About Halo Collar
Developed from the unreliable and harsh nature of invisible fences, Halo Collar was created by Ken and Michael Ehrman with the help of Cesar Millan, the world-renowned dog trainer. With over 25 years of experience developing GPS safety and tracking developments, this tech-forward collar allows dogs to have more freedom while their owners can feel more peace.
Halo Collar has been featured in noteworthy media outlets like Martha Stewart, Good Housekeeping, and Forbes, this ultra-accurate, reliable, durable (and stylish) GPS collar helps keep your pup safe.
About SpotOn
SpotOn is also a GPS dog collar that prevents the need for invisible or physical fences. Controlled by an app, you’ll set virtual fences to keep them contained and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with fast real-time tracking.
This company invented the concept of GPS fencing and offered the very first one. They’ve received much recognition, including being a CES 2020 Innovation Award honoree and a SXSW 2020 Innovation Award finalist. In 2023, they were recognized by Fast Company as one the the year’s Fastest Growing Companies.
Both of these companies have received awesome praise, and boast some seriously appealing features, but which one will be right for your dog and your lifestyle? Keep reading this Halo Collar vs. SpotOn review to find out.
What To Consider
There’s so much packed into this Halo Collar vs. SpotOn review. I’ve compiled a few of their most important stats here for easy reference.
- Target Audience
- SpotOn and Halo Collar both cater to dog owners who want to eliminate the need for invisible or physical fencing and who like to set multiple customizable fencing options on their properties.
- Features
- Halo Collar boasts high accuracy with its GNSS receiver, connecting you to 150+ satellites. With both encouraging and optional correctional feedback, you can customize how you alert your pup. SpotOn is GPS-connected as well, though it connects with 25+ satellites. It features sound, vibration, and static correction that ranges from levels 1-30.
- Support & Quality
- Halo Collar and Spot On have exceptional customer service with multiple ways to get in touch with their agents. Halo Collar also offers the Halo Collar Dog Park, a virtual customer-to-customer community of pet parents, live customer service and access to exclusive content and virtual meet and greets with Halo’s founders and expert trainers.
- Accessibility
- Both dog collars are controlled via an app and are available in the US and Canada. They both allow you to create fences anywhere in the world meaning you can travel with your pup and keep them safe. That being said, The Halo Collar has the ability to use the best method available to connect to your phone (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular) and offers first-of-its-kind universal-carrier connectivity, which automatically connects to the cellular carrier with the strongest and fastest signal — anywhere in the world, at no extra cost. Both collars are sold for premium prices, but Halo Collar is about half the price of a SpotOn Collar and a fraction of the price of an inground fence.
Halo Collar vs. Spot Collar: How Do They Work?
Halo Collar and SpotOn Fence are both GPS dog collars that encourage your dog to stay inside the boundaries you create. They’re both great alternatives to invisible and physical fences, but they each have their own set of advantages. Let’s kick off this Halo Collar vs. Spot On Collar review with a look at how each of them works.
Halo Collar allows you to set virtual fences via the Halo app that are stored in the collar. With customizable feedback in the form of sounds, vibration, and optional static, should your dog go near a boundary, they will be alerted via your preset method of feedback.
Halo Collar includes a training program to show you how to train your dog to respond to feedback—and get this—the philosophy behind the training was developed by Cesar Millan, the renowned dog training expert. It’s developed by establishing positive associations and garnering good habits.
With Halo Collar, you will be able to see your dog’s real-time GPS location via GNSS satellites, manage your virtual fences, and get safety alerts. You’ll also have access to daily activity tracking instant feedback, and return whistle, not to mention live customer service.
SpotOn, on the other hand, uses True Location technology to create accurate GPS fencing for your dogs. Allowing you to create multiple custom virtual fences, this signal-based device can help you train your dog by providing vibration, static, and sound feedback.
Static correction can be set from 1 to 30 and the brand offers one free 1:1 training session with a certified dog trainer. You’ll manage it all from the app and receive alerts in seconds if your dog leaves a fence.
This is just the first look at each of the GPS dog collars, so stay tuned for a more in-depth comparison in the sections ahead.
Halo Collar vs. SpotOn: Features
Halo Collar 3 is the brand’s most recent upgrade. It’s more durable, includes more color options, and has some pretty great technological features. Here’s a look at some that may be the most relevant to you:
- 4 GPS updates per second: With more frequent updates, you can track your dog almost as quickly as they run and see it all on your phone screen.
- Real-time collar-to-phone connectivity: The Halo Collar uses Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular to connect to your phone so that you’ll always stay connected.
- Always on GPS: While providing 24+ hours of battery life, Halo Collar always has GPS turned on.
- Assisted GPS for no delay time: Other collars need 30-60 seconds to get an accurate location fix. Halo Collar doesn’t.
- Halo app: Download the app to get help from Halo Pack members. Customize your experience here to fit your needs.
SpotOn has some impressive features too.
- True Location
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GPS technology: The collar will work in remote locations. - App-enabled: Manage your dog’s fences from anywhere via the app.
- Great for large properties: Works on properties from ½ an acre to over 100,000 acres
- Boundary Boost Plan: Adding this plan will allow you to see your dog’s location, get real-time notifications, and call your dog home via the app.
GPS technology: The collar will work in remote locations.In comparison to SpotOn, which doesn’t show your dog’s location automatically, Halo Collar’s continuous tracking gives you the information you need at a glance. SpotOn will track your dog and then turn it off every few minutes, updating every 6 seconds which causes lower battery life.
I also love that Halo Collar’s app has historical tracking and feedback responsiveness to help you understand where your pup has been and how they react to feedback. SpotOn doesn’t have this feature.
Halo Collar vs. Spot Collar: Accuracy
Accuracy is critical when it comes to tracking. Customers report that both collars are accurate, but I’ll break each one down in this section of my Halo Collar vs SpotOn review for clarity.
The Halo Collar boasts the following accuracy features:
- GNSS receiver: This Global Navigation Satellite system is the most precise chip used in any GPS collar, allowing for precise tracking and providing 1.4 ft accuracy. This is key so that your dog will only receive feedback when they are near a boundary.
- More satellite systems: The GNSS receiver listens to 6 different satellite constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, NavIC, and QZSS) that circle the globe. That’s more than 150 different satellites. More satellites equals higher accuracy
- Drift prevention: With motion sensors and AI, the Halo Collar will catch and eliminate drift position when your dog isn’t moving. Drift can lead to inaccuracies of up to 100 feet, which means your dog may look inside a boundary when they are in fact not.
- PrecisionGPS
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: Using AI to leverage direct GPS signals and no false data that bounces off obstacles like trees or buildings, Halo Collar can help ensure real-time locations are indeed real.
How does this compare to SpotOn? The SpotOn collar offers the following information in regard to their device’s accuracy:
- True Location
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Technology: Builds off existing GPS signals to make a more reliable and accurate signal. - More satellites: SpotOn connects to 4 different satellite groups (GPS, Glonass, Galileo, and BeiDou), connecting the collar to 25+ satellites.
- AI and motion sensors: Using AI and motion, SpotOn tracks your dog’s direction, speed, and acceleration in real time.
- Dedicated dual-feed GPS antenna: SpotOn is the only dog collar with a dedicated dual-feed GPS antenna to help filter inferior GPS signals affected by trees and buildings.
When comparing the accuracy of these dog collars, while they both feature similar elements, the Halo Collar stands out. As the more affordable option, Halo Collar appears to offer higher value.
Halo Collar vs. Spot Collar: Design
Design talks about how a product looks, but also how it’s made. Let’s compare the brands to suss out their differences.
- Color: The first obvious thing that comes to mind for me is the color options. The Halo Collar 3 comes in sunburst, orchid, graphite, and ivory colors. The SpotOn collar comes in one grey color.
- Comfort: Halo Collar has a soft exterior whereas SpotOn is a hard plastic.
- Durability: The soft exterior of the Halo Collar may make it more durable than the SpotOn collar as it will be more resistant to scratches and cracks. Both of the collars are waterproof.
- Battery: Halo Collar can last up to 24+ hours on a single charge. SpotOn lasts 22.
- Sizes: Halo Collar comes in Small and M/Large sizes to accommodate neck sizes from 11 inches to 30.5 inches. SpotOn collar comes in three sizes, Small, Medium, and Large for neck sizes ranging from 10 inches to 26 inches.
- Feedback: The Halo Collar provides 6 types of feedback, Warning, Boundary, Emergency, Good Behavior, Return Whistle, and Heading Home. Feedback can be set in the app and comes in the form of sounds, vibrations, or optional static. The SpotOn collar provides static and sound feedback that’s customizable in the app.
- Manufacturing: The SpotOn Collar is designed, developed, and manufactured in New Hampshire. I couldn’t find where the Halo Collar is manufactured.
Ok, so there are some serious stand-outs on the list above. From durability and color options to comfort and types of feedback, the Halo Collar is the elevated option in terms of design.
Halo Collar vs. Spot Collar: Price & Value
While price is what you’ll pay for a product, value is what you get for that price. That’s why these two are coupled into one section of this Halo Collar vs. SpotOn review, as you can’t talk about one without the other.
Let’s compare the price of the collars first:
- Halo Collar: $599
- SpotOn Fence: $999
Right off the bat, you can see that Halo Collar costs less. But what if it costs less because it has less advanced features? If you’ve made it this far in my review, then you know that’s truly not the case. Let’s press on.
In addition to the $599 for the Halo Collar, you’ll need to pick a subscription plan. Plans start at $9.99 per month and then are $4 per month for each additional collar. Halo Collar plans range up to $19.99 per month, but they include exclusive features such as:
- Unlimited cellular service on all carriers worldwide
- Always-on GPS with real-time location tracking and alerts
- Daily activity reports
- Automated monthly Halo Collar updates
- Collar upgrades and replacements for less with Halo Protection
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- Remote monitoring to ensure highest collar performance
- Gold concierge and priority access to the customer service team
- 1 on 1 setup session
- Weekly events and Q&A’s with expert trainers
- Tips from the pros: curated monthly newsletter featuring dog experts
- n-depth training videos from dog experts
- Replacement collars for less
- Up to 50% off Halo accessories
- Access to early releases: Be the first to get new products and features
You can also save 15% on plans by subscribing annually or save 20% on their two year plan.What’s the difference with SpotOn?
The SpotOn GPS Fence is $999 and will work without a subscription. You can choose to add the Boundary Boost Plan to see your dog’s location, get real-time notifications, and use the app to call your dog home or activate the light on the collar. The plan starts at $5.95 per month for a 2-year commitment and ranges up to $9.95 for monthly payments.
These may be features you don’t want, and if not, you don’t have to purchase a plan. With Halo Collar, you have to, but the big benefits of their collar come through features such as real-time notifications, tracking, and calling your dog home.
What do you value most? A one-time payment for a higher-priced collar and basic features or a lower-priced collar plus a subscription that gives you access to every feature?
Halo Collar vs. SpotOn: Customer Support
This will be the shortest section in my Halo Collar vs. SpotOn review, but it’s one of the most valuable. Customer support, no matter what kind of product you buy, will always be incredibly important. Why? Because even though technology is designed to work, sometimes it doesn’t, and you may run into issues.
Customers gush about Halo Collar’s customer service. They say the brand’s representatives are quick to respond and the wait times are usually under a minute. It’s also important that customer service reps be knowledgeable about their products, and I’m happy to report that Halo Collar’s is. They offer support on live chat, phone, and email, as well as Zoom sessions, and the Halo Dog Park that’s open 7 days a week.
Halo’s tram also remotely monitors their collars daily to fix any hardware issues that occur. So how does SpotOn stack up?
While there’s certainly ample feedback about this brand’s excellent customer service, there’s less mentioned about it overall on their website. I was able to find that they offer customer service by phone, email, and live chat, but instead of live Zoom calls for training or a virtual dog park for troubleshooting tips, they offer a series of pre-recorded videos. Helpful, but not as helpful.
Overall, I was really impressed with the level of support Halo Collar offers. Their added methods of support make a big difference for new and existing customers.
Halo Collar vs. Spot Collar: What Do Customers Think?
Making a purchase online comes with many advantages, but also some risks. That’s where reviews come in. We’ve gathered quite a few from around the web to find out what customers like about each brand. Let’s start with Halo Collar.
Halo Collar has a 4.2/5 star score on Trustpilot with 378 reviews. Customers often express how much they love their customer service, and love the fast response they get when in need of support. This is also impressive given the sheer volume of Halo Collar sales. Halo Collar boasts being the top-selling wireless GPS dog fence in the nation, protecting over 150,000 dogs from over 350 breeds.
Amazon shoppers also think highly of the company, stating that though the Halo Collar is pricey, it has exceptional features and unmatched reliability compared with other similar models on the market. It provides superior peace of mind which makes it an incredibly valuable tool.
An in-depth review on Gear Junkie seconded these sentiments, agreeing that the Halo Collar is highly accurate, easy to use, and has excellent features such as invisible fence creation and training.
To summarize all this feedback, customers say Halo Collar:
- Has excellent customer service
- Is easy to use and set up
- Has unmatched reliability
- Provides peace of mind
- Has exceptional features
As for SpotOn Fence, the brand’s website shows a score of 4.4/5 stars among 564 reviews. Customers say it’s highly accurate and they love the notifications they get through the app, such as low battery alerts.
Other shoppers say the customer support is fantastic and is based in the US. On Amazon, shoppers say the brand’s Gen 2 device has some excellent upgrades and does a great job at tracking.
On the App Store, the SpotOn collar has a 4.8/5 star rating and 437 reviews. Users say it’s excellent for large properties and makes it easy to keep track of their dogs. Advanced features such as virtual fences are easy to set up and dogs are trained quickly through the warning tones.
Customers say the SpotOn Fence:
- Gives their dogs freedom
- Provides peace of mind
- Has excellent customer service
- Is highly accurate
- Is easy to set up
I’ve got to admit that the feedback for each of these brands is similar. There’s quite a bit of feedback available for both brands, which report excellent customer service and high accuracy. Of course, not everyone reports the same experience, but that’s exactly why great customer support matters.
Halo Collar vs. SpotOn Fence: Promotions & Discounts
Neither of these collars comes cheap, but considering all of their features, they shouldn’t. With that in mind, the decision to buy one is something you should take seriously, looking into all of the perks that come with each option.
Both of these brands offer different ways to save, and I’ll compare them against each other in this section of my Halo Collar vs. SpotOn Fence review.
Halo Collar offers the following ways to save:
- Refer a friend program: you’ll get a $50 gift card to your choice of hundreds of top brands like Target, Visa, or Amazon.
- Warehouse deals: Shop this section for like-new products and save up to $250 on your Halo Collar 3
- Enter your email to get exclusive access to deals and promotions
SpotOn offers the following ways to save:
- Save $25: Enter your email to get $25 off your purchase
- Accident forgiveness: SpotOn offers a one-time repair warranty if your dog accidentally breaks the collar
- Refurbished replacements: If your collar is damaged beyond repair, SpotOn offers refurbished replacements for $500
- Refer a friend: Give $25, get $25
While I appreciate that SpotOn offers accident forgiveness and refurbished replacements, Halo Collar’s like-new warehouse deals really put it ahead in terms of what you can save. Each of these brands has some really appealing offers, it all depends on what you value most.
Who Will You Choose?
You need a smart dog collar, and at this point in my Halo Collar vs. SpotOn review, you’ve read the details of each. So, which one will you go with? Naturally, at this point you’re leaning more towards one than the other, taking features, price, promotions, and customer support in mind.
Halo Collar claims to provide the most accurate tracking on the market, and according to customers, that’s true. What’s more, they report that setup is easy, the app is easy to use, and the many features it offers bring complete peace of mind and convenience. While the daily charging is a bump in the road for some, it’s not a deterrent.
Both brands allow you to set boundaries that your dog will be alerted of before they cross. Which is more accurate? Halo Collar uses a GNS chip—the most accurate type of GPS for a dog collar that allows for pinpointed tracking. Both collars use different satellite systems (Halo Collar uses 6, SpotOn uses 4), and both use AI and motion sensors to eliminate drift.
As for its price, well, it’s really all about value here. Sure, there are less expensive alternatives on the market, but they don’t offer the same features. In comparison to the SpotOn GPS Fence, Halo Collar is the more affordable option, and even with the low-cost subscription, you’ll still pay less over several years of use.
Made up your mind? Visit Halo Collar or SpotOn to start shopping.
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