PetPace Smart Collar vs Fi Series 3: Health Monitoring Showdown

Smart dog collars have split into two camps: GPS trackers that also dabble in health metrics, and health monitors that happen to include location tracking. The PetPace 3.0 and the Fi Series 3+ represent the best of each approach — and choosing between them depends on what keeps you up at night.

If you’re worried about your dog escaping the yard, Fi is probably your answer. If you’re managing a chronic condition or just want the closest thing to a canine Fitbit on steroids, PetPace deserves your attention.

We dug into the specs, subscriptions, and real-world trade-offs so you don’t have to.

Quick Comparison

PetPace 3.0: The Health Powerhouse

The PetPace 3.0 Smart Collar is the only consumer collar that monitors a legitimately comprehensive set of vital signs. We’re talking temperature, heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), respiratory rate, activity levels, posture, calorie expenditure, and a proprietary pain detection index.

This isn’t gimmicky pet tech. PetPace has been used in veterinary research settings, and the collar’s data can be shared directly with your vet through a professional dashboard. Version 3.0 adds GPS tracking and an AskaVet telehealth feature that lets you consult a vet right from the app.

What we like:

• Monitors vital signs that actually matter — temperature and HRV are gold for early illness detection
• AI-driven pain index flags problems before visible symptoms appear
• Vet dashboard lets your veterinarian view trends remotely
• AskaVet telehealth included with subscription
• Works in Canada, US, and Europe
• IP68 waterproof — swims with your dog

What could be better:

• Subscription is expensive and requires a 12-month commitment
• Battery life (~10 days) means regular charging
• GPS is functional but not best-in-class for escape tracking
• The collar unit is slightly bulky on smaller dogs
• No Apple Watch integration (Fi has this)

Best for: Dogs with health conditions (heart disease, arthritis, obesity, post-surgery recovery), senior dogs, breeds prone to specific issues, or anxious pet parents who want data-driven peace of mind.

Fi Series 3+: The Escape Artist’s Nemesis

The Fi Series 3+ Smart Dog Collar is built first and foremost as a GPS tracker — and it’s the best one we’ve tested. The combination of LTE-M cellular, GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth means it can locate your dog almost anywhere with remarkable accuracy.

The Series 3+ upgrade added health and behavior monitoring features — sleep tracking, activity levels, and step goals — but these are more Fitbit-basic than PetPace-clinical. You won’t get vital signs, but you will get a rock-solid escape alert system with real-time geofencing.

What we like:

• Industry-leading GPS accuracy with multi-network redundancy
• Battery lasts up to 3 months with GPS off (1–3 weeks with active tracking)
• Real-time escape alerts with geofencing
• LED light strip for nighttime visibility
• Apple Watch app for quick location checks
• Lightweight and sleek — dogs barely notice it
• Active community and leaderboards for daily step goals

What could be better:

• Health monitoring is surface-level (activity and sleep only — no vitals)
• Subscription required for ANY functionality (the collar is a paperweight without it)
• $20 one-time activation fee on top of subscription
• No vet integration or telehealth
• The collar band itself is integrated — you can’t just swap bands easily

Best for: Dogs who are flight risks, multi-dog households that want activity tracking, owners who want peace of mind about their dog’s location, and anyone who values battery life.

Health Monitoring: Where They Actually Diverge

This is where the comparison gets interesting — and where PetPace pulls far ahead for one specific use case.

PetPace measures:

• Resting heart rate and HRV (the single most useful metric for detecting emerging illness)
• Body temperature (no rectal thermometer needed)
• Respiratory rate
• Activity patterns and posture analysis
• Calorie expenditure
• Pain detection via AI analysis of combined metrics

Fi measures:

• Daily steps and activity minutes
• Sleep duration and quality
• Behavioral patterns over time

The gap is massive. PetPace gives you data that a veterinarian would find clinically useful. Fi gives you data that’s fun and motivating but won’t catch a brewing infection or heart condition.

That said, most healthy young dogs don’t need clinical monitoring. If your three-year-old Lab is in great shape and your main concern is the occasional backyard escape, Fi’s health features are plenty.

GPS and Location Tracking

Here, Fi wins convincingly.

Fi was designed from the ground up as a GPS tracker. Its geofencing is accurate and fast — you get alerts within seconds of your dog crossing a boundary. The map view shows real-time location with solid accuracy, and the multi-network approach (LTE-M + GPS + Wi-Fi + BLE) means it works in areas where one signal source alone might fail.

PetPace added GPS in version 3.0, and it works — but it’s clearly a secondary feature. Location updates are less frequent, geofencing is less refined, and the overall experience feels like a health collar that also does GPS rather than a purpose-built tracker.

Subscription Costs: The Real Differentiator

Both collars require subscriptions, but the costs differ significantly.

PetPace:

• Monthly plan: ~$35/month (12-month minimum commitment)
• Annual plan: ~$25/month (paid upfront)
• Collar hardware: ~$150 with annual plan, varies with shorter commitments

Fi Series 3+:

• Monthly plan: $19/month
• 6-month plan: $14/month
• 2-year plan: $9/month (best value)
• Collar hardware: ~$149 (varies with subscription bundle)
• One-time activation: $20

Over two years, PetPace will cost you roughly $750–$1,000 CAD total, while Fi runs about $400–$600 CAD. That’s a meaningful difference — but if PetPace catches one early health issue that saves you a $2,000 emergency vet bill, the math changes fast.

Battery Life

Fi dominates here. Up to 3 months of battery life in power-saving mode is exceptional — you can genuinely forget about charging for weeks at a time. Even with active GPS tracking, you’ll get 1–3 weeks.

PetPace’s ~10-day battery life is reasonable for a device that’s continuously monitoring vital signs (that’s a lot of sensor data), but it does mean weekly charging. Not a dealbreaker, but something to build into your routine.

Our Verdict

Choose PetPace 3.0 if:

• Your dog has a diagnosed health condition or is a senior
• You want to share clinical data with your vet
• Early illness detection is your priority
• You’re willing to pay more for deeper health insights

Choose Fi Series 3+ if:

• Your dog is an escape artist or you live near busy roads
• You want long battery life and low maintenance
• Location tracking matters more than health metrics
• You prefer a lower monthly cost

The hybrid approach: Some dedicated pet parents use both — PetPace for health monitoring and Fi for GPS tracking. It’s not cheap, but if you have a senior dog who’s also a flight risk, it covers all the bases.

For most healthy dogs, we’d start with the Fi Series 3+. The GPS tracking, escape alerts, and long battery life address the most common real-world concern: knowing where your dog is. If your dog has health issues or you want a deeper understanding of their well-being, the PetPace 3.0 is genuinely worth the premium.