REASONS TO BUY
Incredibly inexpensive
Very small profile
Phenomenal battery life
Also useful for personal items
REASONS TO AVOID
Must have an iPhone or iPad
Only locates with Bluetooth
Must buy collar attachment
Apple AirTag Review
A classic device for finding lost keys or a backpack that also can be used for your dog, though it's best for dogs living in urban settings
Credit: Zach Lovell
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ August 4, 2025
RELATED: Best GPS Dog Collars of 2025
Our Verdict
The Apple AirTag needs little introduction. The well-known “Find My” device from Apple is responsible for locating countless personal items, from car keys to backpacks. In recent years, it's become a makeshift dog GPS tracker, but it's important to understand the limitations when using it to find your pup. Rather than utilizing cell service, the AirTag utilizes the Bluetooth of the nearest iPhone or iPad to share its location, so if it is outside of Bluetooth range and/or isn't near an Apple device, you're out of luck. We'd only recommend this option for owners wanting that just-in-case model and living in a more urban environment.
Our Analysis and Test Results
We put the AirTag on our pups and left it on for weeks. We also carried out separate location tests (without losing any pets) to examine its accuracy when finding your pet. While not as reliable in remote areas, an AirTag is more likely to be located when there are more people around. This could be a perfect option for those who live in the city and have a well-behaved dog, and the owner just wants a little extra peace of mind.
We logged weeks with the AirTag, seeing where and how it best could be used to locate our pups.
Credit: Zach Lovell
GPS Reliability
This device does not use GPS as a location finder, and it can't be located if it isn't within Bluetooth range of an iPhone or iPad. Our testing found this device to be fairly reliable in cities where the tag came into frequent contact with other smart devices, but in rural areas, it didn't work at all.
The AirTag is first and foremost an item locator that can serve as a phenomenal resource when finding your keys or a bag, but it was not designed to locate animals, or kids (Yes, we've heard of people actually doing this. No, we do not recommend it). In the context of finding your dog, it must be in a city setting if you want any sort of reliability. For dog owners who live in this setting and have a dog that sticks with them all the time, the low price point and lack of subscription might make this a worthwhile option for that unexpected day your pup goes rogue. When in Bluetooth range, the AirTag was easy to locate with the “Find My” app, which can also be set up to locate your cell phone, laptop, and iPad. This is a plus for Apple product users: having all your devices and pet locations in the same app can be convenient.
In an urban or suburban environment, your pup is more likely to be located by the AirTag. But if they're roaming in the backcountry, it's going to be much harder to find them.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Features
The AirTag is a no-frills device that can only be located; other devices can keep track of sleep, activity, and even vitals. However, some shoppers may not mind the bare-bones design.
The AirTag is good for one thing and one thing only: locating whoever or whatever it is attached to, as long as it's near an Apple device. The “Find My” app from Apple is easy to use, and it even notifies you if an AirTag has left home, similar to a normal GPS collar's ability to notify you if your pup has left the geofence. Besides these basics, there's not much else to the AirTag.
If your dog wanders from home, the AirTag will shoot you a notification, which is a feature found in much higher end devices.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Ease of Use
Ease of use for this device depends heavily on which device you have: an Android user won't be able to truly use the AirTag, as it only works with an iPhone.
When locating the AirTag (in a city), it was reliable and allowed the basic functionality that's essential to a GPS collar. We greatly appreciated the quick setup, though you may need to adjust your privacy settings on your iPhone if you don't already use the “Find My” app for other devices. We also loved the battery life; it can last as long as one year, while most of the competition only lasts 2 weeks or less. However, the AirTag isn't rechargeable, and you'll have to replace its physical battery (CR2032 lithium 3V coin battery) when the time comes.
Construction Quality
The AirTagwasn't designed to track a dog, but Apple built it with an IP67 rating, so it'll handle a one-meter submersion and is dust-tight. We did our best to break the AirTag, but it made it through the entirety of our testing with relative ease. Despite its sleek design, this thing is burly.
The AirTag is a durable device, but doesn't come with a dog collar attachment. Thankfully, there are many options online for an AirTag attachment from third-party sellers. We were glad Apple designed this model to be tough on its own, which allowed the collar attachment to be less protective. Though we still recommend that you consider the security of the attachment… if the AirTag falls off the collar, you can't find your pup electronically.
While the device itself is small, you'll need to use some sort of collar attachment, which will add a bit of bulk.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Size
We loved the tiny size of the AirTag. On its own, it's one of the smallest options in this category, though in practice it's not quite as small once you add in the bulk of the separately sold collar attachment.
Even with a collar attachment, the AirTag weighs only .90 ounces. And this is with the attachment we chose for our pup; you'll be able to find even lighter attachments online if this is a priority for you. On its own, the AirTag is about the size of a quarter, making it a great option for shoppers who have a small dog.
The AirTag, furthest left, is a thin and light design. If you're needing this for a small dog, you may even be able to find a smaller attachment system.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Should You Buy the Apple AirTag?
For its price, the AirTag offers unbeatable value, but it comes with some crucial asterisks. We only recommend using this device on your dog if they're unlikely to run away and you live in a city where there's likely to be an iPhone or iPad nearby. Remember, these only work if they're near a Bluetooth-enabled Apple device. If this device sounds like it'll work for your needs, its low price and lack of subscription will carry your dollar incredibly far.
What Other GPS Dog Collars Should You Consider?
If you like the idea of a subscription-free design but want more consistent GPS reliability than the AirTag, consider the Pit Pat Dog GPS tracker, which has its own SIM card and even offers some basic health analytics. If you want a more dependable device that boasts excellent scores across the board, take a look at the Tractive GPS, though it requires a subscription.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Apple AirTag versus top competing products:
—Zach Lovell
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