Only 3 out of every 1000 passengers lose their luggage, but if you’re one of them, it can ruin your trip. Having the best luggage tracker can help you find it again in no time.

There is nothing worse than reaching your destination while your luggage takes a trip somewhere else. Standing at that baggage carousel, watching others take their bags, and never seeing yours can send you into a panic, ruining the trip you’ve been looking forward to. So, how do you avoid this terrible feeling? By adding the best luggage tracker to your bags before you leave the house.

These handy devices can help you keep track of your belongings, no matter where they end up. By knowing where your bag is, you can easily inform the airline of its location, speeding up the recovery process. This way, you won’t have to waste precious time and energy trying to locate your stuff.

Many of these trackers use different technologies to make the search even easier. They also may have a few extra features, so you can use them to keep track of your everyday belongings as well. They can even help you watch out for your family members. If you are in the market for the best luggage tracker, check out the top models below.

Best Luggage Tracker

Name	Image	Tracking Technology	Battery Life	Weight	Fees	Price	Our Rating
Trakdot Luggage Tracker		GMS	2 days	3.52 oz	Yes	See It	4.5
LugLoc Luggage Locator		GMS / Bluetooth	15 days	2.71 oz	Yes	See It	4.5
Tile Mate		Bluetooth	1 year	0.16 oz	No	See It	4
Dynotag Luggage Tracker		DCS	n/a	0.8 oz	No	See It	4
Keynice GPS Luggage Tracker		GPS / LBS	4 days	0.7 oz	No	See It	3.5
Spytech Tracker		GPS	14 days	2.11 oz	Yes	See It	4.5
Smart Unit Blue		GMS /GPRS / Bluetooth	7 days	4.0 oz	Yes	See It	4

Luggage Tracker Reviews

Trakdot Luggage Tracker

The Trakdot Luggage tracker is a GSM locator device that allows you to keep track of your luggage almost anywhere you travel in the world. All you need to do is turn it on when you place it in your bag.

This tracking device stays on until it is inside the baggage compartment of the plane. At this point, it switches over to airplane mode until it reaches the ground. Then it turns back on, allowing you to locate the exact spot your luggage is.

When you purchase the Trakdot, you first need to activate with the Trackdot official website. This includes installing the app on your phone to link it to the tracker itself. When the two are connected and the tracker is turned on, it will email you whenever it is near an airport, so you’ll know it arrives when you do.

If it is lost, you can easily locate the tracker and the bag it is in, making it easy to find no matter how far away it is. This tracker is FCC certified and FAA compliant. It comes with the GMS luggage tracker, an easy to follow guide, an installed worldwide SIM card, and 2 AA Duracell alkaline batteries.

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Tech Specs

LugLoc Luggage Locator

The LugLoc luggage tracker keeps track of your luggage from your smartphone, locating it from just about anywhere you are. All you need to do is put it in your bag and let the tracker do the rest.

To start, download the app to your smartphone. Create an account, register you Lugloc airline luggage tracker, link the two together, and you’re ready to travel. Then use the app to keep track of your bag on the map view in the app. If your bag is lost, you’ll never be left wondering where it went.

Even if it takes a couple of days to get your bag back to you, this luggage locator won’t die on you, leaving you wondering just where your luggage is. It has a rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 15 days. Hopefully, your bag won’t be missing anywhere near that long.

This lightweight device also comes with a USB cable and a charger to keep that battery full until you place it in your bag. LugLoc is also TSA and FAA compliant, using an internal chip to turn it off before takeoff and waking it up when it lands. There is also a Bluetooth proximity alert to let you know when your bag is nearby.

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Tech Specs

Tile Mate

Remember those little pink erasers you used in school? Pretty small, right? The Tile Mate tracking device makes those look huge. And it works with almost anything you need to carry. For those who like air travel, it keeps track of your bags so you don’t have to worry about losing them.

But the tile tracking tags also works with school bags, purses, keys, or anything else you need to keep track of. It uses Bluetooth tracking to locate any of these items in a short to medium range. If your belongings are outside of this area, you can link up with the Tile community’s global network to help find what you’ve lost.

The tile app works with a wide variety of smart devices. It records the last place and time you had the tile, making it easier to find it. The Tile tracking system also uses a ringtone that is activated with your phone when the lost item is within Bluetooth range.

Because your Tile locator is linked with your smartphone, you can use the Tile Mate to find it again. Just press the button on the locator and your phone will start to ring. It even overrides the silent feature for added convenience.

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Tech Specs

Dynotag Luggage Tracker

Dynotags are web-enabled and GPS assisted locator tags that make it simple to keep track of almost anything you have. Unlike some other devices, they don’t require an app to track your belongings. Instead, all aspects of the location devices work through the company’s DCS. This feature even keeps the tracker running, meaning there is no internal battery to change or charge.

You can manage your Dynotag functions through any web browser, so you can use it on a phone, tablet, or even your home computer. You can choose the basic functions, or upgrade your account as needed from any of these devices. There are no subscription fees, though the upgrades do require the purchase of credits.

The Dynotag tracker locator is made from strong steel with a protective coating. These are waterproof and weatherproof, so you don’t need to worry about frying it if your stuff is left out in the rain or snow. There is a braided stainless steel loop to give you a secure attachment to anything.

The best luggage tracker is also versatile, and the Dynotag meets these needs. As well as travel gear for airline or car trips, you can use it on camping gear, backpacks, purses, or school bags. You can even get a Dynotag to hang on your pet’s collar, so you won’t lose any members of your family if they are left alone at any time.

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Tech Specs

Keynice GPS Luggage Tracker

The luggage GPS tracker from Keynice is small enough to carry in any bag and has the features necessary to make it one of the best luggage tracking devices on the market. It uses GPS and LBS location systems to track the information, refreshing the data on the app every minute to give you the most up-to-date details possible.

This includes all the info on the tracker, like the time and the battery power as well as the location of the device. You can also set a Geo-zone. This feature sends you a notification when the tracker leaves a pre-set area. Such a feature is a great option for use with children, elderly relatives, and even pets.

There is even an SOS feature. You need to hold the button down for about 8 seconds, and then the app on your phone will start calling all the people listed in its contact list. In an emergency, this will get you the help you need in record time.

The Keynice luggage location tracker has an IP67 waterproof rating. The battery has a working time of 100 hours, and includes the USB charging cable you need when it finally runs out of juice. There is also a Micro-Sim slot for GPRS use, though the card itself is not included.

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Tech Specs

Spytech Tracker

The Spytech tracker makes it easy to keep track of almost anything. It uses a real-time GPS tracker that allows you to monitor the devices location every time it moves. All you need is the internet to watch the tracker’s progress, so you can track it from your phone, tablet, or home computer.

The case is waterproof and magnetic, making it easy to place it under a car to keep track of business vehicles. You can also place it in a bag or on a belt. For those with children or elderly relatives they want to keep track of, the Spytech tracker devices can be tucked into a purse, backpack, or even a pocket.

You can even use it to track people, property, or vehicles discreetly when needed, hence the spy part of its name. You can set it to alert you by either text or email when the tracer goes in or out of the geo-fence perimeter you have set up. It can also alert you when the tracker arrives at any specific location.

This luggage tracking GPS unit has a battery that lasts up to 2 weeks, with a wall adapter charging plug to keep it powered up. The device stores up to 1 year of data, giving you customizable reports of the data it contains.

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Tech Specs

Smart Unit Blue

With so many suitcases and bags going missing during everyday travels, it only makes sense to protect your belongings. The Smart Unit Blue luggage tracking system keeps your bag’s location in the palm of your hand. No matter where your bag ends up, as long as there is a GSM/GPRS network available, you can find it using your phone.

All you need to do is place the tracker in your bag before you check it. The tracking locator device turns itself off when it is checked in and then reactivates on its own when the plane lands. If it ends up at a different airport than you are, you can find it in a matter of seconds.

You can also keep track of your luggage at shorter distances. When your bag is within Bluetooth range, you can set up an electronic leash between your phone and the device. If someone else picks it up and walks away, breaching the leash area, the Smart Unit will send you an alert, making it easier to track down the missing bag.

It also sends another alert if someone else opens up your bag when it is out of sight. You’ll know to check if something is missing in these cases. This international luggage tracker is FAA, TSA, and FCC compliant, so there should be no issues if airline security finds one of these devices in your bag.

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Tech Specs

Guide to Finding the Best Luggage Tracker

What Are Smart Luggage Trackers?

Luggage trackers are small devices that you use with your bags, suitcases, or even purses, to keep track of where these items are. They are like little transmitters, sending the information on the location of the bag they are in to your phone, tablet, or computer. There are a few different technologies used to keep track of this information. These include:

• GPS
• GSM (Mobile phone networks)
• Bluetooth
• Wifi

These technologies all have different features, some working at close range while others can track your stuff internationally. There are different functions as well, depending on the tracker you choose. As well as map data, they can send you different alerts through email or text, and allow you to set up geo-fence perimeters.

Types of Luggage Tracker Technology

There are a few different types of technology used with luggage trackers. They all have their benefits and flaws, so which is the best luggage tracker for you depends on your needs and personal preference.

GPS Luggage Trackers

A GPS (Global Positioning System) bag tracker works almost anywhere in the world you go. This is because it uses a range of satellites that transmit the information directly to the device, like a smartphone or tablet. It gives you real-time data, with no waiting for updates.

The beauty of GPS luggage tracking is that you aren’t depending on any local technology in the location you are in. Proximity is also not an issue. Your bag could be across an ocean and you could still find its exact location.

The downside of this technology is that it can be blocked. Natural objects, like trees or mountains, could interfere with your GPS. Buildings are also capable of blocking the info, which may not be useful if you are standing in an airport trying to locate your lost bag. This isn’t always the case, but it is something to make a note of.

GSM (Mobile phone networks) Luggage Trackers

A GSM luggage tracker uses the local mobile network to send and receive the information you need. This is done through the cell towers in the area. When your tracking device is within range of a mobile tower, it can pinpoint its location.

Natural or man-made objects do not interfere with the information either, so you won’t have to worry about wandering around outside of the airport trying to bypass the obstruction to find out where your bag went.

The negative part of the GSM technology is that it requires a SIM chip to work. Though this won’t be an issue in most areas, there are a couple of countries that don’t support GSM technology. These are Japan and South Korea. If you are traveling to either of these destinations, this type of tracker won’t do you any good. But for any other part of the world, it should work just fine.

Bluetooth Luggage Trackers

A Bluetooth luggage tracker is best used for closer proximity circumstances. These types of devices usually only work with about 100 feet of your phone. There are some units that can boost this range, but not all of them have these capabilities. The best Bluetooth locator uses this technology in combination with mobile technology.

For these reasons, Bluetooth is best used to keep track of your items at home, or close to it. It also helps locate your bags when you are trying to find it at baggage claim. When your GSM or GPS technologies are not accurate enough to find your belongings, this may also be a good addition to help locate your bags.

How Do Luggage Trackers Work?

How luggage trackers work depends on the type of technology that is used to track your gear. The majority of them have an app that needs to be downloaded to your phone. This app connects with the tracker itself, sending the data directly to your phone so you always know where your luggage is.

Some of them rely on internet service instead, tracking your stuff through google maps or the manufacturer’s website, depending on which luggage tracking device you choose. They all have similar features, sending you alerts by text or email when you are close to your bag or when the plane lands. A few even have proximity settings, letting you know when you are in a certain range.

Some of the best tracking devices even let you use them for children and pets, keeping track of them to make sure you know where they are at all times.

Why Use a Luggage Tracker?

The main reason to use one of these handy devices is because they allow you to track your luggage from the time you hand it over at your airline check-in until it is back in your hands when you reach your destination. This takes some of the worries out of air travel.

If your luggage is lost somewhere along the way, the best luggage tracker can tell you exactly where it is, making it easy to contact the airport it is now located at. You can give them all your information right away, so they can locate your bag and get it back to you as quickly as possible.

Luggage trackers are also quite versatile. Because of their small size, they can fit in almost any type of bag, from large suitcases to small purses, and everything in between. A small tracker device can even be used to keep an eye on your kids (or their car seat that you checked), elderly relatives, pets, and even wayward spouses. You’ll never be caught off guard with one of these at your disposal.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Luggage Tracker

Tracking Technology – GSM vs GPS vs Bluetooth

There are few different types of tracking technologies to choose from, all with their own benefits and flaws. But your favorite may not be the best luggage tracker for someone else. You need to figure out how and where you’re going to use it to know which one to buy.

Bluetooth is quite accurate, but you need to be within a certain range for it to locate the tracking devices. GPS trackers are also quite precise, giving you the best accuracy for pinpointing your luggage’s exact location. But this technology can be thrown off by natural or man-made obstacles.

GSM trackers are the least accurate, relying on mobile towers to get the info from the tracker to your phone. If service is good, there isn’t a problem, but for more remote areas where service is spotty, you may not be able to find your bag without help.

Tracking Range

When you are choosing your luggage tracker, the choice becomes much easier when you know where exactly you and your bags will be going. If you are only going to use your device for things you won’t be too far from, Bluetooth is a fine choice. This also works when you want to find your bag at baggage claim since it will be able to tell you how close it is to you. But for international use, Bluetooth won’t help you find lost luggage.

GSM and GPS are better for finding the luggage that has taken the long, scenic route to your destination. If your bag has ended up in another country, these two technologies have a huge range, locating your bags no matter where they end up.

The downside to GSM is that it relies on mobile networks, so if you are in an area that doesn’t support this technology, it isn’t going to be of much use to you. In those situations, the GPS satellites don’t rely on local networks and can send the info to you at any point on the globe.

Size

Size should never be an issue when it comes to luggage trackers. They are meant to be small, taking up very little space in your bag. Most of them are only a couple inches long, making it easy to tuck them in a small pocket in your suitcase.

But since many of these can be used for other purposes, you can find some that are only a fraction of the size of your smartphone. These tiny ones are great for purses, backpacks, with the smallest tracking device fitting onto your keyring without adding too much bulk.

These handy little devices also weigh next to nothing, so you won’t put yourself over any weight restrictions or throw out your back adding them to any of your bags. This will ensure you are always going to use it to keep your bags safe.

Battery Type & Life

When it comes to battery life, it all depends on which type of luggage locator device you choose. Since they are meant to find bags that have been lost, most of them have a long life. They could last anywhere from a couple of days to over a year. Of course, this depends on the type of battery there is inside the tracker.

If your luggage tracker has a rechargeable battery, it will likely last a few days to a few weeks. This is a necessity, since you may not be able to get your bag back too quickly if it ends up on another continent then you. These types of batteries usually charge using a USB cable, though some do come with a wall adapter.

There are a few that have changeable batteries They can run for about the same amount of time as a rechargeable battery, depending on the type and quantity of batteries uses.

Some manufacturers have taken the battery situation right out of your hands. These luggage trackers have an internal battery that can last for years. When it runs out, though, you need to buy a new tracker. Depending on the cost of the device, you may even save money this way, if you travel a lot and will be using up quite a few batteries in the same amount of time.

Durability

Since your luggage tracker is meant to ride with your suitcase through the rough handling of baggage carriers and tumultuous flights, they need to be quite durable. Most of the manufacturers have taken this into account, building their trackers out of heavy-duty plastics or metals.

The best luggage tracker will also have some type of waterproof coating or at least a weather resistant one. Traveling can lead you into all types of outdoor conditions, so you need a tracking device that will be able to withstand anything you will have to endure.

The trackers with keyrings or other attachable parts also need to be strong in these areas. Otherwise, you will lose them during your travels and you’ll have to spend your time locating the device that’s supposed to be protecting your luggage.

Versatility

The main use for the best luggage tracker is to keep track of the bags you’ve checked, making it easier to locate them either at the airport or anywhere else they’ve ended up. But some of these locator devices can be used for other purposes, so your daily life is as hassle-free as your travel adventures.

One use for these devices is to keep track of your purse, backpack, gym bag, or any other carry bag you use from day to day. They can also be placed in your car, helping locate it in case of theft. You can even attach some of these using a keyring, so you can keep track of such a small, easily lost item.

Another use for these is to keep those close members of the family on your radar when they are out of sight. You can set up geo-fencing in some models, which allows you to keep track of kids, elderly relatives, or pets. When they leave the designated area, an alert shows up, telling you where they are.

There are even a few models that let you keep track of your people in secret. These ones may come with magnetic attachments, letting you place them underneath a car to track it’s route when someone else is driving it. You can even set some of them up to notify you if that person has ended up at specific locations. For those who want to track their teenagers in secret, or maybe a wayward spouse, these can be a stealthy way to do so.

Smart Phone App

Some trackers require you to log into the company’s website or use google maps to locate your missing luggage. But if you don’t have access to the internet, this luggage tracker device isn’t going to be of any use until you find somewhere with Wi-Fi service to access this information.

That’s where a luggage tracking app on your Smartphone or tablet can come in handy. These don’t usually require an internet connection. The GSM models only require mobile coverage, so if you have cell service, you can use your app. The same goes for the GPS and Bluetooth devices, though they use satellite or proximity for their data.

Many of these offer a wide range of settings you can choose from, allowing you to customise your usage. They give you up-to-date info, sometimes updating the data every minute, giving you the most accurate information possible.

Fees

Some company’s charge certain fees for their devices. These can show up as monthly, bi-yearly, or yearly fees. Some of the best luggage tracker brands may also charge by the use.

When you are choosing which one is the right tracker for you, you need to consider how often you are going to use the device. This will tell you whether or not the fee is going to be worth it. For instance, if you plan on only using the tracker on your yearly vacation, you probably want to find one that allows you to pay when you actually use it.

If you travel for business quite regularly or plan to use your tracker during your normal daily activities to keep track of your valuables or family, then a decently priced annual fee is probably going to be worth the extra cost. This way, you can really get your money’s worth.

There are also a few lost luggage tracker devices that don’t include any fees other than the original purchase price. If these ones have the features you want, they are also a great option.

Flight Safe Modes

Because the use of many of our personal electronics is prohibited during air travel, the best luggage tracker models have all taken this into account. To meet these regulations set up by the FCC and FAA, these luggage tracking devices have included a specific set of features to comply with these rules.

You turn on the device when you put it in your bag. Then your luggage is placed inside the baggage compartment of the plane. When the plane lifts off, the device puts itself in safe mode or turns off altogether. Then, when the plane nears the airport, the tracker turns itself back on, alerting you to its location.

Though you can’t see your bags specific location during the actual flight, you will know exactly where it is the second it lands. If it is on a different plane than you are, you won’t be able to start the retrieval process until you land anyway, so this shouldn’t be an issue.

Price

If you want to find the best luggage tracker on the market to use on your travels, you can spend quite a bit of money to keep your belongings safe. The top of the line models can cost over $200.00, plus may have some fees added on top of that.

But you don’t need to spend a fortune to be able to track your bags, valuables, or family members. There are a few cheap tracking devices available, costing under $50.00. Of course, these ones may not have all the features of the pricier tracking devices.

If you want the bells and whistles, but don’t want to break the bank to track your stuff, you can find some middle of the road trackers. They have decent prices while still giving you great features to make your trips that much easier.

The Bottom Line: Which Luggage Tracker is Right For You?

There is a huge difference between losing your luggage for a day or two, and losing it for weeks, months, or never getting it back at all. Having the best luggage tracker in your bag can save you the trouble of wasting your vacation searching for your clothing and other necessities. Instead, you can find your bag, make a quick couple of calls, and wait for the airline to get your luggage back to you in record time.

If you prefer to travel on a budget, or just can’t afford any extras, but still want a great luggage tracker to take some of the worries out of air travel, the cheapest model on our list is the Tile Mate device. As well as having a great low price, this handy tracker is tiny enough to fit into any of your bags. It has a hole you can use to attach it to your keyring, to keep track of your smaller items as well.

When it comes to versatility, the Spytech Tracker has a variety of features that make it great for almost all types of use. It can be used for luggage, purses, keys, cars, and countless other types of valuable items. It works for any type of trip as well, from modern trips to outdoor adventures. You can also use it to keep track of anyone or anything at all times, whether they know it or not.

You can also read our guides to the top carry on garment bags, best travel duffels and anti theft bags.