Table of Contents
Our Top Tested Picks
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best Tracker for iPhones
Apple AirTag
- Accurate and reliable
- Gives directional cues
- Can send location from a distance
- Replaceable battery
- No Android compatibility
- No way to ping a phone from the tag
- No hole for a lanyard or keyring
- Anti-stalking tools are limited
The Apple AirTag offers every feature you could want in a tracker. Most importantly, its ultra-wideband connectivity enables precise location data and turn-by-turn directions to help you get back to your missing item. It's also notable among the trackers on this list for having a replaceable battery.
If you have an iPhone and tend to misplace your keys or wallet, we have no hesitations in recommending the AirTag. Android users need to look elsewhere, however.
Best Tracker for Androids
Tile Pro
- Good connectivity
- Replaceable battery
- Loud speaker
- Durable build
- More expensive than competitors
- App doesn’t offer precise location data
The AirTag stole some of the spotlight from Tile when it launched, but the Tile Pro still deserves your consideration. It has the loudest ring of any Tile tracker, which means you won't have any issues locating it by ear. No, it doesn't offer ultra-wideband connectivity like the AirTag, but it still offers a solid 400-foot range. Like the AirTag, it also uses a replaceable battery.
If you're outside the Apple ecosystem but still want a highly capable tracking device, the Tile Pro is your top option. And if you own a mix of Apple and Android devices, the Pro's cross-platform versatility comes in handy.
Most Affordable Tile Tracker
Tile Mate
- Relatively affordable
- Solid connectivity
- Weatherproof build
- Less durable than the Tile Pro
- Non-replaceable battery
The small Tile Mate's range tops out at 250 feet and its speaker isn't quite as loud as the Tile Pro, but it can still help you find your stuff around the house. It's affordable too, so you won't be out much money if it goes missing.
If you like the idea of a Tile tracker but don't want to spend for a top-end model, the Mate is a good compromise.
Best Tracker for Your Wallet
Tile Slim
- Easy to fit in your wallet
- Long battery life
- Durable build
- Limited range
- Non-replaceable battery
- More expensive than the AirTag
The Tile Pro and Mate are useful for tracking bulkier items like your keys, but their designs aren't conducive to a wallet. The Tile Slim, on the other hand, is similar in size to a credit card and can fit comfortably in one of your wallet's slots. It has the same 250-foot range and three-year battery life as the Mate.
If you're worried about losing your wallet full of cash, credit cards, and IDs, the affordable Tile Slim offers peace of mind. Its svelte design makes it better for tracking your wallet than any other device on this list.
Best Tracker for Samsung Galaxy Phones
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2
- Compact design
- Rugged IP67 rating
- Long battery life
- Replaceable battery
- Easier to attach to objects than previous model
- Works with Samsung Galaxy devices only
- Alert could be louder
Samsung's latest tracker is a vast improvement over the original. It offers both Bluetooth Low Energy and ultra-wideband tech, has an IP68 rating, and features a large, metal-reinforced cutout for securing it to your valuables. Better yet, its replaceable battery lasts between 500 and 700 days. Just keep in mind that you need a Samsung Galaxy phone running Android 9 or later with at least 3GB of RAM, as well as the free SmartThings Find app, to use the device.
If you want a tracker that seamlessly integrates with your Galaxy smartphone, the SmartTag 2 is your best bet. It's a decent value even though it relies on the relatively small SmartThings device network.
Best Tracker for Remotes
Tile Sticker
- Small
- Adhesive sticks well and removes cleanly
- Expensive
- Limited range
- Non-replaceable battery
Losing the TV remote can be a real pain. Even when you feel like you know exactly where you left it, it finds a way to be somewhere else. The Tile Sticker, with its sticky backing, solves that problem because it easily attaches to whatever you want.
The Tile Sticker is for people who seem to always lose track of the TV remote. If you're looking to track anything more discreetly, you're better off with an AirTag or one of the other Tile devices listed here.
Buying Guide: The Best Bluetooth Trackers for 2024
Which Bluetooth Tracker Is the Best?
Smartphone compatibility tops the list of things to consider when choosing a Bluetooth tracker. Tile is the only company on our list that sells trackers that work with both Android and iOS devices. Apple’s AirTag technically works with any device capable of running iOS or iPadOS 14.5 and later, but you need an iPhone 11 or later to use its Precision Finding feature. Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag 2 works only with Samsung Galaxy phones that run Android 9 or later, offer 3GB of RAM, and have the SmartThings Find app installed.
Left to right: Tile Sticker, Tile Mate, Tile Pro, Tile Slim (Credit: Steven Winkelman)
Location accuracy is the next most important consideration. All the trackers on this list are relatively accurate, but the AirTag takes the win here thanks to its ultra-wideband (UWB) connectivity. If you’re using an iPhone 11 or later, Precision Finding enables turn-by-turn directions to your lost item. Samsung's SmartTag 2 also uses UWB technology, as does Motorola's moto tag.
All of Tile’s trackers have proximity indicators, but they lack Precision Finding's exactitude and ease of use. Tile is supposedly getting into the UWB race at some point. If it works on Android and iOS like Tile's other trackers, it should be a strong competitor to the AirTag, as could the moto tag, which has been announced but has yet to go on sale.
Maximum range is another relevant aspect. Some Bluetooth trackers claim they can connect with your smartphone from distances of up to 400 feet, but all the trackers we've tested have a maximum range of fewer than 100 feet. If you’re using a Bluetooth tracker on items that tend to stay in one area, like a TV remote that's probably somewhere in your living room, the maximum range doesn't matter much. Range is more important if you plan to use the tracker on your keys or bag.
A robust locator network can help balance out some of Bluetooth’s technical limitations. You can place all the trackers on this list in a Lost Mode that allows other peoples’ phones to discreetly detect the tracker and direct you to your missing item. Tile has a large user network but depends on people downloading its app and properly updating several settings on their phones. Apple's massive Find My network, meanwhile, uses an app that's baked into iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS.
Take a moment to think about how you plan to use a Bluetooth tracker before you buy one. Some models work better for certain applications than others. The Samsung SmartTag 2, Tile Mate, and Tile Pro have holes that allow you to easily attach them to your key ring. The Tile Sticker has an adhesive mount, while the Tile Slim can easily slide into your wallet. Apple’s AirTag is a standalone product that requires an accessory to affix or mount it. Several key rings on Apple's website work with AirTags and third-party accessories.
Finally, if you're concerned about eco-waste, you have a few options: the Apple AirTag, the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2, and the Tile Pro. Each of these has a battery that you can easily replace. In contrast, the Tile Mate, Tile Slim, and Tile Sticker all have non-replaceable batteries that should last about three years.
The Best Trackers for Kids and Pets
Bluetooth trackers are great tools for finding lost objects, but some trackers are designed for locating people or pets. The Fi Smart Dog Collar Series 3, for example, is an LTE-enabled collar that sends updates of your pet’s location several times a minute. It's best to think of these devices as backups to adult supervision, however, because the tracking subject can likely remove or wiggle out of them.
Bluetooth trackers with small removable batteries also present a choking hazard. To be on the safe side, keep loose trackers out of the reach of toddlers and pets.
Recommended by Our Editors
How to Protect Yourself From Tracker-Based Stalking
Bluetooth trackers join apps, computers, smartphones, tablets, vehicles, and dozens of other technologies that malicious actors can use to stalk you. Moreover, they're affordable, readily available, and small enough to slide into a bag without you knowing.
The good news is that both iOS and Android devices can automatically detect most unknown Bluetooth trackers. Samsung's anti-stalking feature, meanwhile, can alert you to unknown SmartTags specifically. Tile's app includes a Scan and Secure feature that lets you scan your surroundings for unassigned trackers.
For more information, read our story on how to protect yourself and what some researchers believe is the best way to restore privacy.