Editor’s Note: We recently completed a GPS dog collar buying guide for 2018 that compares these two devices against several others currently on the market. We care comparing these two because they are two of the most popular GPS dog collars. Enjoy and thanks for reading!
It’s no question that the two of the most popular collars in the smart pet tracker market are the Link 
AKC smart dog collar and the Nuzzle Pet Tracker. Losing a pet can be devastating and microchips are only useful if scanned at a vet’s office. Both of these pet trackers allow you to find your pet with your phone – giving you peace of mind for your Houdini dog!
After spending time with both of these smart dog collars, we have quite a strong opinion on which one you should buy and it’s (drumroll please…) the Nuzzle! However, there are a few reasons why you might choose the Link AKC. It has a neat app and is not nearly as expensive as the Nuzzle. If you trust us and want to go ahead and buy the Nuzzle, you can click here to check it out on Amazon. Otherwise, check out the specs of each of these below along with a side-by-side comparison to find out which one works best for you!
General Specs
These two GPS smart dog collars are unique in that they include a collar in the box. This is not the case for some of the other pet trackers we’ve checked out, so we give them some points for that! The Link AKC includes a brown leather collar in the box that cradles the actual GPS tracking device. The Nuzzle offers a few different color options and, to us, seemed a bit more heavy-duty than the Link AKC. However, it’s important for us to note that we didn’t have any durability issues with any of these when using them.
Battery Life
The Nuzzle has the best battery life between the two. It lasts 1-2 days and comes with an extra battery included. The battery life of the Nuzzle isn’t unusual for pet trackers. The Link AKC smart dog collar also lasts up to 2 days but does not come with an extra battery. It does come with a pretty cool docking station for the battery – but you just can’t beat Nuzzle’s inclusion of an extra battery in the box.
Monthly Fee
These two devices both work over WiFi, but you really need a data plan to track your pet when it’s out of range. No, you don’t need a SIM card for these devices. Instead, the device’s data capability is activated when you sign up for a monthly subscription plan. Both the Nuzzle and the Link AKC use AT&T’s network.
We think the biggest contrast between the Nuzzle and the Link AKC is the monthly fee. The Link AKC has a few different plans you can choose from and, depending on your commitment, cost between $6.95 to $9.95 per month. The Nuzzle? It’s free – there’s no monthly data cost! Sure, it’s a bit pricier but it will pay for itself in less than a year.
Extra Features and Durability
Both of these have an accompanying app that allow you to track your dog. We really liked the Link AKC’s robust app. It allows you to set up reminders, store veterinary records, and it’s just generally really user-friendly and easy-to-use. That’s not to say the Nuzzle’s app isn’t good – it’s definitely functional – we just like the ease-of-use of the Link AKC. Both of these smart dog collars are splash proof and can detect the outside temperature so that your pet isn’t too hot or cold. We found that the temperature feature only worked as advertised with the Nuzzle. The Link AKC struggled to give an accurate reading.
Our Conclusion
The lack of a monthly fee and inclusion of an extra battery really pushes us to recommend the Nuzzle. The Link AKC is accurate and its app is really cool, too, and is for the dog owner that might want to save some money while also checking out the features of a smart dog collar. If you have the extra funds, the Nuzzle is the best purchase and you can click here to check it out on Amazon. Be sure to check out our comparison table below! Thanks for reading!
2.5 oz with collar 1 oz Up to 2 days 1-2 days but includes an extra battery $6.95 to $9.95 depending on duration of contract No Monthly Fee Measures minutes of activity Measures minutes of activity and also your pet's temperature Measures minutes of activity and also the outside temperature Protected against heavy splashing and rain 2.5 oz with collar Up to 2 days $6.95 to $9.95 depending on duration of contract Measures minutes of activity Measures minutes of activity and also the outside temperatureLink AKC Smart Dog Collar
Nuzzle Pet Tracker
Link AKC Smart Dog Collar