Mileage Ace Mileage Tracker Review & Alternative: Best GPS Logger?

Every mile is money. Track 10,000 business miles at the $0.70 IRS rate and you get a $7,000 deduction. Your actual tax savings depend on your bracket—at the top 37% federal rate, that’s about $2,590 off your tax bill. That’s real cash you keep.

We tested the Mileage Ace Wi-Fi M2 to see if this automatic mileage tracker lives up to its “set it and forget it” promise. After nearly 20 years helping small businesses stay audit-ready, Shoeboxed knows what works (and what wastes time).

Our verdict? It does what it claims—hands-off logging and auto uploads—but the subscription adds up. Below, we cover the good, the gotchas, and a free Shoeboxed alternative that may fit lighter drivers.

Bottom Line

Mileage Ace delivers accurate, automatic logs that upload over Wi-Fi. If you drive a lot for business and want audit-ready records without babysitting an app, it’s a strong pick. If you’re a light driver or allergic to subscriptions, the free Shoeboxed app is a smart alternative.

Ready to automate mileage tracking? Check the latest price on Mileage Ace.

Tracking Mileage Can Save You Thousands On Your Tax Bill

Most small business owners leave money on the table by not tracking miles. At $0.70 per mile, quick trips to clients and suppliers add up fast: 10,000 miles = $7,000 deduction ≈ $2,590 saved at 37%. Mileage Ace makes capturing those miles automatic, so you don’t forget and you don’t guess later.

Overview: Mileage Ace — A GPS Mileage Tracker You Can Trust

After years of fumbling with phone apps that forget to start or drain batteries, we tested a device that actually behaves. Mileage Ace sits in your car, turns on with the engine, logs trips via GPS, and uploads when you park near saved Wi-Fi.

What Works Well:

• Truly set-and-forget operation
• Detailed trip reports with timestamps, distances, addresses
• Works even when your phone dies or you forget it

The Reality Check: The subscription runs about $13.99/month when billed annually. That’s ~$168/year. For heavy business drivers, the time saved and audit protection can pencil out. For light drivers, it may feel pricey—do the math for your use.

How It Installs & Uploads (No OBD-II Required)

• Power & install: Plugs into your car’s 12V/USB power—not the OBD-II diagnostic port. No wiring or tools.
• Setup: Use their web portal on a computer to add Wi-Fi networks (home/office; you can also save your phone hotspot if you want uploads on the go).
• Capture: The device turns on with the car and logs trips automatically with GPS. No app taps or manual starts.
• Upload: It buffers trips and auto-uploads when parked within range of a saved Wi-Fi network.

Great GPS Accuracy

Nothing ruins a deduction like sketchy data. We compared Mileage Ace logs to our odometer across city and highway routes. Distances were typically within a few tenths of a mile, and start/end points lined up with actual stops—exactly what auditors care about. We did see the occasional missed short hop (<1 mile), so a quick monthly review is smart (and normal for any automatic tracker).

Easy Wi-Fi Uploading

Once you’ve saved networks in the portal, Mileage Ace uploads on its own when you park near home or the office. That means continuous cloud backup—no cables, no manual syncs, no “I forgot.” If you drive mostly where you don’t pass by a saved network, uploads will lag until you’re back in range (trips are buffered in the meantime).

Automatic Audit-Compliant Logs

Mileage Ace produces detailed records—routes, timestamps, distances, and addresses—the documentation auditors expect. You’ll still need to categorize trips as business or personal. The optional Business Button lets you mark trips while driving to save time later.

User-Friendly Installation and Setup

Setup shouldn’t feel like rocket science. Plug it into power, add your Wi-Fi in the web portal, drive. After that, it quietly uploads your trips when you park near saved networks. No tools, no clunky app, no “did I hit start?” drama.

What works well:

• Clear step-by-step instructions
• Device stays put once plugged in
• Wi-Fi uploads were reliable in our testing

The catch: If you don’t regularly park near a saved network, uploads wait until you do. You can add your phone hotspot as a network to force uploads on the go, but that uses your phone data.

Lifetime Warranty and USA Manufacturing

Mileage Ace offers a lifetime warranty tied to an active subscription. Hardware is U.S.-made, and support is stateside in our experience—helpful when something breaks in Q4 and you need a fast answer.

Online Software and Cloud Storage

The web dashboard is straightforward: trips sync to the cloud and can be exported for your records or accountant. Audit-ready reports include addresses, timestamps, and distances. Cloud backup beats a paper logbook (and coffee spills) every time.

Flexible Subscription and Affordability

Pricing is about $13.99/month (annual billing) with a 14-day free trial.

Cost per mile examples:

• At 500 miles/month: 13.99 ÷ 500 ≈ $0.03 per tracked mile.
• At 1,000 miles/month: ≈ $0.014 per mile.

Our take: Heavy drivers (sales reps, field service, real estate) will likely make that back in tax savings and time saved. Light drivers should run the numbers before committing.

Pros and Cons

Advantages

• Set-and-forget once configured
• Accurate routes; distances matched our odometer closely
• Web portal + auto-upload = continuous cloud backup
• Optional Business Button to mark trips as business on the fly

Drawbacks

• Ongoing subscription adds up for low-mileage drivers
• Occasional missed short trips—monthly review advised
• Interface feels dated; reports take more clicks than they should
• Uploads require saved Wi-Fi nearby; rural routes may delay syncing

Real Customer Reviews

We scanned long-term user feedback. The theme: when it works, it’s a relief. Years of reliable tracking with zero daily effort came up often. Pain points included setup friction for some, a dated interface, and missed short trips that needed manual cleanup. Cost complaints were common among lighter drivers.

Conclusion

If you drive a lot for business and want hands-off, audit-proof logs, Mileage Ace does the job. If your miles are lighter—or you just hate subscriptions—try the free Shoeboxed mileage tracking in our app. It’s IRS-compliant, simple, and keeps your wallet happy.

Alternative option: Shoeboxed’s app includes free mileage tracking with automatic GPS logging and easy export. It pairs with our receipt management system, so your expense records live in one place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What features should a reliable mileage tracker offer for efficient tracking?

Automatic start/stop, accurate distance, and detailed trip records (time, route, addresses). Mileage Ace covers these and backs them up in the cloud. You’ll still categorize trips as business or personal—plan a monthly review.

How does the Mileage Ace mileage tracker compare in accuracy to other GPS mileage trackers?

Because it’s powered by your vehicle and logs continuously, it’s generally more reliable than phone apps that need you to start/stop or throttle GPS to save battery. In our testing, distances were close to the odometer across city and highway routes.

What are the pros and cons of using a dedicated device like Mileage Ace versus a mobile app?

Device pros: reliable, forget-proof, continuous logging; cons: subscription cost, separate hardware per vehicle. Apps: cheaper or free, but easier to forget and more likely to miss trips when your phone dies or throttles GPS.

Are there mileage tracking apps that offer automatic tracking without a subscription fee?

Yes—free apps exist, but they often trade off accuracy, limits, or ads. If you drive lightly, a free app might work. Heavy drivers typically prefer the reliability of a dedicated device or a polished app experience.

Can you recommend a user-friendly mileage tracker that integrates well with tax preparation software?

Mileage Ace exports detailed reports/CSV that most tax tools accept. If you want to avoid hardware and subscriptions, the free Shoeboxed mileage tracker also exports clean reports and integrates with your receipts for one-stop recordkeeping.

What’s the most cost-effective option for freelancers?

If you drive occasionally, the subscription may be overkill. If you drive daily for business, the accuracy and automation can pay for themselves in recovered deductions and time saved. Start with a free option; upgrade if you outgrow it.