What are the best GPS trackers for bikes? Our selection

In addition to a good anti-theft device, a GPS tracker will be very useful in protecting your precious bike. Even more so if you own an electric bike or a cargo bike... As e-bikes are more expensive than muscle bikes, they are also more often subject to theft. Even a cheap electric bike deserves all your protection. Better to put all the chances on your side to be able to find it if it is stolen. GPS beacons have also proven their effectiveness, with a very high recovery rate after the theft.

We have also gathered for you the best advice and products to prevent your bike from being stolen.

What is a GPS tracker? This is a small GPS beacon, cleverly camouflaged on (or in) your mount, which works in conjunction with your smartphone. Via a dedicated application, you can check the location of your electric bike and follow its route if it moves, and some models even have an alarm to scare away thugs. So what are the best GPS trackers for bikes?

Invoxia Bike Tracker: our recommendation for a GPS bike tracker without a SIM card

Invoxia is the leading brand in this market. Its bike tracker is undoubtedly the best possible option, in particular because it is discreet and above all easy to install. This tracker has also been tested and approved by our mobility journalist, Grégoire.

This GPS tracker is specifically designed to go unnoticed on a bike, since it takes the form of a reflector. The GPS beacon is hidden in a fairly ordinary reflector, to be attached to the frame, under the saddle of your bike for example. The screws provided have a specific head, a simple Phillips screwdriver will not be enough to detach the tag. Designed to stay on your bike outside, the tracker is of course waterproof (IP 67 certified).

The application provided by Invoxia (Android and iOS) is very well done. By opening it, you will be able to see the approximate location of your bike. Then, by getting closer to 10 or 15 meters, you will be able to see precisely where your bike is thanks to Bluetooth.

When you make a trip, you can choose the beacon emission frequency, from 3 to 10 minutes. You can also define specific zones and be notified if the bike leaves them.

It is also capable of detecting suspicious movements when stationary with the “anti-theft” function, in particular thanks to its tilt sensor. The app will then send you a notification. You can also find the history of your locations, or even track your journey.

For this little GPS tracker, you can count on 3 months of autonomy. It uses the low-consumption LoRa network, and therefore does not bother with a SIM card. Upon purchase, you benefit from a 3-year subscription. After this period, the subscription, which was previously billed at 9.99 euros per year, will now cost you 24.95 euros…

Invoxia also offers other trackers: the GPS Tracker, and the Mini Tracker, which are a little cheaper than the special bike model. If you see another way to hide your GPS beacon in your bike, you might as well turn to these models.

The Apple AirTag: the alternative solution to GPS trackers

You will surely say to yourself that the Apple AirTag is not made to go on a bike. If it is not actually intended for this function initially, it could well serve as a GPS beacon. To do this, you will need to invest in a small support designed specifically to accommodate the Apple product and be attached to the frame of a bicycle.

So you can use the beacon feature of an AirTag to check the location of your bike. However, this is not an ideal solution for several reasons. Therefore, real-time position tracking is not possible; for example, you will not be alerted if your AirTag (and therefore your bike) moves without you being close to it. Not to mention that if the thief of your mount has an iPhone... he will be notified that an AirTag is nearby, once he returns home.

Concerning the supports to fix it on the frame, there are several models which work on different principles. You can, for example, turn to the model designed by Decathlon, or to those present on Amazon.

You will also find clever variants, where the AirTag is installed in a doorbell.

This solution may be relevant if you already have an AirTag and don't really know what to do with it. In addition, an AirTag costs 39 euros and can therefore be a more economical solution than a specialized GPS tracker. Another advantage: it does not require a subscription and its battery life is one year. On the other hand, you will not have access to alert functions on the movements of your bike, for example. Finally, if you have an Android smartphone, it is better to forget this solution, because most of the functions are not accessible.

A solution not specific to bicycles, electric or not, but which can help. Find our AirTag test to get an idea.

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag: the version on Android

If you are not familiar with the Apple ecosystem, know that there is an alternative on Android. We therefore advise you to turn to the Galaxy SmartTag 2. Here again, with a good support adapted to your bike, the tag can act as a GPS tracker.

With your Samsung Galaxy smartphone, simply pair it via the SmartThings app. The connected beacon has a Bluetooth range of 120 meters, but also the Galaxy Find Network. The latter uses the positions of other Samsung smartphones to provide a more precise location to your GPS tracker.

The only weak point of this product is that it is only compatible with a Samsung phone. Which excludes most Android smartphones. In terms of price, the SmartTag 2 starts at 39 euros.

Knog Scout: the alarm tracker that deters thieves

Do you need a device capable of both tracking and deterring potential criminals? Our recommendation for this is the Knog Scout case.

Its sleek design and discreet installation make it a formidable ally. It is placed under the bottle cage which makes it very discreet. The product is sold with an installation kit and weighs 25 grams in total. Then, the Knog connects via Bluetooth to the dedicated mobile application. Finally, it charges via USB-C with 6 months of battery life.

In terms of functions implemented, the Knog Scout first acts as a GPS tracker. To do this, the product uses Apple's Find My network, ideal especially for iPhone owners. For those who own an Android phone, a compatible version is planned and arriving shortly.

Above all, the product also acts as an audible alarm as soon as an attempted theft is detected. You will need to deactivate the alarm from your smartphone.

How to choose your GPS tracker for bike? The criteria to remember

The criteria for choosing a GPS tracker for bike?

You will need to consider several parameters:

- GPS accuracy and features

- Discretion and ease of installation

- Autonomy

- The type of network

- The total price (including subscription)

What type of network should you prefer (GSM or low frequency)?

There are two types of operation for a plotter. The latter will use, as desired, the GSM (2G) network, or the low frequency LoRa network.

The low frequency network has the advantage of having very low consumption: the autonomy of the beacon will therefore be better. However, coverage will be limited to France. A beacon that relies on the GSM network will have almost international coverage (like a telephone), and of better quality, particularly in non-urban areas.

Where to place a GPS tracker on your bike?

There are several possibilities. Some trackers are designed to be camouflaged and therefore look like reflectors. Others can be inserted into the handlebar fork, still others take the form of a bottle holder on the frame. Of course, you can always be creative and place your beacon wherever you want, the important thing being that it is waterproof and above all, that it is not easily spotted by a thief.

A GPS tracker does not prevent theft: what is its use?

Indeed, the presence of a tag, unlike that of a solid lock, will not prevent a thief from detaching your bike and taking it. But it is nevertheless very useful. For example, if you are not far from your bike (in a café for example), and you receive a movement notification, you can quickly go there: a thief who is disturbed in his misdeed will take flight.

But above all, a beacon can be useful because it allows you to alert the police, who will be able to track your bike and recover it. The goal is therefore not to prevent its theft, but to find it... The other solution to help you secure your property is bicycle insurance.

In addition, a tracker also allows you to share your location with your loved ones. If you are going on an MTB expedition in the mountains or forest, this can still be useful for your safety, especially in the event of an accident.

Our other bike guides

To complete your cycling equipment, visit our selection of the best accessories for cycling in town. If you need to consult your phone while cycling, head to the comparison of smartphone holders for bicycles. And if you are also interested in protecting your motorized vehicle, take a look at our guide dedicated to motorcycle and scooter GPS trackers.