Loko vs Tractive: Which GPS Tracker Should You Buy?

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	Loko GPS Tracker	Tractive GPS
Monthly fee	None	$5–$15/month
SIM card	Not needed	Built-in (managed by Tractive)
Technology	LoRa radio + GPS	Cellular LTE + Bluetooth
Range	Up to 20+ km	Unlimited (with cell coverage)
Works offline	Yes	No — needs cell signal
Built-in GPS	Yes (real satellite position)	No — relies on nearby phones
App platform	iOS & Android	iOS & Android
Weight	~15 g	~20 g
Battery life	Up to 1 year	1–5 days
Multi-device support	Yes (multiple units on one receiver)	Yes (one app, multiple tags)
Offline map support	Yes (downloaded maps)	No
Best for	Remote areas, hunting, farming	Urban/suburban pet tracking

How They Work — The Fundamental Difference

Tractive: Cellular-Based Tracking

Tractive connects to its servers through a cellular network (LTE-M or NB-IoT). When you check your dog's location, the tag sends its position over the mobile network to Tractive's cloud server, which then pushes that data to your phone app.

This works brilliantly within range of cell towers. But when you head into forests, mountains, or rural areas without coverage, Tractive cannot send any data. It simply stops reporting until it regains signal.

And there's the cost: every Tractive tag requires an active SIM and a monthly subscription plan — typically $5–$15 per month per tag, depending on the region and plan tier.

Loko: LoRa Radio + Real GPS

Loko receives coordinates directly from GPS satellites (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo) — just like a smartphone's GPS module. It then transmits those coordinates over LoRa radio — a long-range low-power wireless technology — directly to your handheld Loko Ground receiver.

The entire chain involves zero internet, zero cellular networks, zero servers: GPS satellites → Loko Air → LoRa radio (~20 km) → Loko Ground → Bluetooth → Your Phone.

No one owns your data. No company can go offline and break your connection. And no monthly bill comes due at the end of each month.

Battery Life

This is arguably the most dramatic difference between the two products.

• Tractive: Lasts 1–5 days depending on update frequency and signal strength. In areas with poor signal, the tag has to transmit harder, draining battery even faster.
• Loko: Lasts up to 1 year on a single charge. Because LoRa radio consumes milliwatts of power during transmission (versus tens or hundreds of milliwatts for cellular), and updates are sent only when you actively query a position, battery life extends dramatically.

If you want to deploy a tracker across a large property, attach it to livestock that roams freely, or track animals during multi-day hunting trips without worrying about recharging — Loko's battery advantage is decisive.

Cost Over Time

Period	Loko (one-time purchase)	Tractive (monthly plan)
1 year	$59–$149 hardware	$60–$180 subscription + no hardware included
3 years	$59–$149 hardware	$180–$540 subscription
5 years	$59–$149 hardware	$300–$900 subscription

Loko's total cost of ownership is always lower than Tractive's. Even accounting for the upfront hardware purchase, Loko pays for itself within roughly 6–12 months compared to Tractive's recurring plans.

When Each Tracker Makes Sense

Choose Tractive if:

• You primarily need to track a pet in an urban or suburban area
• Your phone carrier coverage is excellent and consistent everywhere your pet goes
• You want someone else to manage the SIM card and cellular billing for you
• You don't mind paying $5–$15/month indefinitely

Choose Loko if:

• You hunt, farm, hike, or spend time in areas without cell service
• You want real GPS coordinates (not crowd-sourced Bluetooth triangulation)
• You prefer one-time payment over recurring subscriptions
• You need battery life measured in months or years, not days
• You want to track multiple animals/assets simultaneously from one receiver

FAQ