PitPat GPS Tracker Review: The No-Subscription GPS Solution

1. PitPat GPS Tracker: The Basics

Based in Cambridge, UK, PitPat has established itself as the UK's leading pet wellness brand. Their product lineup has expanded over the years, but they first made their mark with the innovative PitPat Activity Monitor—essentially a Fitbit for dogs—which revolutionized how pet owners track their dogs' exercise, distance traveled, and rest periods.

The PitPat GPS Tracker builds on this foundation, adding real-time location tracking while maintaining the activity monitoring capabilities that made their original product so popular. Most notably, it's the first cellular tracker on the market to include lifetime connectivity without requiring a monthly subscription.

Design & Setup

The PitPat GPS Tracker arrives in stylish packaging with everything you need to get started: the tracker itself, a wireless charging pad, a USB charging cable, and extra-strong velcro straps for attaching the device to your dog's collar or harness.

Setting up the tracker is remarkably straightforward:

1. Download the PitPat app on your smartphone
2. Create an account and link the device
3. Charge the tracker using the wireless charging pad
4. Attach it to your dog's collar using the provided velcro straps

The wireless charging system is particularly impressive—simply place the tracker on the pad, and the paw-shaped LED indicator will flash to show it's charging. When fully charged, all four "paw" LEDs light up, indicating the device is ready to use.

Initially, we were skeptical about the velcro attachment method, but after extensive testing, we found it to be surprisingly secure. Even during adventures through dense undergrowth, the tracker remained firmly attached to our test dog's collar. The standard velcro straps should fit most collars, but PitPat offers longer straps for extra-large breed collars if needed.

Weighing just 30g, the tracker is lightweight enough that most dogs won't even notice they're wearing it. It's also fully waterproof, so there's no need to worry if your dog decides to take an unexpected swim during your walk.

Tracking Performance

The PitPat GPS Tracker offers two main tracking modes, accessible through the "Location" tab in the app:

• "Start a Walk" - Activates live tracking for planned walks
• "Find My Dog Now" - For emergency situations when your dog has gone missing

Both options work similarly, taking a couple of minutes to establish the initial satellite connection before reporting your dog's position. While this initial connection time is longer than some subscription-based alternatives, it's a deliberate design choice that contributes to the tracker's exceptional battery life.

Once tracking is initiated, the "Start a Walk" mode automatically continues for 90 minutes, with your dog's location updating every few seconds. You can end the tracking session earlier if you're just doing a quick walk around the block.

The app offers two map view options: a standard map view and a satellite view. If you prefer a simpler approach, there's also a "Dog Finder Arrow" that simply points in the direction of the GPS device—particularly useful when you're close to your dog but can't see them.

As with all GPS trackers, performance depends significantly on the quality of satellite service and mobile network coverage in your area. During our testing, we found the PitPat's location accuracy to be somewhat intermittent in rural areas with poor cellular coverage, but consistently reliable in suburban and urban environments.

PitPat uses factory-installed SIM technology to connect to their cloud via the latest LTE-M and NB-IoT mobile networks (with PitPat covering the data costs). Their coverage across the UK is expanding continuously, but they acknowledge potential coverage limitations by offering a generous 42-day no-quibble refund policy, allowing you to test the tracker in your specific area before fully committing.

2. PitPat GPS Tracker: Additional Features

Beyond basic location tracking, the PitPat GPS Tracker includes several additional features that enhance its value proposition.

Activity Monitoring

One of the standout features of the PitPat GPS Tracker is its comprehensive activity monitoring capabilities, inherited from PitPat's popular Activity Monitor. The device tracks:

• Minutes spent walking, running, and playing
• Calories burned
• Distance traveled
• Rest periods

All this data is presented in intuitive, easy-to-understand graphs within the app, giving you valuable insights into your dog's daily activity patterns. The activity monitoring works independently of the GPS functionality, meaning it doesn't drain the battery when GPS tracking isn't actively being used.

For optimal results, your dog needs to wear the tracker consistently throughout the day. The app clearly shows periods when the tracker wasn't worn, making it easy to identify gaps in the data.

Based on our testing, PitPat offers some of the most accurate and comprehensive health monitoring software on the market, with an interface that's remarkably intuitive and user-friendly.

Battery Life

If you're tired of constantly charging devices, you'll appreciate the PitPat GPS Tracker's exceptional battery performance. Depending on how frequently you use the live tracking feature, the battery can last up to two weeks on a single charge—significantly longer than most competing GPS trackers, which typically require charging every few days.

This extended battery life is achieved through clever power management: the tracker only activates GPS functionality when explicitly requested, rather than continuously tracking location in the background. While this approach does result in a slightly longer initial connection time when starting tracking, the trade-off in battery longevity is well worth it for most users.

The wireless charging system also makes recharging quick and hassle-free when the battery eventually does run low.

Family Sharing

The PitPat app allows you to add multiple family members to a single account, enabling everyone to track your dog's location and view activity data from their own smartphones. This feature is particularly valuable in emergency situations—if your dog runs off, everyone in the family can assist in the search effort by tracking the dog's location from their individual devices.

What's Missing?

While the PitPat GPS Tracker excels in its core functionality, there are some features found in subscription-based alternatives that aren't included:

• Geofencing - The ability to set up virtual boundaries and receive alerts when your dog leaves designated safe areas
• Historic location data - Access to detailed maps of past walks (though this is available as a paid upgrade)
• LED light/sound features - Some competitors offer built-in lights or sounds to help locate your dog in the dark

Whether these omissions matter depends on your specific needs. For many dog owners, the core tracking functionality and activity monitoring capabilities are more than sufficient, especially considering the absence of ongoing subscription costs.

3. PitPat GPS Tracker: Costs & Value

The PitPat GPS Tracker's primary selling point is its subscription-free business model. While the initial purchase price of £149 is higher than some competitors, the absence of monthly fees makes it significantly more economical in the long run.

As the comparison shows, while the upfront cost is higher, the PitPat GPS Tracker becomes increasingly cost-effective the longer you own it. After approximately 2 years of use, it will have paid for itself compared to subscription-based alternatives.

It's worth noting that if you want to save and access historic walk data, PitPat does offer an optional premium service for £3.99 per month. However, this upgrade is entirely optional—the core tracking functionality works perfectly without it.

PitPat also offers next-day delivery for orders placed before 2pm, which is convenient if you're in a hurry or planning a trip with your dog.

4. Our Verdict

After thorough testing, we believe the PitPat GPS Tracker represents excellent value for money, particularly for dog owners who want reliable tracking without the burden of ongoing subscription costs.

The tracker has earned a solid reputation among users, with 67% of reviews on Trustpilot awarding it 5 stars. While it may lack some of the advanced features found in subscription-based alternatives, its core functionality—GPS tracking and activity monitoring—works reliably and effectively.

The exceptional battery life and wireless charging are significant advantages, reducing the frequency of recharging and making the process more convenient when it is necessary. The activity monitoring features provide valuable insights into your dog's health and exercise patterns, adding substantial value beyond mere location tracking.

PitPat's 42-day money-back guarantee demonstrates confidence in their product and provides peace of mind, allowing you to test the tracker in your specific location before fully committing. This is particularly important given that GPS performance can vary based on local cellular coverage.

5. The Alternatives

If you're not convinced the PitPat GPS Tracker is right for you, here are some alternatives to consider:

Subscription-Based GPS Trackers

Several subscription-based GPS trackers offer additional features that might be worth the ongoing cost for some dog owners:

• Pawfit 3: Offers geofencing, LED light and sound tracking, and temperature alerts. Subscription plans start at £3.39/month.
• Tractive: Features live tracking with updates every 2-3 seconds, virtual fences, and location history. Subscriptions start at around £3.75/month.
• Weenect: Includes training features and a ring mode to help train your dog to come when called. Subscriptions start at approximately £4.17/month.

These trackers typically have a lower initial purchase price but higher lifetime costs due to the ongoing subscription requirements.

Activity Monitors

If you're primarily interested in monitoring your dog's activity levels rather than tracking their location, a dedicated activity monitor might be a better option:

• PitPat Activity Monitor: A more affordable alternative to the GPS Tracker, focusing solely on activity monitoring without location tracking.
• FitBark: Tracks activity, sleep quality, and calorie expenditure, with options to compare your dog's data to similar breeds.
• PoochPlay: Combines activity tracking with nutritional guidance to help maintain your dog's ideal weight.

Apple AirTag

Apple AirTags can be attached to your dog's collar as a budget-friendly tracking solution, but they have significant limitations compared to dedicated pet GPS trackers:

• AirTags rely on the Apple Find My network, which requires nearby Apple devices to relay location information
• They don't offer real-time tracking like dedicated GPS trackers
• They lack pet-specific features like activity monitoring
• They're not designed to be waterproof without additional accessories

While AirTags can be useful in urban areas with many Apple users, they're generally not reliable enough for serious pet tracking, especially in rural areas.