Yes, ShadowGPS has a monthly fee, and here is exactly what it buys. One plan unlocks every feature in the app: live GPS tracking, a full year of trip history, 16+ smart alerts, geofencing, multi-user access, and the cellular data that connects your tracker to your phone. It runs $12 to $15 a month per tracker, with no contract, ever.
"Is there a monthly fee?" is the question our support team hears more than any other, usually followed by "and what do I actually get for it?" Most GPS tracker subscription pages stop at a price range. This one walks through every line item: what the fee covers, what it doesn't, how the 14-day trial and cancellation really work, and what one family car, three Turo cars, or five work trucks cost you in year one.
The ShadowGPS subscription includes every feature on every plan. That means live tracking, 1 year of trip history and route replay, 16+ alerts (speed, geofence, curfew, unplug, motion and more), geofencing, multi-user and multi-device access, built-in cellular data with no SIM card to buy, global roaming, and 24/7 support. Plans run $15/mo month-to-month, $13/mo quarterly or $12/mo annually per tracker, and less when you track 4 or more. No contract. Month-to-month, or prepay and save.
What Is a GPS Tracker Subscription, and Why Is There a Monthly Fee at All?
A GPS tracker subscription is the monthly service plan that lets a real-time tracker send its location to your phone. The GPS signal itself is free: the U.S. government provides civilian GPS worldwide with no direct user fees. Getting that location from your car to your phone is the part that costs money.
Think of a live tracker as a tiny, single-purpose phone. It hears the satellites for free, then sends its position over a cellular network, every few seconds, all day. That data, plus the servers and app that turn it into a map, is what the fee pays for.
A GPS tracker fee typically covers:
- Cellular data: the connection that carries each location update from the tracker to the cloud.
- Servers and storage: where your trip history lives so you can replay last Tuesday's drive.
- Alerts: the systems that watch for speeding, geofence exits or an unplugged tracker and ping your phone.
- The app and maps: iOS, Android and web apps, plus licensed map data and addresses.
- Support: real people who help when "gps is not working."
That is also why Bluetooth tags like AirTag have no fee. They don't carry a cellular connection, so they borrow nearby phones to report a last-seen spot instead of streaming a live location. We break that difference down in why AirTags fail for cars.
What's Included in the ShadowGPS Subscription: The Full List
ShadowGPS has one rule for its plans: no tiers, no paywalls, no "premium" upgrade hiding the good stuff. Monthly, quarterly and annual subscribers get the same app and the same features. Here is everything your plan covers.
1. Live GPS tracking
Open the app and see where your car is right now, on a live map. Your tracker updates every 5 seconds while moving, and that speed is standard on every plan, not a paid add-on. For a parent watching a teen's first solo drive, that is the difference between a dot that jumps across town and one that actually follows the road.
2. One full year of trip history and route replay
Every drive is saved to a trip timeline for up to 12 months. Tap any trip to replay the route, see stops, and check arrival times. Trip replay is one of our customers' favorite features, especially for Turo hosts confirming where a rental went and small business owners answering "why was the driver late?"
3. 16+ instant smart alerts
Alerts are where a tracker earns its keep, because you shouldn't have to stare at a map. Every plan includes:
- Speed alerts when your car passes a limit you set.
- Geofence alerts when it arrives at or leaves home, school, work or a job site.
- Curfew alerts if your car moves late at night.
- Car Alarm and motion alerts that flag movement when your car or truck should be sitting still.
- Unplug and tamper alerts the moment ShadowAuto is pulled from the OBD-II port.
- Driving alerts for harsh braking, rapid acceleration and idle time.
- Health alerts for low battery (ShadowTrack) and engine or car battery issues (ShadowAuto).
4. Geofencing and custom zones
Draw zones around the places that matter and get notified on arrival and exit. Geofencing is the feature most people underuse, and it is the one most likely to catch a car moving overnight. Here is how to set up geofence alerts that actually catch overnight theft.
5. Multi-user and multi-device access
Both parents can see the family car. A dispatcher and an owner can watch the same trucks. Add as many users as you need, and manage as many ShadowAuto and ShadowTrack trackers as you own from one account. One note: each tracker needs its own plan.
6. Cellular data, coverage and global roaming
Your tracker connects over major LTE-M networks (Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile in the US; Rogers, Telus and Bell in Canada) and switches to the strongest available carrier. The data is built into your plan, so there is no SIM card to buy or swap. Roaming in 188 countries is included at no extra charge, though coverage varies by region, so contact support before you travel. The network runs at 99.9% uptime.
Still wondering about SIM cards? We answer it fully in does your GPS tracker need a SIM card?
7. Exact address data and live location sharing
Locations show as real street addresses, not just coordinates. You can share a live location or ETA with family or a customer, so nobody has to call the driver and ask "where are you?"
8. Vehicle health and engine codes (ShadowAuto)
Because ShadowAuto plugs into your car's OBD-II port, your plan also covers live diagnostics: battery voltage, engine alerts and check engine codes. See how that works in reading your check engine code from your phone.
9. iOS, Android and web app
Track from the free ShadowGPS app on iPhone or Android, or log in to the web dashboard on a laptop. Same account, same data, everywhere.
10. 24/7 support and one-click cancellation
Support is part of the plan, not a paid tier. And when your need ends, you cancel from the app in one click: no phone call, no retention maze, no cancellation fee.
11. Annual plan extras
Annual subscribers also get REST API access to pull ShadowGPS data into their own systems, plus dedicated onboarding. That matters mostly to small businesses; families won't miss it on a monthly plan.
| Included in every plan | ShadowAuto (OBD-II) | ShadowTrack (Battery) |
|---|---|---|
| Live GPS tracking | Yes | Yes |
| 1 year of trip history + route replay | Yes | Yes |
| Speed, geofence, curfew and motion alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Unplug / tamper alert | Yes | Not needed (no port) |
| Engine codes and car battery health | Yes | No |
| Tracker low-battery alert | Not needed (car-powered) | Yes |
| Multi-user and multi-device access | Yes | Yes |
| Cellular data, no SIM to buy | Yes | Yes |
| Roaming in 188 countries | Included | Included |
| 24/7 support | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly fee | $12-$15/mo, no contract | $12-$15/mo, no contract |
Which Trackers Does the Subscription Work With?
ShadowAuto and ShadowTrack
The subscription is the same price and the same feature set on both ShadowGPS trackers. You buy the hardware once, plug it in, and pick a plan in the app. Which one you choose depends on what you're protecting.
ShadowAuto plugs into the OBD-II port under your dashboard in under 2 minutes, with no tools and no charging, ever. It is the pick for a family car, a teen driver's car, a Turo rental or a work truck. Not sure where your port is? Find your OBD2 port in 30 seconds.
ShadowAuto
- Powered by your car: no charging, ever
- Engine codes, battery and unplug alerts
- Every app feature included in your plan
ShadowTrack is battery-powered and portable, with weeks of runtime per charge. Pop it in the weatherproof magnetic case and it goes where a port can't: trailers, equipment, boats, older cars, or anywhere you'd rather keep a tracker out of sight.
ShadowTrack
- Weeks of battery on a single charge
- Hides anywhere with the magnetic case
- Same plan, same features as ShadowAuto
Best for: ShadowAuto for any car or truck with an OBD-II port (virtually everything built after 1996). ShadowTrack for trailers, equipment and anything without a port. Running both? Each one is its own plan, managed in the same app.
What's Not Included in the Subscription (No Surprises)
Transparency matters more than a low sticker price, so here is the short list of what the monthly fee does not cover, and the fees you won't see at all.
Paid separately
The tracker itself: ShadowAuto or ShadowTrack is a one-time $69.90 purchase. You own it.
The magnetic case: an optional $15.95 weatherproof case for ShadowTrack.
Additional trackers: each tracker needs its own plan, though 4+ trackers drop to a lower per-tracker rate.
Never charged
No activation fee. No SIM card fee. No cancellation fee. No roaming surcharge. No premium tier to unlock faster updates or longer history. A fair usage policy only limits excessive or abusive use that could affect service for other customers.
How Much Is the ShadowGPS Subscription? Plans and GPS Tracker Fees
Your GPS tracker fee depends on two choices: how you want to pay (monthly, quarterly, annually or two years upfront) and how many trackers you run. Every option includes every feature above. No contract. Month-to-month, or prepay and save.
| Plan | 1-3 trackers | 4-10 trackers | How you're billed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $15/mo | $13/mo | Every month, cancel anytime |
| Quarterly | $13/mo | $11/mo | Every 3 months |
| Annual (most popular) | $12/mo | $10/mo | Once a year, adds API + onboarding |
| 2-year prepay | $9/mo | $8/mo | Paid upfront for 24 months |
| 11+ trackers | Custom volume pricing | Book a demo with our team | |
Prices per tracker, in USD, as of October 2026. CAD plans are available for Canadian customers. See the live ShadowGPS pricing page for current rates.
Prefer no monthly bill? Prepaid bundles
If a recurring charge is what bothers you, ShadowGPS sells prepaid trackers that bundle the device with 3, 12 or 36 months of service paid upfront. There is no monthly bill during the term, and you get the same features. Bundles start at $108.90 for the tracker plus 3 months, $213.90 with a full year, and $429.90 with three years.
How the ShadowGPS Subscription Works, Step by Step
From cart to first ping takes about five minutes, and you don't pay for service until your free trial ends.
- Buy your tracker. Choose ShadowAuto ($69.90) for a car or truck, or ShadowTrack ($69.90) for anything else.
- Plug it in. ShadowAuto goes into your OBD-II port in under 2 minutes. ShadowTrack charges up and goes wherever you place it.
- Activate in the app. Download the free ShadowGPS app, pair your tracker, and your 14-day free trial starts.
- Pick your plan. Choose monthly, quarterly or annual inside the app during activation. Billing starts only after the trial ends.
- Track, switch or cancel anytime. Change plans or cancel in one click from the app, with no penalty.
How does the 14-day free trial work?
Every new tracker comes with 14 days of full service, every feature included. You choose your plan during activation, but you aren't charged until day 15. If ShadowGPS isn't for you, cancel before the trial ends and you owe nothing for service. The hardware is also covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Can I switch, pause or cancel my plan?
Yes to all three. Switch between monthly, quarterly and annual from the app whenever you like. There is no formal "pause" button, but you can cancel when you don't need tracking (say, a car sitting in winter storage) and reactivate later in the same app. Your tracker stays yours the whole time.
What a GPS Tracker Subscription Really Costs: 3 Real-World Examples
A monthly price on its own doesn't tell you much. Here is what year one looks like for the three people who buy ShadowGPS most, hardware included.
The parent of a new teen driver
One ShadowAuto in the teen's car. Speed, curfew and "arrived at school" geofence alerts do the heavy lifting, and both parents share access. Annual plan: $213.90 for year one, then $144 a year.
The Turo host with 3 cars
Three ShadowAuto trackers to confirm mileage, trip routes and unplug alerts between bookings. Annual plan: $641.70 for year one, about $1.18 per car per day.
The owner running 5 work trucks
Five trackers move to the 4-10 rate. Geofences around job sites, idle time and trip history for billing disputes. Annual plan: $949.50 for year one, then $10 per truck per month.
| Scenario | Trackers | Plan | Hardware | 12 months of service | Year-one total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver, flexible | 1 | Monthly ($15) | $69.90 | $180 | $249.90 |
| Teen driver, committed | 1 | Annual ($12) | $69.90 | $144 | $213.90 |
| Turo host | 3 | Annual ($12) | $209.70 | $432 | $641.70 |
| Small fleet | 5 | Annual ($10) | $349.50 | $600 | $949.50 |
The 3-question plan picker
Use this quick framework to choose the right GPS tracker subscription without overthinking it:
- How long will you need tracking? A few weeks or one season? Go monthly. Ongoing? Annual or 2-year prepay gives the lowest rate.
- How many trackers? At 4 or more, every tracker drops to the lower tier. At 11+, ask about volume pricing.
- Do you dislike recurring bills? Pick a prepaid bundle and forget about monthly charges for 3, 12 or 36 months.
ShadowGPS vs. Other GPS Tracker Subscriptions
Comparing GPS tracker subscriptions on the monthly price alone is how people end up disappointed. Many lower advertised rates only apply with a two-year prepay, and many base plans update every minute or longer, with real-time speed sold as an upgrade. Here is how the field compares on the things that actually change your experience.
| Tracker | Month-to-month fee | Base refresh rate | Cost of fastest refresh | Contract for best rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bouncie | $9.00-$9.65/mo | 15 sec | Same plan (15 sec max) | None |
| Tracki | $19.95/mo | 60 sec | $30/mo for 10 sec | 2-year prepay |
| Spytec | $25/mo | 60 sec | $45/mo for 5 sec | None |
| LandAirSea | $19.95/mo | 3 min | $49.95/mo for 3 sec | 2-year prepay |
| BrickHouse | From $17.99/mo | Tiered by plan | Up to $34.99/mo | None |
| ShadowGPS | $15/mo ($12 annual) | 5 sec | Included on every plan | None, ever |
Competitor pricing compiled from public listings and reviews (including SafeWise's Tracki review) as of October 2026. Plans change often, so confirm with each company before you buy.
Bouncie is the lowest monthly fee here and a solid OBD-only choice if you never need a portable tracker. Where ShadowGPS differs is that nothing is held back: the fastest updates, a full year of history and every alert come with the base plan, on a tracker you can plug in or hide. For a head-to-head, read ShadowGPS vs. Bouncie.
Subscription vs. "No Monthly Fee" GPS Trackers: What You Give Up
"No monthly fee" is one of the most searched phrases in this category, and also one of the most misleading. If a tracker sends live location over a cellular network, someone pays for that data. Here are the three ways it usually shakes out:
- Bluetooth tags (AirTag, Tile): truly no fee, but no live tracking. They only update when a stranger's phone passes nearby, which is unreliable for a parked car in a quiet lot.
- "No fee" cellular trackers: usually bundle a year of service into a higher device price, then renew. SpaceHawk, for example, moves to $9.95/mo after its included year, and Konnect to $8.95/mo.
- Prepaid bundles: service paid upfront for a set term. ShadowGPS offers this too, with the same features as the monthly plan and no lock-in beyond the term you choose.
The honest takeaway: if you want to see your car move in real time and get an alert the moment something is off, you're paying for a subscription in one form or another. The smart move is picking one with no contract and nothing paywalled.
8 Things to Check Before You Pay Any GPS Tracker Fee
Whether you choose ShadowGPS or not, run every GPS tracker subscription through this checklist. Each line is a real complaint we see in competitor reviews and in our own support inbox.
- Contract length behind the advertised rate. Is "$9.95" only on a two-year prepay?
- Refresh rate on the base plan. A 3-minute update can put a moving car miles from its last dot.
- Activation and SIM fees. These rarely show on the product page.
- How cancellation works. In the app, or by email approval and a phone call?
- Trip history length. Some plans keep only 30 to 90 days.
- Per-user charges. Can both parents, or you and a dispatcher, log in without paying twice?
- Roaming and cross-border fees. Important if you drive into Canada or Mexico.
- Features locked to higher tiers. Geofences, alerts and history should be in the plan you're paying for.
ShadowGPS was built to pass all eight: no contract, top speed on every plan, no activation or SIM fee, one-click cancellation in the app, a full year of history, unlimited users, roaming included, and no locked features. For a wider look at budgeting, see what you should actually pay for a GPS tracker and GPS tracking costs for a small fleet.
The Bottom Line on the ShadowGPS Subscription
A GPS tracker subscription pays for the part you actually care about: knowing where your car or truck is, right now, and hearing about it the moment something changes. With ShadowGPS, one plan covers all of it, from live tracking and a year of history to every alert, unlimited users, data and roaming.
It isn't the lowest monthly fee you'll find, and it isn't trying to be. It is a straightforward one: $12 to $15 a month per tracker, every feature included, no contract and one-click cancellation. Try it free for 14 days and decide for yourself.
GPS Tracker Subscription FAQ
Do all GPS trackers require a subscription?
Every real-time cellular GPS tracker needs a service plan, because it sends location over a mobile network. Bluetooth tags like AirTag have no fee, but they can't stream live location. Some trackers advertised as "no monthly fee" bundle service into the device price or a prepaid term, then renew.
Is there a monthly fee for ShadowGPS?
Yes. Plans run $15/mo month-to-month, $13/mo quarterly or $12/mo annually per tracker, with lower rates for 4 or more trackers. No contract. Month-to-month, or prepay and save. Every tracker starts with a 14-day free trial.
Does a ShadowGPS tracker need a SIM card?
No SIM card to buy or insert. Cellular connectivity on major US and Canadian LTE-M networks is built into your tracker and paid for by your subscription.
Are all features included in every ShadowGPS plan?
Yes. Live tracking, 1 year of history, 16+ alerts, geofencing, multi-user access, roaming and support come with every plan. The annual plan adds REST API access and dedicated onboarding, which mainly matter to businesses.
Are there activation, setup or hidden fees?
No. Your costs are the one-time tracker price and your plan. There is no activation fee, SIM fee, roaming surcharge or cancellation fee.
How does the 14-day free trial work?
Activate your tracker in the app and you get 14 days of full service. You pick a plan during activation, and billing starts only after the trial ends. Cancel before then and you pay nothing for service.
Can I cancel my GPS tracker subscription anytime?
Yes. Cancel in one click from the ShadowGPS app with no fee or penalty. You only commit to the billing period you chose, and you can reactivate later in the same app.
Does one subscription cover multiple trackers?
Each tracker needs its own plan, but you manage all of them from one account. With 4 to 10 trackers, the per-tracker rate drops to $10-$13/mo, and 11+ trackers qualify for custom volume pricing.
Is it cheaper to pay monthly or annually?
Annual works out to $12/mo versus $15/mo month-to-month, about 20% less. Monthly makes sense for short or seasonal needs; annual or 2-year prepay suits ongoing tracking.
Does international roaming cost extra?
No. Roaming in 188 countries is included in your subscription, though coverage varies by region. Contact ShadowGPS support before traveling abroad.
Is there a ShadowGPS option with no monthly fee?
Yes. Prepaid bundles include the tracker plus 3, 12 or 36 months of service paid upfront, with no monthly bill during that term and the same features as the monthly plan.
Is it legal to track my own car with a subscription tracker?
Yes, you can legally track vehicles you own, including a family car driven by your teen or your company's trucks. Laws vary by state for vehicles you don't own and for employee tracking, so check local rules first.
Plug it in. See it move. Cancel any time.
Every feature, every plan, $12 to $15 a month per tracker. No contract, ever, and your first 14 days are free.
Pricing and plan details reflect ShadowGPS's published rates as of October 2026 and may change; see the pricing page for current terms. ShadowGPS products ship with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Some links on this page are affiliate links, and ShadowGPS may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Only track vehicles and property you own or have permission to track.
