Best Item Finders in 2022

Last update: December 8, 2022

Tile Mate (2018) - 1 Pack Review:


I purchased a 4-pack specifically to keep track of my three indoor cats in case they escaped. The fourth I hung on my key chain.The App's setup was simple enough. In the house, I tested the Tiles. A green circle surrounded the image when the keys or kittens were nearby, and when I tapped the green "Find" bar, the Tile buzzed and played a tinny music.I placed the tiles on the collars of the cats. Every day, I check the "Find" feature within the house to make sure it has been updated.The challenging aspect is that one of my cats escaped during the night. She is 17. The Tile green "Find" bar indicated that she had likely remained nearby in the backyard. I pressed the bar, and the thin song began. However, it was difficult to see the cat, who appeared to be camped out behind my back deck (there is less than 6 inch gap under deck).She either didn't become scared enough to come out or she became scared enough to walk away from me and toward the building line. And as she moved away, the melody got lower and tinnier until it was nearly undetectable. I gave up and went to bed because it was a work night, it was cold outside in November, the wind was howling, I had yelled her name, shaken kibble, put out a can of tunafish, etc. I got out of bed this morning in the hopes that she was still within the Tile range. no luck. Either she has moved out of range or the Tile's battery has run out. I don't think it's the battery because she's only worn the Tile for a month. How does the Tile assist me, though, if she wanders beyond of the 150-foot range? The business claims that I can go to a spot in the hopes of discovering my lost cat if another Tile user buzzes to it. However, there isn't a simple way for me to alert Tile users in my neighborhood. I think I've returned to my old practice of taping paper flyers to the trees in my neighborhood.Additionally, the Tile was "last spotted November 1st," according to the App screen. No, yesterday was November 20, I believe.I spoke with Tile customer support for about two hours. They are ineffective. They employed circular reasoning when they claimed that IF I was close to my lost Tile, they might be able to troubleshoot. GrrrI genuinely hope my cat is still alive, but I had to publish this review to save other pet owners who are searching for a solution the pain I experienced. According to my research on Amazon, a GPS tracker would be more precise, but they are mostly made for dogs and are simply too large for cats.I feel such sadness. If you don't want to track things or dogs that are already inside the house, don't purchase a Tile. Tile will locate my remote and start the music if I misplace it someplace in the living room. Outside, however, forget it. I'm looking for a collar-mounted gadget that can send a signal to a satellite, provide me with a real-time GPS map, and pinpoint my cat's location to within a few feet. And I'd be happy to pay for that. But for cats, it doesn't exist—at least not on Amazon.The narrative has a happy conclusion, but I wouldn't have known it without the Tile. UPDATE 11/23/18 I reasoned that even if the cat had passed away, the Tile must still be transmitting if the battery hadn't gone. I made the decision to leave my property and round the block in the hopes that she might be closer than the 150-foot range but still within range of the Tile.Midway down the following block, when I had rounded the corner, the Tile app buzzed, and the Green bar appeared. It indicated that the cat was nearby. I was standing in front of a house that was entirely in the dark and had a massive pickup truck on steroids parked in the driveway. I went up to the truck. I noticed a huge fence at the end of the driveway, and just past the gate, I could see another car covered in a tarp. I might be able to find her if she was in front of the fence. There was no way I could (trespass and) scale that fence if she was behind it. Of course, there was sufficient clearance for a cat to get over the fence and hide behind the car beneath the tarp. The chances were 50/50. Of course I called my cat's name, but she's not the kind to respond or approach people when called. Despite being attractive, she is distant.When I clicked "Find," the tiny melody started playing. Thankfully, it seemed to be emerging from beneath the truck that was parked in the driveway in front of the fence. I knelt down to inspect the truck's undercarriage. No cat. I called my diminutive lover. He arrived shortly after with a flashlight. When I pushed the button once more, he crawled underneath the truck and discovered the cat that was lurking in the wheel well. Fortunately, she simply ducked in panic and he grabbed her. He handed her to me in the order of 1-2-3, and I embraced and gripped her tightly behind the scruff of her neck. She was drenched in grease and had serious dehydration, yet she was still alive.We took the long trek home, and as soon as we entered, I set down a can of wet cat food. She devoured half of the can. Then he vanished so he could rest and recover. She was still oily the next morning, but she seemed happy and ready for breakfast in the picture I shared. I updated my review after getting my cherished pet back thanks to The Tile.The bottom line is that without the Tile App linking to her collar and her being within 100 feet, I would not have been able to locate my cat. If she had been underneath that other car, out of sight, forget it. But if I hadn't had the Tile app, I might have wandered the neighborhood screaming her name and rattling the kibble without realizing she was hiding in the pickup truck. In this sense, it was a success. The missing pet must be located, so you must exit the building and search the area while carrying the Tile. I now realize that my error was in delaying going in search of her after I lost contact. In this case, I was incredibly fortunate. Nevertheless, I'm still looking into my GPS tracking alternatives since I want something that would show me where my cat is without requiring me to walk around and pray for a Bluetooth connection.Definitely a Thanksgiving Miracle.



Tile Mate (2018) - 4 Pack Review:


I travel the world for work and am a pretty fast mover. At my worst multitasking moments, I occasionally lose track of one thing, usually my phone or wallet, but fortunately not my backpack (yet). Yes, I've occasionally had to use Tile to find my bags.These tiles have "saved me" two times in particular.First, I went shopping for clothes but left the store empty-handed before getting into my car. Panic. In my wallet, in the changing area of a clothes store, was where my phone had last communicated with the Tile, according to the phone app, which I was able to check. Thankfully, it was still there when I ran back. It must have come loose while getting dressed.In Paris CDG, tile "saved" me a second time. My luggage was delivered to the wrong glass-enclosed section of the arrivals halls. You can wander through the other baggage claim sections after waiting 4 hours and leaving because your luggage isn't arriving, and sure enough, my tile went off! Found! I could see my bags along a back wall when I glanced through the window. The incorrect luggage hall had received it!There is no better feeling than claiming your luggage and continuing your journey after an overnight flight only to discover that your luggage is missing, leaving you without sleep and four more hours of waiting. (I had to knock on the glass, provide my passport, and go through a specific process to be in, but it was worth it!)My luggage has frequently arrived last or late in the past. I can unwind by marking my tile as lost, and it will notify me when it approaches. The anxiety of closely observing the luggage claim is reduced by this.I just used a few tiles when I first started. I now possess a number. I briefly went insane, but now I'm back to normal.My three primary Tile harbingers are my bag, wallet, luggage, and occasionally a travel backpack or another object that is a "hot subject" and about which I am more concerned than usual. I've never experienced one malfunction prior to the battery's expiration date.Another person in the Tile network may be able to "assist you" discover items if they happen to pass by your lost tile before you do. That brings me to my final point. The size of the network is an important component of the device. I'm not sure how big or little it is in comparison to other things, but I'd assume it's bigger. Is anyone aware?very happy client of Tile. Fully and heartily endorse.



Tile Mate (2018) and Tile Slim (2016) - 4 Pack (2 x Mate, 2 x Slim) Review:


I purchased a 4-pack specifically to keep track of my three indoor cats in case they escaped. The fourth I hung on my key chain.The App's setup was simple enough. In the house, I tested the Tiles. A green circle surrounded the image when the keys or kittens were nearby, and when I tapped the green "Find" bar, the Tile buzzed and played a tinny music.I placed the tiles on the collars of the cats. Every day, I check the "Find" feature within the house to make sure it has been updated.The challenging aspect is that one of my cats escaped during the night. She is 17. The Tile green "Find" bar indicated that she had likely remained nearby in the backyard. I pressed the bar, and the thin song began. However, it was difficult to see the cat, who appeared to be camped out behind my back deck (there is less than 6 inch gap under deck).She either didn't become scared enough to come out or she became scared enough to walk away from me and toward the building line. And as she moved away, the melody got lower and tinnier until it was nearly undetectable. I gave up and went to bed because it was a work night, it was cold outside in November, the wind was howling, I had yelled her name, shaken kibble, put out a can of tunafish, etc. I got out of bed this morning in the hopes that she was still within the Tile range. no luck. Either she has moved out of range or the Tile's battery has run out. I don't think it's the battery because she's only worn the Tile for a month. How does the Tile assist me, though, if she wanders beyond of the 150-foot range? The business claims that I can go to a spot in the hopes of discovering my lost cat if another Tile user buzzes to it. However, there isn't a simple way for me to alert Tile users in my neighborhood. I think I've returned to my old practice of taping paper flyers to the trees in my neighborhood.Additionally, the Tile was "last spotted November 1st," according to the App screen. No, yesterday was November 20, I believe.I spoke with Tile customer support for about two hours. They are ineffective. They employed circular reasoning when they claimed that IF I was close to my lost Tile, they might be able to troubleshoot. GrrrI genuinely hope my cat is still alive, but I had to publish this review to save other pet owners who are searching for a solution the pain I experienced. According to my research on Amazon, a GPS tracker would be more precise, but they are mostly made for dogs and are simply too large for cats.I feel such sadness. If you don't want to track things or dogs that are already inside the house, don't purchase a Tile. Tile will locate my remote and start the music if I misplace it someplace in the living room. Outside, however, forget it. I'm looking for a collar-mounted gadget that can send a signal to a satellite, provide me with a real-time GPS map, and pinpoint my cat's location to within a few feet. And I'd be happy to pay for that. But for cats, it doesn't exist—at least not on Amazon.The narrative has a happy conclusion, but I wouldn't have known it without the Tile. UPDATE 11/23/18 I reasoned that even if the cat had passed away, the Tile must still be transmitting if the battery hadn't gone. I made the decision to leave my property and round the block in the hopes that she might be closer than the 150-foot range but still within range of the Tile.Midway down the following block, when I had rounded the corner, the Tile app buzzed, and the Green bar appeared. It indicated that the cat was nearby. I was standing in front of a house that was entirely in the dark and had a massive pickup truck on steroids parked in the driveway. I went up to the truck. I noticed a huge fence at the end of the driveway, and just past the gate, I could see another car covered in a tarp. I might be able to find her if she was in front of the fence. If she was behind it, there was no way I could (trespass and) scale that fence. Of course there was enough ground clearance that a cat could go through the fence and be hidden under the car under the tarp. It was a 50/50 shot. Of course I called my cat's name, but she is not the type to come when called or go up to people. she is gorgeous but standoffish.I hit the "Find" button and I heard the tinny little melody. It appeared to be coming thankfully, from under the truck in the driveway in front of the gate. I got down on my hands and knees and looked under the truck. No cat. I called my boyfriend who is little. He came within a half hour with a torch. I hit the trigger again and he crept up under that truck and located the cat lurking up in the wheel well. Luckily, she just hunched down in fear and he grabbed her. 1-2-3, he passed her to me and I gripped her hard behind the scruff of her neck and embraced her. She was terribly dehydrated and smeared in oil yet she was alive.We walked home and as soon as we got inside the house, I put down a can of wet cat food. she wolfed down a half can. Then disappeared to go sleep and recover. The shot I shared is her the next morning, still greasy but cheery and waiting for breakfast. The Tile reunited me with my pet cat thus I updated my review.The Bottom Line is: I could not have discovered my cat without the Tile App linking to her collar and her being within 100 feet. Had she been under the other car beyond range, forget it. But had I not had the Tile app, I may have walked around the block shaking kibble and calling her name and walked past that pickup truck never knowing she was hidden up inside it. So it was a success in this scenario. You have to get out and walk around with the Tile and hope it connects to the missing pet. My mistake I guess was not heading off to hunt for her as soon as I lost communication. I got pretty lucky in this case. But I am still investigating my GPS tracking choices since I want something that will point me to where my cat is without me wandering around and hope the Bluetooth connects.A Thanksgiving Miracle for sure.



Tile Pro (2018) - 2 Pack (1 x Black, 1 x White) Review:


When I first started using these Tile Pros, I was texting my daughter about them, and I literally texted the words "Oh ecstatic joy!" when I discovered the Alexa connectivity; more on that in a moment. But that ought to give you a sense of how I feel about these lovely little gadgets.Background: I've never used a Tile before. I had heard of them before and was a little curious. I would have been thrilled if someone had bought me one, but I refrained from treating myself. Probably the cost played a role in that. Older Tile models are slightly less expensive than these new Pro Tiles, but they have a high cost: Since the battery cannot be replaced, you must replace the Tile itself approximately every year. Although the business offers a program where you may acquire replacements at a discount, I still find the price to be too much. But these Pros have a typical replaceable battery. I'm now intrigued. Additionally, the Pro has a range of 300 feet as opposed to the other models' 150 feet or less.This set of Pro Tiles is packaged in a cute small box with what at first glance may appear to be an intimidatingly large guide. There's no need to be concerned; the simple instructions are simply translated into a number of languages. A Tile is quite simple to set up. You essentially just need to download the free Tile app and adhere to a few instructions to be successful. It couldn't be much easier.I wasn't really clear how these Pros functioned before experimenting with them. In particular, I wasn't sure if you needed to link one to your phone in order to find it. And you might be asking the same question: However, you don't. Each Tile actually serves two purposes. Your keys, for example, tell it what you don't want to lose, and you can then use the Tile app on your phone to find it. However, you may make your phone ring even if it is silent by pressing the Tile's single button twice if you can't find it. And in the unlikely event that you misplace both your phone and your keys? There is a remedy if you are at home, though.That's where the jubilant delight enters. With an Alexa, you can activate the Tile skill. Simply tell Alexa to ask Tile where your phone or keys are after that. Easy. Seamless. Elegant.Negatives? These infants are presently only offered in twin packs, it seems. In the future, I hope single packs will be an option. Everything is fine except from that. I'm sold unless this thing mysteriously fails. These are also fantastic presents (especially if singles were available). Put them on your Festivus wish list, perhaps.



Tile Mate - Key Finder, Phone Finder, Anything Finder - Item Locator - Bulk Packaging - 1 Pack Review:


I have the tile mate on my key ring because I frequently lose my keys. I use the "find" feature of the app on my phone when I can't find my keys. The only minor change I would want to see is a louder version of the song it plays. However, I've been able to hear it loud enough so far to locate my keys.



Tile Pro (2018) - 1 Pack Review:


When I first started using these Tile Pros, I was texting my daughter about them, and I literally texted the words "Oh ecstatic joy!" when I discovered the Alexa connectivity; more on that in a moment. But that ought to give you a sense of how I feel about these lovely little gadgets.Background: I've never used a Tile before. I had heard of them before and was a little curious. I would have been thrilled if someone had bought me one, but I refrained from treating myself. Probably the cost played a role in that. Older Tile models are slightly less expensive than these new Pro Tiles, but they have a high cost: Since the battery cannot be replaced, you must replace the Tile itself approximately every year. Although the business offers a program where you may acquire replacements at a discount, I still find the price to be too much. But these Pros have a typical replaceable battery. I'm now intrigued. Additionally, the Pro has a range of 300 feet as opposed to the other models' 150 feet or less.This set of Pro Tiles is packaged in a cute small box with what at first glance may appear to be an intimidatingly large guide. There's no need to be concerned; the simple instructions are simply translated into a number of languages. A Tile is quite simple to set up. You essentially just need to download the free Tile app and adhere to a few instructions to be successful. It couldn't be much easier.I wasn't really clear how these Pros functioned before experimenting with them. In particular, I wasn't sure if you needed to link one to your phone in order to find it. And you might be asking the same question: However, you don't. Each Tile actually serves two purposes. Your keys, for example, tell it what you don't want to lose, and you can then use the Tile app on your phone to find it. However, you may make your phone ring even if it is silent by pressing the Tile's single button twice if you can't find it. And in the unlikely event that you misplace both your phone and your keys? There is a remedy if you are at home, though.That's where the jubilant delight enters. With an Alexa, you can activate the Tile skill. Simply tell Alexa to ask Tile where your phone or keys are after that. Easy. Seamless. Elegant.Negatives? These infants are presently only offered in twin packs, it seems. In the future, I hope single packs will be an option. Everything is fine except from that. I'm sold unless this thing mysteriously fails. These are also fantastic presents (especially if singles were available). Put them on your Festivus wish list, perhaps.



Tile Mate (2016) - 1 Pack Review:


If only they had included a battery that could be changed, this product would have received five stars.I bought a few of them and adore them, but I recently had to disassemble one since the battery had run out. Since I usually get my coin batteries in bulk from Amazon, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a CR2032 button cell.There was no soldering done.If the Tile's speaker stops working after being disassembled, merely put in the speaker that is to the right of the key ring hole ( on the speaker side). It wasn't necessary, but it's a possibility if you can't get the speaker contacts to line up again. I assume some 30 awg wire can be soldered to hardwire the speaker connections.To avoid having to totally reseal the Tile, I'm just going to get one of those leather cases.In order to make it simpler to open again for the next time, I only put a very small dab of glue on each corner.I'm grateful.



Tile Sport (2017) - 2 Pack Review:


When the standard Tile finally broke, I switched to the Sport variant. Like how the Sport's alarm is louder and its reinforced cover should last longer than the normal Tile's exterior (it began to peel within weeks of use). The time that I, my husband, and my son have all saved searching for our car keys thanks to The Tile alone makes it worth the purchase price. On a recent fishing trip, when our son and his father were lugging their gear to the fishing area, our son's keys came out of his pocket. They were literally in the middle of a state park, miles away from civilization, and Dad was about to go into full-blown panic mode. Within 10 minutes, the keys were found, the car was loaded, and they were on their way home. Kid used his phone and the Tile app to find the keys as they retraced their steps. Tile made a difference!



Tile Sport (2017) - 1 Pack Review:


Upgraded to the Sport variant from the normal Tile when it finally gave out. Like the fact that the alarm is louder on the Sport, and the beefed-up cover will probably survive longer than the ordinary Tile's shell (it began to peel after weeks of use) (it began to peel within weeks of use). The Tile has saved me, husband, and son all quite a bit of time looking for car keys - that, alone, is worth the purchase price. On a recent fishing trip, our son's keys worked out of his pocket as he



Cube Key Finder Smart Tracker Bluetooth Tracker for Dogs, Kids, Cats, Luggage, Wallet, with app for Phone, Replaceable Battery Waterproof Tracking Device Review:


This week, I misplaced my keys after putting them in a chip bag that ended up in the outdoor trash can. Fortunately, it wasn't trash day. I searched all throughout my house for them for two days. I was in a panic because my house keys and the key FOB for my car were on the ring. When you can't find your keys, common sense dictates that you should be ready for the chance that someone may have them and wish to burgle your house or steal your car. Simply put, you can't know differently. Reprogramming my car's electronic locking system, the old FOB, and the new one would have cost me $350. My mailbox and all of the doors in my house would have needed new keys. If my wife hadn't had the idea that Mr. Magoo would have carelessly thrown them in the trash and gone "dumpster diving," I might have been out more than $500.This "near miss" was the worst and most anxious I've ever experienced. The three or four locations where I frequently "lose" my keys are usually where I find them. But it's not always the case, and it's annoying every time. I then began researching key finding technologies. I discovered that many companies provide these items and started looking for reviews. The Tile is without a doubt the most well-liked component. However, their battery only lasts for a year before it needs to be changed. Tile will give you a discount on new ones, but I'm not the type of person to be dependent on a business' cash register simply because of a battery. There were both positive and negative reviews for each of the other key finder items, but I went with The Cube. Let me describe what occurred at that time.I had The Cubes loaded on three devices by the time I had placed my order, including two smartphones and a Samsung tablet. The Cube formerly could only be used with one device. That's altered. Before the two Cubes arrived, I had previously made a Cube login so that I could view my devices on the website for The Cube. I had also logged in with each of my three devices (one for my wife and one for me). As soon as The Cubes arrived at my house, I connected them both to my wife's phone and tested them. I then turned on my phone and tablet, accessed the The Cube app, and presto! They were there without any additional effort. They all functioned when I tested them with each device. I used each of The Cubes to snap pictures on my devices by using them as a remote shutter release as well as to ring the phones and tablets. You'll need to be aware of a few facts regarding how they operate.They only ever connect to one device at once. When my wife uses The Cube's app on her phone and my Cube is paired with my phone, it notifies her that my Cube is in use on my phone. My Cube won't ring for her. Only my phone will work for that. But if I switch off my phone's Bluetooth, remove it from Bluetooth range, or turn it off, my Cube will still automatically associate with her phone in about a minute. Now, if it gets misplaced, she can call my Cube and find it. I have had one of The Cubes mysteriously "disconnecting" from a phone. My phone was in fact being touched by the Cube. I believe the Bluetooth transmitter in the phone may have "swamped" the Bluetooth receiver. This happens frequently on radio. My phone quickly located the Cube once I had separated the two. It took some time to happen. This is crucial since your phone will get disconnected if you misplace your keys while it is far away from The Cube. You must move cautiously as you search for the keys to give the two time to reunite. Additionally, numerous people criticized The Cube's volume. Even though it isn't shrieking, it can be heard unless the surrounding noise is really loud. Additionally, the unit's little button lights up when it turns off so you can find it even in the dark.I believe that many of the issues that other people may have had with The Cubes may have been resolved after the update when I connected it to my mobile apps. One, albeit not concurrently, each unit can now be used with several devices. The Cubes now have a network, so if you report something missing to "The Cube Community" via the app, other people may be able to find it. All day, I've been putting these items to the test, and they appear to work as promised. Next year, I'll just open the case with the small tool that came with The Cube, insert the replacement battery that was also included, and replace the dead battery. I'll update this if I find anything I don't like. It is July 14, 2018, today.