Unless you’re well organized, you’ve probably misplaced something in the past month. Maybe your couch cushions swallowed your remote. Perhaps a feisty pet swiped your keys off the counter and batted them under an end table. No matter what you’re prone to losing, a Bluetooth tracker is a quick and inexpensive way to ensure you can find it again. Every Bluetooth tracker serves the same general purpose—to help you locate lost items—but the specifics vary widely. PCMag can help since we’ve been reviewing these devices since the first Tile arrived more than a decade ago. Our Editors’ Choice is the Apple AirTag for its excellent precision, but those without an iPhone will need to look to alternatives. Check out all our picks for the best Bluetooth trackers below, and make sure to scroll to the end for some helpful buying advice and safety tips to prevent stalking.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
- 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. Apple’s large Find My network is superior to competitors’ and casts a wide net for finding your lost items. Most importantly, its ultra-wideband connectivity enables precise location data and turn-by-turn directions to help you find your missing item. Plus, its battery lasts about a year and is user-replaceable.
If you have an iPhone and tend to misplace your keys or wallet, we recommend the AirTag without hesitation. Android users need to look elsewhere, however.
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Apple AirTag Review
- 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 Bluetooth Low Energy and ultra-wideband tech, has an IP68 rating to make it waterproof, 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 and the free SmartThings Find app to use the tracker.
If you want a tracker that seamlessly integrates with your Galaxy smartphone (or tablet), the SmartTag 2 is your best bet. It’s a decent value even though it relies on the relatively small(er) SmartThings device network.
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Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2 Review
- Works with Android and iOS
- Compact, waterproof build
- Replaceable battery
- SOS alert
- Location data lacks exact details
- No real-time information
The Tile Pro, new for 2024, has a steel frame, a user-replaceable battery, and the longest range of any Tile tracker at 500 feet. We like how easy it is to attach to your items, its waterproof design, and its easy-to-use app.
If you’re outside the Apple and Galaxy ecosystems but still want a 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.
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Tile Pro (2024) Review
- Android and iOS compatibility
- Small and light
- SOS functionality
- Location data lacks fine details
- Some features are behind a paywall
- Sealed battery
- Color models cost more
The small Tile Mate’s range tops out at 350 feet, and it has a small speaker that beeps to help you find your stuff around the house. It’s affordable, too, so you won’t be out much money if it goes missing. New for the 2024 model is a smattering of fun colors to choose from.
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.
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Tile Mate (2024) Review
- Thin and light enough for wallets and purses
- Android and iOS compatible
- SOS alert
- Lacks detailed location information
- Wallet muffles audible alert
The Tile Pro and Mate are useful for tracking bulkier items like your keys, but their designs don’t work very well in 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 350-foot range and three-year battery life as the Mate, is compatible with Android and iOS, and features a weatherproof design.
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 than any other device on this list for tracking your wallet.
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Tile Slim (2024) Review
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Buying Guide: The Best Bluetooth Trackers for 2025
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.
Location accuracy is the next most important consideration. All the trackers on this list are relatively accurate, but those with ultra-wideband (UWB) connectivity can give you turn-by-turn directions to your lost item. UWB is found in the Apple AirTag, the Samsung SmartTag 2, and the Motorola Moto Tag. All of Tile’s trackers have proximity indicators, but they lack the UWB exactitude from Apple, Samsung, and Motorola.
Maximum range is another relevant aspect. Some Bluetooth trackers claim they can connect with your smartphone from distances of up to 500 feet, but all the trackers we’ve tested have a real-world 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. The range is more important if you plan to use the tracker on items that leave your house, like 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 people’s phones to discreetly detect the tracker and direct you to your missing item. Tile has a large user network, but it 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—meaning it’s already available on hundreds of millions of devices.
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 and the Moto Tag are standalone products that require an accessory to affix or mount them. 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 will 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.
