Life
Bluetooth

The 5 best Bluetooth trackers for travel and lost luggage

Keys, wallet, phone, suitcase? These Bluetooth trackers ensure you’ll never lose your luggage again.
By Timothy Beck Werth  on 
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

Our Top 5 Picks

Apple AirTag (opens in a new tab)

Best for iPhone users

Apple AirTags are easily the best Bluetooth trackers for travel with the most accurate GPS tracking.

The Good

  • Best location tracking thanks to Find My app
  • Affordable
  • Easy integration with iPhone
  • No additional app needed

The Bad

  • Need separate keytag
  • Quiet chime
  • Limited item-finding range
Pros & Cons

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag (opens in a new tab)

Best for Samsung Galaxy users

Samsung Galaxy SmartTags should be the GPS tracker of choice for Galaxy users who want to find lost items.

The Good

  • Affordable
  • Easily find lost items
  • Great for Galaxy devices
  • Find items offline with SmartThings Find

The Bad

  • Not ideal for iPhone users
Pros & Cons

Tile Pro (opens in a new tab)

Best AirTag alternative

The Tile Pro has a strong range and can help keep track of luggage while traveling.

The Good

  • Solid location tracking
  • Long range
  • Excellent as item finder
  • Leverages the Tile Network to find lost items

The Bad

  • Must pay for some features
Pros & Cons

Chipolo Spot Bundle (opens in a new tab)

Best for tracking wallet and keys

Chipolo works best as an item finder; however, Chipolo products compatible with the Apple Find My app are also a great option for luggage tracking.

The Good

  • Works with Apple Find My app for location tracking
  • Loud chime
  • Super thin

The Bad

  • Find My location features are not available for Android
Pros & Cons

Tile Mate (opens in a new tab)

Best for item reimbursement

For those on a budget, these ultra-thin Bluetooth trackers offer reimbursement if you aren't able to recover your lost items.

The Good

  • Thinnest Bluetooth tracker
  • Accurate location data
  • Water resistant
  • Extra-long battery life

The Bad

  • Must download Tile app
  • Must pay for some premium features
Pros & Cons

After careful hands-on testing, we feature our favorite gear and gadgets as Mashable Selects products in our dedicated shopping guides.


Virtually everyone has a smartphone in their pockets that doubles as a high-tech camera, audio player, and GPS tracker, and on a daily basis, we might use laptops, tablets, wireless headphones, and tons more devices. Even when we travel, we’re likely to bring along an assortment of devices that would have seemed like alien technology to someone born just 100 years ago.

Unfortunately, carrying all that tech also comes with certain risks, especially when traveling. You have to protect your devices from thieves, airline incompetence, and everyday forgetfulness. (Has anyone else left their laptop at airport security? Just me?) The best Bluetooth trackers for travel give you an extra layer of protection, and they make sure you always know where your valuables are located.

That’s why more and more travelers are slipping Bluetooth trackers into their luggage. GPS Bluetooth trackers can be used as item finders to track specific items like keys or wallets, but you can also pack them in your suitcase to protect against worst-case scenarios.

Just look at what happened to this woman(opens in a new tab), who used Bluetooth trackers to locate her luggage when her airline couldn’t.

In this case, a $29 Apple AirTag(opens in a new tab) helped her recover her lost bag. For reasons we’ll get into, that might not have been possible with some AirTag alternatives, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good use cases for Tile Trackers or Samsung SmartTags, too.

Are Bluetooth trackers safe/secure?

Bluetooth trackers are generally safe and secure, with some important caveats. The best Bluetooth trackers are so reliable and accurate that some nervous parents have started tying them into their toddler’s shoelaces, letting them track their kiddos 24/7. Unfortunately, it’s precisely because these devices are so accurate that they can also be used against you. 

There have been reports of stalkers and harassers using Bluetooth trackers like AirTags to track an unknowing victim. It should go without saying that you should only use these devices to track your own belongings, not another person or their possessions. (You aren’t a total creep, right?) Currently, only Apple has built-in safeguards to notify users if they’re being tracked by an unknown AirTags device, so if privacy is a major concern, then consider sticking with AirTags and Apple devices.

If you’re worried about your privacy when using Bluetooth trackers, then we have good news and bad news. The good news is that using Bluetooth trackers doesn’t put you at much greater risk than you already face. That’s because to use these devices, you’ll need a smartphone, and most smartphones (and the apps running on them) are already tracking your location and storing your data. Unfortunately, giving up some basic privacy is the devil’s bargain we all make for so much digital convenience.

We do recommend keeping your account secure when using Bluetooth trackers. Use common sense precautions such as opting into two-factor authentication and selecting a strong password whenever possible.

Are AirTags and Bluetooth trackers good for travel? 

Bluetooth trackers can be extremely helpful in locating your luggage while traveling. As mentioned above, Apple AirTags have already helped travelers track and recover lost luggage. Not only can Bluetooth GPS trackers help you keep track of your luggage, but you can also use these trackers to monitor individual items such as keys, wallets, carry-on luggage, and specific gadgets. 

Keep in mind that not all Bluetooth item finders are ideal for travel. You’ll want to make sure that your tracker can identify its location even if it's out of range of your smartphone and offline. In addition, you’ll want to plan ahead to make sure you have time to set up your tracker, as some of these products require you to create an account and/or download an app. 

With all this in mind, we tested the best Bluetooth trackers for travel from brands such as Apple(opens in a new tab) and Tile. All of these devices are relatively affordable (especially compared to the cost of replacing lost items) and easy to use for anyone with basic digital literacy.

Instead of risking a travel nightmare, invest in one of these GPS Bluetooth trackers instead. The next time you head to the airport, you’ll have one less thing to worry about.

Best for iPhone users
Credit: Timothy Beck Werth
Specs
  • Dimensions: 1.6 x 1.6 x 0.31 inches
  • Weight: 0.39 ounces
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
  • Water resistance rating: IP67 water resistant

If you’re an Apple loyalist, then you may already be familiar with Apple’s famous AirTags(opens in a new tab). These affordable Bluetooth trackers have a couple of minor drawbacks (we’ll get to those), but if you’re looking for the best Bluetooth tracker for travel, we highly recommend an AirTag.

Apple AirTags have one major advantage over the competition. Normally, when a Bluetooth tracker is out of range of a compatible device, the location data won’t be available. That poses obvious problems if thieves steal your backpack or a budget airline accidentally sends your bag to lost luggage purgatory. However, as long as your AirTag is within range of an Apple device enabled with the Find My feature, you can track the AirTag’s location. Essentially, AirTags leverage other Apple devices for more accurate location tracking, which is why they're well-known for accuracy.

For Apple and iPhone users, Apple AirTags are super easy to set up and connect to the Find My app (just make sure your device has the most recent software update installed). There are a couple of downsides: If you’re using AirTags as an item finder, they have a limited range, relatively quiet chime, and require additional accessories to attach to items like keys. However, if you’re worried about lost luggage and you have an iPhone, then Apple AirTags are the best Bluetooth trackers for travel, full stop.

Apple will also tell you if there’s an unidentified AirTag traveling with you, which can be handy if you’re concerned about privacy.

Best for Samsung Galaxy users
Credit: Samsung
Specs
  • Dimensions: 1.54 x 1.54 x 0.39 inches
  • Weight: 0.54 ounces
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
  • Water resistance rating: Not specified

Prefer Android to iOS? Currently, Samsung makes some of the most advanced smartphones in the world, and there are plenty of people who prefer the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem of products. If that’s you, then you’ll want to opt for the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag(opens in a new tab) over the AirTag. In most ways, these products are extremely similar, and they’ll both do an excellent job of tracking your belongings while you travel.

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag is also handy for tracking your everyday carry items like your keys or wallet, and unlike AirTags, they come with a built-in hole so you can easily attach them to your keys. Some of the best Bluetooth trackers, such as Chipolo or Tile devices, will also alert you if you leave home without your items. SmartTags don’t offer this feature, but it’s not essential while traveling (and the extra notifications can be annoying, to be honest).

Like Apple AirTags, Samsung Galaxy SmartTags leverage other Galaxy devices and SmartThings Find to help you track your items even if they’re offline.

Best AirTag alternative
Credit: Timothy Beck Werth
Specs
  • Dimensions: 2.32 x 1.32 x 0.3 inches
  • Weight: 0.5 ounces
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • Rating: IP67 water resistant

Tile trackers(opens in a new tab) are some of the most popular AirTag alternatives, and if you’re using them for item finding, then we actually recommend them over Apple AirTags. That’s because they can be used with both iOS and Android devices, come with a user-friendly app, and offer extremely detailed location tracking. Simply press a button on your phone, and a loud remote chime will instantly help you locate your lost items even from hundreds of feet away.

Just like the Apple Find My network or Samsung’s SmartThings Find, Tile trackers use the Tile Network to help recover lost items such as luggage. When a smartphone using the Tile app is within Bluetooth range of your lost tracker, you’ll be able to identify its location. This makes the Tile Pro another solid option for travelers. That being said, the Tile app isn’t as ubiquitous as iPhone or Galaxy smartphones, so location tracking will likely be less effective than with AirTags or SmartTags.

Finally, when you pay for Tile Premium, you can also qualify for item reimbursement if you are unable to recover a Tile-protected item.

Best for tracking wallet and keys
Credit: Chipolo
Specs
  • Dimensions: 3.35 x 2.11 x .09 inches
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • Water resistance rating: IPX5 water resistance

Chipolo(opens in a new tab) is emerging as a popular alternative to Apple AirTags, and if you’d prefer to buy a Bluetooth GPS tracker from someone other than Apple, then Chipolo can be a great option, especially for traveling. The company makes products that are compatible with both iOS and Android devices; however, if you want to use Chipolo products to track luggage (as opposed to simply using them as an item finder), then we recommend using Chipolo products compatible with the Find My app, such as the Chipolo ONE Spot and Chipolo CARD Spot. Because they use Apple’s Find My network, they’ll provide highly accurate location tracking

In our testing, Chipolo’s products are easy to use, easy to connect, and provide reliable tracking. The CARD Spot is super-thin, and both products in this bundle feature a solid range, long battery life, and loud chime. You’ll need to download the Chipolo app, but we found that it was easy to use and intuitive. The Chipolo app will also remind you if you leave something at home, a feature you have to pay for with Tile trackers.

Best for item reimbursement
Credit: Timothy Beck Werth
Specs
  • Dimensions: 1.5 x 1.5 x 0.28
  • Weight: 1.4 ounces
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • Water resistance rating: IP67 water resistant

There are a lot of reasons to love the Tile Mate(opens in a new tab), and in our testing, we found it to be a reliable GPS tracker that works equally well for iOS and Android. It’s also the thinnest Bluetooth tracker, which is ideal if you want to slip it into a wallet or don’t want to add too much bulk to your keys. The Tile Mate really excels as a Bluetooth item finder, and using the Tile app, you can easily find misplaced items around the house or as you go about your day.

Just like with the Tile Pro, when you opt into the paid Tile Premium subscription, you can get notifications when you leave an item behind. In addition, you can qualify for item reimbursement if you aren’t able to recover your lost items.

More in Bluetooth, Travel

How we tested

When you’re using Bluetooth GPS trackers like Apple AirTags to keep track of your luggage or valuables, you need to be able to rely on them absolutely. So before selecting the best Bluetooth trackers for testing, we tried out these products for ourselves. We checked to see how they performed as both everyday item finders and GPS trackers for long-distance travel.

When evaluating the best Bluetooth trackers, we first checked to see how easily they connect to your smartphone. Products like Chipolo and Tile require downloading an app and signing up for an account, and we wanted to make sure this process is straightforward and pain-free even for users that aren’t familiar with Bluetooth technology. To test location tracking, we used our smartphones to monitor how accurately each tracker recorded its location when it was out of range of our smartphone.

What factors did we consider when testing Bluetooth trackers?

The best Bluetooth trackers for travel will be able to provide location data even if your item is lost. Fortunately, all of the products featured here were able to provide some level of GPS tracking, although Apple’s Find My network performs the best in this regard.

In addition to location tracking, we also considered ease of connection, the quality of the app, the loudness of the chime, and overall range. In our testing, Apple AirTags have the quietest chime and shortest range, but they win out overall thanks to the strength of the Find My network and ease of pairing.


More from Mashable Selects
9 robot vacuum and mop hybrids that actually work

The best gaming headsets for consoles and PC: SteelSeries, Razer, and more of our top picks

Pizza ovens are a hot gift idea this year — these are the ones we tested and loved
By Jae Thomas with additional reporting from Mashable writers

16 of the best Squarespace templates for blogs, portfolios, stores, and beyond


Recommended For You
What is Auto-GPT and why are hustle bros hype for it?


Best VPN for staying anonymous and secure on the web


Dial in your spring vacay with these awesome travel essentials

Trending on Mashable

'Wordle' today: Here's the answer, hints for April 21

Dril and other Twitter power users begin campaign to 'Block the Blue' paid checkmarks

How to remove Snapchat's My AI from your Chat feed

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
By signing up to the Mashable newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from Mashable that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!