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Most people think of AirTags when they picture a Bluetooth tracker. And indeed, Apple’s little white discs used to be the most capable option, relying on a vast finding network of nearby iPhones to pinpoint lost tags. But now, both Google and Samsung have implemented finding networks of their own. And other Bluetooth tracker companies, like Chipolo and Pebblebee, now have trackers that pair with either Google or Apple’s network too. In short, you’ve got a lot of options for tagging and tracking your keys, backpacks, luggage and more. So we tested all the major brands out there to see how they work and put together a guide to help you get the most out of your chosen tracker. Here are the best Bluetooth trackers you can buy.
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Best Bluetooth trackers for 2025
Amy Skorheim for Engadget Best Bluetooth tracker overall Chipolo Pop Format: Disc with hole | Compatibility: Android and iPhone | Water resistance: IP55 (splash and dust resistant) | Battery life: 1 year | Replaceable battery: Yes | Distance for left-behind alerts: 450 ft. | Phone finder function: Yes, via Chipolo app Chipolo’s previous fob, the Chipolo ONE, was our top pick for a couple years. The release of Samsung’s latest tag, new Tile trackers and other tags compatible with Google’s finding network didn’t manage to nudge it from its throne. The Chipolo Pop came out in early 2025 and it not only retains all the features we loved about the original tracker, but it also solved our one complaint about the previous model: Chipolo’s limited finding network. The Pop tracker taps into either Google’s Find Hub or Apple’s Find My network, calling on every nearby Android or iPhone, respectively, to anonymously ping a lost tracker for accurate finding. Not only does it have some considerable lost-in-the wild chops, it’s also louder than an AirTag, can make your phone ring, has 12 different ring tones, comes in cute colors and, notably, has a dang hole unlike Apple’s slippery, accessory-requiring pebble. It only works with one network at a time, but it’s easy to remove a device that’s connected to, say, an iPhone and then pair it up with a Galaxy handset. Setup was dead simple and fast. For both the iOS and Android tests, just bringing the Pop close to the phone triggered a prompt to pair it. Chipolo’s tag is no longer the loudest tracker we tested (Pebblebee’s Clip Universal holds that honor), but you won’t struggle to hear it — and it has 12 optional ringtones, including three that are holiday-themed. Neither Apple AirTags nor third-party trackers working with Google’s Find Hub will let you ring your phone by squeezing the fob, but Chipolo Pop will. You’ll have to install the Chipolo app and give it permission to run in the background (doing so didn’t drastically drain either my iPhone or Android phone battery). The feature worked reliably in my tests and was highly appreciated, as my keys tend to stay put when I’m home, but my iPhone likes to roam around the house like a bored housecat. iPhone users who walk away from an item tagged with the Find My network will get an alert before they get too far away (usually a couple blocks), but Google’s finding network has no similar ability. The Chipolo app enables left-behind (separation) alerts when using an Android phone. In my tests I got about 400 feet away from my stuff before getting a notification I’d forgotten something. That’s actually faster than AirTags’ notification and far quicker than Tile’s. Alerts were consistent whether I was forgetting an item at home, at a coffee shop or inside my car. As far as losing stuff out in the wild, the Pop paired with Apple’s Find My network possesses the same spooky accuracy as an AirTag. In my iPhone test, I had a friend hide the tag about four blocks away from me next to a relatively busy coffee shop. Once they told me the tag had been stashed, I went to the Find My app to turn on the lost item feature — but no need, the finding network had already located it. I tapped to follow directions in Apple Maps and was taken within about two feet from the bush where it was hidden. Like my AirTags tests, I was both impressed with and slightly unnerved by the accuracy. The finding skills that rely on the Android network were also impressive. Once the Pop was hidden, I marked it as lost and got a ping that it had been spotted about six minutes later. Again, the directions led me close enough to ring the tracker that I could find it. Most people won’t need to rely on the finding network on a regular basis, which is why it’s important that Chipolo’s everyday locating abilities work well, too. Tapping the Play Sound function on either an Android or iPhone made the tag chirp almost instantly, and it was able to connect to nearby tags from further away than models from other brands. Pros Louder than an AirTag
Uses either or Apple or Google's finding networks
Chipolo app adds useful features
Colorful disc with a hole
Enables left-behind alerts for Android phones Cons Same price as an AirTag $29 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $29 at Chipolo
Photo by Valentina Palladino / Engadget Best tracker for iPhones Apple AirTag Format: Smooth disc | Compatibility: iPhone | Water resistance: IP67 (water and dust-resistant) | Battery life: 1 year | Replaceable battery: Yes | Distance for left-behind alerts: 1,200 ft | Phone finder function: No AirTags work with iOS' Find My app and are registered to your Apple ID, so they don’t require any additional downloads. If you’ve used the Find My app before, you’ll likely understand how this works. These are the quietest of the trackers we tested and each time you press the Play Sound button, the tags only ring for seven seconds. You’ll need to keep pressing if you don’t find your item right away and AirTags can’t be used to ring your phone. As for separation alerts, AirTags were consistent, always delivering a “left behind” alert when I traveled about 1,200 feet away, or about three square blocks, without an item. You can turn off separation alerts for any given tracker, as well as designate certain locations, such as your home or workplace, as exceptions for the notifications. One feature that AirTags have that no other tag offers is the ability to tap into the ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless protocol. This allows you to play a fun game of hot and cold with an item when it’s within about 25 feet of your iPhone. Directional arrows and a diminishing distance meter on your iPhone’s screen point you to an item without having to ring it. This worked reliably about 75 percent of the time in my tests; sometimes it was just easier to ring the item when the directional finding couldn’t keep a lock on the tracker. UWB is supported by iPhone models 11 and later and while newer Galaxy and Pixel phones also support UWB, no Android-compatible tracker has yet been released. In 2021, Tile announced one that would, but has since missed its promised release window of “early 2022.” AirTag’s ability to locate a lost item out in the city is almost eerie. I had someone (who was not carrying an iPhone) take my bike with a tracker hidden under the seat to a location a little over a half mile away. I set out a few minutes later and toggled on Notify When Found in the Find My app. Within three minutes, I received a notification that the bike had been “seen” near an address. Tapping on Directions navigates to Apple Maps, which took me to a spot about 30 feet from the bike. Had it been obscured from view, I could have then used the Find Nearby button to activate the UWB locating features. Ringing the tag was too quiet to hear on the sidewalk. Both the Chipolo Pop and the Pebblebee Clip Universal will work with Apple’s Find My network, giving you the same eerily accurate finding capabilities. The Pop goes for the same $29 as the AirTag and the Clip Universal goes for $35, but the former is rechargeable and adds lights to the mix. Both have built-in holes for easier attachment and both ring louder than the AirTags. That said, AirTags are still the gold standard for iPhone users and remain our top pick for iOS devotees. Pros Vast finding network
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