The Best Wallet Trackers
[Buyers Guide 2023]
A Wallet Tracker is a small device that is usually designed to fit comfortably inside most men’s wallets. Its purpose is to add additional features to any wallet mainly the ability to track your wallet and its whereabouts using Bluetooth Tracking. Over the years wallet trackers have risen in popularity thanks to the release of Apple’s own AirTag. As technology continues to improve Wallet Trackers have not only come down in terms of size but also in costs. Bluetooth Trackers don’t have to be stored inside a wallet and can be handily attracted to keys, backpacks,s or really anything you want.
Today we’re going to look at some of the most popular and compelling Wallet Trackers on the market today. Which are the best, how is battery life, and what additional features, aside from tracking do some of these devices have? But first, let’s take a look at what exactly a wallet tracker is and how they actually work.
Wallet tracker vs smart wallet
Although they achieve the same thing there is quite a big distinction between a wallet tracker and Smart Wallet. A Wallet Tracker is a device that can be stored in most men’s wallets, usually the size of a credit/debit card or a small button. On the reverse side, you have what’s commonly referred to as a small wallet. These are wallets that have the same Tracking/Smart features, but the technology is infused and fixed within the wallet.
There are obviously advantages and disadvantages to both of these and it pays to first understand these before you decide on either one. The main advantage of a Wallet Tracker is the fact the tracking device can be removed and moved between different wallets. This means if you ever decide to purchase a new wallet you can simply move the Tracker over and still retain all the features for future wallets – forever. The one downside of Wallet trackers is they often take up space within a wallet and can often times bulk up adding unwanted weight and contents to your wallet.
Smart Wallets fix this problem by having the tracking technology hidden away and designed around the wallet itself. This reduces bulk and creates a cleaner and more elegant wallet. The final consideration is price. Wallet Trackers are by far much more affordable than any Smart Wallet on the market today. As we mentioned earlier, the cost of these devices has dropped considerably over just the last few years.
gps tracking vs bluetooth tracking
It’s not uncommon to think that all Wallet Trackers use some sort of GPS Technology when it comes to tracking – This is not the case. It’s worth looking at the differences between the two tracking technologies, including GPS, so you can make an informed decision as to which is best for you. Below are some differences between GPS and Bluetooth.
- Affordability: Bluetooth Tracking is very affordable meaning you can get your hands on a tracker for as little as $29.00. GPS Trackers are much more expensive usually starting at a price (for the cheapest) of $50.00+.
- Connection Range: GPS is global as it uses satellite technology. Conversely, Bluetooth only has a maximum range of 200 ft (60m).
- Battery Consumption: Bluetooth Low power is designed to use as little power, while GPS will use standard batteries for charging.
- Size: Bluetooth trackers can be as small as 31.9 mm and as thin as 2.15 mm. GPS Trackers are usually much larger as they need bigger and larger technology to use/power.
How does a Wallet Tracker Work?
Wallet Trackers are fairly simple in design compromising three main parts – The Battery, Chip, and Antenna. The Battery is one of the most important aspects of purchasing any tracker are you’d want it to last as long as possible without needing to be replaced. Most wallet trackers use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE or Bluetooth 4.0) to wirelessly connect to your devices. This low-energy alternative means your tracker isn’t technologically ‘on’ at all times and regularly transmits data periodically over time – basically they won’t drain your battery as many people think.
Next is the Chip. This is where about the magic happens and each tracker is going to have a slightly different chip depending on the brand. That being said, they’ll all work in the same way and the Chip is designed in a way to it uses as little power as possible. Finally, we have the Antenna. This is so the tracking device and your phone can communicate with each other.
unwanted tracking protection
As the name suggests Unwanted tracking is where people use Tracking devices to track the movement of other people without their knowledge. This new type of stalking is on the rise thanks to the affordability of Bluetooth Trackers and the way they can be easily hidden. It’s no surprise that people have found random AirTag hidden in their cars or elsewhere. It’s an incredibly frightening and big issue that Tracking companies need to address going forward. Eva Galperin, a cyber security expert had this to say about the issues.
“If you create an item that is useful for tracking stolen items, then you have also created a perfect tool for stalking. I have personally talked to several people who have found AirTags in their possession, Apple was aware, long before it released AirTags, that they could be used for criminal activity. On releasing them, Apple said that “AirTags are designed to track items, not people”. – Eva Galperin
Over the years many tracking brands have had to develop systems to help protect consumers against unwanted tracking. While there’s still a lot that can be learned about how these devices are being used by people with malicious intent, overall, most people shouldn’t have to worry. Below are just a few of the systems, and how they work, those companies are using them to prevent unwanted tracking.
- Safety Alerts: These Safety Alerts are only triggered when a Tracker is separated from its owner for a longer period of time. This means that if someone has planted a tracker on you you’ll receive an alert on your phone telling you this.
- Noise Alerts: Similar to text alerts that would appear on your phone. Many Wallet Trackers also include the ability to sound an alarm. This is not only useful if you’ve lost your wallet, but critical to alert you to Trackers who may be following you.
- Cross Compatibility App: Due to the fact Apple AirTags cannot be used on Android devices, Apple has been forced to release an Android App users can download. This then provides people who have Android devices with a way to detect unwanted AirTags.
Tile Slim Tracker
Self-funded by an open-source platform in 2012, Tile is another large powerhouse in the game of wallet trackers. Having raised over 2.6 million in pre-orders in 2013, Tile quickly rose to become the biggest player in the smart tracking world and continues to dominate and innovate in the market. With a range of five different styles of trackers (from keychains, fobs, and stickers), the best Tile product for storing in a wallet is the Tile Slim Card.
The Wallet Tracker paves the way in terms of its thinness coming in at the same dimensions as a standard credit/debit card and has a thickness of just 2.5 mm. This makes the Tile our top choice when it comes to comfort and its ability to easily be stored in any wallet with ease. Along with this, the Tile has some pretty sweet specs. Although the battery is non-replaceable it lasts up to 3 years and with water resistance (IP67) it can even weather the weather pretty well.
Other Tile Features:
- Range: Up to 250 ft / 76 meters.
- Smart Home Finding: Use your voice to find things around the house with Tile’s integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
- Location History: The incredible Tile App (available on both IOS & Android) anonymously tracks and stores your most recent location history.
- Lost & Found System: Each Tile Tracker comes with a unique QR Code. If somebody finds your device they can scan it and return it to you.
Overall, the Tile Card is a fantastic and affordable smart tracker coming in at a price tag of just $29.95 it’s competitively priced and worth every cent. Its huge network and support of devices make it one of the most accurate and accessible to users and its incredible size make it perfect for storing in most standard wallets. For more information on the Tile Slim Card, and to check out their full range of trackers, visit their official website by clicking the link below.
Chipolo Card Tracker
The Chipolo was one of the first smart trackers in the game. They first came onto the scene after their Kickstarter campaign, in 2013, went viral and managed to raise nearly $300,000 in one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns that year. From here, they’ve gone on to become a huge global brand and have vastly improved their Tracker with a wide variety of features and functions. To this day, Chipolo has one of the largest networks of tracking devices in the world.
The Tracker we’re going to recommend today for use within a wallet is the Chipolo Card. This tiny little rectangular-shaped card comes in at a tiny size of just 37 mm x 68 mm and a thinness of just 2.15 mm, making it perfect for easy storage in any wallet. But don’t let its size deceive you. The Chipolo Card packs a punch in terms of functionality allowing for a max range of 200 ft – line of sight (60 m) with features including range alerts, sharing options, and voice control.
Other Chipolo Features:
- Voice Control: Integrate your Chipolo with Google, Alexa, and Siri.
- Change Ringtone: Choose from different ringtones to set how your Chipolo rings.
- Selfie Mode: Allows for the Chipolo to be used as a wireless remote to take photos.
- Community Search: Lost your Chipolo? Use their community feature to anonymously find and locate it.
At a price tag of just $30.00, the Chipolo Card is highly affordable and backed up by the amazing community and network that’s been developed over the past 10 years. The biggest downside to the Chipolo Card is its battery life. Although the Tracker can last up to 1 year its inability to remove and replace its battery is a real hindrance and something that comes with having a device so small.
Instead, Chipolo has a renewal program that allows you to send in lifeless Chipolos to get recycled. You can then pick up a new one at half the price. For more information on the Chipolo Card check out their official website using the link below.
Ekster Tracker Card
Ekster is one of the largest independent wallet brands in the world. First founded through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2016 they’ve gone on to create a wide array of clever and attractive everyday carry accessories for the masses. With their best-selling product being a wallet (The Ekster Parliament Wallet) it’s expected that Ekster would dive into the world of Wallet Trackers. They’ve done so with their little Ekster Tracker Card. I’ve reviewed this card before (which you can see in our full review) and only have positive things to say about it.
Like other wallet trackers, this uses Bluetooth Tracking. Ekster is actually using technology borrowed from Chipolo so when you purchase an Ekster Card you’re basically getting the same engine provided by any of the trackers from Chipolo. That being said, the Ekster Card does have some distinct and unique differences compared to products in the Chipolo line.
The first is its unique design. It comes in at a size of 0.75 x 10.5 x 6 cm which is basically the size of a standard credit/debit card but thicker. As discussed before, this is so these trackers can fit inside a typical credit/debit card slot in any wallet. It has a lovely smooth matte texture and the overall look, feel and design is beautiful.
Other Ekster Features:
- Solar Powered: The first and only solar-powered wallet tracker on the market.
- Voice Activation: Compatible with Siri and other voice-activated networks.
- Selfie Mode: Use the tracker as a way to take photos, easily and on the move.
- Two-Way Ringing: Allows you to ‘ring’ your wallet from your phone, and vice-versa.
Overall we loved using the Ekster Tracker Card. Its beautiful design and use of solar energy to charge the device means I don’t need to worry about replacing fiddling batteries which is great. It comes in at a price tag of $49.00 which is about standard for tracking cards this year. For more information on the Ekster Tracker Card check out their official website using the link below.
Apple’s AirTag
One of the main reasons Wallet Trackers have taken off as big as they have. Apple entered the Tracking game back in April 2021. This revolutionized the smart tracking world as suddenly the concept of tracking devices was propelled into the mainstream backed by the technology powerhouse that is Apple Inc.
The first thing to note about the AirTag is its unusual shape. It resembles a flat circular pebble coming in at the tiny size of 31.9 mm x Height: 8.0 mm. The main reason I mention this is its odd shape doesn’t fit well in many wallets. Due to this, the advent of a new style of wallet dubbed AirTag Wallets has grown in popularity. These are a style of wallet that has been developed to accommodate AirTags including dedicated slots that precisely fit them.
For tracking Apple’s technology capitalizes and benefits from the huge network of Apple devices across the world. This makes Apple AirTag by far the most accurate and widely used tracking network currently available on the market. Utilizing Apple’s ‘Find My’ Network’, The AirTag uses Precision Finding which is Apple’s term for a system that allows you to see the distance to your AirTag and the direction to head in — all thanks to Ultra Wideband technology (not all Apple Devices are compatible).
Other AirTag Features:
- Water resistance IP67: Maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes.
- Privacy: Location data and history is not stored in the AirTag, are anonymous and encrypted for peace of mind and security.
- Free Personalization: You can also get your AirTag engraved and personalized with an emoji or initials – free of charge.
Overall, The AirTag is a fantastic addition to the tracking world and provides an easy way to further integrate yourself into Apple’s ecosystem. If you’re not an Apple fan and don’t own any Apple products, then this definitely isn’t the right smart tracker for you. The AirTag doesn’t work on Android devices nor is there any chance of this being the case in the future.
You’ll also need to consider the fact you’ll need to purchase a dedicated AirTag Wallet for the device to comfortably fit inside your wallet. At a price tag of $29.00, the AirTag is highly affordable. Well done apple, you’re actually cheaper for once. For more information on Apple’s AirTag visit their official website using the link below.
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James Thomas
Reviewer of Wallets
Hi, I’m James and I’m the owner, author, and self-proclaimed ‘wallet expert’ here at All The Wallets. I’ve been reviewing wallets for over 10 years and have amassed a collection of over 500 wallets. I’m here to provide you with impartial reviews, information, and news on men’s wallets from across the world. All The Wallets is here to provide you with a trusted source, and directory of some of the biggest and smallest wallet brands and help you make the best decision possible when choosing your next wallet. Learn more about me here.
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