Comparisons GPS Collars Uncategorized @en-us

PetSafe Guardian GPS + Tracking Vs. SpotOn Dog Collar: Which Should You Choose?

PetSafe Guardian GPS + Tracking Vs. SpotOn Dog Collar: Which Should You Choose?
Written by Nicole Etolen

When it comes to keeping tabs on your furry friend, having a reliable GPS tracking collar is a game-changer. Today, we’re diving into a detailed comparison of two top contenders in the pet tracking world: the PetSafe Guardian GPS + Tracking Collar and the SpotOn Collar.

Both of these collars promise to offer peace of mind by ensuring you always know your dog’s whereabouts, but how do they stack up against each other in terms of features, accuracy, and overall performance? Let’s take a closer look and find out which one might be the best fit for you and your canine companion.

PetSafe Guardian GPS + Tracking VS SpotOn Collar Features

WINNER
 
Min/Max Fence Size:
3/4 acre, no max size
Min/Max Fence Size:
1/3 acre, no max
GPS Coverage:
AccuGuard™ tech with GPS data, real-time motion detection and AI
GPS Coverage:
True Location™ Technology, High-sensitivity GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/Beidou receiver
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:
Unlimited
Portable (Take Anywhere):
Yes
Portable (Take Anywhere):
Yes
Subscription Optional:
No
Subscription Optional:
Yes
Coupon Code:
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Coupon Code:
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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
Coupon Code:
USE COUPON CODE TECHNO60 AT CHECKOUT TO GET $60 OFF
Min/Max Fence Size:
1/3 acre, no max
GPS Coverage:
True Location™ Technology, High-sensitivity GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/Beidou receiver
Flexible Fence Shapes:
Yes
Multiple Fences in One App:
Yes
Number of Unique Fences:
Unlimited
Portable (Take Anywhere):
Yes
Subscription Optional:
Yes
Coupon Code:
USE COUPON CODE DEAL4DOG AT CHECKOUT TO GET $60 OFF

At first glance, it seems like SpotOn comes out slightly ahead of PetSafe Guardian. So, why did we declare the latter the winner? To answer that we need to dive a bit deeper.

Virtual Fence Features

WINNER
 

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.




The SpotOn GPS Fence with patented True Location™ technology is also highly customizable, allowing you to create and save unlimited GPS fences. You can also make overlapping fences.

WINNER

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.




The SpotOn GPS Fence with patented True Location™ technology is also highly customizable, allowing you to create and save unlimited GPS fences. You can also make overlapping fences.

As far as virtual fence features go, both collars use advanced technology to keep your pooch safely contained in your yard. Both have different upsides though.

PetSafe’s Guardian GPS + Tracking incorporates more recent technology, including advanced AI tech that predicts your dog’s movements.

On the other hand, SpotOn lets you create unlimited fences without a subscription, and you can make them overlap.

GPS Tracking

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 SpotOn Virtual Fence Dog Collar also uses a patented GPS technology called True Location™. The technology is designed to work just about anywhere, including in forests, mountains, and other remote or rural locations.

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 SpotOn Virtual Fence Dog Collar also uses a patented GPS technology called True Location™. The technology is designed to work just about anywhere, including in forests, mountains, and other remote or rural locations.

Both collars do exceptionally good jobs at helping you pinpoint the location of your lost dog. However, I do think that PetSafe does a slightly better job of it, thanks to the addition of predictive AI.

SpotOn uses a dual-band, dual-feed active antenna & dual-band receiver, though, to improve their accuracy. They also have the largest GPS antenna out of all of the GPS collars.

Correction Levels & Feedback

 
WINNER

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.



SpotOn also allows you to choose between sound, vibration, and static feedback. However, it offers 30 different levels of static correction.

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.



WINNER

SpotOn also allows you to choose between sound, vibration, and static feedback. However, it offers 30 different levels of static correction.

I have to give this one to SpotOn. Out of all of the invisible fence dog collars that we’ve tested, SpotOn has the most diverse range of feedback and correction levels. In addition to sound and vibrations, it gives you 30 different levels of static feedback. Plus, with the Nova edition, you can even create personalized custom voice commands.

PetSafe’s Guardian collar also allows you to choose between sound, vibration, and static. However, it only has 10 levels of static feedback.

Design & Durability

Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar

I’m going to be brutally honest here, I don’t think ANY of the virtual fence collars on the market today are what anyone would call “pretty.” They’re all kind of on the clunky side, which makes sense considering they have to pack a ton of tech into a relatively small space AND protect it from the elements.

Still, between the PetSafe Guardian and SpotOn, I do think PetSafe comes out ahead here. It’s smaller overall and just a bit more visually appealing.

If you don’t really care about design, though, in terms of durability both options are pretty evenly matched. They’re both waterproof and hold up well against everyday wear and tear.

Battery Life

This one doesn’t really need a huge explanation. PetSafe gives you up to 48 hours on a single charge, whereas SpotOn only lasts up to 40 hours. Of course, both are dependent on how (and how often) you use them (hence the “up to”).

Connectivity

 
 

You need a cell signal is to receive live-tracking updates and push notifications. It is not necessary for your collar’s GPS fence to remain active. Wi-Fi is required for setup but not continued use.

You'll need cell service (plus a subscription) to track your dog and either Wi-Fi or cellular to set up the initial boundaries. However, it the fences continue to work without Wi-FI. SpotOn works with any cell service, as of 2024.

You need a cell signal is to receive live-tracking updates and push notifications. It is not necessary for your collar’s GPS fence to remain active. Wi-Fi is required for setup but not continued use.

You'll need cell service (plus a subscription) to track your dog and either Wi-Fi or cellular to set up the initial boundaries. However, it the fences continue to work without Wi-FI. SpotOn works with any cell service, as of 2024.

Both Guardian and SpotOn are pretty evenly matched in terms of connectivity requirements. They both need a cell connection (with an active subscription) to track Fido when he’s on the move. However, neither requires a specific cell provider.

Both also require Wi-Fi for initial setup of fences but continue to work even when your internet goes down (or when you go off the grid).

Winner: Guardian GPS + Tracking Collar

As we’ve seen, while both collars have their “winning moments,” they’re actually pretty evenly matched in quite a few categories. So why did I declare the Guardian GPS + Tracking Collar the big winner?

Well, first, the categories where PetSafe won are more important to me overall. You have to decide for yourself if that’s the case for your dog’s needs.

Really though, it mostly comes down to cost. PetSafe’s collar comes in at half the price (almost down to the penny) of SpotOn. Yes, it requires a subscription to even activate it whereas you can use SpotOn without one for virtual fencing.

However, you’re saving a whopping $500 right off the bat with PetSafe. They also have deep discounts available for the first year of your subscription, plus other discounts for subsequent years if you pay upfront. So, would take roughly 5 years to “catch up” to what you’d pay for SpotOn. You’re paying less without sacrificing functionality, and that’s always a win in my book!

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

  • 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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