Best smart tags in 2024

All of us are prone to losing things. Whether it’s your precious smart wallet, keys, or luggage, it’s easy to misplace them when you are absent-minded or have too many things on your mind.

Thankfully, smart tags or Bluetooth trackers can help you keep track of your things and even help locate them when they go missing. But, like most other tech products, not all smart tags are made the same. So, to help, we have handpicked the best to get you started.

With its long range, good Bluetooth connectivity, and loud ringer, the Tile Pro is the best smart tag for most Android users until Google Find My Device network-backed smart trackers reach stores. It also works for iOS if anyone wants an AirTag alternative.

The Tile Pro is durable and comes in two colors, featuring a plastic and metal build. It’s also IP67-rated for dust and water resistance. Plus, you get a keyring hole. So you aren’t dependent on accessories to attach them to your keyring.

You’ll be happy to know it features a user-replaceable battery, which can last a year. So, unlike other Bluetooth trackers, it won’t become useless after just a few years.

In other highlights, Tile offers two subscription plans, including features like smart alerts, location history, replacement warranty, reimbursement for lost items, and more. The reimbursement is limited to $100 for the Premium plan and up to $1,000 for the Premium Protect.

If you aren’t a fan of subscription plans, you’ll like the Chipolo One. This tiny, circular Bluetooth tracker has a punch hole to clip to your keyring or pets. And similar to the Tile offerings, it uses Chipolo’s own network of connected devices to keep track of your precious items. But unlike Tile, all its features are available without a subscription.

The Chipolo One also offers a fantastic battery life. And its replaceable CR2032 battery can last up to two years. It also includes a nifty feature that can trigger your phone’s camera shutter when you squeeze it twice, essentially acting as a camera remote. The double squeeze can also be tied to ringing your phone when you misplace it. And you will be happy to know that it’s pretty loud.

You can also consider the company’s Chipolo One Spot (uses Apple’s Find My network) and the One Point (uses Google’s Find My). The latter is currently on pre-order and is set to start shipping in late May.

The AirTag is arguably the best Bluetooth tracker for people who are a part of the Apple ecosystem. This means this is the smart tracker to get if you use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Thanks to its U1 ultra-wideband chip, Bluetooth connectivity, and access to Apple’s Find My network, the AirTag can help track your misplaced items. The U1 chip is particularly helpful for precise locating. Moreover, Apple has also included several privacy-related options to ensure that AirTags are not misused.

Like the Tile Pro, it uses a replaceable coin battery that lasts one year. Unfortunately, as it has no keyring hole like the Tile offering, you’ll need an accessory to clip it to various objects.

Overall, the AirTag shines at what it does and is a no-brainer for Apple device owners.

If you are primarily looking for a Bluetooth tracker to keep in your wallet, the Tile Slim (2022) is an excellent option. It’s just 2.5mm thick, making it perfect for your wallet or any other tight space.

Like other Tile offerings, the Slim works with both Android and iOS devices and uses its own device network to track and locate your wallet. Unfortunately, because of the size constraints, the Tile Slim features a non-removable battery that will last up to three years. After which, the Slim becomes useless.

In other features, you get a claimed range of 76 meters, IP67 dust and water resistance, and a tiny speaker.

This second-generation smart tracker from Samsung works seamlessly with the company’s Galaxy devices and uses Bluetooth low energy and ultra-wideband tech to find your lost items. The latter, however, requires a UWB-capable phone, such as the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Its battery life is also great, and the included user-replaceable CR2032 battery can last up to 500 days in normal mode and up to 700 days in the power-saving mode. Plus, you get an impressive 120-meter range.

In terms of the build quality, while it’s mostly made of plastic, the ring-shaped cutout is reinforced with metal to increase the device’s durability.

Another exciting feature available with the SmartTag 2 is smart home automation. You can use the SmartTag button to trigger a smart home routine or control a device. Unfortunately, it relies on the company’s SmartThings device network for tracking, which isn’t very large. Plus, the built-in speaker isn’t the loudest.

Unlike Chipolo One, the Card Spot uses Apple’s Find My network to track and locate items. So, it’s best suited for the Apple ecosystem buyers and gives them access to the comprehensive Find My network. As the name suggests, it’s a tracker card, making it suitable for wallets. You can also use it with anything else that needs a slim tracker.

Unfortunately, like most similar products, it packs a non-replaceable battery that lasts two years. But you can get another tracker product from the company at a 50% discount two years after registering your original Chipolo Card Slot. Moreover, the company will also recycle your old tracker free of cost.

Other features include a speaker and an IPX5 rating for splash resistance. Lastly, if you are looking for something similar that works with Android, you can consider the original Chipolo Card, which has the same features but relies on the company’s own network.

Chipolo also offers a Google Find My Device-backed version of its card-style tracker, Chipolo Card Point. It’s currently on pre-order, and the first shipments are scheduled for late May.

Apart from its Pro and Slim Bluetooth trackers, Tile also offers the Mate, which is the cheapest of the three and shares many of the features with the Slim. For example, it has a 76-meter range, a non-replaceable battery that lasts three years, and IP67 dust and water resistance. But it has a square-shaped design with rounded edges and a ring-shaped cutout, making it ideal for keys, bags, pets, and more.

The Tile Mate also works with Android and iOS, and the built-in speaker can help you track down misplaced items. You can buy the Mate as a single unit or in two or four packs, which is typically cheaper than buying multiple single units. Moreover, the company offers Mate in several exciting colors and limited-edition variants.

With a $20 price tag, the Eufy SmartTrack Link is one of the cheapest smart tags on the market. But its aggressive pricing doesn’t mean it skimps on helpful features. It looks similar to the Tile Mate and the original Samsung SmartTag, but unlike both, it uses Apple’s Find My network. While it can technically work with Android devices, you lose the crucial worldwide tracking functionality.

So, if you own an Android smartphone, you will be better served with a Tile offering or the Samsung SmartTag 2. You can also wait for the Google Find My Device-backed version of the SmartTrack Link, which is set to arrive in June. Plus, Eufy will release a similar version of its SmartTrack Card wallet tracker.

The SmartTrack Link has most of what you get with the Apple AirTag, except with UWB technology. Plus, it packs a replaceable battery that can last up to a year.

Google Find My Device network-backed smart trackers are coming

Google’s much-awaited Find My Device network is now live, and the first smart tags using this vast network are set to start shipping in late May. While Chipolo is bringing the Chipolo One Point and Card Point trackers, Pebblebee is releasing the Google Find My Device-powered variants of its Card, Clip, and Tag smart trackers. Although the Pebblebee Card and Clip are similar to many other trackers, the Tag is a tiny tracker with a built-in replaceable battery, something that’s typically not included in other mini trackers. Depending on their performance, some of these trackers will likely earn a spot in our recommendations in the coming months. You can expect similar trackers from Eufy Security by Anker, Motorola, and others.

With the advent of the Google Find My Device network, Android users who have relied on Tile (and Samsung in the case of Galaxy owners) for their tracking needs will now have plenty of other options. With its access to billions of Android devices worldwide, this network holds immense potential and is poised to deliver exceptional tracking capabilities. This development is set to revitalize the smart tracker market, offering Android users a more robust and reliable tracking experience.

Google has also spent considerable time ensuring that its tag network respects privacy and is secure. Support for unknown tracker alerts is built in, which should help against stalking and other malicious use cases.

Top Bluetooth trackers to locate your misplaced items

There is a fair selection of smart tags or Bluetooth trackers on the market. But depending on which phone you use, not every tracker will be suitable for you. For example, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2 only works with Samsung phones. So you can’t use it with iOS or other Android phones. Similarly, the Apple AirTag is iOS-exclusive. But Tile and Chipolo have platform-agnostic offerings because they use their own device network to track your belongings.

We particularly like the Tile Pro. It works with Android and iOS, has a long-range, a replaceable battery, and an elegant design. Another great Bluetooth tracker from the company is the Tile Slim. Thanks to its thin design, it works well with wallets and offers most of what you get in other Tile smart tags.

You can also consider the Chipolo One to save a few bucks. It also works on both Android and iOS devices. And its ring-shaped cutout makes it easy to clip it to keys and other items.