GPS and Bluetooth trackers are helpful devices that attach to items you’re prone to losing regularly (like car keys or smartphones). However, the underlying technology they use is different.

GPS trackers rely on the global positioning system, while Bluetooth trackers use a short-wave emitter technology.

What Is A Bluetooth Tracker?

A Bluetooth tracker is a small device (which sometimes looks like a keyring or a sticker) that connects to your phone and tells you where it is at any moment. The gadget operates like the tags police used to put on the underside of vehicles to track them.

Bluetooth trackers are ideal when the tracked object is in range. However, they don’t work if the detecting device (usually a phone) is far from the emitter (since the signal is too weak).

Bluetooth trackers work using the following process:

1. Pairing with smartphones–Like other devices, the tracker pairs with a smartphone or another app-enabled device and stays linked during operation.
2. Signals ping from the tracker to the detector–These pings tell the smartphone where the tracker is, usually on a screen.
3. Loss of signal–When the tracker or the device moves out of range, the signal is lost, and the tracker’s location is unavailable.

Most Bluetooth trackers use replaceable batteries to power their pings (button-shaped cells). However, some are rechargeable and don’t require physical battery replacement.

What Is A GPS Tracker?

A GPS tracker relies on a different technology. It uses the global positioning system to determine an object’s location, regardless of range.

GPS trackers connect to three or four satellites orbiting overhead to triangulate their position. Then, it communicates this information to smartphones and other devices.

The fact that it uses satellites instead of short-range Bluetooth allows these trackers to provide location information anywhere on Earth. All they require is access to mobile networks to send position information to cell phones.

Here’s how they work in more detail:

1. Collecting satellite data–GPS devices obtain satellite data from objects in orbit with known positions and enter it into their onboard systems.
2. Calculating triangulation–GPS devices calculate their position by measuring the time and distance to three or four GPS satellites operating in orbit.
3. Sending signals–GPS devices then communicate their position calculations to smartphones via various networks, including 5G and LTE.
4. User monitoring–Users can monitor the tracker’s location from their device, regardless of distance, as long as it has battery power and a network connection.

GPS tracking was originally used in the military, but later became part of the civilian market.

A Comparison Of Bluetooth and GPS Trackers

The following table shows the differences between Bluetooth and GPS trackers in tabular form: