Comparison GPS Collars

PetSafe Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar Vs Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence

Written by Nicole Etolen

Choosing the right pet fence system for your dog can be a challenge, especially with so many options available on the market today. Among the top contenders are the PetSafe Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar and the Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence. Both of these systems offer innovative GPS technology to keep your furry friend safe and contained, but they cater to different needs and preferences.

Below, we’ll compare them side-by-side, breaking down their general features, subscription requirements, battery life, GPS tracking capabilities, invisible fence functionalities, and more. By the end, you’ll know which system is right for you and your pooch.

Just a quick note, this post includes affiliate links. If you buy anything through these links, TechnoBark earns a commission at no extra cost to you.

EXCITING LIMITED TIME OFFER: The PetSafe Guardian GPS + Tracking Collar is now $100 off. Plus, you’ll score a free 1-month subscription with purchase!

Guardian GPS + Tracking Vs Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence Features

Let’s start with a quick overview of the features side-by-side. We’ll dig a little deeper into the most important ones in a moment, but this will give you a good starting point.

WINNER
 
Min/Max Fence Size:
3/4 acre, no max size
Min/Max Fence Size:
3/4 acre, no max size
GPS Coverage:
AccuGuard™ tech with GPS data, real-time motion detection and AI
GPS Coverage:
AccuGuard™ tech with GPS data, real-time motion detection and AI
Flexible Fence Shapes:
Yes
Flexible Fence Shapes:
Yes
Multiple Fences in One App:
Yes
Multiple Fences in One App:
Yes
Number of Unique Fences:
20
Number of Unique Fences:
1
Portable (Take Anywhere):
Yes
Portable (Take Anywhere):
Not Really
Subscription Optional:
No
Subscription Optional:
Yes
WINNER
Min/Max Fence Size:
3/4 acre, no max size
GPS Coverage:
AccuGuard™ tech with GPS data, real-time motion detection and AI
Flexible Fence Shapes:
Yes
Multiple Fences in One App:
Yes
Number of Unique Fences:
20
Portable (Take Anywhere):
Yes
Subscription Optional:
No
Min/Max Fence Size:
3/4 acre, no max size
GPS Coverage:
AccuGuard™ tech with GPS data, real-time motion detection and AI
Flexible Fence Shapes:
Yes
Multiple Fences in One App:
Yes
Number of Unique Fences:
1
Portable (Take Anywhere):
Not Really
Subscription Optional:
Yes

Right off the bat, you can see that the biggest differences between the two are the number of unique fences you can create and the subscription requirement. Beyond that, they’re pretty evenly matched.

Virtual Fence Features

WINNER
 
Description:

The Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar by PetSafe uses AccuGuard™ tech to blend GPS data, real-time motion detection and AI to ensure advanced protection. Create and store up to 20 custom wireless dog fences for any property larger than 3/4 acre.




Description:

The Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence also uses AccuGuard technology with real-time motion detection. However, unlike the GPS + Tracking collar, this one only allows you to store one fence at a time. Plus, it uses a home base to communicate with the collar.

WINNER
Description:

The Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar by PetSafe uses AccuGuard™ tech to blend GPS data, real-time motion detection and AI to ensure advanced protection. Create and store up to 20 custom wireless dog fences for any property larger than 3/4 acre.




Description:

The Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence also uses AccuGuard technology with real-time motion detection. However, unlike the GPS + Tracking collar, this one only allows you to store one fence at a time. Plus, it uses a home base to communicate with the collar.

This, along with GPS tracking features (which we’ll cover next), is where the collars significantly differ. While both collars allow you to create and manage fences right in the PetSafe App, the Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence only lets you create one at a time.

This is primarily because it relies on communication with a base unit. However, if the power or Wi-Fi goes out, the collar still works. I was actually surprised to learn that.

That reliance on the home base also means that the virtual fence system isn’t really all that portable. At least not in the sense that the GPS + Tracking collar is. I mean, I guess you could take the home base with you on vacation, but you would need to set it all up again, then yet again when you come home.

GPS Tracking Features

WINNER
 
Description:

The Guardian provides live tracking and precise GPS location let you see your dog’s real-time movement on the map. The AI technology adds an extra layer of precision by predicting where your dog is likely to move next, making it much easier to locate them quickly.



Description:

As it is meant to work solely as a virtual fence, the Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence doesn't have live tracking features.

WINNER
Description:

The Guardian provides live tracking and precise GPS location let you see your dog’s real-time movement on the map. The AI technology adds an extra layer of precision by predicting where your dog is likely to move next, making it much easier to locate them quickly.



Description:

As it is meant to work solely as a virtual fence, the Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence doesn't have live tracking features.

It’s easy to see why the GPS + Tracking is the winner in this category, but in case you can’t see the table (hey, it happens, technology is weird sometimes), let me spell it out for you: the GPS Connected Customizable Fence doesn’t actively track your dog’s location outside of the set boundary.

Correction Levels & Feedback

 
 
Description:

The Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar allows you to choose between sound, vibration, and 10 levels of static correction when your dog attempts to leave the set boundaries.



Description:

The Guardian GPS Connected collar also allows you to choose between sound, vibration, and 10 levels of static correction.


Description:

The Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar allows you to choose between sound, vibration, and 10 levels of static correction when your dog attempts to leave the set boundaries.



Description:

The Guardian GPS Connected collar also allows you to choose between sound, vibration, and 10 levels of static correction.


This category is a dead tie, since both collars have the exact same types and levels of feedback.

Design & Durability

Both collars are equally durable in my opinion, but design-wise I definitely feel like the newer Guardian GPS + Tracking collar is nicer to look at. To me, it looks a bit more like a regular collar than the GPS Connected Customizable Fence model.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I don’t think that any invisible fence dog collars are particularly lovely. They all have a “clunky” element to them, mainly because they have to house all sorts of sensitive tech. But overall, I do think that the GPS + Tracking model is one of the least-clunky options out there right now.

Battery Life

The newer GPS + Tracking collar lasts up to twice as long as the older fence-only collar. I found that really interesting because these types of collars typically last longer when you’re only using them as a fence, versus using tracking features, too. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that the GPS + Tracking model is using much newer technology.

Subscription Requirements

 
WINNER
Description:

The Guardian® GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar requires a subscription for every feature. In fact, you'll need to subscribe to even activate the collar

Description:

The Guardian® GPS Connected Customizable Fence, on the other hand, is completely subscription-free. However, the trade-off is that it's not as portable and that it can't actually track your dog.


Description:

The Guardian® GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar requires a subscription for every feature. In fact, you'll need to subscribe to even activate the collar

WINNER
Description:

The Guardian® GPS Connected Customizable Fence, on the other hand, is completely subscription-free. However, the trade-off is that it's not as portable and that it can't actually track your dog.


Since it doesn’t require a subscription at all, the Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence wins this category. However, keep in mind that there are trade-offs. You can’t use it as a tracking collar and it’s not nearly as portable.

Still, if you really just need ONE good virtual fence for your property and you don’t need to track your dog, it could be a worthwhile tradeoff.

Winner: Guardian GPS + Tracking Collar

While the Guardian GPS + Tracking collar costs more upfront and requires an ongoing subscription to use it, the added features, design, and longer battery life more than make up for it. Plus, it’s the only one of the two that actually allows you to track and find your lost dog.

Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar | PetSafe

The Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar by PetSafe offers advanced real-time tracking and customizable virtual boundaries to keep your dog safe and secure. With features like AccuGuard™ technology and a user-friendly app, this collar is designed for ease of use and reliability for dogs over 30 pounds.


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Author

  • Nicole Etolen

    Hi there! I'm Nicole! I've been a dog owner for most of my adult life and a dog lover for much longer than that. I grew up with a wonderful German Shepherd named Jake, who I loved SO much that I named my son after him. When I'm not writing for DogVills or my own site, Pretty Opinionated , I love spending time with my teenager (when he actually lets me), my Pharaoh Hound Freya, and my two cats (Zoe & Alex the Fuzz). I'm also an avid reader AND a total TV fanatic. If you'd like to learn more about me, feel free to check out my Linked In profile.

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