How Much Does Samsara Cost in 2026? Pricing, Contracts and Hardware

Quick Answer

Samsara does not publish prices. As of October 2026, every package on its plans page says "Get pricing," so your cost comes from a quote and an Order Form. Samsara's Master Terms bar early termination unless your Order Form allows it, and auto-renew unless you give 30 days' written notice. Its help center says fleets under 11 vehicles prepay a 3-year contract.

Key Takeaways

• Samsara lists no dollar amounts on samsara.com as of October 2026. Its pricing page starts with a fleet-size question (1-5, 6-29, 30-499, 500-4,999, 5,000+ vehicles or assets).
• Samsara's Small Business FAQ (last updated January 17, 2024) says fleets with fewer than 11 vehicles pay upfront for a 3-year contract, with no monthly or annual payment option.
• Under the Master Terms, an Order Form "cannot be terminated prior to the applicable License Expiration Date" unless the Order Form says otherwise.
• Licenses auto-renew unless you send written notice at least 30 days before expiration. A renewal can run for the longest of one year or your previous term.
• Data may be deleted once your license ends without renewal, but you must keep logs at least 6 months (49 CFR 395.8(k)).

How much does Samsara cost in 2026?

There is no public number. As of October 2026, every package on Samsara's plans page ends in a "Get pricing" button instead of a price. Any "Samsara price per truck" you see online is an estimate or someone else's deal, not a Samsara list price.

Here's what Samsara sells, as listed on its own site in October 2026:

For ELD use, Samsara's help center says you need a Vehicle Gateway plus a full Vehicle Gateway license, which includes all ELD features. Camera and safety licenses are added on top.

How long is a Samsara contract?

Your term is whatever your Order Form says. The Master Terms of Service (last updated June 2026) tie everything to the License Start Date and License Expiration Date on your order.

For small fleets, Samsara's Small Business FAQ is more specific. It defines a small business as fewer than 11 vehicles or fewer than 31 pieces of equipment, and says:

• Customers of that size pay upfront for 3-year contracts, and add-on purchases are also paid upfront.
• The minimum is 3 years. A 1- or 2-year contract isn't offered, even if you pay upfront.
• Monthly or annual payment is "currently not an option for small business customers."
• Licenses aren't transferable between organizations.

That page was last updated January 17, 2024, and was still live on October 27, 2026. Confirm it against your quote before you rely on it.

Also note the start date. Under the Master Terms, when hardware ships with a new license, the license starts the day the hardware ships, before the devices are in your trucks.

Can you cancel a Samsara contract early?

Not by default. The Master Terms say an Order Form, including a renewal Order Form, can't be terminated before its License Expiration Date unless the Agreement or the Order Form says otherwise. Payments under an Order Form are non-refundable unless your Order Form says otherwise.

The main exit is at the start. Samsara's FAQ says you can cancel and return products within 30 days after your order ships, subject to its refund policy. That policy requires new or like-new hardware and excludes purchases made after a trial or pilot, repeat purchases of the same product, and renewals.

Then watch the renewal clock:

• Send written notice at least 30 days before your License Expiration Date to stop auto-renewal. Samsara lists renewals@samsara.com for renewal questions.
• If you don't, Samsara "may in its discretion" renew your license up to 90 days after expiration, for the longest of one year, your previous term, or a period that lines up with your other orders.
• You can't downgrade to a lower plan (for example, Enterprise to Premier) during a term.

Example: if your license expires June 30, 2029, your notice should reach Samsara by May 31, 2029.

What does Samsara hardware cost, and who owns it?

No hardware prices are listed on samsara.com. For small fleets, the FAQ says the upfront payment covers the full 3-year license, which includes as applicable the hardware, cloud software, cables, firmware updates, cellular data for cellular gateways, and support.

Samsara's Hardware Terms of Service (last updated March 2026) add the ownership details:

1. You own the physical title to hardware you bought under an Order Form, except free-trial hardware.
2. The firmware is licensed, not sold, and that license depends on you keeping a valid Samsara software license.
3. Shipments are FOB Origin, "Freight Prepaid, and Charged Back," so ask what freight adds to your bill.
4. Licenses for hardware shipped later on the same order expire with the first shipment's licenses, and their cost is prorated.

Samsara's Hardware Warranty and RMA Policy says hardware that needs a license to work is under warranty only while you keep a valid license; accessories and cables get one year. On a trial, products not fully returned in the trial window "will be considered purchased" and invoiced.

What should you ask Samsara before you sign?

Get these answers in writing, ideally on the Order Form:

1. What is the price per truck per month for each license, and what is the total for the full term?
2. What is the term length, and what is the exact License Expiration Date?
3. Does the Order Form allow early termination for any reason, such as selling a truck or closing the business?
4. Is the payment upfront, annual or monthly, and what are the late fee and payment processing fees? (The Master Terms default to wire transfer, a processing fee up to 3% unless Samsara initiates ACH, and 1.5% a month on late payments.)
5. What does freight cost, and are cables and installation included?
6. What happens to price and terms if you add trucks mid-term, or grow past 10 vehicles?
7. What is the renewal price, and will you get a reminder before the 30-day notice deadline?
8. How do you export logs, DVIRs and video before the license ends, and what can't be exported?

How do you calculate Samsara's total cost per truck?

Compare total cost over the same period, not the monthly rate. Fill in your Samsara quote in the first column. The example columns use Lucid ELD's Standard plan for 3 trucks over 36 months, at the listed price as of October 2026 (pricing).

The examples assume today's listed price holds for three years and don't subtract the first free month listed on annual plans. Divide your total by trucks and by 36 for a true cost per truck per month.

How does Samsara pricing compare with Lucid ELD?

On price alone, you can't compare until you have a Samsara quote, which may come in above or below a listed small-fleet rate. The bigger difference is structure: under the FAQ dated January 2024, a fleet under 11 vehicles prepays 3 years, while Lucid ELD's monthly plans cancel anytime and its 12-month plans run a year at a time.

Samsara also sells far more: trailer and equipment tracking, site data, AI usage tiers and enterprise safety packages. If you need those across a large operation, the platform may be worth the term. See Samsara alternatives, our three-way comparison and Motive pricing.

If your trucks sit for stretches, Idle Day Cashback applies on Lucid's monthly plans only. You disconnect the ELD while the truck is parked, reactivate it with the trailer number and driver credentials when it runs again, and those days are credited on your next monthly bill. Reconnect before the truck moves, and the driver's logs still need to cover the off-duty days.

Whichever you pick, plan the exit. your Samsara data may be deleted once a license ends without renewal, and you must keep records of duty status and supporting documents for at least 6 months (395.8(k)(1)), plus a 6-month backup on a separate device (395.22(i)). Our guide on how to switch ELD providers walks through the order.

To check current plan prices, see pricing.

Want an ELD without a long contract? See Lucid ELD plans

Educational content, not legal advice. Confirm requirements against current FMCSA regulations and your state's rules.

FAQ

Does Samsara publish its prices?

No. As of October 2026, every package on Samsara's plans page says "Get pricing," and the pricing page is a quote form that starts with your fleet size.

How long is a Samsara contract for a small fleet?

Samsara's Small Business FAQ, last updated January 17, 2024, says fleets with fewer than 11 vehicles must prepay a 3-year contract, and 1- or 2-year terms aren't offered. Confirm the term on your own Order Form.

Can I cancel Samsara after 30 days?

Not by default. Samsara's Master Terms say an Order Form can't be terminated before its License Expiration Date unless the Order Form allows it. The 30-day return window starts when your order ships.

Does Samsara auto-renew?

Yes, unless you give written notice at least 30 days before your License Expiration Date. A renewal can run for the longest of one year or your previous term.

Do I own Samsara hardware?

You own the physical title to hardware you bought under an Order Form, except trial units. The firmware stays licensed, and both the firmware license and the warranty depend on keeping a valid software license.

What happens to my Samsara data when the contract ends?

Samsara's terms let you export data during the term, but it "may be immediately deleted" after the license ends without renewal. Export logs first, because you must keep them at least 6 months.