• Features: ★★★★☆ 4/5
  • Quality: ★★★★☆ 4/5
  • Pricing: ★★★★☆ 4/5
  • Ease of Use: ★★★★★ 5/5
  • Customer Experience: ★★★★☆ 4/5
  • Customer Support: ★★★★☆ 4/5

2022's Fi Collar Review [Features & Price]

Fact-checked
  • Features: ★★★★☆ 4/5
  • Quality: ★★★★☆ 4/5
  • Pricing: ★★★★☆ 4/5
  • Ease of Use: ★★★★★ 5/5
  • Customer Experience: ★★★★☆ 4/5
  • Customer Support: ★★★★☆ 4/5

Best For

Owners looking for simplicity and accuracy

STRENGTHS

  • Has a long-lasting battery life
  • Offers low-power LTE-M network connectivity
  • Includes Sleep tracking and Lost Dog mode feature

WEAKNESSES

  • Fi Collar sizes are not a good choice for smaller breeds under 10 pounds
  • Location tracking needs improvement

Do you have a furry friend who likes going on walks? If so, you need a good dog collar that will keep them safe and secure. If you often worry about your dog’s safety, the Fi collar will surely give you some peace of mind, as it will help keep you posted on your pet’s whereabouts and activity.

In this FI Collar review, we’ll give you greater insight into everything the collar has to offer. We’ll provide information on how it works, its main features, where to buy it, and how it compares to other quality collars available on the market.

What Is Fi Collar and How Does It Work?

The Fi collar is a high-tech gadget “built for dogs and made for pet parents,” as the manufacturer claims. The Fi collar is available in 4 different sizes and it’s meant for dogs heavier than 10 pounds. To figure out what size makes a good fit for your dog, you can use the Fi Sizing Guide.

With a simple yet sophisticated design, the collar is made of sturdy aluminum and reinforced metal structure. The Fi dog collar is also waterproof and bite-resistant and includes a LED light, which makes it the perfect choice for dog owners who enjoy night walks with their pups.

The Fi Collar includes GPS and LTE-M technologies that allow owners to track their dog’s steps, activity, and location. This collar uses a base station that connects to your home WiFi, and the Fi app notifies you whenever your dog leaves the safe zone.

While outside, the collar functions by using Bluetooth connectivity, and when your pup steps outside your smartphone’s Bluetooth range, the collar switches to GPS tracking. You can also add additional bases to the collar using the phones of people you trust, such as close friends or your dog walker.

Fi smart dog collar reviews show the latest Fi collar version gives owners greater security. Compared to its earlier version, the second-generation Fi collars the company now produces have enhanced durability, a Wi-fi and LTE-M network for better tracking, and a sleep tracking feature to monitor your pup’s health.

Main Features

This smart device combines some advanced features helpful for monitoring your dog’s activity and performance both while they sleep and are awake. Let’s take a closer look into what the Fi collar offers.

Location Tracking

The location tracking feature works by using the GPS system to provide owners with information on where their dog is. Like the majority of Fi dog collar reviews suggest, as with any other GPS tracking device, you shouldn’t expect to receive the precise location of your pup, but you’ll get a general outlook on your dog’s whereabouts. Nevertheless, we wouldn’t recommend relying on the collar when hiking in an area with poor service.

One of the things we like the most about this collar is that whenever your dog is taken for a walk, the app sends you a message, which can be very useful if you want to keep tabs on your dog walker.

Lost Dog Mode

Another amazing thing about this collar is that it offers live location tracking when you activate the Lost Dog Mode. However, owners should keep in mind that this feature relies on cell service, and won’t work in areas with no phone signal. According to Fi collar reviews, you receive location notifications almost every minute when this mode is activated, which makes it easier to track down your dog. The LED collar light will start flashing red, making your dog easier to spot in the dark.

Battery Life

Long-lasting battery life is one of the Fi collar’s most outstanding features. The manufacturer claims the collar can last up to 3 months on a single charge when primarily connected to the Fi Base within your home. However, how long the battery will last depends on the collar’s operating mode.

When the collar is away from the FI Base and the owner is using the Fi app, the battery will last around 3 weeks, whereas when the Lost Dog Mode is activated, the Fi collar battery life can last up to 2 days only due to the heavy power consumption.

Connectivity

Another feature that sets this collar apart from the competition is the LTE-M network. The low-power LTE-M signal is said to reach around 30% further compared to other LTE networks and helps preserve battery life. Users have reported no connectivity issues, and most are satisfied with the collar’s performance.

Pedometer

The Fi collar also offers the option to track your dog’s activity levels by counting the steps they take. The Fi app suggests your pet should take around 10,000 steps a day, but there’s no actual science behind the given number, and activity levels vary from one breed to another.

Another interesting feature mentioned in many Fi smart collar reviews is the option to compare your dog’s step count with other dogs in your area. However, many owners are not thrilled about it, seeing no point in comparing large dog breeds with smaller ones.

Sleep Tracking

Owners seem to love the Sleep tracker the Fi app includes, which provides information on how much time during the night and day your dog spends sleeping, as well as weekly and monthly analysis. This feature is considered especially valuable for owners of younger puppies, but it’s overall important for monitoring dogs’ health.

Durability

The Fi collar is said to perform well in terms of durability. The main device is protected by a metal layer and designed to withstand water and dust. All four Fi collar sizes have an adjustable strap to accommodate larger breeds too and come with a typical loop for attaching tags. Most importantly, the collar comes with a one-year warranty, so customers can get a replacement if the collar sustains any damage.

Possibility to Add Multiple People

This is another feature owners are fond of, as it allows them to keep track of their dog while they’re out with a dog walker or another registered owner on the Fi account.

The good news is, when assigning your dog walker privileges to your Fi account, you can limit their access. Fi tracking collar reviews show the collar has a high occurrence, and owners always receive notifications when someone is walking their dog.

Ease of Use

The Fi collar app has a basic and simple design. After downloading the app and allowing notification and location services, you gain access to your dog’s activity levels, location, and sleep patterns. The bottom of the app menu displays 5 sections: Live, Discover, Rank, Activity, and Profile.

  • Live is used for tracking, and it shows your dog’s current location, location history, and Fi collar battery life.
  • Discover is similar to a social media feed, as you may use it to post pictures and look at other dog accounts.
  • Rank lets you compare your dog’s activity with other dogs.
  • Activity gives you an overview of pies and charts that represent your dog’s sleeping pattern.
  • The Profile section includes your dog’s account information.

Pricing and Subscription

To get access to GPS tracking and all the features this collar has to offer, users need to subscribe to one of the three plans the Fi company offers.

Subscription Price
1-year subscription  $1.89/week

$99 billed annually

2-year subscription  $1.79/week

$186 billed every 2 years

3-year subscription $1.59/week

$248 billed every 3 years

In the table above, you can see how much does Fi collar cost based on subscription period length. Pet owners can choose between paying the full price annually or through weekly payments. Plans are automatically renewed, and the Fi company advises customers to file cancellation requests timely.

Customer Support

Fi customer support is available on live chat and mail 7 days a week from 10 am to 8 pm EST. However, there’s very little information available about the quality of their services.

Alternatives

Let’s take a look at how the Fi dog collar compares to other collar competitors:

Fi collar alternatives  Fi Collar  Halo Collar 

Read our full Halo Collar review here.

SpotOn Free Spirit In-Ground Fence
Win  LTE-M network connectivity Premium features  Subscription comes with one year of free tracking Offers invisible fences
Lose  Fewer features than competitors
& it’s not suitable for smaller breeds.
Pricey  Battery life lasts only 36 hours Shocks your dog when they cross a boundary
Best for  Owners looking for simplicity and accuracy Owners looking for advanced features Owners of outdoorsy canines  Owners with large properties 

Fi dog collar reviews show that if you own a dog that has a habit of running away, the Fi collar is just what you need. It notifies you as soon as the dog steps outside the range, offering GPS, LTE-M, and a Lost Dog Mode that make it very effective in tracking down a lost dog. Nevertheless, if you’re interested in more dog collars, take a look at how the Tractive dog collar performs.

Fi Collar Review: Is It Worth It?

The Fi Collar is a great option for those looking for an affordable and user-friendly dog collar tracker. The Fi app is straightforward and easy to use and includes the possibility to add more people to the account. Additionally, the Fi app will notify you every time your dog is on a walk. Overall, the Fi dog collar is waterproof, has a durable design, and has an amazing battery life, which makes it a great choice for those looking for a simplistic dog tracking collar.

Nevertheless, although collars contribute to your dog’s safety, if your dog gets into trouble on a daily basis, you might want to consider pet insurance for covering frequent vet expenses.

FAQ

Can you use the Fi collar without subscription?

The Fi collar can function without a subscription, but users don’t have access to GPS tracking. If the dog wanders outside the range of the Fi Base or smartphone, you won’t be able to track them down.

What is the best tracking device for a dog?

There’s a wide range of tracking devices available on the market, and they all come with different features and price tags. When looking for a dog collar tracking device, you should always consider your budget and your dog’s needs.

Can I track my dog with my phone?

The simple answer is yes, you can track your dog by using the Fi collar app. As mentioned earlier in our Fi collar review, owners can use the Fi app to keep track of their dogs’ location and get notified whenever they move away from their home WiFi base.

How do I choose CBD oil for my dog?

When shopping for CBD oil for your dog, the first thing to pay attention to is what it’s made of and how much THC it contains. However, there are many other things dog owners should be aware of as well to make informed decisions when looking for a CBD oil for their canine friend.

ABOUT AUTHOR

When she couldn’t decide between being a nurse, a psychotherapist, and a financial genius, Ofelia decided to do all three. Her interests run far and wide, and she loves researching about everything you get to read on our website. Credit cards or top-notch software, she’s here to tell it all like it is.