Yahoo Finance These are the Best Trackers to Avoid Losing Your Belongings
- 1/10
These are the Best Trackers to Avoid Losing Your Belongings
This story was updated in January 2023 to include one new pick from Apple and reflect the latest key finders tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute's Media & Tech Lab.
Maybe you know someone who can never find their keys, or perhaps you are that someone! A key finder is a useful gadget that attaches to your keychain or any other precious item like a wallet or purse so you can easily hunt them down. Most key finders, similar to luggage trackers, will leverage a form of technology to alert you (with a sound) of the missing item's whereabouts or allow you to access its location via an app on your phone. Because these trackers tend to be super compact and lightweight, adding one to your keychain or hiding one inside your wallet is a quick and easy way to keep track of your belongings.
The engineers, analysts and tech pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute test gadgets and devices from fitness trackers to smart rings, smart wallets and dog GPS trackers regularly. Though there’s a wide variety of key finders to choose from, our pros narrowed down their top picks by evaluating user feedback from Lab reviews, road testing the latest products and assessing ease of use and performance. Our final picks include a mix of top-tested items and high-rated picks from brands our Lab pros know and trust.Our top picks:
After checking out our top picks, keep reading to learn more about what a key finder is, what to look for when shopping for one and our process for testing the best key finders.
Courtesy Photo - 2/10
1) Pro
Tile
amazon.com
$34.99
This key finder aced our tests: It measured 80 decibels in Lab tests, so you’ll be sure to hear it, and it has one of the longest ranges at 400 feet. It features a replaceable battery, it’s water-resistant and compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa or Siri, making it controllable by your favorite voice assistant. Our testers were big fans of the unique two-way finding feature which can help to find your phone. “We love that it serves two functions — helping you find your keys but it’s also great at finding your phone when you have your keys handy!” said one tester.
Tile - 3/10
2) Key Finder
Esky
amazon.com
$18.99
If you want a budget-friendly key finder, this one from Eksy is one of the most affordable and includes four key trackers. It’s easy to use as it comes with one remote for all four key trackers, no app or smartphone required. To use this device, simply push the corresponding color-coded button and the tracker will beep so you can find your lost item. At roughly 100 feet, the key finder's range is shorter than other devices we tested but will work well for lost items nearby.
Amazon - 4/10
3) Apple AirTag
Apple
amazon.com
$29.00
According to our pros, an AirTag is one of the best luggage trackers out there, but that doesn't mean this gadget isn't a fantastic key finder for iPhone users as well. Our pros love how quick and easy it is to set up an AirTag and how seamless it is to use. We also like that you can track your missing keys or belongings in real-time by using Find My Network and that its expected range is likely up to 800 feet thanks to Bluetooth 5.0, though we haven't yet confirmed this in our Lab.
The only downside is that the design doesn't come with a hole so to be able to get the AirTag around your keychain, you'll need to purchase an additional key ring for the AirTag itself. But thankfully there are several fun colorful options online.
Apple - 5/10
4) Key Ringer
KeyRinger
amazon.com
$29.95
No need to fiddle with an app to set up the Key Ringer key finder — simply take it out of the packaging and it’s ready to use; it even comes with batteries. Reviewers love the simplicity of this key tracker and note that it is very loud so it’s easy to find your misplaced keys quickly.
Amazon - 6/10
5) Premium Waterproof Aluminum Key Finder
Orbit
amazon.com
$21.99
The sleek design and functionality make this key finder our most stylish pick. While most key finders are black or white, testers loved the fun pops of color available online. "Even buried in my purse it's easy to spot!" says one tester. In addition to colorful designs, our pros like that the key locater sends an alert if it gets out of range. Just keep in mind that the range, which is around 100 feet, isn't ideal for anyone that wants to track items that may have been left behind far away, like the office or school.
Orbit - 7/10
6) ONE
Chipolo
amazon.com
$25.00
Coming in at 120 decibels, this round key tracker had one of the loudest alarms in our tests. The range isn’t as impressive as other key trackers but it's still a solid pick with a distance of 200 feet. Plus, if your key finder does go out of range, you can get a vibration alert on your phone. Our pros like that this key finder comes in a range of colors to suit your style and that it's compatible with most voice assistants. It also offers a few fun features like enabling you to use your Chipolo as a remote button to snap selfies from your phone.
Amazon - 8/10
7) Pro Key Finder
Cube
amazon.com
$29.95
There are a few other key finders that are water-resistant, but what sets the Cube Pro apart is that it's waterproof and has a replaceable battery. Its design makes it a reliable choice for pets who spend a lot of time outdoors in all sorts of weather. Our pros like that the Cube app will show you the last known location of your missing item and the tracker can also help you find your lost phone. And reviewers love the bonus feature of alerting you, via the disconnect feature, if you get too far from your phone.
Amazon - 9/10
8) Sticker
Tile
amazon.com
$29.99
While most key finders are designed to attach to a key ring, this key finder has an adhesive so you can attach it to just about any flat surface. Reviewers of the Tile Sticker love that you can stick this on smaller items such as AirPods, remotes and other important items that seem to always get lost. Just keep in mind that the battery is non-replaceable, though should last about three years, according to the brand.
Tile - 10/10
9) Slim
Tile
amazon.com
$34.49
For those who always keep their keys in a purse or with their wallet, this key tracker makes it easy to find those lost keys. It's also useful as a luggage tag or even inside an important notebook or tablet. Approximately the size of a credit card, this tracker can be discreetly tucked inside a purse pocket or wallet, making sure you’ll always be able to find what you need. Our pros like that it's waterproof so you won’t have to worry about spills ruining the tracker, and that it's compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa.
Tile
