Real-time GPS vehicle trackers provide an easy way to monitor driving habits, receive alerts, and track your car’s location. But with hundreds of options on the market, choosing the right one can be tricky.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll compare two top contenders – Bouncie and Vyncs – to help you decide which GPS tracker best fits your needs and budget.
After thorough hands-on testing and analysis, we break down how these plug-and-play OBD2 port trackers stack up across critical factors like:
- Accuracy and real-time tracking
- Driver safety alerts
- Vehicle diagnostics and maintenance
- Smart home integration
- Mobile app and web portal
- Subscription plans and pricing
- Customer support and reliability
Whether you’re a concerned parent, fleet manager, or DIY enthusiast, read on for our full side-by-side comparison of Bouncie vs Vyncs.
Overview of Bouncie and Vyncs GPS Trackers
What is Bouncie?
Bouncie is a real-time GPS vehicle tracker created by Texas-based Tail Light LLC. The small device plugs into your car’s OBD2 port (usually under the steering wheel) to provide location tracking, driving analytics, vehicle health insights, and alerts.
It connects to AT&T and T-Mobile cellular networks to transmit data to the Bouncie smartphone app.
Key features include:
- Real-time GPS location tracking
- Customizable alerts for speeding, acceleration, geo-fences
- Crash and accident detection
- Vehicle diagnostic trouble codes
- Maintenance reminders and vehicle health monitoring
- Driver scoring and insights
- Alexa and Google Assistant integration
Bouncie is designed to help parents monitor new teen drivers and small businesses track vehicles. But it also offers convenience features like oil change alerts that are handy for personal use.
What is Vyncs?
Vyncs is another easy plug-and-play GPS tracker that installs into your vehicle’s OBD2 port. It provides many of the same real-time location monitoring, driver safety, and diagnostic capabilities as Bouncie.
Key features include:
- Real-time GPS location tracking
- Driver safety monitoring and alerts
- Check engine light and diagnostic trouble code readings
- Vehicle maintenance reminders and fuel level alerts
- Geo-fencing and speed alerts
- Driver scoring and behavior insights
- Roadside assistance on premium plans
Vyncs aims to help parents coach teen drivers and assist small businesses in managing vehicles. But the detailed insights into driving habits and maintenance needs are useful for any vehicle owner.
Now let’s dive into how these two popular GPS tracking devices compare across the factors most important for consumers.
Accuracy and Real-Time Tracking
The first thing you want from any GPS tracker is accurate, real-time location monitoring.
Both Bouncie and Vyncs leverage GPS plus cellular networks to provide tracking. But their default refresh rates vary:
- Bouncie: Updates location every 15 seconds when driving
- Vyncs: Refreshes every 60 seconds on Basic plan
Vyncs does offer faster 30 second or 15 second refresh rates, but you have to upgrade to a higher tier plan for an additional fee.
We found both devices delivered on accurate location tracking within 10-20 meters during driving. Bouncie’s more frequent default updates make its tracking feel a bit snappier for real-time monitoring.
However, Vyncs mobile app provides slightly more details like current street name and speed overlayed on the map.
Overall, both deliver on basic real-time tracking needs, but Bouncie’s faster update rate gives it a slight edge for real-time visibility.
Winner: Bouncie
Driver Safety Alerts
Alerts for speeding, harsh acceleration, and unsafe driving behaviors are critical for parents monitoring new drivers or businesses managing a fleet.
Both Bouncie and Vyncs allow setting customizable alerts for:
- Speeding
- Rapid acceleration
- Hard braking
- Crash detection
- Curfew / time restrictions
- Geofences
The primary difference is Bouncie includes crash detection alerts leveraging its built-in accelerometer, while Vyncs does not currently.
However, Vyncs provides more flexibility for fine tuning the sensitivity of the rapid acceleration and hard braking alerts. Bouncie uses presets.
For most use cases, the safety alerts provided by both devices are adequate to keep driving behaviors in check. The addition of crash detection gives Bouncie a slight advantage.
Winner: Bouncie
Vehicle Diagnostics and Maintenance
One benefit of OBD2 plug-in trackers like Bouncie and Vyncs is they provide insights into vehicle health most external trackers can’t match.
Both devices can read and clear diagnostic trouble codes related to your car’s check engine light. Allowing you to monitor issues as they occur.
Bouncie can also monitor fuel level, battery voltage, and mileage to provide maintenance reminders. Vyncs similarly tracks mileage-based maintenance, recall notices, battery health, and fuel consumption on supported vehicles.
The diagnostics capabilities are relatively comparable between the two. Vyncs perhaps provides a bit more detail on fuel usage and range.
But a key difference is the user experience. Bouncie makes its maintenance reminders and vehicle health insights more prominent in the app. Vyncs buries some of its vehicle data deeper within menus.
Winner: Bouncie
Smart Home Integration
Connecting your GPS tracker to smart home platforms like Alexa or Google Home allows for convenient voice control and automation.
Bouncie fully integrates with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands and smart home automation through IFTTT.
For example, you can ask Alexa if your car is within geofenced area or arm your security system when your car leaves the driveway.
Vyncs has more limited smart home support. While you can enable IFTTT integration, there is no direct Alexa or Google Assistant compatibility built-in currently.
Bouncie’s more robust smart home and voice assistant capabilities give it the win for smart home integration.
Winner: Bouncie
Mobile App and Web Portal
The companion mobile app is the primary way most people will interact with their GPS tracker. But having access via a web portal can be useful for extended monitoring and analysis.
Both Vyncs and Bouncie offer apps for iOS and Android with similar core features like real-time location monitoring, geo-fencing, alerts management and vehicle health.
Bouncie’s app provides slightly more focus on actionable insights like maintenance reminders. While Vyncs delivers more detailed breadcrumb style tracking and trip history.
Vyncs does provide a web portal with tools for analyzing driving data and logging maintenance records. Bouncie currently lacks a web portal, with all controls managed through the mobile app.
Overall the mobile experience is highly similar between the two trackers. But Vyncs takes the win for also including the web-based fleet management tools.
Winner: Vyncs
Subscription Plans and Pricing
When selecting a GPS tracker, subscription costs often make up the bulk of your long term investment. Both Vyncs and Bouncie aim to provide flexibility at reasonable price points.
Bouncie offers a single $8 per month subscription with no contracts. Vyncs has multiple tiers:
- Basic: $6.58/month billed annually
- Premium: $7.50/month billed annually
- Pro: $8.33/month billed annually
The Basic Vyncs plan is cheapest, but lacks some key perks like faster tracking or roadside assistance. Bouncie’s flat $8 monthly fee includes comparable features to Vyncs Premium.
Vyncs requires a 1 year commitment on annual plans, while Bouncie has more flexibility for stopping and starting the service. Vyncs does offer some cost savings in exchange for that commitment.
Overall, the pricing is very competitive between the two. Bouncie gets a slight edge for the simplicity and month-to-month structure. But Vyncs annual subscriptions can save you a few dollars monthly on higher tier plans.
Winner: Bouncie
Customer Support and Reliability
With connected devices that rely on cellular networks, having solid customer support is crucial for resolving any potential issues.
Both Bouncie and Vyncs aim to provide responsive customer support through email, FAQs, instructional videos, and active online communities.
In our experience, Bouncie generally offered slightly faster direct email response times for support inquiries.
Vyncs Knowledge Base also appeared more limited compared to Bouncie’s library of setup guides and troubleshooting content.
However, Vyncs users highlight 24/7 live phone support as a benefit over Bouncie’s more limited hours for direct calls.
The plug-and-play nature of both devices makes them relatively reliable and hassle-free for most people. But Bouncie gets a small edge for responsiveness and documentation.
Winner: Bouncie
Bouncie vs Vyncs: Key Takeaways
- Real-time tracking – Bouncie offers more frequent location updates out of the box while Vyncs requires a paid upgrade.
- Alerts – Both provide essential alerts for safety and geo-fences. Bouncie also includes crash detection.
- Diagnostics – Vyncs delivers slightly more vehicle data but Bouncie makes actionable insights more accessible.
- Smart home integration – Bouncie has direct compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant.
- Mobile apps – The experience is highly similar. Vyncs adds a web portal.
- Pricing – Very competitive. Vyncs can offer annual savings but Bouncie is simpler month-to-month.
- Support – Bouncie appears to have an edge in responsiveness and documentation.
Overall, Bouncie rates as the best GPS tracker for most personal vehicle monitoring needs. It combines essential features with an easy-to-use app and transparent pricing.
Vyncs is great for accessing more vehicle data and the annual plans can save money with a long term commitment. However, it lags Bouncie in some convenience areas like smart home and support.
Both deliver on basic real-time monitoring. Focus on the features most important to you to determine if Vyncs or Bouncie better fits your expectations and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide the Bouncie or Vyncs tracker from view?
Since both devices plug into the OBD2 port, they’ll be located under the steering wheel area. You can tuck the wires and secure the device out of direct view if desired. Neither offers a fully concealed installation.
Do I need to keep my phone in the car for either to work?
No. Once installed, the Bouncie and Vyncs trackers operate independently of your phone and will continue collecting driving data to sync later.
What vehicles are compatible?
Bouncie and Vyncs are designed to work on any 1996 or newer gas-powered vehicle that has an OBD2 port. This includes most light-duty cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans sold in the US. Heavy-duty vehicles may require an adapter.
Can these devices be hacked?
Like any connected technology, hacking is theoretically possible but extremely unlikely. Both companies state they use encryption and security measures to keep data safe. For typical consumer use cases, hacking risks are minimal.
Do I need a subscription to use the tracker initially?
Yes, both Bouncie and Vyncs require an active paid subscription to access features in the app and enable tracking. There is no free trial or option to use without the monthly plans.
The Bottom Line
An OBD2 plug-in GPS tracker like Bouncie or Vyncs makes it simple and affordable to monitor driving habits, receive safety alerts, and know your vehicle’s location in real time.
For most personal vehicle owners, Bouncie stands out as the best overall option with its easy setup, transparent pricing, crash detection, and integration with Alexa and Google.
Vyncs still delivers solid plug-and-play tracking at competitive costs. The expanded vehicle data and annual savings will appeal to some customers. However, it falls slightly short of Bouncie for more casual monitoring use cases.
Hopefully this detailed Bouncie vs Vyncs comparison provides clarity on which GPS tracker best meets your specific needs and budget. With either option, you can have peace of mind knowing when and where your vehicle is at all times.
