Fi vs. Tractive DOG 6 XL

Specifications side by side

Every figure below comes from the manufacturer’s own published specifications.

Where Fi is stronger

• Roughly half the thickness on the collar

  11.5 mm (0.45 in) for Fi Series 3+ against about 20 mm (0.8 in) for the DOG 6 XL.

• Longer between charges

  Up to 3 months on Series 3+ against up to 42 days on the XL with Power Saving Zones enabled, or up to 20 days without.

• No minimum dog size

  Tractive states the DOG 6 XL is “only for dogs above 44 lbs”. Fi Series 3+ has no published size floor, and Fi Mini covers smaller dogs and cats.

Common questions

Which sits better on a large dog’s collar?

Fi Series 3+, on the published figures. It is 47 g (1.66 oz) against the XL’s roughly 71 g (2.5 oz), and about 65% smaller by volume, at 11.5 mm (0.45 in) thick against roughly 20 mm (0.8 in). It is also a little over half the width across the collar, so it sits lower and moves around less.

Which one lasts longer between charges?

Fi Series 3+, at up to 3 months against up to 20 days for the XL. The XL is comfortably Tractive’s longest-lasting tracker and far ahead of the standard DOG 6.

Is the Tractive DOG 6 XL only for large dogs?

That is how Tractive sells it — its product page states the XL is “only for dogs above 44 lbs” — about 20 kg, and it fits collars up to about 41 mm (1.6 in) wide. If your dog is smaller, the standard DOG 6 is the model to look at, and Fi Mini is the closer Fi equivalent. See Fi vs. Tractive DOG 6 for that pairing.

Which is cheaper over the first year?

Fi Series 3+, narrowly. Fi is $189 for a one-year membership with the device included. The XL is about $199 — $79 for the device plus $120 for the annual plan. Fi Ultra is the more expensive option at $388 for the first year.

Where does Fi Ultra fit in?

Ultra is the off-grid option rather than the everyday one. It adds T-Satellite powered by Starlink, so it keeps reporting where there is no cellular signal at all, and it adds Fi CallBack™ for recall. It’s the only product offering satellite tracking: battery is up to 5 days rather than 3 months, it costs $388 for the first year, and it is sold in the United States only. Activity and behaviour tracking come from pairing it with a Series 3+ or Mini.

Does Fi work outside the United States?

Series 3+ does — across North America and much of Europe, 35 countries and territories including Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, the Nordics, Switzerland and Turkey. Fi Ultra does not: it is sold in the United States only, and Tractive’s 175+ countries is the widest footprint of the three.

Do both need a subscription?

Yes. Both use a cellular connection for live tracking, and neither offers live GPS without an ongoing plan.

Does the DOG 6 XL monitor heart rate and breathing rate?

It publishes both, with a condition attached that is easy to miss. Tractive’s own product page says heart rate and respiratory rate are “collected while they’re sleeping or resting” — so these are resting measurements, not continuous monitoring, and you will not get a reading from a dog that is up and moving. The same page adds that “Tractive is not a medical device” and is “not intended to diagnose health conditions.” Fi does not offer either measurement on any device.

Do Tractive’s health features actually work in practice?

Our experience is that the claims are overstated. Across the dogs we have tested a Tractive tracker on, we have not been able to get heart rate, respiratory rate or bark detection to produce readings we would rely on. That is hands-on testing rather than a controlled study, and your result may differ — but it was consistent enough that we think anyone buying for those features should know before paying for them. Tractive’s own page conditions heart and respiratory rate on the dog “sleeping or resting” and states that Tractive “is not a medical device”.

What Fi owners say

• Worth every single penny I paid for them and then some!

  Tommy’s Dog Dad

• I’ve had every version of the Fi collar, and it just keeps getting better!

  Lola’s Dog Mom

• We’re loyal to him because he’s loyal to us and he’s a part of our family… there’s no other better technology available.

  Poppy’s Dog Dad