Key finders are devices that help you find your keys or other personal items when they’ve somehow gotten away from you. Most key finders are controlled via your smartphone using Bluetooth and, at the press of a button, will beep or sing a song to help you track down your keys, your cat, or whatever else you’ve attached the finder onto. We’ve selected and reviewed the best key finders below.
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $34.95 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $24.95 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $29.95 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $24.99 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $29.95 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $34.95 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
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Amazon Customer Reviews
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Price: $9.01 Shop at Amazon | Shop now Read our review |
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1. Tile Pro | Best Overall Key Finder
Pros:- Huge 300ft discovery range
- Powerful volume capabilities (2x louder than Tile Mate)
- Stylish design with two color options
- Replaceable battery
- Built-in Alexa integration
- Smartphone app can help you find items outside of Bluetooth range
- Can push a button on the Tile to find your phone
- IP55 dust and water resistant
Cons:- Limited discovery options for items outside of range
- Relatively expensive for a single tracker
- May be too large for some keychains
The Tile Pro is our choice for the best overall key finder. It has everything that you could want from a key tracker—tremendous Bluetooth range, loud volume, comprehensive smartphone/smart assistant integration, and solid build quality—for about the same price as many of its competitors. The Tile Pro also comes with a replaceable battery, which means that it could last you for many years before you have to replace it.
The Tile Pro has dimensions of 41.6mm x 41.6mm x 6.5mm and weighs just 15.5g. It is perfectly sized for use on a keychain, a pet’s collar, or even for mounting on an electronic device. What differentiates the Tile Pro from other products on this list is its incredible detection range and its loud volume. The Tile Pro has a maximum Bluetooth range of 300ft, which is about 100ft more than all but one other product on this list. The Tile Pro also has one of the loudest volumes of any product on this list—twice as loud as the Tile Mate listed below. These features are excellent when paired together, because the increased range allows you to connect with your Tile from further away, and the loud volume makes it easier for you to actually find it.
The Tile Pro comes with a handful of great features shared by all of the products in the Tile ecosystem, including Alexa integration (e.g. “Alexa, find my keys.”), a last-known location feature, a community finding feature, and the ability to push a button on the Tile to make your phone ring. The last-known location feature allows you to open the Tile app and see the last-known location of your Tile. This can give you a place to start if you lose your keys somewhere outside of the Bluetooth range. Another great feature with a similar purpose is the community finding feature. If a Tile device enters the range of your missing Tile, you will receive an anonymous notification of that device’s location. This is another way to find your missing keys or other personal items, even if they are outside of the Bluetooth range.
The biggest downside of the Tile Pro is that the last-known location feature and the community finding feature do not work as well as you would hope that they would. It’s great to have these features included with the app, but many users have had mixed results using them.
Aside from that, however, the Tile Pro is easily the best key finder available today. It has best-in-class volume and range and it’s an attractive option for anyone in the market for a key finder.
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2. Tile Mate | Most Portable Key Finder
Pros:- Even more portable than Tile Pro
- 150ft range is sufficient for most people's needs
- Stylish design with two color options
- Replaceable battery
- Fifty-percent louder than Tile Slim
- IP55 dust and water resistant
Cons:- Half the volume of the Tile Pro
- Half the range of the Tile Pro
- Limited recovery options if Tile goes out of range
- Somewhat expensive for a single tracker
The Tile Mate comes with all of the same features as the Tile Pro but has a shorter range, a lower volume, and a slightly reduced price. It is also a good deal smaller than the Tile Pro, making it a great choice if you want to keep your keys as lightweight as possible. With a weight of only 7g, the Tile Mate is a device you can attach to your keychain and hardly even notice that it’s there.
The biggest reason you would consider purchasing the Tile Mate over the Tile Pro is its reduced size. The Tile Mate is more than 50% lighter than the Tile Pro and has about 30% less surface area. This makes it an attractive option if you’re looking for a small device that won’t weigh you down.
However, the Tile Mate’s smaller size does come with some costs: The Tile Mate has half the range of the Tile Pro (150ft) and about half the volume. This means that you will need to be closer to your keys in order for your phone to be able to detect the Tile’s signal and that you may have a harder time pinpointing their location with your ears. Whether or not this tradeoff is worth the greater portability is something you’ll need to figure out for yourself, but it’s nice to have the option either way.
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3. Cube Pro Key Finder | A Great Tile Alternative
Pros:- Large 200ft range
- Replaceable battery
- Selfie remote feature is awesome
- IP67 dustproof and waterproof
- Durable metal design
- Comes with one spare battery
Cons:- More expensive than Tile Pro and Tile Mate
- Questionable battery life
- Quality control issues
The Cube Pro is a fantastic key finder that is highlighted by its durability and stylish design. While both of the above products from Tile are rated IP55 for dust- and water-resistance, the Cube Pro is rated IP67, meaning it can be submerged in up to a meter of water without damaging the device. The Cube Pro also has an attractive metallic border that reinforces its identity as a premium product with an emphasis on durability.
Aside from the above differences, the Cube Pro shares many similarities with the Tile Pro: It has the same dimensions (42mm x 42mm x 6.5mm) and also comes with many of the same features, including a smartphone app, a replaceable battery, last-known location tracking, community finding, built-in Alexa integration, and the ability to make your phone ring by pushing the button on the key finder. One unique feature of the Cube is that you can use the button on its face to take picture or videos on your smartphone, which is random but also awesome.
The biggest shortcomings of the Cube Pro compared to the Tile Pro are its shorter 200ft range and its increased price. The Tile Pro has a listed range that is 50% longer than the Cube Pro, which means that there may be some instances in which you would be able to connect with your Tile that you wouldn’t be able to your Cube. That being said, the range of the Cube Pro is still quite long compared to most other products on this list and is likely to be sufficient for most people’s needs.
Likewise, the difference in price between the two products is noticeable but not outrageous. You really can’t go wrong with either of these products, and it’s just a matter of purchasing the one that seems like a better fit for your priorities.
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4. Esky Key FInder | Best Value Key Finder
Pros:- Includes 6 tracker devices for the price of one big-name tracker
- Comes with a base station and does not require a smartphone
- 12-month replacement warranty
- Replaceable batteries
Cons:- A little larger than other trackers
- No smartphone integration
- Short range (50-100ft)
- Sound could be louder (75-80dB)
Now for something a little different, the Esky Key Finder comes with six key finders for roughly the same price as one of the finders from Tile and Cube. Unlike the above products, the Esky does not have a partner smartphone app. Instead, it includes its own base station which serves as the hub from which you can ping the differently colored finders using their respective buttons.
The big selling points of the Esky key finding system are that it is a great value and that it does not require a smartphone. This makes the Esky Key Finder an attractive option if you are looking to keep track of multiple items around the house, rather than a single set of keys. Each finder has dimensions of 1.85in x 1.26in x 0.2in, making them well-sized for everything from keychains to TV remotes. And the base station design makes it easy for the whole family to find what they need when they need it, which might be more difficult with a smartphone system.
The biggest shortcomings of the Esky Key Finder are that it has a lower range and lower volume than many of the other products on this list. The Esky’s effective range is just 40ft-82ft of open space, which means that you will likely need to be in the same room with your missing item before the station will be able to connect with the receiver. Likewise, the Esky receivers have a beep volume of just 75-80dB, which is about 30dB lower than the volume of the Cube Pro. This low volume can make finding your items harder than it could be, simply because it is more difficult to pinpoint their location using your ears.
In sum, the Esky Key Finder is a great option if you have several items that you would like to better keep track of. Paying this price for this many trackers is a great deal by all accounts, but the receivers themselves are not as high-quality as those made by Tile or Cube. If you don’t need the extra receivers and really just want to keep track of your keys, then you’ll probably be better off with one of the above products.
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5. KeyRinger Key Finder | Loudest Key Finder
Pros:- Includes two finders
- No smartphone required
- Extraordinarily loud
- 300ft range
- KeyRingers can call each other or be called from your computer, smartphone, or tablet
- Flashes lights when called
- Replaceable battery
- KeyRingers can be called simultaneously or individually
Cons:- No smartphone app
- Less attractive than other key finders
- Bulkier than other key finders
The KeyRinger Key Finder advertises itself as the loudest key finder currently on the market. Not only is it loud, but it also comes with two finders for close to the same price as one of the finders by Tile or Cube, making it a great value if you have multiple sets of keys (or keys and another item) that you want to keep track of. If you’re hard of hearing or are tired of straining your ears listening for the faint beeping of lower-quality products, then the KeyRinger Key Finder may be the best key finder for you.
Perhaps the best thing about the KeyRinger, aside from its volume, is the flexibility it offers for activating the ringers. You can use one ringer to call the other, or you can call one or both ringers from your computer, smartphone, or tablet using an app on the KeyRinger website. You can even get multiple sets of KeyRingers and call them all at the same time.
Other standout features of the KeyRinger include the 300ft range, the replaceable batteries, and the built-in lights that flash when the KeyRinger is called. The flashing lights are a nice touch, as they can make your keys or other personal items much easier to spot in the dark.
Downsides of the KeyRinger primarily relate to the look and size of the device: The KeyRinger is bulkier and less attractive than all of the other products on this list. However, it’s a great key finder in almost every other respect and is well worth a closer look.
Find more KeyRinger Key Finder information and reviews here.
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6. Cube Shadow
Pros:- Super slim (2mm)
- Perfect for wallets
- Great 200ft range
- Includes adhesive tape for attaching to various objects
- Rechargeable battery
- 2x the volume of original Cube
- IP67 waterproof
- Can use button to take pictures or videos
Cons:- Expensive
- No keyhole
- Made by a lesser-known brand than Tile
The Cube Shadow is arguably the best wallet tracker currently available. It sports a super sleek all-black design and comes with all of the features you would want in a wallet tracker, including last-known location tracking, a loud ringer volume, a community finding feature, and a 200ft Bluetooth range. Plus, with a width of only 2mm, the Cube Shadow is small enough to fit into a credit card slot inside any wallet.
Using the Cube Shadow couldn’t be easier: Simply pair the Shadow with the Cube app on your mobile device, and then you can use the app to activate the Shadow’s ringer to help you find your wallet. Alternatively, you can push the button on the Shadow and make your phone ring, which is great for those days when you’re able to track down your wallet but need some help finding your phone. This same button on the Shadow can also be used to take pictures or videos using your phone’s camera, which is an unusual but awesome addition.
One feature of the Cube Shadow that differentiates it from other products on this list is that it is IP67-rated for dust- and water-resistance. The Shadow can be fully submerged in up to a meter of water for thirty minutes without sustaining any damage to the device. Most people won’t be intentionally dunking their wallets in water anytime soon, but some level of waterproofing is great for protecting your tracker from rain or accidental spills.
A final noteworthy feature of the Cube Shadow is that it has a rechargeable battery. This is great because, unlike many other products on this list, you won’t have to buy a replacement battery for the device. The battery on the Shadow will need charging roughly every two months.
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7. Tile Slim
Pros:- Thinnest Tile tracker available
- IP57 water-resistant
- Intuitive Tile app
- Can be used to find your phone
- Compatible with Alexa
Cons:- You must buy another device when the battery dies
- Not very loud
- Limited range
- Button placement makes it easy to activate accidentally
At just 2.4mm thick, the Tile Slim is Tile’s thinnest tracking device, making it a natural fit for use as a wallet tracker. The Tile Slim is an affordable alternative to the Cube Shadow that comes with many of the same features, including last-known location tracking, community finding, and the ability to ring your phone by pressing a button on the Tile. The Slim makes some sacrifices in terms of ringer volume and Bluetooth range, but it is made by the most reputable manufacturer in the business and it’s available at a very competitive price.
The best thing about the Tile Slim is its portability. The Slim is about as thick as two credit cards and weighs only 9.3 grams, making it one of the lightest trackers on this list. You’ll have no problems tucking the Slim into most wallets, purses, or handbags. Its thinness also makes it a good option for attaching to electronic devices like smartphones, TV remotes, or tablets.
Like all Tile products, the Tile Slim works in conjunction with the Tile smartphone app. The app is well designed and easy to use. Activating the Tile Slim’s ringer is as simple as pressing a button on the app, and the app’s additional features are similarly straightforward. A big selling point of the Tile Slim is that it is the thinnest tracker available that will give you access to the Tile app software.
The Tile Slim has a few noteworthy downsides, especially compared to the Cube Shadow listed above. The most significant issues are the rather short 100ft range and the low ringer volume. Many reviewers have reported issues with hearing the Slim, even when they are in the same room as the device. Placing the Slim in a wallet exacerbates this issue because the wallet muffles the ringing.
Other users have reported that the button on the Slim that allows you to ring your phone is too easy to press, especially if you are someone who keeps your wallet in your back pocket. The button is located dead-center in the middle of the Tile, and you might find yourself accidentally pushing the button every time you sit down.
A final shortcoming is that the Slim does not have a replaceable battery. This is in contrast to the Cube Shadow, which has a rechargeable battery, and the Tile Pro and Tile Mate (below), both of which have replaceable batteries. The Slim’s battery is advertised to last for about 12 months, after which you will need to buy a completely new Slim.
Considering these shortcomings, the Tile Slim is best reserved for Tile loyalists who want the thinnest tracker available. If you’re willing to try a product made by a manufacturer other than Tile, the Cube Shadow listed above is a superior option in most respects. If you’re willing to get a tracker that is a little thicker, then take a look at the Tile Pro and Tile Mate listed below.
Choosing a Key Finder
Choosing a key finder comes down to style, range, volume, and extra features. The Tile Mate, Tile Pro, and Cube Pro are all premium key finders that look great and come with a host of extra features facilitated by their smartphone apps. Some of the most noteworthy features are oriented around helping you find your keys when they are outside of the Bluetooth range. These products also have good-to-great Bluetooth ranges and beeper volumes, which can be really helpful when you're trying to find your keys and get to work on time.
All of this is in contrast to the Esky and KeyRinger key finders, which are less stylish products that put a greater emphasis on value. The Esky Key Ringer gets you six receivers for about the same price you'd pay for a single Tile Pro. Likewise, the KeyRinger comes with two ringers, which is appealing if you have at least two items that you are hoping to keep track of. These products don't double as stylish accessories in the same way that the Tile and Cube products do, but they get the job done when you need them to.
Whichever option you choose, be sure to keep in mind that you will need to replace your key finder's batteries after around one year.