GPS dog collar monthly cost: Fi vs Tractive over two years

In this guide

The box price is only the first bill. Over two years Fi's membership runs $339, and Tractive's runs $168 on Basic or $216 on Premium, before you buy the tracker. The AirTag holder is the one pick with no plan at all.

What each tracker's plan costs

Prices as of October 16, 2026. Fi and Tractive change them often.

Fi Series 3: Fi's billing page lists memberships of 6 months ($99), 1 year ($189) and 2 years ($339), the same on every current Fi tracker. First terms carry a 6-month minimum. Members who joined earlier keep their old rate.
Tractive DOG 6: Tractive's page lists two plans. Basic costs $11 a month on 1 year ($132) or $7 on 2 years ($168). Premium costs $13 on 1 year ($156), $9 on 2 years ($216) or $7 on 5 years ($420), all billed up front. Prices vary by location.
WhoseID AirTag holder: no plan at all. You buy an AirTag once, plus the holder. It is a Bluetooth backup, not live GPS.
Handheld radio systems (Garmin Alpha type): no cellular plan, because the collar talks to a handheld by radio. Garmin's 300i adds satellite messaging that needs a subscription.

Budget for the plan first and the collar second.

Two-year cost, side by side

Two years shows the full cost. Fi's 2-year plan runs $123 more than Tractive Premium and $171 more than Basic. Fi's membership runs a collar with the tracker built in. Tractive's plan runs a clip-on for the collar your dog already wears.

Fi: the 2-year membership is $339, about $14 a month, on top of the collar.
Tractive: the 2-year plan is $168 on Basic and $216 on Premium, about $7 and $9 a month, on top of the tracker. Premium adds worldwide coverage, family sharing and 365-day history.
AirTag holder: $0 in plans.

The tracker itself is a one-time buy, and box prices move, so check the pick pages for today's number.

How to pay less for a GPS dog collar plan

Take the longer term if you are sure

Check the term. Both makers charge less per month on longer terms. Fi's 2-year plan works out to about $14 a month against about $16 on the 1-year. Tractive's Premium drops from $13 a month on 1 year to $7 on 5 years. A longer plan only saves money if you keep the tracker, so skip it for a puppy you may re-size.

Add the plan to the tracker price

Compare total cost, not box price. A lower box price on a higher plan can cost more by year two. Wondering whether you need a plan at all? Read our answer on whether GPS trackers need a subscription.

Skip the plan where it buys nothing

A plan buys nothing where there is no signal. If you hike far off the grid, check coverage on your route before you pay for a cellular plan.

Fi or Tractive: which plan fits

Fi Series 3 Smart GPS Collar

The catch: Runs on a Fi membership, monthly or annual.
Skip it if: You walk where phones lose signal. Any cellular tracker needs a network to send a live location.

Check price at Amazon

Fi is the higher bill, and one membership covers every user and every dog in the house. Get the Fi Series 3 Smart GPS Collar. The catch: it replaces the collar your dog wears now.

Tractive DOG 6 Smart GPS Tracker

The catch: Traveling? Check Tractive's coverage list before the trip.
Skip it if: You won't pay for a subscription. Tractive needs one. The AirTag holder doesn't, but the AirTag has no live GPS.

Check price at Amazon

Tractive DOG 6 Smart GPS Tracker: a clip-on GPS tracker with live tracking during a search.

Tractive is the lower bill and clips onto the collar he wears. Get the Tractive DOG 6. The catch: Basic keeps 24 hours of history, Premium keeps 365 days.

Zero plan: the WhoseID AirTag holder. The catch: it finds your dog only when an Apple device passes.

Ready to compare the collars themselves? Start with the best GPS dog collars and trackers, or see GPS collars for small dogs.