AirTag vs Cube Tracker for Luggage: Which Should You Buy
Pick the AirTag (2nd Generation) if you want no subscription and your phone is an iPhone or iPad. Pick the Cube Real-Time GPS Tracker if you need location without nearby phones and will pay a monthly plan. The AirTag costs $29 and needs no subscription for basic location tracking. The Cube costs $40, plus a subscription from $16.50 a month billed annually or $19.95 a month. The device price gap is $11. Over one year, the Cube costs $238 or $279.40 against the AirTag's $29. Range splits them: about 200 ft over Bluetooth for the AirTag, and wherever cellular coverage exists for the Cube. The AirTag has no Android support, and the Cube works on iOS and Android.
Pack Without The Stress
Build a free, personalized packing list for your whole trip, in under 30 seconds. Choose your destination, trip length, and reason for traveling — Trecklist tells you exactly what to bring.
AirTag (2nd Generation) vs Cube Real-Time GPS Tracker: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | AirTag (2nd Generation) | Cube Real-Time GPS Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Device price | $29 | $40 |
| First-year cost | $29 | $238 on the annual plan, or $279.40 on monthly billing |
| Ongoing cost | None for basic location tracking | From $16.50 a month billed annually, or $19.95 a month |
| Technology | Bluetooth plus UWB, through the Find My network of 700M+ devices | 4G LTE GPS (cellular) |
| Range and coverage | About 200 ft over Bluetooth, with UWB Precision Finding up to about 40 ft | Wherever cellular coverage exists, reporting every few seconds |
| Battery | 1+ year on a CR2032 coin cell | Rechargeable, with life from days to weeks depending on update frequency |
| Phone compatibility | iPhone or iPad on iOS 14.5 or later, no Android support | iOS and Android |
| Size and water resistance | IP67 water and dust resistance, no built-in keyring hole | Heavier and bulkier than coin-cell Bluetooth trackers, water resistance not listed in Trecklist guide |
| Alerts and extras | Speaker 50% louder than the first generation | Geo-fencing and SOS alerts |
| Trecklist guide role | Picked as best overall for iPhone users | Called overkill for standard airport travel, and the only option that works without nearby phones in remote destinations |
Device Price and Ongoing Cost
The AirTag (2nd Generation) is the cheaper device, at $29 against the Cube's $40. The AirTag needs no subscription for basic location tracking, so its $29 price has no recurring charge attached. The Cube's subscription starts at $16.50 a month billed annually, or $19.95 a month on monthly billing. On the annual plan, the subscription totals $198 a year ($16.50 times 12). With the $40 device, the first year costs $238. On monthly billing, $19.95 times 12 is $239.40, and with the device the first year costs $279.40. Against the AirTag's $29, the first-year gap is $209 on the annual plan and $250.40 on monthly billing.
Technology, Range, and Coverage
The two trackers find a bag in different ways. The AirTag uses Bluetooth plus UWB, with the Find My network of 700M+ devices behind it. Bluetooth trackers locate a bag when nearby smartphones relay its position through a crowdsourced network. The AirTag's Bluetooth range is about 200 ft. UWB Precision Finding reaches up to about 40 ft, which is up to 1.5x farther than the original AirTag. GPS trackers report location continuously over cellular connections, but they cost more and need a monthly plan. The Cube uses 4G LTE GPS and reports location every few seconds without needing nearby phones. Its coverage is wherever cellular coverage exists. The Cube also includes geo-fencing and SOS alerts.
Battery, Size, and Water Resistance
The AirTag runs on a CR2032 coin cell, and its battery lasts 1+ year. The Cube is rechargeable, and its battery life depends on update frequency, from days to weeks. The Trecklist guide describes the Cube as heavier and bulkier than coin-cell Bluetooth trackers. The AirTag has IP67 water and dust resistance. It has no built-in keyring hole, so it needs a separate holder. The Cube's water and dust resistance is unpublished here, so check the vendor page. The guide states that consumer Bluetooth trackers using CR2032 cells are permitted under aviation rules. The guide does not list any airline's policy.
Phone Compatibility
The AirTag needs an iPhone or iPad running iOS 14.5 or later. It has no Android support. The Cube works on iOS and Android, so it fits either phone platform. The Trecklist guide does not list a phone model or OS version for the Cube. The AirTag is less useful in regions with fewer Apple devices. If your phone runs Android, the Cube is the only one of these two that works with it. For another iPhone Find My option, see the AirTag head-to-head with another iPhone Find My tracker.
Trecklist Guide Role for Each Tracker
The Trecklist guide picks the AirTag (2nd Generation) as best overall for iPhone users. The guide calls the Cube overkill for standard airport travel. It also calls the Cube the only option that works without nearby phones in remote destinations. The two roles split the choice by phone type and by location. The AirTag role depends on the phone, and the Cube role depends on whether nearby phones are present. For a wider set of options than these two, see the AirTag alternatives roundup.
Who Each Tracker Is Not the Right Pick For
The AirTag is the wrong pick for an Android phone, because it has no Android support. It is also the wrong pick where no phones are nearby, because it depends on nearby smartphones. The Cube is the wrong pick for a buyer who wants no monthly bill. Its subscription starts at $16.50 a month billed annually. The AirTag has a real advantage on price, at $11 less for the device and no subscription. The Cube has a real advantage on phone support, since it works on Android and reports without nearby phones. Bluetooth trackers are described as cheap, light and battery-efficient, and the Cube is heavier and bulkier. For a Bluetooth option that works with Android, see the AirTag head-to-head with an Android-friendly tracker.
Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
Buy the AirTag (2nd Generation) if you carry it with an iPhone or iPad and want no subscription. Buy the Cube Real-Time GPS Tracker if you need location without nearby phones and accept a monthly plan. For the full set of options, see the luggage tracker guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the AirTag or the Cube better for tracking luggage?
The AirTag is the better pick for an iPhone or iPad user who wants no subscription, at $29. The Cube is the better pick for anyone who needs location without nearby phones, at $40 plus a monthly plan. The Cube also includes geo-fencing and SOS alerts, and those features are not listed for the AirTag in Trecklist guide.
How much does each tracker cost in the first year?
The AirTag costs $29 in the first year, and it needs no subscription. The Cube costs $238 in the first year on the annual plan, or $279.40 on monthly billing. The annual plan is $40 plus $16.50 times 12, which equals $238. Of that, $198 is subscription fees. Monthly billing is $40 plus $19.95 times 12, which equals $279.40. Of that, $239.40 is subscription fees.
Does the AirTag work with Android phones?
No. The AirTag needs an iPhone or iPad running iOS 14.5 or later, and it has no Android support. The Cube works on iOS and Android. The Trecklist guide does not list a phone model or OS version for the Cube.
Which tracker works where no phones are nearby?
The Cube reports location over 4G LTE GPS every few seconds without needing nearby phones. Its coverage is wherever cellular coverage exists. The AirTag depends on nearby smartphones relaying its position, and its Bluetooth range is about 200 ft. So the AirTag needs phones nearby to report a position.
Does the AirTag need a subscription?
No. The AirTag needs no subscription for basic location tracking, so its $29 price is the only listed cost. The Cube needs a monthly plan, from $16.50 a month billed annually or $19.95 a month. The Cube's subscription is the only recurring cost listed for either tracker.
Is the Cube overkill for standard airport travel?
The Trecklist guide calls the Cube overkill for standard airport travel. The same guide calls it the only option that works without nearby phones in remote destinations. Both statements describe the Cube, one for airport travel and one for remote destinations.