Which Bluetooth tracker and GPS tracker to buy in 2021 and how to choose well?

Update of 06/10/2021 - We tested the Invoxia Bike Tracker, a GPS specially designed for bikes that is rather discreet since it looks like a reflector. He therefore joins our selection.

Tracers, locators or even trackers in English are divided into three main families: Bluetooth, GPS, and hybrids. To choose the right model, you must first think about your needs and uses. We have identified four of them and offer you a reference tracker for each.

Trackers by use

Tile Pro (2020), Wistiki Aha or AirTag: trackers to find your keys

Weenect Kids: the tracker to follow a child

Invoxia Pet Tracker or Weenect Cats 2: trackers for tracking animals

Tile Slim (2020) or Invoxia Tracker GPS: to avoid losing your wallet and find your motorcycle

We do not mention in this article the follow-up of elderly or sick people who respond to more complex problems.

Strengths and weaknesses of tracers

As the name suggests, these objects allow you to track the position of an object or a person. We can therefore consider that they must be solid to withstand the vagaries of life, including shocks, rain, and even immersion in water. They must be discreet, light and easy to attach to an object. Some products are two-way, the locator can help find the associated smartphone by ringing it or offering voice communication possibilities. Then there are technological choices.

Bluetooth tracers, for proximity

They only work with a smartphone or tablet. If they give a GPS position, it is that of the associated phone. With a real range between 5 and 10 meters, we are limited to areas very close to us. A Bluetooth tracer is generally equipped with a sound system to help you find it.

Another possible use, if you and your phone move more than 5 or 10 meters away from an object, an alarm will sound from the tracker and the mobile. Each Bluetooth tracker is powered by batteries, sometimes replaceable sometimes not, which then forces you to buy a new tracker. Finally, avoid products that are not Bluetooth LE (Low Energy), otherwise the autonomy of the plotter as well as the smartphone risks being rickety. These products are designed for very local uses.

The best tracers to find your keys

What could be more annoying than going around in circles looking for your keys? If you are used to this exercise, a dedicated Bluetooth tracker can change your life. They must be small enough to add to your bunch of keys without cluttering it. Prefer two-way models with a button that will ring your smartphone, if that's what you're looking for. Finally, opt for those that are resistant to rain, or even immersion in water.

The actual range varies from 5 to 10 meters on average, thick walls can greatly reduce the detection area. Finally, in terms of autonomy, there are two offers on the market, with or without battery replacement. In the first case, you renew it when it arrives flat. In the second case, you will have to change tracker, some brands offer privileged renewal offers. Which is not very eco-responsible. Tile offers the most complete and efficient offer, closely followed by Chipolo and its more accessible products. The French alternative Wistiki has its aesthetic advantages, but the technique is a little less convincing.

Tile Pro (2020)

A little thicker (42 x 42 x 6.5 mm) and heavier (15.5 g) than its competitors, the Tile Pro is nevertheless very compact and resistant, it even supports the rain. Its strengths are its CR2032 battery to be replaced every two years according to the manufacturer. The theoretical range is 120 meters, which seems very optimistic to us. With the previous model, whose maximum range was 90 meters, Bluetooth reception worked up to 25 meters outdoors and 15 meters indoors. Its ringtone is nevertheless one of the most powerful on the market. A set that can justify its fairly high price for a Bluetooth tracker. Note that the Tile application is well thought out.

Tile Pro (2020)

Tile Pro (2020) is a Bluetooth tracker. It allows using a smartphone to find lost objects such as backpacks, keys or luggage. If you're having trouble getting your hands on it, you can ask your voice assistants Alexa and Google to ring it. It is also the noisiest model of Tile. Note that this version works with a CR2032 battery to be replaced every two years according to the manufacturer.

Tile Mate (2020)

The brand markets a more affordable version than the Tile Pro, the Tile Mate. Smaller and above all thinner (35 x 35 x 6.2 mm), the Tile Mate weighs only 7 g on the scale. Its theoretical range has increased from 45 meters to 60 meters in 2020. During our tests with the previous generation, we had reached 8 meters indoors and 15 meters outdoors. The announced autonomy is one year, after which, it will be necessary to replace the CR1632 battery. It is therefore a less efficient model, but to consider if you intend to buy several and your budget is limited.

Tile Mate (2020)

The Tile Mate (2020) is less capable than the Pro version, but it's still an interesting solution, especially if you want to buy several trackers on a tight budget. According to the manufacturer, it would have a maximum range of 60 meters in Bluetooth, a battery life of 1 year (changeable) and a correct ringtone.

Apple AirTags

If you have an iPhone today and are looking for a tracker to find your keys, backpack, wallet or other, AirTags are the perfect solution. First, these devices show up in the Find My app on the Apple smartphone. The most recent models, iPhone 11 and above, can even display a compass (Precise location) to track personal belongings within a radius of less than 20 meters. It is also possible to ring the AirTags to locate them more easily if necessary. If you are unable to get your hands on them despite everything, it will be possible to switch the AirTags to "Lost" mode so that other users can contact you again if they find them. Note that the trackers use the Locate mesh network and must therefore be within range of other Apple devices to be locatable (which should not pose too many problems).

80

stars

Read the test

Apple Air Tag

The AirTag is a connected beacon that allows you to locate your objects (backpacks, handbags or even toys). The tracker takes advantage of ultra-wideband (UWB) and pairs with your Apple device from the “Find” app.

We have produced a guide with ideas for AirTags accessories to increase their potential.

Wistiki Here, Wistiki Aha

Wistiki Bluetooth locators. The products are certainly among the most attractive, with a neat and modern design. Two models exist, the Voilà which has a rectangular shape (6.9 x 23 x 6 mm for 11 g) and the Aha which is an ovoid (35 x 27.6 x 8.6 mm for 11 g), each ending with a touch of translucent color. However, if they are beautiful objects, the range does not exceed 6 to 7 meters indoors and barely 10 outdoors.

The sound level is correct, but lacks a bit of power. The non-replaceable battery is supposed to last two years, after which you will have to buy a new one. The application is successful, but we noticed an instability of the Bluetooth connection, with regular loss of connections.

Chipolo More

One of the cheapest products in this selection, and yet it turns out to be one of the most effective. This circle, 35 mm in diameter and 5 mm thick for 15 g, is very discreet. It is resistant to water splashes and rapid immersion, offers 9 months of autonomy and the batteries are replaceable. The range is approximately 10 meters indoors and 15 outdoors. A very good product, effective, colorful (6 colors) and there is even a “fruity” version. The application is of quality, simple and goes to the essential. Funnily enough, you can ring the tracker by calling it via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Its only real weak point and its noise level a little behind the competitors, but more than the Wistiki.

Chipolo More

Attach your Chipolo to any item you want to track and connect it to the Chipolo app on your iPhone or Android phone. Misplaced or lost keys? Ring Chipolo from the Chipolo app or check where you last had them on a map if they are out of Bluetooth range.

GPS plotters, find everything on the other side of the world

Here, as your phone does, a built-in GPS records the exact location of the tracker. The accuracy of the information will depend on the quality of the GPS chipsets. The coordinates are sent by the telephone network. 2G is often preferred for reasons of network coverage and energy consumption. The tracker, equipped with a SIM card, sends the position to a server which communicates it to you by SMS, via an application or even a website.

Low-speed networks dedicated solely to connected objects, such as LoRa and SygFox, advantageously replace the telephone network. They do not require a SIM card, consume less energy and have excellent network coverage. However, the products exploiting these networks are still few in number.

In any case, the tracker can alert you in case of movement, give you its position at regular intervals or on demand. Some products are equipped with a sound system to help you find them or offer a radar mode on the app. The closer you get, the louder your radar will sound. These products meet security needs, most often for objects, vehicles (bicycle, car) or even people.

The tracker to follow your child

Our cherubim often express their desire for independence. However, activities considered normal and risk-free 30 years ago are now difficult to imagine for parents today. Playing outside with other children, commuting alone or simply walking down the street without holding an adult's hand are hardships for some parents. Using a tracer could then reassure them.

There are two types of tracers on the market, starting with the Bluetooth models. They are useful on the beach or in amusement parks to find your children more easily. But be careful, if your offspring wanders off, you will have to look for it with your eyes. If the environment is noisy, you are also unlikely to hear the tracker ring. Take the time to communicate with your children so that they assimilate that it is above all for their safety that you act in this way, and explain to them how to react if they get lost. For more security and better reassurance for adults, a GPS locator is more advisable. There are two kinds, those that hang or slip into a backpack and those worn on the wrist, usually in the form of a children's watch. In both cases, you will have to pay a subscription for the SIM card integrated into its objects. It is then up to you to find the right balance to reassure yourself without being tempted to police your child.

Weenect Kids

This small case with a playful design can be hung or slipped into a child's bag. In summer, it is possible to wear it around the neck, but if it is light (55 g), it is a bit bulky (65 x 40 x 18 mm). It can also be clipped to pants, a dress, work with your child to find the least awkward position for him. It uses the 2G network to send you its position. A button in the center allows the child to launch an alert and 3 small ones on the side of the messages that you will have preprogrammed.

When one parent replies to a message, the second is notified of support. The app includes a radar function, to more easily find the child lost in a crowd. A simple and robust product, which requires a subscription ranging from €7.90 / month without commitment, to €60 for one year (€5 / month) and €85 for 2 years (€3.5 / month). An alternative to GPS watches that goes straight to the point and costs much less to buy.

Weenect Kids

With Weenect Kids you can follow your child's movements on your phone, from the free application. The GPS tracker sends its position in real time and without distance limit. Your child can notify you if there is a problem by pressing the alert button on their tracker.

Trackers for tracking animals

In town and in the countryside, our pets sometimes have the chance to enjoy a certain freedom of movement. However, between runaway dogs, cats that wander too long away from home, animals that get lost and the risk of accidents... there are many reasons to worry. A GPS tracker for your animal can be the solution, especially if you often take it on a walk with you on weekends or on vacation. They allow you to follow the movements of your furry friend in real time.

But with small cases, autonomy is not the main strength of these products. We advise you to opt for devices capable of sending positions at intervals spaced over time in order to save the battery. The size of the locator may seem too big for small animals, but if he is used to wearing a collar, even a small cat will not be bothered by the GPS module. However, if he is too rebellious, the tracker can be attached to his harness.

Invoxia Pet Tracker

The Invoxia Pet Tracker is a rather atypical product. It ignores the SIM card and uses low-speed LoRa and Sigfox networks. Check the cover near you and you may be surprised. This technology also allows you to consume much less energy, and in one month, we only lost 18% of energy and the manufacturer announces 6 months of autonomy . The plotter also recharges via USB. Just slide the pet collar on the back to install.

Its dimensions (42x 24 x 17 mm for 15 g) are very reasonable, even a small 4 kg cat will carry it without feeling it. The application is austere, but effective and allows you to locate your four-legged friend quickly and in real time. The alerts when they leave the programmed security zones can sometimes have a slight time lag if the network coverage is correct. Finally, 3 years of subscription are offered for purchase and the product is waterproof. Handy with dogs who like to jump into the water.

Invoxia Pet Tracker

Attach the Pet Tracker to your cat's or dog's collar and track your pet's whereabouts if they get lost or run away, with no distance limit. Get to know his favorite places better, so you know where to look for him first.

Weenect Cats 2 or Weenect Dogs 2

Do not be fooled by the photos, the product is smaller than it looks (58 x 23 x 10 mm for 25 g). Only animals under 5 kg are likely to really notice it. Its very pleasant to use app allows you to define safety zones, to be alerted in real time of the movements of your dog or cat. Yes, the product is differentiated by animals, but except for the packaging they are exactly the same. You can talk to your pet and train it to come inside when it hears your voice. Surprisingly, it worked with the cat mule head we used as a tester.

A ringtone can also replace the voice, but the most effective in our case was the packet of croquettes shaken in front of the smartphone... It is solid, waterproof, but its main weakness is its autonomy. Count 3 days of autonomy in daily mode, the position is recorded every 5 minutes. If you wish to know the position of your animal every 30 seconds, the autonomy drops to one day. The subscription for the SIM card is 85€ for two years, 60€ for 1 year and 7.90€ / month without commitment. Finally, it benefits from network coverage which has made it more efficient in the countryside compared to the Invoxia Pet Tracker.

Mixed tracers

Products like those from Invoxia combine Bluetooth and GPS. They combine the best of both technologies and give rise to particularly versatile models. However, there are still exceptions in the market.

Tracers to avoid losing your wallet and find your motorcycle

Some trackers allow you to monitor a bag, a computer or even a bicycle. They can alert you on your smartphone in case of suspicious movement. They can also be used to fight against your distraction by warning you with a nice ringtone if the locator or your phone moves away from each other by more than 10 meters or less. You should no longer forget your tablet on the train or at the local café.

We are talking about Bluetooth locators here, so it will necessarily have to be nearby for the system to work. To protect luggage or a bicycle with more precision, opt for a Bluetooth product. With your app, you will precisely locate the misplaced or stolen object. However, you will eventually have to pay for a subscription (telephone or low-speed networks) to receive information on your smartphone. However, a year or more is usually offered for purchase.

Tile Slim

Bluetooth and ultra flat, the TileSlim (2020) comes as a 86 x 54 x 2 mm card for 40 gr. It works just like the Tile Mate, except it doesn't have two-way communication (you can't use it to find your smartphone). It slips into a wallet or even a bag. The ringtone is equivalent to that of the Tile Mate, powerful enough to find it or be alerted indoors, less if you are in a noisy place. Attention, impossible to change the battery, but the battery is supposed to last 3 years.

Tile Slim (2020)

So fine that it is forgotten. The Tile Slim (2020) is a Bluetooth tracker in the form of a blue card. It easily finds its place in a wallet or a backpack. The Bluetooth range is announced at 60 meters, which is correct, but we regret that the battery on this model is integrated. You will therefore need to change Tile Slim after 3 years, which could put some users off.

Invoxia Tracker GPS

This long object with a very elegant design can be slipped into a bag or attached to almost anything with its leather shoulder strap. A very complete product with Bluetooth, Wifi support and low-speed networks such as LoRa and SygFox. A formidable combination that allows you to be alerted quickly and precisely to the slightest movement. Security zones are finely managed and can go beyond the range of Bluetooth.

The advertised battery life is 6 months, USB rechargeable. The app is austere, but very simple to understand and just as complete. It is ideal for monitoring a bag, tracking luggage or the little one's schoolbag. Just remember to hide it inside a bag, or luggage. Placed on the outside, nothing is easier than to spot it and cut the shoulder strap. An adhesive surface would not have been a luxury to stick it to a bike or a scooter (for that, it is better to go on the Invoxia Bike Tracker presented below). We are faced with a precise and complete product, without a SIM card and with a master's price of €99 and 3 years of integrated subscription.

80

stars

Read the test

Invoxia GPS Tracker

The Invoxia GPS Tracker is a versatile product, with real autonomy and which knows how to be efficient via its application and precise in location. Admittedly, it lacks fixing accessories, the security zones lack precision and it can easily be torn off. However, the use of LoRa and Sigfox low-speed networks allows it to do without a SIM card, for very general public use it is very efficient and allows you to have a high-performance GPS tracker at no extra cost and ready to use.

Invoxia Bike Tracker

The Invoxia Bike Tracker has been specially designed for bicycles. This solution, which looks like a simple reflector, is a GPS that alerts the owner in the event of suspicious movement and locates his 2-wheeler in the event of theft.

We pout at its selling price, but its discretion and ease of use partly excuse this defect.

80

stars

Read the test

Invoxia Bike Tracker

The Invoxia brand Bike Tracker fits on our bicycles to complete the classic lock. If it will not prevent theft, it will allow the owner of a bicycle to have an additional chance of finding his vehicle before it disappears definitively, thanks to an effective geolocation system and movement alert and of areas.