Choosing an ELD provider is a decision for at least a year or two. The monthly price on the website is only part of it: the device, the contract and the support decide what you really pay. So we compared five ELD providers the same way: prices from each provider’s own website, contract terms from their own documents, and the problems users mention most in reviews.
Please note: TenTrucks also sells an ELD, and it is in this comparison. We describe every provider the same way, including ourselves: real prices, real contract terms, and the downsides of each.
Short answer: for owner-operators and fleets of any size, TenTrucks gives the most for the price: GPS, IFTA and 24/7 support for $29 a month, the device and cable free on a 1-year plan, and loads, dispatch and logs in one place with the TenTrucks TMS.
ELD providers: quick comparison
| Provider | Known for | Price per truck, per month | Device | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motive | AI dash cams | About $35 to $50 on a contract (estimate) | Included with the subscription, returned when you leave | Contract, renews for 12 months |
| Samsara | Reports and data | About $30 to $45 (estimate) | Usually included in the subscription | Fixed term, cannot be ended early, renews automatically |
| Geotab | Big platform, sold by partners | About $20 to $40, set by the partner (estimate) | Included, no upfront cost | Contract through a Geotab partner |
| TenTrucks ELD | ELD and TMS in one, AI tools, all-in price | $29 | Free on a 1-year plan | 1-year plan |
| HOS247 | Lowest price, basic logs | Compliance $19; Track (GPS) $22; Plus (GPS, IFTA) $25 | Free if you pay a year upfront, or $79 | No contract; pay monthly or yearly |
Motive, Samsara and Geotab work like an internet provider: the device usually comes with the subscription, you pay every month on a contract, and you return the device when you leave. They don’t publish prices; they give a quote after a sales call. For them we show the usual range from carriers we talk to and from public pricing reviews, marked “estimate”. Your quote can be different, so always get it in writing before you sign. Short terms used below: HOS means hours of service, DVIR is the driver vehicle inspection report, and IFTA is the quarterly fuel tax report by state. New to ELDs? See our ELD for trucks page.
What two years costs, one truck
Here are 24-month totals for one truck, before tax and extras. To compare fairly, we use each provider’s plan with GPS tracking and IFTA. Rows marked “estimate” use the estimated range above:
| Provider and plan | How it adds up | 24-month total | Includes | Missing or extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOS247 ELD Plus, paid a year upfront | $25 × 12 = $300 a year (our math) × 2, device free | $600 | Logs, DVIR, GPS, IFTA | No dash cam, no AI tools. Device free only with a year paid upfront |
| TenTrucks, 1-year plan | $29 × 24, device and cable free | $696 | Logs, DVIR, GPS, IFTA, 24/7 support, works with TenTrucks TMS | Nothing extra: GPS and IFTA included |
| Motive (estimate) | $35 to $50 × 24, device included | $840 to $1,200 | Logs, GPS, IFTA | AI dash cams extra; contract; device returned when you leave |
Cheaper plans without GPS and IFTA: HOS247 ELD Compliance is $19 a month ($456 for two years, paid a year upfront). It covers logs and DVIR only, with no GPS tracking and no IFTA reports.
HOS247 ELD Plus is $96 cheaper over two years. For $4 more a month, TenTrucks adds a TMS for loads, dispatch and invoices, and AI that reads your load documents, so you enter each load once, not twice.
When you get a quote, ask for the device price, the monthly fee, any activation fee, the contract length and what it costs to leave early. Then compare the 24-month total the same way.
The ELD providers, one by one
Motive: one of the best-known ELDs
Motive (formerly KeepTruckin) is one of the most widely used ELDs. It offers ELD logs, GPS tracking, AI dash cams, dispatch and maintenance tools in one platform. Users often praise the logs and the GPS tracking.
Motive does not publish prices; its pricing page opens a request form. Carriers we talk to pay about $35 to $50 per truck per month for the ELD on a contract, and AI dash cams cost extra. The device comes with the subscription; users report it must be returned when the contract ends.
Downside: by Motive’s terms of service, a subscription renews for another 12 months unless you give written notice at least 30 days before it ends. If you leave early, you pay for the rest of the term. In user reviews, the most common complaint is customer support, followed by trouble canceling. Motive terms of service
Samsara: built for large fleets
Samsara is strong on reports and data: driver safety, fuel, vehicle health, AI dash cams, and connections to other software. It doesn’t publish prices; estimates are about $30 to $45 per vehicle per month on a fixed-term contract. Ask whether the hardware is included and whether you must return it.
Downside: Samsara’s terms say an order cannot be ended before its end date, and it renews for up to one year, or for the length of the last term if that is longer, unless you give written notice 30 days before. For one to five trucks, it usually costs too much. Users often praise its support, but mention cost and app changes after updates. Samsara terms of service
Geotab: a large platform sold through partners
Geotab sells two plans: GO Core for tracking and basic IFTA, and the full GO Plan, which includes HOS and ELD compliance. Geotab says there are no upfront hardware costs. Prices are set by the partner who sells it; estimates are about $20 to $40 per vehicle per month.
Downside: ELD is only in the full GO Plan, not in GO Core. Geotab sells through partners, so the price, contract and support depend on the partner you buy from. Users mention devices that stop reporting and data that is hard to find. Geotab plans
TenTrucks ELD: GPS, IFTA and a free device for $29 a month
$29 per truck per month with logs, DVIR, IFTA miles by state, GPS tracking and 24/7 support. On a 1-year plan, the Pacific Track PT30 or PT40 and the cable for your truck are free. It works for owner-operators and fleets of any size. It connects to the TenTrucks TMS, so loads, dispatch and logs are in one place. Dash cams are connected on request.
TenTrucks also adds tools that most ELDs don’t have:
- AI document reading. Upload a rate confirmation or other load document, and the details fill in for you.
- Custom duty cycles for fleets with their own hours rules, such as state or industry exceptions.
- More than trucking: built for construction, field service, oil and gas, agriculture, utilities and other fleets.
- A modern app you can customize to the way your fleet works.
- Custom features. If your fleet needs something specific, we can build it.
Downside: we are a newer name, so there are fewer public reviews. Call our support at night before you sign and judge it yourself. TenTrucks ELD pricing
HOS247: cheap and simple
HOS247 is a basic, low-cost ELD with no contract. The $19 plan covers only logs and DVIR: GPS tracking starts at $22, and IFTA at $25. The device is free only if you pay a full year upfront; if you pay monthly, it costs $79. Drivers use their own phone or tablet with a 4G LTE or 5G data plan.
Downside: simple features and no AI tools. The cheapest plan has no GPS tracking and no IFTA. If you need both, you need the $25 plan. HOS247 pricing
Our picks
- Best value for owner-operators and fleets of any size: TenTrucks. GPS, IFTA and 24/7 support are included for $29 a month, and the device and cable are free on a 1-year plan.
- Best if you also need dispatch and invoicing: TenTrucks. The ELD works with the TenTrucks TMS, so loads, dispatch, invoices and logs are in one place and you enter data only once.
- Best for construction, field service and other non-trucking fleets: TenTrucks. Custom duty cycles and settings fit state and industry hours rules.
Check every provider on the FMCSA list
FMCSA does not approve ELDs. Providers certify their own devices and register them. FMCSA removes devices that do not meet the rules. Its revoked list has more than 380 entries. When a device is revoked, carriers get up to 60 days to replace it. After that, a driver with the old device is treated as having no ELD and can be put out of service.
So before you sign, find the exact model on the registered list, not just the company name. Log violations are expensive: FMCSA can fine a carrier up to $1,584 per day for missing or false logs, up to $15,846 for one violation (49 CFR Part 386, Appendix B).
For the full buying checklist, from ports and cables to contract warning signs and the questions to ask, read How to choose the best ELD for your truck.
FAQ
Who are the best ELD providers?
For owner-operators and fleets of any size that want GPS, IFTA and a TMS in one place for one price, TenTrucks. Motive and Samsara are the best-known brands, but they price by quote and use fixed-term contracts. HOS247 has the lowest published price for a basic plan. Compare the two-year total and the contract, not only the monthly price.
How much do ELD providers charge?
Published plans here run from $19 to $29 per truck per month, and the device is free with a yearly plan. Motive, Samsara and Geotab quote each customer; estimates run about $20 to $50, and Motive is usually about $35 to $50 on a contract.
How many ELD providers are there?
FMCSA’s registered list has about 900 ELD entries from hundreds of companies. Many are different apps that use the same hardware, such as the Pacific Track PT30 and PT40.
Can I switch ELD providers in the middle of a contract?
Only if your contract allows it. Some large providers charge you for the rest of the contract if you leave early. Some also renew automatically unless you tell them in advance. Read these parts of the contract before you sign.
