While Tractive can work for both dogs and cats, Pawtrack was designed mainly with cats in mind – so can it work for dogs?
We’ll compare Tractive VS Pawtrack to see how versatile these trackers are for dog owners and take a closer look at their features, pros, and cons!
Products at a Glance
| Features | Pawtrack | Tractive Tracker |
| Pricing | $34.99 initial cost, $7.99 per month subscription | Initial $49.99 cost, 6 sub options starting at $5 per-month |
| Multiple Dogs | Multiple pets, needs separate collars and subs. | Multiple pets, needs separate collars and subs. |
| Battery Life | Up to 2 days on one charge | Up to 7 days on one charge |
| Durability | Can withstand some rain | Waterproof, can withstand being submerged |
| Range | No limitations | No limitations |
| Tracking | Only tracks location | Tracks location, steps, calories burned, and sleep quality |
| Safe Zones | Yes, virtual fence or geofence | Yes, virtual Fence |
Tractive VS Pawtrack Compared
Design
Pawtrack
Pawtrack is only suitable for very small dogs or cats, which is a downside for most dog owners.
At only 35 grams, the Pawtrack is incredibly lightweight, making it hardly noticeable by pets. It’s also adjustable to fit all cats (and perhaps extra-small dogs).
Its GPS antenna is constantly pointed at the sky to give the collar the best signal possible.
Various lights on the collar give indicators to the connectivity and battery life:
- No lights – Dead battery
- Red light blinking every 1 second – Collar is setting up
- Rapid red light – Trying to get GPS position
- Red light every 10 seconds – Working properly
- Green light – Needs to be charged
It’s available in either a white or black collar.
Read More: Tractive VS Pawtrack. Pawtrack is intended for cats, but can it work for dogs – and how does it compare to Tractive?
Tractive
The Tractive GPS pet tracker is cube-shaped and small and lightweight coming in at just 2 inches tall, 1.6 inches wide, and 0.6 inches deep.
It also weighs only 35 grams and has 5 light modes:
- Green – Tracker turned on after pressing for 3 secs
- Red – Turned off after pressing for 3 secs
- Constant Red – charging, turns green or off when charged
- Blinking Red – Battery low
- Blinking Purple, White, Blue, Pink – Live Tracking
Collar clips included with the tracker allow for easy attachment to almost any collar.
Tractive GPS is available in 3 distinct colors and styles:
- White and blue
- Dark blue and blue
- Light brown and brown
Read More: Tractive VS Weenect. We compare the Tractive and Weenect trackers in this guide!
Durability
Made of sturdy webbing and long-lasting, water-resistant plastic, the Pawtrack collar can withstand light precipitation and splashes of water.
The Tractive GPS is extremely durable with extraordinary water resistance, and it can be submerged 3 feet for up to 30 minutes.
Key Tracking Features
Pawtrack
- Precise GPS locating with the integration of GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, beacon tracking, and Wi-Fi.
- GPS antenna is aimed upwards for optimal signal reception.
- Geofencing lets you can choose a boundary around your property or another important region and alerts you when your pet crosses or returns to that boundary
- Several pets can be tracked with Pawtrack at once.
Tractive
- Real-time monitoring with updated coordinates every 2 or 3 seconds.
- 4 viewable perspectives (traditional map, hybrid map, satellite picture, and augmented reality) with full interactivity.
- Speed feature can determine how quickly your pet is traveling.
- Altitude provides the user with information on the device’s height above sea level.
- Your pet’s location history is represented as a straight line on the map.
- Virtual fence, or buffer zone, can be set to any radius from zero to 164 feet.
- Friends and family can help you look for your lost pet using the app.
Read More: Tractive VS Tagg. Our related article compares Tractive to Tagg to see which is best.
Activity Monitoring
Pawtrack
There are a few additional features with Pawtrack:
- Playback: Plays back your pet’s locations at specific times and dates.
- Path: Draws a line following your pet’s path.
- Heatmap: See where your pet likes to hide out the most – frequented areas will be highlighted in red.
Tractive
Tractive GPS activity tracking also includes:
- Track steps, calories burned, and sleep quality.
- Provides a “bark score” for overall activity level.
- Set custom goals.
Communication Range
There are no communication range limits for either the Tractive or Pawtrack.
No matter where you pet has wandered, you’ll be able to find them.
Read More: Tractive VS Fi. Fi is one of the most popular pet trackers out there. Does Tractive measure up?
Smartphone App
Pawtrack
With the intuitive Pawtrack app, you can easily see where your pet is right now.
You can also set up geofences, receive notifications, view your route in a heatmap, and much more.
The app can be downloaded on iOS 9 and later or Android 4.2+.
Tractive
To use the Tractive GPS app on your mobile device, you will need iOS 9.3 or later or Android 4.1.
Not only can you monitor any number of pets via the app, but the Tractive GPS app also provides access to:
- Your pet’s location data
- Activate live tracking mode for real-time updates on their whereabouts
- An interactive map for tracking their movements
- A history of their whereabouts
- The capability to set up safe zones
- Information on the tracker’s battery life
- The ability to share your pet’s location with other app users
Read More: Tractive VS Findster – full comparison and guide!
Why Buy a GPS Tracker?
Safety
It’s never guaranteed that your pet won’t get lost.
If they do, a reliable tracking system is essential for bringing them home safely.
If your pet has been stolen, a tracking device can help you recover it. (You should alert the authorities if this is the case)
A tracker can also help you find your pet in the event of a disaster or other emergency.
Peace Of Mind
Having the ability to monitor your pet’s whereabouts at all times can provide a sense of safety and peace of mind.
If you have a dog that likes to dig under or hop over your fence, or you’ve left your dog with a pet sitter, a tracker can be a huge stress-reducer.
Read More: FitBark VS Tractive. We compare FitBark and Tractive here!
Conclusion
The right tracker for you depends on what your specific needs are.
One key factor that might help you make the best decision is that Pawtrack is only suitable for very small dogs, and is really only marketed towards cats.
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to read reviews and compare the two products side by side.
Whichever tracker you choose, make sure to do your research to ensure that it’s the best fit for you and your pet.
