What's the difference between a Bluetooth & GPS tracker? Does the perfect combination - a Bluetooth GPS tracker - exist? And what's the best option for tracking your furry friends? Here's why you're better off with a pet tracker that combines the best of both worlds.
Bluetooth trackers, GPS trackers…Bluetooth GPS trackers? Whether it’s for your keys, car, dog, or cat, you’ll need to know which tracking device best suits your needs. Because when it comes to our furry friends, your choice of tracker can either help you find them safe and sound…or never see them again.
But when it comes to picking the right one, which one do you even go for? (Especially while scrolling through Amazon and finding yourself…well, kinda spoiled for choice!)
So you might be wondering:
How do Bluetooth trackers work?
How do they compare to GPS trackers?
And do Bluetooth GPS trackers actually exist?
In a nutshell: yes, there do exist pet trackers that combine both Bluetooth and GPS – like Tractive.
What’s more, there’s a reason why the Tractive GPS is considered the world’s most reliable dog and cat tracker, by happy pet parents around the world – just like you.
So in this post, we’re going to cover the main differences between GPS and Bluetooth trackers – and what sets Tractive apart. Let’s get started.
Bluetooth trackers are small devices that use your phone’s Bluetooth connectivity to locate items – primarily at very short distances. In fact, most of these trackers – like Apple’s Airtag, Life360’s Tile tag, or even the upcoming Google AirTag alternative – are designed to help you locate items. Like your:
Keys
Wallet
Backpacks
Bikes
…and other important personal items that don’t tend to move around a ton by themselves.
Bluetooth Key Finder (Credit: Amazon)
⚠️ Note: personal items. Not dogs. Not cats. Bluetooth trackers are generally a poor choice for tracking living, moving animals because of their range limitations and lack of pet-friendly features.
Why Bluetooth trackers aren’t the best for living, moving animals
PureBluetooth trackers only work when the lost object is close to your phone, usually up to 30 – 40 meters.
In other words, if your dog runs off or your cat hides away and leaves Bluetooth range, it’s not very likely you’ll be able to find them with a Bluetooth tracker.
Most Bluetooth trackers also do not use GPS at all, although some may falsely claim they do. (So make sure to double-check the next time you’re on Amazon and one of these sounds a bit too good to be true!)
Bluetooth Tracker: Pros
Long battery life (months to years)
Can usually be attached to any surface or collar
Very exact localization, but only within limited range
Lower costs (starting at $25 for a Bluetooth tracker compared to $49 for a GPS tracker)
Generally small and lightweight, although size varies
Bluetooth Tracker: Cons
Very limited range (10 – 60 meters)
Made for tracking items, not pets
Requires Bluetooth on your phone
Limited features for pet parents
If your pet is out of Bluetooth range, the tracker will try to use someone else’s phone nearby to get a location. So you’re limited to a network of available devices nearby.
“Much like the AirTag, your Tractive GPS tracker can use a short range radio to help determine your pet’s location.
But unlike the AirTag, Tractive also uses mobile connectivity and GPS. So even if your tracker is nowhere near another mobile device, it’ll still be able to send data to the Tractive servers.
So you can quickly and easily see your pet’s location in the app.“
– Ivelin Nenkov, Embedded Systems Engineer at Tractive since 2016
GPS trackers are, like the name implies, tracking devices that use GPS technology. That’s short for Global Positioning System, which can tell you where an object is on Earth1. GPS was developed by the US military and made available for civilian use in 1996.
The Library of Congress explains:
GPS is the only system that can show you your exact position on Earth at anytime, in any weather, no matter where you are.
Why does any good GPS tracker worth its salt need a SIM card?
Because in a nutshell, a GPS tracker with a built-in SIM card is the reason it can connect to mobile networks around the world. (175 countries, to be price – if you’re on a Tractive device.)
💡Meaning you can track your dog or cat in real-time – from the comfort of your beach chair, even while on vacation, and even if your pets are thousands of miles away!
⚠️GPS trackers without SIM cards do exist. In fact, most Bluetooth trackers don’t tend to come with built-in SIM cards. But they can’t help you track your dog or cat in real-time. Nor are they specifically built for pets.
On the other hand, with Tractive’s built-in SIM card, you can pick up on your pet’s location with just a glance at your phone.
GPS Tracker: Pros
Worldwide coverage with GPS technology
Unlimited range, which lets you see where your cat or dog is, no matter how far
Allows for real-time location tracking
Precise localization
GPS Tracker: Cons
Sometimes GPS interference might occur (for example indoors – which is where your Tractive device comes with built-in Bluetooth tracking for short-range as well)
Your Tractive device immediately picks up that your cat is venturing outside of safety – and sends you an escape alert.
So you can intervene quickly and prevent them from roaming into a dangerous area.
“Tractive is the #1 cat GPS tracker in the industry. And it’s the highest quality cat tracker you can find. I was able to set the safe zone as my house area and once my cat gets outside I get an alert right away.
In fact, it probably saved my cat’s life that time she chased a bird and got lost. She was scared and I was able to find her with the help of the GPS tracker.
Tractive’s chip frequently calculates your cat’s location and is updated on the map every 2-3 seconds. Furthermore, the LED will help you guard your furry friend at night.”
– Clair Chesterman, Owner of CFA and CCA-registered cattery and fostering company, FluffyMeowPaws
Always know where your pets are
Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your pet too.
What you can expect if you try locating your pet with Bluetooth instead
When your pet is in Bluetooth range, you’ll be able to track them. Once they’re out of Bluetooth range, though, you stop being able to track them with a Bluetooth tracker.
Say your dog just ran away – and they’re outside Bluetooth range. A Bluetooth tracker will only be helpful if:
It connects to someone’s phone nearby…
Who has the same app as you…
And has location & Bluetooth turned on on their phone.
Which, if you’re out hiking, camping, or exploring the woods or wilderness with your pet aren’t likely.
In short, Bluetooth trackers are not ideal for tracking your pet.
💡 Bottom line:With a GPS tracker – unlike with a Bluetooth tracker – you can locate your dog or cat no matter how far they roam.
Bluetooth vs GPS tracking: One dog parent’s “field test”
Now don’t take our word for it – here’s a real-life example of a dog parent testing out both a Bluetooth-powered Apple AirTag as well as the Tractive GPS as a pet tracker.
…and register it as a device to your Android phone…
…then you should be able to track it down at unlimited range with the system of wider Android devices around you, right?
Not quite. Google’s new network of Android devices is still patchy at best – and it’s still limited to a network of devices like any other Bluetooth tracker. (Meaning it’s already not an option if you’re an iOS user.) Plus, it’s pretty useless if you’re outdoors and away from other Android users.
Now if you ask us, this whole process is pretty roundabout and cumbersome – i.e. connecting a Bluetooth tracker to Google’s Find my device network and then hoping for the best. But it might (just might) come in handy if you lose your dog or cat in a city full of Android users whose devices will pick up on your buddy’s Bluetooth tracker signal…
…but which also includes pet thieves, who aren’t likely to return your dog or cat to you if you’ve got a rare breed or one you haven’t gotten spayed or neutered.
Bringing in the best of both worlds: Bluetooth GPS Trackers
Good news: To get the best of both worlds, you can get a Bluetooth GPS tracker for your cat or dog.
That’s right – you don’t have to choose! Your trusty Tractive device actually comes with both GPS and Bluetooth-style tracking to pinpoint your pet’s location – both at long-range and short-range alike.
💡For example, Tractive’s Radar Mode helps you track down your buddy at short-range via Bluetooth instead.
Perfect for locating your dog or cat if they’ve snuck into a risky hiding spot indoors. (Like your washer, dryer, a too-snug cupboard or cabinet, or even your rafters!)
Besides, you can also track your pets via:
Augmented Reality mode, which locates your pets via a pin overlay
Light, which triggers a small LED light to help you track your dog or cat in dark spots
Sound, which triggers a high-pitched melody to help you track your pet audibly.
Wrapping up: Invest in a Bluetooth GPS tracker for max security
In a nutshell: Bluetooth trackers are generally designed to be ‘thing finders.’ They’re best for finding personal items like your keys or wallet.
Despite perks like small size and long battery life, their range is way too limited for a living, moving animal.
More importantly, Bluetooth trackers do not use GPS. So if your dog or cat leaves Bluetooth range, you can’t rely on a Bluetooth tracker to help find your pet.
💡GPS trackers, on the other hand, are often made specifically for pets.
They often come with built-in Bluetooth-style technology and WiFi to bring you the most accurate location possible. Including extra perks like:
All this on one device – built with love for pets. (And for your peace of mind as a pet parent.)
Always know where your pets are
Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your pet too.
Want to see how Tractive works but strapped for time? Here’s a video that covers it in just 2 minutes:
And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a tech-savvy pet parent you know and love – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.
Bluetooth Tracker: Pros
Bluetooth Tracker: Cons
