A key finder is a tiny Bluetooth device that you can clip onto whatever valuable item you want to keep track of such as your bag or keys.
You can check the location of the device at any time using a smartphone app and this way your items will never be lost.
There are a few big names when it comes to Bluetooth trackers but it can be hard to know which brand and product to go for.
This comparison aims to make this easier by directly comparing the trackers available from the two most popular names in the market, Nuttag and Tile.
Key Similarities
Key Finder Selection
Tile Offers 4 Bluetooth tracker/ key finder products. They offer the Tile Pro which is a high performance tag, the Mate which is designed for everyday use, the Slim which is sleek and compact and the Sticker which is a small stickable finder.
Nuttag offers a range of Bluetooth and GPS tags to suit a wide range of situations from locating pets, kids or elderly relatives to ensuring you are able to find your valuables such as your keys or wallet and even your car.
Their Bluetooth tags include the Focus Tag and the Find3 Tag. The Focus is designed to be a more powerful tracker with more range and features than the Find3 which is best for day-to-day use.
App
Both of the brands have their own Smartphone application that is used to locate the tags.
Tile
The Tile app is free but there is a premium option that lets you access more features such as a 30-day location history and free yearly battery replacements.
Using a phone, you can view where the item is and use a sound alarm to help you find your tile if the item is close.
If the tile is out of range a map will show its last known location.
If the item is lost you can set it to “notify when found” which allows every user with the Tile app to help you find your item.
Nuttag
Nuttag also has a Smartphone app called Nut. This is regularly updated to ensure the best user experience.
It works in the same way as Tile, users can see the whereabouts of their tracker on a map or they can use a sound alert.
This version includes a distance indicator so you can see how close your item is.
As with Tile, Nuttag also has a community of users that can help locate lost items.
The Nuttag tracker updates monthly with learned software and security features. This helps to ensure it is as efficient and effective as possible.
Replaceable battery
Both Tile and Nuttag offer trackers that feature a replaceable battery. The Tile Pro and Tile Mate come with a 1 year replaceable battery while the Tile Slim and Tile Sticker products come with a built-in battery that will last up to three years.
Each of the Nuttag options has replaceable batteries with a battery life of 9-12 months. When it comes time to replace the battery, you can buy the necessary CR2032 batteries from the supermarket.
Potential Uses
All of the key finders discussed in this comparison are small, lightweight and easy to use.
They are well suited to tracking everything from car keys to your phone, passport, bag, laptop etc.
The one finder that is slightly different is the stickable tracker from Tile which can be useful for sticking to your camera, tools, remote control etc.
Warranty
Whichever key finder you choose from these two brands comes with a 1 year warranty.
The warranty helps you get the most from your key finder and means it is covered by the manufacturer if something goes wrong within the warranty period.
Tile also offers a 30 day guarantee and Nuttag offers a 14 day money back guarantee.
Key Differences
Range
If you’re looking for the tracker that offers the longest range then go for the Tile Pro. The Pro has an impressive range of 400ft/ 122m.
This is twice the range offered by the Tile Mate and the Tile Slim (200ft/ 61m).
The Tile Sticker has a shorter range of 150ft/ 46m.
In the Nuttag range the Find 3 has a range of up to 164ft/ 50m and the focus has a 295ft/ 90m reach.
Both offer great options that will help you track your stuff a decent distance.
As the trackers use Bluetooth it’s important to remember the range can be impacted by the environment you are in.
If the tracker cannot be found within the range then you will be provided with the last known location.
This is updated whenever your item is located either by you or anyone in the Tile/ Nuttag community depending on the brand you are using.
Size
One of the key factors of these trackers is their size. They should be small and lightweight if they are going to get attached to a set of car keys, bag or a phone. The size of the devices are as follows:
- Pro – 42mm x 42mm x 6.5mm
- Mate – 35mm x 35mm x 6.2mm
- Slim – 86mm x 54mm x 2.4mm
- Sticker – 27mm x 7.3mm
- Nuttag Focus – 40mm x 40mm x 7 mm (7.5g)
- Nuttag Find 3 – 38mm x 38mm x 6.5 mm (6.5g)
As you can see, the Pro, Mate, Focus and Find are all around the same size.
The Slim is longer and thinner making it great for slotting into a wallet or passport holder.
The Sticker is the smallest option making it ideal for a phone or remote control.
Hands-free
The Tile trackers are able to work with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri.
You are able to create Siri Shortcuts with commands such as “Siri find my wallet” and Siri will ring the
Tile if it is nearby or tell you the last known location if it is out of range. This is a convenient, helpful and customisable feature.
When using Alexa and Google Assistant you won’t need to put in specific command or shortcuts as these smart systems will be able to see each of your Tiles anyway.
Waterproof
As a key finder or tracker is designed to attach to items such as keys, there is a good chance they will encounter some rain and moisture along the way.
Ideally, the tracker should be durable and waterproof, or at least water resistant.
The Tile Slim and Sticker are both waterproof while the Pro and Mate are water-resistant.
The Nuttag Find 3 has an IP rating of 62. This means it is completely protected against dust and is protected against water drops.
The Focus has an IP rating of X2 meaning it is protected against water drops.
Compatibility
The Nuttag products are able to work with Apple iOS 7 (iPhone 4 +) + and Android 4.0 +.
The Tile products work with most iOS and Android devices.
Price
A key finder from Nuttag is generally going to cost you more than one from Tile. The full list of current prices for each of the products mentioned in this review can be found below:
- Tile Mate $24.99
- Tile Pro $34.99
- Tile Slim $29.99
- Tile Sticker $59.99 (4 included in the pack) or $39.99 (2 included).
- Nuttag Focus Tag – $49.95 (currently on sale for $36.95)
- Nuttag Find 3 – $40.00 (currently on sale for $32.95)
Other Features
For added convenience the tracker is able to make your phone ring even if it is on silent.
This means you’ll be able to use the tracker to locate your phone when needed. You get this feature with both makes.
Nuttag also offers separation alerts that let you know if you leave something behind.
Other advanced functionality features on the Focus tracker include geofencing, Real-time tracking and four weeks historical location footprints.
Making Your Selection
When it comes to deciding which is the best Bluetooth tracker to buy the key factors to consider is the Bluetooth range, battery life and app features.
There are not many differences between Nuttag and Tile, they both produce effective, easy to use trackers suitable for a range of situations.
If you are looking for a durable, waterproof (or water resistant) option that offers a large signal range go for one of the Tile selections.
The Tile products don’t cost much to buy and they offer a good choice to suit different needs so you can easily slot a tracker into your wallet, attach one to your car keys or stick one to a phone.
The Tile app offers the main functionality and alerts you need and you can access additional features with the premium version.
If you are looking for a small, light device that offers lots of features then take a look at the Nuttag range.
With either of the Nuttag tracking devices, you will be able to enjoy a wide selection of features allowing you to get the most out of the system.
In addition to the feature selection, Nuttag trackers also have regular software updates and security updates so you will know the devices are working to their best with up-to-date software all the time.
