# Halo Collar vs The Barkstead

The clearest difference is rating: The Barkstead at 5.0 against Halo Collar's 4.1. Halo Collar's advantage is ratings volume (9.7K vs 9). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

The Barkstead holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Halo Collar has 9.7K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Halo Collar ships an update every 3 weeks, The Barkstead every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 15, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Halo Collar | The Barkstead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (9.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halo-collar/id1476830649/reviews) | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-barkstead/id6777022327/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9.7K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 69.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 324 MB | 150 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Protect Animals With Satellites, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476830648) | [iTrust Ventures LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1317767149) |

## What reviewers say

### Halo Collar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halo-collar/id1476830649)

This app manages a smart collar system that creates virtual fences to keep dogs safely contained. It offers expert training, real-time activity tracking, and instant communication with your pet, providing peace of mind for owners.

**Highlights:** Virtual fence creation, Expert dog training methods, Real-time safety tracking, Activity monitoring, Instant pet communication, Customizable feedback

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best thing I've ever bought!
- 🔒 Great Service
- 👍 Problem Solved!
- 👍 Great for larger properties!
- 👍 Life savers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Loses connection
- 🐛 Awful.
- 🐛 Good, not great
- 🔋 I wish the 'zap' was stronger.
- 🐛 Mediocre at best

**Reported bugs**

- GPS inaccuracies
- Collar malfunctions
- Connectivity issues
- Battery life problems

**Requested features**

- Custom No Go Zones
- Remote control option


### The Barkstead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-barkstead/id6777022327)

Manage your pet's care with ease. Schedule appointments, receive real-time updates and photos of your pet, communicate directly with staff, and handle payments seamlessly. Experience top-tier pet services.

**Highlights:** Schedule appointments, Receive pet status updates, Get pet pictures, Chat with staff, Contactless payments, Pet care services

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Halo Collar free?

Halo Collar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Barkstead free?

The Barkstead is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Halo Collar or The Barkstead?

The Barkstead is rated higher. Halo Collar averages 4.1 out of 5 from 9.7K ratings, while The Barkstead averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.

### Do Halo Collar or The Barkstead have ads?

Neither Halo Collar nor The Barkstead shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Halo Collar or The Barkstead?

Halo Collar ships an update every 3 weeks, and The Barkstead every 6 weeks. Most recently, Halo Collar was updated on November 15, 2026 and The Barkstead on November 10, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*