The best Bluetooth trackers can help you find your lost stuff -- but there are a few caveats to consider. (Rick Broida/Yahoo)
“WHERE. ARE. MY. KEYS?!” Few phrases are shouted with more urgency — or frequency. Losing stuff is a universal frustration: keys, wallets, bags, luggage, even those cult-favorite Stanley tumblers (you know the ones). One minute you're ready to head out the door, the next you're tearing apart the couch cushions and questioning every life choice. Fortunately, technology has our backs: Bluetooth trackers are tiny, battery-powered lifesavers that attach to your belongings and connect to your phone. With just a tap, you can make one ring if it’s nearby — and if it’s not (say, hitching a ride in an Uber), many models tap into a crowd-sourced network to help track it down. It's like giving your stuff a digital leash — and your sanity a much-needed break.
More good news: Trackers are cheap, with prices starting as low as $13 — and you can often get discounts if you buy multiples. Apple AirTags, for example, sell for $29 individually but $99 in a pack of four (and sometimes as little as $75). It's a small price to pay for a pretty huge convenience, to say nothing of peace of mind.
So which tracker should you buy? I tested offerings from Apple, Chipolo, Eufy, Holomarq, Nomad, Pebblebee, SwitchBot and Tile. (Samsung makes one as well, but it works only with Galaxy phones, and the company declined to provide a unit for testing.) At first blush, they all seem fairly similar, so you could be forgiven for feeling a little, well, lost.
Have no fear: I'll help you zero in on the trackers that are easiest to use and most effective at finding lost stuff. (You might be surprised to learn which ones fared best.) Just bear in mind that these gizmos have their limitations; they're all based on short-range Bluetooth radios, meaning they're dependent on the proximity of other devices. (There's no GPS or cellular technology here to assist, at least on the tracker side.) Be sure to keep reading after the reviews to learn more about range, privacy, my testing process and the differences between trackers for Android and iPhone.
Update, September 23, 2025: All product prices are up-to-date, but we could see bigger price drops during October Prime Day, which runs Tuesday, Oct. 7 through Wednesday, Oct. 8. Our top Bluetooth tracker picks remain unchanged. However, we are in the process of evaluating new products — including the rechargeable Chipolo Loop, UGreen FineTrack and KeySmart Wallet Card — and performing more in-depth testing. We're also keeping our eyes peeled for the rumored AirTags 2 and testing out the Pebblebee Clip's new "Alert" feature.
Battery: Replaceable CR2032 | Rated battery life: 1 year | Apple Find My: Yes | Android Find My Device: No | 2-way tracking: No | Scan-if-found QR code: No
Despite being one of the smallest trackers in the group, Apple's AirTag leverages an iPhone like no other. That's because it supports ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless technology on top of Bluetooth: When your phone is within range, you don't have to rely on just beeps (which might be muffled or drowned out by other noise); an onscreen compass arrow points you in the right direction, in real time.
That definitely gives it a big leg up on competing trackers that use Apple's Find My network; UWB is exclusive to AirTags.
However, Apple doesn't supply any kind of clip or case, meaning if you want to attach your AirTag to anything (a keychain, for example), you'll need to buy an accessory. That's annoying, as it limits what you can do right out of the box.
I was also hoping for better results from the "left behind" feature, but I've found this to be poorly implemented across all devices with Find My technology baked in. Notifications appear on my phone only after I've traveled anywhere from half a mile to 2 miles away (which is utterly useless), and there's no way to adjust notification distance.
Even so, with AirTags now regularly discounted from their $29 list price (and even better deals available on 4-packs), they're my top pick for iPhone users. (Fingers crossed, however, for two-way tracking to make it into the long-overdue AirTag 2.)
Battery: Replaceable CR2032 | Rated battery life: 1 year | Apple Find My: Yes | Android Find My Device: No | 2-way tracking: Yes | Scan-if-found QR code: Yes
Goofy name notwithstanding, the SmartTrack Link is one of the best trackers you can buy right now and a bargain to boot. Like an Apple AirTag, it can leverage the Find My network for global search and recovery. And like a Tile, it can make your phone ring with a simple double-press.
SwitchBot's Wallet Finder Card is currently the only other tracker with this enviable "dual citizenship," but it's not keychain-friendly. This one definitely is. Plus, it has a replaceable battery, so you don't have to recycle it after a few years.
The Link also works with Eufy's Android app, contrary to the somewhat confusing "Android not supported" messaging on the product page. But it's not compatible with Google's Find My Device network, so Android owners may prefer to choose a Chipolo or Pebblebee tracker that is.
I like that Eufy includes a "Protected by Eufy" window sticker in the box, even though the Link has nothing to do with home security. (Lots of other Eufy products do.) But I wish the company had embossed a larger scan-if-found QR code (and accompanying text) on the backside. My phone's camera had difficulty reading the former; my eyes, the latter.
Still, for just $20, this makes an excellent, affordable addition to any keychain.
Battery: Non-replaceable | Rated lifespan: 3 years | Apple Find My: Yes | Android Find My Device: No | 2-way tracking: Yes | Scan-if-found QR code: Yes
SwitchBot's first entry into the tracker game is an impressive one. The Wallet Finder Card leverages not only Apple's powerful Find My network, but also SwitchBot's app. That enables two-way tracking: With a double-press of a button, you can make your phone ring — great for when it goes missing around the house.
This works on Android, too, but you don't get the benefits of a global network (either Apple's or Google's). Instead, you get only "local" tracking via the SwitchBot app.
The card measures just 2.5mm thick, about the same as three credit cards. Though obviously designed for wallet use, it also comes with a wrist strap, which could be used to loop it to something like a purse or backpack. SwitchBot promises up to three years of operation from the non-replaceable battery.
When it expires, you'll have to recycle the Wallet Finder Card and buy a new one. Thankfully, it's only $25, and often on sale for less.
Battery: Rechargeable | Rated time between charges: 1 year | Apple Find My: Yes | Android Find My Device: Yes | 2-way tracking: No | Scan-if-found QR code: No
The Pebblebee Clip swings both ways: You can pair it with an Android phone or an iPhone and it'll leverage the corresponding global tracking network.
That gives it a big leg up over Chipolo's similar-looking keychain tracker, the One Point, which is Android-only. The Clip also includes bright flashing LEDs embedded along the sides, making this by far the easiest tracker to spot using your eyes alone.
The icing on the cake: a rechargeable battery that's good for up to one year on a charge, according to Pebblebee. And because it has a USB-C port, there's no need to worry about a proprietary charging cable going missing.
To be fair, Chipolo's tracker is a bit louder and a bit less expensive, though only by a few decibels and dollars, respectively. Alas, neither one includes a scan-if-found QR code on the back.
That means your only option for recovering a lost Clip out in the wild is if it's detected by Apple's or Google's network. And that can be hit or miss.
Battery: Rechargeable | Rated time between charges: 8 months | Apple Find My: Yes | Android Find My Device: Yes | 2-way tracking: No | Scan-if-found QR code: No
The Tag is one of three models in Pebblebee's Universal lineup, and it has only one rival in the "stick-on" category: the Tile Sticker. Although the latter offers the added benefit of two-way tracking, I think the Tag is the smarter buy. Here's why.
At this writing, Pebblebee makes the only trackers that can work with both Android's Find My Device network and Apple's Find My network. (The only catch is you must assign it to one or the other; it can't be active on both simultaneously.)
Furthermore, the Tag can live in more places than the Tile. In addition to a peel-and-stick adhesive square for attaching it to, say, a TV remote, Pebblebee supplies a silicone case with loops on either end, suitable for affixing to something like a dog collar or backpack strap.
The Tag also incorporates a small LED that flashes when the tracker is activated. It's not super bright, and obviously the Tag must be visible for you to see it, but it's still one more tool in the "find the missing item" arsenal. I wish more trackers had LEDs.
Finally, the Tag has a rechargeable battery. It does require Pebblebee's proprietary charging cable, something that's easily misplaced in the roughly eight months between charges, but it's arguably better than having to keep a supply of CR2032 replacement batteries.
I do wish Pebblebee had emblazoned a "scan if found" QR code; I also wish the Tag was priced a little lower. But with the multi-network compatibility, embedded LED and rechargeable battery, a slight premium is to be expected.
Battery: Replaceable CR2032 | Rated battery life: 1 year | Apple Find My: No | Android Find My Device: No | 2-way tracking: Yes | Scan-if-found QR code: Yes
Now part of Life360, a location-sharing and family-safety service, Tile trackers are the top choice for families wishing to locate not only their items, but also each other. And while the Tile Pro is the flagship in the lineup, that recommendation extends to the Mate, Slim and Sticker as well.
Equally well-suited to Android and iPhone users, Tiles have long offered one of my favorite features: two-way tracking. Find a Tile from your phone, find your phone from a Tile.
The downside to this is Tile's comparatively limited community network, which has nowhere near the coverage of Apple's or Google's. If you drop, say, your car keys, the only way to find them is if a fellow Tile user comes within Bluetooth range. (Option B: Someone picks up the keys and scans the Tile's scan-if-found QR code.)
The Pro comes within a decibel of the loudest tracker I tested (using the default "Bionic Birdie" ringtone; there are 10 total to choose from). But if you want smart alerts, like when you leave something behind, you'll need one of Tile's Premium plans, which start at $3/monthly. That also nets you 30 days' worth of location history; you get only one day without a subscription.
On paper, I love the free SOS Alert feature, which enables you to discreetly notify anyone in your "Life360 Circle" (i.e. friends and/or family) if something is amiss. To use it, you need the Life360 app (as does anyone else in your circle), which effectively takes over for the Tile app (even though the latter is what you're directed to install during setup). That's not a huge deal; what bugs me is that enabling SOS Alert disables the find-my-phone feature. It's one or the other; you can't have both.
Here's hoping Tile can remedy that at some point, while also adding support for the Apple and/or Google Find My networks.
Battery: Replaceable CR2032 | Rated battery life: 1 year | Apple Find My: No | Android Find My Device: Yes | 2-way tracking: No | Scan-if-found QR code: No
Most trackers are pretty easy to set up, but few are this easy: Just bring the Chipolo One Point close to your Android phone, press once, and presto — it's instantly added to the Find My Device app. Doesn't get much simpler.
Just make sure you buy the One Point and not the One Spot; the latter is identical save for compatibility with Apple's network, not Google's.
Indeed, Chipolo's branding can be a little confusing; there's also the Card Point and Card Spot, wallet-sized trackers for Android and iPhone, respectively. I struggled to remember which series — Point or Spot — was for which platform.
Beyond that, this is a basic, no-frills tracker, one of the first to offer compatibility with Google's nascent Find My Device network. It's notable primarily for price: $28 regularly, often discounted to around $22.
For such tiny devices, Bluetooth trackers are a little complicated. Not in operation — they're blessedly simple in that respect — but in what you need to consider before choosing one.
Battery life: A tracker might last anywhere from five months to three years depending on the size and type of battery it is. Obviously longer is better, but there are trade-offs. Which brings us to...
Battery type: Some trackers have replaceable CR2032 coin batteries (usually good for about a year), some have rechargeable ones and some are "disposable" (meaning the battery can't be replaced or recharged). Rechargeable is arguably the best way to go, though keep in mind that within a year or two, it'll start to lose capacity, meaning you'll get less time between charges.
Bluetooth range: Many trackers promise "local" range of hundreds of feet, but that's under optimal "line of sight" conditions. Walls, furniture and other barriers can greatly reduce Bluetooth range.
"Hot/cold" capabilities: It's one thing to know that a tracker is nearby, but if you can't hear it beep, what then? Apple AirTags incorporate ultra-wideband (UWB) to give you a visual indication — basically a compass arrow on your iPhone screen — so you can navigate to the precise spot. Google's Find My Devices app (see screenshots, above) offers something similar for compatible trackers: a "hot/cold" distance indicator that's based on Bluetooth signal strength.
Left-behind notifications: Are you constantly leaving the house without, say, your wallet? Or stepping out of Ubers without your purse? Some trackers can notify you (on your phone) when they get "left behind," which could prove extremely helpful. However, this feature doesn't always work well; see "How we tested," below.
Loudness: Beeping is the primary way trackers make their whereabouts known (and that happens only when they're in range). Some are louder than others; the weakest in the group put out just 71 decibels, while the loudest hit 96.
Scan-if-found QR code: Trackers are designed to help you find them, but what happens if someone else finds your tracker? How can they hope to return, say, your keys or wallet without any contact information? Thankfully, many trackers have QR codes etched into the backside, along with the words "scan if found". Assuming the finder knows how to do that, scanning the code will open up a browser page containing whatever contact information (name, phone number, e-mail address, etc.) you've preconfigured in the tracker app.
Worldwide tracking: How can you find a tracker that's beyond Bluetooth range? By leveraging every other Android phone or iPhone on the planet. That's the promise of Google's Find My Device network and Apple's Find My network, respectively. They're far from 100% reliable, and there are minor privacy aspects to understand as well. But they're your best chance at recovering your lost thing, and therefore well worth using.
It's challenging to test trackers because there are so many variables that can affect performance: distance, obstacles, Bluetooth radio design and so on. That said, I'm happy to report that all of them worked more or less as advertised, though you do need to keep your expectations in check (see the FAQ section, below). You may also need to move around a bit while trying to catch a tracker's signal; sometimes just a few feet can make the difference.
For these tests I used a Google Pixel 9 Pro and an iPhone 13, mostly in and around my two-story house.
First up: tracker volume. Needless to say, the louder a tracker can squawk, the better your chances of finding it. I tested this by placing each one beside an iPad Mini running a decibel-monitoring app called dB Meter. I activated them in turn and noted the "max" decibel. Most measured in the 80s; a few squeaked into the 90s.
Note, however, that this doesn't take pitch into account; some trackers produce high, bird-like chirps while others seem more, well, full-throated. The Apple AirTag and Chipolo One Spot are perfect examples, respectively: although the latter measured only six decibels louder than the former, there's a dramatic difference when you hear the two from a couple rooms away. Chipolo's tracker is much easier to hear.
Most trackers claim anywhere from 200-500 feet — but that's under the most optimal conditions: a direct line of sight between phone and tracker, zero obstacles or interference in the way, etc. These conditions rarely exist in the real world; any tracker that's stowed inside a purse, wallet or suitcase or buried beneath a couch cushion has already defeated "optimal," to say nothing of the presence of walls, other people and so on.
Indeed, I'd peg real-world tracker range at around 40-50 feet. That's based on several years of personal experience with these things and an informal test I performed at home: I parked each tracker at one corner, then positioned myself at the opposite corner (same floor) with an almost direct line of sight. (No walls or doors in the way, just a protruding corner.) A tape measure marked this at around 50 feet on the dot.
Then I attempted to connect to each tracker and make it beep. I'm happy to report that 14 out of the 16 passed this test, and the two that didn't — the Holomarq HoloTag and Nomad Tracker Card — just needed a little more proximity: They both beeped when I closed the gap to 40 feet.
Apple's Find My network and Google's Find My Devices network operate on the same basic principle: When a tracker is out of range of your own phone, it can still connect to other nearby phones that are part of the corresponding network. Those phones then relay the tracker's location back to you, updating its position on the map in the app. (Find out more in the FAQ section, below.)
Needless to say, this is much harder to test. For obvious reasons, we can't drop, say, a tracker-filled backpack in a public place and walk away, then wait to see how long it takes to get location notifications. However, we're in the process of developing a testing regimen and will update our story with the results in the coming months.
Wouldn't it be handy to get alerted if you left the house without your keys or wallet? Google's Find My Device app doesn't offer that capability, at least for the moment. Tile trackers can do it via "Smart Alerts," but that feature requires a subscription.
That leaves Apple's Notify When Left Behind feature, which works with any Find My-compatible tracker and is exactly what it sounds like: You'll get a notification on your phone when the invisible leash has been severed. At least, that's the idea.
The reality is it doesn't work very well. In my tests, notifications arrived far too late to be useful. It's not clear whether they're triggered by the amount of time a tracker is out of range of your phone or the actual distance, but in nearly every instance, too much of both had elapsed.
For example, when I intentionally left the trackers at my home and drove off in my car, it would typically take 5 to 10 minutes — or up to 2 miles — before I'd get a notification. That's not helpful. Similarly, when I went out to walk the dog, there wasn't a single tracker peep until I'd reached the far side of the neighborhood. It would be nice if Apple gave you some control — any control — over the parameters, but no such luck.
Curiously, my AirPods Pro also integrate with the Find My feature, and I get notifications much sooner when I leave the house without them. I reached out to Apple for clarification on this, but never received a response. Anecdotally, I've heard from other users who experience similar delays in receiving left-behind notifications. We're coming up on AirTags' four-year anniversary; Apple is long overdue to update and improve Notify When Left Behind.
Chipolo One Spot: A fairly basic Find My-compatible tracker in most respects, the Chipolo One Spot earns the distinction of having the highest volume in the group. Not by a ton, but I found its robust musical tones much easier to hear than, say, the AirTag's delicate chirps. However, given that there's no companion app — it relies 100% on Apple Find My — it can't match the two-way tracking offered by Eufy's SmartTrack Link.
Holomarq Holotag T1: Holotags sell for just $13 apiece, but I've seen four-packs priced at an impossibly low $24. Find My-compatible trackers don't come any cheaper. And they're equipped with a decent instruction guide, large keyring hole and surprisingly loud speaker. The setup/pairing button is annoyingly stiff, however, and in my tests there were consistency issues: At times my iPhone simply wouldn't connect to the tracker. Other times it worked fine.
Onn Item Locator: Walmart's house-brand tech can be hit or miss; this one's a miss. Though it's keychain-friendly and a bargain at just $15, the two units I tested were both defective. And if you look at the user reviews, you'll see that a lot of other buyers ran into issues as well. There does appear to be a newer version available, but we haven't had the chance to test it just yet.
Nomad Tracking Card: The priciest, thinnest wallet card here is also surprisingly durable thanks to its polycarbonate shell. It's also the only tracker to support wireless charging via a MagSafe or Qi charging pad. But it has below-average battery life (just five months on a charge) and didn't do well in our range or loudness tests. Plus, Nomad failed to included any instructions whatsoever — not even so much as a QR code to scan for an online manual.
Setup typically takes no more than a minute or two; all you do is activate the tracker (usually by pressing a button), then wait for your phone to detect it. As for using it, that can get a little more complicated — especially if there's a second app involved, as with Eufy and SwitchBot. That means more setup steps (usually including creating yet another account) and some potential confusion knowing what to use when: the native app or Apple Find My app. But once everything is configured properly, it's all pretty easy.
If you know the lost item is nearby, try turning slowly in a circle while holding your phone. Bluetooth signals are easy to block; your body might actually be in the way.
Fair-to-middling. It's important to remember that because trackers rely almost entirely on short-range wireless technology (namely Bluetooth), they can be detected only when you or someone else gets close enough to catch a signal. That's great for, say, a suitcase in a crowded baggage-claim area, but less effective for a purse you left in a department-store changing room. Even so, I'd rather have a semi-reliable tracker than no tracker at all. They're definitely better than nothing and very affordable to boot.
These aren’t GPS-equipped devices, so don't expect pinpoint accuracy. Even within the confines of a house, your phone might not always be able to detect a tracker and make it beep. That's because Bluetooth is the primary wireless technology employed here, and it has fairly limited range.
Depending on the age and type of Bluetooth radio, it could by anywhere from 30-500 feet. But walls, doors, floors and other obstacles can greatly reduce that range, as can electromagnetic interference. A purse or bag left in your car, for example, might not be trackable (or audible) from inside the house. Therefore, each tracker's rated range needs to be taken with a big grain of salt.
You've probably heard stories of Apple AirTag users locating lost luggage, stolen bicycles, even runaway dogs. How is that possible given Bluetooth's range limitations? Simple: AirTags also rely on Apple's Find My network, and that network is powered by nearly every iPhone user — over a billion of them worldwide. In other words, if I'm home in Detroit and my AirTag-equipped suitcase is in Nashville, I might be able to pinpoint its location if there's another iPhone user standing close to it (and those odds are pretty good).
Google now has a similar network that leverages a similarly massive global population of Android phone users.
No, but they no longer need to: In 2024, Google rolled out a similar global network, Find My Devices. At this writing, only a few trackers are compatible with it, namely those from Chipolo and Pebblebee.
Oh, come on, there are privacy concerns with all connected technology! But both networks will alert you of "unknown trackers" in your immediate area and let you stop sharing your location if you have concerns. Personally, I think the benefits far outweigh the risks.
It's a good thought: Toss a tracker in the glove box and you won't need to remember where you parked. If it's an AirTag, you could even share the tracker's location with police, should your car drive off without you in it. (That new sharing feature is ostensibly to help airlines locate your lost luggage, but it could be used for law enforcement as well.) Just remember the same "unknown tracker" feature noted above will tip off a potential thief that there's a nearby tracker.
Actually, both are better than a non-replaceable battery, which means your tracker will end up in electronics heaven (aka a landfill) after it runs out of juice. Although a lot of "disposable" trackers promise up to three years of life, it's still the least desirable option of the three. A replaceable battery (usually a CR2032 coin cell) will likely last only about a year, but at least it can be replaced and you can continue to use the tracker. A rechargeable battery will likely lose capacity over time, but would hopefully remain viable for longer than three years.
Yes! The Apple Watch has an excellent Find My iPhone capability, and many other smartwatches offer a similar feature. And if you're specifically interested in trackers that can also help you find your misplaced phone, I did a little offshoot roundup of the best two-way trackers.