Cheapest ELD for Trucks: Every Published Price, Ranked (2026)
We are an independent directory. Prices and terms below come from each vendor’s own website on the date shown, and they change often, so confirm before you sign. Some outbound links are affiliate links and are always labeled; they never change what we include or how we order it. Disclosure.
Short answer
- Cheapest over 3 years: Garmin eLog, $249.99 once.
- Cheapest monthly plan: HOS247, $19/month ($684 over 36 months, device free with annual prepay).
- Watch out for: month-to-month premiums. TT ELD lists $89 month-to-month vs $50 on a 12-month term.
A lot of “cheapest ELD” lists quote prices nobody can verify. This one only uses prices that the vendor itself publishes, checked October 30-31, 2026, and shows a simple 36-month cost so you can compare one-time devices with subscriptions. Quote-only vendors (Motive, Samsara, Geotab, Verizon Connect, Omnitracs, BigRoad and others) are left out because there’s nothing public to rank.
Published ELD prices, ranked by 36-month cost
| ELD / plan | Monthly | Hardware | 36-month cost* | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin eLog | $0 | $249.99 | $249.99 | One-time device, no subscription |
| HOS247 | $19 | included | $684 | ELD Compliance plan, device free with annual prepay |
| HOS247 (paying monthly) | $19 | $79 | $763 | Same plan, device $79 when billed monthly |
| Azuga | $25 | see vendor | $900 + hardware | BasicFleet plan; hardware terms on vendor site |
| Blue Ink Tech (annual) | $33.33 | included | $1,200 | $400/yr, hardware included |
| Blue Ink Tech (monthly) | $40 | see vendor | $1,440 + hardware | $40/mo, no contract |
| TT ELD (12-month) | $50 | included | $1,800 | Free device on 12-month agreement |
| TT ELD (month-to-month) | $89 | see vendor | $3,204 + hardware | No contract; device options available |
*Simple math: monthly price × 36 + hardware. Excludes taxes, shipping, special cables, and price changes. It assumes the plan stays at the listed price for three years, which no vendor guarantees.
What the cheapest options leave out
- Garmin eLog logs hours, but it isn’t a fleet platform (no GPS tracking portal or dash cams), and the FMCSA list shows its roadside transfer as local only (USB, Bluetooth) rather than telematic web service and email.
- HOS247 $19 is logs and DVIR only. Tracking is $22 and IFTA reporting $25.
- Blue Ink Tech $40 is the plain ELD. The dashcam ELD is $50/month or $600/year.
Four ways to keep ELD costs down
- Prepay a year if you’re sure. Both HOS247 and Blue Ink Tech give the hardware free with annual billing.
- Use the phone or tablet you already have. Most of these plans run on your own Android or iOS device.
- Don’t buy features you won’t use. A single owner-operator rarely needs a fleet dashboard or geofencing.
- Avoid long contracts for one truck. If you sell the truck or lease on to a carrier, a 3-year term can cost more than the device ever saved.
Compare features beyond price in Best ELD for owner-operators, or browse every ELD in our directory.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest ELD?
Are free ELDs really free?
How much does an ELD cost per month?
Is a cheap ELD less compliant than an expensive one?
Sources
- HOS247 ELD pricing (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Garmin eLog product page (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Blue Ink Tech pricing (home page) (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- TT ELD pricing (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Azuga fleet pricing plans (checked Oct 30, 2026)
- FMCSA registered ELD list (checked Oct 30, 2026)
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