Best RV Pet Temperature Monitor: My Top Pick After Testing Waggle, Necto & MarCELL

One of the primary reasons I chose vanlife was to travel with my dog (he’s too big for planes). However, it’s unavoidable that occasionally I have to leave my pet unattended for a short time while I get groceries, stop at a laundromat, find a place to shower, etc.

Having a reliable pet temperature monitor is non-negotiable for keeping my dog safe while I’m away. I’ve tested three of the most popular options (Waggle, Necto and MarCELL) to find out which one actually delivers on reliability, battery life and cost.

My pick: Necto. It’s the most reliable and cost-effective option I’ve tested, with the longest backup battery life of the three. MarCELL is a very close second, especially if you want a US-made device with a lifetime warranty. Waggle was my first pet monitor, and while it’s one of the most well-known names, I ran into reliability problems with it (more on that below).

In this article:

• My recommendation for the best RV pet temperature monitor
• Easy comparison chart of the top options
• Waggle alternatives – MarCELL, Necto & SimpliSafe
• Discount codes

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Compare The Best RV Pet Monitors

Pets aren’t allowed everywhere, so the reality of RV travel is that you’ll occasionally have to leave them unattended for a short time.

It’s important to have an RV pet temperature monitor for your camper that can alert you to temperature changes that become too hot or too cold for your pets.

While Waggle pet monitor is one of the most well-known options, in my opinion, it isn’t the best RV temperature monitor for pets (they just seem to have a reallllly big advertising budget.)

There are several alternative RV pet temperature monitors to consider:

NOTE: Your RV pet monitoring system does NOT need to use the same cell network as your phone. They’re completely independent subscriptions.

#1 Necto Temperature Monitor For RVs

I switched to the Necto RV pet monitoring system after ditching Waggle. I found it far more reliable, especially since the integrated SIM can toggle between multiple cell networks based on which has a stronger signal.

I wrote a detailed Waggle Vs Necto comparison here.

Necto takes temperature readings every 10 seconds. If the monitor detects an unsafe temperature it immediately sends an alert.

However, the app dashboard is only updated every 10 minutes – don’t worry, the monitor is still doing it’s job every 10 seconds even if the app looks like there’s a delay. It’s specifically designed this way to lower data costs without sacrificing pet safety.

Across all the RV pet temperature monitors I’ve tried, Necto has had the longest backup battery — lasting 3 or more days. While Waggle advertises a long backup battery, mine always died within 2 days (and I’ve seen this echoed in many other Waggle reviews, too.)

Not only is Necto super reliable, it’s also the most affordable RV pet temperature monitor. Yes, the device costs $130 which is higher than Waggle’s… but it comes with a full year of service.

For comparison, to buy Waggle and use it for one month costs $138 ($99 device, $39 subscription). The first month with Waggle costs more than one year with Necto.

🔥🔥 DEAL: Save 10% with Necto discount code EVERYWHERE

➜ Buy Necto temperature monitor here

Also available on Amazon, but the discount is only available at getnecto.com

#2 MarCELL Pet Monitor For RVs

The MarCELL RV pet monitor will send real-time alerts for temperature, humidity and power loss directly to your phone (and 8 other devices, too, if you need.)

I’ve been using RV pet monitors for many years, and one thing I find particularly refreshing about MarCELL is that, unlike other monitors, they have not had huge price increases in the past few years.

That means you don’t have to worry about buying a pet monitoring system and then being held hostage by an increasing monthly subscription fee.

One of the reasons MarCELL can remain affordable is because they’re a US-based and manufactured company, so they aren’t impacted by tariffs.

If you’re a seasonal traveler, month-to-month subscriptions are $14.95/mo, or $11.95/mo with a minimum of 4 months. However, if you need year-round alerts they offer a discounted rate of $8.25/mo (billed annually at $99.)

One nice feature of the MarCELL RV temperature monitor is that you can choose whether to connect to Verizon or AT&T cellular networks, depending on which device you buy.

For US travel, I find that AT&T has better connection in remote areas.

For international travel, the AT&T model will work in Canada and Mexico. The Verizon model will also work in Canada, but is limited to trips less than 90 consecutive days.

MarCELL pet monitor also offers a unique option Necto and Waggle do not. They call it SPuck, and it’s a water leak monitor. It’s perfect for plumbing cabinets you rarely access and can alert you to a leak before it becomes a bigger problem.

🔥🔥 DEAL: Save $10 with MarCELL discount code EWC10

➜ Buy MarCELL pet monitor here

Verizon model also available on Amazon, but does not include 12v USB power cord, mounting plate or discount

Laws regarding unattended pets in vehicles vary widely by state. Grab my printable state-by-state guide for easy reference while traveling!

#3 SimpliSafe RV Pet Monitor With Camera

Originally, I planned to use SimpliSafe as my van security system, but I quickly realized it’s additional potential as a pet temperature monitor, too.

By adding their temperature sensor to your setup, you’ll get real-time temperature readings in their mobile app. Additionally, their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors will also send you real-time alerts — something no other RV pet monitoring system offers and a huge benefit for RV travelers.

There is a catch, however. SimpliSafe temperature monitor only updates once per hour. That means the temperature can be out of range for a while before the system sends you an alert.

If you open the app and manually refresh, you can get real-time updates as frequently as you’d like without waiting the full hour — but you have to remember to check it.

I’m neurotic about checking the temperature in my camper when I’m away, so this was fine for me, but if you’re easily distracted this won’t be the right RV pet monitoring system for you.

Another benefit with the SimpliSafe system is that you can add as many cameras (indoor and outdoor) to your system as you’d like. Unlike Waggle, these additional cameras do not come with additional subscription fees. Absolutely everything in your SimpliSafe system is included in the same monthly fee.

NOTE: SimpliSafe cameras require a wifi connection in order to be accessed remotely.

Additionally, for $30 you can also add water alarms to your system. I loved this option and kept one water alarm under my sink, and one in my water heater cabinet — places I rarely look at and could develop a small leak that got out of hand before I’d ever notice.

SimpliSafe will send alerts whenever:

TIP: SimpliSafe uses a Verizon cellular connection by default, but you can request an AT&T model when you buy your system. I recommend getting AT&T because it works better in more remote areas.

Out of the box, SimpliSafe runs on 110v household electricity. That means you either need to power up your inverter daily to charge the backup battery (a full charge lasts for 1 day), or make an easy 15-minute modification for about $10 (I show how to, with photos, here).

➜ Get 50% off SimpliSafe here

#4 Waggle Pet Monitor For RV & Campers

Like the other pet temperature monitors in this review, Waggle tracks temperature, humidity and power loss (when it’s actually working properly.)

Waggle pet monitor is the first RV pet monitoring system I tried. It was a huge failure.

I didn’t like how unreliable alerts were, the app is difficult to use due to the insane amount of pop-up ads they run and the battery life was no where near what they advertise.

When I started to research alternatives to Waggle, I discovered countless negative online Waggle reviews with the exact same problems I was having.

In fact, if you go back far enough you’ll find they were previously sold under the brand Nimble Wireless, which has equally awful user reviews.

Considering this is the least reliable pet monitoring system, it’s surprising that it’s also the most expensive monthly subscription fee (by a lot!) Not only do you spend more but get less, Waggle pet monitors won’t work in Canada or Mexico like MarCELL and Necto can.

NOTE: While it’s advertised that Waggle pet monitors work in Canada, you must buy the specific Canadian version. US models will not work in Canada or Mexico, so you need different devices for each country.

Lastly, I think it’s really important to point out that Waggle subscriptions are set to auto renew. It’s up to you to remember to cancel because Waggle does not offer prorated refunds once your plan automatically renews.

Waggle RV Pet Camera With Temperature Sensor

Waggle also sells an RV pet monitor with camera. You do not actually need to use the Waggle pet temperature monitor to use the Waggle RV pet camera.

In fact, if you need an RV pet camera I recommend using Necto for temperature monitoring and only using the 4G RV pet camera from Waggle if you do not have a WiFi connection.

If you have a reliable WiFi connection in your camper, there are better RV pet camera options — like this one from REOLINK which is nearly identical in cost to the Waggle WiFi mini RV pet camera except it does not require a monthly subscription.

There are two categories of RV pet cameras available; ones which require a WiFi connection and ones which utilize a cellular connection.

Unfortunately, Waggle cameras require an additional monthly subscription fee and are not included with the monthly subscription cost for the pet temperature monitor.

While WiFi connected RV pet cameras should be free (because you’re already paying for WiFi), Waggle gates camera feed access behind an additional monthly subscription. In my opinion, this is an unnecessary fee (and something other WiFi enabled RV pet cameras offer for free.)

➜ Buy Waggle pet monitor here

Best RV Pet Temperature Monitor In Canada & Mexico

For international travelers, there are a few options for RV pet temperature monitors that work in Canada or Mexico.

Both MarCELL and Necto pet monitors will automatically connect to cellular networks in the US, Canada and Mexico.

MarCELL pet monitors are available in two models; AT&T and Verizon. While the AT&T model will work indefinitely while traveling internationally, the Verizon model will work internationally for a maximum of 90 consecutive days.

Waggle pet monitors bought in the United States will not work internationally. However, you can purchase specific pet monitors from Waggle that are compatible with Mexican or Canadian cellular networks (you’ll need a separate device for each country.)

Tips For Choosing The Best RV Temperature Monitor For Pets

There are a few key ways in which these popular RV pet temperature monitors differ. It’s important to know which features they have, because depending on your use case some RV temperature monitors for pets will work better than others.

Cellular Network

This is where I see the majority of confusion when buying an RV pet monitor.

You do not need to buy an RV temperature monitor that works on the same network as your current phone or internet plan. They are separate and unrelated.

Cellular RV temperature monitors come with an internal SIM card that connects to a specific cellular network (this is the reason for the monthly subscription fee – it’s just like activating a new phone plan.)

Not all cell networks are equal. Each network is licensed to run on specific cellular bands.

That means the bands Verizon uses are not the same as the bands AT&T uses, etc. This is why you can have coverage in an area where others on a different network do not.

Verizon service works best in cities and populated areas. They have powerful bands for speed, but they are not as good at long-distance transmission.

TMobile and AT&T are known for their long-distance bands and tend to work best in more remote areas. While they don’t always have a super fast speed, connectivity is far more important for RV pet monitor alert transmissions than speed (because each alert is a fairly small set of data that doesn’t require fast upload/download speeds.)

TIP: If you plan to camp in remote areas, pick an RV pet monitor that operates on TMobile or AT&T. In my experience, MarCELL is the best option for remote locations.

Backup Battery Life

If the power in your camper goes out, the best RV temperature monitors are equipped with backup batteries which ensure safety alerts are still sent to your phone.

Battery life ranges from one to three days across these temperature monitors, but actual use will vary depending on a few factors – like low cellular signal, which eats up battery life faster.

TIP: Read reviews to find out what the *actual* battery life is. I’ve found that sometimes advertised battery life is drastically exaggerated compared to reality. For example, Waggle pet monitors claim a battery life up to 5 days, but in my experience it usually lasted only 2 days.

Best RV Temperature Monitor For Pets

If you plan to travel with your pets, an RV temperature monitor is essential. You only need to be alerted about a risk event once to see the value in having the best RV pet temperature monitor device.

If you need a portable, affordable, easy to install pet monitor for seasonal use:
Go with Necto or MarCELL.

Necto comes with a year of service included, which is a nice perk – especially if you’re a full-time traveler. Get 10% off with Necto discount code EVERYWHERE

MarCELL is made in the US, has a lifetime warranty, and can have water sensors added for extra monitoring. Get $10 off with MarCELL discount code EWC10