Pod Pet Tracker Review

UPDATED Mar. 2024
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Pod 3 is a GPS pet tracker used for both indoor and outdoor tracking. It is the brainchild of Pod Trackers, an Australia-based company that has been producing some of the smallest and lightest GPS pet trackers available since 2014.

Pod 3 boasts a virtually unlimited communication range, provides near-real-time location tracking, and offers useful health and fitness monitoring features. All these characteristics make it superior to most of its competitors and thus more than worthy of your attention. Learn everything you need to know about this advanced pet tracking solution in our detailed Pod 3 review.

Pod 3 homepage

How Pod 3 Works

Pod 3 is a pet tracker for cats and dogs that combines the benefits of GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular technologies. It consists of a lightweight tracking unit equipped with a next-generation GPS chip and a roaming SIM card.

When you are at home, Pod 3 uses your home WiFi router to determine your pet’s location. It uses surrounding WiFi routers for indoor tracking when GPS tracking is not an option. In the outdoors, the device uses GPS as the main location method. Finally, if your pet is close to your phone, the device may use Bluetooth for establishing his or her location.

The tracking unit attached to your pet’s collar sends information to your smartphone using 2G and 3G cellular networks. Since the device is equipped with a SIM card of its own, it does not matter which service provider you are using for your phone. In order to access location information and all available features, you need to download and install the dedicated app, with both smartphone and web applications available.

Pod 3 how work

Pod 3 Design

The Pod 3 tracking unit is cylinder-shaped, black, and generally features a rather sleek design. It is debatable whether the shape of the unit is well-suited for its intended purpose, as the device may seem bulky on smaller pets. However, our tests have shown that due to its lightness, the tracking unit does not interfere with the natural movement of pets of different sizes and does not cause any discomfort.

The tracking unit is attached to the pet’s existing collar with a long rubber strap featuring multiple holes and a button for fastening. The strap is fed through the slot on the device and looped around the collar. If desired, the excess strap can be cut off. However, since Pod 3 can also be used on various larger objects, such as bicycles, it may be a good idea to leave the excess strap if you want to use the device for purposes other than pet tracking.

The device measures 2 inches (52 mm) in length and 0.9 inches (25 mm) in diameter. It weighs just 1.1 oz. (31 g), which makes it suitable for large and small cats and dogs. Although the company does not provide concrete information on recommended pet size, it does state that its numerous customers use Pod 3 on animals of all shapes and sizes, including emus, falcons, and small cat and dog breeds.

Pod 3 Technical Specifications

Apart from the device’s size and weight, which were covered in the previous section of this Pod 3 review, there are numerous physical and technical aspects that determine the usefulness of a pet tracker. Let us now examine Pod 3’s technical specifications, focusing on the durability, range, and accuracy of this tracker.

Shockproof

The manufacturer of Pod 3 states that the device is resistant to impact. Our tests have confirmed that it is not prone to damage regardless of the form and level of activity in which your pet may engage.

Waterproof

Pod 3 is resistant to water and boasts an IPX7 waterproof rating. This means that the device is protected from accidental submersion in water of up to 3 feet for up to 30 minutes, which is rather impressive.

Battery

Pod 3 comes with 2 interchangeable, rechargeable batteries. With minimum use, in standby mode, the battery can last for up to 5 days. With safe zone tracking, battery life ranges from 1.5 to 3 days. In live tracking adventure mode, it can last for between 6 and 8 hours.

Communication Range

The tracker does not have a limited communication range. It can work over any distance within cellular coverage.

Accuracy

The accuracy of Pod 3 depends on the location method used. With Bluetooth tracking, you can expect the device to be accurate within 10 feet. With GPS, the average accuracy is about 30 feet. With WiFi tracking, the approximate accuracy is about 90 feet.

Light

The device features a small arrow-shaped light display at the base opposite to the battery. The light is not only useful when searching for your pet at night, it can also provide valuable information on the device’s battery, data transfer, and GPS status.

App Compatibility

Pod 3 comes with smartphone apps for Android and iOS and a web app that can be accessed via a computer or phone browsers. Pod 3 smartphone apps are compatible with Android 5.0+ and iOS 8+. The phone should be Bluetooth-enabled to allow for tracking via Bluetooth.

Pod 3 App

Pod 3 smartphone and web apps are easy to use and cleverly designed. They feature 2 main screens: the Map screen and the Pet screen. With the Map screen, you can view location information for all your pets and manually refresh their locations. Furthermore, you can add new pets, manage your account settings, and access Pod Help if you need assistance.

With the Pet screen, you can see your pet’s last known locations and location time, view 24-hour location history, and access and manage safe zone, location refresh rate, adventure recording, and activity monitoring settings. If you need help understanding and using any of the features, you can access helpful tutorials straight from the Pet screen.

You can use Pod 3 apps for multiple pets and also share access with multiple users, so your friends and family can keep an eye on your pets as well.

Pod-3 app

Pod 3 Features

As suggested previously in this Pod 3 review, this device can be appropriately described as a feature-rich pet tracker that does much more than just keep track of your pet’s location. It is time for a comprehensive overview of the entire set of features offered by Pod 3.

Near-Real-Time Tracking

Pod 3 can update your pet’s location every 10 seconds in adventure mode, which qualifies as near-real-time tracking. Its minimum location update interval is much shorter than with many other pet trackers, which allows you to track your pet more quickly and efficiently.

3 Tracking Modes

In order to help you save battery, the manufacturer of Pod 3 has decided to allow you to choose between 3 tracking modes. The first mode is Standby, in which location information is refreshed every 3 hours and the battery can last for up to 5 days.

The second mode is Safe Zone, in which the location refresh rate is 5 minutes by default but can be anywhere between 2 minutes and 2 hours, depending on your preferences. In the Safe Zone mode, you get instant notifications if your pet leaves the safe zone.

The third mode is Adventure, in which your pet’s location information is updated every 10 seconds. In this mode, you can record your pet’s walks and revisit them at a later time. Your pet’s walk is shown on a map, with useful additional information provided, including distance walked, time spent walking, area covered, and average speed. Safe Zone alerts are disabled in the Adventure mode.

Location History

With Location History, you can view your pet’s past locations during a period of 24 hours. You can select each individual location and view the location method used, as well as the time when the location was recorded. This can help you get a better sense of your pet’s movement habits.

Pod 3 Features

Multiple Safe Zones

Pod 3 allows you to custom-define safe zones for your pet. Unlike many other pet trackers, it allows you to define more than 1 safe zone within which your pet can walk, run, and play without any danger of getting hurt or lost. You can freely choose the location and size of the safe zones and add new ones at any time.

Safe zones come in the form of a circle, but the creators of Pod 3 are currently working on introducing new shapes. It is recommended that you set a diameter about 30 feet larger than that of the actual safe zone in order to prevent false alarms.

Activity Monitoring

In addition to location tracking features, Pod 3 provides activity tracking tools that allow you to keep track of your pet’s health and fitness. You can set activity goals for your pet and have the device constantly monitor your pet’s activity. You can view daily, weekly, and monthly activity summaries with details on time spent resting, playing, and walking and see if your pet has reached the daily goals you have set. That way, you can easily make sure that your pet has been active enough to stay healthy and in good shape.

Movement Monitoring

With this feature, the device continuously monitors your pet’s movement, so you can know if there have been any unusual or sudden changes in your pet’s activity and behavior and act immediately to prevent your pet from getting into trouble.

Sharing

As mentioned previously in this Pod 3 review, you can share access to the Pod 3 app with your friends and family, so multiple individuals can track your pet at the same time. You simply need to share your login information with other users and thus allow them to view your pet’s location information and receive notifications.

Pod 3 Coverage

Pod 3 has a pretty impressive coverage including more than 175 countries around the globe. It uses multiple cellular networks in all countries within its coverage, leaving only the most remote areas outside its scope. The device operates on both 2G and 3G networks.

How Much Does Pod 3 Cost?

The standard price of Pod 3 GPS pet tracker is $129. However, the company often offers discounts, so you can get your device for just $89. The package includes the Pod 3 tracking unit, 2 interchangeable, rechargeable batteries, a charging dock, and 2 attachment straps. The device comes with free shipping in the US, the UK, and Australia. Most other countries qualify for flat rate shipping of up to $15.35.

Pod-3 price

Since Pod 3 relies on cellular network, you need to purchase a service plan before you start using the device. You can opt for the monthly subscription that costs $8.95 per month or the yearly subscription that costs $4.95 per month. It is important to note that the company occasionally provides special offers that allow you to get a lifetime subscription free of charge.

Pod 3 comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 12-month warranty.

Pod 3 Pros & Cons

Knowing the biggest strenghts and weaknesses of Pod 3 can help you decide if it is the right pet tracker for your furry friend. Here is a quick overview of its pros and cons.

Pros
  • Near-real-time GPS tracking
  • 3 tracking modes with customizable refresh rates
  • Bluetooth and WiFi enabled
  • Works in 175+ world countries
  • Works over any distance within cellular coverage
  • Multiple safe zones
  • Activity and movement monitoring
  • Adventure recording
  • Fully waterproof and shockproof
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 12-month warranty

Cons

  • Bulky for smaller pets

Bottom Line

Pod 3 is a GPS pet tracker that boasts plenty of useful features not limited to location tracking. It monitors your pet’s location, activity, and movement and allows you to record your pet’s adventures. It is Bluetooth and WiFi enabled, so you can track your pet both indoors and outdoors. Its minimum location update interval is 10 seconds, its communication range is only limited by cellular coverage, and it works in 175+ countries around the globe. It allows you to define not 1 but multiple safe zones and provides instant notifications when your pet leaves the safe zone. It is waterproof, shockproof, rather small, and lightweight.

Added to this list of benefits are a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 12-month warranty. If we were to nitpick, we could say that the device may not be perfect for the smallest of pets and that manual location refreshing may take a few minutes. However, keeping all the other advantages in mind, we can honestly say that Pod 3 is a top-of-the-line pet tracker that we gladly recommend.


User Reviews (9)

Pod 3 customer rating based on 9 user reviews.

The Pod 3 reviews listed below reflect the opinions and experiences of real users and are in no way influenced by the company reviewed here. Before publishing each review, our team checks whether it was submitted by an actual user in an effort to prevent false or spammy reviews.

  1. Andrew Brown | May 4, 2020

    Company appears to have gone bust. Vodaphone cancelled all the sims cards built into existing Pods last year and the company did not have the funds to replace everyones Pods. Shame as it was a great product when it worked.

  2. Daniel Owen | February 19, 2020

    Company is closing its doors and has cancelled all subscriptions.

  3. Inara Mayers | December 8, 2019

    I apreciate that don’t have to be a rocket scientist to be able to operate this device. The app is quite self-explanatory. You have a map screen that shows you where your dog has been and the other screen shows his movement history and it also covers your pets safe zone which it shouldn’t enter but if it does you can keep track of where he’s going. You can also watch tutorials that explain how to use the app and what it has to offer. The app allows you to add other pets. I can also sent everything I see to my husband and sister so we can all be in the loop which I know sounds crazy but Stella is our baby and we need to take care of her the best we can.

  4. Stacy Waller | November 30, 2019

    Jill is the type of dog that is restless and keeps bumping into things. And she likes to play with other dogs that usually turns into a full blown wrestling match so it’s safe to say that she needs high quality equipment if you don’t intend to buy new stuff every few days. This tracker turned out to be completely Jill-proof which means bite proof, rock-proof, water-proof and any other type of proof Jill needs. You would not believe how many leashes and trackers she chewed through or broke or they just fell off at some point so having this tracker as long as we do is nothing short of a miracle.

  5. Vivek Scott | November 17, 2019

    I feel Burton is covered in every which way possible. The tracker has a bluetooth, wifi and gps and cell connection. I was really happy when I read that. When I’m at home, the tracker is connected to the wifi, outside it has gps or you can connect on bluetooth is he doesn’t go far. Cell connection is not tied to the specific provider which is really a good thing and you can keep track of everything on the app you can download on your phone. I let Burton wander around not worrying for a second that he might get lost somewhere I never been before.

  6. Faye Short | November 2, 2019

    I opted on this tracker because I can connect through almost everything but I was a bit worried because of the shape it seemed big and I didn’t know if it would make problems since my dogs likes to move around a lot and sleep under the bed and in other not easy to reach areas. It has been two months now and the tracker is still in place. I didn’t notice anything different in Mikes routine. He keeps doing what he does without any problems I think. I managed to strap it firmly and it still holds the same and I think it is due to the fact that it is really light even though it is shaped funny.

  7. Christina | October 29, 2019

    I’ve bought several pods in the last three years (both the 2nd and 3rd version. ) Initially Pod was great. However things went down in 2019. Apparently the company was sold to a new owner and subsequently both my current pods absolutely quit working. The company is in trouble and will not replace the now defective Pods. Very disappointed and definitely do not recommended anymore.

  8. Huan Ramirez | December 22, 2018

    I usually use it to see what my dog is doing when he’s not with me and understand his daily patterns better. It’s an excellent device for that and I also like that I’m not limited to one connectivity tech. Bluetooth is def not ideal but it’s nice to have the option.

  9. Josh Lewis | April 28, 2018

    Excellent 2 in 1 tracker, great app, good battery life, fast refresh, so far my favorite. We’ll see how long it lasts, considering my doberman is not the one to lie around and do nothing, but it seems more durable than others I’ve tried.

  10. Melinda Patterson | April 27, 2018

    I’m not liking the design that much, but my little feline beauty got used to it straight away, so I guess it works. It’s easy to use, the battery is ok, usually lasts about 3 days, except when I’m recording, which I rarely do. I don’t find activity tracking that useful, but I guess its a matter of taste, I don’t really need it because Patty is more than active and I don’t obsess over her exercising.

  11. Roger Riggs | February 21, 2018

    Exactly what I was looking for plus free lifetime subscription! I’m pretty sure you can’t get anything better at this price. I like how clear location and activity data are, whoever made the app knew what he was doing. Customer support is great too, 5 out of 5.

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