If you're shopping for a GPS tracker, that means you already need one. This isn't the kind of thing you casually seek out of interest. You're ready, you're proactive, and perhaps even desperate for a solution.
GPS trackers are useful for many reasons, from keeping loved ones safe to protecting business assets & equipment. But, to get more specific, whether it's a teen taking the car out for the first time or a boss looking for effective fleet management, location tracking is always a good idea to give you that peace of mind we all need.
There are hundreds of different tracking devices on the market, which can be overwhelming if you're not already informed and know specific features to look for. The numerous brands, features, and options are significant, and the endless information piled on top of that makes learning about which GPS tracker is the best an easily overwhelming process. Some trackers are ideal for fleet management, others are perfect for monitoring a pet. These are great devices, but they fall way short when all you're trying to do is make sure someone isn’t taking your car for a joy ride or that a questionable employee isn’t stealing a box from the warehouse.
That is, unless you find your way to this list. We've tested and retested countless GPS trackers, and carry the top-3 trackers that are not only easy to use, but narrow the focus to fit the niche.
Here are the best GPS trackers for you. Every item on this list is top-tier, has been tested by our technicians, and is cutting-edge. We don't take this position lightly. We would never recommend a product to you if we couldn't put our faith in and stand behind with our in-house technical support team that has spent countless hours improving and testing each device.
Weatherproof Miniature GPS Tracker
Have you ever seen James Bond tag a car or a person with a little black device? This is the exact same idea.
The Waterproof Miniature GPS Tracker is a powerhouse of simplicity and durability. It's only 5.8 ounces and 3.5 inches long. Monitoring information is incredibly easy when you use the free, intuitive GPS Tracking app that comes with it!
Once the tracker is activated, the hard part is done. You simply place it and recharge it when needed; the tracker will take care of the rest. The magnet is detachable, so if you want to place it inside the vehicle, it’s incredibly easy. You will instantly start receiving location information powered by Google Maps, with real-time tracking updates every 30 seconds, monitoring speed, stops, and unusual activity. Not only that, this GPS device doesn't just transmit information into a void; all information will be organized and stored for 12 months of logged data activity—all accessible right from your fingertips.
Do you need to know when someone gets home? You can set instant alerts that will notify you if a device enters or leaves a location. You can even set up boundaries to alert if the tracker leaves the country! This makes it extra useful as a car GPS tracker because you instantly know if your car is somewhere you disapprove of! There is a service fee, but this is true with any live monitoring device. You can, of course, start and stop at any time, and the recorded data will be saved within your account.
One of the most useful features of these devices, which comes in more handy than you would initially think, is that they can directly interface with Google Street View, allowing you to look around the area that your device is in! Never been to a specific shopping center before, click on the street view, and now you can look around the area! This is an incredibly useful feature that puts this tracker at the top of the technological food chain.
The mini tracker can also perform while it's plugged in, which means you can extend the internal power with everything from a USB car adapter to a standalone battery powerbank. This allows you to track packages, cars, family members, and anything else you can stick it on and to.
Extended Life Waterproof Miniature GPS Tracker
The Extended Life Waterproof Miniature GPS Tracker has all the same incredible features as the mini GPS tracker, but it has a much longer battery life. The standby life can be up to 6 months! This tracker allows you to play the long game while still remaining very discreet and delightfully small. It comes with an attachable magnet, a weather-resistant body, and a battery that recharges faster than you'll know what to do with.
The best car GPS trackers require a special nugget of attention, which is weather resistance. You don't have to use this device to track cars, but if you do, know that it can operate in temperatures as low as -4°F and as high as 176°F. You also don't have to worry about rain or mud. This tracker will give you location data with the consistency of the United States Postal Service.
To conserve your sanity and the device's discretion, it goes into a standby interval mode when it's not in motion. Once activated a motion-activated accelerometer triggers on and transmits accurate tracking every couple of minutes so that you're up to date, but not excessively so. When the tracker is active, it switches between GPS satellites, LTE, and GMS localization as well as other fallback networks to ensure a location every time, regardless of how good the coverage is in a particular area.
These real-time GPS trackers show up on a map with street view, just a touch away. You can get alerts for up to 20 custom locations at a time. Every location report is exportable in CSV, HTML, XLS, and PDF formats, which is great for businesses, as you can save and store audit material.
What we're trying to say is, whether it's for fleet vehicles or your kid's backpack, this device will give you an accurate location every time and provide you with the kind of information you're looking for.
Waterproof Hard Wired GPS Tracker
Anyone who has done it before knows that there is great value in having a long-term monitoring option. This hard wired GPS tracker is perfect for any number of situations, including commercial vehicles, first-time drivers, or simply keeping track of your mileage. It could be that you suspect an employee is abusing a company vehicle during off-hours. You might want to monitor driving habits to make sure that safety is as important to your drivers as it is to you. Ensure that a new driver is not recklessly endangering themselves, or you may even drive for work and want to keep a record of all the miles driven.
Whatever your reason for seeking out installed monitoring, this device will handle all your needs and then some. The ProActive Waterproof Hard Wired GPS tracker is easy to install and low-profile. You'll be able to gather vehicle diagnostics without the driver ever catching on.
You can watch real-time monitoring via the 30-second intervals, or look at past location updates to get a grasp of route history and driving habits. Custom alerts allow you to keep a tight rein on where your vehicles are at every moment of the day. You can have the alerts set up to go to your Android or iOS device through the free app, or a monitor to track the entire fleet, if you prefer.
You won't have to worry about whether or not your tracker will endure life on the underside of a hood. The internal 6-axis accelerometer can function in temperatures as low as -22°F and as high as 176°F. It's ready to take on the toughest environments, backups included. There's a secondary internal battery that allows the vehicle location to be transmitted even if the power to the device is cut. So even if the worst-case scenario occurs and the lines are cut, the device will transfer to battery mode and even alert you if the battery starts draining.
The ProActive GPS website allows users to view full reports, which are downloadable and printable. They can also be exported directly to Google Earth.
Conclusion
So whatever your needs may be, take a look at the ProActive GPS family of GPS trackers, and the results will speak for themselves. You're ready, proactive, and now have a solution.