Know where your bag is—even when the airline doesn't.
Anyone who checks a bag should read this page. A luggage tracker turns the worst moment of a trip, an empty carousel, into a solvable problem, because you can show the airline exactly where your suitcase is.
Part of: Best AirTag for Luggage · AirTag vs Tile for Travel
The four picks cover every phone: the Apple AirTag 2 for iPhone owners, the Tile Mate for a cheap tracker that works on iPhone and Android, the Chipolo POP for travelers who want a choice between Apple's and Google's finding networks, and the Tile Pro for longer range. They come from the Tom's Guide key finder roundup, matched to the Amazon listing, and two of them are flagged where the listing differs from the research. The one thing to check before buying is your phone. The tracking experience depends entirely on the ecosystem: an AirTag is useless without an Apple device, and a Tile depends on the smaller community of Tile app users around your bag.
We compared every pick on phone compatibility, finding network, battery type, built-in keyring hole, ring volume and subscription features, so you can choose in under two minutes.
Best for: iPhone owners who check bags on any trip, from a weekend away to a multi-leg international itinerary
Best for: Android users and mixed-phone families who want a basic tracker on every checked bag
Best for: Mixed-platform couples and Android users on international trips who want a native finding app
Best for: Frequent flyers on Android or mixed-phone households who check bags on most trips
Who each pick is for, its main selling point, the reason you might skip it and the price.
| Pick | Product | Best for | Main selling point | Potential drawback | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Apple AirTag 2nd Generation | iPhone owners who check bags on any trip, from a weekend away to a multi-leg international itinerary | The simplest luggage tracker for iPhone owners, powered by the enormous Find My network that relays your bag's location from any nearby Apple device. | Requires an iPhone, iPad or Mac to set up and track | See Amazon |
| Best Value | Life360 Tile Mate 2024 | Android users and mixed-phone families who want a basic tracker on every checked bag | A low-cost tracker that works with iPhone and Android through the Tile app, with a built-in hole for clipping to a zipper. | Tile's finding network is far smaller than Apple's Find My | See Amazon |
| Trending Now | Chipolo POP | Mixed-platform couples and Android users on international trips who want a native finding app | A colorful tracker that joins either Apple's Find My or Google's Find My Device network, so iPhone and Android travelers use their phone's native finding app. | Works with one network at a time; switching requires a reset | See Amazon |
| Go Premium | Life360 Tile Pro | Frequent flyers on Android or mixed-phone households who check bags on most trips | The top of the Tile line, with the longest Bluetooth range and loudest ring of the family, working with iPhone and Android alike. | Tile's finding network is still smaller than Apple's Find My | See Amazon |
Watch out: The experience depends on your phone's ecosystem.
Straight answers to what travelers ask most about luggage trackers (airtag).
Yes. The small coin cell batteries in trackers like AirTag and Tile are permitted in checked bags under current FAA guidance, and airlines generally welcome them. Place the tracker in an interior pocket so it is not visible, and share its location with the airline if the bag goes missing.
No. Setup and tracking require an iPhone, iPad or Mac. Android users should choose the Tile Mate, Tile Pro or Chipolo POP, which work through their own app or Google's Find My Device network. Check the Amazon listing for the current compatibility details.
Accurate enough to tell you which airport your bag is in and, in busy terminals, roughly where in the building. Trackers rely on nearby phones relaying their position, so updates are frequent in crowded hubs and slower at quiet regional airports.