Samsara Review (2025): Vehicle Management Mastery

Samsara is among the best GPS fleet management systems around, with a wide range of features for locating vehicles, reducing fleet costs and general asset monitoring.

These qualities have earned it the title of the best system for managing vehicles from all the fleet management platforms we’ve investigated. In the below Samsara review, we look at what it can offer you in more detail, including considerations of price, standout features and comparisons with other solutions on the market.

Samsara Overview with Pros and Cons

Samsara performs exceptionally well in several key areas, including vehicle management, tracking and driver management. However, it also has some notable drawbacks, particularly in terms of pricing and customer support.

Here’s a summary of what it can offer your fleet business before we jump into the full Samsara review.

What Is Samsara’s Design and Layout Like?

Samsara’s design is user-friendly, with a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for fleet managers to access the information they need. The system’s dashboard is highly customizable, allowing users to prioritize the data most relevant to their operations. This design flexibility is particularly beneficial for managing large fleets, as it enables efficient monitoring of multiple vehicles and drivers simultaneously.

The layout of the system supports quick navigation, with all essential tools accessible from the main dashboard. Features such as real-time tracking, fuel monitoring and driver management are integrated seamlessly, reducing the learning curve for new users.

What Are Samsara’s Key Features?

Samsara gives you complete control over your fleet through various intelligent tracking devices, safety cameras and industry-leading reporting features. Let’s go through its highlights, one by one.

Extensive vehicle tracking tools

When it comes to tracking, you want to get as close to real-time updates as possible. Good news: Samsara has one of the fastest data refresh rates in the industry. It refreshes data every 30 to 60 seconds, the same as Verizon Connect, giving you near-live information about your vehicles and their locations, driver behavior, and distance.

There’s more to being among the best telematics companies we researched, however. It also shows you all the information about live/active locations. Its traffic alerts efficiently overlay your maps to know which roads currently have heavy traffic, so you can avoid them and save time. For geofence alerts, you can customize these settings to help you monitor if your driver enters or exits a geofence area.

In terms of alerts and notifications, you can create webhooks in your account, which help integrate alerts into different vehicles so that when certain actions happen, you get notified right away.

Excellent route optimization

Optimizing the routes taken by vehicles in your fleet will mean less driving time, which eventually means lower fuel costs – a great perk, especially in this economy. Our research into Samsara shows that route optimization is somewhere Samsara stands above most other software options.

Among all the providers we’ve reviewed, only Verizon and Samsara offer automatic route optimization. However, Samsara provides a more thorough and accurate calculation of start and stop points. It optimizes a route with a maximum of 20 stops to reduce driving time. Then, it analyzes which order of stops yields the shortest distance traveled while keeping the start location and last stop constant.

You can look back on routes that have already happened, helping you figure out where your drivers have been, if they skipped any stops and if any other problems have arisen so you can make changes to future routes accordingly.

After determining the optimal order, it computes the “Time on Site” report to determine the average stop duration based on the recent driving history.

Smart driver management

Samsara’s driver portal gives you an overview of your drivers’ active driving times, start and end locations, distance, and driver information. It has Kiosk Mode, where drivers can edit their on and off-duty statuses for accurate logs. 

If you need to send an urgent instruction to your driver, you can easily send them a direct message on the dashboard. Samsara will notify your driver, but they cannot open messages while in Driving Mode. If your driver attempts to access the messages while driving, Samsara will send a warning message.

If you have a dash cam, you can also replay and review “harsh driving events” to see exactly what went wrong. This can help identify what topics drivers could use more training or guidance on going forward.

Best-in-class vehicle maintenance and management

In short, Samsara is the best choice for managing vehicles. It checks all the boxes to help you manage your fleet smoothly, from fuel monitoring to maintenance scheduling and theft prevention.

Samsara’s fuel monitoring feature is convenient and comprehensive, and it’s what every fleet manager needs to stay on top of fuel usage and cut down costs. Unlike software such as Teletrac Navman, it provides a detailed breakdown of the fuel usage of all the vehicles in your fleet.

The details include the vehicle name, current driver, current fuel level, amount of fuel used, estimated fuel costs, idle time and runtime, as you can see in the image below. 

You can also run reports automatically on your most convenient setting, be it per day, week, or month. This allows you to review vehicle diagnostics and get alerted whenever a faulty system is detected, which Samsara will automatically sync with your data.

You can even review your total distance traveled and evaluate the average usage of all your vehicles. This feature is handy for fleet managers as they can easily track return on investment and know which equipment is worth investing in in the future. 

Thereafter, you can schedule regular maintenance checks and review maintenance records as and when you need to. To make the process even easier, you can use mileage data to automatically determine when it’s time for you to get your fleet vehicles checked. The system also monitors other metrics, such as engine and cargo temperature, to prevent damage and loss of product.

And to help prevent theft attempts, Samsara also sends alerts if the vehicle leaves any specified geofenced areas that you want to keep your vehicles inside of.

How Does Samsara Help With Compliance?

Samsara’s compliance toolset covers the main US requirements: ELD/HOS, DVIR, IFTA fuel tax, and (for California fleets) CARB Clean Truck Check, with workflows that tie driver mobile actions to back-office reports.

ELD and HOS

• FMCSA-registered ELD with a driver app for iOS/Android. Logs are created from engine data via the vehicle’s OBD connection.
• Roadside Inspection mode is engaged when drivers tap Roadside in the HOS view to show their logs and required instruction sheets. They can lock the device to the inspection screen.
• Log transfer to an officer (or to self) during inspections, using the standard FMCSA telematics methods. It’s worth noting that log transfers require internet connectivity.
• Compliance Dashboard for admins highlights HOS violations, unidentified driving and unassigned hours so you can fix issues before audits.

DVIR

• Digital walkarounds in the Driver App capture defects (with photos/text), which flow to a DVIR report and a DVIR Defects report for mechanics/admins to resolve and sign off.
• Samsara’s DVIR materials reference the federal requirements (49 CFR 396.11 and 396.13) and the typical mechanical checks (brakes, lights, couplings, tyres/tires, etc.). There are 15 checks in each assessment.

IFTA fuel-tax reporting

• Samsara has automatic jurisdictional mileage from its telematics suite, with fuel purchase imports via CSV or direct fuel card integrations (WEX, Fleetcor). Data can also be pulled via API.
• Marketplace connectors like WEX, EFS and Vusion sync Samsara mileage/odometer data to prepare filings and audit-ready returns.

Samsara also has an IFTA guide that gives a good summary for those who want more information on this topic.

Emissions: California CARB Clean Truck Check (CTC)

• New in 2025, Samsara’s CTC Manager centralizes remote emissions testing schedules, automates reporting and tracks which vehicles need tests from directly inside the Samsara dashboard.

How Much Does Samsara Cost? Pricing and Fees Explained

While Samsara does offer bespoke pricing depending on your contract length, fleet size and chosen features, there are certainly more affordable options according to our price estimates. Here’s what our research says it costs:

• Software: Between $27 and $33 per vehicle, per month
• Hardware: Between $99 and $148 per vehicle (lower prices for longer contracts)

Our data-collection has shown that the likes of RAM, Quartix, GPS Trackit, Teletrac Navman and Linxup all offer low-priced alternatives if monthly cost is a determining factor for your business.

RAM, which tops our pricing analysis, has much more affordable bespoke price plans, whereas Quartix offers a starting price of $14.90.

Those Samsara prices are without any add-ons, too. For instance, Driver ID, a wearable key fob that allows you to track driver vehicle usage without signing into the Samsara Driver App, costs an additional $9.99.

What’s Samsara’s Mobile App For Drivers and Managers Like?

Samsara streamlines fleet management with one unified mobile app, called Samsara Fleet, that serves both managers and drivers — eliminating the need for multiple apps (unlike Verizon, which has more than 10 different applications) and keeping everyone in sync, no matter where they are. Here’s what it offers:

• Real-time tracking: With the Samsara Fleet app, managers can view live vehicle locations, monitor diagnostic data and review sensor information at a glance. Drivers benefit too – the app automatically logs trip data, including route progress and key performance metrics, helping create a comprehensive history of each journey.
• Safety incident review: The app lets you instantly access safety events with HD dash cam footage available right on your mobile device. Managers can quickly identify risky behaviors and provide timely coaching, while drivers receive real-time alerts to help maintain safe driving practices.

• Custom notifications: Set up tailored alerts for events like speeding, harsh braking or vehicle diagnostic issues. These notifications keep you informed of any safety or maintenance concerns as they occur, so no detail is ever missed.
• Instant communication: Built-in calling and messaging features allow fleet managers to connect with drivers in a single tap. Whether it’s a quick check-in or a detailed discussion about a safety event, the app ensures that communication is both efficient and effortless.
• Additional utilities: Beyond tracking and alerts, the Samsara Fleet app includes tools for HOS monitoring, navigation aids, and vehicle health tracking. Integration with third-party apps further extends its capabilities.

What is Samsara’s customer support and onboarding like?

Let’s assess Samsara’s options and availability when it comes to customer support and onboarding to its system.

Samsara’s onboarding

Whether you choose self-serve or assisted implementation, Samsara offers a predictable path to go-live, practical training assets for each role and flexibility on installation (key for minimizing disruption during the changeover of systems).

• Samsara provides a structured “getting started” path in the Help Center (account setup, dashboard configuration, app installs, hardware activation/installation).
• For fleets that want white-glove help, Samsara offers implementation/consulting services and will partner with you on timeline, training and goals.
• Training for every role via Samsara Academy is available on-demand with onboarding courses, role-based learning paths, live events and product credentials that help admins, dispatchers and drivers get up to speed quickly.
• Most Vehicle Gateways (VGs) are designed for quick self-install (guides and videos by model/cable). If you prefer hands-off, Samsara’s vetted Experts Marketplace lists certified installers to handle multi-site or complex deployments.
• Samsara cites a US rollout of ~400 vehicles trained and live in ~60 days, using Sprint Waste as a case study, which is useful as a benchmark for larger fleets.

Day-to-day support

• 24/7/365 coverage: Samsara provides round-the-clock support and encourages case submission from within the dashboard for fastest routing. Phone and live chat are also available for more direct channel support, also reportedly 24/7.
• Knowledge base and product docs: The Help Center covers everything from first-time setup to advanced workflows (coaching, satellite modem, accessories), which reduces mean time-to-resolution for common issues.

How Samsara’s support compares

Samsara’s customer support compares favorably to other US providers in terms of availability, with it matching the best of the rest.

Like Samsara, Verizon Connect also offers 24/7/365 phone support for Reveal and Fleet (Telogis) products. Azuga, meanwhile, upgrades that 24/7 support from just phone to include email and web support. RAM Tracking has shorter Monday to Friday hours, between 9am and 5pm (EST) by phone and live chat.

How Does Samsara Compare with Other Fleet Management Systems?

Samsara ranks second overall in our market analysis with a score of 4.6/5. Here’s how Samsara matches up with other fleet management systems in the US:

Samsara vs Verizon Connect Reveal

Samsara’s closest competitor is Verizon Connect’s Reveal software.

Samsara’s live/active tracking features are slightly more detailed compared with Verizon. Verizon allows you to track all vehicles on the map by color: green is for driving; red is for stopped; blue is for no GPS; and orange is for idle. Samsara, on the other hand, lets you filter by driver, vehicle or gateway, and it will produce all information, from the current location to the driver’s name. 

Traffic alerts are a feature common to both Verizon and Samsara. However we reckon Verizon has the edge. Aside from overlapping your maps, as occurs on Samsara’s live map, you can also check if there are road closures along the way.

Verizon offers very similar vehicle management and maintenance features, but you may have to upgrade your subscription. Only certain Verizon packages (depending on your tailored quote and business needs) can schedule automatic maintenance and maintain these records. As for theft prevention, Verizon only sets time limits to detect theft attempts. 

Samsara vs RAM

For a cheaper alternative, RAM is almost at par in terms of data speeds with its 60-second refresh rate. However, it lacks automatic route optimization and fuel efficiency, among other tracking features.

Samsara’s maintenance tools are more intuitive than RAM too. The latter provides maintenance scheduling based on your total mileage but does not have automatic options. Instead, it only allows you to set self-reminders for your maintenance.

Samsara beats RAM for support availability, offering 24/7 coverage to its limited 9-5 hours between Monday and Friday. Still, we’d argue RAM can be better in terms of quality of support. It allows you to schedule set-ups with its trained engineers at your most convenient time, whereas Samsara requires you to learn how to install a vehicle tracker yourself, and you must submit tickets by default for any help. It does have a Knowledge Center you can refer to for videos and articles, but that’s it.

The greater support options, fewer advanced features and lower cost position RAM as a better alternative for fleet businesses new to vehicle tracking, whereas Samsara is better suited to larger operations demanding the best capabilities around.

How We Reviewed Samsara