Image: Foundry
Here at Macworld we’re extremely fond of Apple’s
AirTag, which we consider by far the best Bluetooth tracker for an iPhone or Mac user. However, one complaint raised in our
AirTag review was that it doesn’t have a hole, which means you’re forced in most situations to buy an accessory to put it in.
Want to attach it to your keys? You need to buy a special key ring. Want to attach it to your luggage? Special luggage label. An ecosystem has quickly sprung up offering straps, loops, pet tags, cases and holders for AirTag owners.
But which ones are worth buying? We’ve been testing out all the AirTags accessories we can get our hands on, so we can help you find the best AirTag holder for your needs from key rings, luggage tags, wallets and more.
Apple AirTag FineWoven Key Ring
There are cheaper alternatives, but this is the classic AirTag key ring—replacing the previous Apple Leather Key Ring, now that Apple has gone fully vegan in honor of its legendary co-founder Steve Jobs. It’s light, attractive and reassuringly well-made. It’s easy to put the AirTag inside, but the metal popper won’t let it escape. And we love the large, chunky (but quite flat) ring, although we’d recommend testing it out in a shop if you’re planning on attaching car keys with a small aperture. This reviewer’s Nissan and Skoda keys were both a tight fit.
The fabric covering protects the AirTag’s edge from drop damage but leaves most of its chassis, both front and back, open to the elements and liable to scuff a little—a complaint publicly made about Apple’s FineWoven iPhone cases. We think this is worth it for the pleasing look, and scuffing is both inevitable and minor, but if you want total protection you’ll need to look elsewhere.
It’s available in five colors: Black, Coral, Taupe, Mulberry and Pacific Blue–David Price
Belkin Secure Holder with Wire Cable for AirTag
Pros
Feels more secure than Apple ring
Price When Reviewed:
$19.95
Belkin’s Secure Holder is made of hard plastic, which gives it more of a budget feel, but it’s reassuringly robust, and looks tough with its wire cable that includes a hex key to lock the AirTag in place.
As with Apple’s key ring, both faces of the AirTag are left exposed, but the plastic surround sticks out more and thus provides more drop protection. It’s available in white or black.–David Price
OtterBox Rugged Case for AirTag
Price When Reviewed:
$19.95
OtterBox is a company known for its ultra-protective phone cases, and its Rugged Case for AirTag continues this tradition, as its name suggests. The protective perimeter is increased to allow for larger bumps and mishaps than most AirTag key rings.
OtterBox also has a Rugged Passport Series of the Rugged Case that is styled with the coordinates of iconic cities, such as New York, London, Paris and Tokyo, as well as a large range of other AirTag cases and key rings.–Simon Jary
Nomad AirTag Keyrings
Pros
Range of AirTag keychain options
Price When Reviewed:
From $15
Available in black and white, the Nomad Rugged Keychain is built with a polycarbonate frame and TPU overmold, and ships with two enclosure options: a closed back option and an open speaker option. It is rated IP66 for water and dust resistance.
With a Rustic Brown option, the Nomad Leather Keychain carries your AirTag in a good-looking, thermoformed, American Horween Leather holder. Over time, the raw, vegetable-tanned leather will patina to create a unique lived-in look.
Adding a third available Natural (tan) color, the Nomad Leather Loop for AirTag is a Horween leather loop that attaches to your AirTag with a powerful 3M adhesive. The AirTag battery, however, remains easily accessible for replacement.–Simon Jary
OtterBox Core Series Case for AirTag
Pros
Sustainable materials
Price When Reviewed:
$19.95
The OtterBox Core Series Case is the most sustainable AirTag key ring—made from a FSC-certified recycled and recyclable material. Its speckled looks shows off an authentic recycled appearance.–Simon Jary
Orbitkey Leather Holder for AirTag
Cons
Covers one side
Slight wobble
Price When Reviewed:
$39.90
Orbitkey‘s leather offering is well worth your consideration. It costs roughly the same as Apple’s non-leather key ring but it has a nice-looking design and a couple of advantages up its sleeve.
One is the slenderness of the ring itself. Whereas Apple’s broad, flat ring can be awkward for attaching car keys with a narrow aperture, this will fit into holes of the smallest dimensions. The second advantage lies in the innovative way keys are attached: an initially baffling locking system that, once mastered, is far quicker and easier (and far less painful) than prising apart the traditional two-layer ring with your fingernails.
The only real quibble is that the leather fob is quite a lot bigger than the AirTag itself. It has more space than it needs and wobbles around slightly inside the pocket. The key ring thus takes up more room in your pocket than it needs to. This does also give the AirTag far more protection than Apple’s version. It’s less likely to get scuffed than with the other key rings we tried out.
If the price tag puts you off, Orbitkey also makes a much cheaper Slim Case with a similar locking system.–David Price
ElevationLab TagVault: Keychain
Cons
Reduces volume of AirTag sounds
Price When Reviewed:
$12.95 (single); $39.95 (4 pack)
Elevation Lab’s TagVault: Keychain claims that it is fully waterproof. This rugged case has a gasket that prevents water intrusion while passing through ultra-wideband and Bluetooth signals and allowing about two-thirds of the AirTag’s sound volume. It has an integral loop for a keychain ring and comes with a simple but robust one.–Glenn Fleishman
Read our full
TagVault: Keychain review
Caseology Vault
Pros
Rugged
Karabiner attachment
Price When Reviewed:
$13.99
How about a properly rugged key ring accessory for your AirTag? The Caseology Vault is made from military-grade thermoplastic polyurethane, with a nicely grippy sandstone finish that makes it less prone to drops.
Like the Olixar Silicone it features a karabiner attachment. This is removable, which makes the Vault a versatile accessory. It’s just as happy tracking rucksacks as keys.–David Price
Apple AirTag Loop
Apple’s AirTag Loop is made of polyurethane and feels and looks smart, with two of the color options (Electric Orange and Sunflower) particularly bright and cheerful. This will also help you to spot your suitcase on the conveyor belt.
The AirTag clips in using a metal clasp that’s easy to use and secure; you then put the strap around your luggage’s handle and loop the head part back through the slit in the tail. It looks slightly delicate at first glance–the strap gets quite thin at a certain point–but proved resistant to moderate tugging and should be fine under non-military usage conditions. Like Apple’s key ring, it protects the edges of the AirTag but not the center of its two faces, so expect some scuffing.–David Price
Belkin Secure Holder with Strap for AirTag
Price When Reviewed:
$12.95
Belkin’s Secure Holder is also available with a robust string for attaching it to the handle of a suitcase or bag. Like the strap-style loops provided by other manufacturers this threads back through itself to easily attach to your luggage.
It’s available in white, black, blue, and pink with a matching string. Since the front and back sections, string and key ring are all detachable, you could create a multicolor accessory by mixing and matching more than one holder.–David Price
Casetify Customisable AirTag Holder
Pros
Colorful design options
The principal appeal of Casetify’s AirTag holder is the sheer range of designs and colors you can choose from. The ones pictured are, from left, Colorful Floral in Turquoise and Pink (with Peach background); Flowers for you by Matthew Langille (with Licorice); and Egg Tart with Mice (with Avocado). That last one is our favorite, but there are hundreds of options.–David Price
Best AirTag wallet and card holders
It’s not just keys and luggage that’e easy to lose. Misplacing your wallet or card holder is a common occurance, and as long as you also haven’t lost your iPhone, finding one with an AirTag pocket is an easy solution.
Artpaxy Wallet with AirTag Holder
Pros
Full bifold wallet with AirTag pocket
Price When Reviewed:
$29.99
This traditional-looking bifold wallet includes a front-mounted pocket for an Apple AirTag, and then does the usual wallet business with 13 card slots, two cash pockets and two ID windows. It also claims to include Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) blocking to stop device scanning.
Bosca Old Leather AirTag Seven Pocket ID Card Case
Pros
Slim and stylish AirTag wallet
ID window
Cons
High International shipping fees
This slim, stylish and minimalist hand-stained, vegetable-tanned leather card case comprises of a surprising seven small pockets to store your cards and cash, with a snap-close AirTag pocket on the front so you be able to loate it when it’s left in another jacket or trouser pocket—or left behind on the bar.
Two or three of the pockets can be sued for bank notes or business cards, three are definitely for creadit or other types of card, and there’s a clear ID card window on the side opposite the AirTag.
It’s available in three colours: Saddle (tan), Dark Brown and Black.
Customers outside the U.S. will encounter quite stiff customs and shipping charges.
Bazza AirTag Card Wallet
Pros
Colorful, fun AirTag card wallet
Cons
Feels a little plasticky
Price When Reviewed:
$22.99
This super-lightweight card wallet from Italy nicely nestles an AirTag in a selection of attractive and fun colors. It feels a little plasticky but is in fact made from sustainable, recyclable plant-based materials—there’s not even any glue introduced into the manufacturing process.
You can buy with the AirTag preinstalled, or fit in your own. The Bazza AirTag Card Wallet is available in pink, yellow, red, dark blue, light blue, white, black and green.
Best AirTag pet collars
ElevationLab TagVault: Pet
Price When Reviewed:
$19.95
The TagVault: Pet uses screws with the small Torx T6 star-shaped drive for the portion that contains the AirTag and maintains the waterproof seal. These screws are piercing, self-tapping screws with a T10 slot. They’re used to hold a hard plastic anchor to provide further stability when attached to a pet collar that you provide–though the case may be too big for smaller collars. The kit includes a steel Torx T6 L-shaped wrench with screw tips on both ends.–Glenn Fleishman
Read our full
Elevation Lab TagVault: Pet review
Best AirTag wallet holders
ElevationLab TagVault: Wallet – card holds AirTag
Pros
Securely holds AirTag
Designed to hold an AirTag firmly in place in a wallet, it comes in two form factors: standard, 3.25 by 1.5 inches (83 by 38 mm), and compact, 2 by 1.5 inches (51 by 38 mm). Both are 0.05 inches (1.3 mm) thick. The more rectangular style works well in billfold slots; the squarer design in other parts of a wallet. With the AirTag exposed front and back, there’s no additional blocking beyond your wallet to block wireless signals for tracking and Precision Finding.–Glenn Fleishman
Read our full
TagVault: Wallet review
Nomad Card for AirTag
Pros
Securely holds AirTag
Though it tapers to the edges, the Card for AirTag is 3.2 by 2.1 by 0.2 inches (54 by 82 by 5 mm) at its largest. The AirTag sits like a gem in its center, bulging slightly outwards to 0.3 inches (8 mm).
A combination of soft and hard materials–polycarbonate and TPU rubber–provides both a nice outside feel and the rigidity and flexibility to insert an AirTag into the Card’s opening with a satisfying click.–Glenn Fleishman
Read our full
Nomad Card for AirTag review
Best AirTag mounts
Price When Reviewed:
$11.99
If the thing you want to track hasn’t got a handle you can loop the AirTags to, or a pocket you can slip one inside, then the next option is stickiness. These neat silicone pockets (which come in a pack of four) both protect the tracker from external damage, and give it a strong and reliable adhesive surface to cling to a jewel box, schoolbag or games console.
Despite the unobtrusive look of the pocket the AirTag is still fairly obvious and easily slipped out, so this solution isn’t ideal for tracking down stolen property (unless there’s a more discreet internal surface you can stick it to). But for locating TV remotes–and for sheer versatility of application–they’re indispensable.–David Price
Pelican Protector Sticker Mount Case for AirTag Devices
Pros
Strong adhesive connection
Cons
No built-in water resistance
Price When Reviewed:
$19.99
If you’re looking for an AirTag mount that can stick to almost any surface and allows for easy AirTag removal, the Pelican Protector fits the bill. It’s not discreet, it’s not rugged, and it doesn’t offer additional water protection, but as a mount, it works well. Pelican relies on 3M VHB adhesive for attachment, which creates a near-permanent mount that becomes stronger over time.—Glenn Fleishman
Read our full
Pelican Protector Sticker Mount Case for AirTag Devices review
Other types of AirTag cases and holders
ElevationLab TagVault: Bike – AirTag bike tracker
Price When Reviewed:
$19.95
The TagVault: Bike is a lozenged-shaped plastic shell that houses the AirTag AirTag nestles inside its waterproof seal. It attaches to a bike via the bike’s water bottle mount, using longer screws to attach the bottle cage, or shorter screws if you don’t attach the cage. The case is a matte black, rendering it unobtrusive. Screwed in between a cage and the frame, a thief would first have to recognize it and then work hard to remove it quickly.–Glenn Fleishman
Read our full
Elevation Lab TagVault: Bike review
Pitaka PitaTag for Lighter
Pros
Never lose your lighter
Price When Reviewed:
$69.99
Lighters are easy to leave behind or lend to someone and forget to ask for it back. One solution is to hide an AirTag inside the lighter so you can track it down and get it back when this happens.
This refillable lighter, crafted like the company’s iPhone cases, from military-grade aramid fiber and premium zinc alloy, looks like a card case rather than a cheap off-the-shelf lighter. Pitaka claims that the lighter’s blue pyramid-shaped flame is unaffected by wind, and that it features a built-in gravity lock pin to ensures that it can’t create a flame when upside down.
Nomad Hydro Flask AirTag Tracker
Pros
Easily track your Hydro Flask
Cons
For specific models only
Requires Medium Flex Boot
Hydro Flask water bottles are popular but also surprisingly easy to leave behind after a run, bike ride, or visit to the park. The Nomad Hydro Flask Tracker is a hidden inner AirTag compartment in a slim TPU body that fits between your Hydro Flask and the Medium Flex Boot (accessory sold separately) and features It works with 32oz or 40oz Wide Mouth Hydro Flasks.
If the Apple AirTag is just not right for you, check out these Bluetooth tracker recommended AirTag alternatives.
What you can expect in an AirTag case
Because the AirTag comes in a single variety, you don’t need to choose which kind to acquire. Apple sells them singly ($29) and in a four-pack ($99). Engraving is free.
An AirTag regularly broadcasts 2.4GHz Bluetooth signals with an encrypted device ID for other Apple devices to pick up and relay along with those devices’ locations. The 2.4GHz band penetrates solid objects well, but case designers need to be mindful of materials that have the potential to block the signal. In our survey of AirTag cases, we didn’t find a case so far that had that design problem.
AirTags also use ultrawideband (USB) technology for Precision Finding, exclusive to Apple’s own Find My items. Precision Finding lets an iPhone with UWB identify the direction and distance within inches when it’s within about 15 to 30 feet (4.5 to 9 m).
Consider to what use you may put an AirTag to determine the features you want:
Purpose: Cases exist in enough variety that you can find one designed as a luggage tag, another as a stylish keyring, and another to resist enormous amounts of damage. Figure out where you want to put the AirTag and match the case to it.
Water resistance: Many cases feature some degree of water resistance, some using the IP rating that defines precisely how much. If you’re using an AirTag outside or on a pet’s collar, you may want one with a high degree of resistance. When attaching to a bag or keyring, it may seem less important or not important at all.
Ring, clip, loop, or carabiner: Case makers offer many variants on attachments. Some include a simple hole to attach a keychain, while others incorporate a keychain as part of the product and may include a keyring. You can purchase multiple cases built into a carabiner, including one with a three-digit combination lock. You can also get a string or similar loop design, in which the case passes through a loop and pulls tight on a handle without a knot.
Removable or adhesive: You might want an AirTag case that’s easy to move about or attach and reattach. Other cases include adhesive for semi-permanent fixed attachment.
Hidden for theft recovery: Some cases are designed to hide an AirTag, making its presence less apparent and thus less likely to be discovered if stolen; others are obvious, such as in a keychain or luggage tag. Temper hideability with the knowledge that Apple’s anti-stalking features built into AirTag tech makes them discoverable to criminals with a smartphone.Shows the front: Conversely, some cases show off an AirTag, revealing its front where you might have had added custom engraving from Apple with an emoji or text. You might want to see that engraving to differentiate among AirTags you own.
Cost: Cases generally cost from about $20 to $35—around the price of a single AirTag. However, there are outliers below $10 and above $40. It’s all about the function, ruggedness, and complexity of purpose. Some charge extra for style.
How we test AirTag case features
For each kind of case, we rated them based on specific features around which they were designed. These include:
Easy to insert the AirTag for secure retention: Every case has a slightly different approach to getting an AirTag inside. Some cases have an elaborate locking procedure or require removing and restoring four tiny screws to preserve a waterproof seal. Others are simple as sliding the tag into a holding or popping it into a rubber ring.
Attaches securely for attachable cases: We tested cases that market themselves as attachable at how well they succeed at that task. Cases may come with or be part of a keyring, carabiner, wrist strip, or pet collar, or may have an adhesive to stick on to objects, like the inside of luggage.
Access for battery replacement: Apple expects an AirTag battery to last for about a year in everyday usage, which it defines as one case of Precision Finding and four tones played per day. A case should allow access that isn’t maddening for replacing the battery every several months to a year.
Robust against bumps and bangs: Only a few kinds of cases can avoid the wear and tear of bumping against other objects. Most need to be constructed with that in mind. For cases exposed to other surfaces, we look at whether the materials and build quality give confidence in them provide lasting value.
Blocks access to remove: A handful of cases provide a security element intended to prevent access to an AirTag without excessive force—the AirTag would have to be destroyed to remove it. We rate these cases on whether they seem able to prevent or deter everything but destruction.
Apple AirTag 4 pack
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