SpotOn vs. PetSafe Guardian® GPS + Tracking: Why SpotOn Remains the Best Choice

REVIEW: Pampered Pup Provides their Expert Perspective

Why SpotOn Remains the Best Choice

As pet owners increasingly seek a reliable GPS dog fence system to ensure their pets' safety, several products emerge, each claiming to offer the best solution. Two of the most prominent options are the SpotOn GPS Dog Fence and the new PetSafe Guardian® GPS + Tracking collar. Both systems aim to provide peace of mind, allowing dog owners to relax while their pets enjoy the freedom of the yard. However, when closely compared, it becomes evident that SpotOn continues to lead the pack in performance, ease of use, and overall value, according to this review from The Pampered Pup

Read on to discover the differences between the two systems.


Pricing: A Matter of Value

When comparing GPS dog collars, one of the most obvious considerations for pet owners is pricing. The PetSafe Guardian® GPS + Tracking collar is competitively priced at around $500, making it one of the more affordable options on the market. However, this affordability comes with a caveat—a mandatory subscription that starts at $10 per month or $90 per year, increasing to $100 annually after the first year. While the initial cost may seem attractive, the long-term expenses add up quickly. 

On the other hand, the SpotOn GPS Dog Fence is priced higher, but unlike the PetSafe Guardian, SpotOn's subscription is entirely optional, providing additional features such as live tracking and real-time notifications. As the experts at Pampered Pup point out:


"While a SpotOn subscription isn't required, it's sure nice to have for live tracking and real-time notifications on your phone."

This flexibility allows dog owners to choose whether they want to invest in extra features, making SpotOn a more versatile and customizable option. This level of choice is critical, especially helpful for dog owners in rural areas that lack strong cell service connectivity. Subscriptions are dependent on cellular service in order to function, so if you don't have good service near you, why should you be forced to pay for a plan?

Although SpotOn's upfront cost is higher, it offers long-term value, especially for those who prefer not to be locked into recurring subscription fees.


Setup: Streamlined vs. Cumbersome

Setting up a GPS dog fence should be a straightforward process, but this is where the PetSafe Guardian® GPS + Tracking collar struggles. According to the Pampered Pup’s review, set up required cumbersome and repetitive troubleshooting, such as the need to restart the app, turn the collar on and off, and redo steps in the setup process. Such issues can be frustrating, especially for dog owners who are not tech-savvy or those who expect a hassle-free experience. In contrast, SpotOn's setup proved to be more streamlined and user-friendly. 

For the PetSafe setup: "We found it to be closer to 2 hours from start to finish. With SpotOn, the setup has been more streamlined in our experience."

The ease with which fences can be created is another significant advantage for SpotOn Fence. Both systems give users the option to manually draw fences on their phones. For some, this can be imprecise or limiting, especially if you have an odd-shaped lot. 

SpotOn offers multiple options to make your fence. Users can either draw the fence in-app or walk the boundary with the collar, allowing it to automatically drop fence posts and precisely contour your fence line to each curve of your property line. This innovative feature can help ensures greater accuracy and security for your dog, making SpotOn the clear winner in terms of setup efficiency.

"SpotOn is more or less ready to go right out of the box ."

Performance: Precision and Reliability

When it comes to performance, SpotOn once again gained an advantage. One of the main issues with the competitor's collar is the need for frequent troubleshooting, even after the initial setup. Every time the reviewer tried to change a setting or load a new fence, they had to deal with connectivity issues, such as rebooting the collar or reconnecting it via Bluetooth.

When asked discussing overall performance, the Pampered Pup highlights the inconsistencies of the PetSafe Guardian® GPS + Tracking collar, mentioning: 

"It definitely had a little bit more connectivity issues than I'm used to."

SpotOn, on the other hand, delivers more reliable and consistent performance. The Pampered Pup's emphasizes SpotOn's ability to maintain boundary lines more accurately, despite the inevitable GPS drift that affects all collars. What sets SpotOn apart is its sophisticated feedback system, which provides multiple alerts before issuing a correction. 

"SpotOn has the edge here and their feedback system will probably make more sense to your dog, meaning it'll be an easier training process."

The reviewer appreciates SpotOn's thoughtful design that not only ensures that dogs quickly be trained and learn to stay within their boundaries but also provides peace of mind for pet owners who want to ensure their dog's safety without resorting to harsh corrections.


Conclusion: SpotOn Stands Ahead the Competition

While both collars offer solutions for pet containment, SpotOn's superior design, ease of use, and reliability make it the best option on the market. The PetSafe Guardian® may be less expensive upfront, but its complicated setup process, frequent need for troubleshooting, and mandatory subscription fees diminish its appeal, according to this review. SpotOn's hassle-free setup, flexible subscription model, and advanced feedback system provide a more user-friendly and effective solution for dog owners. 

As the Pampered Pup reviewer concludes:  

"SpotOn is the top-performing GPS dog fence. They continue to innovate and make this collar better and better for dog owners."

Get SpotOn Today!

For those who prioritize their pets' safety and their own peace of mind, SpotOn Fence remains the premier choice, delivering the perfect balance of technology, convenience, and reliability.

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