How both solutions work
A Bluetooth tracker is an electronic device that broadcasts a Bluetooth Low Energy signal. When the device comes within range of another smartphone belonging to users of the manufacturer's network, its position is anonymously transmitted to servers and shared with the owner through a mobile app.
A QR tag is a label with a QR code that, when scanned with a phone, leads to the owner's contact page. It does not track the location of the luggage, but enables contact between the finder and the owner. The finder sees contact details and can send a message.
The key difference: a Bluetooth tracker tells the owner where their luggage is, while a QR tag enables a finder to contact the owner. A tracker answers the question "where is my suitcase?", while a QR tag answers "how do I contact the owner of this suitcase?"
Cost comparison
Bluetooth trackers cost between 25 and 50 EUR per device. If you want to label several pieces of luggage, you need to buy separate devices for each one, which quickly adds up to a significant sum.
A QR tag at whostravel.ing costs 39 PLN per year for the entire account with no limit on the number of items labelled. For this amount you can print a label as many times as you like and attach it to every suitcase, backpack, bag and piece of sports equipment.
Hidden costs of trackers also need to be factored in. The battery requires replacement or charging. Some manufacturers charge additional fees for full access to location history or for use outside a particular country.
Range and tracking effectiveness
The direct Bluetooth range is 10 to 30 metres, but trackers use other users' phones to track over long distances. The effectiveness of this method depends on the density of the network in a given location.
At major international airports the network is dense and location is usually accurate. At smaller regional airports and in rural areas the network may be too sparse to give an accurate location.
A QR tag does not offer location tracking at all. Location information only appears when someone actively scans the code. This requirement for active action on the part of the finder is a limitation, but in many cases where luggage has been deliberately found and is being returned, a QR tag works excellently.
Privacy and data security
Bluetooth trackers require installing an app and creating an account with the manufacturer. The location history of your luggage is stored on the manufacturer's servers. Depending on the terms and privacy policy, this data may be used for various purposes by the manufacturer.
A whostravel.ing QR tag stores only the data you enter yourself: your name, phone number, email address or a contact form. It does not track the location of the tag. It does not require the finder to install an app.
The physical QR label contains no personal data, only a QR code. Whoever picks up the suitcase cannot see your details without actively scanning it. You can also pause the tag at any time with one click.
Battery and reliability
Bluetooth trackers run on batteries that require replacement or charging. Battery life ranges from a few months to a year. If you forget to replace the battery before a long trip, the tracker will stop working at the worst possible moment.
A QR tag requires no battery, charging or maintenance. A printed label works for as long as it is physically readable. There is no risk of the label stopping working due to a flat battery in the middle of a trip.
The finder's perspective
A Bluetooth tracker is completely useless from the finder's perspective. The person who finds your suitcase has no access to your contact details through the tracker. A tracker is a tool for the owner to track their own things, not for the finder to return them.
A QR tag is designed precisely with the finder in mind. Anyone who finds a suitcase and wants to return it can scan the code and immediately see how to contact the owner. They do not need to install any app and bear no contact costs through the form.
The finder page displays automatically in the language of the finder's phone across 10 language versions. This significantly increases the chance that the finder will actually attempt to make contact.
When to choose which solution
A Bluetooth tracker works best if you actively track valuable luggage during travel and want to know its location in real time. It is useful at major international airports where the user network is dense and location is accurate.
A QR tag works best as a contact label for all types of luggage and equipment. It is ideal when you are labelling multiple items, or when you want a simple and inexpensive solution without having to worry about batteries and apps.
For many travellers the best strategy is to combine both. A Bluetooth tracker on the most valuable checked suitcase plus a QR tag on all luggage items. The tracker provides active tracking, the QR tag enables finder contact on every item at the cost of one annual subscription.