Softwr

Fleet Management · head to head

GPS Trackit vs GRASS GIS

GPS Trackit logo

GPS Trackit

Fleet Management

Vehicle tracking for small and mid-size fleets with no long-term contract

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
GRASS GIS logo

GRASS GIS

Maps

Long-running open source geospatial analysis engine for raster, vector and terrain processing

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only GRASS GIS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: GPS Trackit month-to-month pricing carries a premium, so measured across three years the total cost usually exceeds a competitor with hardware amortised into a term contract.; GRASS GIS the location and mapset data model requires importing data into a structured database with a fixed coordinate system before analysis, which is a real barrier for anyone used to opening files directly.
  • They diverge on capability: GPS Trackit covers Live tracking, GRASS GIS covers Raster analysis.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GPS Trackit and GRASS GIS actually diverge.

Attributes where GPS Trackit and GRASS GIS differ
AttributeGPS TrackitGRASS GIS
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer vehicle per monthOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidLinux, Windows, macOS
CategoryFleet ManagementMaps

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in GPS Trackit

  • Live tracking
  • Driver behaviour
  • VidFleet cameras
  • Maintenance reminders
  • Self-installed devices
  • Alerts and reports

Only in GRASS GIS

  • Raster analysis
  • Hydrological modelling
  • Terrain analysis
  • Vector topology
  • Temporal framework
  • Image processing
  • Python API
  • QGIS integration

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

GPS Trackit

  • A contractor whose fleet size swings with the season and who cannot justify a three-year commitment on vehicles it may not run next springnot GRASS GIS
  • A small service business trialling telematics for the first time that wants an exit if drivers or supervisors do not adopt itnot GRASS GIS
  • A fleet that needs devices fitted the week they arrive, without booking installation appointments across a depotnot GRASS GIS
  • An operator replacing a vendor mid-contract that wants a stopgap platform rather than another long agreementnot GRASS GIS

GRASS GIS

  • A hydrologist delineating watersheds and modelling flow accumulation over a large digital elevation modelnot GPS Trackit
  • A research group building a reproducible time series analysis of satellite imagery that must be rerunnable years laternot GPS Trackit
  • An environmental agency running viewshed and solar radiation analysis for planning assessments without buying commercial GIS seatsnot GPS Trackit
  • A QGIS user who needs a specific processing algorithm that only exists in the GRASS toolboxnot GPS Trackit

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

GPS Trackit

  • Month-to-month pricing carries a premium, so measured across three years the total cost usually exceeds a competitor with hardware amortised into a term contract.
  • The feature set is tracking-first, with a shallow maintenance module and no meaningful work order, parts or inventory management, so fleets serious about maintenance need a second system.
  • Compliance tooling is basic, and a fleet that takes on regulated interstate work will find the hours of service capability behind vendors built around the mandate.
  • The integration list is short and the API is limited, so pushing telematics data into payroll, job costing or an ERP normally becomes a manual export routine.
  • Self-installed OBD-II devices are easy to fit and equally easy for a driver to unplug, and the tamper reporting does not make up for the fact that the physical device is within reach of the person being monitored.

GRASS GIS

  • The location and mapset data model requires importing data into a structured database with a fixed coordinate system before analysis, which is a real barrier for anyone used to opening files directly.
  • The native graphical interface is dated and inconsistent compared with QGIS or ArcGIS, so most users end up running GRASS through QGIS and never learn the tool they are actually depending on.
  • There is no vendor, so contractual support, service levels and liability do not exist by default and must be arranged with an independent consultancy that may not cover your jurisdiction.
  • Cartographic output and map layout are weak relative to the analysis capability, meaning a second tool is always needed to produce a publishable map.
  • Module naming and argument conventions are idiosyncratic and long-standing, so scripts are durable but the learning curve is steep and transferable skills from other GIS packages help less than expected.

Pricing, plan by plan

GPS Trackit

On request
  • GPS Trackit$undefined/month
    • Month-to-month subscription per vehicle with no minimum term
    • Tracking hardware supplied with the subscription
    • Camera hardware and video plans charged separately

GRASS GIS

Free
  • GRASS GISFree
    • GNU GPL licence
    • All modules included
    • No user or seat limits

Which should you pick?

Choose GPS Trackit if

  • You need live tracking.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want driver behaviour.
GPS Trackit review

Choose GRASS GIS if

  • You need raster analysis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want hydrological modelling.
GRASS GIS review

Questions people ask

Is GPS Trackit or GRASS GIS better?
Neither clearly leads. GPS Trackit starts at On request and GRASS GIS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GPS Trackit or GRASS GIS?
GRASS GIS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for GPS Trackit and Free for GRASS GIS.
Does GPS Trackit or GRASS GIS run on more platforms?
GPS Trackit runs on Web, iOS, Android. GRASS GIS runs on Linux, Windows, macOS.
Can I use GRASS GIS for free?
Yes. GRASS GIS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. GPS Trackit starts at On request.
What is GPS Trackit best used for?
GPS Trackit is most often used for a contractor whose fleet size swings with the season and who cannot justify a three-year commitment on vehicles it may not run next spring, a small service business trialling telematics for the first time that wants an exit if drivers or supervisors do not adopt it, a fleet that needs devices fitted the week they arrive, without booking installation appointments across a depot, an operator replacing a vendor mid-contract that wants a stopgap platform rather than another long agreement. Of those, a contractor whose fleet size swings with the season and who cannot justify a three-year commitment on vehicles it may not run next spring and a small service business trialling telematics for the first time that wants an exit if drivers or supervisors do not adopt it are not what GRASS GIS is typically brought in for.
What can GPS Trackit do that GRASS GIS cannot?
GPS Trackit covers Live tracking, Driver behaviour, VidFleet cameras, Maintenance reminders. GRASS GIS covers Raster analysis, Hydrological modelling, Terrain analysis, Vector topology.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

GPS Trackit: Is there really no contract?

The subscription is month to month, but read the hardware terms. Devices are supplied on the expectation they come back, and unreturned units are charged for.

GRASS GIS: Who maintains GRASS GIS?

An international volunteer and academic developer community under the Open Source Geospatial Foundation. It originated at the US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory in 1982.

GPS Trackit: How does the cost compare to Samsara or Verizon Connect over three years?

Generally higher per vehicle, because those vendors discount in exchange for the commitment. The comparison only favours GPS Trackit if you value the ability to leave.

GRASS GIS: Can I buy commercial support?

Not from a vendor. Independent consultancies in the OSGeo ecosystem offer paid support and development, and availability varies by region.

GPS Trackit: Can drivers unplug the tracker?

A plug-in OBD-II device can be removed in seconds. The system reports the disconnection, but enforcement is a management problem, not a technical one. Hardwired units are available for fleets where this matters.

GRASS GIS: Do I need to use its interface?

No. Most people run GRASS algorithms through the QGIS processing toolbox or from Python.

GRASS GIS: Is it suitable for production use?

Yes for analysis pipelines, and it is used by agencies and research institutions. Plan for community support rather than a service level agreement.

Share

Related pages

More on GPS Trackit

More on GRASS GIS

Keep looking

Other head to heads