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Updated Sep 18, 2023

ClearPathGPS Review

Neil Cumins, Business Ownership Insider and Senior Analyst

Table of Contents

Open row
Editors Score:8.8/10

ClearPathGPS is our choice for the best GPS fleet tracking service for value because it offers transparent pricing with essential fleet tracking tools. It is ideal for field service businesses that want an affordable system with good customer support.

Plus Sign Pros
  • ClearPathGPS allows buyers to select the exact hardware they need from a lengthy list.
  • It offers hardwired and plug-and-play devices, with the latter usually suitable for self-installation.
  • Every plan supports unlimited automated reports.
  • Onboarding and ongoing training are available if required.
Minus Sign Cons
  • The company has reversed its previous policy regarding price transparency.
  • Some competitors offer more sophisticated AI software and reporting tools.
  • Only the higher-tier plan includes advanced reports and alerts.
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  • ClearPathGPS offers the standard GPS fleet tracking features a typical fleet would need.
  • There are extensive customization options that enable firms to tailor the software for their specific requirements and preferences.
  •  Service plans enable companies to choose a solution that best meets their needs.
  • This review is for small business owners and fleet managers who are considering ClearPathGPS for their fleet tracking system.

ClearPathGPS is our choice as the best GPS fleet tracking system for companies that want to personalize their hardware and software. While generic off-the-shelf solutions will suit many companies, others will want to customize their GPS fleet tracking package according to their industry, or in response to specific aspects of their business. The system’s tiered features and lengthy list of individually selectable assets reflects the company’s flexible approach to onboarding, and there’s extensive support from knowledgeable staff if you need it.

ClearPathGPS Editor's Rating:

8.8 / 10

Cost
7.8/10
Features
9.5/10
Refresh time
9.0/10
Usability
9.1/10
Customer service
9.1/10

When we reviewed ClearPathGPS previously, we praised its transparent pricing, with Standard and Pro packages each subdivided into individually priced powered/nonpowered asset costs. Regrettably, the company has subsequently made the decision to remove pricing from its website, following the example of rival companies in making potential customers contact a sales rep for a personalized quote. The transparent pricing was a leading value proposition of the brand for us, and we’re disappointed by ClearPathGPS’s decision. However, the quality of its products and interface remains undimmed.

Why ClearPathGPS Leads for Personalization

ClearPathGPS is a solid GPS fleet tracking solution that includes everything you need to track your fleet of vehicles. Instead of charging extra for each component, the provider offers two plans with tiered features, allowing you to choose which plan best suits your needs and budget. The company also provides an extensive array of hardware and accessories, many with niche appeal, which allows companies to cherry-pick (and pay for) only what’s required.

ClearPathGPS is easy to install and set up, and drivers should find navigating the mobile-friendly dashboard straightforward. If you do need assistance, ClearPathGPS automatically includes ongoing training, something most of its competitors in our review fail to offer.

ClearpathGPS on a camera, mobile device, and a computer

ClearPathGPS is a cloud-based platform that can be accessed from a variety of devices. Source: ClearPathGPS

Usability

One aspect of ClearPathGPS that we found appealing was its ease of use. Installing the hardware in each vehicle is extremely simple, and in many cases, employees can install hardware themselves. ClearPathGPS’ dashboard is equally intuitive, without the learning curve often involved in competitor software. With ClearPathGPS, your drivers can be on the road and using the system in no time.

Because the platform is cloud-based, the dashboard is accessible via computer as well as iOS/Android mobile devices on a well-designed app. Its gray-on-gray interface is initially underwhelming, but everything is presented clearly; it’s helpful that each report option is labeled with a one-line description to clarify its purpose. Within two clicks, you can move from reports to geofence editing, or from vehicle lists to live mapping. 

ClearPathGPS offers updates of vehicle locations every 30 seconds. This refresh time is the same we found in our Verizon Connect review, but it falls short of the second-by-second refresh rate we found in our Samsara review. Other companies like FleetUp allow users to adjust refresh times between ten and 60 seconds, as required or preferred.

ClearPathGPS Features

Keep in mind that the company offers two plans with tiered features, and some of the following features are available exclusively through the Pro plan:

Hardware

Choose from plug-and-play trackers, wired trackers, dashcams, asset trackers and accessories.

Driver safety and performance

ClearPathGPS can create virtual timecards and driver scorecards.

Fleet maintenance

View maintenance and odometer reports to maintain vehicle health.

Geofencing and mapping

Each plan includes geofencing, live maps and traffic overlays.

Alerts and reporting

ClearPathGPS offers standard and advanced reports, as well as alerts, to help you make informed fleet decisions and maintain compliance.

Hardware

ClearPathGPS offers an ample variety of tracking hardware and accessories. As of April 2023, the list extends to plug-and-play or covert hardwired trackers (the latter using a three-wire install to the ignition, power and ground), dashcams, dual-powered or solar-powered asset trackers, and an industrial-grade satellite-powered tracker ideal for remote areas with low signal coverage.

Driver Safety and Performance

Like other fleet tracking services, ClearPathGPS helps you track driver behaviors such as speeding and engine idling. Because the platform tracks driver hours of service, it can create virtual timecards for accurately tracking activities and maintaining legal compliance. Radio buttons enable you to track points where a vehicle was towing, idling or stopped. You can also segregate out instances of harsh braking, cornering, speeding and acceleration.

It’s important to note that only Pro customers have access to driver scorecards. In contrast, many competitors offer this as a standard feature. These scorecards are ideal for tracking, rewarding and correcting driver performance. Pro plan customers also have access to features such as driver IDs and paid-time-off status. 

We found Driver IDs especially useful for companies where a vehicle might be driven by more than one person per day or per shift. Each driver is allocated an individual key fob, with an audio alarm sounding until the driver checks into that vehicle by touching the vehicle fob reader.

TipTip

Driver scorecards are useful for increasing driver safety and performance, maintaining legal compliance, reducing engine idling, and improving vehicle health.

ClearPathGPS live vehicle location tracking

Users can view vehicle locations in close to real time. Source: ClearPathGPS

Fleet Maintenance and Optimization

Fleet managers can maintain fleet health and optimize fuel costs with maintenance and odometer reporting. The Pro plan also gives you access to temperature monitoring and maintenance alerts, as well as fault codes and International Fuel Tax Agreement reporting.

There are features to help you stay compliant with hours of service and electronic logging device regulations, which are must-haves for many businesses.

Geofencing and Mapping

Every business that uses ClearPathGPS can access essential fleet tracking tools, like live maps and traffic overlays. ClearPathGPS offers geofences in circles, rectangles and other polygons to ensure vehicles remain within assigned locations. Google Maps underpins the software with its reassuringly familiar aesthetic.

Alerts and Reporting

Every plan comes with access to unlimited automated reports whose insights can underpin informed decisions about your fleet. The higher-tier plan also provides access to advanced alerts that can be valuable for maintaining legal compliance on after-hours and unauthorized usage, as well as generating compliant eLogs for hours of service (HOS) and electronic logging devices (ELDs) in both America and Canada. The software can also create other safety-based alerts, as well as geofence arrival and departure alerts.

ClearPathGPS driver-facing cameras

ClearPathGPS users can add on road- and driver-facing cameras for access to images and video feeds. Source: ClearPathGPS

ClearPathGPS Cost

ClearPathGPS previously stood out from competitors for listing prices for its software and hardware online, but the company has made the decision to remove pricing from the website and corporate documentation. The company still offers two pricing tiers, but you will need to request a quote from a sales representative to find out what they’ll cost you.

Unlike many competitors, ClearPathGPS offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so users can test out the platform without much risk. Even then, there are no contracts. Many competitors require contracts of up to 36 months, a potentially big commitment for a startup or a small business with limited funding and an uncertain future.

Software Pricing

ClearPathGPS offers two software plans — Standard and Pro. With current prices no longer available, we have left below the prices most recently obtained from the company in our previous review. Keep in mind that the company could revise these asset costs at any time without declaring it.

Service plan

Powered asset costs

Nonpowered asset costs

Standard

$20 per month

$15 per month

Pro

$25 per month

$20 per month

When prices were still listed, dashcams with a 120-degree wide angle lens recording the road in 1080p and the driver in 720p resolution were available for an additional $30 per month. While the cloud can store up to 60 hours of drive-time footage, data is only stored for 30 days.

Hardware

ClearPathGPS offers plug-and-play and hardwired trackers, as well as dashcams, asset trackers and accessories:

Tracking hardware

  • Plug-and-play tracker
  • Covert wired tracker
  • HD road and driver-facing dashcam with audio and microphone
  • ELD all-in-one tracker
  • Industrial compact asset tracker
  • Dual-powered asset tracker
  • Solar-powered asset tracker

Hardware accessories

  • OBD-II Y cable: $20 per unit, or $25 with a bracket
  • JBUS adapter: $40 per unit
  • OBD-II ribbon cable: $10 per unit
  • Driver ID kit: $45 per kit, plus $12.50 per additional fob
  • Adhesive dashcam mount: $35 per unit
Key TakeawayKey takeaway

While it still lists pricing for its accessories, ClearPathGPS has taken a major step backward in removing contract and tracking hardware pricing from its website.

ClearPathGPS driver data

ClearPathGPS provides a variety of driver data that can help you maintain compliance. Source: ClearPathGPS

ClearPathGPS Setup

ClearPathGPS offers plug-and-play and hardwired trackers, and your choice of hardware will affect how long it takes to set up your system. For example, you can install the plug-and-play devices into a vehicle’s onboard diagnostic port in minutes. Wired trackers can take slightly longer to install, as they must be connected to the ignition, power and ground behind your vehicle’s dashboard. Once you connect your trackers and create your software account, you can quickly start tracking fleet information.

ClearPathGPS live traffic overlay map

You can view routes with live traffic overlays. Source: ClearPathGPS

ClearPathGPS Customer Service

Our research found several helpful resources online. ClearPathGPS offers blogs, webinars, guides, FAQs and case studies that provide solid customer support. You can reach a representative by phone, email, web chat or ticketing, with support available between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. PST. We found ClearPathGPS’ support reps to be helpful and knowledgeable, adding to the product’s overall value. Additionally, ClearPathGPS offers onboarding, ongoing training and guidance, services not all companies provide. We also appreciate the fact that ClearPathGPS’s support teams are based in the U.S., which reduces the communication challenges that sometimes manifest with overseas call centers.

During our review, ClearPathGPS held a five-star “Excellent” review on Trustpilot, based on a sample frame of just over 200 customers. It has a 4.9 score on Capterra, and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

ClearPathGPS Drawbacks

While ClearPathGPS offers plenty of feedback and functionality, it falls short of some competitors in terms of granular data recording. Force by Mojio offers advanced features like vehicle VIN recordings and odometer readings as well as tire check analyzer with discounts on replacement rubber. If you want to truly micromanage your fleet, other companies might be a better fit.

ClearPathGPS’s Standard plan is also frustratingly limited compared to its Pro sibling. For example, it doesn’t include advanced reports, real-time alerts, partner integrations or access to an open API. If these are features you require, you need to sign up for the Pro account or seek out another vendor, such as GPS Trackit.

Methodology

Choosing a GPS fleet tracking system can be tough, so we did the heavy lifting for you. We spent hours researching and analyzing GPS fleet tracking systems to identify the top solutions on the market. We looked at hardware, features, pricing and contracts, ease of use, refresh times and customer support, and we even got hands-on experience with demos and product videos when possible. When searching for the GPS fleet tracking system with the best value, we focused on features such as cost, usability and customer support. We got under the hood of ClearPathGPS to determine its per-item pricing structure, customization and recording functionality.

ClearPathGPS FAQs

ClearPathGPS serves field service businesses — primarily those in the HVAC, agriculture, construction, landscaping, pest control, plumbing and roofing industries.

Yes, ClearPathGPS has an open API, as well as multiple partner integrations. These include Route4Me, ServiceTitan, Fleetio, ManagerPlus and Trucker Tools.

ClearPathGPS offers several customer support options to its clients, including phone, email, help desk and live chat. It also includes a knowledge base and customer forum for self-guided support.

Overall Value

We recommend ClearPathGPS for …

  • Field service businesses.
  • Budget-conscious fleet owners who want a comprehensive yet affordable solution.
  • Businesses looking for a powerful mobile app alongside the usual desktop functionality.
  • Firms requiring a variety of hardware types, such as hardwired trackers or dashcams and accessories.

We don’t recommend ClearPathGPS for …

  • Businesses that need a completely customized fleet management solution.
  • Large enterprises.
  • Fleets other than those within field service industries.
Neil Cumins, Business Ownership Insider and Senior Analyst
Neil Cumins is an award-winning small business owner who has run a limited company for nearly two decades. Through his personal and professional experiences, he is well-versed in a range of B2B and B2C topics, from invoicing to advertising to the use of artificial intelligence. Prior to starting his own business, Cumins worked as a marketing executive. With deep insights into the ever-changing technology landscape, Cumins is particularly skilled at evaluating business software and guiding fellow entrepreneurs to the tools and strategies that will equip them for entrepreneurial success. Over the years, he has worked with some of the world’s biggest hardware and software manufacturers, as well as countless SaaS brands. Today, he also spends his time consulting on compensation and other business matters.
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