Portable GPS Trackers: Best Choices for Every Need

Portable GPS trackers give you the advantage of using them in several different ways. Unlike GPS devices hard-wired into vehicles or strongly connected to important assets, you can use them driving, traveling, improving safety, security, and protecting assets.

Plenty of portable GPS trackers have entered the consumer market in recent years, which could make it challenging for you to choose a model that fits your unique needs. The following sections offer some advice that will help you find the right option for you.

What Is a Portable GPS Tracker and How Does It Work?

All GPS units, even the most basic options, receive signals from satellites that orbit the planet. The signals they receive include each satellite’s location information. Based on location information from at least four satellites, GPS trackers can triangulate where they are on the Earth’s surface.

Although basic GPS chips — like the one found in your smartphone — can calculate locations fairly accurately, portable GPS trackers for personal use and business use rely on more sophisticated software to provide real-time tracking. Ideally, they can provide historical and real-time tracking data, so you can track assets as they move and review where they’ve been in the past.

Want to learn more about the technology that powers GPS? Read our post: How GPS Tracking Works.

Key Features to Look for in a Portable GPS Tracker

The best portable GPS trackers have features that make them attractive to individual users and businesses. Start by looking for models with lightweight, compact designs. Once you narrow your search to those options, you can focus on other key features that make GPS trackers useful.

Battery Life

A GPS tracker’s battery life tells you how long it can function after you charge it. How long should a battery last between charges largely depends on how you intend to use the tracker. If you have a personal GPS tracker that you only use occasionally, you might look for a device with a one-week battery life. If you want portable GPS trackers for vehicle tracking, though, you might want a battery that can last several weeks or even months before needing a recharge.

Battery life can vary significantly, so it’s worth thinking about what you need. Also, you can expect to pay more for devices with longer battery life. 

Real-Time Tracking

Real-time tracking lets you view your GPS tracker’s location as it moves. Without real-time tracking, you might only get updates every several minutes, making it nearly impossible to determine speed and current direction.

Durability

Portable GPS trackers can encounter a broad range of environments, including wet and dirty places. Look for models with robust exteriors that repel water and dust.

You might find cheap portable trackers that don’t resist water and dirt well. In the long run, you’ll save money and get more from your device by choosing an option with a sturdier case.

Size

A portable, personal GPS tracker should fit into a pocket, purse, or backpack. If it’s too big for you to carry easily, it isn’t really a portable option.

App compatibility

If you already use specific tracking apps, look for a portable tracker compatible with those apps. Alternatively, you can look for portable GPS trackers with applications that have better features than the app you currently use.

Best Portable GPS Trackers for Personal Use

Personal GPS trackers suit the needs of use cases like:

• Keeping track of children
• Monitoring elderly family members 
• Tracking personal assets 

Some of the most popular portable GPS trackers for personal use include:

• LandAirSea 54 — compact, lightweight, affordable...it has everything you need in a personal GPS tracker
• Tracki — offers real-time tracking, but you’ll need to recharge it pretty often
• Jiobit — is compact and accurate, but expect to pay over $125 for one

What to Consider When Choosing a Personal GPS Tracker

Consider your specific use case when choosing personal GPS trackers. Does a model lack important features? Will the battery last long enough? Is it easy to set up and start using?

Top Portable GPS Trackers for Vehicle Tracking

Start your search by focusing on the following GPS tracker for vehicle tracking using a vehicle's OBD-II port:

• LandAirSea SYNC — plugs directly into a vehicle’s OBD-II port, so it never runs out of power
• Bouncie — connects to OBD-II ports, but is expensive in comparison.

How to Choose a Vehicle GPS Tracker

Some of the most important features to consider when choosing a vehicle GPS include:

• Ease of installation
• Real-time tracking accuracy
• Ability to set alerts

Portable GPS Trackers for Asset and Equipment Tracking

Some popular options for asset and equipment tracking include:

• LandAirSea Overdrive — its long battery life, compact size, and feature-rich app make it one of the best options for asset and equipment tracking
• Tektelic ORCA — an efficient, reliable GPS tracker, but its large size makes it a bit cumbersome
• Abeeway Industrial Tracker — excels at location accuracy, but it’s built for large companies and needs some training to operate

What Makes a Good Asset Tracking GPS Device?

Considering that assets could sit in storage for weeks or months between uses, GPS devices designed to track them need long battery lives and durable exteriors.

Comparing Different Types of Portable GPS Trackers

Use the following comparison to start focusing on the type of portable GPS tracker that works well for you.

Compact GPS Trackers

Compact GPS trackers benefit from:

• Small sizes that make them easy to carry
• Discreet designs so you can hide them to protect or recover stolen assets
• Light weights that typically go unnoticed even during hours of movement

The potential downside is that compact models might have limited battery life.

Extended Battery Life GPS Trackers

You might prefer one of these personal GPS trackers because you don’t need to charge them very often. They’re great for people who don’t want to worry about batteries running low.

However, a larger battery could mean a slightly larger size and heavier weight. Depending on your priorities, that trade off might not matter.

Vehicle GPS Trackers

Vehicle GPS trackers that connect with OBD-II ports don’t need independent batteries because they can pull power from the vehicle.

If you choose this type of tracker, keep in mind that it will only work while plugged into a standard OBD-II port. That means it will only work in your vehicle.

How to Choose the Best Portable GPS Tracker for Your Needs

Choosing the best portable GPS tracker for your needs can seem like a difficult task. It often helps to list your priorities. Once you know which features matter most to you — battery life, price, size, etc. — you can compare trackers to your list. If a tracker doesn’t fit your priorities, you know it isn’t the right model for you.

Of course, you might not get every feature you want while staying within your price range. In that case, choose the portable GPS tracker that checks off most of the items on your list. That’s almost certainly the right tracker for you.

You have a lot of options when exploring portable GPS trackers. If you ever feel uncertain, reach out to LandAirSea for expert advice.