Crystal Ball has been selling fleet cameras since 2005. Traknova launched as a focused platform for UK taxi, PHV, rental and SME operators. Two decades is a real head start. The question is whether that experience translates into a better fit for your specific operation.
Side by side
| Feature | Traknova | Crystal Ball |
|---|---|---|
| Core purpose | Cameras, security and tracking for UK SME operators | General commercial fleet cameras and tracking |
| Best for | UK taxi, PHV, rental, dealerships, finance lenders | General commercial fleets |
| 4G cloud dash cam | Yes | Yes, SmartCam |
| Camera angles | Up to 5 per vehicle | Front facing plus optional internal, rear and side |
| Cloud footage retention | 12 months | Not publicly stated |
| Live footage on demand | Yes | Yes |
| Remote silent snapshot | Yes | Not advertised |
| TfL approved for PHV and taxi | Yes | Not advertised |
| GPS tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Driver behaviour and distraction alerts | Yes | Yes, including facial recognition |
| Ghost immobiliser | Yes, covert | No |
| Relay immobiliser | Yes | No |
| Remote lock and unlock | Yes | No |
| Remote immobilisation | Yes | Yes, as an add-on |
| Thatcham S5 and S7 trackers | No | Yes |
| Lone worker app | No | Yes |
| Keyless entry | Yes | No |
| Digital tracking for lenders (no hardware) | Yes | No |
| Years in market | 2023 | 2005 |
Competitor details were checked in August 2026. Confirm current features on Crystal Ball’s own site before making a decision, as some items above are marked as not advertised rather than confirmed absent.
Round by round
Private hire and taxi fit
Traknova winsTraknova. The platform is built around how UK private hire and taxi operators actually work. The cameras are TfL approved, which is a hard requirement for PCO operators in London. Evidence retrieval for customer disputes, silent snapshots, insurance clip export and 12 months of cloud storage are all shaped around the PHV use case. Crystal Ball is not advertised as TfL approved.
Crystal Ball. Two decades of UK fleet camera experience and a wide product range. Private hire is one segment among many for Crystal Ball, which means the platform is not purpose-built around PHV licence compliance and the specific risks of that market.
Vehicle security stack
Traknova winsTraknova. Covert ghost immobiliser, relay immobiliser, keyless entry, remote lock and unlock, plus remote immobilisation and geofencing alerts. A relay attack gets a thief into the cab but not moving. This is the clearest gap between the two platforms.
Crystal Ball. Remote immobilisation is available as an add-on. No ghost immobiliser, relay protection or keyless offering. For operators where vehicle theft is a live concern, particularly in London and other high-risk areas, Crystal Ball requires additional suppliers to reach the same level of cover.
Dash cameras and cloud footage
Traknova winsTraknova. Up to five camera angles per vehicle, 12-month cloud storage, footage synced with GPS, and remote silent snapshot without the driver knowing. Pull HD clips for insurance, a customer dispute or driver training in seconds from any device.
Crystal Ball. SmartCam covers front facing plus optional internal, rear and side angles. Live footage access is available. Crystal Ball does not publicly state its cloud footage retention period, which makes a direct comparison on that point difficult. Operators who need to know exactly how long footage is held should ask Crystal Ball directly before signing.
Theft recovery tracking
Crystal Ball winsCrystal Ball. Thatcham-approved S5 and S7 trackers are a genuine strength. S5 and S7 approval is recognised by UK insurers, which can directly affect premiums for some fleets. National Highways partnership adds further credibility on the stolen vehicle recovery side.
Traknova. GPS tracking and immobilisation are core to the platform, but Traknova does not currently offer Thatcham-approved S5 or S7 trackers. If insurance-mandated Thatcham approval is a requirement for your fleet or your insurer, Crystal Ball is the stronger option here.
Lone worker and compliance tools
Crystal Ball winsCrystal Ball. A lone worker protection app is available, which is a meaningful capability for fleets operating in delivery, field services or situations where driver welfare checks matter.
Traknova. Traknova does not currently offer a lone worker app. The platform is focused on vehicle security, tracking and camera evidence. Operators whose compliance requirements include lone worker protection should note this gap.
Platform breadth and SME simplicity
DrawTraknova. Cameras, tracking, ghost immobiliser, relay immobiliser, keyless and remote lock or unlock on one platform, on one bill. Digital tracking activates without an engineer visit, which matters for finance lenders who need funded stock visibility. Built for SMEs who do not want multiple suppliers.
Crystal Ball. A wider product range across cameras, tracking and compliance, built over two decades. The breadth is real but so is the generalist positioning. Operators looking for a single-supplier solution across cameras and vehicle security will need to piece together more products on the Crystal Ball side.
The bottom line
Three rounds to Traknova, two to Crystal Ball, one draw. The result reflects two genuinely different products built for different buyers.
Crystal Ball is the better choice if Thatcham-approved tracker certification is a non-negotiable for your insurer, or if you need a lone worker app as part of your compliance setup. The brand longevity and National Highways partnership carry real weight.
Traknova is the better choice if you run UK private hire, taxi, rental or a growing SME fleet and need TfL-approved cameras, ghost and relay immobilisers, keyless and tracking on one bill. The security stack is the clearest differentiator. Crystal Ball cannot match it without additional suppliers.
If your primary concern is theft prevention and licence compliance, Traknova wins. If Thatcham tracker approval is your deciding factor, Crystal Ball wins.
Pricing
What you actually pay, compared side by side.
Traknova
traknova.com
Tracking, security and video in one platform
Bespoke to your fleet size and use case
Best for: UK taxi, PHV, rental and SME operators who want TfL-approved dashcam, ghost immobiliser, keyless and tracking on one bill
Crystal Ball
crystal-ball.com
Fleet cameras, tracking and compliance
Contact for pricing
Best for: General commercial fleets needing a well-established provider with Thatcham-approved trackers and a wide product range
Pricing verdict. Traknova publishes a single, transparent per-vehicle price with all hardware included. No hidden quotes, no variable tiers based on claim volume. Easy to budget before you sign.
Pros and Cons
Traknova
Strengths
- TfL-approved 4G dashcam recording up to 5 angles with 12 months cloud storage
- Ghost and relay immobilisers stop relay and cloned-key attacks
- Remote lock, unlock and silent snapshot without driver knowing
- Keyless entry integrated into the same platform
- Digital tracking live from activation for finance lenders with no hardware required
Limitations
- No Thatcham-approved S5 or S7 trackers
- No lone worker app
- Newer company with less brand heritage than Crystal Ball
Crystal Ball
Strengths
- Over two decades in the UK fleet camera market
- Thatcham-approved S5 and S7 trackers for insurance-approved theft recovery
- National Highways partnership and strong brand recognition
- Lone worker protection app
- Wide product range across cameras, tracking and compliance
Limitations
- No ghost or relay immobiliser
- No keyless or remote lock and unlock
- Not advertised as TfL-approved for private hire use
- Remote immobilisation is an add-on, not core to the platform
- Cloud footage retention period not publicly stated
FAQ
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Competitor data verified August 2026. Pricing, features and availability are subject to change. Check each provider's current website before making a purchasing decision.