SpotOn Collar GPS Smart Fence Review: Is it Worth $999?

The SpotOn Collar is one of the most popular GPS dog fences and smart collars in 2024. But is it really worth the high price tag? That’s what we’ll explore today!

Before we go any further, I just want to mention two things. First, as of 1/1/2024, SpotOn now costs $999! Second, you can save $25 if you use the coupon code BARK.

Back to the original question: is SpotOn worth the cost? Short answer, absolutely! It’s by far one of the best solutions to letting your dog roam off-leash in your backyard while still having peace of mind. I am truly amazed by the SpotOn Virtual Smart Fence and how well it worked for my pups.

While I definitely wish it was cheaper, it’s one of a kind dog device. In fact, they had no competitors until Halo announced their virtual fence collar. However, I find SpotOn way better than Halo. I’ll explain why later in my review but if you’re curious you can also check my Halo collar vs. SpotOn article. For now, though, let’s stick with the collar you came here to read all about!

Quick disclaimer: if you decide to purchase a SpotOn virtual fence for your pup through my referral link, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Also, this is not a sponsored review. I never delete the negative comments  and talk about negative things compare to many other reviews.

Due to ongoing supply issues with electronics, the SpotOn fence might not occasionally go out of stock. If you see it available and decide it’s right for you, I recommend grabbing it right away.

Now, let’s find out why this SpotOn GPS fence should be your first choice in helping you keep your pup safe and sound even while letting them play off-leash. 

What Is SpotOn Virtual Fence?

Many of you probably already have physical fencing around your yard to help keep you and your dogs safe. However, there are many cases where it’s just not possible. Maybe your HOA doesn’t allow fences, or perhaps you just can’t afford to fence in a huge yard (which can cost anywhere from $1500 to an insane $38k+!).

This is where the SpotOn GPS Fence comes in handy. The system is completely virtual, so you can cover your entire yard without any “blind spots.”

Plus, in the unlikely event that Fido does get past it, the collar tracks his location so you can quickly and easily find him again. Oh, and you don’t need to worry about installing special programs, base units, wires, or anything else. You’ll just need your smartphone to access everything that the system has to offer. Even if you found a physical fencing solution that cost less than $999, it definitely wouldn’t be able to do all of that!

Basically, it’s one of the best dog GPS fences on the market and definitely lives up to its tagline: the world’s most innovative dog fence.

Who Is The SpotOn Collar For?

The SpotOn fence is perfect for anyone who owns a pup that spends time outdoors! In other words, pretty much every dog on the planet. That said, there are a few things to consider to decide if it’s right for you. We’ll talk about these in a bit more detail later, but here’s a quick rundown:

• First, consider the size of your yard. SpotOn works best on properties that are at least 1/2 acre or larger. Will it work on smaller yards? In my experience, yes, absolutely. I have a friend that basically has a postage-stamp yard and he uses SpotOn to keep his Shiba Inus contained.
• Second, consider the size of your dog. SpotOn Collars are designed for dogs with necks ranging from 10-26″.
• Last, but definitely not least, keep in mind that you’ll need to train your dog to use the SpotOn invisible fence system. So make sure you’re prepared to set aside some time to do that.

What  Are The Pros And Cons Of The SpotOn Collar?

Pros	Cons
Extremely accurate GPS tracking	This collar is quite expensive compared to its counterparts e.g Halo Collar.
Easy to set up	You need cell coverage for the tracking features.
Extremely customizable fences that can be edited – walk the boundary or draw it on your phone	Not made for very small or very large dogs.
Simple and easily adaptable concept	Not designed for tiny yards
Comfortable for your dogs to wear
Long-lasting battery life
Customizable fence perimeters work without cellular coverage
One-year warranty
Ability to create multiple fences on the same property

Features of SpotOn Virtual Smart Fence (Updated with NEW pricing in January 2024)

Let’s take a closer look at some of the stand-out features, shall we?

Virtual Fence System

Let’s start with the most important feature, given that it’s the reason most people buy a SpotOn collar in the first place.

The first thing I looked at when testing the collar is how easy it is to use it as it’s actually intended…as an invisible fence. I consider myself very tech-savvy, but that doesn’t mean I want to spend hours upon hours reading a manual and trying to figure out how to set something up. Who has time for that?

Fortunately, the virtual fence feature of the SpotOn GPS Fence is very easy to set up and customize. It not only lets you create 20 unique overlapping fences using up to 1,500 automatic GPS fence posts but also allows you to set up virtual fences of any shape and size ranging from ½ acre to thousands of acres. Let’s look at the process in a bit more detail.

How to set up the SpotOn GPS fence

To create the GPS fence, you have two options. You can either walk along the surrounding area where you want your fence to be or just draw it in the app. Check out the video below to see how that works.

One thing to keep in mind, you’ll be able to set up more accurate fences if you walk your property to set them up. But I really love the fact that it’s not a requirement. To me, that makes the SpotOn Collar far more accessibility-friendly than many of its competitors.

The whole process is easy to do and you can see your fence come together in real-time right in the app. That way, you can tweak it as you go.

You can also pause your fence creation to get around water or thick brush and SpotOn will automatically snap a straight line through the obstacle once you resume. After taking a lap around the perimeter, the virtual fence will automatically be programmed into the SpotOn Collar. 

NEW Virtual Fence Features Released in April 2023:

In March, SpotOn surprised us by dropping their price from $1500 to $1295 (if you skimmed past it and missed the note above, that’s since dropped to $999. Make sure you use coupon code BARK to save another $25). In April, they added even more value by unleashing (pun totally intended) not one, but TWO brand-new features: Keep Out Zones and Home Zones.

Keep Out Zones:

SpotOn’s newest feature, Keep Out Zones, lets you create off-limits areas within your fences. It’s now easier than ever to let your dog run free without running into trouble.

Set up fences inside your fence around the garden, keep your dog out of the pool, or prevent playtime in the poison ivy patch with the touch of a button.

Home Zones:

SpotOn’s Home Zones let you designate areas around your home where corrections are disabled. This allows your dog to come indoors without taking the collar off, so your dog will feel free, whether on the couch or out on an adventure.

Now that we have a good idea of how easy it is to set up and customize your virtual fence, let’s go over how it all works when it’s in use.

Using the virtual fence

If you turn the virtual fence on, the invisible virtual barrier will surround your yard. Whenever your furry Houdini gets too close to the virtual boundary that you programmed in the steps above, the SpotOn Collar beeps to discourage Fido from going beyond the boundary you set. 

However, if the quick beep doesn’t stop Fido from going over the virtual fence boundaries, the collar emits a light static shock or vibration to deter him from running away.

If you don’t want to use “shock correction,” don’t worry; you can disable it and just use the beeping sound. However, you’ll need to spend a bit more time training your pooch ahead of time so that he understands what those beeps mean. That brings us to…

Training Process

ALL GPS dog fences have a bit of a learning curve for your dog, and SpotOn is no exception. You can’t just pop a collar on Fido and expect him to just intuitively know what to do. You DEFINITELY can’t just turn on the static correction level to high and hope he figures it out (please, please, please DO NOT do this).

So, yes, you’ll definitely need to spend some time training your pup before you can unleash him on an invisible fence. The good news is that SpotOn makes the training process as smooth and easy as possible with their included simple and professional training videos.

I highly recommend taking the extra time to teach Fido what the sounds and light vibrations mean. That way, you won’t even need to turn on the static correction. If you do need to use that feature, though, SpotOn offers 30 different levels of static. So you can set it to a very low level. That’s twice as many as Halo, by the way.

GPS Tracking & All Terrain Types

You might think that this gadget can only be used in common places such as at home, in your yard, or down the street while walking your dogs. However, what if you are the adventurous type and love hiking with your dog in the mountains, along rivers, at the lake, and so on? Is it still worth the price tag?

Absolutely! Remember, the SpotOn Virtual Fence doubles as a GPS tracking collar. In fact, it has amazingly accurate tracking capabilities. The collar uses four satellite navigation systems simultaneously to provide excellent accuracy in locating your dog, anytime, anywhere.

The downside? It does need cell service for some of its features. I received a bit of clarification directly from SpotOn, however, because like many of you, I was confused about when the cell plan comes into play.

Per SpotOn, “Optional cellular plans enable you to see your dog’s location with the touch of a button, it also gives you automatic breach alerts and real-time tracking if your dog leaves the virtual fence. SpotOn is the only smart dog collar that offers a choice of data plans – customers can select either AT&T and Verizon— so you can opt for the cellular service that works best for your area.”

True Portability

The True Portability feature simply means that you can use this device whenever and wherever you may be: whether you are at home or if you are out and about, traveling, or on the move… even in the water! 

So, say you’re going on vacation and taking your dogs along. Maybe you’re renting a beach house or a lake cabin, and you want to give Fido the opportunity to explore a bit. Just use the app to draw a new fence and voila! You’re good to go!

Tracking

One of the things that make this the best dog gear for you is the fact that the SpotOn Collar gives you the option to activate its Tracking feature, which lets you track your dog within 3 feet.

If you want to know the exact location of your pup at every moment of the day, just let him wear the collar even when the GPS fence feature isn’t attached. When Fido leaves your line of sight, check the app. You’ll find him asap!

Okay, maybe you’re thinking, “I can’t see this being necessary. Who needs to know where their dog is in their own yard every moment of every day?” Well, let me tell you a story. I have a friend with a huge fenced-in property. Technically, she doesn’t need a GPS fence, right? But she still uses SpotOn because there are so many times when her dog chases after a squirrel and ends up all the way on the other side of the property. Trust me, it comes in very handy!

Battery Life

The SpotOn Dog Collar is great if your dog spends a lot of time outdoors and you need a good, long battery life. A full charge can last you for up to 22 hours. So, you can relax a bit and just let your dog play and wander around without worrying about the battery dying on you. Just remember to charge up the battery when you arrive home so it’s ready for your next adventure. A longer battery life means fewer unwanted collar function failures and fewer chances of losing your dog.

Is It Worth It to Pay For The SpotOn Collar?

Yes, in my opinion, the SpotOn dog collar is worth the price tag, especially now that they dropped it down a bit. It’s a premium invisible dog fence product for sure. I’m not going to pretend that $999 isn’t a lot of money, especially when times are so tight for so many people. But to me, the peace of mind that it provides is worth it.

Plus, as I said earlier, it’s still a heck of a lot cheaper (and definitely more attractive) than fencing in a big yard with an actual physical fence.

It really helps ease whatever worries you may have and aid you in tracking your puppy’s movements, whether you are just at home or out and about. If you can’t afford the $999, though, they also provide good financing options. 

Our Verdict

The only thing that I do not like about the SpotOn Virtual Fence is the price tag (again, check the current price here). However, the multitude of features of the SpotOn Collar -from the four-point satellite navigation system to the patented True Location™ Technology- justifies the high cost of this device. It really does give you pretty much everything that you might need and want for a device that functions as a virtual fence.

Again, they also provide great financing options so you don’t have to pay the whole amount upfront.

The flexibility features are another thing that really sold me on this dog gear. Even before the new Home Zones and Keep Out Zones, I thought the customizable smart virtual fence was awesome. Those new features are just icing on the cake, so to speak.

All of these features combined definitely convinced me to highly recommend this SpotOn Virtual Fence Dog Collar to you and all of my other fellow dog lovers. If you decide to purchase SpotOn, I will highly appreciate it if you use my referral link. Don’t forget to use the code BARK for $25 off!

CLICK HERE & Use BARK Coupon to save $25 off your SpotOn Dog Collar purchase!

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