14 Best ELD Devices for 2023 Reviewed and Ranked

The best ELD device for 2023 comes from Samsara, offering users an impressive array of features, legal compliance, two-way messaging, GPS location tracking, and 24/7 support. While it is slightly more expensive than the second-ranked Matrack, Samsara is ultimately better value for money, earning it a total of 4.7 out of 5 in our impartial research.

As of December 2019, the US government requires ELDs for almost all commercial motor vehicles operating across the nation. It's tough to find a better reason than that to ensure your fleet has ELDs today. The right solution can help your fleet with everything from fuel savings, accident reductions, and quicker route planning.

In this guide:

• Top 3 ELD Devices 2023
• Best ELD Devices: Reviews
• What's Better Than the Best ELD?
• Best ELD Devices With Fleet Management
• Methodology: How We Rank the Best ELD Devices
• Next Steps for Choosing ELD Tracking Software
• Verdict
• FAQs

With costs increasing across various sectors of your business, getting a good deal is more important than ever. To compare custom prices between top providers, simply take a minute to fill out our fleet management cost comparison tool. Alternatively, our experts have tested and ranked all the best options to help you figure out which ELD device is right for you. Read the full reviews, pros, and cons below.

Best ELD Devices for 2023 – Full Reviews

While there may be plenty of ELD solutions on the market, some will be better suited to the long-term needs of your business. Samsara's ELD offering plugs straight into a vehicle's OBD port and can provide managers with real-time data. It can also combine with GPS tracking, offers artificially intelligent dash cams, and more.

Fleet management providers like Samsara will offer the greatest returns on your investment in the long run – in addition to ensuring ELD-compliance, as required by the US Government.

Alternatively, there is Garmin, which will cost you less in the short term while offering the minimum legal ELD compliance and features you'll need. However, you'll be missing out on features like smart routing and fuel optimization, which can can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

We've turned all our research and tests into five big reviews for our tip-top picks, as well as nine short reviews for all the other high-quality ELDs to consider.

Our 14 best ELD devices for 2023:

1. Samsara – Best all around ELDs
2. Matrack ELD – Best-priced ELD compliance
3. GPS Insight – Best for location tracking
4. Gorilla Safety ELD – Best for document management
5. BigRoad's Dashlink ELD – Best for seasonal or irregular ELD users
6. EROAD Ehubo ELD –Best for ease of use
7. Motive ELD (formerly KeepTruckin) – Best for advanced fleets
8. GPS Trackit ELD – Best for simple maintenance
9. Azuga eLogs – Best for quick adaptation
10. Verizon Connect ELD – Best for add-ons and extras
11. Lytx with Geotab GO Cloud ELD – Best for data security
12. Teletrac Navman ELD – Best for fleet manager support
13. Omnitracs XRS and IVR – Best for variety of features
14. Garmin eLog – Best for no ongoing costs

Methodology: How Did We Compare the Best ELD Devices?

To find the best ELD device, we analyzed products from the top ELD providers in the US. We focused on criteria that fleet managers told us were important to them to accurately rank and rate each one.

Each factor in our analysis receives a different weighting, depending on how important it is to business operations. For example, cost was given higher importance than installation because we found that most ELD devices are fairly easy to install.

What we analyzed:

• Reporting – Compliance tools including HOS logs, driver reports, DVIR, and alerts. This was weighted the highest because these functions are the purpose of the system.
• Price – Costs, contracts, warranties, and how easily the ELD can be expanded to a full fleet system. This category was weighted second highest because businesses want ELD compliance at the most cost-effective price point.
• Mobile app – iOS and Android apps, and their customer ratings. This was weighted third highest because this nifty add-on feature increases the ease and flexibility of compliance.
• Installation – Installation fees and services, plus the type of hardware unit offered. This was weighted second lowest — most ELD services offer similar installation options, so these factors don't play a large role in comparative difference.
• Customer support – Email, phone, online help centers, or account managers. This was rated the lowest — while still important, support options aren't specific to ELD as a product, so they're less likely to influence a purchase decision.

Once each ELD device has been tested and ranked, we award a single five-star score for each service, allowing us to compare them in this guide.

Samsara's ELD is the best option for fleet managers who are also interested in a complete fleet management service. Our researchers rated the provider an impressive 4.7/5 for its ELD features specifically, tying only with Matrack for the highest score.

It has a minimum contract length of three years, so Samsara requires a longer commitment than many other ELDs. If you would prefer a rolling monthly contract, take a look at Matrack, our second top pick on this list.

Most of Samsara's hardware is covered by a five-year warranty. While you won't need to purchase a full fleet management system (FMS) to buy the ELD-compliance hardware/software package, it's easy to upgrade to one.

While Samsara does offer one of the most comprehensive full fleet management services available, Verizon's feature selection is slightly better. Advanced fleet management features include trailer tracking, a dash camera, routing and dispatch, and even reefer monitoring.

Standout features:

• Digital HOS logs
• Individual driver reports
• DVIR reports
• Compliance breach alerts
• Free trial
• 24/7 support
• Driver app rating: 4.6 stars
• Fleet app rating: 4.4 stars

Samara's ELD plugs directly into a vehicle engine via its OBD port, and is paired with a mobile app that a driver can use to track and log their vehicle data in real time. In addition, dispatchers can use a dashboard to see the hours of service (HOS) for all of their drivers in one central location. They will also receive alerts for compliance violations.

The devices are easy to connect and set up, and managers can easily upgrade to Samsara's full fleet management service while retaining the ELD-specific software's dashboard and app infrastructure.

As pricing is negotiated on a custom basis, you will need to get in touch for a personalized quote for your business.

The Matrack ELD hardware device comes free with its monthly subscription, which starts at $19.95 per month and goes up to $25.95 per month (if you choose Matrack's Premium Plan).

Users will receive a lifetime warranty and can cancel at any time because they won't be bound by a contract. This makes Matrack the cheapest no-contract option on our list. Our research found that while Matrack isn't quite as powerful or comprehensive as Samsara, it still offers a strong range of features that are easy to use. With this price, it's no wonder Matrack achieved the same overall score as Samsara (4.7/5).

Once its ELD is registered, users will need to install it and download the app to get started. ELD devices are designed to be plugged into a vehicle's OBD-II port rather than hardwired, so they are easy to install.

Standout features:

• Digital hours of service (HOS) logs
• Individual driver reports
• Driver vehicle inspection reporting (DVIR) Reports
• Compliance breach alerts
• IFTA tracking
• Employee timeclock
• Driver app rating: 3.8 stars
• Fleet app rating: 3.2 stars

Matrack's ELD solution does include IFTA fuel tax tracking functionality and ELD compliance features, including an audit trail and the ability to keep a timeclock that logs an employee's hours worked. Two-way messaging is not offered, and dispatch is only through an add-on. It's an inexpensive solution providing the basics for those who need ELD compliance without additional efficency features like fuel comparisons, route optimization, and driver safety tools.

Customers can contact Matrack's support team on phone or email during regular work hours: on weekdays between 8am and 5pm, PST. This is a downside when compared with Samsara's 24/7 service. Matrack also makes manuals and video tutorials available online. As with Samsara, Matrack has no option for a dedicated account manager, as this is a rare feature (GPS Insight is the highest rated ELD to offer one).

GPS Insight offers an ELD-compliant solution called “Hours of Service.” In addition to guaranteed FMCSA E-log mandate compliance, the service delivers on the DVIRs that make sure a vehicle's preventative maintenance needs are accounted for with pre and post-trip inspection prompts.

Our researchers gave GPS Insight an overall score 4.6/5, marking it as the most improved since we last tested ELDs. It jumped from 11th place in this guide to third place due to its twin strengths: compliance and support.

The service uses audible and visual alerts to ensure drivers keep their remaining hours at the forefront of their minds, which helps the business run at peak efficiency. In addition to maintenance, alerts can be set up for management, safety, vehicle health, and assets.

Standout features:

• Digital HOS logs
• Individual driver reports
• DVIR reports
• Compliance breach alerts
• Two-way messaging
• 24/7 support
• Driver app rating: 3.6 stars
• Fleet app rating: 3.5 stars

Fleet management features are also included in this solution. As with our other top picks, Samsara and Matrack, GPS Insight's hours of service solution includes two-way messaging for better driver-manager communication. Thanks to GPS location tracking, it lets managers know where their drivers are at all times. Managers can dispatch jobs with auto-generated step-by-step instructions that guide drivers to their next location. The end result is a streamlined operation that can respond rapidly to unexpected events, such as rapid roadside assistance in the case of a breakdown.

GPS Insight's app is available for iOS and Android. It may be rated lower than Samsara or Matrack's apps, but it still score a respectable 3.5 out of 5 on both platforms.

Fleets can self-install the hardware units, both plug-in and hardwired. The HOS solution is available as an add-on to the Standard fleet management plan. You'll need to get in touch with GPS Insight for a quote, as it can vary based on industry, fleet size, and other factors.

Users have access to 24/7 support via phone and email, and there is also an online knowledge base. GPS Insight is our highest-rated ELD to offer account managers to users, as neither Samsara or Matrack offer this support perk. GPS Insight is one of just three ELDs to earn a perfect 5/5 support score, along with Motive and Omnitracs.

The Gorilla Safety ELD (rated 4.5/5) offers public pricing, which is something that some ELDs don't. The service comes with three plans (Prime8 ELD, Fleet Xpress, and Xtreme), starting at $26.99 per month. The service won't lock users into extended contracts, and since it doesn't ask customers to keep their hardware around for years, it doesn't need to offer any warranties, either.

You'll get different options with different plans: Prime8 ELD has GPS tracking and electronic logs for full compliance, but you'll need to upgrade to Fleet Xpress for fuel tracking, remote document delivery, DOT inspections, and DVIR reporting. Finally, Xtreme adds an accident scene navigator, custom procedures, mechanic application, and telematics.

Since our previous research update, Gorilla Safety has moved up to fourth place from sixth place on this list. We found that it delivers on the two most important elements of an ELD in 2023: pricing and full compliance.

Gorilla Safety offers great document management tools, grouping paperwork into four files: Driver Qualification File, Truck File (registration, cab cards, and repair history), Company File (IFTA reports, loss runs, and permits), and ELD Supporting Documents.

Standout features:

• Digital HOS logs
• Individual driver reports (Fleet Xpress and Xtreme plans only)
• DVIR reports (Fleet Xpress and Xtreme plans only)
• Compliance breach alerts
• Document management
• Mechanic inspections
• Free trial
• Support during business hours
• Driver app rating: Unrated
• Fleet app rating: 3.3 stars

Gorilla Safety also offers a unique feature: using the app, drivers can switch on document tracking. This will allow them to scan and digitally file documents to different categories, including sections specific to the driver, the truck, or the company. According to Gorilla Safety, this makes it the “only company to offer a fully automated ELD document feature.” It can also help speed up the journey to paperless. You won't get similar tools from no-frills compliance ELDs like GPS Insight, which helps Gorilla Safety stand out.

Each ELD unit costs around $175 if bought to own, but just $7 each if leased. In addition to an online knowledge center, its support hours are from 7am to 7pm CT on weekdays, giving it more hours than GPS Insight, but fewer than Samsara and Matrack's 24/7 support.

BigRoad's Dashlink system (rated 4.5/5) is a standalone ELD solution with all of the necessary core features: it automatically tallies up hours of service (HOS), records duty status, generates reports. It doesn't require you to sign a lengthy contracts, making it a great fit for fleets that operate during one season and will only want to pay for the month sit is used.

Dashlink has also moved up our list of recommended ELDs due to its strong set of compliance tools and low monthly licensing fees (specific costs are not public, but some reports put it starting costs at ~$15 per month).

Dashlink comes with a one-year hardware warranty. Included in this is a fuel-tracking ability and notifications ahead of a violation. Dashlink displays traffic conditions to help drivers know what their ETA is and any possible changes.

Complete with dash cam support, Dashlink offers a full fleet management system bundle for those who need more than just an ELD. The pricing for this is higher than that of Samsara and Verizon, with Dashlink plans starting at $36 per month.

Standout features:

• Digital HOS logs
• Individual driver reports
• DVIR reports
• Compliance breach alerts
• Fuel tracking
• Traffic display
• Free trial
• Driver/Fleet app rating: 3.5 stars

The support hours are not specified, but there is an online knowledge center and there are account managers available. BigRoad offers free downloadable materials on its website, including guides, videos, and ebooks. No live installation aid is offered, but this is fairly rare for ELDs: Samsara and Omnitracs are among the only few that offer in-person installation help.

The solution's app ‘FC BigRoad ELD' is available on Android (3.2 stars from 14,900 reviews) and iOS (3.8 stars from 2,500 reviews).

It does not charge an upfront hardware cost, and users can have plug-and-play or hardwired devices for each vehicle. These can be paired with the BigRoad mobile app via Bluetooth.

EROAD's Ehubo device (4.4/5) offers the features and functions a fleet needs to track HOS. It offers daily and weekly summaries that cover on-duty status, rests, and resets, as well as needed alerts. Its OBD-II plugin and hardwired devices are available for a self-installation process.

A strong suite of features and an easy-to-use interface make Motive (4.4/5) a solid ELD option. Add in the service's 24/7 support, and you have an ELD option for any fleet that needs to track their HOS in a streamlined, cost-effective manner.

Like Matrack, GPS Trackit's ELD system (4.4/5) is available to fleets without locking them into a contract. The paid-monthly service offers simple, easy to install plug-and-play hardware units and software that delivers all the essential features and abilities for an ELD mandate-compliant system. All customers will also receive a limited lifetime warranty for hardware.

Azuga eLogs, Azuga's ELD compliance solution, is available through the software company as an add-on to its full fleet management system (FMS) bundle – which includes GPS tracking and geofencing among other fleet management perks. Our researchers gave the full FMS a score of 4.3/5, while the ELD earned a similar 4.4/5 rating. Read more in our full Azuga FMS review.

Verizon Connect's ELD solution is baked into its larger fleet management system, Verizon Connect Reveal. While this might scare off fleets in need of a quick ELD-compliant solution, it actually offers the largest possible cost savings for most fleets. This is because it includes access to live maps and geofencing, as well as options for field service and asset tracking add-ons. Our researchers scored the FMS solution a 4.7/5 overall (the highest score of any top FMS service alongside Samsara), but the ELD alone – if that's all you're after – scored 4.3/5.

The Geotab GO software solution (4.3/5) can be bought directly from the telematics supplier, Geotab, for use with its hardware. However, the best version is available through the Lytx fleet management solution, making this another ELD-compliance service that brings the full power of fleet management software to bear. You'll need to get in touch with Lytx for a personalized quote.

Like Samsara, Teletrac Navman is a well-known fleet management service provider that's worth the hype. It earned a solid 4.2/5 score from our researchers, the same score as the ELD-specific compliance module, Director ELD. Teletrac Navman doesn't have public pricing, so you'll need to contact them for a quote.

Omnitracs ELD (3.9/5) offers plenty of features, but whether or not it's a cost effective option for your business will depend on the type of service plan you choose, and whether your fleet leases the hardware units. The interface and features are hard to beat, with 24/7 online support to guide operators through any concerns. Omnitracs offers one ELD compliance-oriented unit, in addition to the full Omnitracts fleet management system.

Garmin eLog can come with a big learning curve, both for setup and daily use. However, the complete lack of ongoing costs is rare among ELD providers, and makes Garmin stand out as the best long-term option for an ELD investments. You'll have no contract, a one-year warranty, and the potential for a better deal from a third-party seller (Walmart was selling it for $121 last time we checked).

What's Better Than the Best ELD?

What can beat the features of the best ELD? A full fleet management system (FMS), which is designed to serve the same needs – and do a whole lot more.

All of the best fleet management software providers offer data tracking that maintains ELD compliance. Granted, an FMS will cost more per vehicle than an ELD, but an FMS pays for itself over time, thanks to its many money-saving features.

An FMS can be worth adopting early, too, given the infrastructure it offers. For example, with a simple ELD like the Garmin eLog, you won't get a central dashboard that can support a manager’s routing and dispatch management.

If a small fleet starts to grow, its need for better routing features will grow, too. Avoiding an upgrade to a full FMS means that a fleet will miss out on chances to improve routing efficiency — as well as the possible financial savings.

Here’s a look at how the two fleet-oriented services overlap in terms of features:

ELD vs. Fleet Management Software

Best ELD Devices With Fleet Management Included

If you’re open to exploring fleet management companies, these are the top ELD-compliant choices to consider.

Verizon Connect

The biggest of the FMS options, Verizon Connect offers a fleet management system that tracks IFTA, DVIR, and ELD data. As an FMS, the service offers more ways to save fuel than simply tracking IFTA data.

Route optimization finds the best routes, while real-time route updates help drivers avoid bad traffic. Unneeded idle times and fuel card fraud can be tracked and deterred, while additional features include work order delivery, engine diagnostics, and weather alerts.

Fleets that need to track high-value assets can opt for Verizon Connect's Asset Tracking. This lets managers locate non-vehicle assets in real time through a desktop or mobile interface, helping deter theft and boost efficiency. Field service management software can also be added to the central dashboard.

For more on features, pricing, and support, check out Tech.co’s full Verizon Connect review.

Samsara

Samsara’s ELD service can be upgraded smoothly to an FMS service. The FMS retains the same dashboard, but adds features including routing and dispatch, driver safety, vehicle diagnostics, improved fuel tracking, and asset tracking.

The easy-to-use interface, intuitive hardware units, and 24/7 support options make this FMS an attractive option. It is also easy to adapt to if your fleet doesn’t need a full FMS yet, but plans to use one in the future.

Read Tech.co’s full review of Samsara FMS for more details on its features, support options, and pricing.

Teletrac Navman

Teletrac Navman provides more features than a high-end ELD, but at a lower cost than a typical FMS. It offers users ELD compliance, GPS fleet tracking, two-way messaging, and safety alert features. In addition, Teletrac tracks drivers’ fuel usage, idle times, vehicle authorization, harsh turning, rapid acceleration, or instances of speeding – any of which can be set to automatically send alerts to managers when triggered.

A customizable dashboard also allows managers to decide which KPIs are the most important, and whether they’d prefer to see their fleet in real time via the satellite view, a GPS map, a list of vehicles, or even a street-level camera.

Check out Tech.co’s full Teletrac Navman review for more details on these features, pricing, and support.

These three FMS systems are far from your only options: check out Tech.co’s comparison of the best fleet management systems for a detailed breakdown. You can also read our guides to the best trucking software and the best route planning systems.

Next Steps for Choosing ELD Tracking

Prices in the ELD industry are not always public knowledge and are subject to change. Once you know which vendors you are interested in, you'll want to compare prices to make sure you're getting the best deal. If you operate a large enough fleet, the vendor may offer you a custom quote aimed specifically at your needs.

To find the best prices and ensure your fleet is ELD compliant, you’ll need to find and compare prices that are tailored to you. Fill out Tech.co’s handy fleet management quote comparison tool, and you'll be contacted by the top companies with obligation-free quotes.

FAQs About the Best ELD Devices