Jan. 13, 2025
A lost wallet is never just a lost wallet. A lost wallet almost always results in the painstaking process of replacing numerous bank cards, licenses, and ID cards. But now you can get rid of this risk with the help of some handy technology!
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With a wallet tracking device, you can use Bluetooth and even GPS to reclaim your lost or stolen wallet. Learn more about the traits a wallet tracker should have to help you pick the best wallet tracker for yourself by reading this handy guide.
Start your search for a wallet tracker by thinking about why you need it, what you need from it, and how it's supposed to fit into your life. The first two points on our list will answer these three questions, but the tracker's technology (WiFi, Bluetooth, or GPS) and its battery are at the heart of the matter.
There are two broad categories of people who need a wallet locator. The first are those who are constantly misplacing their stuff and need something they can ping to make noise. The second are those who are worried about theft.
Also, make sure that your wallet locator is compatible with your , tablet, or other control device. Some trackers work with any device, while others cater only to iPhones, Android, etc.
The next thing you'll want to know about your wallet locator is how it's going to do its job. How well a wallet locator does its main job comes down to its size and how it was designed to be found. To see how these aspects affect the user, we'll once again pitch the convenient, everyday use against the anti-theft purpose.
A device meant for tracking a wallet in a home or at the office is going to need a built-in speaker. The type of speaker itself is quite important because it will need to be loud enough for the surrounding environment.
Additionally, it will also need to be able to produce a tone at a frequency you're more likely to hear or at a pitch that can cut through ambient noise. The speakers these devices tend to have are quite modern and don't add any additional thickness.
If you're looking for a wallet tracker, ensure that you choose one that's specially designed for wallets. An anti-theft tracker will need to be incredibly thin so that thieves can't find it and so that it doesn't bug you.
A tracker dedicated to this function doesn't need to make noise. The lack of a speaker saves a lot of space, so getting a tracker without a speaker is probably ideal. These types of trackers are so small you may even forget you got it.
Sometimes, a new gadget fits perfectly into your lifestyle or other gadgets. When there are several viable wallet trackers that passed the previous two points, you can look at what makes each of them unique.
Some wallet locators can integrate with your Amazon, Google, or Apple accounts and can then be reached through voice assistants (like Siri). Some can even take photos of their surroundings. However, you may also want to find a product that offers these benefits without exposing you to unwanted tracking.
Considering these unique benefits will guide you to a product that feels more like an extension of yourself than just another gadget. However, it's crucial to remember to buy a wallet tracker that performs its primary function well. Avoid buying a wallet tracker with amazing, hi-tech functions if it looks like it's going to do its primary job terribly.
Taking an in-depth look at a product's specs and user reviews will allow you to assess how well it does its job. There are also a few extra ways to spot whether the company is good or worth avoiding.
One thing that signals that a company's product works is if the user reviews can verify the specs. If a company promises a 3-year battery life, but many reviewers say that the battery doesn't last as long, chances are that the tracker's other specs may also be overstated.
Another clear signal of trustworthiness is the warranty. The product is far more likely to perform as promised if the warranty is more generous.
There's no one-size-fits-all tracking device for a wallet. Different types of people could have vastly different needs, and those needs can impact the end product that would suit them.
The most important elements of a wallet tracker are how easy it is to track, how you go about tracking it, its battery life, and its overall size. The best wallet tracker for you does well in all these areas while also bringing a unique benefit to the table.
Some people rarely lose things. Wallets are always exactly where theyre supposed to be, keys never go missing, and remotes never slip between the couch cushions. And then theres the rest of us the folks who cant ever seem to find the thing that was right there a few seconds ago. For us, there are Bluetooth trackers.
Bluetooth trackers have been around for a long time, and they all generally work the same way. You stick the tracker onto an object, pair it with your , and then, when you lose said object, you can go into an app and ring the tracker. But these days, Bluetooth trackers can do a lot more. Some have ultra-wideband chips that enable precision tracking, so you can find exactly where in a room your item is. Others tap into large networks that make it easier to find lost items outside the home. Many will notify you if they detect youve left the device behind or come with QR codes that link to your contact information so people can easily return lost devices.
Are you limited to Bluetooth range, or can you make use of wider networks like Apples Find My, Googles Find My Device network, or Amazon Sidewalk? Is it hard to hear the tracker when you ring it?
A technology that lets you track small objects can be abused to track people without their consent. Tracker companies know this, and an increasing number now come with anti-stalking features. These features may never prevent abuse 100 percent of the time, but I investigate whether these features were crafted with care, how well the company educates users about them, and if the company is proactive about updating them according to feedback from experts.
Do you need to pay a subscription to get all available features? If so, is it worth the moolah?
Most Bluetooth trackers last at least a year, but not all of them let you replace the battery. That means you have to buy a whole new tracker when the battery dies. I prefer the ability to replace batteries whenever possible.
These features are incredibly handy but also have the potential for misuse. Take AirTags. When Apple launched the trackers, it hadnt anticipated theyd be used to track people or stolen items but thats exactly what happened. Its since beefed up its anti-stalking features, and companies like Tile have also followed suit. The good news is that Apple and Google recently announced theyre working together to create a standard that enables unwanted tracking alerts across both Android and iOS devices and major players like Tile, Samsung, and Chipolo are on board. But until this standard is up and running, it pays to be aware of each trackers current approach when youre deciding the best option for you.
As a consummate Loser of Things, Ive tested my fair share of Bluetooth trackers on wallets, keys, and luggage. Heres what Id recommend if you, too, have a hard time finding things.
Apples AirTags can help you find your lost items with their ultra wideband technology. Youll get the best compatibility with an iPhone, though Apple released an Android app that can detect an AirTags location and notify you if one seems to be following you.
When Apple launched AirTags in , it really did shake up the category. Thats because AirTags are equipped with Apples Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip and tap into Apples vast Find My network. Thats a potent combo.
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Basically, UWB enables precision tracking while Find My compatibility expands range far, far beyond Bluetooths limitations. With precision tracking, all you have to do is open the Find My app, tap Find, and you should see an arrow pointing you in the exact direction you need to go to find your item. Using the Find My network also means that so long as theres an Apple device nearby, a lost AirTag can ping its location to Apples iCloud servers without notifying the owners of those other devices. And there are over a billion Apple products out there.
That accuracy is super convenient. My keys fell out of my pocket while running once, and I didnt notice until my pinged me to say my keys were no longer with me. While I wasnt able to use the precision tracking outdoors, I could see the last reported location in the Find My app. Twenty minutes had already passed, but I still was able to find my keys. I havent had that degree of success with any other item tracker.
However, this accuracy is a double-edged sword. In , I ran a test to see whether I could track a friend and my spouse (with their consent) in real time. And I could, to a disturbing degree. While Apples unwanted tracking prevention measures worked, there were also inherent flaws. (You can read about our testing in full here.) However, Apple has since improved unwanted tracking alerts by shortening the time before youre notified an unknown AirTag is in your vicinity, making chimes louder, and creating a separate app that lets Android users scan for unknown AirTags. Apple also now informs users during setup that unwanted tracking is a crime and that AirTags are intended solely to track items that belong to you.
Apple has also added more ways to share AirTag locations with trusted people. iOS 17 introduced AirTag sharing, which means shared items wont trigger unwanted tracking alerts. In iOS 18.2, you can now share the location of a lost AirTag with other people via a temporary link. So if an airline loses your luggage, you can send them a link that shows them an interactive map of your items last known location. (Apple is partnering with over 15 airlines for this particular use case.)
The only thing I really dont like about AirTags is they arent truly $29. Theyre $29 plus the cost of whatever accessory is needed to attach them to the item you want to track. For example, youll need a holder to attach it to your keys or luggage. Thankfully, theres a robust third-party accessory market, so you dont have to pay Apples prices if you dont want to. The fact that you can easily replace the battery with a regular CR coin cell battery helps take the sting out, too. I just did it for two of my AirTags, and it was much, much cheaper than having to buy two new ones.
The Tile Pro is the companys loudest Bluetooth tracker and has the widest range at 400 feet. It also has a user-replaceable battery, unlike other Tiles.
For Android users (or households with both iOS and Android), a Tile tracker is your best bet. Not only are they platform-agnostic but theyre also much more versatile than AirTags because you can choose from four different shapes. The $24.99 Tile Mate is the OG and is a square tracker with a hole so you can stick it on a key ring or carabiner. The $34.99 Tile Pro is a bit larger and shaped like a key fob; it can also be attached to other items in the same way as the Mate. The $34.99 Tile Slim is card-shaped, so it can fit in your wallet, and the $29.99 Tile Sticker is a small disc that comes with a sticky backing so you can put it on remotes, pet collars, and anything else you can stick it on. Like AirTags, Tile devices can tap into a larger network in this case, Amazon Sidewalk to help you find your devices outside of your s Bluetooth range.
The best Tile will depend on what youre looking to track. The Slim, for example, is the best option if youre constantly losing your wallet, while the Mate is probably the most versatile. My personal pick, however, is the Tile Pro. Of the four, it has the longest Bluetooth range at 500 feet and the loudest ring. Its also the only one that has a replaceable one-year CR battery. The Mate and Slim have a 350 foot range, while the Sticker has a 250 foot range. All three have a three-year built-in battery. That means after three years, youll most likely have to buy a whole new device.
Functionally, Tile trackers can do just about anything an AirTag can minus precision tracking, as there still isnt a Tile with UWB capability yet. The company announced one back in , but were still waiting, partly because Apple is effectively blocking UWB compatibility for third parties in iOS and because Tiles priorities shifted once it was acquired by Life360.
Since Life360 took over, Tile trackers have gotten a bit of a refresh. They now integrate with Life360s SOS services. When you press them three times, it triggers an alert that gets sent to your emergency contacts. You can also designate people as being in your Circle. Those folks then have permission to see where Tile items are on a Life360 map, as well as ring nearby items like remotes.
If youre a Samsung Galaxy user, the $29.99 Samsung SmartTag2 does get you UWB tracking and can tap into the Galaxy Find network, which operates similarly to Apples Find My network. Its a great alternative but isnt our overall pick for Android because its limited to Samsung Galaxy users. But for Samsung users, the latest SmartTag2 includes an improved Compass View, longer battery life, and a better app experience. Its also got a newer oblong design with a larger key ring than the original SmartTag.
All Tile trackers can tap into both the Tile Network all phones with the Tile app installed and Amazon Sidewalk. Its not as extensive a network as Apples, but Sidewalks reach has improved significantly. Its much easier now to view a Tile trackers location history, though you still cant really track an item in real time.
For anti-stalking measures, Tile has a Scan and Secure feature, which allows you to use the Tile app to scan for unknown Tile devices in your vicinity. While better than nothing, its a flawed measure, as it requires the potential victim to proactively scan their surroundings. Tiles may be the better pick, however, if you want to track a stolen item. The company just rolled out a new anti-theft feature, which renders Tile devices invisible to unwanted tracking detection in the event someone steals your item. Just know that to use it, Tile requires you to submit a government ID for verification, agree to Tile working with law enforcement without a subpoena, and consent to a $1 million fine if you misuse this feature.
My gripe with Tile is it puts its best features behind a $29.99 annual fee though new members get a one-year free trial. Those features include alerts for when you leave a Tile behind, 30-day location history, unlimited sharing with friends and family, free replacements for damaged Tiles, and a $100 reimbursement if any of your Tile devices cant be found. The plus side is you only have to pay one subscription for all your Tile devices. Without a subscription, you can still find your Tile within Bluetooth range, see its last known location on a map if outside Bluetooth range, ring your from the Tile, and share Tiles with one other person.
If youre not keen on either Tile or Samsung, theres good news. Earlier this year, Google finally launched its Find My Device network. It works similarly to Apples Find My network: youll be able to share trackers with family members, and there are also unwanted tracking alerts. Third-party makers like Chipolo and Pebblebee have since put out compatible trackers, and more are expected. Were still in the process of testing how well the Find My Device network works, so stay tuned.
The Pebblebee Clip supports Apples Find My network but also has a 500-foot Bluetooth range, LEDs that flash to help you locate it, and a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 12 months on a single charge.
If youre looking for an AirTag or Tile alternative, the Pebblebee Clip is an excellent choice. Its compatible with Apples Find My network, but it can also work with the Pebblebee app so Android users arent left out. The company has a version compatible with Googles Find My Device network.
The thing I like best about the Pebblebee Clip is its rechargeable battery. A single charge lasts up to six months though you may get longer than that depending on your usage. Ive been using mine for about three months as of this writing, and Im only down to 85 percent. It has a USB-C port so you dont have to sweat it if you lose the charger it comes with. You love to see it.
The Pebblebee Clip also has an LED strip at the bottom that lights up when you ring the tracker. Thats helped me spot my car keys more quickly when theyve fallen under the car seat or other dark areas. The ringtone is also quite loud, and the 500-foot Bluetooth range is actually about 100 feet more than the Tile Pro, our pick for Android users. Unlike AirTags, the Pebblebee Clip also comes with a snap-on key ring so you dont have to buy another accessory to attach it. Its also IPX6-rated for water resistance.
For iOS users, setup with Find My is easy as pie. However, its not hard to set up with the Pebblebee app, either and there are good reasons why you might want to opt for that instead of Find My. (You cant use both at the same time.) For example, if you want to share the tracker between family members on different platforms, youll have to use the Pebblebee app since Find My is limited to iOS.
The Pebblebee app has more customizable geofencing features than Find My. You can set up custom areas on a map and be notified whenever a device enters or leaves the area which may be useful if you want to use this as a pet tracker. You can also designate safe zones so you dont get unnecessary alerts that somethings been left behind when youre in a known location like your home or office. Pebblebee also allows you to set voice tags so you can ask Alexa or Google Assistant to help find your device. It doesnt have precision finding, though there is a similar window that pops up that lets you know whether youre distant, nearby, or very close to the item youre looking for.
If you lose a Pebblebee, you can mark it as lost. The Pebblebee app also has a Crowd GPS network, which functions similarly to the Tile Network. Its not going to be as robust as Apples Find My network, however, simply because there arent as many Pebblebee users in the world.
Its not a perfect tracker. Its bigger than an AirTag, and I had an easier time ringing the tracker when using it with Find My than with the Pebblebee app. As for unwanted tracking, Pebblebee isnt the best on its own. You can only get alerts for unwanted tracking if youre using it with Find My (or Find My Device whenever it launches), not if youre using it with the Pebblebee app. Pebblebees site says you can, at the very least, disable the tracker without resetting it if you find one on you meaning its still possible to figure out who put it on you if you choose to go to the authorities. Still, thats not the most comforting.
The Pebblebee Card has a rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 12 months. It supports Find My, but you can also use the Pebblebee app instead for geofencing, voice tagging, and cross-platform sharing.
You could be like my spouse, who stuffs an AirTag in their bifold wallet and then makes a surprised Pikachu face every time it falls out. Or, you could opt for a Find My-compatible alternative specifically designed for wallets like the $35 Chipolo Card Spot, the $29.99 Eufy Security SmartTrack Card, or the $29.99 Pebblebee Card. None come with precision tracking because they lack UWB, but they make up for it with super loud ringtones. As part of the Find My network, they also support unwanted tracking alerts. You could also opt for the Tile Slim, though that wont leverage the Find My network.
The Pebblebee Card is the one Id recommend for most people. First off, it has a rechargeable battery and lasts up to 12 months on a single charge. Like the Pebblebee Clip, the Pebblebee app supports geofencing, sharing, left-behind alerts, and voice tagging. You could also choose to use it with Find My alone and get the benefits of that network plus a louder ringtone. You can also press it to help find your . The only thing I dont love is that it uses a proprietary charger so youll have to keep it in a safe place.
The Eufy Security SmartTrack Card works with Apples Find My network, comes with a clip, lets you know when youve left it behind, and can ring your even if its in silent mode.
The Chipolo Card Spot or Card Point is also a good option if you want something a bit simpler, though it lacks the QR code, and its battery only lasts two years. If you do opt for Chipolo, double-check that the specific tracker youre buying works on the network you want to use. For example, the Chipolo Card and Chipolo Card Spot can both be used with iPhones, but the Chipolo Card only works with the Chipolo app, while the Card Spot only works with Find My. The Chipolo Card Point is for Android users, and works with Googles newly launched Find My Device network.
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