One thing I do every time I leave the house is check for the “big three” things — keys, phone, wallet. One of the most frustrating things is being ready to leave your house, and you can’t find one of these things. I typically know where my phone is, and my wallet is either on my night stand or in the back pocket of yesterday’s jeans, but my keys are always somewhere different. That is why with one part frustration and one part determined resolve to solve this issue, I set out to find the best key finder app.
Essentially, a key finder app pairs with a product that you attach to your keys like a keychain. Your phone sends a signal to the best key finder app device, and it “pings” so that you can listen and locate your phone.
I found a number of different brands and products that are meant to help with this issue — Tile Mate, Tile Sport, Tile Slim, Trackr Bravo & Trackr Pixel. Each of these key finder app products use your phone’s bluetooth capabilities to send a signal to a device attached to your keys. You can also attach these devices to other important items that are easily lost around the home or office, making these great items to add to your smart home.
Another feature that makes each of these best key finder apps unique is that once you register the product to you, if you were to lose it in public, anyone else can find your contact info and return the product to you. Tile has a larger community of users than does Trackr, making for a better chance someone who can return your device to you.
Key Finder App Reviews
Tile Mate Review
The Tile Mate has decent range, which can reach up to 100 feet. When comparing between the Tile Mate and Tile Sport, you’ll find a slight cost savings. It is also the smallest (though not the slimmest) tile product. Another great feature, is that you can use the Tile Mate, Sport & Slim to also ping your phone in case you can’t find it. There is no charging required, and the battery will last at least a year, and sometimes longer if you don’t use it very often.
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Tile Sport Review
The Tile Sport is a slightly larger version of the Tile Mate, and boast basically the same feature set as the Tile Mate. The upgrades come in the form of waterproof casing, extended range (200 feet vs 100 feet), and a louder ping.
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Tile Slim Review
The Tile Slim is larger and thinner than the Tile Mate & Sport. This is not the best key finder app because the size doesn’t work for a key chair, but it is ideal for anyone who would use in their wallet or in a passport. The feature set is the same as the Tile Mate, boasting a year’s battery life, 100 foot range, and the lower volume indicator. All the tile products work with your home’s Smart Speaker, making it easy to have Alexa or Google start the search for your keys.
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TrackR Bravo Review
One key difference you get in Trackr Bravo vs Trackr Pixel that you don’t get in the Tile series best key finder app is that these come with batteries that can be replaced — for free. Batteries last about 2 months before they go bad, which can be a headache having to replace on something you don’t use very often. The aluminum design looks and feels great, but the range is limited to 100 feet, and the product is not waterproof. Sound-wise, it is louder than the Tile Mate & Slim, but quieter than the Tile Sport.
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TrackR Pixel Review
The Trackr Pixel, compared the the Bravo, is slightly smaller and made of plastic instead of aluminum. It is the smallest of all the best key finder apps we tested, which does have some value when you are considering something you put in your pocket. The battery also needs to be replaced every 2 months, and the volume only reaches to about 100 feet.
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Final Verdict: Tile Mate vs Tile Sport vs Tile Slim vs Trackr Bravo vs Pixel
Best Key Find App Winner: Tile Sport
The Tile Sport has the best range, best community, and has the best feature set. When it comes down to being a few dollars more expensive, it’s worth it. While it doesn’t have replaceable batteries, you’ll appreciate the quality materials and ability to ping your phone from your keys, or ping your keys from your phone.
