Virtual Fence Buyer's Guide (2026): Prices, Minimums and Fine Print

Virtual fencing puts a GPS collar on each animal and moves your paddock lines from your phone. Cattle learn a sound cue, then a mild pulse if they keep going. It's real, it's in commercial use, and it's EQIP-eligible. It is not a property-line or road fence.

Vendor comparison

Vendor	Minimum	US availability	Pricing model	Base station	Resale / transfer	Volume or dealer
Halter	100 head	Yes, satellite (US-wide)	Subscription; collars included, not owned	None (satellite); old towers $4,500 reported	No; non-transferable and non-sublicensable	Territory managers; no dealer or group program found
Nofence	5 collared adults	Yes, sold direct; cellular	Buy collar ($309–349) plus $35–45/yr after year 1	None; Bluetooth relay between collars	Hardware resale only with Nofence approval; subscriptions personal	Larger-herd pricing at 100+ and 250+; financing via Compeer
eShepherd (Gallagher)	Tiers from 4; 20 animals to train	Yes; cellular (Verizon) or LoRa	Buy neckband ($250–350) plus $1.50–3/mo data	Optional LoRa base, ~$5,000, ~100 head per station	You own hardware; transfer terms not public	Quote team; dealer terms need vendor confirmation
Vence (Merck)	Not published	US, by quote	Reported lease: $40/collar/yr plus $10 batteries	Required; ~$10,000; covers 5,000–10,000 acres	Not published	Needs vendor confirmation
Monil	6 collars (first order)	Yes; T-Mobile and AT&T; Midwest priority	$280 collar plus $32–40/yr	None	No returns unless agreed; US-only use	200+ collars routes to sales
Corral Technologies	n/a	Reported out of business (Aug 2024)	Was $250 plus $50/yr	n/a	n/a	Not available

Prices are vendor-published where available; "reported" figures come from a June 2026 California Rangeland Trust webinar summary and virtualfence.io. Confirm current pricing with the vendor before you buy.

Pick by situation

• Under 100 head, decent cell coverage: Nofence (cattle, sheep, goats; no base station) or Monil.
• Under 100 head, poor coverage: eShepherd with a LoRa base station (about $5,000, roughly 100 head per station). Neighbors can share the cost.
• 100+ head, big country, no towers: Halter (satellite since April 2026), or Vence, whose base station covers 5,000–10,000 acres.
• Sheep or goats: Nofence is the only commercial option listed here.

Read the terms before you sign

• Halter's terms: access is non-transferable and can't be sub-licensed; the plan is a multi-year contract.
• Nofence's terms: subscriptions are personal; collars can be resold only with Nofence approval; approved species are cattle, sheep and goats.
• eShepherd: you own the neckbands outright and pay only for active ones; works across multiple properties including leased land.

Getting started, step by step

1. Check cell coverage on every pasture (walk it with your phone, note dead spots).
2. Count the animals you'd collar and the species. Check weight limits (eShepherd: cattle over 440 lb).
3. Get written quotes from two vendors, including data fees for years 2–5.
4. Visit your NRCS field office before buying. EQIP can cover year one under Practice 382 (Fence) and subscriptions in years 2–5 under Practice 528 (Prescribed Grazing) — see UCCE Central Sierra. Buying first can disqualify you.
5. Train cattle against a physical fence for several days before going fully virtual.
6. Check collar fit monthly and keep your perimeter fence.

Small herd? See the Virtual Fence Group Buy. Have guardian dogs? See the LGD dual-boundary guide.