9 Best Key Finders of 2023

May 03, 2023

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Say goodbye to lost keys.

This story was updated in January 2023 to include one new pick from Apple and reflect the latest key finders tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute's Media & Tech Lab.

Maybe you know someone who can never find their keys, or perhaps you are that someone! A key finder is a useful gadget that attaches to your keychain or any other precious item like a wallet or purse so you can easily hunt them down. Most key finders, similar to luggage trackers, will leverage a form of technology to alert you (with a sound) of the missing item's whereabouts or allow you to access its location via an app on your phone. Because these trackers tend to be super compact and lightweight, adding one to your keychain or hiding one inside your wallet is a quick and easy way to keep track of your belongings. The engineers, analysts and tech pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute test gadgets and devices from fitness trackers to smart rings, smart wallets and dog GPS trackers regularly. Though there's a wide variety of key finders to choose from, our pros narrowed down their top picks by evaluating user feedback from Lab reviews, road testing the latest products and assessing ease of use and performance. Our final picks include a mix of top-tested items and high-rated picks from brands our Lab pros know and trust.

After checking out our top picks, keep reading to learn more about what a key finder is, what to look for when shopping for one and our process for testing the best key finders.

This key finder aced our tests: It measured 80 decibels in Lab tests, so you’ll be sure to hear it, and it has one of the longest ranges at 400 feet. It features a replaceable battery, it's water-resistant and compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa or Siri, making it controllable by your favorite voice assistant. Our testers were big fans of the unique two-way finding feature which can help to find your phone. "We love that it serves two functions — helping you find your keys but it's also great at finding your phone when you have your keys handy!" said one tester.

If you want a budget-friendly key finder, this one from Eksy is one of the most affordable and includes four key trackers. It's easy to use as it comes with one remote for all four key trackers, no app or smartphone required. To use this device, simply push the corresponding color-coded button and the tracker will beep so you can find your lost item. At roughly 100 feet, the key finder's range is shorter than other devices we tested but will work well for lost items nearby.

According to our pros, an AirTag is one of the best luggage trackers out there, but that doesn't mean this gadget isn't a fantastic key finder for iPhone users as well. Our pros love how quick and easy it is to set up an AirTag and how seamless it is to use. We also like that you can track your missing keys or belongings in real-time by using Find My Network and that its expected range is likely up to 800 feet thanks to Bluetooth 5.0, though we haven't yet confirmed this in our Lab.

The only downside is that the design doesn't come with a hole so to be able to get the AirTag around your keychain, you'll need to purchase an additional key ring for the AirTag itself. But thankfully there are several fun colorful options online.

No need to fiddle with an app to set up the Key Ringer key finder — simply take it out of the packaging and it's ready to use; it even comes with batteries. Reviewers love the simplicity of this key tracker and note that it is very loud so it's easy to find your misplaced keys quickly.

The sleek design and functionality make this key finder our most stylish pick. While most key finders are black or white, testers loved the fun pops of color available online. "Even buried in my purse it's easy to spot!" says one tester. In addition to colorful designs, our pros like that the key locater sends an alert if it gets out of range. Just keep in mind that the range, which is around 100 feet, isn't ideal for anyone that wants to track items that may have been left behind far away, like the office or school.

Coming in at 120 decibels, this round key tracker had one of the loudest alarms in our tests. The range isn't as impressive as other key trackers but it's still a solid pick with a distance of 200 feet. Plus, if your key finder does go out of range, you can get a vibration alert on your phone. Our pros like that this key finder comes in a range of colors to suit your style and that it's compatible with most voice assistants. It also offers a few fun features like enabling you to use your Chipolo as a remote button to snap selfies from your phone.

There are a few other key finders that are water-resistant, but what sets the Cube Pro apart is that it's waterproof and has a replaceable battery. Its design makes it a reliable choice for pets who spend a lot of time outdoors in all sorts of weather. Our pros like that the Cube app will show you the last known location of your missing item and the tracker can also help you find your lost phone. And reviewers love the bonus feature of alerting you, via the disconnect feature, if you get too far from your phone.

While most key finders are designed to attach to a key ring, this key finder has an adhesive so you can attach it to just about any flat surface. Reviewers of the Tile Sticker love that you can stick this on smaller items such as AirPods, remotes and other important items that seem to always get lost. Just keep in mind that the battery is non-replaceable, though should last about three years, according to the brand.

For those who always keep their keys in a purse or with their wallet, this key tracker makes it easy to find those lost keys. It's also useful as a luggage tag or even inside an important notebook or tablet. Approximately the size of a credit card, this tracker can be discreetly tucked inside a purse pocket or wallet, making sure you’ll always be able to find what you need. Our pros like that it's waterproof so you won't have to worry about spills ruining the tracker, and that it's compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa.

The pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute have logged dozens of hours with key finders and trackers, considering hundreds of data points that factor in things like how far the range is (how far can your phone be separated from the key finder before the app loses connection), the loudness of the alerts using a decibel reader, ease of replacing the batteries and how easy it is to use the associated apps. Our picks are based on our expertise in this category and careful evaluation of ease of use and performance as well as consumer feedback.

Here are some features you’ll want to consider to get the best key finder for your needs:

✔️ Range: This is the distance the tracker can be from the phone before it loses signal. Those with apps usually will be able to tell you the last known location. During our testing, we found that the claimed range fell a bit short of the actual range, so you’ll want to keep this in mind when choosing the right range for your needs.

✔️ Alarm sound: Depending on how far away you are from the lost object (or what it's buried under or in!), you may need a very loud alarm to help you find it. The Tile and Chipolo One were both over 80db in our Lab tests.

✔️ Technology: GPS trackers allow you to see the location of the connected object in real time. Bluetooth trackers have a shorter, limited range compared to GPS trackers. Bluetooth key finders are typically better choices for finding misplaced items around your house or near you because they are generally cheaper, lighter and use less battery power than GPS devices. Most of the mainstream key trackers are Bluetooth-enabled and don't have built-in GPS for tracking. There are also some key finders (known as radio frequency key finders) that don't require a smartphone or Bluetooth connection to track down your keys. Instead, these finders leverage radio signal transmitters and typically use a remote as opposed to a smartphone to help you locate the device.

✔️ Battery life: In some key finders batteries are replaceable and in others they can not be replaced and have a limited life span. It's good to check the specs in advance to see what is the built-in battery life span or if the battery is replaceable.

✔️ Special features: Two-way finding is one feature that's great if you’re also prone to losing your phone. Key trackers with a two-way finding feature let you use your tracker to find your phone. Some key finders also have alerts that will notify you when the item is out of range so you can easily find its last location. And some trackers with apps can have multiple users, making it easy for several family members to keep track of a spare house key. Lastly, there are certain key finders that leverage their communities like Apple's Find My Network, for instance, to help locate an item that's out of Bluetooth's range, like a lost suitcase or a wandering pet.

Key finders, also known as key trackers, are "generally small devices designed to help locate lost or stolen objects," says Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "They are also sometimes referred to as electronic finders as they aren't just used for keys, but more broadly for a small item of importance (maybe a backpack or in your wallet, for instance)." These gadgets leverage technology to help you find what you're missing. "Depending upon the device, it may use GPS to locate or Bluetooth, whereby it would send out a signal to a receiving device (like your phone or another phone in the network) to identify the location," she says.

Jamie Kim has been testing consumer products for more than a decade, including a host of consumer electronics, textiles and wellness devices. She holds an apparel and textile design degree plus a mechanical engineering degree, making her the perfect person to lead a Good Housekeeping Institute review of key finders, where form and function are both incredibly important.

Media & Tech Reviews Analyst Olivia Lipski, who oversees product testing and covers everything from consumer tech to smart homes, most recently updated this guide to reflect the latest key finders and new picks our pros have tested. Not only does she bring years of product review experience to GH, but she always has an AirTag on her suitcase when traveling.

As Good Housekeeping's Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director, Rachel Rothman oversees testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all Labs. During her 14 years with the Institute, the self-described "Gadget Girl" has had the opportunity to evaluate thousands of products, including countless innovative breakthroughs in consumer tech and home improvement. She oversaw the testing of the above Lab-recommend picks and lent her expertise on key finders to this guide.

Jamie Kim is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing. She has held leading roles at both mid-size consumer goods companies and one of the most notable and largest apparel brands in the world. Jamie has contributed to several of the GH Institute Labs, including Kitchen Appliances, Media and Tech, Textiles and Home Appliances. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling, and working out.

Olivia (she/her) is a media and tech product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, covering tech, home, auto, health and more. She has more than five years of experience writing about tech trends and innovation and, prior to joining GH in 2021, was a writer for Android Central, Lifewire and other media outlets. Olivia is a graduate of George Washington University, with a bachelor's degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master's degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.

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