notifications, and manage each dog’s preferences.

Moreover, you can create, edit, pause, and enable boundaries for every fence and beacon.

Now, this is SUPERB! Don’t you think?

And it is clear that the Halo app has many more ADVANCED features than the Wagz app.

The Winner: Halo

halo collar ios app

Price and Subscription Plans

Wagz

Wagz smart collar costs $299.99.

You will need one of the two subscription plans from Wagz to track the location of your furry friend.

So, here are the subscription plans:

  • Annual plan: $99.99
  • Monthly plan: $9.99

Wagz offers a 60-day return policy if you purchase from their official website.

And it comes with a one-year warranty.

THE RUNNER UP
wagz collar
Wagz collar
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Unfortunately, this product has been discontinued.

Halo

The Halo collar costs $999. And it’s constantly on sale. That’s GREAT! 

You can most probably get it for $649.

And it comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. So if you are not happy with the product, you can return it for a full refund.

Moreover, you will need a plan to activate the Halo collar, GPS services, cellular data, and create, edit, and use geo-fences. 

The following are the plans Halo offers:

  • Basic plan: $.15 per day (billed monthly at $4.49)
  • Silver plan: $.33 per day (billed monthly at $9.99)
  • Gold plan: $.99 per day (billed monthly at $29.99)

Apparently, the Wagz collar is less expensive than the Halo collar.

The Winner: Wagz

The #1 GPS FENCE + TRACKER
Black and White Color Halo Collar products image
Halo 2+ collar
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Halo’s 21- Day Training Program With Cesar Millan

Cesar Millan creator of halo collar

The Halo app provides a 21-day training program offered by world-renowned dog behaviorist Cesar Millan. However, Wagz does not offer any training program like this.

This program has all kinds of training. And more importantly, it provides boundary training, which allows your dog to stay inside safe areas.

Boundary training uses a holistic approach. So, that means this program is more effective than other programs.

The Halo app includes video-based lessons that are guided by Cesar Millan and Expert Halo dog trainer Heather Mikelson.

Moreover, this training is EASY to follow and is suitable for any dog owner and every dog despite age or breed.

Plus, the training strengthens the bond between dog owners and their pets while improving pet’s lifestyles.

Similarities Between Wagz and Halo

So, here are the similar features of Wagz and Halo:

  • Customizable geo-fences
  • Uses GPS technology as the main network to track dogs
  • Provides details on daily activity levels
  • IP67 waterproof rating

Differences Between Wagz and Halo

Now, let’s check out the distinct characteristics of Wagz and Halo:

  • Halo is waterproof, while Wagz is just water-resistant.
  • Halo’s tracker and the collar come as a single device. But, Wagz is a separate tracking device that has to be attached to an existing collar.
  • Wagz only suits larger dogs. On the other hand, any size dog can wear Halo.
  • Halo provides activity tracking and training techniques too. But Wagz does not offer any training methods.
  • Halo also uses Bluetooth beacons to create geo-fences, while Wagz requires a cellular connection all the time.

Pros and Cons of Wagz

Pros

Customizable geo-fences
Humane training with no shocks

Cons

Inaccurate location tracking and temperature readings
Expensive subscriptions
Does not fit to the collar properly
Not suitable for small dogs under 15lbs

Pros and Cons of Halo

Pros

Storing up to 20 GPS-enabled geo-fences
Precise and fast real-time location tracking
Enables dog training

Cons

Pretty expensive

Customer Reviews

Wagz Customer Reviews

There is a mix of positive and negative Wagz customer reviews.

According to many customers, the location and activity tracking of Wagz are quite inaccurate. They also say that the temperature readings are erroneous.

In addition, many users are disappointed with the Wagz app because it is freezing and cannot connect with the tracker properly.

And some customers complain about the design of Wagz. They report that it does not fit to the collar and it keeps falling as a result.

So here is what Wagz customers say about the product.

wagz collar Customer Review 1
wagz collar Customer Review 2
wagz collar Customer Review 3
wagz collar Customer Review 4

Halo Customer Reviews

Now let’s look at what Halo customers say about the product.

halo collar Customer Review

This review from a customer says it all

Many customers of the Halo collar appreciate how amazing the collar is. According to many Halo users, it is WORTH BUYING and provides fast, accurate, and reliable real-time tracking.

Moreover, customers are grateful for guiding their dogs into safe areas whenever they roam out.

Furthermore, they admire the device’s strong battery life, which is beneficial during long walks, hikes, and journeys.

Plus, they seem to love the positive training techniques the app offers. Many people claim that they have eliminated bad behaviors of their dogs because of Halo’s training.

In addition, the Halo app does a decent job of providing important health records.

Also, Halo users say that the app provides quick updates on the whereabouts of their loving pets.

The Winner

Both collars track location and provide health records. But clearly, Halo has many more advanced features and positive customer feedback. 

And Halo does a better job in providing accurate and fast real-time location tracking.

Moreover, Halo gives more detailed and precise activity tracking details than Wagz.

Plus, it offers a fabulous training program that eliminates dogs’ negative behavior.

And this training program increases the relationship between dog owners and pets.

halo 2+ collar

Unlike Wagz, Halo works fine without a cellular network and uses Bluetooth beacons as well.

Well, Halo is something more remarkable than an ordinary dog tracker, right?

Other Comparisons:

FAQs

Yes, your dog can swim with a Halo collar. The Halo collar is IP67 waterproof rated, allowing it to be submerged in water up to 3 feet deep.

No, Halo does not shock your dog. It has a vibration mode that is safe and light.

The Halo collar can last up to 20 hours on a single charge.

Wagz offers an annual subscription plan for $99.99 and a monthly subscription plan for $9.99.

Conclusion

Wagz and Halo are both amazing dog collars with many features. And these collars almost have the same features.

These dog collars have their own positives and negatives.

However, Halo has the most BENEFICIAL features and an excellent training program.

If you want to track your pup’s location more humanely, you can go for Wagz.

But, if you want to monitor your dog’s location in a more accurate, reliable, and faster way, then Halo is the better choice.

To sum up, I recommend using Halo to ensure your pet’s safety by tracking them in the best possible way.

THE WINNER
HALO 2+
Halo Collars
Easy-to-Use
Effectiveness
Price

5.0

5.0

4.5

Overall Score

5.0

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Pros
Storing up to 20 GPS-enabled geo-fences
Precise and fast real-time location tracking
Enables dog training
Built-in App
Multiple feedback mechanism
Get the BEST PRICE valid until the end of December
Cons
Pretty expensive

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Author
Shir Weiss
Shir Weiss is a pet product reviewer for IPetGuides, and has been writing since 2019. She is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, and she has a special interest in animal behavior and nutrition.

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