3 Budget-Friendly Bluetooth Tracking Alternatives to the Apple AirTag

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To forget is to be human. This is why an entire part of the consumer technology world is geared towards finding lost items. Apple’s Find My Network is one of the best examples of community device tracking done right, and Apple AirTags are among the most reliable trackers on the market. That said, these aren’t the only small accessories for tracking your car keys and credit cards. Several other brands make excellent Bluetooth trackers, and a few of these alternatives cost less than an AirTag.

At the time of writing, a single AirTag sells for $30 and a pack of four costs $80. We’re also in the second generation of AirTag, and Apple says its latest and greatest can track even more effectively, thanks to ultra-wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth working in unison. You’ll also be able to share AirTag access with friends, family, and other trusted contacts, and the battery (CR2032) should last a full year before needing replacement. Certainly not bad, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t competition to contend with.

We’ve selected three Bluetooth tracker alternatives to the AirTag that we’d be happy to purchase ourselves. While some of these products may not be as advanced as a second-generation AirTag, they are worth considering for one reason or another. One of these trackers can even be added to Apple’s Find My Network and Google’s Find Hub. Finally, our three product picks cost less than a single AirTag or a four-pack.

With an uncanny resemblance to the AirTag, the $26 Tilphi Air Tracker 4-pack is much cheaper than Apple’s tracking technology, as is the price of a single Tilphi tracker ($8 versus $30 for an AirTag). Once enabled, you will be able to use Find My Network to find an object up to 230 feet away. As soon as your tracker falls out of range, you will receive an alert and you can also configure lost mode instructions, just like you would for an AirTag.

Think of it as a dog collar for your Tilphi tracker: as long as the person who found it has access to Find My Network, they can find all the contact information you have saved on the tracker; They can also use their Apple device to send you the exact location of the tracker. All four Tilphi trackers are IP67 rated, so accidentally falling into a puddle of rain shouldn’t be a big problem. Like the AirTag, you can expect up to a full year of performance before the CR2032 battery needs replacing.

On Amazon, the Tilphi four-pack has a perfect 5-star rating based on over 60 reviews. It’s not often that we come across an Amazon product with entirely positive user reviews. In fact, the only downside we can think of is that Tilphi trackers can only be added to Find My Network. Those looking to find lost items via Google will have to look elsewhere, or simply to our next choice.

If you’re looking for one of the best Bluetooth trackers that isn’t locked behind a walled garden, look no further than Ugreen. The $37 Ugreen Finder Duo 4-pack supports both the Find My Network and Find Hub apps, so it doesn’t matter which ecosystem your household prefers; you simply need access to one or both tracking software. Ugreen explicitly states that you can’t use both tracking systems at the same time, but that shouldn’t be a problem for most people.

Ugreen is one of the most trusted third-party companies when it comes to mobile accessories, so it was a no-brainer for us to offer this Finder Duo bundle. We also like that all four units are USB-C rechargeable, which is not the case with either generation of AirTag. You should get up to a year of battery life on a full charge, and the trackers’ USB-C ports are also protected by a removable cover.

The plastic case includes a cord loop for attaching a Finder Duo to a keychain, purse, or luggage handle, as well as a built-in speaker for audio tracking. Over 2,500 Amazon shoppers have shared their feedback, earning the Ugreen Finder Duo 4-Pack a 4.2 out of 5 star rating. Praised for its simple setup and rechargeable batteries, a few people still had trouble pairing the trackers with an Android device.

The Life360 brand has been around for a minute and is perhaps best known for its prolific line of tile tracking technologies. Today we’ll talk about the $74 Life360 Tile Essentials Bundle, which gives you a little bit of everything from the Life360 arsenal. This includes: 2 x Tile Mates, 1 x Tile Slim and 1 x Tile Sticker, as well as the adhesive you will need to stick the latter.

All three types of Tile trackers will work with Apple and Android devices; Simply download the Life360 Circle app (not compatible with Find My or Find Hub software). Although Ugreen is the only tracker brand we’ve selected that supports charging, all three Tile products in this bundle will last up to three years before you need to replace the trackers. Unfortunately, the built-in battery is not removable as is the case with the AirTag.

More than 2,600 Amazon shoppers have written about the Life360 Tile Essentials Pack, earning the tracking multipack a 4.4 out of 5 star rating. Most of the feedback was relatively positive, but one user wasn’t thrilled with the Life360 app’s aggressive upgrade requests. It’s also worth mentioning that the Life360 network is much less developed than the Find My or Find Hub networks, as evidenced by one user who had difficulty tracking items at a school.