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Fleet Management · head to head

NexTraq vs QGIS

NexTraq logo

NexTraq

Fleet Management

US small-fleet telematics now absorbed into Michelin Connected Fleet

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Q

QGIS

Maps

Free, open-source desktop GIS application that supports viewing, editing, and analysis of

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: NexTraq the NexTraq brand has been absorbed into Michelin Connected Fleet, so the product name, the account team and eventually the platform underneath you are all subject to a consolidation plan you have no say in.; QGIS requires technical knowledge to use effectively for advanced GIS analysis
  • They diverge on capability: NexTraq covers Vehicle tracking, QGIS covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which NexTraq and QGIS actually diverge.

Attributes where NexTraq and QGIS differ
AttributeNexTraqQGIS
Pricing modelquotefreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryFleet ManagementMaps

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), 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 NexTraq

  • Vehicle tracking
  • Hours of service
  • Fuel and idling reporting
  • Maintenance scheduling
  • Job dispatch
  • Driver scorecards

Only in QGIS

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

NexTraq

  • A North American trades or field service fleet that wants tracking, dispatch and ELD compliance from one mid-market vendornot QGIS
  • An operator already buying Michelin tyres and fleet services that can negotiate telematics into a wider commercial agreementnot QGIS
  • A fleet replacing an ageing tracking system that values an owner with a large corporate balance sheet over a venture-funded challengernot QGIS
  • A distribution business needing straightforward fuel and idling reporting to justify a driver behaviour programmenot QGIS

QGIS

  • Creating thematic maps showing population density by regionnot NexTraq
  • Digitizing building footprints from satellite imagery for urban planningnot NexTraq
  • Analyzing proximity of retail stores to competitor locationsnot NexTraq
  • Performing spatial analysis of wildlife habitat suitabilitynot NexTraq

Where each one falls short

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

NexTraq

  • The NexTraq brand has been absorbed into Michelin Connected Fleet, so the product name, the account team and eventually the platform underneath you are all subject to a consolidation plan you have no say in.
  • Michelin is merging three separately engineered telematics products, which historically means feature freezes on the older platforms and a migration that existing customers pay for in disruption rather than cash.
  • The feature set is mid-market and unexceptional, so it rarely wins a technical evaluation against Geotab or Samsara on capability alone.
  • Contracts bundle hardware into multi-year terms, so a fleet that shrinks or is acquired continues paying for devices, and early exit triggers hardware recovery costs.
  • The integration ecosystem is small and the API is not a selling point, so connecting telematics data to job costing or payroll usually means custom work or scheduled file exports.

QGIS

  • Requires technical knowledge to use effectively for advanced GIS analysis
  • Desktop application does not include built-in web publishing capabilities

Pricing, plan by plan

NexTraq

On request
  • NexTraq$undefined/year
    • Per vehicle subscription with hardware bundled into the term
    • Multi-year agreements are standard
    • ELD and dispatch modules priced as tiers

QGIS

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the QGIS review.

Which should you pick?

Choose NexTraq if

  • You need vehicle tracking.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want hours of service.
NexTraq review

Choose QGIS if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want user interface.
QGIS review

Questions people ask

Is NexTraq or QGIS better?
Neither clearly leads. NexTraq starts at On request and QGIS at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, NexTraq or QGIS?
NexTraq starts at On request and QGIS at On request.
Does NexTraq or QGIS run on more platforms?
NexTraq runs on Web, iOS, Android. QGIS runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
What is NexTraq best used for?
NexTraq is most often used for a north american trades or field service fleet that wants tracking, dispatch and eld compliance from one mid-market vendor, an operator already buying michelin tyres and fleet services that can negotiate telematics into a wider commercial agreement, a fleet replacing an ageing tracking system that values an owner with a large corporate balance sheet over a venture-funded challenger, a distribution business needing straightforward fuel and idling reporting to justify a driver behaviour programme. Of those, a north american trades or field service fleet that wants tracking, dispatch and eld compliance from one mid-market vendor and an operator already buying michelin tyres and fleet services that can negotiate telematics into a wider commercial agreement are not what QGIS is typically brought in for.
What can NexTraq do that QGIS cannot?
NexTraq covers Vehicle tracking, Hours of service, Fuel and idling reporting, Maintenance scheduling. QGIS covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

NexTraq: Is NexTraq still a separate company?

No. Michelin bought it in 2017 and has folded it into Michelin Connected Fleet, together with Masternaut in Europe and Sascar in Brazil.

QGIS: Is QGIS free and open source?

Yes. QGIS is free and open-source software, licensed under the GNU General Public License, available for download and modification by anyone.

Source
NexTraq: Will my NexTraq system be migrated to a different platform?

Assume so, eventually. Ask directly what the migration timetable is, what happens to historical data, and who bears the cost of re-fitting or re-configuring devices.

QGIS: What operating systems does QGIS support?

QGIS runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with installers available for each platform.

Source
NexTraq: Does buying Michelin tyres get me a better telematics price?

It is worth testing. The commercial logic of the acquisition is bundling vehicle services, and that is where discounting is most likely to be available.

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