Get both, plus a tag with your phone number. The microchip is the backup that can't fall off. The tag is the fastest way for a neighbor to call you. The GPS tracker is how you can find your pet yourself, often before anyone else has to.
What each one does
| Microchip | GPS tracker | ID tag | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A tiny chip under the skin with a number linked to your record at a registry | A device on the collar that reports location over a cellular network | A tag on the collar with your phone number |
| Shows where your pet is? | No. It isn't a GPS device. | Yes, on your phone | No |
| Who it helps | A shelter or vet who scans it | You, right away | Anyone who finds your pet |
| Power | None needed | Battery; needs charging | None |
| Can it come off? | No | Yes, with the collar | Yes, with the collar |
| Ongoing cost | Depends on the registry; keep the record current | A plan, about $6–$20 a month | None |
Why so many chips don't get pets home
A microchip is only as good as the record behind it. In a study of 53 US shelters published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, only 58.1% of the chips shelters looked up were registered at all. When shelters couldn't reach an owner, the most common reason was a wrong or disconnected phone number.
Even with those gaps, chips made a big difference. Microchipped stray dogs went home 52.2% of the time, compared with 21.9% of all stray dogs. For cats the gap was huge: 38.5% compared with 1.8%. The AVMA puts it simply: a microchip is not a GPS device, and out-of-date details can keep a pet from coming home.
The five-minute fix
- Find your pet's chip number. It's usually in your vet records or adoption paperwork. If not, any vet can scan it.
- Look it up with AAHA's free Universal Pet Microchip Lookup. Enter the 9, 10 or 15-digit number to see which participating registry holds the record.
- Update your record with that registry: phone number, email and address. The lookup tool can't change it for you.
- Add a backup contact, like a family member who'll answer when you can't.
- Put a tag with your phone number on the collar, too.
Where a GPS tracker comes in
A microchip helps after someone finds your pet and takes it to be scanned. A GPS tracker lets you find your pet yourself. In the ASPCA's survey, owners who got their dog back found it by searching the neighborhood 49% of the time, and through an ID tag or microchip 15% of the time. A tracker can turn that neighborhood search into a short walk with a map.
For dogs, our top pick is the Fi Series 3+, and the Tractive DOG 6 is the best value. For cats, see GPS trackers for cats. The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends microchipping every cat, indoor or out.
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Questions people ask
Can a microchip track my pet's location?
No. A microchip has no battery and no GPS. It only shares its ID number when a scanner reads it up close.
How do I find out which registry my pet's chip is with?
Enter the chip number at AAHA's Universal Pet Microchip Lookup. It lists the participating registries that hold data for that chip, along with their contact details.
If my pet has a GPS tracker, do they still need a microchip?
Yes. Trackers can come off with the collar or run out of battery. The chip stays with your pet for life.