Types of Tracking Devices: GPS, GPS/Cellular, Bluetooth, and More Explained

You’ve heard your friends or colleagues mention it. “We’re tracking our new teen driver to make sure he’s safe,” or “We’re managing our fleet of service vehicles with tracking devices.” Even if you know nothing about tracking devices or tracking technology, you can tell they provide peace of mind and boost efficiency. You think about how it could be helpful at your job or in your home life.

However, as you begin your search, you soon realize that numerous options are available, some utilizing different technologies. Your search for a simple tracking device is quickly overwhelming. 

The best tracking device for finding your keys at home is entirely different from the one needed to monitor a cross-country delivery truck. Different devices vary in their range, power requirements, price, and real-time functionality.

So, how do you know which device is right for you?

To help you find what you need, this guide will explain the technology behind the most common types of tracking devices. We’ll compare the pros and cons of simple Bluetooth trackers, dedicated standalone GPS tracking devices, and the powerful and versatile cellular GPS tracker.

Keep reading, because once you know how tracking devices work, you can confidently choose the perfect solution for your car, your family, or your business.

What Are Tracking Devices?

The first thing to know is exactly what people mean by” tracking devices.“ Basically, tracking devices are electronic tools that can monitor the location and status of a physical item. Using technologies such as GPS, cellular networks, or Bluetooth, tracking devices determine their location and transmit this data, which allows you to view it via a smartphone app or a web-based dashboard. 

Tracking devices can take many forms, ranging from tiny tags that can be attached to a keychain to sophisticated units that plug directly into your car. 

Feature sets vary depending on the device, but often include:

• Location reporting: You can view the tracker’s real-time location or its last known position, depending on the type of technology used by a specific device.
• Movement alerts: Some devices allow you to receive instant notifications on your phone when certain events happen. This includes when the tracker starts to move, stops, or exceeds a certain speed. These alerts are used for theft prevention, behavior monitoring, and other functionality.
• Geofencing: For this feature, you use the tracker’s app to define virtual boundaries on a map. Common locations include around your home, a worksite, or your child’s school. A geofence alert will notify you the moment the device enters or exits that area.
• Data logging: A feature of a more advanced tracing system is the ability to record and analyze a history of trips, routes, mileage, and stops.

The Main Types of Tracking Devices

Type 1: Standalone GPS Trackers

Standalone GPS tracking devices are robust solutions designed for universal use, providing tracking capabilities in both urban and remote environments. Popular examples include the Garmin inReach or the Spot GPS Messenger.

Pros of the standalone GPS tracker:

• Works everywhere: Since they don't rely on cell service, these trackers are the perfect companion for hiking, boating, or working in remote wilderness areas where phones are useless.
• Emergency SOS Features: Most models feature a dedicated SOS button that instantly sends your location to a 24/7 global emergency response center.

Cons of the standalone GPS tracker: 

• Higher cost: Satellite trackers can be expensive, and they often require a costly monthly or annual satellite subscription plan to function.
• Bulky hardware: These trackers tend to be larger and heavier than other tracking devices, making them impractical for discreetly tracking a vehicle or a small asset.
• Limited everyday use: For tracking a car in a city or suburb, these devices are overkill. The cost, size, and typically slower update rates make them unsuitable for daily, real-time monitoring in populated areas.

Type 2: GPS + Cellular Trackers

For most people and businesses, the cellular GPS tracking device hits the sweet spot of performance, features, and affordability. This is the most popular type of tracker on the market, thanks to full-featured devices from Bouncie, Tracki, Vyncs, LandAirSea, and Spytec. Customers use these trackers for monitoring vehicles, valuable assets, and even their loved ones.

Trackers in this class use a two-step technology. First, they receive location signals from the GPS satellites to determine the tracker’s precise coordinates. Next, using a built-in cellular modem, they transmit the data over a cellular network, such as AT&T or T-Mobile, to a server, and then to an app on your phone. This combination delivers fast, accurate, and real-time location information whenever the device is in an area with cell service.

Pros of GPS + cellular trackers:

• Real-time insights: Since they utilize cellular networks, these devices provide live location updates, often at intervals of a few seconds or less. This enables powerful features, such as live tracking on a map, speed alerts, geofencing, and a detailed trip history.
• Excellent vehicle tracking: An OBD-II vehicle tracker like Bouncie plugs directly into your car’s diagnostic port, drawing constant power and accessing valuable vehicle health data, such as engine trouble codes or battery levels.
• Affordable and accessible: While they require a data subscription, the cost is typically low, and far less than what you can expect to pay for a comparable satellite-based service.

Cons of GPS + cellular trackers:

• Subscription fees: Since these devices require a cellular connection to transmit data, you’ll need to pay for a service plan. The monthly payment is usually inexpensive, but it requires another subscription to maintain.
• Power and cell service requirements: These devices require a power source, either from an internal battery that needs charging or, more reliably, from the vehicle itself. It also won't work in remote areas with limited cellular signal and other dead zones.

Type 3: Bluetooth Tracking Devices

You are likely already familiar with the most common Bluetooth tracking devices, such as Apple AirTags, Tile, and Chipolo. These small, battery-powered tags are designed to help you locate misplaced personal items and have become incredibly popular due to their simplicity and low cost.

Bluetooth trackers work in two ways. When you are nearby (the range can be anywhere between 30 and 200 feet), your smartphone connects directly to the tag via Bluetooth, allowing you to "ring" it to find your keys behind the couch cushions. 

When the tracked item is farther away, such as a wallet left at a restaurant, Bluetooth trackers rely on a crowdsourced network. For example, AirTags connect to iPhones in the area to report their location. While this is an innovative solution, it obviously fails if there are no compatible devices nearby.

Pros of Bluetooth tracking devices

• Low cost: Bluetooth trackers are inexpensive and do not require monthly subscription fees.
• Discreet: These small trackers attach to almost anything, from a wallet to a pet’s collar.
• Long battery life: Bluetooth Low Energy allows tracker batteries to last for a year or more before needing replacement.
• Great for nearby items: Tag-type trackers are ideal for locating frequently misplaced items around the house or office.

Cons of Bluetooth tracking devices

• Very limited range: These devices are not "trackers" in the same sense as GPS devices. It’s more accurate to say they are "finders." Their functionality depends entirely on being near your phone or another phone in their network.
• Not real-time: A Bluetooth tracker cannot provide a live, moving location on a map. It only updates its position when it comes into contact with a networked device.
• Unsuitable for vehicles: With no real-time tracking capabilities, a Bluetooth tracker is a poor choice for a vehicle tracker. A car can travel for miles without passing a compatible device, leaving you with old, unreliable location data. They are not effective for real-time vehicle security or for monitoring a driver’s habits.

Comparing Tracking Technologies

Now that you know how each type of tracking device works, the side‑by‑side comparison below makes it easy to see their strengths and trade‑offs.

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As the comparison shows, each type of device is useful for some applications, but not others:

• Bluetooth trackers are unbeatable for finding personal items you’ve misplaced nearby.
• Standalone GPS trackers are essential safety tools for anyone traveling or working far beyond the reach of cell towers.
• Cellular GPS trackers are the best all-around solution for vehicles. They offer the perfect combination of live tracking, advanced features like geofencing and speed alerts, and affordability for daily use by families and businesses.

Use Case Scenarios: Which Tracker is For You or Your Business?

Still unsure of which type of tracker will work for you or your business? Take a look at these real-world examples to get an idea of how you might use each type:

Parents With a New Teen Driver or Families Caring for the Elderly

It’s totally normal for parents to wonder if their teen is driving safely and responsibly. Similarly, families caring for the elderly can benefit from some help in monitoring their loved ones without being too intrusive. In these cases, a cellular GPS tracker like Bouncie is the best choice.

Bouncie plugs into a car’s OBD-II port and offers real-time location and speed alerts, making it the perfect vehicle tracker. Features like geofence notifications when family members arrive or leave a specific location (like school or home), and trip history provide a proper balance of monitoring and privacy.

Small Business Owners and Fleet Managers

If you need to manage a fleet of vehicles and want to improve dispatching, reduce fuel costs, and ensure employee accountability, a vehicle tracking device is again the best choice.

Equipping each vehicle with a tracker allows you to see your entire fleet on a single map. You can optimize routes, verify service calls, monitor for unauthorized use, and track mileage for maintenance and tax purposes. It’s a simple way to improve your bottom line.

Individuals Tracking Personal Assets

If you want to keep tabs on personal items like luggage, a laptop bag, or an expensive bicycle, an asset tracking device can be invaluable. But, which type? It really depends on the item and its potential distance from you.

A personal tracking device, like a Bluetooth tag, works well for keeping tabs on a wallet or a bag that will always be nearby. However, for high-value assets that travel away from your home, such as a bike or a classic car stored off-site, Bluetooth trackers will be of limited use. Instead, using a dedicated asset tracking device, such as a cellular GPS tracker, is a far better choice, thanks to its real-time location capabilities and extensive service coverage.

The Hiker or Outdoor Adventurer

If you’re heading into the backcountry for a hike, a camping trip, or some adventure in the great outdoors, there may be no cell phone service, and safety is your top concern. If you want to share your location with family or friends reliably, you need a standalone GPS tracker.

A dedicated GPS tracker with satellite communication is the only device you can be sure will work when you're off the grid. It allows friends and family to follow your progress online. Many makes and models come with an SOS button to contact emergency services in the event of an emergency for complete peace of mind.

Why Bouncie Offers the Best Tracking Device for Vehicles

It’s clear that for tracking cars, a cellular GPS tracker is the superior technology. In this category, Bouncie is the only option that offers the best of other trackers in one compact and easy-to-use package. 

Bouncie is an OBD-II tracker that plugs into the diagnostic port, which has been the standard for all new vehicles since 1996. Its other features make it the ideal vehicle tracker, such as:

• Real-time GPS with 15-second updates: Bouncie utilizes both GPS and cellular technology to update your vehicle's location on a live map as frequently as every 15 seconds, even while it's in motion. Now, you always know exactly where your car is.
• No charging, ever: Forget the hassle of rechargeable batteries. Bouncie draws power from your vehicle’s OBD-II port, so it’s always on and always ready.
• More than just location: Bouncie transforms any car into a connected car. In addition to best-in-class location tracking, the Bouncie app gives you trip histories, driver behavior monitoring, vehicle health alerts, geofencing, and more.

This extensive feature set makes Bouncie the perfect tool for parents of teen drivers, managers of small business fleets, and anyone who wants to stay connected to their vehicle. Only Bouncie delivers a powerful, all-in-one system that makes it the best tracking device for vehicles.

Learn More About the Ideal Tracking Device

Choosing the right tracking device comes down to matching the technology to your needs. For the best combination of real-time location, easy installation, and versatility, choose Bouncie, the premier cellular GPS tracker. Learn more today to see why thousands of families and businesses trust Bouncie.