Motive vs Samsara (2026): Which ELD Is Right for Your Fleet?
Prices, terms and registration details here were checked October 2026 against the official provider and FMCSA pages listed under Sources. If a provider doesn't publish a price, we say so instead of guessing.
If you've narrowed your search down to Motive and Samsara, you're looking at the two platforms most mid size fleets end up choosing between. Both will keep your logs compliant. Both have AI dash cams, GPS tracking and a big list of fleet tools. So the feature checklist alone won't settle it.
What usually settles it is money and commitment: how long you're locked in, how you pay, and what it costs to walk away. That's where these two differ the most, and it's the part sales calls tend to rush through.
Quick Verdict
- Pick Motive if you're a small or mid size fleet that wants an all in one platform and you'd rather not prepay three years up front.
- Pick Samsara if you're a larger operation, you rely heavily on integrations with other software, and a multi year commitment doesn't scare you.
- Pick neither if you've got one to five trucks and just need clean logs. A no contract ELD will likely save you money. See our no contract ELD list.
Side by Side Comparison
| Item | Motive | Samsara |
|---|---|---|
| Published price | No, quote only | No, quote only |
| Contract | Term in your order form; 12 month auto renewals unless 30 days' notice | Small business: 3 year contract paid up front |
| Small business definition | Not specified | Under 11 vehicles or under 31 pieces of equipment |
| Return window | Per order form | 30 days for small business customers |
| Cancel early | Pay the balance of the full term plus hardware fees | Already prepaid for small business |
| Driver app | Android 10+, iOS 12+, offline logging | Free Driver App |
| In cab connectivity | Driver's device data | Gateway has a WiFi hotspot |
| Integrations | Available; ask for your stack | 200+ listed |
| Canada | Certified | Ask sales for your lanes |
| FMCSA ELD ID | MOTIVE | SAMELD |
Pricing and Contracts
Neither company publishes a price list, so you'll have to sit through a demo and get a quote from each. Don't let that frustrate you into signing the first quote you get. Run both in parallel and let each rep know you're comparing.
Samsara's Small Business Rules
Samsara's own help center is unusually clear here. If you've got fewer than 11 vehicles or fewer than 31 pieces of equipment, you're a small business customer, and that means a 3 year contract paid up front. You get a 30 day return period to change your mind.
Think about what that means for a five truck fleet. You're writing one big check for three years of service on day one. If you sell two trucks in year two, that money's already spent. For some owners that's fine, and they like never thinking about a monthly bill. For others, it's a deal breaker.
Motive's Terms
Motive's terms of service put your term length in your order form, then auto renew for 12 months unless you give notice at least 30 days before the end. Cancel early and you owe the balance for the rest of the term, plus replacement or restoration fees for hardware. Pay by card and there's a processing fee of up to 2.99%.
Which Deal Is Better?
It depends on your cash flow. Samsara's small fleet setup means a big payment up front but no surprise renewals for three years. Motive's setup lets you spread payments out, but you've got to watch the renewal date. Either way, the only number that matters is the total over the full term. Get it in writing from both. Our ELD cost guide shows how to add it all up.
ELD Compliance Features
On pure compliance, it's close to a tie. Both are on the FMCSA registered list, both handle automatic duty status changes, and both support roadside data transfer.
Motive
Motive's FAQ lists offline logging, team driving with up to 9 co drivers, oilfield waiting time support, Canada certification and both FMCSA transfer methods (web services and email). Driving kicks in automatically above 5 MPH.
Samsara
Samsara's ELD page highlights automatic rulesets (the app applies the right rules for where the driver is), AI annotations that help clean up logs, a free Driver App and third party certification. The WiFi hotspot built into its gateway means drivers don't burn through their personal data plans, which drivers really do care about.
What Drivers Notice
Drivers won't care about the feature list. They care about how fast they can go off duty, whether the app crashes, and whether the office keeps pushing edits. Ask both vendors for a driver demo login and let two of your drivers poke around for a day. Their opinion will tell you more than any comparison chart.
Hardware and Installation
Motive lists cables for 9 pin, 6 pin and OBD II ports, plus a harness for 2013 and newer Mack and Volvo trucks. Samsara's gateway also plugs into the diagnostic port and adds the WiFi hotspot. For both, send your rep a list of every truck's year, make and model before anything ships. The wrong cable means a wasted install day.
If you run a mix of heavy trucks, pickups and trailers, ask about asset trackers too. That's where Samsara's equipment count (31 pieces) can matter for whether you count as a small business.
Dash Cams and Safety
Both platforms push their cameras hard, and for good reason: video exonerates drivers and can help with insurance conversations. Motive's dash cam page lists the AI Omnicam, two way calling, an AI voice assistant, dual SIM and stereo vision coming late 2026. Samsara sells its own AI dash cams too.
Price cameras as a separate line item. They often cost more than the ELD itself over a full term. If video is your top priority, compare more options in our ELDs with dash cams roundup.
Integrations and Fleet Tools
Samsara lists more than 200 integrations. If you already run a TMS, payroll, fuel card or maintenance system, check that your exact tools are on the list before you sign. Motive offers integrations as well; ask for its list and match it against your software.
A practical tip: ask each vendor to show your actual TMS integration working in the demo, not a slide about it. "We integrate with that" sometimes means "someone could build that."
Support and Onboarding
Both companies are big, which cuts both ways. You get polished onboarding materials, but you may not get the same person every time you call. Ask each rep who your onboarding contact will be, what support hours look like, and how drivers get help at 2 a.m. on a Sunday. If you can, talk to another fleet your size that uses each one.
Running the Numbers: Three Scenarios
Since neither vendor publishes prices, we can't give you real dollar totals. But we can show you how to think about each deal, using placeholders you fill in from your quotes.
Scenario 1: Five Trucks, Tight Cash Flow
Samsara's small business rules mean you'd pay for 36 months of service for five trucks on day one. Motive would let you pay monthly or annually across your term. If cash is tight, that difference alone can decide it, even before you compare features. Write down the Samsara lump sum and Motive's monthly figure times the months in your term, then add hardware and cameras to both.
Scenario 2: Twelve Trucks, Growing
At 12 trucks you're past Samsara's small business line, so the 3 year prepay rule from its help center doesn't apply to you in the same way. Ask Samsara what term and payment options it offers at your size. With Motive, ask what happens when you add trucks mid term: do new trucks get their own term, or do they join yours?
Scenario 3: Shrinking or Selling
Nobody plans to shrink, but it happens. If you prepaid Samsara, that money's gone. If you're on Motive, you'd owe the rest of the term. Either way, ask both vendors in writing what happens if you drop trucks. It's a lot easier to get a good answer before you sign.
Switching Between Motive and Samsara
Plenty of fleets switch from one to the other when a contract ends. If that's you, here's how to do it without a gap in compliance:
- Find your notice date. For Motive, that's at least 30 days before your term ends, or it renews for another 12 months.
- Export your records. You've got to keep HOS records and supporting documents for six months (395.8(k)), so download everything before your old account closes.
- Overlap by a few days. Install the new ELD before the old one shuts off. Drivers log on the new system once it's live.
- Return hardware on time. Unreturned or damaged hardware can cost you replacement fees.
- Update the in cab packet. Swap in the new user manual and transfer instructions so drivers aren't handing an officer the wrong sheet.
Which Should You Choose?
Under 11 Trucks
Motive usually makes more sense because you're not forced into a 3 year prepay. But compare both against no contract options first. A small fleet that only needs logs and basic GPS can often do it for $19 to $25 a truck with providers like HOS247 or Matrack.
11 to 100 Trucks
This is where it's a real fight. Get both quotes, compare the full term totals, and test the driver apps. Integrations usually decide it.
100+ Trucks
Both are built for you. Negotiate hard, ask for a pilot on a few trucks, and get contract terms reviewed before signing.
Bottom Line
Motive and Samsara are both good platforms. You won't fail an inspection because you picked one over the other. Pick the one whose contract fits how your business actually runs, and whose app your drivers don't hate. Want the full picture on one of them? Read our Motive review, or see the best ELDs for small fleets if you're still shopping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Motive cheaper than Samsara?
Neither publishes prices, so it depends on your quote. For small fleets, Samsara requires a 3 year contract paid up front, while Motive lets you pay over the term.
What counts as a small business at Samsara?
Under 11 vehicles or under 31 pieces of equipment, according to Samsara's help center.
Can I cancel Samsara?
Small business customers get a 30 day return period. After that, the 3 year term is prepaid.
Can I cancel Motive early?
Yes, but its terms say you owe the balance of the full term, plus fees for unreturned or damaged hardware.
Are both on the FMCSA registered ELD list?
Yes. Motive is listed as MOTIVE and Samsara as SAMELD. Check the list again before you buy.
Which has better dash cams?
Both offer AI dash cams. Compare camera pricing separately and ask for sample footage from your type of truck.
Sources
All prices, terms and registration details were checked October 2026 on the pages below. Providers change pricing often, so confirm before you buy.