GPS Collars Comparisons

Tractive GPS Dog Tracker VS Halo Collar 5: Which Should You Choose?

Written by Mark Braeden

With so many smart dog collars on the market, you have more choices than ever before. I’ve spent countless hours reviewing and researching all of the top models so you don’t have to! Today, we’re comparing two of the most popular dog tracking devices, Tractive VS Halo, to see which one offers the most bang for your buck.

We’ll do a side-by-side look at everything from design and durability to health monitoring and, of course, tracking features. That way, you can see at a glance which one best fits both your dog’s needs and your budget. You may also want to check out the individual (and in-depth) reviews for each option. Find them here:

Tractive Vs. Halo: Main Features

  Let’s start with a side-by-side look at the main features of each collar. If you’re in a rush, this will give you the quickest overview. 

 
 
Min/Max Fence Size:
30 square feet minimum, no max size
Min/Max Fence Size:
50 meters minimum for circular, 100 x 100 meters for rectangular, no minimum for custom. No maximum size.
GPS Coverage:
AlwaysOn™ GPS with nonstop, real-time tracking
GPS Coverage:
GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Flexible Fence Shapes:
Yes
Flexible Fence Shapes:
Yes
Multiple Fences in One App:
Yes
Multiple Fences in One App:
Yes
Overlapping Fences :
No
Overlapping Fences :
Yes, but not recommended
Portable (Take Anywhere):
Yes
Portable (Take Anywhere):
Yes
Subscription Optional:
No
Subscription Optional:
No
Static Correction Levels:
15
Static Correction Levels:
N/A (doesn't use static)
Min/Max Fence Size:
30 square feet minimum, no max size
GPS Coverage:
AlwaysOn™ GPS with nonstop, real-time tracking
Flexible Fence Shapes:
Yes
Multiple Fences in One App:
Yes
Overlapping Fences :
No
Portable (Take Anywhere):
Yes
Subscription Optional:
No
Static Correction Levels:
15
Min/Max Fence Size:
50 meters minimum for circular, 100 x 100 meters for rectangular, no minimum for custom. No maximum size.
GPS Coverage:
GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Flexible Fence Shapes:
Yes
Multiple Fences in One App:
Yes
Overlapping Fences :
Yes, but not recommended
Portable (Take Anywhere):
Yes
Subscription Optional:
No
Static Correction Levels:
N/A (doesn't use static)

As you can see, both collars act as tracking devices and activity monitors.  Both also work as invisible fence systems in terms of setting up boundaries, but Tractive won’t actually prevent your dog from leaving those boundaries the way the Halo Collar does. 

If you’re worried that Fido isn’t getting enough activity, you can monitor his activity levels, and unlock achievements or badges depending on your setup. You can even watch out for your furry friend’s diet and see how many calories he burns throughout the day.

Halo’s Smart Fences are fully automated by GPS. You don’t have to worry about losing WiFi or mobile data signals when setting up and tracing your fence boundaries.

If Fido approaches the boundaries that you set in the app, the collar lets him know through a series of warning sounds, vibrations, and static correction. However, you can turn off the shock features if you’re not comfortable with them.

The  “winner” here depends entirely on your needs. If you only need a GPS tracker and maybe an activity tracker, then Tractive takes first place. If you need something a bit more robust that doubles as a high-quality virtual fence, Halo wins.

Design

 
 
Description:

The Halo Collar 5 comes in 5 colors, including Granite (grey), Orchid (pictured above), Midnight (Blue), Blaze (orange) and Sunburst (yellow). The new one-size-fits-most design fits dog neck sizes from 8" up to 30.5", it's a great fit (pun intended) for nearly all dogs.

Description:

The Tractive Dog GPS Tracker is one of the most versatile in terms of design, as it's not technically a collar but rather a collar attachment. It comes in two sizes- Standard and XL and fits 1.1" collars for the Standard, and up to 1.6" collars for the XL. Tractive works on dogs as small as 8 lbs.

Description:

The Halo Collar 5 comes in 5 colors, including Granite (grey), Orchid (pictured above), Midnight (Blue), Blaze (orange) and Sunburst (yellow). The new one-size-fits-most design fits dog neck sizes from 8" up to 30.5", it's a great fit (pun intended) for nearly all dogs.

Description:

The Tractive Dog GPS Tracker is one of the most versatile in terms of design, as it's not technically a collar but rather a collar attachment. It comes in two sizes- Standard and XL and fits 1.1" collars for the Standard, and up to 1.6" collars for the XL. Tractive works on dogs as small as 8 lbs.

Design-wise, Tractive is the most versatile since you can use it on any collar. The standard Tractive tracker comes in three colors (black & blue, white & blue, and two-tone brown). The XL version only comes in one color (a sort of grassy green). You can upgrade it to the Adventure Edition for $30 more, though. If you go that route, you’ll get a silver tracker surrounded by bite-proof casing. 

The NEW Halo Collar 5 is sleek and modern, with five gorgeous solid colors and a new Realtree camouflage design. Also, it now fits small(er) dogs, as long as their neck size falls in the 8-30.5″ range (which is nearly all dogs except toy breeds and other ultra-teensy pups). 

Durability

 
 
Description:

The Halo Collar is incredibly sturdy, featuring an updated design that's more dog-proof than ever before with a solid enclosure, ultrasonic welding, better waterproofing, metal hinge, and strong magnetic charging system.

Description:

The Tractive GPS pet tracker boasts their almost indestructible 100% waterproof device, perfect for pets who love outdoor and water adventures. It can withstand 3-feet deep water immersion for 30 minutes.


Description:

The Halo Collar is incredibly sturdy, featuring an updated design that's more dog-proof than ever before with a solid enclosure, ultrasonic welding, better waterproofing, metal hinge, and strong magnetic charging system.

Description:

The Tractive GPS pet tracker boasts their almost indestructible 100% waterproof device, perfect for pets who love outdoor and water adventures. It can withstand 3-feet deep water immersion for 30 minutes.


Both Halo Collar and Tractive have a great reputation for durability, so this one is an even draw. That said, the new Halo Collar 5 is even more durable than ever before, thanks to its solid enclosure, ultrasonic welding, better waterproofing, metal hinge, and strong magnetic charging system.

Warranty

When you’re dropping a good chunk of change on something, you want to make sure that it at least has a good warranty in case of damage, right?  While both warranties have limitations that leave something to be desired, they’re actually pretty standard for the industry. 

While Tractive has a longer warranty period overall, HaloCollar  gives you the option of receiving an advance shipment of your replacement unit, which means you don’t have to go without while you wait for your warranty to be approved. If Halo declines your claim you’ll need to send back the replacement within 30 days (which I think is pretty fair).

GPS Tracking Features

2024 Best GPS Dog Fence
 
Description:

Thanks to its AlwaysOn™ GPS with nonstop, real-time tracking (no low-power modes) and all-carrier coverage, when used as a tracking collar, the Halo Collar 5 can go anywhere that your dog goes, including over mountains and in the forest. As long as the collar can access a GPS signal, you're good to go! In addition, Halo Fence posts can be placed anywhere, and are not limited by geography or other obstacles.


Description:

The Tractive GPS tracker features a fully interactive map that gives you the option to switch from a regular map to a hybrid one, to a satellite imaging view and an augmented reality map. It shows your pet's current location as well as their previous location, thanks to its location history feature.  

2024 Best GPS Dog Fence
Description:

Thanks to its AlwaysOn™ GPS with nonstop, real-time tracking (no low-power modes) and all-carrier coverage, when used as a tracking collar, the Halo Collar 5 can go anywhere that your dog goes, including over mountains and in the forest. As long as the collar can access a GPS signal, you're good to go! In addition, Halo Fence posts can be placed anywhere, and are not limited by geography or other obstacles.


Description:

The Tractive GPS tracker features a fully interactive map that gives you the option to switch from a regular map to a hybrid one, to a satellite imaging view and an augmented reality map. It shows your pet's current location as well as their previous location, thanks to its location history feature.  

Given that this is one of the main reasons you’d even consider buying a Tractive or Halo collar, it’s definitely an important thing to look at!

WINNER: Halo Collar. While I love the augmented reality map feature of the Tractive collar, Halo does just as impressive a job of helping you find your lost dog.

Activity and Fitness Tracker

WINNER
 
Description:

Halo's built-in dog activity tracker shows you what your dog is up to any time of day. Daily activity charts show you how much time each day your dog has spent being active, resting, roaming around in "safe" areas within the boundaries, and so much more.




Description:

Tractive GPS tracker’s activity monitoring feature lets you see how much time your pet spends sleeping and moving or playing around. You can set activity goals so you can make sure your pup or kitty can get the right amount of exercise and rest. This feature also lets you unlock achievements such as earning badges or breaking personal best records and lets you share and compare results and rankings among friends and other users. This feature also allows you to keep an eye on their diet and calories burned.


WINNER
Description:

Halo's built-in dog activity tracker shows you what your dog is up to any time of day. Daily activity charts show you how much time each day your dog has spent being active, resting, roaming around in "safe" areas within the boundaries, and so much more.




Description:

Tractive GPS tracker’s activity monitoring feature lets you see how much time your pet spends sleeping and moving or playing around. You can set activity goals so you can make sure your pup or kitty can get the right amount of exercise and rest. This feature also lets you unlock achievements such as earning badges or breaking personal best records and lets you share and compare results and rankings among friends and other users. This feature also allows you to keep an eye on their diet and calories burned.


WINNER: I have to give this one to Halo Collar since it acts very much like a FitBit for dogs. That said, Tractive‘s fitness and activity tracking capabilities are pretty awesome for such an affordable device.

Pricing and Subscription

 
 
Subscription Plans:
Halo Collar 5 requires a subscription, end of story. There's no getting around it. However, they do have quite a few options starting at $9.99 a month.
Subscription Plans:
For the Tractive GPS tracker, you are required to have a subscription plan but you can choose between basic and premium, starting at $8.99/month and $83.90/year, respectively. Findster Duo + on the other hand does not require monthly fees but offers Findster Care which you have the choice to opt in, and only costs $3.99 a month for a membership fee and gives you unlimited access to vet professionals who are available 24/7.
Subscription Plans:
Halo Collar 5 requires a subscription, end of story. There's no getting around it. However, they do have quite a few options starting at $9.99 a month.
Subscription Plans:
For the Tractive GPS tracker, you are required to have a subscription plan but you can choose between basic and premium, starting at $8.99/month and $83.90/year, respectively. Findster Duo + on the other hand does not require monthly fees but offers Findster Care which you have the choice to opt in, and only costs $3.99 a month for a membership fee and gives you unlimited access to vet professionals who are available 24/7.

If you’re on a tight budget, Tractive is definitely the best option here. That said, while Halo costs more, it has a ton of extra features that make it worthwhile.

The Verdict

The winner depends entirely on your needs and your budget.  The Halo Collar 5 gives you much more bang for your buck than Tractive, but you also pay a much bigger “buck” to get that “bang.” Still, if you want ONE collar that acts as a GPS tracker, invisible fence, activity monitor, and training collar, the Halo Collar is the clear winner.

2026 Best GPS Dog Fence
Halo Collar 5 GPS Wireless Dog Fence

Marketed as the most accurate GPS dog fence available, the Halo Collar 5 lets you create, edit, and store unlimited fences (starting at 30 x 30 feet). It fits dogs with neck sizes from 8–30.5 inches. Beyond containment, it offers near pin-point GPS tracking to help locate lost dogs quickly, along with built-in training tools and activity monitoring—all in one collar.


Top Features: 

  • 48-hour battery life 
  • AlwaysOn™ GPS
  • Real-time tracking
  • All-carrier cellular coverage worldwide. 

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Author

  • Mark is a Boston University graduate and former electrical engineer. In 2017, he decided to combine his tech knowledge with his love for dogs. He spent a year familiarizing himself with the latest GPS tracking collars, invisible fences, and other hot pet gadgets before he wrote his first product review. After selling Technobark, Mark remained a writer and consultant but spends more time on his other passion now: raising and training his growing family of dogs.

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