The Best Bluetooth Trackers for Keeping Tabs On Your Stuff

Losing track of your stuff can be a real drag. If you misplace your keys, for example, you’re going to have a hard time leaving your house knowing that you can’t lock up or operate your vehicle. And, although you could call a misplaced phone (if you’ve got a friend or a spare one lying around), most people keep their cellular devices on silent. Which makes hunting them down all the more difficult.

Thankfully there are some tech wizards out there who either know your pain or at least understand it enough to do something about it. And that bodes well for anyone with a forgetful streak. Now you can simply pick up a Bluetooth-enabled tracker, mate it to your phone and/or other pocketable everyday carry items, and circumvent the pains of searching for misplaced gear. In this guide, we’ll highlight the best Bluetooth trackers available on the market right now.

Bluetooth Vs. GPS

To be absolutely clear, these are not GPS locators. Yes, such tech exists, but it is a good deal more expensive and bulky than what we are talking about here. A Bluetooth tracker is generally smaller and more pocket-friendly, but does not necessarily give you a pinpoint location. Instead, they operate within a specific range and offer a number of different ways – like alarms and lights – to locate your lost stuff. This misunderstanding of the technology has, unfortunately, led to some mixed reviews as a result. On the other hand, GPS can work better in rural areas where you don’t have the benefit of a larger network.

What to Look for in Bluetooth Trackers

Device Compatibility: Device compatibility is really important to know when purchasing a Bluetooth tracker. For instance, if you have an Android device, you won’t be able to connect to an Apple AirTag chip. Likewise, even though Tile trackers accommodate both Android and Apple devices, they work much better with the former.

Finding Network: Your finding network is how many people are able to help you find your device. The more users that can tap into the tracker’s associated app, the more likely you are to find your lost item. Devices use Bluetooth of other users’ devices to help triangulate your tracker’s location. This is why you should stick to the 3 major brands (listed below) when it comes to Bluetooth trackers, because what good is it having one if you can’t use it?

Alerts: Many trackers have a built-in function that sends an alert to your phone or audibily rings itself when you get too far away from it. Likewise, there can be a function which lets you trigger an alert when you can’t find it.

Design/Use: There are different shapes of Bluetooth trackers, each of which is intended for a different purpose. Some are shaped like a credit card to fit into your wallet while others have built-in holes to attach to your keys. Others are small chips that make it easy to imbed into other objects like dog collars.

Tile Pro

Best Overall: Tile has really cornered the Bluetooth tracker market in a major way. In fact, nothing else really comes close. The good news is, the quality of the product versus its competitors is not reflected in the overall cost. So, not only is this device designed well in functionality, reliability, and looks, but it can be purchased for a reasonable price, as well. And it just doesn’t get better than that.

A favorite for Android users, the Tile Pro will work for Apple products as well, although we suggest using Apple’s own AirTag instead for those, even though there are inherent downsides to those in their own right. A definite upgrade over Tile’s Mate in both range (up to 400ft) and loudness, it’s also the only product in the brand’s range that has a replaceable battery. The downside is Tile’s products require a paid subscription of $3 per month to make the most out of them (there is a free version available), which diminishes the finding network below that of Apple’s AirTag (albeit it’s still upwards of 5 million). However, the service also comes with item insurance up to $100 and location history.

Apple AirTag

Best for iPhone Users: Despite not debuting until 2021, Apple’s AirTag tracking chip has dominated the EDC game, with countless brands retooling their items to accommodate them. Reminiscent of a Lithium battery, these chips tap into a wildly accessible network of over a billion iOS users. Great for finding your wallets, keys, luggage, or even pets, AirTag is water- and dust-resistant rated at IP67 so that even if your items get left outdoors, their trackability will remain intact.

While the short-range capability of AirTag only spans about 30ft, you can still find your AirTag-equipped item by utilizing surrounding iPhones from other people to pinpoint its location. Of course, this relies on the integrity of other people, who can then use their app to access the information you’ve provided, like your name, address, and/or phone number. It should be noted that due to its low short-range distance, AirTag won’t be as useful in rural areas where you don’t have a wide network of users.

Tile Slim

Best for Your Wallet: If it isn’t already abundantly clear, Tile has cornered the market on Bluetooth trackers. The Slim variety is for those of us who want some extra peace of mind when it comes to our wallets. Losing our credit cards is quite a hassle, especially when we’re in a rush to leave the house. This version of the Tile tracker is about as thick as two (count ’em, two) credit cards. So even the slimmest minimalist wallet out there has got enough room for this tracking device. Other than that, it works exactly the same way as the Tile Pro. It comes with the same app, it gives you the same access to the Tile perks and community, it functions as a 2-way finder, and it costs within $5 of its keychain-friendly sibling.

Louder than the Pro when it comes to tracing its whereabouts in your vicinity. Likewise, it will ping you if you get around 1,500ft away from it. And just like other Tile products, it works alongside both Apple and Android phones, as long as you’re signed up with the Tile subscription service. The only issue is it’s not as fool-proof inside of an RFID-blocking wallet.

Chipolo One

Best Budget Tracker: Chipolo is the “other” well-known tracker besides AirTag and Tile products. With several color options available, it’s typically more affordable than both and can be used with either Android or iOS devices. Not to mention, the alert signals are the loudest among its competitors and the chip has quick detection capabilities. Unlike the AirTag chip, the Chipolo One has a built-in hole for attaching to your keys, and it’s also a tad lighter and thinner, which is good for fitting into your wallet.

On the other hand, Tile’s products are better than the Chipolo in nearly every way, except for one very big one. The Chipolo has a replaceable battery. And that warrants a spot on this list. Rather than having to purchase a new tag every time yours goes dead, just pop it open and replace the battery. It also comes with one replaceable battery, so you won’t have to buy one yourself until you’ve gone through two. It’s also just 5 millimeters thick, has a silhouette about the same size as a quarter, and has an effective range of about 200ft as the crow flies.

Tile Sticker

Best for Remotes: There are Bluetooth trackers for keys, phones, wallets, dogs, and anything with some sort of ring attachment. However, there’s one object that gets lost more than any of those: the TV remote. If you can’t find that pesky device, you can forget relaxing at night for a good movie or catching the last quarter of the big game. Luckily Tile has a solution in the Sticker tracker.

Also great for headphones, chargers, laptops, and even your glasses, the Sticker is a little thicker than its cohorts but these aren’t meant to blend in the same way. The back of the unit is an adhesive mount that literally sticks to your chosen device. Boasting an IP67 water- and dust-proof rating, the Sticker features a button on the side that can trigger a ring from your phone if you’ve lost that as well, with a range up to 250ft. The major downside of the Sticker is its lack of a replaceable battery, which can last for up to three years.

The Best AirTag Wallets for EDC

Concerned about losing your wallet? Head over to our guide to the best AirTag wallets for keeping track of your money.