The SpotOn Collar is one of the most popular GPS dog fences and smart collars. But is it really worth the price tag? That’s what we’ll explore today!
Create GPS dog fences of any size, any shape and almost anywhere. SpotOn GPS Fence is reliable, flexible, and easy to use thanks to their patented True Location™ technology. Experience life unleashed with the SpotOn virtual fence for dogs.
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Back to the original question: is SpotOn worth the cost? Short answer, absolutely! It’s among best solutions to letting your dog roam off leash in your backyard while still having peace of mind.
hat Is the SpotOn Virtual Fence?
Many of you probably already have physical fencing around your yard to help keep you and your dogs safe. However, there are many cases where it’s just not possible. Maybe your HOA doesn’t allow fences, or perhaps you just can’t afford to fence in a huge yard (which can cost anywhere from $1500 to an insane $38k+!).
This is where the SpotOn GPS Fence comes in handy. The system is completely virtual, so you can cover your entire yard without any “blind spots.”
Plus, in the unlikely event that Fido does get past it, the collar tracks his location so you can quickly and easily find him again. Oh, and you don’t need to worry about installing special programs, base units, wires, or anything else. You’ll just need your smartphone to access everything that the system has to offer. Even if you found a physical fencing solution that cost less than $999, it definitely wouldn’t be able to do all of that!
Basically, it’s one of the best dog GPS fences on the market and definitely lives up to its tagline: the world’s most innovative dog fence.
Who Is The SpotOn Collar For?
The SpotOn fence is perfect for anyone who owns a pup that spends time outdoors! In other words, pretty much every dog on the planet. That said, there are a few things to consider to decide if it’s right for you. We’ll talk about these in a bit more detail later, but here’s a quick rundown:
- Start by considering the size of your yard. SpotOn is ideal for properties that are at least half an acre or larger. If you’re unsure, you can reach out to their Customer Support team for a no-pressure property evaluation to help you decide.
- Second, consider the size of your dog. SpotOn Collars are designed for dogs with necks ranging from 10-26″ and they offer strap extenders for extra-large dogs.
- Last, but definitely not least, keep in mind that you’ll need to train your dog to use the SpotOn invisible fence system. So, make sure you’re prepared to set aside some time to do that.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of The SpotOn Collar?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unlimited number of fences with or without a subscription; optional tracking subscription available starting at $7.49/month. | Higher initial purchase price than competitors |
| The most customizable fences on the market that can be edited – walk the boundary or draw and edit it on your phone. | Not made for very small dogs. |
| Complimentary virtual training session with a Certified Dog Trainer + easy to follow training steps. | Not designed for tiny yards |
| 33 hours of battery life | You have to charge it almost daily |
| 90-day return window, One-year warranty which includes a one-time accident forgiveness policy. | |
| Made in the USA with U.S.-based customer service | |
| 99.3% containment rate |
Features of SpotOn Virtual Smart Fence
Let’s take a closer look at some of the stand-out features, shall we?
Virtual Fence System
Let’s start with the most important feature, given that it’s the reason most people buy a SpotOn collar in the first place.
The first thing I looked at when testing the collar is how easy it is to use it as it’s actually intended…as an invisible fence. I consider myself very tech-savvy, but that doesn’t mean I want to spend hours upon hours reading a manual and trying to figure out how to set something up. Who has time for that?
Fortunately, the virtual fence feature of the SpotOn Nova Edition is very easy to set up and customize. It not only lets you create unlimited fences using up to 1,500 automatic GPS fence posts but also allows you to set up virtual fences of any shape and size ranging from 1/3 acre to thousands of acres (there’s actually no upper limit). Let’s look at the process in a bit more detail.
How to set up the SpotOn GPS fence
To create the GPS fence, you have two options. You can either walk along the surrounding area where you want your fence to be or just draw it in the app. Check out the video below to see how that works.
One thing to keep in mind, you’ll be able to set up more accurate fences if you walk your property to set them up. But I really love the fact that it’s not a requirement. To me, that makes the SpotOn Collar far more accessibility-friendly than many of its competitors.
The whole process is easy to do, and you can see your fence come together in real-time right in the app. That way, you can tweak it as you go.
You can also pause your fence creation to get around water or thick brush and SpotOn will automatically snap a straight line through the obstacle once you resume. After taking a lap around the perimeter, the virtual fence will automatically be programmed into the SpotOn Collar.
With SpotOn, you can create unlimited fences in the app, each saved with a unique name that you can toggle on and off. Set up multiple zones at home or at friends’ and family’s houses. It’s also perfect for travel—set up a fence at an Airbnb or while camping, with Off-Grid Mode making it easy to use anywhere.
Keep Out Zones:
Keep Out Zones let you create off-limits areas within your fences. It’s now easier than ever to let your dog run free without running into trouble.
Set up fences inside your fence around the garden, keep your dog out of the pool, or prevent playtime in the poison ivy patch with the touch of a button.
Home Zones:
SpotOn’s Home Zones let you designate areas around your home where corrections are disabled. This allows your dog to come indoors without taking the collar off, so your dog will feel free, whether on the couch or out on an adventure.
Now that we have a good idea of how easy it is to set up and customize your virtual fence, let’s go over how it all works when it’s in use.
Using the virtual fence
Training your dog starts right in the app, guiding you through step-by-step video instructions on how to introduce them to the system. The process uses gradually increasing tone alerts as your dog approaches the fence line—5 feet of alert tones followed by 5 feet of warning tones. This 10-foot buffer makes the system dog-friendly and humane, giving your pet plenty of time to adjust.
Once they reach the fence line, the collar emits a vibration or up to 30 levels of static correction to keep them within the boundary. The tone alerts act as a precautionary measure, ensuring your dog stays safely inside the fence without the need for correction, though it’s there as an added layer of protection.
If you don’t want to use “static correction,” don’t worry; you can disable it and just use the vibration. However, you’ll need to spend a bit more time training so your dog understands what those beeps mean. That brings us to…
Training Process
ALL GPS dog fences have a bit of a learning curve for your dog, and SpotOn is no exception. You can’t just pop a collar on Fido and expect him to just intuitively know what to do. You DEFINITELY can’t just turn on the static correction level too high and hope he figures it out (please, please, please DO NOT do this).
So, yes, you’ll definitely need to spend some time training your pup before you can unleash him on an invisible fence. The good news is that SpotOn makes the training process as smooth and easy as possible with their included simple and professional training videos. If you need extra support with training your dog, every customer is entitled to a compl1:1 training session with a certified dog trainer that is experienced in SpotOn’s GPS Fence technology.
Because this is a virtual fence, training matters. Your dog needs to understand what the tones and vibrations mean before you rely on the system regularly. The goal is consistency and fairness, not confusing your dog with boundaries that feel unpredictable.
That’s also why GPS accuracy matters so much. With an invisible fence, everything depends on the collar knowing your dog’s location precisely and consistently. If the GPS is off, even by a little, the experience becomes frustrating for both of you pretty quickly.
The SpotOn GPS Dog Fence stands out here because it uses one of the largest GPS antennas in the category, which is a big part of why accuracy is such a major selling point for the system.
Why SpotOn’s 3rd Party Testing Matters
SpotOn GPS Fence is the only system in the market backed by independent third-party testing, proving its exceptional performance. In head-to-head lab tests conducted by Spirent (the global leader in GPS performance testing), SpotOn outperformed its competitors, demonstrating 7x better accuracy and 6x more consistent boundary alerts than the leading GPS smart fence.
Why is this important? The results from both controlled lab environments and real-world applications confirm that SpotOn consistently meets its high-performance standards, while competitors often fail to deliver. SpotOn’s boundary alerts and corrections worked 100% of the time, compared to just 16% for the competitor. Additionally, SpotOn’s fence line drifted slightly beyond specifications (11.4 feet vs. 32 feet for the competition), proving its superior accuracy even in challenging conditions.
For pet owners researching GPS fence options, the value of third-party testing can’t be overstated. SpotOn’s data-backed results set it apart, offering a higher level of reliability and precision that others don’t have.
GPS Tracking & All Terrain Types
One thing I do like about the SpotOn GPS Dog Fence is that it’s not just designed for staying home in the backyard. If you hike, camp, travel, or spend a lot of time outdoors with your dog, the portability is a huge part of the appeal. You can create fences pretty much anywhere instead of being tied to one location.
It also doubles as a GPS tracking collar, so you can see your dog’s location in real time if they wander off trail or decide to investigate something questionable in the woods. (Which, for some dogs, is basically the entire hike.)
As for cellular service, this part confused me at first too because the wording can make it sound more complicated than it actually is. Certain tracking and communication features do rely on cell coverage, but you don’t have to pick a specific carrier beforehand. SpotOn uses an OmniSIM system that automatically connects to available networks, which makes things a lot simpler when you’re traveling or hiking in different areas.
| GPS Functionality (no cell subscription) | Cellular Features (GPS Functionality + these additions) |
| Create Unlimited Fences (each 1,500 fence posts & can overlap) | Tracking + Escape Alerts |
| Keep Out Zones & Home Zones | Whistle & Feedback |
| Off-Grid Mode | Collar Light |
| 1:1 Training + Customer Support | |
| 33+ hour battery life |
SpotOn offers exceptional value with no hidden fees for its virtual fencing features. Unlike other brands, SpotOn includes unlimited fences, Keep Out Zones, Home Zones, and Off-grid Mode at no extra cost.
While some GPS dog fences require a subscription, SpotOn gives you a choice. If you opt for a subscription, it starts at just $7.49 per month and unlocks advanced features like tracking and escape reports.
True Portability
The True Portability feature simply means that you can use this device whenever and wherever you may be: whether you are at home or if you are out and about, traveling, or on the move… even in the water!
So, say you’re going on vacation and taking your dogs along. Maybe you’re renting a beach house or a lake cabin, and you want to give Fido the opportunity to explore a bit. Just use the app to draw a new fence and voila! You’re good to go!
Tracking
One of the things that make this the best dog gear for you is the fact that the SpotOn Collar gives you the option to activate its Tracking feature, which lets you track your dog within 3 feet.
If you want to know the exact location of your pup at every moment of the day, just let him wear the collar even when the GPS fence feature isn’t attached. When Fido leaves your line of sight, check the app. You’ll find him asap!
Okay, maybe you’re thinking, “I can’t see this being necessary. Who needs to know where their dog is in their own yard every moment of every day?” I have a friend with a ton of land that’s entirely fenced in. Technically, she doesn’t need a GPS fence, right? But she still uses SpotOn because there are so many times when her dog chases after a squirrel and ends up all the way on the other side of the property. Trust me, it comes in very handy!
Battery Life
The SpotOn Dog Collar is great if your dog spends a lot of time outdoors and you need a good, long battery life. It lasts up to 33 hours.
So, you can relax a bit and just let your dog play and wander around without worrying about the battery dying on you. Just remember to charge up the battery when you arrive home so it’s ready for your next adventure. A longer battery life means fewer unwanted collar function failures and fewer chances of losing your dog.
Is It Worth It to Pay For The SpotOn Collar?
Yes, in my opinion, the SpotOn dog collar is worth the price tag, especially if you don’t want the commitment of a monthly tracking payment or if you’re looking for incredible pinpoint accuracy. It’s a premium invisible dog fence product for sure. I’m not going to pretend that $999 isn’t a lot of money, especially when times are so tight for so many people. But to me, the peace of mind that it provides is worth it.
Plus, as I said earlier, it’s still a heck of a lot cheaper (and definitely more attractive) than fencing in a big yard with an actual physical fence.
It really helps ease whatever worries you may have and aid you in tracking your dog’s movements, whether you are just at home or out and about. If you can’t afford the $999, though, they also provide good financing options.
American Quality and Integrity
SpotOn stands out for its commitment to American-made quality. Manufactured in New Hampshire, the company uses premium components, including the largest GPS antenna in the industry (5x larger than their nearest competitors). Their dedication to integrity is reflected in their customer-focused services:
- Free property evaluations to ensure the system is the right fit before purchase.
- Unlimited access to SpotOn’s U.S.-based support team.
- Exclusive access to certified dog trainers for personalized training consultations to ensure your pet’s success.
Additionally, SpotOn offers a 5 Star Guarantee, including a 90-day return window, a one-year warranty covering manufacturer defects, and a one-time, no-questions-asked refurbished repair. If a collar is lost, SpotOn will help track it remotely or provide a refurbished replacement.
Our Verdict
While the SpotOn GPS Fence does come with a higher price tag, it’s important to consider the value it offers. If you’re looking for one of the most accurate GPS fences on the market, backed by third-party testing that proves its superior performance, SpotOn stands out. Additionally, SpotOn doesn’t lock you into a subscription, giving you the flexibility to choose what works best for you. Plus, with top-notch U.S.-based customer support and a commitment to quality manufacturing, you’re investing in a product that’s not only effective but also made with integrity. The combination of unmatched accuracy, customer service, and American craftsmanship makes SpotOn worth the investment for pet owners who want the best for their dogs—no compromises.
Again, they also provide great financing options so you don’t have to pay the whole amount upfront.
The flexibility features are another thing that really sold me on this dog gear. Even before the new Home Zones and Keep Out Zones, I thought the customizable smart virtual fence was awesome. Those new features are just icing on the cake, so to speak.
All of these features combined definitely convinced me to highly recommend this SpotOn Virtual Fence Dog Collar to you and all of my other fellow dog lovers.
Create GPS dog fences of any size, any shape and almost anywhere. SpotOn GPS Fence is reliable, flexible, and easy to use thanks to their patented True Location™ technology. Experience life unleashed with the SpotOn virtual fence for dogs.
GUARANTEED BEST PRICE
Save $60 OFF WITH COUPON CODE DEAL4DOG
Mr. Braeden,
I recenlty purchased three of the collars. After chating with one of their representatives, I was informed that the collars only use 2g or 3g from AT&T or T-Mobile. I have 4g and 5g all around me. The collars can not update or be tracked. Fence perimeter works fine.
Hi Barry, Our Generation 1.0 product used 2G/3G. However, our Generation 2.0 product now uses 4G and you have the choice of carrier: ATT or Verizon. If you contact our Customer Service Team at [email protected] or 603-488-1504 they can help you upgrade to the latest technology.
I was wondering if one was to slow the rate of transmission to every 2 minutes rather then 2 seconds if the battery life will last longer, while the fence is activated.
Hi Ryan,
Yes that would result in consuming less battery life, but it would also mean that when you are tracking your dog you would not have the most accurate information. While the fence is active, our Generation 2.0 product lasts 22 hours. It’s only while tracking your dog, that the battery life is reduced to 12 hours. People usually are only tracking their dog for a few minutes to an hour as it doesn’t take long to find your dog.
Why do your pros and cons say under “pros” uses multiple satellites to gps track your dog but under cons says requires cellular service in your area or you could experience spots where the system can’t find your dog? That contradiction tells me that they rely on cellular tracking which is not even close to gps tracking cause cellular uses cell towers to triangulate a position where gps on the other hand uses satellites in space which doesn’t have the issue with coverage areas.
Hi Sean,
Our system does not use cellular for positioning data. Cellular is only used so your collar can communicate with your smartphone at long distances. So GPS is pinpointing the location of your dog. However, if you are tracking your dog, the collar cannot send that data to your phone without cellular functionality. The fences will stay active and contain your dog by using GPS even if you don’t have a cellular connection. You just can’t mange the collar at a long distance from your phone without a cellular connection for both the collar and your phone.
In a recent review of the Halo 2 collar, you say you prefer that collar because it’s cheaper and provides all the same features as SpotOn. In this review about SpotOn, you claim that it’s much better than the Halo 2?
Which review do I believe?
SpotOn has recently upgraded so I’d pick SpotOn over Halo 2, however it’s all about price. Both are decent options.
OK–thanks. There’s a Halo 2 promotion right now for $300 off making it less than half the cost of SpotOn.
I’d avoid purchasing the Spot On collar at this time. I have the second generation collar, and have had nothing but problems. The collar itself has been replaced, and now one of the pins holding the strap has fallen out. Rather than just sending me a replacement pin, they insist on having the unit sent back. I’ve had to purchase a PetSafe collar as backup for when the SpotOn fails.
Waste of money.
SpotOn fence is way two expensive and what to charge customers more for upgrades. I spent $2500 on two collars. One year later, they upgraded the collars. Cellular service was discontinued by the company for first generation collars. This means no tracking and no alerts. In order to keep the service, SpotOn wants an additional $500/collar to upgrade to the second generation collar.
Find something cheaper with a company that will be off better service to their customers. SpotOn is NOT so spot on after all.
Yeah, I had the same frustration with different devices. Unfortunately, the majority of devices ask extra for the upgrade whether it’s physical or digital product.
Hi Bowen,
I am sorry you had a negative experience with SpotOn Fence. Just to clarify, the company did not shut down 2G/3G. The cellular carriers did it. SpotOn was the first product on the market and when it launched in 2019, 2G/3G were the only available cellular technologies for IOT devices. GPS, the fences, and containment all work without cellular. You only need cellular for the collar to communicate with your phone at long distances.
We did complete a redesign of the product in 2022 which allowed us to incorporate 4G (5G is not available for IOT right now) and offer the choice of carriers: ATT or Verizon. We also redesigned the App which is now rated 4.9 and redesigned the physical outside of the collar to be more flexible and durable. We offered an upgrade program to our existing Generation 1.0 users of $500. I can understand if you are not interested in taking that offer for the updated technology. However, just like with your cell phone if you want the latest technology you have to upgrade every couple of years and Apple doesn’t give you a discount to do that.
Please contact our Customer Service if there is anything we can do to help you keep using the Generation 1.0 product or upgrade to the next generation.
I have terrible cell service where I live. Will it work off Wi-Fi instead?
Hi Kerri,
The system uses GPS to create fences and contain your dog. The only thing you need cellular for is for the collar to communicate with your phone at long distances. So if you are on 10 acres and you dog is a mile away, your phone won’t be able to communicate with the collar if there is no cellular in the area. The map will still be active and the system will still issue warning tones and static correction if the dog tries to escape. Once the collar and your phone are near each other, you can manage the collar by using Bluetooth. There are thousands of customers using this in areas with no cell service.
I’m wanting to use spot on for a different reason then most. I want to use it for guard dogs for livestock. Any way to set boundaries and not return to dog and livestock for 2or 3 days without battery going dead before returning?
We have four dogs. If we purchase four spot on collars do we have to design the fence for each one or is there a way to copy this information and share it in the app. Also does this mean four different subscriptions for tracking?
Hi Mark, I enjoyed reading your reviews. Thank you for being so thorough. Upon reading, I would prefer the SpotOn. However, it seemed like you really liked the Halo2/Cesar Millan 21 Day Training Guide. Does the SpotOn also come with a decent, training guide? If not can you recommend one?
Thanks
John
Hi John! I know I’m not Mark, but I can answer this for you. SpotOn has a series of training videos that are pretty good and easy to follow. You can actually watch them before you buy the collar if you want a good overall idea of how the whole training process works. Here’s their YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@spotonfence I hope that helps!
I clicked Mark’s referral link in order to buy this, but something I didn’t notice in his review is that not all of the options he discusses are included in the $1295 price ($1195 with BARK rebate). If you want all of the options you have to purchase an upgraded plan for $1395 which only comes with a one year plan. This obviously means it’s not just an upfront fee.How much will the annual fees be? Will I need upgraded collars as the technology advances? I see there was a problem when the providers dropped service for the original collars, is there any guarantee now that the ones I’d purchase currently are going to continue to be operational? Maybe I’m better off with Invisible Fence or a physical fence after all?
How do I know if my collar is a gen one or two? The model is SOF- 200-MV
I would love to hear from someone who uses SpotOn as to whether this collar can be effective as a training collar once our dog is trained on the GPS system? I want to take our dog on leash free hikes and walks and want to use the collar to make minor corrections to behaviors. i.e. come, leave it, etc…Does anyone know if this is possible? Ideally, I do not want to get a GPS collar and an e-collar!
Hi!
Why do you have in the CONS section that it isn’t good for large dogs? Will it not work on a great dane?
It not so much about breed size as neck size. The largest collar fits necks from 19-26″. A Great Dane, I believe, ranges from 20-26″, so it would JUST fit if your pup’s neck is on the larger end of that range. But if your Dane hits somewhere in the middle, the large should be fine. 🙂
Are the systems unique or the same? If my daughter is also using spoton and my dog is trained to her boundaries as well, will the collar on my dog still give the alerts at her place?
The systems are unique in the sense that the collar is paired with your app. So, your dog’s collar would only respond to the fences that you created in your app. But you can create up to 20 unique fences, so you could create one specifically for your daughter’s house. That way, you would get the alerts at her place. I THINK (and I have to double-check on this) that you can pair more than one collar to the app. Actually I know you can, BUT I’m not sure if you can pair one collar to more than one app, if that makes sense. So let me try to get you an exact answer.
I live in Canada and want this for when I take my dog into the bush and don’t have cellular data accessibility (only GPS). Will you ever make a device that communicates without data?