ELD Cost Calculator: Compare Total Fleet Cost For 2026
A monthly price on its own tells you almost nothing. A $19 plan with a $79 device, a $50 plan with a free device on a 12 month contract and a one time $249.99 adapter can all end up cheapest, depending on how many trucks you run and how long you keep them. This calculator adds it all up so you can compare apples to apples.
Put in your number of trucks, how long you expect to keep the ELD, whether you want a dash cam, and how you'll install it. You'll get a total and a per truck per month figure for each ELD, ranked from cheapest to most expensive.
Calculator
| ELD and plan | Full term total | Per truck per month |
|---|---|---|
| Garmin eLog (one time purchase) | $1,249.95 | $6.94 |
| HOS247 ELD Compliance, paid annually | $3,420.00 | $19.00 |
| HOS247 ELD Compliance, paid monthly | $3,815.00 | $21.19 |
| ELD Mandate Bundle A (hardware bundled) | $4,131.00 | $22.95 |
| HOS247 ELD Plus (adds IFTA), paid annually | $4,500.00 | $25.00 |
| Linxup ELD, 3 year plan ($99 tablet) | $5,895.00 | $32.75 |
| Blue Ink Tech BIT ELD, $400 a year | $6,000.00 | $33.33 |
| TT ELD, 12 month term (free ELD device) | $9,000.00 | $50.00 |
| TT ELD, month to month (PT30 $135) | $16,695.00 | $92.75 |
| Motive | Quote only | |
| Samsara | Quote only |
Vendor published prices checked 2026-10. Dash cam add on is the published monthly gap between a vendor's dash cam plan and its basic plan. Cables, taxes and early termination fees are not included.
The figures inside the tool use each vendor's published price as checked October 2026. Where a vendor only gives quotes, the tool shows "quote only" instead of guessing.
How ELD Costs Add Up
Every ELD bill is made of the same four pieces. Get each one in writing and you can't be surprised.
Hardware
This is the plug in device that connects to the engine. Some vendors sell it outright, some give it away with an annual plan, and some bundle it into a contract. HOS247, for example, gives the logging device free if you pay for a year, or charges $79 if you pay monthly.
Monthly subscription
The software fee for logs, inspections and the web portal. It's usually per vehicle. Watch for tiers: the cheapest plan often leaves out IFTA or GPS tracking, which you might need.
Installation
Most ELDs are plug and play, and you can fit one yourself in a few minutes. Professional installs make sense for hidden or hard wired setups, cameras, or big fleets where you'd rather not pull drivers off the road. Ask for a per truck install quote.
Add ons
Dash cams, trailer trackers, admin licenses and extra cables. These are where small monthly fees pile up. A $25 camera add on across 10 trucks over 36 months is $9,000.
The Formula We Use
The calculator runs the same math you could do on paper:
Total = trucks x (hardware + install + monthly fee x months) + dash cam add on x trucks x months
Per truck per month = total / (trucks x months)
That last number is the one to compare. It flattens one time and recurring costs into a single figure.
A worked example
Say you run 5 trucks and plan to keep your ELD for 36 months, no cameras, self install.
| ELD | Hardware | Monthly | 36 month total, 5 trucks | Per truck per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOS247 Compliance, paid annually | $0 | $19 | $3,420 | $19.00 |
| Blue Ink BIT ELD, paid annually | $0 | about $33.33 ($400 a year) | $6,000 | $33.33 |
| TT ELD, 12 month plans renewed | $0 | $50 | $9,000 | $50.00 |
| Garmin eLog | $249.99 | $0 | $1,249.95 | $6.94 |
Garmin is the cheapest by far on paper, but it doesn't include fleet tracking or IFTA. That's the point of a calculator. It shows you the price gap, so you can decide whether the missing features are worth it.
Getting Accurate Results
The calculator is only as good as the numbers you feed it. A few tips:
- Be honest about contract length. If you think you'll switch in two years, enter 24 months, not 36. Short horizons favor one time hardware and no contract plans.
- Count trucks you'll add. If you're buying two more trucks next spring, run the numbers both ways.
- Use your real quote. For quote only vendors, type your quoted monthly fee and hardware cost into the custom row. Don't rely on what a friend pays. Fleet size and timing change quotes a lot.
- Include cameras only if you'll use them. Footage that nobody reviews is just a monthly bill.
Cheapest Options By Fleet Size
One truck
A one time purchase or a low cost annual plan usually wins. You don't need a fleet dashboard, and you don't want a contract. See best ELDs for owner operators.
2 to 10 trucks
This is where IFTA and GPS tracking start paying for themselves. A low cost plan with IFTA included often beats a bare logbook plus manual mileage tracking once you count office hours.
10 trucks and up
Quote only platforms like Motive and Samsara start to compete here, and volume pricing becomes real. Get at least three quotes and run every one through the calculator. Our Samsara vs Motive comparison helps.
Hidden Fees To Ask About
- Early termination. What do you owe if you cancel in month 14 of a 36 month deal?
- Hardware return. Do you pay shipping? Is there a fee if the device isn't returned?
- Admin seats. Some plans charge for each office user.
- Cables. Different trucks need different cables. TT ELD's store, for example, lists cables from $15 to $20.
- Price rises at renewal. Ask whether the rate is locked for the full term.
For a full price list, see our ELD cost per month table, and for zero subscription options, read ELDs with no monthly fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an ELD cost per truck?
Among published prices we checked in October 2026, plans range from $19 a month (HOS247 ELD Compliance) up to $89 a month (TT ELD month to month), with Garmin eLog as a one time $249.99 option.
Is a free ELD device really free?
Usually it's free in return for an annual payment or a contract. HOS247 gives the device free if you pay a year up front. TT ELD includes it on a 12 month agreement.
Should I pick the lowest monthly price?
Not always. Compare the total over the time you'll use it, and check whether the cheapest plan includes IFTA and tracking if you need them.
Does the calculator include Motive and Samsara?
Yes, but they're quote only, so the tool flags them instead of inventing a price. Enter your quote to compare it against the rest.
Sources
- HOS247 ELD pricing page, hos247.com, checked October 2026.
- Blue Ink Tech pricing, blueinktech.com, checked October 2026.
- TT ELD pricing and store pages, tteld.com, checked October 2026.
- Garmin eLog published price, checked October 2026.