Key finders have a receiver (the device you attach to your keys) and a remote. The remote sends out a signal and “finds” the receiver using either radio frequencies or Bluetooth technology. Those that use radio frequencies (RF) tend to be pretty basic devices: press a button and the tracker on your keys will chirp. These kinds of key finders do not require a smartphone connection and usually don’t have much in the way of extra features. Bluetooth key finders, on the other hand, have to be connected to a smartphone. They’re controlled using an app, and these apps usually include more advanced features like map locations and out-of-range notifications. Bluetooth trackers also tend to have superior range. The downside: they’re usually more expensive. If you want to track items in real-time and over a much greater distance, look for devices that use GPS technology instead of RF or Bluetooth. Our list of car GPS trackers is a good place to start. Like other Bluetooth key finders, you use an app on your phone to ring the tracker or view your keys’ location on a map (a great feature for this price range). The Tile app can automatically locate the Sticker within 150 ft, or utilize the anonymous Tile network to find it further out. The battery is built-in and designed to last for three years or more. The Sticker will even work with Alexa and other digital assistants and smart home devices.
What to Look for in a Key Finder
Battery Life
A key finder’s battery life depends on if it uses a rechargeable lithium-ion cell or a coin cell battery. The latter on devices like the Tile will result in longer battery life, as much as a year longer, while the rechargeable battery may be suitable for the key finders that use RF technology.
Range
When a key finder with this feature gets too far from your phone, it automatically sounds an alert. This can come in handy if your keys ever fall out of your pocket, or you set them down and accidentally forget to pick them back up.
Bluetooth vs. RF
Key finders that use radio frequency (RF) technology are typically cheaper and come with more key fobs. Bluetooth key finders can offer more functionality, though. Some allow you to use the key fob in reverse to find your phone, and you may even be able to use a network of other users to find your keys if you lost them somewhere outside the range of your phone’s Bluetooth.
