I found a wallet tracker that works as well as an AirTag – and it's only $18

What’s the deal?

The SwitchBot Wallet Tracker Card is a Bluetooth tracker compatible with the Apple Find My network, available for $20 with a limited-time deal.

Losing stuff is a huge issue in my home. My husband constantly loses his keys and wallet, and my youngest kid is obsessed with throwing stuff in the garbage can. Said kid has already thrown out three car keys in the past two years. 

This constant battle has resulted in all the most important items in my home having a Bluetooth tracker attached — even my kids themselves when we go out. But putting an AirTag in a wallet isn’t as easy as it could be, so I’ve been testing the SwitchBot Wallet Tracker Card, and it’s made it hard to return to other options.

This tracker resembles a thick credit card, so it seamlessly fits any wallet that can fit standard cards. At only 2.5 mm, it’s slightly thicker than a coin but much thinner than an Apple AirTag, which is 8mm thick. 

One thing to note, however, is that the SwitchBot Wallet Tracker Card only works with the Apple Find My network, so it’s incompatible with Android devices. It’s like the AirTag version of a wallet tracker, but not made by Apple. 

Unlike an AirTag, this SwitchBot tracker boasts up to three years of battery life. Instead of a CR2032 replaceable coin battery, the SwitchBot Wallet Tracker Card’s battery can’t be replaced or recharged, so you’d have to toss it after it dies. But it’s IP67 rated for water and dust resistance, while the AirTag isn’t (but you can buy a separate waterproof case for it). 

The truth is that many third-party trackers compatible with the Apple Find My network aren’t as reliable as the Apple AirTag. This SwitchBot Wallet Tracker Card isn’t like that.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well this third-party tracker worked with the Find My network and how close its performance was to AirTag’s. The tracker worked successfully each time I tested it, and each time I misplaced my wallet. Furthermore, its loss prevention feature was reliable each time, alerting me with a phone notification from the Find My app every single time I left my wallet behind.

Though third-party trackers have issues staying connected to the Apple Find My app, this hasn’t been the case with the SwitchBot Wallet Tracker Card. You can also share this device with others like you can with an AirTag. The tracker card has a button you can press if you want your phone to make a sound when lost.

To top it all off, the SwitchBot Wallet Tracker Card is NFC card compatible, so you can use it to unlock SwitchBot smart locks with just a tap.

ZDNET’s buying advice

I’d recommend this wallet tracker to any iPhone user looking for a reliable solution to track different devices, from wallets to luggage to parked cars. It does as much as an AirTag and then some, with the added functionalities of letting you find your phone, being NFC compatible, and having different sounds to play when lost.

While the AirTag can easily slip into pockets, it requires a separate accessory to attach it to a keychain, wallet, or wristband. The SwitchBot Wallet Tracker Card has a hole in one corner and includes a strap to hold it easily or attach it to different items. It’s also cheaper than an AirTag, which makes it even better.