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Halo and SpotOn are very similar virtual wireless dog fencing systems, but there are some significant differences between the two. How do these two GPS-enabled systems compare? We’ll give you all the details you need to help you decide which one is best for your specific needs and your budget.
Visit Halo Collar’s Website | Visit SpotOn GPS Fence’s Website
| Halo 2+ | SpotOn | |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment |  |  |
| Features | | |
| Performance | | |
| Price | | |
| Customer Service & Reputation | | |
| Overall Winner | | |
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
Upgrades For Both Systems
Before we launch into our review, we think it’s important to point out that both Halo and SpotOn have made significant overhauls of their first-generation systems based on customer feedback. These upgrades include everything from improved collar durability and battery life to GPS and cellular performance. SpotOn also introduced a newly designed app. Here’s a handy table comparing the major features of their latest systems, followed by more in-depth comparisons of both.
At A Glance: Features Of Halo Collar vs SpotOn GPS Fence
| Halo 2+ Collar | SpotOn GPS Fence Gen 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Yard Size | 0.2 acres | 0.5 acres |
| Max Coverage | 1,200 acres | 1,000s of acres |
| No. of Customizable Fences | Up to 20 | Up to 1,500 (can save 20 in app at one time) |
| Overlapping Fences | No | Yes |
| GPS Coverage | GNSS (includes GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, etc.) | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou |
| Location Tracking | Collar automatically updates every 15 seconds (but can manually refresh real-time tracking via app) | Collar automatically updates every 6 seconds |
| Collar Sizes | 11″ to 30.5″ | 10″ to 26″ |
| Battery Life | Up to 20 hours | Up to 22 hours |
| Correction Levels | 15 | 30 |
| Cellular Coverage | AT&T 4G | AT&T or Verizon 4G LTE-M |
| Subscription Required | Yes | No |
| Training Included | Yes | Yes |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 60 days | 90 days |
| System Price | $699 | $1,295 |
Equipment
Halo’s collar can accommodate neck sizes between 11″ to 30.5.” SpotOn recently added a small collar to its lineup, so now SpotOn can accommodate 10″ to 26″ neck sizes. Both collars are waterproof and have convenient rechargeable batteries. The battery life of the Halo 2+ Collar is up to 20 hours, while SpotOn’s battery lasts 22 hours in containment mode and 14 hours in tracking mode. Unfortunately, both require daily charging.
Both companies redesigned their collars to be much more durable than the original ones, but the Halo 2+ collar has a Pro-case that can endure chewing and rough terrains. Although it’s a close race in this category, we give Halo the edge because its collar has a wider range of sizes and better durability than SpotOn’s collar.
Equipment Winner: Halo
Features
Both GPS systems work the same way, but when it comes to features, SpotOn wins this category. With SpotOn, you can create 1,500 fences, which can overlap each other. Halo only allows you to set up 20 fences, but you can’t overlap them. Still, both systems can cover an extremely wide area of property. It’s important to note that SpotOn requires a minimum of 1/2 acre to work properly, while you can use Halo in a smaller yard (0.2 acres).
Both systems give you multiple correction levels (including tone, vibration, and static modes), but SpotOn gives you 30 levels, while Halo only gives you 15. You can use their apps to manage your fences and feedback for your pup. Both systems have excellent portability and can be used over any terrain. And both offer expert training to help you get your pup acclimated to the fencing system.
Features Winner: SpotOn
Performance
Both companies utilize multiple constellation satellites that transmit positioning and timing data to the collars’ built-in antennas. And both Halo and SpotOn have many positive customer reviews about their systems’ overall performance. Unfortunately, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), including GPS, isn’t 100% full-proof. So both companies get some negative reviews about their consistent performance.
However, SpotOn gets fewer complaints about the accuracy of fencing boundaries and location tracking than Halo. Based on our research, this difference is likely due to the positioning of each collar’s antenna. SpotOn’s is placed directly on the top of the collar, while Halo’s is on the side. Another plus for SpotOn, it has a special feature called Forest Mode for use if your yard has heavy tree cover. When activated, it makes GPS even more sensitive.
Regarding their apps, both Halo and SpotOn get more overall positive than negative reviews for their performance and user-friendliness. But SpotOn’s 2nd Gen iOS and Android apps get higher customer ratings than Halo. SpotOn has a 4.8 rating on Apple’s App Store and 4.6 on Google Play. with a 4.7/5.0 average compared to On the other hand, Halo’s apps have a 4.1 iOS rating and 2.9 Android rating.
Performance Winner: SpotOn
Price
The clear winner in this category is the Halo Collar. While SpotOn has a few added features that Halo doesn’t, we don’t think those features make up for the huge price disparity between the two systems in the initial purchase price alone.
Halo Price
The Halo collar and system price includes 30 days free of their Gold subscription plan (see below). Halo has a 60-day satisfaction guarantee and a one-year warranty.
Coupon Code
Use this link to get $50 off your Halo Collar purchase and unlock a special discount.
Halo Subscription Plans
A Halo subscription plan is required to enable data storage for fences, GPS location services, activity tracking, and training from Cesar Millan.
The Basic plan gives you most of what you’ll need for the system to work, including unlimited cellular data. The Silver plan’s major benefit is advanced tracking, and the Gold plan gives you premium training content.
- Basic: $4.49/month
- Silver: $9.99/month
- Gold: $29.99/month
SpotOn Price
SpotOn offers a 90-day money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty. You can get a 90-day free trial of their subscription plan but only if you sign up for the one or two-year plan.
Coupon Code
Use coupon code CANINE to get $100 off your SpotOn purchase via this link.
SpotOn Subscription Plan
Unlike Halo, a subscription isn’t required for SpotOn. The fencing boundaries work without one. However, the SpotOn GPS Fence requires its AT&T or Verizon cellular coverage services for its location tracking feature to work.
- $9.95/month (monthly)
- $7.95/month (1-year plan)
- $5.95/month (2-year plan)
As you can see, the initial price of the SpotOn system is nearly $300 more than Halo. We also think Halo’s Silver monthly plan at $9.99 per month is all you’d need (and very likely the Basic plan at $4.49 per month will work for many people). Compare this to SpotOn’s cheapest plan option at $5.95 per month (which requires a 2-year commitment), and we still think Halo has the leg up here.
Price Winner: Halo
Customer Service & Reputation
Both of these companies are fairly new, so it’s hard for us to get a picture of their long-term reputation or customer service track records. Still, from what we’ve seen from user reviews, both companies get mixed reviews for their customer service and tech support.
Halo tech support is available for video chat sessions via Zoom, phone, and email support seven days per week. (Although phone wait times can be long.) SpotOn tech support is available Mondays through Fridays via live chat, phone, and email, with email and phone appointments on the weekends. We give the nod to Halo for offering live Zoom sessions.
Customer Service & Reputation Winner: Halo
Overall Winner
We give the win to Halo in this comparison, largely due to the significant pricing difference. Its functionality and range of features are impressive for over $600 less than SpotOn. However, the choice between the two ultimately comes down to your needs. With arguably more accurate GPS tracking and fencing boundaries and more customizable fencing, SpotOn could be a better fit for you if you can afford it. If you’d like to learn more about either product, you can read our full Halo 2+ or SpotOn review.
Overall Winner: Halo
If you’re not sold on these expensive GPS-enabled systems, then you may want to consider some more affordable wireless dog fencing systems. These other systems work well for a regular-sized family yard using radio frequencies to keep your dog in bounds.
Tagged With: Containment
