The Best Bluetooth Trackers for 2024

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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 make sure 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 a decade ago. Our Editors' Choice is the Apple AirTag for its unbeatable precision, though everyone 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.

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 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 and Motorola's Moto Tag also use UWB technology.

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, but not with the products it released this year. 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 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 will 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 peoples’ 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 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.

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.