Virtual dog fences are a great option for many pet owners who want the convenience and safety of having a containment area for their pets without installing a physical fence.
These fences keep track of your pet and give them free rein without worrying about them going into areas they shouldn’t be in.
Virtual fences are also portable, invisible, and easy to install.
If you are in the market for a virtual dog fence then you are in the right place. We tested the best virtual dog fences and here are our favorite 6!
Disclaimer
Before you buy an electric fence, we highly suggest going through obedience training.
Training your dog will prevent unnecessary stress and focuses on positive cues to reinforce boundaries.
Electric fences and their collars aren’t harmful, but for certain dogs, they can lead to emotional distress without the proper training.
Check out brain training techniques, a science-backed way to improve your dog’s behavior without the use of force or fear!
Our Top Picks
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Best Overall: PetSafe Stay & Play Compact Wireless Fence | This virtual fence comes with everything needed and is from a reliable and trustworthy brand. | Check Price |
 |
Best Value: PetSafe Wireless Dog Fence | This virtual fence is reliable and durable and gives ½ acre of coverage to any property. | Check Price |
 |
Easiest To Install: WIEZ GPS Dog Fence | This virtual fence is easy to set up because the GPS tracker is inside the collar. | Check Price |
 |
Most Affordable: Blingbling Petsfun Wireless Dog Fence | This virtual fence gives an affordable option without losing quality and performance. | Check Price |
 |
Best In-Ground Dog Fence: SportDOG In-Ground Virtual Fence | This virtual fence is the best, most reliable in-ground option for a virtual fence. | Check Price |
How We Chose the Best Virtual Dog Fence
The main 3 options for virtual fencing include wireless invisible fences, in-ground fences, and GPS fences.
We looked to find reliable brands, best-rated products, great coverage, and systems that work effortlessly overall.
Our top pick was the PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Fence, because it’s a trustworthy brand, gives ¾ acre of coverage, and is easy to set up.
There are also many GPS options on the market, but the JUSTPET GPS fence was the most desired fence and it worked like a charm when testing it.
The JUSTPET system comes with a GPS system tracker and 2 collars for your pets.
If you need something that covers a larger area, the SportDOG in-ground pet fence is our pick.
We thought the SportDOG system was superior for that category because of its coverage limit and overall versatility.
All of the virtual fences we reviewed checked every box we needed when it came to testing them out.
They were all reliable, worked properly, were easy to install, and overall gave us everything we were looking for in a virtual fence.
Read More: Best AirTag Dog Collar. AirTag dog collars help keep track of your pet!
Best Virtual Fences Reviewed
1. Best Overall: PetSafe Stay & Play Compact Wireless Fence
Not only is this virtual fence from a trustworthy brand, but it’s small AND can handle as many dogs as your heart loves with their own collars.
PLUS, it covers a huge area with the option to add on to cover more acreage!
Product Ratings
| Coverage | 5/5 |
| Affordability | 3/5 |
| Battery Lifespan | 4/5 |
| Overall Value | 5/5 |
| Installation Process | 5/5 |
Coverage: ¾ acre | Type: Wireless Invisible Fence | Number of Collars: 1 | Boundary Line: Circular | Battery Life: 3 weeks
What We Liked
- ¾ acre of coverage with expandability options
- Trustworthy brand
- Ability to add unlimited pets
- Completely wireless, no wires to bury
What We Didn’t Like
- Only able to do a circular coverage area
- Not able to be used properly in a power outage
- The transmitter must be indoors and plugged in
The PetSafe Stay & Play wireless fence is a great option for any pet owner looking for the perfect reliable invisible fence.
This fence comes with everything needed for both setting it up and training your dog.
It covers ¾ an acre of property with the ability to be expandable upon purchasing extra transmitters.
It’s also able to contain an unlimited number of dogs with the purchase of extra receiver collars.
The only downfall with this virtual fence is the inability to adjust your boundary coverage, as it will always be a circular area.
However, you can purchase an extender and it will make a peanut-shaped play area.
You also must have the transmitter plugged in indoors, which also means the system will not work properly in a power outage.
Regardless, we found that the value, price, overall system quality, and containment capabilities are incredible in the PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless fence.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON2. Best Value: PetSafe Wireless Dog Fence
If you’re looking for a virtual, wireless fence that is EASY to install AND comes at a great price, look no further than this containment system that has a battery life of 2 months!
Product Ratings
| Coverage | 4/5 |
| Affordability | 4/5 |
| Battery Lifespan | 5/5 |
| Overall Value | 5/5 |
| Installation Process | 5/5 |
Coverage: 1/2 acre | Type: Wireless Invisible Fence | Number of Collars: 1 | Boundary Line: Circular | Battery Life: 2 Months
What We Liked
- Trustworthy brand
- Battery life that lasts 2 months
- Easy installation
- No wire to bury
- Correction settings
What We Didn’t Like
- Only able to do a circular coverage area
- Not able to be used properly in a power outage
- The transmitter must be indoors and plugged in
- Not the biggest coverage area (½ acre)
The Petsafe Wireless dog fence gives up to ½ acre of coverage with the ability to expand that with extra transmitters.
This wireless fence includes a waterproof receiver collar, a transmitter, and training supplies for your dog.
The value of this containment center is awesome due to its affordable price tag and incredible quality product.
The only issue we ran into upon testing is that the boundary area has to be circular and so it isn’t flexible.
Also, all wireless fences like this must have the transmitter indoors, and it will be affected if there is a power outage.
Despite the cons, we found that the value brought by this PetSafe option was perfect for those looking for an easy-to-install, reliable, and durable virtual fence.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON3. Easiest To Install: WIEZ GPS Dog Fence
This dog fence may not be from a well-known brand, but don’t let that stop you from checking this containment system out.
This dog fence (which really isn’t much of one at all) is E-A-S-Y to install and the GPS feature will follow you wherever you go!
Product Ratings
| Coverage | 5/5 |
| Affordability | 4/5 |
| Battery Lifespan | 4/5 |
| Overall Value | 4/5 |
| Installation Process | 5/5 |
Coverage: 776 acres | Type: GPS Fence | Number of Collars: 2 | Boundary Line: Flexible Life: 4 weeks
What We Liked
- Great coverage range
- Extremely easy to set up
- “No interference” technology
- 2-year product warranty
- All you need is the self-contained collars
What We Didn’t Like
- Not a well-known brand
This WIEZ GPS fence is a great option from a lesser-known brand that still gives you great quality within its products.
This GPS fence is the easiest to set up because it only comes with 2 collars and no other devices.
The WIEZ GPS system is also extremely accurate and able to reach a coverage area of up to 776 acres.
Plus, this system is a portable virtual fence with many different adjustable static correction levels and settings.
Even though this brand is not too popular, and the system is a bit different than other GPS systems, it’s the easiest to install and the best for portability.
So, if that’s what you are looking for in a virtual fence, this system would be a great investment.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON4. Most Affordable: Blingbling Petsfun Wireless Dog Fence
The Blingbling wireless dog fence is perfect for dog owners with smaller yards and comes with 2 collars.
But the best part of this collar? It’s affordable WITHOUT sacrificing quality. It’s great for small coverage areas and comes with everything you need, including training supplies.
Product Ratings
| Coverage | 5/5 |
| Affordability | 5/5 |
| Battery Lifespan | 4/5 |
| Overall Value | 5/5 |
| Installation Process | 4/5 |
Coverage: 984 Feet | Type: Wireless | Number of Collars: 2 | Boundary Line: Circular | Life: 4 weeks
What We Liked
- Good coverage range
- Comes with 2 pet collars
- Rechargeable collars
- Easy to install
What We Didn’t Like
- Circular boundary only
- Not a well-known brand
This Blingbling wireless fence is perfect for pet owners who need a more affordable wireless fence without missing out on quality and value.
The coverage area of this fence is very small at only 984 square feet, or about .02 acres, similar to the size of a small urban or suburban backyard.
Though the boundary area is only circular, there is the ability to expand it using extra transmitters.
The kit does come with everything needed for set up including training supplies, the transmitter, and 2 receiver collars.
This is the best, most affordable virtual fence option that doesn’t lack quality, coverage, dependability, and overall usage ability.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON5. Best In-Ground Dog Fence: SportDOG In-Ground Virtual Fence
If you have a large property, you need this in-ground virtual fence.
While this system does require burying wires, you can contain an unlimited number of pets within CUSTOM boundaries.
Product Ratings
| Coverage | 5/5 |
| Affordability | 3/5 |
| Battery Lifespan | 4/5 |
| Overall Value | 4/5 |
| Installation Process | 3/5 |
Coverage: 100 acres | Type: In-ground | Number of Collars: 1 | Boundary Line: Flexible Life: 6 weeks
What We Liked
- Great range of coverage
- Ability to add an unlimited number of dogs
- Able to create a custom boundary using the wires
What We Didn’t Like
- Not the easiest installation as wires will need to be buried
- Higher price point than competitors
If you’re a pet owner looking for an underground fence option then this SportDOG one is the perfect pick.
It’s a bit pricier than most, but it offers a great coverage range and the ability to create a custom boundary.
You can also add an unlimited number of pets to the system.
Though this virtual fence is a bit more difficult to install due to the necessity of burying wires, it’s still a great value for the fence.
Overall, we feel that this is a reliable brand for an in-ground fence that allows for a large coverage area and multiple dogs.
Not sure where to start with installation? This guide can help: Easiest Way to Bury Dog Fence Wire
SEE PRICE ON AMAZONComparison Chart
| Products | Best Overall | Best Value | Easiest to Install | Most Affordable | Best In-Ground Fence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Coverage | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Affordability | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Battery Lifespan | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Overall Value | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Installation Process | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 |
The Winner
Overall, we felt like the best option for a virtual fence was the PetSafe Stay & Play Compact Wireless Fence.
This virtual fence is affordable, has good coverage, and is easy to set up.
All of those factors are important when searching for the perfect virtual fence and this option checked all the boxes.
Though this fence doesn’t give the option to customize the shape of the boundary line, pet owners are able to purchase additional transmitters to expand their coverage area.
We feel that the pros outweigh the cons completely with the PetSafe Stay & Play.
How to Choose the Best Virtual Dog Fence
There are a lot of options to choose from, but here are a few things we recommend to consider when you are shopping for your perfect virtual fence.
Consider Your Options
Decide the type of fence you need. If you have a very small yard, a circular wireless fence may be perfect.
If you need to cover more than 1/2 acre, consider using a wired invisible fence. They are still pretty quick and easy to install.
For large acreage, a GPS virtual fence could be just the ticket.
As a bonus, you can bring it anywhere because it connects to GPS satellites to create the fence.
Depending on what type of installation process you are comfortable with, and what your goals are with the system, will determine which of these 3 types is best for you.
Read our related article: How Much is a GPS Dog Collar? GPS collars can cost a few dollars or nearly $1,000. Here are the features that make all the difference.
Coverage And Boundary Areas
Each virtual fence has a different coverage range.
If you have a larger property then you will need a virtual fence that has an adequate amount of coverage.
You also want to consider the flexibility and customization of the boundary area.
Some virtual fences only allow for a circular-shaped boundary, while others, including in-ground fences, are fully customizable.
This is an important consideration if you have an odd-shaped yard or need to block off things such as a pool.
Installation Process
The installation process and method of your virtual fence are important factors to consider, especially if you are looking for a quick installation.
Wireless and GPS virtual fences take only a few minutes to set up because they just have the receiver collar and base.
Meanwhile, in-ground fences can take hours to install due to the need to bury a wire.
If you’re looking to have an easy installation process then a wireless or GPS dog fence is best for you.
But if a customized boundary area is necessary then the installation of the in-ground fence is worth it.
Portability
Wireless invisible fences and GPS trackers or fences are both portable.
The wireless fence can be transported anywhere with an outlet and power to the transmitter.
A GPS fence is able to work remotely anywhere using a GPS signal and is the best portable wireless dog fence that you can buy.
In-ground fences, on the other hand, do not have this capability. Since there is a wire that must be buried in the ground it is not portable.
This is something to keep in mind if you are considering traveling with your virtual fence.
Ultimate Goal
Figuring out your ultimate goal can help you choose a virtual fence.
There are many uses for a virtual fence, so considering these will help you with choosing what type of fence is best.
If you’re looking to block off certain parts of your yard that are not large, then you can use an in-ground fence.
You can also use an in-ground fence if you’re not concerned about the installation time and need a customized boundary line.
If you’re looking to have a fence or tracker that spans acres of land, then a GPS fence is best as they tend to have the largest coverage area.
Wireless virtual fences are a great option for everyday pet owners who don’t need a customized boundary line but want something invisible and easy to set up.
Honorable Mentions
Below, you’ll find several virtual fences we tested that didn’t make the cut.
They may still be worth your consideration if our top picks are not quite what you’re looking for.
1. PetSafe Stubborn Dog In-Ground Fence – Considered For Best In-Ground Fence
The PetSafe Stubborn Dog In-Ground Fence is a virtual fence that allows for ⅓ acre coverage with an expandable coverage of 25 acres using extra wire.
Since it’s an in-ground fence, pet owners are able to create a customized boundary line.
Although this fence is a great option, we felt that the SportDOG In-ground fence was a better value for your money.
Overall, the SportDog fence is a better quality product with great specs, making it the best choice for an in-ground virtual fence.
2. Pet Control HQ Wireless Fence – Considered For Best Value
The Pet Control HQ Wireless Fence is both a wireless and in-ground fence in one.
You can use it wirelessly for easy installation OR add the wire to the system to customize and expand your boundary.
Although this fence has a lot to offer, we felt that PetSafe Wireless Dog Fence was a better value.
The PetSafe Wireless Dog Fence offers great quality products, easy installation, good coverage, and overall a better user experience.
3. FOCUSER Electric Wireless Dog Fence – Considered For Most Affordable
The FOCUSER Wireless Dog Fence offers good coverage, multiple correction levels, and comes with 2 receiver collars.
This system is a super affordable option for a virtual fence.
However, during testing, we found that the Blingbling Wireless Fence gave a better value for the affordable price so it took the top spot instead of this one.
