The Top Ten BEST GPS Trackers in 2022

If you’re looking for a flexible GPS tracker that is great for personal or professional use, the Spark Nano GPS tracker is the best overall device on the market.  It's the perfect balance of portability and battery life – small enough to stow in a backpack, purse, or backseat while promising 6 days of constant tracking, or up to 15 days on standby. 

This compact device can be purchased with optional accessories like a protective magnetic case or case with extended battery (for an additional 4 months of life). While the device itself is water-resistant, these cases make it even more rugged for harsh conditions.

Pros:

• requires no wiring
• sturdy compact design
• works globally
• long battery life

Cons:

• You still need to remember to recharge it
• Well-built, water-resistant, but not waterproof.

Verdict: The Spark Nano is a great choice for users who want optimal versatility and reliability from their GPS tracker. 

The Tracki GPS tracker is one of the smallest devices on the market, making it vly portable and easy to stash. This portability comes with some unfortunate downsides. For one, the battery life is poor, compared to competing devices, maxing out at only 36 hours. Also, its tracking platform has limited features, and customer reviews have shown that the device connectivity is often spotty.

Pros:

• requires no wiring
• very small

Cons:

• weaker internal cellular antenna than competition
• battery has a shorter life
• tracking platform lean on features

Verdict: If your top criteria for a portable GPS tracker is its small size, the Tracki could be what you’re looking for, but it might fall short in other categories.

This Land Air Sea device features a tough casing and powerful magnet that allows you to attach it wherever you need it: on a piece of heavy equipment or machinery, on a shipping container, on a semi-truck, or anywhere magnetic. It is specialized for industrial use. The device also features a dark mode, which suppresses all indicator lights, so that its presence isn’t immediately obvious to anyone nearby. Customers report that the device’s associated software is not-so-easy to use. Also, considering that it is geared for long-term industrial purposes, the “long battery life” is surprisingly short.

Pros:

• tough casing
• powerful magnet
• dark mode

Cons:

• poor software
• middling battery life

Verdict: If you’re looking to do industrial tracking on an ad-hoc basis with no wiring needed, this Land Air Sea device might be the tracker for you.

The Verizon Connect is a full-featured GPS tracking solution with a well-known name backing it. Because of this, the Verizon Connect is popular, but it is also popularly reported to be a bit complicated, especially for novice users, and the monthly pricing is the highest on the market, with hidden fees and contract commitments. The bottom line is, if you are looking for a single device for personal use, Verizon is not your answer.

Pros:

• full featured
• known brand name

Cons:

• expert users only
• most expensive

Verdict: If you’re looking for a device with the backing of a well-known name and don’t mind paying extra for that, the Verizon Connect is versatile enough that it could meet your personal tracking needs.

Extreme portability is often a feature people look for in a GPS tracker, making the Invoxia an attractive option. This very small and very portable device features a 4-month battery life (so far, so good). However, as of 2022, 3G is being aggressively phased out by cellular companies, which gives the 3G Invoxia a dim future. Also, it only works in the continental U.S.

Pros:

• very small
• impressive battery

Cons:

• obsolete 3G
• USA only

Verdict: Though still available, this is an unwise choice. The AT&T end-of-life date on their 3G network has already passed.

Tile is a popular name in this category, but it is not a true GPS tracker. The Tile is designed for locating misplaced objects, and in order to discern the location of a missing item, the Tile must be within Bluetooth range of the smartphone or tablet running the app. Also, the app does not feature typical GPS platform features like location history, reports, speed alerts, geofencing. Only location, only over Bluetooth.

Pros:

• widely used
• extremely small

Cons:

• not a GPS tracker
• unreliable beyond 100 ft

Verdict: The Tile is a great product to use if you frequently lose your keys, but it doesn’t operate to the same level as the average GPS tracker.

Apple Air Tags are backed by a popular and well-loved brand name. This tracking tool is similar to the Tile, and it is reviewed as a better performer in that class of product. It is small and water-resistant. However, like the Tile, it is not a true GPS tracker.

Pros:

• the Apple touch
• outclasses Tile

Cons:

• not a GPS tracker
• prone to unwanted tracking

Verdict:  Less reliable in areas outside active Apple networks, and unfortunately, like the Tile, this device does not allow for location and data sharing, generating reports, or other traditional GPS tracking features.

A long battery life is a good fundamental for a GPS tool, and the Samsara has just that! This GPS tracking device is also weatherproof and water-resistant, making it able to be used in a variety of tracking use cases. The bad news: users have reported that the tracking platform is not user-friendly, specifically falling short on being able to filter reports for the data you need. Also, Samsara, like Verizon Connect, specializes in large-scale business GPS, and is not suited to smaller applications.

Pros:

• professional grade
• weatherproof

Cons:

• only for large businesses
• difficult to learn

Verdict: The Samsara is a viable option for large businesses. For small businesses or personal use, there are more viable options on this list.

The Lynxup has a unique convenience among other battery-powered devices on the market: you don’t recharge it; instead, it uses AA batteries. It is small and lightweight. Some complaints include: a lack of user-friendliness on the platform, occasional inaccurate location points, and a complicated return policy. If you appreciate the convenience of replaceable batteries, perhaps you can overlook the shortcomings of this device.

Pros:

• uses AA batteries
• small and lightweight

Cons:

• spotty accuracy
• limited features

Verdict: Though the AA battery power solution is novel, there is no reason for it in 2022. There are better power options on better trackers at better prices.

The Livewire Volt features simple 2-wire installation that can be performed by knowledgeable users or a professional auto technician. This device attaches to the battery, making it compatible with virtually any vehicle. It is often a top pick for boats. Once attached, you have a permanent wired solution. The Volt does require some comfort with 'popping the hood' but this also makes it the most covert of the items on this list, and it never needs charging.

Pros:

• simple wired installation
• excellent support
• a covert fit for fleet or individual

Cons:

• installation required
• for vehicles only

Verdict: If you are looking for a covert wired solution that doesn’t require professional installation, this tracker is a fit for you.