scaniflost vs AirTag and other Bluetooth trackers
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They solve different problems. A Bluetooth tracker such as an AirTag shows you roughly where an item is. A scaniflost QR tag lets the person who has found it contact you. A tracker needs a battery and a compatible phone; a scaniflost tag has no battery and works with any phone camera, but only once somebody finds it and scans it.
What a tracker does
A Bluetooth tracker is a small battery-powered device that nearby phones can detect, so you can see its approximate location on a map. It's very good at telling you where your bag is.
It doesn't tell the person who picked up your bag how to reach you, so you still have to go and get it, or work out who has it.
What scaniflost does
A scaniflost tag is a QR code on a key tag or sticker. It doesn't locate anything. When somebody finds your things, they scan it with their phone camera and message you through scaniflost, without seeing your contact details. You're emailed straight away.
Side by side
| Bluetooth tracker | scaniflost | |
|---|---|---|
| Shows you where the item is | Yes, approximately | No |
| Lets the finder contact you | No | Yes |
| Battery | Yes, replaced or recharged from time to time | None |
| What the finder needs | Nothing; nearby compatible phones detect it | Any phone with a camera |
| What a finder learns about you | Nothing | Your first name and what the item is |
Using both
They work well together. A tracker in the bag tells you where it is; a scaniflost sticker on the outside lets whoever is holding it get in touch. For things you wouldn't put a tracker on, like a water bottle, an e-reader or a set of spare keys, a sticker or key tag on its own is a simple, low-cost way to give them a route home.