TR vs Garmin Alpha
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TR
Track your dog's location and historical routes with this app, which works with compatible collar devices. It allows for offline map downloads, waypoint marking, and geofencing with alarm notifications. Manage your dog collar list and ensure you can always find your way back.
- Real-time dog collar position tracking
- Historical track playback
- Offline map downloads
- Waypoint marking
- Geofencing with alarms
- Dog collar list management
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This App needs to work with the compatible dog collar devices. The App shows the positions of the dog collars and itself. Users can view the dog collars' positions on the App. Main functions of the App are as follows: 1. Show the dog collars' position information and battery life status on maps. 2. Can play back dogs' historical tracks in past days. 3. Can predownload maps. Users can be aware where they are in no network service areas. 4. Manage dog collar list. 5. Mark waypoints on maps to enable users to find their way back later to those positions. 6. Set geofences on the maps. Alarms will be triggered when dogs enter or exit the genfences.
Garmin Alpha
Track your dog's movements using cellular technology and your smartphone. This app works with a compatible Garmin dog tracking system to provide real-time location data and navigation features.
- Cellular dog tracking
- Smartphone integration
- VHF tracking signal support
- Integrated mapping
- Waypoint marking
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Connect to the hunt with the Alpha® LTE dog tracker, using cellular technology (subscription required). Use your smartphone to track your dog’s movements with the Alpha® app. Connect your Alpha LTE tracking system to a compatible Garmin VHF dog tracking system (sold separately) to leverage either LTE or VHF tracking signals. Use the Alpha app to navigate and mark waypoints with integrated mapping.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: TR at 5.0 against Garmin Alpha's 3.7. TR also leads on monetization model (free vs subscription) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Garmin Alpha's advantage is ratings volume (137 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
TR holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Garmin Alpha has 137 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
TR ships an update fortnightly, Garmin Alpha monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TR | Garmin Alpha |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 3.7 (137 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 27.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 137 — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 84 MB | 478 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Shenzhen qiyue technology co.,ltd | Garmin |
Customer experience
TR
Garmin Alpha
Bugs and requests
TR
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Garmin Alpha
Reported bugs
31 issues- Cursor lag on opening
- No distance, heading, or name on map when tracking dog
- Tracks won't clear
- Green screen when satellite map selected
- Unable to view any data from Alpha 10 on the map
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- Took away the option to track dog with TT25 Collar
- Doesn't track the handheld most of the time
- Dog tracking lags
- Unpaired handheld won't re-pair
- Not all dogs show up on the application
- Broken recently, does not show dog collars anymore
- Device constantly and continuously disconnects from app
- Sync takes forever
- Nothing shows up in the map from saved tracks
- Records missing after completing sync
- Confusing display and navigation of records
- Map display badly needs a satellite map overlay option
- No way to limit tracks by time
- Handheld constantly crashes and turns off
- App has a hard time pairing with Alpha 300i
- Won't sync after pairing
- Handheld won't connect after app download
- Bark & treed notification only on handheld
- Old explore app worked perfect and allowed merging of devices
- Doesn't allow data merging
- Won't easily connect to alpha
- ISO update is worthless
- Won't work on iPhone
- Bluetooth pairing issues on iPhone 14pro
- Device asks to pair, then connection failed instantly
- App is terrible
Requested features
18 requests- Add yards as a unit of measure
- Add watch app
- Option to make corrections directly from the app
- Easier to switch between Bluetooth devices
- Option to connect multiple devices at once
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- Add yards in the app
- Share or print inventory tab
- Use app with Apple CarPlay
- Use app with Apple Watch
- Add satellite map overlay option
- Usable filter of tracks by time
- Option for arrow always pointing up and map to spin
- Integrate Alpha app to CarPlay
- Allow colleagues to follow dogs with the app
- Use Google Maps for non-initiated users
- Add yards as an option
- Add notifications for dog barks or trees
- Option to save tracks on map indefinitely
In-app purchases
TR
No in-app purchases
Garmin Alpha
No in-app purchases
