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6 min readYou don't need to drop big bucks on a GPS tracker to keep tabs on your gear when an affordable Bluetooth tracker can do the job for less. Our top pick, the Tile Mate, is the best key finder and can even track your keys for a year before you need to swap out the battery.
Read our in-depth comparison to see how Tile Mate holds up to other top Bluetooth trackers.
Product | Best for | Price | Battery life | Replaceable battery | Learn more |
| Best overall | $41.41 | 1 year |  Yes | View on Amazon | |
| Best for iPhone | $48 | 1 year | Yes | View on Amazon | |
| Best for Android | $45 | 2 years | Yes | View on Amazon | |
| Best for budgets | $63.99 (4-pack) | 1 year | Yes | View on Amazon | |
| Best features | $49.99 (2-pack) | 1 year | Yes | View on Amazon |
Prices are accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
The Tile Mate is one of our favourite Bluetooth trackers on the market. It has a max wireless range of 60 metres and boasts a durable construction. Its design incorporates a metal plate, which makes it feel sturdy without adding too much weight. It's not bigger than the wireless key fobs on most cars so it won’t feel out of place in your pocket.
Large network for finding lost devices
Smart home integration
Waterproof
Reimburse lost items 
Smart Alerts cost extra
Max wireless range is 60 metres The Tile app offers a great experience on Android with options to share trackers for friends, show a map of recent locations, and assign ringtones to your device. We like that the app says how many Tile users are nearby though it still doesn't compare with Apple AirTag's massive Find My network.
You can use the Tile Network to mark your device lost and report when you find someone else's Tile. We love that Tile includes a QR code on the back of its trackers so non-Tile users can help too. Still, the app often feels like the company is pushing its Tile Premium subscription a bit too much.
Tile also integrates well with your smart home, so you can use Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands to find your device.
Tile offers an optional subscription service called Tile Premium for around $5 a month. Its biggest perk is item reimbursement to help replace lost items attached to your Tile. Depending on your plan, it covers up to $150 or $1,500. Adding a Tile Premium plan makes this the priciest tracker on our list.
As much as we love the item reimbursement in the Tile Premium subscription plan, it's disappointing that Tile locks its Smart Alerts feature behind a subscription. This handy feature triggers an alert when you leave an item behind, so you never leave home without your wallet or bag. The trouble is that other Bluetooth trackers offer the same feature for free.
We think the Tile Mate is the best Bluetooth tracker for most people. Its compatibility with Android, iOS, and smart home platforms helps it compete with the elephant in the room: Apple AirTag. It also integrates seamlessly with family monitoring service Life360. We have mixed feelings about Tile Premium, but the item reimbursement is a big plus.
The Apple AirTag is the gold standard for a Bluetooth tracker. It boasts the largest device network, best user experience, and offers Apple's unique brand of attractive product design. The only thing keeping AirTag from our top spot is that you can't use it with Android or smart home platforms.
Massive device network
Precision finding
Water resistant
Requires Apple device The massive Find My device network includes every Bluetooth-enabled Apple device: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac computers, and AirPods. All these devices share location data with you and your family. Plus, you can see all your devices on the map, not just the tracker and your phone.
Precision Finding is AirTag's most compelling feature. It uses an ultra-wideband (UWB) signal to show the direction and distance of your tracker—like a compass. UWB (on iPhone 11 and later models) is a game changer and one reason the Apple AirTag outperforms the competition.
Adding an AirTag to the Find My app takes a few seconds—you tap it with your iPhone and hit the connect button. Once connected, you can name the tag and throw it in your bag.
Likewise, we can't deny that Apple's walled garden approach works for maintaining a high standard of excellence and security on Apple products. But it makes AirTag feel like just another iPhone accessory rather than a bold new direction for Bluetooth trackers in general.
We're confident that the Apple AirTag will indirectly influence Bluetooth tags on Android for the better, but it would be nice to have more functionality on Android than an app that checks for AirTag stalkers. But for iPhone users, there's no better alternative.
Learn more in our full Apple AirTag Review.
Two women in the U.S have filed a class action lawsuit against Apple with the claim that AirTags made it easier for them to be stalked and harassed. There have been a slew of headlines since AirTags launched about bad actors using the devices for nefarious purposes.
Earlier this year, Apple instituted new safeguards to alert people when AirTags are near them, and the company is also working with law enforcement on crime issues related to the devices.
The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 is our top pick for Android users – it’s not often you’ll come across a Bluetooth tracker that’s built on the Samsung network.
It works the same way the Apple AirTag does. You can use Bluetooth to locate the tracker up to 120 metres away. Outside of that, it relies on the Galaxy Find network, meaning it has to be in the range of another Samsung phone for you to locate it. Unfortunately, the Samsung ecosystem is not as robust as Apple’s, so you may find it’s not as accurate as the AirTag.
Last for 2 years on low battery mode
120 metre max wireless range
Replaceable battery
Large device network
Only compatible with select phones It boasts a battery life of about a year and a half, or up to two years with the low battery function enabled. The small lithium battery in the tracker is replaceable, so you can keep using the SmartTag, even after it dies. You can attach it to your pet’s collar, stuff it in your luggage, or keep it on the same keyring as your keys.
A downside of the SmartTag 2 is that unless you’re using one of the newer Samsung Galaxy smartphones (running Android 9.0 or higher) and a fully installed and active SmartThings app, you won’t be able to join the club.
The Yipoyilo Smart Item Tracker is one of the most affordable Bluetooth trackers on the market—buying a $64 four-pack brings the cost down to about $16 a device. It's a great deal, but there's no waterproofing, and it feels cheaper overall.
Extremely low price per tracker
Replaceable battery
No subscriptions
Encrypted data
Max wireless range is 20 metres
Not water resistant Like many other picks on our list, this tracker isn't compatible with Android. Still, Yipoyilo is a cost-effective AirTag alternative, utilising the same ‘Find My’ Apple network and boasting a 1-year battery life. It also includes a CR2032 battery so you can easily replace it when the battery runs flat.
There are no subscriptions or follow-up costs, either. When you buy the Yipoyilo Smart Item Tracker, it's a one-and-done payment. Even though it may not be top-of-the-line quality, it's an affordable alternative to other Bluetooth trackers.
The HoloTag uses Apple’s ‘Find My’ network, so unfortunately you’ll only be able to use this tracker if you have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
You can attach this tracker to your keyrings so you never lose your keys. You can also stuff it in your luggage, or clip it onto your pooch’s collar. It's water and dust-resistant, so it’s built to withstand whatever your environment throws at it. It’s perfect for keeping track of Fido during a hike, but it’s also great for keeping track of your keys or purse in an office setting.
When you buy the Holomarq HoloTag, your data is protected using advanced encryption. Rest assured, not even Holomarq can access your data or view the location of your HoloTag.
Water and dust resistant
Works with Apple's 'Find My' network
Affordable
Only comptaible with iPhones and iPads running iOS14.5 and later The Tile Mate is perfect for basic item tracking for most people. It offers excellent wireless range and a loud speaker that you can easily customise with various ringtones. But if you're an Apple user and want the largest device network, the Apple AirTag is a no-brainer.
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Bluetooth and GPS are two types of wireless signals with different strengths and weaknesses:
Bluetooth uses a short-range signal that can travel up to 150 metres in ideal conditions. It also requires a compatible device nearby to work.
Compared to GPS, Bluetooth trackers are usually smaller, more affordable, and don't require a subscription to enable tracking. They have a longer battery life—often a year or more—which makes them an excellent option for finding stationary objects like keys and bags.
GPS uses a long-range signal that connects to a satellite network. You'll pay a small subscription fee for the GPS tracker to connect to a mobile network to transmit location data to your phone.
Compared to Bluetooth, GPS trackers offer greater accuracy and are better for live tracking of moving subjects like pets, vehicles, and people. The batteries on GPS trackers last up to 20 days, depending on the brand.
Bluetooth's short range makes it a poor choice for tracking vehicles, especially ones in motion. GPS is a better option because it uses a satellite connection.
The Apple AirTag is the smallest Bluetooth tracker on our list. It's roughly 3 centimetres in diameter and 0.7 centimetres thick. Most other trackers we looked at are about 3.8 centimetres wide and about the same thickness as the AirTag.
Trackers will typically show accurate locations, though exact locations depend on the connected phone's GPS accuracy. This is why tracker apps ask to enable precise location permissions.
As long as you get close enough to establish a connection—usually 30 metres or so—you can activate the item tracker's built-in ringtone to hear where it is.
Problems arise when the device leaves its last known location before you arrive. At this point, you're wholly dependent on the device network connecting to your tracker in the future. This is why the billions of Apple 'Find My' network devices are so powerful. Your tracker has an excellent chance of connecting to another compatible device in populated areas.
