Published Jan 24, 2026
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
If you have an indoor-outdoor cat, you may wonder where they spend their time. Or, you might want to be alerted when they’ve roamed too far from home!
Having a tracker on your cat won’t keep them safe outdoors like a leash or catio, but it can stop them from getting lost and allows you to get to them quickly when needed. There are a variety of trackers on the market, and not all of them are made specifically for cats.
In this article, we’ll compare Tractive and Airtag trackers and talk about which one is likely to work best for you. We’ll also break down the differences in their pricing and intended uses.
Background on Tractive
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Tractive is a GPS tracker designed to locate free-roaming cats. There is no limit to how far you can track your cat using a Tractive device, and you can also get alerts if they go outside of “virtual fences” that you set up within the Tractive GPS app.
A full charge on the device lasts for up to five days. It comes with a charger, a breakaway collar, and two mounts. Tractive devices use SIM cards to connect with cellular networks, which unfortunately do require a subscription to function. Though Tractive has one of the cheapest subscription costs among pet GPS tracker brands, you do have to pay for at least one year in advance. The basic plan costs $108/year while the premium plan costs $120/year.
With a basic subscription, the app allows you to track health stats such as your cat’s activity levels and how much they sleep each day. If your cat wears their device longterm, the app will also alert you to changes in activity levels which may allow you to detect health problems early–potentially saving you thousands of dollars on emergency vet bills. Cats are good at hiding illness, and their first symptoms are often subtle.
Of course, you can also track your cat in real time if you need to find them immediately and see the location history of the tracker over the past 24 hours. Tractive also has a “Radar Mode,” which uses bluetooth technology to find cats that are just hiding under the bed!
Those with a premium subscription can do all of the above as well as view 365 days of location history and invite multiple family members to view their cat’s location and activity levels. The premium plan also includes worldwide coverage and the ability to export your GPS data.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Tractive offers a 30-day money back guarantee and a two year warranty on all trackers. Under Tractive Care, which costs an additional $25.44 each year, you can get one replacement annually in the case of theft, loss, or damage to the tracker.
Background on the Apple Airtag
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Airtag is designed for people who lose their things and works best in close proximity, such as around the house. When lost, the Airtag can play a (fairly quiet) beeping sound. The Find My app can tell you how many feet you are away from the Airtag and literally points you in the right direction.
Unlike Tractive, Airtag doesn’t have live GPS tracking. Instead, the Find My app lets you know where the Airtag was last detected and how long it’s been since. Because it tracks using bluetooth, there have to be Apple devices nearby in order to get accurate location data, and it still won’t take you quite as close to your cat as a GPS tracker.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
If your cat is lost, you can set your Airtag to Lost Mode, which will notify you when the Airtag is detected by an Apple device. You can also set it to provide contact information to anyone who taps the Airtag with their smartphone, but this can only happen if your neighbors are tech-savvy enough to know how to use it!
Airtag doesn’t require a subscription, and your Airtag can be shared with others in the family so that multiple people can track your cat. The battery isn’t rechargeable, but is designed to last over a year before it will need to be replaced with a standard coin cell battery.
A few other features include waterproofing in case the Airtag gets rained on or your cat’s collar falls off into a puddle, and encryption to keep your information private.
Airtag is made by Apple and uses the Find My app, which isn’t available on Android.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Overall, Airtags are a better fit for those who lose their cat’s harness or leash than for cats themselves, and Apple is pretty clear about this. Airtags can also present a choking hazard for your cat or other pets if they fall off of the collar.
Tractive vs. Airtag: Review and Comparison
While both are trackers, Tractive devices and Airtags are made for different purposes. To help you decide which is right for you, we’ll go over the following:
- Set-up and App Functionality
- Tracking and Distance
- Included Accessories
- Added Costs
- Overall Impressions
Let’s dive into our in-depth reviews.
1. Set-Up and App Functionality
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
I found both the Airtag and Tractive devices easy to set up. Tractive is entirely catered to pets, so it asks for more information about your cat, including their name, breed, age, and weight. I was pleased that the app offers a “mixed breed” option right at the top, since most cats aren’t purebreds and I’ve used several pet apps that lack this option. You’ll also be prompted to add a photo of your cat.
Since Airtag is made primarily to track items, it doesn’t ask for your cat’s breed or birthdate. Simply name the device and choose an emoji to represent it in the app.
Both devices connect to your smartphone using bluetooth. Airtag uses the Find My app, which is exclusive to Apple devices. Tractive uses the Tractive GPS app, which is available on Apple and Android.
Both apps open to a map view, where you can see the place your cat was last located. Tractive has a live tracking feature that allows you to watch your cat move in real time and track them down if needed. The Tractive GPS app also provides health information including your cat’s activity levels, sleeping patterns, and alerts when changes are detected. You can view your cat’s location history for the past 24 hours.
With a premium subscription, you can view a 365 day history of where your cat has been and share their data with friends and family.
In contrast, it’s more difficult to track a free-roaming cat using the Find My app. It just isn’t what Airtags are made for. While the app shows the last place your cat was detected, it seems slow to update. It’s great for inanimate objects like your keys, which are unlikely to move, but not so much for a cat who’s running around the neighborhood!
If your cat is nearby, however, the Find My app can tell you how far from them you are and whether you’re moving closer or further away. You can also play a beeping sound to help locate them.
Winner for best set-up and app: Tractive
2. Tracking and Distance
My cats do not go outside unattended, so to test these devices, I had a family member drive around my neighborhood while I watched each app in turn.
I found that the Tractive GPS app is better for hunting down free-roaming cats in real time. With live tracking, you can see exactly where they are and where they’re going. Afterwards, the areas your cat has traveled are highlighted in orange. If you have a premium subscription, this data is saved for an entire year in the “history” tab.
Airtag, on the other hand, showed the device as being at home the entire time and never alerted me that it had left the house. This may be because it was less than a mile away at all times, but since your free-roaming cat hopefully isn’t wandering miles and miles away from home, this makes it less useful for that kind of tracking.
While Airtags can bring you within about 30-100 feet of the device, Tractive uses GPS satellites to provide real-time tracking that brings you within 25 feet of your cat.
Both Airtag and Tractive can find cats nearby if needed. However, those with cats that stay in their home or even their yards don’t typically lose them. Assuming you want to track your cat at a distance, Tractive is the better option.
Winner for cat tracking abilities: Tractive
3. Included Accessories
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Tractive comes with a breakaway collar, a clip mount, and a rubber mount. Airtag doesn’t come with a collar and cannot be added to a normal cat collar without a mount, so you’ll have to purchase one separately.
When choosing an Airtag-compatible collar, always select one with a breakaway clasp. These clasps are made to release quickly if your cat gets caught on something, and prevent them from getting trapped or choked.
The other difference between the devices is that Tractive has a rechargeable battery, while Airtag has a long-lasting coin cell battery that will need to be replaced when it dies. Tractive includes a charger but not a charging cube, while Airtag comes with one battery installed but no replacements.
Winner for best accessories: Tractive
4. Added Costs
After purchasing an Airtag, the only additional costs are battery replacements. Airtags use CR2032 coin cell batteries, which are typically sold in multipacks for less than $5 per battery.
You will also need an Apple device in order to download the Find My app and set up your Airtag.
Tractive, on the other hand, requires a subscription paid every one, two, or five years. Plans cannot be paid monthly.
The basic Tractive subscription, which costs $108/year, includes live GPS tracking, virtual fences, 24-hour location history, and activity and sleep monitoring. The premium plan, which costs $120/year, includes:
- Live GPS monitoring
- Activity and sleep monitoring
- Family sharing
- Worldwide coverage
- 365-day location history
- GPS data export
If you want to choose between plans, you’ll need to choose the advanced set-up option. The quick set-up option in the app brings you straight to the premium subscription, which felt a little dishonest to me. Many people will choose the quickest set-up only to think that premium pricing is their only option!
Winner for fewest added costs: Airtag
5. Overall Impressions
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
In my testing, I found that Airtag is best for nearby or unmoving objects. It’s not made to track free-roaming cats in real time, and I don’t think you’ll be happy if you buy it for that purpose. If they come loose from your pet’s collar, Airtags can also present a choking hazard or cause health problems if swallowed.
Tractive is much more expensive, especially after including subscription fees, but it’s also designed for cat safety. Tractive’s SIM cards partner with every major cellular network and provide real-time GPS tracking so that you can quickly find your cat no matter how far they roam.
As long as you can afford the annual subscription and your area has cellular coverage, I think you’ll be happy with its tracking abilities.
Overall winner: Tractive
How Do They Compare in Cost?
There’s a drastic difference in price between the Airtag and Tractive devices, which makes sense because they’re also quite different in terms of functionality.
Starting with Tractive, the device itself costs $49.99 and comes with a collar and a charger. In order for it to function, you’ll also need to purchase an annual subscription, starting at $108. This breaks down to about $9/month for the peace of mind that comes with always knowing where your cat is and tracking their basic health. When you think about it, those are huge benefits, all for the price of a takeout coffee!
One Airtag costs $29.99, but they’re also sold in four-packs, which will reduce your cost per item. Since Airtags don’t come with collars and aren’t made to attach to an existing collar, you’ll need to purchase one separately. I chose this one for $7.97. The Airtag doesn’t require a subscription.
Though the Airtag is cheaper, it’s unlikely to suit your needs unless you want to locate your cat indoors or in a small backyard. Tractive has more features to actually find your cat if they’re wandering freely.
Which Option is Right For You?
Having tested both the Tractive tracker and the Apple Airtag, I think that both are great products. However, the Tractive device is better suited to those who want to track their outdoor cats, while the Airtag is best for nearby lost items, such as if you’re always misplacing your cat’s leash.
Tractive Might Be Right For You If…
- You want a device that tracks your outdoor cat in real time and provides alerts if they leave a designated area, or “virtual fence” that you can set up in-app
- You want to monitor your cat’s activity levels, sleep habits, or favorite locations, as noticing these subtle changes in these areas can increase your chances of catching health issues in their early stages
- You can afford to pay for an annual subscription on top of the price of the tracker itself, in order to receive peace of mind through tracking your cat’s location and health
- You are concerned about the swallow hazard of Airtags, since they are not intended for pets
An Airtag Might Be Right For You If…
- You misplace yours or your cat’s things inside the house or very nearby
- You already have an iPhone, which is required in order to download the Find My app and set up your Airtag
Lastly, please note that having a tracker on your cat does not keep them safe outdoors and isn’t a replacement for your own supervision. The very best thing is to transition your cat to an indoor lifestyle and only allow them on supervised outdoor adventures, such as on a harness or in a catio.
