Searching for a lost or misplaced anything can be extremely frustrating and unfortunately, is an all too common problem that most of us deal with daily. The need to find things quickly, like our keys, wallet, phone, pets etc… (or prevent them from going missing in the first place) has sent the popularity of tracking devices soaring – with millions being sold worldwide.

With that said, we set out to find which tracking devices were the best ones based on 3 categories: personal belongings (e.g. keys, wallet, phone, etc…), children, and pets. After a ton of research we found the top 3 new and affordable tracking devices that provide outstanding value for what they offer.

[#1] TrackR – Instantly Find Your Keys, Phone, Bike, Pets and More

Easily find lost keys, bag, wallet, bike, phone and more in seconds using the new, discrete TrackR devices.

Simply attach this discrete coin-sized tracking device to any item and now you have a 250,000 times chance of getting it back if you lose it. That’s because TrackR’s free app uses all of the TrackR users in the world to help you locate your lost bag, bike, keys, dog, more. And with over 250,000 TrackR customers across the globe, that’s a massive, far-reaching Crowd GPS Network you get helping you find your lost things. Something no other tracking device comes close to offering.

If that wasn’t helpful enough, the TrackR app displays the last location of your lost item on a map and also sounds an alarm to help you pinpoint its exact location.

Want to reduce how often you misplace or lose things? TrackR proactively helps you by sending your phone an alert if you get up and walk away from any of your tracked items.

What if you can’t find your phone?
Just press the button on any TrackR device and it will instantly ring your phone, even if it’s in silent mode – how cool is that?!?. TrackR also offers engravings, waterproof cases and a cool carabiner. Thanks to TrackR, finding things quickly just became a reality.

TrackR devices start at $29 each but you can get TrackR devices FREE when you buy more than one (get them for as low as $15 each when you buy multiples) – which is great because who doesn’t need to keep track of their keys, wallet, purse, bike or pet, right?

[#2] Whistle – Quickly and Easily Locate Your Pet

Track and pinpoint your pet’s location with Whistle to help ensure his safe return home.

Is your dog an escape artist? Is he a door-bolter? If so, you’re not alone. 1 in 3 pets go missing in their lifetime and many of them never make it home. Thanks to Whistle, a handy on-collar GPS tracking device for pets, you can now help prevent your furry friend from ending up on a missing dog poster. With Whistle you can set safe zones for your pets (e.g. dog parks, dog sitters home, your home) on their free mobile app and if they step out you’ll get an instant notification on your phone.

Then, as soon as you’ve been notified that your dog isn’t where he’s supposed to be, you can use Whistle’s live GPS tracking capabilities to pinpoint his exact location on a map. As an added FREE benefit, Whistle also keeps track of long-term health trends and his activity and sleep patterns, giving you important insights into your dog’s health. Whistle has already saved thousands of families from the misery of losing their pets, let it help yours.

Whistle’s a little more than TrackR at $79.95 and there is a monthly service fee ranging from $6.95 to $9.95, but if your dog’s escaped before then this is definitely the best way to help ensure his safe return!

#3 – iGPS Watch – Quickly Find Your Kid and Keep Them Safe

Loaded with alert and safety features, iGPS Watch for kids is the perfect alternative to a mobile phone.

No parent wants to think about their child going missing. But the unfortunate reality is about 2,000 kids get lost or go missing every day and some of them never make it home. The iGPS Watch is a groundbreaking product that’s packed with alert and safety features to protect your children. First, its two-way talking capability allows you to talk with your child just like you would on a mobile phone (did we mention it’s much cheaper too?). Then there’s the SOS Call Button that your child can use to call up to 8 emergency contacts with the single press of a button.

It has a customizable “safe zone” feature you can setup too. So if your child steps out of a safe zone like school grounds, friend’s house, or soccer practice you instantly get an alert message on your phone. Got an uneasy feeling and want to make sure your kid is ok? Use their live GPS tracking to pinpoint your child’s exact location on a map or use their ‘Listener Mode’ feature which lets you listen to their surroundings without anyone knowing – find out if they’re being bullied at school or if that nanny’s using words you don’t like.

And if you’re worried they can just take it off, don’t be because it’s the only kids safety watch that comes with a Removal Sensor that notifies you if it’s taken off. While it’s more expensive than TrackR or Whistle, it’s the only tracking device specifically designed to keep your children safe!

iGPS Watch goes for $109.95 with a one-time activation fee of $12.95 and there is a monthly service plan of $15.95. When compared, it’s still far cheaper than a mobile phone – and a lot safer!

How Do These Tracking Devices Stack Up Against Each Other?

The Tracking Device We Like Best Is…

All three of these products excel at what they were created to do – track and find lost or misplaced items, pets, and children, or prevent losing them in the first place. However, when we look at price, use cases and overall value, we give the nod to TrackR. You simply get more bang for your buck versus the limited Whistle (only for dogs) or iGPS Watch (only for children).