Quartix and Trakm8 are two of the longest-established vehicle tracking providers in the UK. Both are British companies with over 20 years in fleet telematics, and both target SME fleets with affordable monthly plans. The difference is in their approach: Quartix is a pure-play tracker with no upfront costs and included installation. Trakm8 is a broader platform with integrated dash cams, tachograph downloads, and a self-install option for micro-fleets.
Quartix starts at £9.99/vehicle/month with no setup fees, no hardware costs, and professional installation included. Trakm8 starts at £5.99/vehicle/month on a 36-month contract but charges a £25 + VAT activation fee per device. The headline price favours Trakm8, but the total cost picture is more nuanced.
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We verified Quartix pricing from quartix.com/en-gb/plans and Trakm8 pricing from trakm8.com/fleet-management/pricing in March 2026. Both publish transparent per-vehicle pricing – a rarity in the fleet tracking market.
- Quartix wins on enterprise features - Superior advanced reporting & analytics capabilities make it better for 50+ vehicle fleets
- Trakm8 20% cheaper at £5.99 - Significant monthly cost advantage with basic tracking suitable for smaller business operations
- 3-year contracts create £500+ difference - Total ownership costs vary substantially between providers depending on fleet size & requirements
- Both suit different business sizes - Trakm8 perfect for 5-20 vehicles, Quartix ideal for 25+ vehicle enterprise operations
Quick Comparison
Quartix offers three plans from £9.99-15.99/vehicle/month with everything included. Trakm8 offers four tiers from £5.99/vehicle plus a separate self-install product (Trakm8 Prime). Both are AIM-listed (Quartix) or recently acquired (Trakm8 by Constellation Software).
| Quartix | Trakm8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | £9.99/vehicle/month | £5.99/vehicle/month (36-mo) |
| Setup/activation fee | None | £25 + VAT per device |
| Installation | Professional, included free | Professional (extra cost) or OBD self-fit (Prime) |
| Hardware cost | Included (rental) | Separate purchase |
| GPS updates | 1-2 minutes | Real-time |
| Dash cams | Optional add-on | Integrated (RH600 telematics + camera) |
| Tachograph download | Not available | Remote download (no extra hardware) |
| EV fleet support | Yes | Yes (battery health monitoring) |
| Self-install option | No (professional only) | Yes (Trakm8 Prime, OBD plug-in) |
| Contract | 12-month, then 30-day rolling | 12-36 months (Prime: 30-day rolling) |
| Trustpilot | Not rated (limited reviews) | 4.2/5 (56 reviews) |
Total Cost of Ownership
Trakm8’s lower headline price is offset by activation fees and hardware costs that Quartix includes as standard. Here’s what a 10-vehicle fleet actually costs over two years.
| 10 vehicles, 24 months | Quartix (Info Point) | Trakm8 (Essentials, 36-mo rate) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | £99.90 (10 x £9.99) | £59.90 (10 x £5.99) |
| 24-month subscription | £2,397.60 | £1,437.60 |
| Activation fees | £0 | £300 (10 x £25 + VAT) |
| Installation | £0 (included) | ~£750+ (est. £75/vehicle) |
| Total 24-month cost | £2,397.60 | ~£2,487.60 |
With installation and activation fees included, the two-year cost is almost identical for a 10-vehicle fleet on entry plans. Quartix’s all-inclusive model eliminates surprises. Trakm8’s model requires a larger upfront outlay but offers lower monthly costs – and the gap widens on longer contracts or larger fleets where Trakm8’s per-vehicle savings compound.
If you choose Trakm8 Prime (self-install, £7.99/month, 30-day rolling), you avoid installation costs entirely – bringing the total to ~£2,217.60 for the same period. That’s genuinely cheaper, and the 30-day rolling contract removes the lock-in risk.
On headline price, Trakm8 is cheaper (£5.99 vs £9.99/vehicle). On total cost including setup and installation, the two are near-identical for 10 vehicles over 2 years (~£2,400). Trakm8 Prime (self-install, £7.99/month, no contract) is the cheapest overall option if you don’t need professional installation.
Features and Technology
Quartix does vehicle tracking exceptionally well and nothing else. Its platform is clean, reliable, and focused. Trakm8 is a broader telematics platform that also handles dash cams, tachograph compliance, vehicle health monitoring, and route optimisation – but spreads across more tiers.
Quartix’s FleetCheck integration (Info Fleet plan, £15.99/vehicle) adds compliance tools: road tax, MOT reminders, DVLA licence checks, CO2 reporting, and vehicle safety checks. This is valuable for fleet managers with regulatory obligations. Trakm8 offers similar compliance features but locked behind its Enterprise tier (custom pricing).
Trakm8’s RH600 camera combines a 4G dash cam with a telematics unit in a single device – eliminating the need for separate hardware. For fleets that need both tracking and video evidence (insurance claims, driver coaching, incident management), this integration is a genuine differentiator. Quartix offers dash cams as a separate add-on.
Trakm8’s tachograph download is a significant advantage for HGV operators. Remote digital tachograph downloads eliminate the need for manual card reading – saving admin time and ensuring compliance. Quartix doesn’t offer tachograph integration at all.
Quartix vs Trakm8: Strengths Compared
Quartix wins on simplicity and total cost transparency. Trakm8 wins on feature breadth, entry pricing, and hardware innovation.
Our Verdict
Quartix is the safer, simpler choice for SME fleets that want tracking without surprises. Trakm8 is the better choice for businesses that need cameras, tachograph compliance, or the lowest possible monthly cost.
Choose Quartix if you want a pure vehicle tracking solution with zero upfront costs and no hidden charges. Its all-inclusive model means the price you see is the price you pay – installation, hardware, and support included. The 12-month initial contract followed by 30-day rolling is the most flexible terms in the UK market for a professionally installed system. Best for: van fleets, service businesses, and construction firms with 5-50 vehicles.
Choose Trakm8 if you need more than basic tracking. The integrated RH600 camera, remote tachograph downloads, and route optimisation modules make it a genuine fleet management platform – not just a GPS tracker. Trakm8 Prime is also the best option for sole traders or micro-fleets wanting no-commitment, self-install tracking at £7.99/month. Best for: HGV operators, delivery fleets, and businesses that need video evidence alongside tracking.
Looking at other options? Best vehicle tracking systems compares 10+ UK providers. Vehicle tracking costs breaks down typical pricing, and our Fleetsmart review covers the market’s cheapest option.
