Buyer's guide
LoRa vs GPS livestock trackers
Two ways to track cattle and sheep — compared on coverage, cost, battery and real-time updates. Here's how to choose, or mix both on one farm.
| LoRa ear tags | 4G GPS collars | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Your own LoRa gateways — works in mobile dead-zones (fells, valleys, woodland) | Mobile network — needs 4G/2G signal at the animal |
| Real-time updates | Periodic (battery-optimised), continuous within gateway range | Near real-time positions over the network |
| SIM required | No SIM — one gateway serves the whole herd | Yes — a data SIM per collar (included with Flockarewe) |
| Battery life | Very long (months to years) — low-power radio | Shorter — cellular + GPS draw more power |
| Cost per animal | Low — ear tags from £9.90–£13.90 each | Higher — a collar plus data per animal |
| Best form factor | Lightweight ear tag — ideal for whole flocks/herds | Collar — suits fewer, higher-value or free-ranging animals |
| Setup | Install one or more gateways once, then tag freely | Fit a collar, insert SIM — no gateway needed |
| Best for | Hill flocks, commons, big herds on land you control | Animals ranging beyond gateway coverage, high-value stock |
Choose LoRa ear tags if…
You're tagging a whole flock or herd, work land with poor mobile signal, and want the lowest cost per animal with the longest battery life. Ideal for hill sheep, commons and large herds on land you control.
Choose 4G GPS collars if…
Your animals range beyond gateway coverage, or you need near real-time positions on fewer, higher-value stock. Collars include a data SIM and need no gateway — just mobile signal where the animal roams.
Or do both — on one map
Flockarewe supports LoRa ear tags and 4G GPS collars together in one workspace. Tag the main flock with LoRa, put collars on the stock that roams, and see everything on a single live map with the same geofencing, welfare and theft alerts. See the trackers →
LoRa vs GPS — FAQs
Is LoRa or GPS better for tracking livestock?+
Neither is universally better — it depends on your land and herd. LoRa ear tags win on cost, battery life and coverage where there's no mobile signal, because they report to your own gateways. 4G GPS collars win where animals range beyond gateway coverage and you need near real-time positions. Many farms use both.
Do LoRa trackers need a mobile signal?+
No. LoRa ear tags talk to a LoRa gateway on your farm, not the mobile network, so they keep working in dead-zones on fells and in valleys. Only 4G GPS collars use the mobile network and need signal at the animal.
Is LoRa cheaper than GPS for a whole flock?+
Usually, yes. LoRa ear tags are low-cost (from £9.90 per tag at scale) and need no SIM per animal — one gateway covers the whole herd. A 4G GPS collar per animal, plus data, costs more, so GPS is better reserved for fewer, higher-value or free-ranging animals.
Can I use both LoRa and GPS on the same farm?+
Yes. With Flockarewe you can mix LoRa ear tags and 4G GPS collars in one workspace — tag the main flock or herd with LoRa and put GPS collars on stock that roams beyond your gateways. Everything shows on one live map with the same alerts and records.
What is a LoRa gateway and do I need one?+
A LoRa gateway is a small receiver, usually roof- or pole-mounted, that picks up your ear tags' signals and forwards them to the platform. You need at least one for LoRa tags (they cover a wide area), but none for 4G GPS collars, which use the mobile network.
Related reading
Not sure which fits your farm?
See the hardware and pricing, or tell us about your land and stock and we'll recommend the right mix.