Airtag vs a GPS Tracker: What’s the Best Car Protection?
A GPS tracker is much better for car protection in terms of vehicle recovery. An AirTag can sometimes help you find your car if it passes near other Apple devices, but this won’t really give you real-time updates. It also won’t work well in less-populated areas. A dedicated GPS tracker, however, uses satellites and cellular service for a much more reliable, powerful, and accurate connection.
At Cartrack, we completely understand what some car owners face when deciding between a GPS tracker and an AirTag. So, we’re here to help you make an educated decision.
AirTag or GPS tracker: Which is the better choice for protecting your car?
With thousands of cars stolen annually, vehicle theft is a serious issue—especially in Eswatini. Losing a car can also be extremely stressful, in addition to being a financial loss. Although steering locks and alarms offer some prevention, the reality is that savvy thieves can easily get around these.
For this reason, a lot of Eswatini drivers are using tracking devices as an additional precaution. Usually, there are only two options to consider: a GPS tracker and AirTags. But which is better suited for serious vehicle protection? Let’s fully explore each of these devices and understand why a GPS tracker offers far greater security than an AirTag ever could for your car.
What is an AirTag?
So what exactly is an AirTag? An AirTag is a Bluetooth tracking device owned by Apple designed to locate personal belongings. It’s a small and discreet tag that works via the ‘Find My’ network using nearby iPhones to update the location.
How does an AirTag work for car protection?
The AirTag was designed to help you find personal items like keys, wallets, and bags—not cars. While AirTags are small and easy to place, they completely rely on Apple’s “Find My” network. What this does is make their performance dependent upon how many iPhones exist, limiting how well they can protect your vehicle in real-life theft cases.
Pros of AirTag for car use
The pros of an AirTag for tracking your car are:
- It’s an affordable one-time purchase.
- It’s easy to set up with an iPhone.
- It’s small and discreet—easy to hide.
- It’s also reasonably useful in dense urban areas with many iPhone users.
Cons of AirTag for car use
The cons of an AirTag for tracking your car are:
- It’s not a dedicated vehicle tracker GPS—no theft alerts.
- It relies entirely on nearby iPhones to update its location.
- It’s useless in rural areas or places with only a few Apple devices.
- Thieves can easily detect and disable them.
- They don’t provide real-time updates or recovery assistance.
For everyday items, an AirTag is convenient. But for serious car protection? It falls short!
What is a vehicle tracker GPS?
A GPS tracker is a specialised vehicle tracking device that provides precise, real-time location updates via satellites and mobile networks. GPS trackers, as opposed to AirTags, are made specifically for the purpose of preventing car theft, assisting in vehicle recovery, and offering other useful safety features.
Why is a GPS tracker a better option for vehicles?
GPS trackers are mainly designed for vehicles, in contrast to AirTags, which are designed for items. So no matter where your car is, a GPS tracker provides precise, real-time location updates via satellite technology and mobile networks. In Eswatini, where auto theft is a major problem, a GPS tracker can also send theft alerts.
They can also put you in touch with expert recovery teams and provide you with full visibility via a mobile app. Let’s take another look at some pros & cons:
Pros of a GPS tracker for car use
The pros of a GPS tracker for tracking your car are:
- It provides real-time location tracking.
- It works independently of nearby devices.
- They have geo-fencing (alerts when your car leaves a designated area).
- They provide theft alerts for unauthorised movement.
- They can monitor driver behaviour.
- You can receive emergency responses and recovery assistance.
- It’s linked to professional monitoring centres for rapid theft recovery.
Cons of a GPS tracker for car use
The cons of using a GPS tracker for tracking your car are:
- They are more expensive than an AirTag.
- They require installation (by a professional).
- Ongoing subscription fees may apply.
AirTag vs GPS tracker: Side-by-side comparison
A sure way to make sure you’re making the right choice for your vehicle’s protection is by comparing the key features, reliability, and overall value of each device. While an AirTag can be a handy tool for tracking your small personal belongings, a vehicle tracker GPS is purpose-built to safeguard your car. That’s because it offers you real-time monitoring, theft alerts, and recovery support.
By comparing the technology, cost, and protection provided by each of them, you can easily see why the best GPS tracker for car safety in Eswatini is the superior choice.
Why GPS trackers are better for Eswatini drivers
In Eswatini, every second is crucial when your vehicle is stolen. Even a few minutes can make an impact, whether you get your whole vehicle back or just parts of it. This is why, compared to an AirTag, a GPS tracker offers you far more protection:
- Theft alerts: Get alerted right away if your car is moved without your consent.
- Expert recovery teams: Cartrack has 24/7 vehicle recovery teams to curb vehicle theft.
- Family protection: A GPS tracker can help parents keep an eye on their children’s driving habits and make sure they get to their destination safely. For family homes, this makes ours the best GPS tracker for vehicle safety.
- Fleet management: Companies can keep an eye on several cars at once, reducing fuel waste and unauthorised travel.
Simply put, the best hidden GPS tracker for car protection is the better option if you’re serious about keeping your vehicle safe in Eswatini.
Why drivers prefer our vehicle tracking services
Now, you may be wondering, ‘Why do people prefer using Cartrack’s GPS tracking systems?’ Well, as a company born in Eswatini, we completely understand the importance of not only being quick, but also being efficient when it comes to retrieving stolen assets—as every second counts.
At Cartrack, we offer:
Nationwide reach, around the clock
No matter where you are in Eswatini, our tracking network will cover you. Our teams remain on standby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—so your car is always protected.
A mobile app for seamless control
We put complete visibility at your fingertips. Using our user-friendly mobile app, you can:
- Track your car’s live location in real time.
- Instantly share your current location with loved ones or coworkers.
- Get notifications and proactive alerts as soon as something changes.
- Access your full trip history whenever you need it.
A trusted service by millions from Eswatini
Over two million drivers already rely on our service to protect their cars. We’re honoured to be acknowledged as the top vehicle tracker GPS provider for peace of mind and proven outcomes. Our excellent customer service and reputation as one of the most trustworthy tracking companies on HelloPeter speak for themselves. We hold a 9.5 Trust Index rating on HelloPeter, the highest in our industry, and have an overall score of 4.15 out of 5 stars.
Other car protection devices
GPS trackers and AirTags aren’t the only devices available to protect your vehicle. Your budget and needs play a major role in what device you’ll choose. To make sure you have a complete overview of what products exist, we’ve put together a comprehensive overview for you to make an informed decision.
Frequently asked questions about AirTag vs GPS tracker
Can I use an Apple AirTag as a car tracker in Eswatini?
Yes, but only to a point. AirTags get their location updates from nearby iPhones, so they work better in busy cities. However, they don’t let you track things in real time or get alerts when something is stolen, and thieves can easily find and disable them.
Is a hidden GPS tracker for car security more effective than a visible one?
Yes, a hidden GPS tracker used for car protection is much harder for thieves to find and take off, which makes it much more likely that you’ll get your car back if it’s stolen. Additionally, there’s often more than one GPS tracker installed in your vehicle, so you will always be protected.
Can a GPS tracker lower my insurance premiums?
Yes, a lot of Eswatini insurance companies see GPS trackers as a good way to protect your property and may offer you lower premiums. GPS trackers greatly increase the chances of recovering a stolen vehicle, which is why AirTags are not recognised for this purpose.
Do all GPS trackers require a monthly subscription?
Not all GPS trackers require a monthly subscription. Some products are sold as the best GPS tracker with no monthly fee or the best vehicle tracking device with no monthly fee. Most of the time, these only let you track your location. But subscription-based services offer theft alerts, help with recovery, and monitoring around the clock.
Will an AirTag alert me if my car is stolen?
No, unfortunately, AirTags don’t offer any recovery support, immobilisation, or theft alerts. AirTags are Bluetooth devices, so only when and if your vehicle happens to pass another Apple device will it then be able to provide you with location updates.
