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The best ELD for a small fleet is one on FMCSA's registered list whose cost model fits how you run. As of October 2026, small-fleet options with public pages follow four cost models: a one-time purchase with no subscription, hardware plus a yearly subscription, published monthly plans, and quote-based platforms that add dash cams and fleet tracking. Check the list before you buy.
The 8 options below were each on FMCSA's Registered ELDs list on October 20, 2026:
- Garmin eLog: one-time purchase, no subscription
- Matrack ELD: no-cost device, month-to-month plan
- Konexial My20: hardware purchase plus an annual subscription
- Azuga ELD: add-on to published per-vehicle fleet plans
- BigRoad: ELD bundles with tracking, priced by quote
- J. J. Keller ELD: phone and compliance-tablet versions
- Motive: ELD, DVIR and dash cams in one platform
- Samsara: ELD inside a broader operations platform
The order follows how much pricing each vendor publishes, from most to least. It is not a ranking.
The 8 options compared (as of October 2026)
Prices are quoted only where the vendor's own page publishes them, as read on October 20, 2026. "Transfer" is the roadside data transfer method shown on the device's FMCSA entry.
| Option | FMCSA entry we saw | Transfer | Published price | Fits fleets that... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin eLog | Garmin eLog, GE1I01 / GE1A01 | Local (USB, Bluetooth) | $249.99, "Subscription fees: None" | want to buy once and pay nothing monthly |
| Matrack ELD | Several Matrack entries, e.g. MATRACK MA-ELD | Telematic | Device free; $19.95 to $24.95 a month | want no contract and a low monthly cost |
| Konexial My20 | My20, MY20ELD02 | Telematic | Hardware $219.99; annual subscription required, price not on the page | want to own the hardware and pay yearly |
| Azuga ELD | Azuga ELD (several hardware pairings) | Telematic | ELD "from $30/mo"; fleet plans $25 to $35 per vehicle per month | want ELD with GPS fleet plans at listed prices |
| BigRoad | BigRoad ELD, DL-100 / DL-200 and others | Telematic | Not published | want bundled ELD and tracking by quote |
| J. J. Keller ELD | Android BYOD, iOS and Compliance Tablet versions | Telematic | Not published | want ELD tied to a compliance publisher's tools |
| Motive | Motive ELD, LBB-1 and higher | Web services and email | Not published | want HOS logs, DVIR and dash cams from one vendor |
| Samsara | Samsara ELD, VG | Telematic | Not published | want ELD as part of a wider telematics and safety platform |
The 8 options in detail
1. Garmin eLog
Garmin's eLog page lists the device at $249.99, and its specs read "Subscription fees: None". In Garmin's words: "You just buy it. Install it. And drive." It fits 9-pin J1939 ports, with a 6-pin J1708 adapter included. It needs a compatible smartphone or tablet running the Garmin app, unless a supported Garmin dēzl navigator is the display. Its FMCSA entries list local transfer (USB and Bluetooth), so the driver hands records over by cable or Bluetooth at the roadside, not over the internet. It is a logbook, not a fleet tracking system.
2. Matrack ELD
Matrack's shop page lists the ELD device as "FREE", with monthly plans of $19.95 to $24.95 and "No Contract". Its FAQ says "Plans start at $19.95/truck/month", and the page states "Month-to-month, cancel anytime" with a 30-day risk-free trial. Its plan list shows the $24.95 Premium Plan adding real-time GPS and alerts to the $19.95 Basic Plan's HOS logs. Camera combos are listed separately at $99 for the device and $34.95 or $39.95 a month. Matrack has several entries on FMCSA's list. Match your exact model and app version before you install.
3. Konexial My20
Konexial's hardware page lists the Cellular ELD Hardware (formerly My20 ELD) at $219.99, and states: "Annual Konexial ELD auto-renew subscription purchase required for use." The subscription price is not shown on that page, so ask for it before you compare. The device plugs into the diagnostic port, and drivers use the free My20 app on an Apple or Android phone or tablet, in English or Spanish. The FMCSA list shows "My20" with models MY20ELD01 and MY20ELD02.
4. Azuga ELD
Azuga's ELD page shows "from $30/mo" and describes the ELD as an add-on to Azuga Fleet. It doesn't say whether that figure is per vehicle. Its pricing page lists fleet plans at $25, $30 and $35 per vehicle per month, and a camera add-on at $41.99 a month. Azuga's site files its small-business solutions under "less than 100 vehicles." Its FMCSA entries pair the app with several hardware makers, and some list only web-service transfer. Check the entry for the version you would get.
5. BigRoad
BigRoad's pricing page shows three bundles and no dollar amounts. It says: "For the most accurate pricing, Call Us!" The DashLink ELD bundle covers the ELD package, vehicle mileage reporting and live messaging to drivers. Larger bundles add GPS tracking, driving behavior monitoring, a dual-facing dash cam and a DVIR app. BigRoad has several registered entries, including DL-100 and DL-200 hardware, all listing telematic transfer.
6. J. J. Keller ELD
J. J. Keller sells ELogs as part of its Encompass platform, next to eDVIR, vehicle tracking and video modules (J. J. Keller ELD topic page). The page publishes no price. FMCSA's list shows entries for Android bring-your-own-device (BYOD) paired with J. J. Keller's Compliance Tablet, and separate iOS entries. That choice matters for a small fleet: BYOD uses phones you already own, while a tablet gives every truck the same device.
7. Motive
Motive publishes no price, and its pricing link goes to a sales contact page. Its ELD page describes a Vehicle Gateway for 9-pin, 6-pin and OBDII ports, plus a driver app that can also run alone as an editable logbook. HOS countdown clocks, alerts and DVIR come in the same product, and Motive sells AI dash cams alongside it. Motive is the former KeepTruckin. Its FMCSA entry reads "Motive ELD", model "LBB-1 and higher".
8. Samsara
Samsara also publishes no price. Its pricing page asks for your vehicle count, starting at a "1-5" range, and routes you to sales. The ELD page describes a Vehicle Gateway with a built-in WiFi hotspot, a free driver app, automatic rule sets and a compliance dashboard. It sits inside Samsara's wider "Connected Operations Platform." For a head-to-head with Motive, see Samsara vs Motive.
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Which ELD is cheapest for a small fleet?
Among the options with a complete published price, Garmin eLog has the lowest three-year cost for a small fleet, because it has no subscription. That holds only if you can live without fleet tracking. Here is the math from published prices only.
Illustration only, not a quote. Five trucks over 36 months, using each vendor's published figures on October 20, 2026:
| Option | Up front | Monthly | 36-month total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin eLog | 5 x $249.99 = $1,249.95 | $0 | $1,249.95 |
| Matrack ELD, basic plan | $0 | 5 x $19.95 = $99.75 | $3,591.00 |
| Matrack ELD, higher plan | $0 | 5 x $24.95 = $124.75 | $4,491.00 |
| Konexial My20 | 5 x $219.99 = $1,099.95 | Annual subscription, not published | $1,099.95 plus 3 years of subscription |
What the table leaves out: phones or tablets and mounts, shipping, replacement units, and features. Garmin's device is a logbook. The monthly plans include features such as GPS tracking on some tiers. Motive, Samsara, BigRoad and J. J. Keller need a written quote before you can add them to the table.
Best ELD for owner-operators
For a one-truck operation, the same math gets simpler: Garmin's published one-time price is $249.99, against Matrack's $19.95 to $24.95 a month. First check whether you need an ELD at all. A driver who needs a record of duty status on no more than 8 days in any 30-day period, or who drives a truck built before model year 2000, may keep paper logs instead (our ELD exemptions guide covers each case).
Decision table by fleet size and need
| Your situation | Start your shortlist with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5 trucks, compliance only, lowest cost | Garmin eLog, Matrack, Konexial | Published prices; no contract (Matrack) or no subscription (Garmin) |
| 1 to 5 trucks, poor cell coverage on your lanes | A device listing local transfer (USB, Bluetooth), e.g. Garmin eLog | Local transfer doesn't need a data connection at the roadside |
| 5 to 50 trucks, want GPS tracking with the ELD | Azuga, Matrack's higher plan, BigRoad | Tracking is in the plan or bundle |
| Want ELD plus AI dash cams from one vendor | Motive, Samsara, BigRoad's top bundle, Matrack combos | Cameras sold alongside the ELD |
| Drivers use their own phones | Any BYOD version (J. J. Keller, Konexial, Motive, Samsara apps) | No tablet to buy; the carrier must still mount it |
| Want one tablet standard in every truck | J. J. Keller Compliance Tablet versions | Same device in every cab |
Whatever you pick, a portable ELD "shall" be mounted in a fixed position and visible to the driver while driving (49 CFR 395.22(g)). Budget for a mount.
How to check an ELD on FMCSA's registered and revoked lists
As of October 2026, a carrier required to use an ELD must use one listed on FMCSA's registered ELDs list (49 CFR 395.22(a), final rule, in force). The list is self-certified by the makers, and FMCSA says it "does not endorse any electronic logging devices." To check a device:
- Open the Registered ELDs list.
- Search the device or company name.
- Match the model number, software version and ELD identifier to what the vendor will ship.
- Open the Revoked ELDs list and confirm your device and version are not on it.
Revocation is not rare. On October 20, 2026, the revoked list held 387 entries: 132 marked "Revoked" and 255 marked "Self Revoked" by their makers. FMCSA revoked 56 entries in 2026 through August 6, against 37 in all of 2025. When FMCSA removed five devices on August 6, 2026, carriers had up to 60 days to replace them, as FleetOwner reported. A low price is no help if the device drops off the list. Our ELD buying checklist covers the questions to ask about that risk.
What every ELD on this list must do
The rule is the same for every device here, so compliance is not what separates them. Each must sync with the engine, record duty status changes, and give the roadside officer the current day and the previous 7 days. It does that by telematics (web services and email) or by local transfer (USB and Bluetooth), plus a display or printout (Appendix A to Subpart B of Part 395, sections 4.2 and 4.9.1). The hours it tracks are explained in our hours of service rules guide.
Next steps
Pick two or three from the decision table, confirm each on the registered list the week you buy, and ask the quote-based vendors for written prices on the same terms.
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This article is general information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements against the current regulation text and with your compliance counsel.
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