Comparing GPS Tracking Contracts -The Hidden Costs

Multi-year GPS tracking contracts are pretty common. Companies like Samsara, Verizon Connect, and many others have been using them for years. Some will waive the contract but charge you more or require you to purchase the equipment upfront. Others lock you in for one, two, or even three years. Are these contracts good for your small to midsized business? And what happens when you aren’t happy? Are they easy to get out of? 

The first challenge is to try to get accurate pricing information so you can compare different vendors. Most websites force you to fill out a form so they can get you on a sales call to try to close the deal quickly before you can talk to other companies. We did a lot of digging and here are three examples of current pricing (as of March 2025) for small to medium-sized fleets.

Contract Length: 

• 3 Years and you must pay in full upfront according to their Small Business FAQ.

Pricing:

• Pricing isn’t posted. You fill out a form and wait for a salesperson to call
• Informed sources place it at $26-$30 and month

What’s Included: 

• GPS hardware must be returned if canceled in the first 30-days (you pay shipping)
• Cloud software, ongoing firmware updates, and cellular data connectivity for cellular gateways
• Cables with a 1-year warranty

What You Can’t Do:

• Can’t remove trucks from the contract
• New equipment starts its own 3-year contract, payable upfront.
• No refunds after 30 days – You are locked in after that with no refunds

Important Things To Know:

• Customer Support is off-shore
• When they declare a product End of Life (EOL), you must purchase the upgraded version
• You own the shipment once it leaves Samsara’s facility. If the shipment is lost or damaged in transit, it’s your problem, not theirs.
• They pay for shipping upfront, but you have to reimburse them for the cost.
• Contract auto renews unless you cancel it in writing

Payment is non-refundable after the first 30 days. If you are unhappy after that, you can stop using the service, but you won’t get any money back. Ouch.

Contract Length:

• 1, 2, or 3 Years

Pricing:

• Pricing isn’t posted. You fill out a form and wait for a salesperson to call 
• We found out each GPS device is 23-27* per month

What’s Included:

• GPS hardware with a warranty for the duration of the contract
• Access to Mobile app
• Custom Alerts

What You Can’t Do:

• Can’t remove trucks from the contract
• New equipment starts its own contract 
• Have to pay around $220 per device to get out of contract early – that’s $3,300 for 15 trucks.

Important things to know:

• Customer Support is off-shore
• Actual costs will be higher with fees, taxes, and shipping
• Contract auto renews unless you cancel it at least 30 days prior in writing

Contract Length:

• No contract required
• They are a part of GPS Insight who does have 1,2, and 3-year contracts

Pricing:

• Pricing is very hard to find. Most pages push you to a form and then you wait for an email. We found a calculator buried in the site. 
• Have to pay upfront for hardware: $39.96 ($799.20)
• Have to pay $16.95 per month for each device ($339)
• Activation Fee of $25 per vehicle ($500)
• Note on Calculator Page: Prices for features requiring special GPS tracking devices, dispatching, and data reporting will impact your final price. Our sales experts will help you with these.

What’s Included:

• Tracking device
• Hardware comes with a 1-year warranty

Important things to know:

• A 40% restocking fee applies to returned equipment

Companies design these contracts to benefit themselves, not you. They’re designed to keep you locked in and paying up. Here’s what that really means for your business:

• New Equipment, New Contract: When you add a truck or upgrade a device, the original contract isn’t modified, the new equipment starts a new contract. That means multiple expiration dates and an administrative headache just to keep track of them.
• No Flexibility: If your fleet size changes, tough luck. These contracts won’t let you remove vehicles without penalties—even if your business shrinks, you sell a truck, or you retire old equipment.
• Break It, You Buy It: Most hardware warranties only last one year. After that, you’re responsible for replacing it.
• Upgrades = More Contracts: Want to upgrade to better GPS tracking hardware? That’s another contract. Do you see a pattern here?
• Poor Service? Not a good fit? Too Bad! If you are having buyer’s remorse or the service isn’t what you expected, you’re stuck. 

Want out? Prepare to pay. Most contracts come with steep cancellation fees, often requiring you to buy out the remaining months—on every single device. That can add up to thousands of dollars just to stop using a service that isn’t working for you. Ouch.

There’s a better way. Some GPS tracking companies, like Momentum IoT, offer simple, no-contract pricing so you can add and remove devices anytime—without penalties. Momentum is proud to offer no nonsense pricing right on our website so you have the information you need to choose the right GPS solution for you.

Don’t let a contract turn into a lifetime sentence. Choose a solution that works on your terms.

10 Trucks

• Samsara: $9,360 – $10,800 (3-year contract)
• Momentum: $0 for the first month, then $200/month after that. No additional fees or shipping. No contract!

15 Trucks 

• Verizon Connect: $405/month (1 year) or  $345/month (3 years). Actual initial cost will be higher with fees, taxes, and shipping. Hard to get actual numbers from them.
• Momentum: $0 first month and then $300/month after that. No additional fees or shipping. No contract!

20 Trucks 

• Rhino Fleet Tracking by GPS Insight: $1,241.90 first month, then $339/month after that
• Momentum: $0 first month and then $400/month after that and there are no additional fees or shipping.

*All pricing accurate as of publication. Pricing can change at any moment, so contact the vendor to make sure you have the most up-to-date pricing before you sign anything. Get the “Out the door” price or ask for an actual invoice so you don’t get surprised by “activation fees” or other nonsense.