Travelling with only carry-on luggage offers numerous advantages. It’s cost-effective, saves precious time, and significantly reduces the risk of lost belongings. In addition to essential travel items like luggage tags, luggage trackers are designed explicitly for checked bags. Connect the tracker to your smartphone, place it inside your suitcase, and tracking begins instantly. These versatile trackers can also be utilized for items commonly misplaced or lost, like keys, purses, or pet collars. With various options available, I’ve curated the five best luggage trackers guide currently on the market to suit every traveller’s needs.
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Apple AirTag
The Apple AirTag is the best overall luggage tracker, priced at $39 on Amazon, $27 at Walmart, and $29 at B&H Photo. Its compact and sleek design facilitates ease of use without being easily misplaced. Its most notable feature is its seamless integration with the Find My app, allowing real-time tracking by connecting to a global network of Find My users, which ensures you can locate your luggage virtually anywhere. However, it does require an iPhone or iPad for operation, making it ideal for users within the Apple ecosystem.
Apple’s AirTag is widely regarded as the best luggage tracker available. Its compact size, substantial enough to avoid being easily misplaced, and sleek design are trademarks of an Apple product. The standout feature of the AirTag is its seamless integration with the Find My app, exclusive to iPhones and iOS devices. This allows the AirTag to securely connect to a vast network of Find My users globally, providing up-to-the-minute updates on your luggage’s location. As the Find My network expands, the AirTag’s tracking capability will improve, ensuring you can locate your luggage virtually anywhere.
The AirTag features a one-year replaceable coin battery, adding to its convenience and longevity. Its compact 1.26 inches diameter makes it easy to slip into any bag or attach to various belongings. With a maximum Bluetooth range of 30 feet, it excels in nearby tracking and is ideal for quickly locating misplaced items within the range. This combination of features makes the AirTag a top choice for reliable, real-time monitoring within the Apple ecosystem.
The Apple AirTag sets itself apart with its advanced features and integration with the extensive Find My network, making it the best overall luggage tracker for iPhone users. Its ease of use, reliable performance, and global tracking capabilities make it a must-have accessory for anyone looking to keep their belongings safe and easily locatable. If you have an iPhone or iPad, the AirTag provides a seamless and efficient way to track your luggage, ensuring peace of mind during your travels.
Tile Pro
The Tile Pro is the best luggage tracker for Android and iPhone users, now available at 20% off for $28 at Amazon and Dell.com and $35 at Walmart. This versatile tracker is water-resistant and works seamlessly with the Tile App to show the last known location of your items. However, some reviewers have found real-time tracking to be occasionally unreliable. Despite this, its compatibility with iOS, Android, Alexa, and Google, combined with a 400-foot Bluetooth range and a one-year replaceable battery, makes it a practical choice for keeping track of your belongings.
The Tile Pro is a versatile luggage tracker compatible with Android and iPhone devices, rendering it a superb option for smartphone users. Download the Tile App to get started, which facilitates the tracking process. While the Tile App network is less expansive than Apple’s Find My network, it still provides valuable functionality by showing the tracker’s last known location. Additionally, the Tile Pro includes a unique QR code that, when scanned, allows others to help you reconnect with your lost item.
The Tile Pro features a one-year replaceable battery, ensuring long-lasting use without frequent replacements. Its 1.32″ x 2.32″ x 0.3″ dimensions make it compact and easy to attach to various belongings. The tracker boasts a maximum Bluetooth range of 400 feet, providing a substantial radius for locating your items. Its water-resistant design adds to its durability, making it suitable for various environments and weather conditions.
Despite some reviewers noting occasional unreliability in real-time tracking, the Tile Pro remains a solid choice due to its cross-platform compatibility and practical features. Whether an Android user or an iPhone enthusiast, the Tile Pro offers a reliable solution for keeping track of your belongings. Its adaptability, resilience, and intuitive characteristics make it a top luggage tracker contender.
SAMSUNG Galaxy SmartTag2
The SAMSUNG Galaxy SmartTag2, now 30% off at $21 on Amazon, is the best luggage tracker for Android users. Its design allows it to attach directly to a keychain, making it convenient for tracking keys, backpacks, and other items without needing additional accessories. While it offers a long battery life of over 500 days, the battery isn’t replaceable, so you’ll need to buy a new tracker once it depletes. Despite this, its ease of use and seamless integration with Android devices make it a top choice for keeping your belongings secure.
Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag2 offers a compelling tracking solution designed specifically for Android users. Unlike the Apple AirTag, which requires a separate keychain attachment, the SmartTag2 can be directly attached to a keyring, making it an ideal accessory for keys, backpacks, and other items. This design feature makes it exceptionally convenient to track your belongings without needing additional purchases.
The Galaxy SmartTag2 boasts an impressive battery life of over 500 days, ensuring long-term usability without frequent recharges. It measures 1.13 inches by 2.06 inches by 0.31 inches, making it compact and discreet. With a maximum Bluetooth range of nearly 394 feet, it provides a reliable tracking radius for nearby searches. However, a notable drawback is that the battery isn’t replaceable, meaning you’ll need to buy a new tracker once the battery depletes.
Despite this limitation, the Galaxy SmartTag2 remains a preferred option among Android users because of its seamless integration with Android devices and practical design. Its ability to attach directly to keychains and other items without additional accessories sets it apart, making it a highly convenient and efficient tracking option. The combination of long battery life, wide Bluetooth range, and easy attachment capability makes the Galaxy SmartTag2 an excellent choice for keeping your belongings secure.
eufy Security SmartTrack Link
The eufy Security SmartTrack Link, priced at $20 on Amazon, is the best budget luggage tracker for iOS users. It connects to the Find My App and a separate eufy Security App, allowing friends and family to track your items. Reviewers appreciate its loud tracking noise, which helps locate lost items quickly. Unfortunately, it lacks compatibility with Android devices.
The eufy Security SmartTrack Link is an excellent choice for those new to luggage trackers, offering affordability and reliability. This budget-friendly tracker is compatible with iOS devices and seamlessly connects to the Find My App and a separate eufy Security App. This dual-app connectivity allows users to share their tracker’s location with friends and family, enhancing its usability. Many reviewers also praise the tracker for its loud alert sound, making it easy to locate lost items, such as house keys, from another room.
The SmartTrack Link features a one-year replaceable battery, providing long-term use without frequent replacements. Its compact dimensions of 1.46″ x 1.46″ x 0.26″ make it easy to attach to various items without adding bulk. With a maximum Bluetooth range of 260 feet, it offers a substantial radius for tracking your belongings, ensuring you can quickly locate them within a reasonable distance.
While the eufy SmartTrack Link is incompatible with Android devices, it remains a top budget choice for Apple users. Its affordability, effective tracking capabilities, and user-friendly features make it a practical option for those looking to secure their belongings. Whether you’re tracking luggage, keys, or other personal items, the SmartTrack Link provides dependable performance at an accessible price point.
Tracki GPS Tracker
The Tracki GPS Tracker, currently priced at a discounted rate of $13 on both Amazon and Walmart, stands out as the top choice for international luggage tracking. Its key advantage lies in providing real-time updates irrespective of location, ensuring you can accurately track your luggage worldwide. However, this precision tracking comes with a subscription cost, starting at $9.95 per month for GPS services. Despite this subscription requirement, the Tracki GPS Tracker offers unparalleled reliability and peace of mind for travellers seeking comprehensive global tracking capabilities.
The Tracki GPS Tracker stands out as the best international luggage tracker due to its ability to provide real-time updates regardless of location. Unlike many other trackers that rely on networks of users, Tracki uses cellular data networks to transmit its location, ensuring you can pinpoint your luggage’s exact location as long as the tracker is powered and has a battery remaining. This feature is precious for international travellers who need reliable tracking across various regions.
However, the precision of the Tracki GPS Tracker comes at a cost. The tracker requires a monthly subscription service for GPS tracking, starting at $9.95. Additionally, the battery must be recharged frequently if the tracker is in constant use. It may require some planning and maintenance to remain functional throughout your travels. Despite these considerations, the subscription and battery maintenance investment can be worthwhile for the peace of mind provided by accurate, global tracking.
The Tracki GPS Tracker is compatible with iOS, Android, and most 4G LTE, 3G, and 2G cellular data networks, making it versatile and user-friendly for many travellers. Its compact dimensions of 1.75″ x 1.5″ x 0.55″ make it easy to stow in your luggage without taking up much space. While it doesn’t rely on Bluetooth and has no maximum range as long as the battery is charged, its dependence on cellular data ensures comprehensive coverage wherever you go.
Trackers and Compatibility
Compatibility with your smartphone is essential; as most trackers rely on smartphone or portable tablet connectivity for practical use, ensuring compatibility with your device is crucial. While a few trackers are compatible with both Android and iOS systems, it’s imperative to carefully review the specifications to ensure seamless integration with your chosen device.
Live updates provided by luggage trackers may only sometimes be reliable. Certain luggage tracking apps may experience decreased effectiveness as the distance between the tracker and the user increases, leading to potential unreliability in live updates. However, once you’ve confirmed that your luggage is on the plane with you, continuous minute-to-minute tracking may be optional throughout the flight duration.
Conclusion:
Luggage trackers serve as tools for tracking luggage and as sources of peace of mind, particularly for travellers facing the stress of uncertain journeys. With the anxiety of luggage potentially not reaching its final destination, ensuring its safe arrival becomes paramount. Specific considerations should be weighed before purchasing a luggage tracker, whether you’re prone to such worries or have genuine tracking needs.
