Jiobit
Jiobit designs and sells a compact GPS/cellular/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth location tracker hardware-plus-subscription product for families, pet owners, seniors, and special-needs caregivers, operating as a Life360 subsidiary since its 2021 acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Jiobit does
Jiobit, legally Jio Inc., is a Chicago-based hardware and software company that designs and sells the Jiobit Smart Tag, a compact real-time location tracker (18g, 37x50x12mm, IPX8 waterproof, up to 30-day battery) built around patented Progressive Beaconing Technology that switches between GPS, LPWA CatM1 cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth to maintain connectivity indoors and outdoors. The device is paired with a free iOS and Android mobile app and is sold direct-to-consumer at $99.99–$149.99, with a mandatory monthly cellular data subscription (~$8.33/month or ~$100/year) plus optional premium tiers: Jiobit Plus (extended timeline, SMS/email alerts, desktop portal) and Jiobit Protect (Noonlight-powered SOS Mode, Alert Button, and 911 dispatch). Security is delivered through the proprietary TrustChip, a dedicated hardware security processor with government-level encryption and cryptographically signed firmware.
The company targets families with children, pet owners, caregivers of seniors with dementia, and families of individuals with special needs, with secondary exposure to government and law enforcement customers including an SBIR Phase II Award from the U.S. Air Force. Jiobit was founded in 2015 by former Motorola executive John Renaldi, secured approximately $12.5M in funding across 2016–2018, and was acquired by publicly listed Life360 (ASX: 360) for $37M in September 2021, after which it operates as a Chicago-based development center for Life360 with additional engineering presence in Silicon Valley. Distribution and certification remain US-only despite usage claims across every populated continent.
Jiobit firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Jiobit
- Legal name
- Jio Inc.
- Website
- https://jiobit.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Jiobit designs and sells a compact GPS/cellular/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth location tracker hardware-plus-subscription product for families, pet owners, seniors, and special-needs caregivers, operating as a Life360 subsidiary since its 2021 acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Jiobit industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wearable GPS Trackers
- NAICS
- Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing (33421)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pet Care & Consumer Tracking IoT (Feeders, Pet Doors, GPS Trackers) (HSAPAQAL)
Keywords
Where Jiobit is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Jiobit business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Hardware Device Sales: Jiobit generates revenue from the sale of the Jiobit Smart Tag device. The device is sold directly through the company's website at $129.99 MSRP. One-time hardware purchase required to use the service.
- Monthly Subscription (Cellular Data Plan): Jiobit requires a monthly subscription data plan to stay connected. The subscription includes national US and worldwide cellular data. Pricing starts at approximately $8.33/month (~$100/year). The subscription is required for the device to connect and transmit location data.
- Premium Subscriptions (Plus and Protect): Jiobit offers premium subscription tiers: Jiobit Plus (30-day timeline, SMS/email notifications, desktop portal) and Jiobit Protect (911 emergency dispatch, Alert Button notifications, powered by Noonlight). These are premium add-ons to the base subscription.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Jiobit Smart Tag Device - Standard Price |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Subscription Data Plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | Jiobit Plus Premium |
| Subscription | Monthly | Jiobit Protect Premium |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Jiobit product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Jiobit designs, manufactures, and sells a hardware-enabled real-time GPS location tracking platform built around the Jiobit Smart Tag — a small, waterproof, cellular-connected tracker for kids, pets, seniors, and special-needs individuals. The hardware is paired with a free mobile companion app and a recurring cellular data subscription that enables unlimited-distance tracking via combined GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LPWA CatM1 cellular radios.
Product overview
Jiobit, a subsidiary of Life360, offers a unified location tracking platform centered on the Jiobit Smart Tag hardware device paired with the Jiobit mobile app. The core offering consists of real-time GPS tracking with multi-radio technology (cellular, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) supporting unlimited distance tracking. Premium features are available through two subscription tiers: Jiobit Plus (extended timeline history, SMS/email notifications, desktop portal) and Jiobit Protect (911 emergency dispatch via Noonlight, SOS Mode, Alert Button). The product portfolio is complemented by attachment accessories including the Strap Clip, Secure Loop, Hem Lock Clip, Protective Silicon Sleeve, Pin Lock Pouch, Fabric Sleeve, and Flex Rings. The platform incorporates patented Progressive Beaconing Technology and Jiobit TrustChip hardware-level encryption for security.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Jiobit Smart Tag: The award-winning location monitor designed for people and pets - the world's smallest and longest-lasting real-time GPS tracker
- Jiobit Next
- Jiobit Plus
- Jiobit Protect
Products and services
- Jiobit Smart Tag (Gen 1) The original Jiobit Smart Tag is a waterproof (IP68), shock-resistant, real-time GPS tracker that combines GPS, cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity. Designed for kids, pets, seniors, and special-needs individuals, with up to 30-day battery life under ideal conditions.
- Jiobit Next Second-generation Jiobit Smart Tag device with an improved antenna system for better coverage in rural areas and signal-dead zones, leveraging LPWA CatM1 (5G-compatible) cellular networks for improved indoor and rural performance.
- Jiobit Mobile App Free iOS and Android companion application for the Jiobit Smart Tag. Delivers real-time location streaming, Care Team multi-user sharing, geofencing (Trusted Places), Live Mode turn-by-turn tracking, SOS Mode activation, Timeline history, and proximity/Bluetooth alerts.
- Jiobit Strap Clip Modular attachment accessory designed to lock the Jiobit Smart Tag onto backpack straps, belts, and pet collars. Includes a JioKey removal tool.
- Jiobit Secure Loop Attachment accessory for securing the Jiobit Smart Tag to button holes, belt loops, and other fabric loops.
- Jiobit Hem Lock Clip Attachment accessory for elastic waistbands, hems, and pockets, expanding the Jiobit Smart Tag's wearing options.
- Jiobit Protective Silicon Sleeve Custom-molded silicone sleeve that protects the Jiobit Smart Tag and is available in multiple colors for customization or camouflage.
- Jiobit Pin Lock Pouch Secure, tamper-resistant attachment pouch using a magnetic locking system that fully encloses the Jiobit Smart Tag and requires a special magnetic key for removal.
- Jiobit Fabric Sleeve Breathable fabric sleeve with an elastic loop for attaching the Jiobit Smart Tag to collars, leashes, belts, and buckles — popular for pet use.
- Jiobit Flex Rings Pack of six colored rings that absorb twisting and bending stress when the Jiobit Smart Tag is attached to rigid materials such as rigid collars or harnesses.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 30-day battery life under ideal conditions (typically 1 week under normal use)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Jiobit
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Jiobit technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability2 records
Feature8 records
Jiobit partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Life360coreLife360, the global leader in family location and safety services, acquired Jiobit for $37 million. Life360 is expanding its presence in the family safety space with Jiobit's hardware and integrated software solutions. Jiobit operates as a Chicago-based development center for Life360.
- NoonlightcoreJiobit partnered with Noonlight to create Jiobit Protect, providing 24/7 monitoring service with direct link to 911 dispatch centers. When SOS Mode is activated, emergency details and real-time location are sent to professional dispatchers who contact users immediately. This integration eliminates the need for users to interface with 911 during emergencies.
- KultureCityminorDuring Autism Awareness Month, Jiobit donates a portion of proceeds to KultureCity, a non-profit supporting individuals with autism and sensory disorders. This is a charitable partnership focused on community support rather than commercial benefit.
- AWS IoTcoreJiobit works with AWS IoT to develop its secure wearable platform for kids. Amazon Web Services provides the cloud infrastructure for Jiobit's IoT device connectivity and data processing.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Jiobit competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tile: Consumer Bluetooth tracker brand (now owned by Life360, Jiobit's parent) competing in the same find-my-things category; both target the same household with subscription-attached tracking hardware.
- Apple AirTag: Apple's item/kid tracker leveraging the Find My network of over a billion Apple devices; closest direct competitor on form factor and real-time location updates, and a major share threat in the kids/pet use case.
- AngelSense: GPS tracker purpose-built for special-needs children, autistic individuals, and seniors with wandering alerts; highly comparable to Jiobit's special-needs and senior-care segments.
- Whistle (Tractive-style pet GPS): GPS pet-activity and location tracker with subscription; competes directly with Jiobit in the pet-owner segment, including feature parity on geofencing and activity monitoring.
- Tractive: Subscription-based GPS pet tracker popular in Europe and globally; directly competes with Jiobit on pet use cases and notably demonstrates the international distribution model Jiobit lacks.
Broad incumbents
- Garmin (inReach & GPS dog devices): Established GPS hardware incumbent with satellite communicators (inReach) and dedicated dog-tracking handhelds; overlaps with Jiobit on cellular/satellite-enabled tracking but operates as a broader wearables and outdoor-tech portfolio.
- Samsung SmartThings Tracker: Samsung's LTE-based location tag for people and pets, part of the broader SmartThings IoT platform; competes with Jiobit on real-time cellular tracking and benefits from Samsung's device ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Fi Smart Dog Collar: Premium GPS dog collar with LTE tracking and activity monitoring; focused exclusively on pets but comparable to Jiobit's pet segment in technology stack and subscription model.
Others
- Life360: Parent company and family-safety software platform; the channel through which Jiobit is distributed post-acquisition and the strategic owner that shapes Jiobit's go-to-market and product roadmap.
- Noonlight: Connected-safety and 911-dispatch platform that powers Jiobit Protect's SOS Mode; an ecosystem/integration partner rather than competitor, but a proxy for the broader personal-emergency-response software category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Jiobit social profiles
Digital presenceJiobit compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Jiobit financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Jiobit leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Jiobit funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors14 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Jiobit M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Jiobit
What does Jiobit do?
Jiobit designs, manufactures, and sells a hardware-enabled real-time GPS location tracking platform built around the Jiobit Smart Tag — a small, waterproof, cellular-connected tracker for kids, pets, seniors, and special-needs individuals. The hardware is paired with a free mobile companion app and a recurring cellular data subscription that enables unlimited-distance tracking via combined GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LPWA CatM1 cellular radios.
Is Jiobit a public or private company?
Jiobit is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Jiobit founded?
Jiobit was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Jiobit based?
Jiobit is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Jiobit make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Device Sales are the primary driver. The others are monthly Subscription (Cellular Data Plan) and premium Subscriptions (Plus and Protect).
Who are Jiobit's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tile, Apple AirTag, AngelSense, Whistle (Tractive-style pet GPS) and Tractive. Broad incumbents are Garmin (inReach & GPS dog devices) and Samsung SmartThings Tracker. Fi Smart Dog Collar is listed as an emerging player. Others are Life360 and Noonlight.
Does Jiobit have an API?
No public API is recorded for Jiobit.
What industry is Jiobit in?
Jiobit's product category is Wearable GPS Trackers. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAPAQAL, Pet Care & Consumer Tracking IoT (Feeders, Pet Doors, GPS Trackers). Its NAICS code is 33421 and its SIC code is 3576.