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Fleet Management · head to head

Samsara vs Zonar Systems

Samsara logo

Samsara

Fleet Management

The connected operations cloud

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zonar Systems logo

Zonar Systems

Fleet Management

Telematics for school buses and vocational fleets, built around verified physical inspections

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Samsara no price is published for any plan; every tier on the plans page offers only a Get pricing button, and no contract length or hardware cost is stated; Zonar Systems the product is shaped around pupil transport and heavy vocational work, so light commercial van fleets pay for inspection and ridership machinery they will never use.
  • They diverge on capability: Samsara covers Real-time GPS tracking, Zonar Systems covers EVIR.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Samsara and Zonar Systems actually diverge.

Attributes where Samsara and Zonar Systems differ
AttributeSamsaraZonar Systems
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, iOS, Android
Founded2015Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Fleet Management).

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 Samsara

  • Real-time GPS tracking
  • AI dash cameras
  • ELD compliance
  • IFTA reporting
  • Driver safety coaching
  • Maintenance scheduling
  • Fuel efficiency
  • Route optimization

Only in Zonar Systems

  • EVIR
  • Z Pass
  • MyView
  • Zonar Logs
  • Fault code monitoring
  • Zonar Coach

What people use each for

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

Samsara

  • Real time GPS tracking of vehicle location and engine healthnot Zonar Systems
  • AI dash cameras with in cab driver coaching and safety alertsnot Zonar Systems
  • Trailer and powered equipment tracking for asset recoverynot Zonar Systems
  • Fleet maintenance planning and fuel usage analysisnot Zonar Systems

Zonar Systems

  • A school district that must evidence pre-trip inspections to a state regulator and cannot rely on a driver ticking boxes on a screennot Samsara
  • A pupil transport operation that needs to answer parent queries about which bus a child boarded and whennot Samsara
  • A waste or utilities fleet with heavy vehicles where a missed defect becomes a liability question in courtnot Samsara
  • A public sector fleet running a formal tender where verified inspection records are a scored requirementnot Samsara

Where each one falls short

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

Samsara

  • No price is published for any plan; every tier on the plans page offers only a Get pricing button, and no contract length or hardware cost is stated
  • Safety, Telematics and Equipment tracking are sold as separate plan families, so a fleet needing all three buys three plans
  • Weather risk visibility and the 30 plus risk detections with context and patterns require Safety Enterprise rather than Safety Premier
  • AI fuel lifecycle insights, TMS integrations and route performance tools require Telematics Enterprise rather than Telematics Premier
  • Proactive maintenance tools and real time diagnostics for trailers and equipment require Advanced Tracking rather than Standard Visibility

Zonar Systems

  • The product is shaped around pupil transport and heavy vocational work, so light commercial van fleets pay for inspection and ridership machinery they will never use.
  • EVIR requires RFID tags fitted at zones on every vehicle plus a handheld or tablet, so installation labour and ongoing tag replacement are real costs that a plug-in competitor does not carry.
  • Continental has been separating its automotive divisions into standalone businesses, which leaves the long-term ownership and investment path for Zonar uncertain just as districts sign multi-year agreements.
  • The interface and reporting are dated next to newer platforms, and administrators moving from a modern dashboard find report building and data export unnecessarily manual.
  • Pricing is quoted rather than published and bundles hardware into multi-year terms, so comparing it fairly against a month-to-month competitor requires modelling total cost across the whole contract rather than the monthly figure.

Pricing, plan by plan

Samsara

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Samsara review.

Zonar Systems

On request
  • Zonar Systems$undefined/year
    • Per vehicle subscription with hardware and installation quoted separately
    • RFID inspection tags and rugged tablets priced per vehicle
    • Student ridership and parent app licensed per district

Which should you pick?

Choose Samsara if

  • You need real-time gps tracking.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want ai dash cameras.
Samsara review

Choose Zonar Systems if

  • You need evir.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want z pass.
Zonar Systems review

Questions people ask

Is Samsara or Zonar Systems better?
Neither clearly leads. Samsara starts at On request and Zonar Systems at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Samsara or Zonar Systems?
Samsara starts at On request and Zonar Systems at On request.
Does Samsara or Zonar Systems run on more platforms?
Samsara runs on Web, Mobile. Zonar Systems runs on Web, iOS, Android.
What is Samsara best used for?
Samsara is most often used for real time gps tracking of vehicle location and engine health, ai dash cameras with in cab driver coaching and safety alerts, trailer and powered equipment tracking for asset recovery, fleet maintenance planning and fuel usage analysis. Of those, real time gps tracking of vehicle location and engine health and ai dash cameras with in cab driver coaching and safety alerts are not what Zonar Systems is typically brought in for.
What can Samsara do that Zonar Systems cannot?
Samsara covers Real-time GPS tracking, AI dash cameras, ELD compliance, IFTA reporting. Zonar Systems covers EVIR, Z Pass, MyView, Zonar Logs.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Samsara: How much does Samsara cost?

Samsara does not publish pricing online. Pricing is customized based on fleet size and specific operational needs. Contact sales to discuss your requirements and receive a quote.

Source
Zonar Systems: What does EVIR actually prove?

That a person carrying the scanning device was physically next to each tagged zone on the vehicle in sequence. It does not prove they looked carefully, but it removes the common defence that an inspection was recorded from the cab.

Samsara: Does Samsara pricing scale by fleet size?

Yes, Samsara pricing scales based on fleet size with tiers for 1-5 vehicles, 6-29, 30-499, 500-4999, and 5000+ assets. Specific rates for each tier are not disclosed online.

Source
Zonar Systems: Is Zonar only for school buses?

No. It is used across waste, utilities, construction and transit, but pupil transport is where its ridership and parent-facing features have no direct equivalent.

Samsara: How can I get Samsara pricing information?

To obtain pricing, use the 'Talk to sales' button on Samsara's website or visit their pricing page. The sales team will discuss your operational needs and provide a customized quote.

Source
Zonar Systems: How disruptive is the installation?

More disruptive than a plug-in device. Expect a vehicle out of service for a fitting appointment, tags mounted at several points, and a rolling programme across the fleet rather than a same-day rollout.

Samsara: Does Samsara offer a free trial?

No free trial is mentioned on Samsara's available pages. Contact the sales team to discuss evaluation options and pricing for your fleet.

Source
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