we’ve put together a collection of the best Locator Beacons that are currently available on the market. To help you find the perfect Locator Beacon among a wide variety of options, we constantly update our collection with new and trending models.

10 Best Locator Beacons

Based on dozens of customer reviews and ratings, the followings are the top 10 best-selling Locator Beacons:

# Preview Product Price
1 ACR ResQLink 400 - SOS Personal Locator Beacon with GPS (Model: PLB-400) ACR 2921 ACR ResQLink 400 – SOS Personal Locator Beacon with GPS (Model: PLB-400) ACR 2921 $319.95 View Product
2 ACR ResQLink View - Buoyant Personal Locator Beacon with GPS for Hiking, Boating and All Outdoor Adventures (Model PLB 425) ACR 2922 ACR ResQLink View – Buoyant Personal Locator Beacon with GPS for Hiking, Boating and All Outdoor… $369.95 View Product
3 acr ResQLink View & ResQFlare Survival Kit (2361) - Personal Locator Beacon & USCG Approved Replacement for Pyrotechnic Flares acr ResQLink View & ResQFlare Survival Kit (2361) – Personal Locator Beacon & USCG Approved… $425.95 View Product
4 RESCUEME PLB1 Personal Locator Beacon - USA Programmed RESCUEME PLB1 Personal Locator Beacon – USA Programmed $402.62 View Product
5 McMurdo FAST FIND 220 Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) (45016) McMurdo FAST FIND 220 Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) (45016) $248.26 View Product
6 Artex Personal Locator Beacon Artex Personal Locator Beacon $309.95 View Product
7 McMurdo Fast Find Ranger PLB - Programmed for US Registration McMurdo Fast Find Ranger PLB – Programmed for US Registration $253.00 View Product
8 Orion Electronic SOS Beacon Locator Kit Orion Electronic SOS Beacon Locator Kit $89.99 View Product
9 Apple AirTag 4 Pack Apple AirTag 4 Pack $95.00 View Product
10 ZOLEO Satellite Communicator – Two-Way Global SMS Text Messenger & Email, Emergency SOS Alerting, Check-in & GPS Location – Android iOS Smartphone Accessory ZOLEO Satellite Communicator – Two-Way Global SMS Text Messenger & Email, Emergency SOS Alerting,… $199.99 View Product

Top Rated Locator Beacon Reviews

Since we’ve mentioned 10 different models of Locator Beacons on the above list, it may be difficult for you to find the right one for your needs. This is why we listed the key features of each of these Locator Beacons below:

1

ACR ResQLink 400 - SOS Personal Locator Beacon with GPS (Model: PLB-400) ACR 2921
ACR ResQLink 400 – SOS Personal Locator Beacon with GPS (Model: PLB-400) ACR 2921

$319.95
View Product
Product Highlights:

  • No Subscription Required
  • 406 MHz Emergency Distress Signal / Homing signal
  • LED Strobe and Infrared Strobe
  • Global Coverage / Cospas-Sarsat / MEOSAR
  • GPS and Galileo GNSS
2

ACR ResQLink View - Buoyant Personal Locator Beacon with GPS for Hiking, Boating and All Outdoor Adventures (Model PLB 425) ACR 2922
ACR ResQLink View – Buoyant Personal Locator Beacon with GPS for Hiking, Boating and All Outdoor Adventures (Model PLB 425) ACR 2922

$369.95
View Product
Product Highlights:

  • Once activated, an SOS distress signal with GPS position is sent direct to Search and Rescue forces worldwide using the 406 MHz Emergency Distress Signal with 121.5 MHz Homing Signal (No Subscription Required)
  • Small, rugged, lightweight personal locator beacon that is buoyant and includes attachment clips including a belt clip, oral inflation tube clip, straps and lanyards for increased wearability for hikers, boaters, campers, climbers, RVing and all your outdoor adventures
  • Send pre-canned non-emergency self test and GPS test messages to multiple contacts via text message (SMS) and email with a customized message using the optional 406Link testing subscription
  • Global Coverage using the 3 satellite constellations of COSPAS-SARSAT, which sends your distress message directly to Search and Rescue agencies worldwide without the need for a rescue monitoring center
  • A bright LED Strobe light as well as an Infrared Strobe light ensures multiple visual signals to rescuers
3

acr ResQLink View & ResQFlare Survival Kit (2361) - Personal Locator Beacon & USCG Approved Replacement for Pyrotechnic Flares
acr ResQLink View & ResQFlare Survival Kit (2361) – Personal Locator Beacon & USCG Approved Replacement for Pyrotechnic Flares

$425.95
View Product
Product Highlights:

  • ResQLink View Personal Locator Beacon
  • ResQFlare Electronic Distress Flare
  • C-Strobe H2O Rescue Light
  • Signal Mirror with USCG Res-Q Whistle
  • RapidDitch Dry Bag
4

RESCUEME PLB1 Personal Locator Beacon - USA Programmed
RESCUEME PLB1 Personal Locator Beacon – USA Programmed

$402.62
View Product
Product Highlights:

  • 7 Year Battery Life / 7 year warranty
  • 24+ hour operational life
  • Free to use, no subscription charges / Supplied with free flotation pouch
  • High brightness strobe light >1 candela
  • 66 channel GPS receiver / Unique mounting clip
5

McMurdo FAST FIND 220 Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) (45016)
McMurdo FAST FIND 220 Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) (45016)

$248.26
View Product
Product Highlights:

  • 406/121.5MHz plb
  • Easy to operate
  • No subscription needed
  • High brightness LED SOS light
  • Minimum 24hr continuous operation
6

Artex Personal Locator Beacon
Artex Personal Locator Beacon

$309.95
View Product
Product Highlights:

  • 406 MHz Distress Signal – Sent Directly to Search and Rescue Authorities Worldwide
  • 66 Channel GPS Receiver Pin-points your location
  • 121.5 MHz Homing Signal – Allows Search and Rescue to zero in on your location as they get close to your location.
  • LED Strobe Light
  • No Subscription Fees Required – PLBs work on Government Search and Rescue Satellites so no annoying monthly or annual fees.
7

McMurdo Fast Find Ranger PLB - Programmed for US Registration
McMurdo Fast Find Ranger PLB – Programmed for US Registration

$253.00
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Product Highlights:

  • This PLB includes a free reprogramming service which will enable you to register the device in the country of your choice. Should you wish to register the device in the US please purchase our separate listing, ‘McMurdo Fast Find Ranger PLB – Programmed for US Registration’.
  • Please note that some countries, such as Belgium, Spain and Germany, may not allow PLB registration but devices can be registered in the US and used anywhere in the world
  • Registering your Personal Locator Beacon is required by law in most countries. Registering is very important because should your beacon ever be activated, it is how Search and Rescue Teams will know who you are, and contacts provided may be able to supply information about your specific travel plans. In the absence of this information, it may take longer for a search-and-rescue operation to begin.
  • PLBs have been proven, tried and tested in some of the world’s most remote locations and treacherous conditions. Even in extreme conditions and situations, the McMurdo Fast Find Ranger PLB activates easily. Just deploy the antenna, pull the anti-tamper seal and press the ON button.
  • This PLB should only be used in situations of grave and imminent danger to life. False alerts endanger lives and cause expensive disruption to Search and Rescue services. Deliberate misuse of the device could result in a penalty.
8

Orion Electronic SOS Beacon Locator Kit
Orion Electronic SOS Beacon Locator Kit

$89.99
View Product
Product Highlights:

  • 547
  • 077403105472
9

Apple AirTag 4 Pack
Apple AirTag 4 Pack

$95.00
View Product
Product Highlights:

  • Keep track of and find your items alongside friends and devices in the Find My app
  • Simple one-tap setup instantly connects AirTag with your iPhone or iPad
  • Play a sound on the built-in speaker to help find your things, or just ask Siri for help
  • Precision Finding with Ultra Wideband technology leads you right to your nearby AirTag (on select iPhone models)
  • Find items further away with the help of hundreds of millions of Apple devices in the Find My network
  • Put AirTag into Lost Mode to be automatically notified when it’s detected in the Find My network
  • All communication with the Find My network is anonymous and encrypted for privacy, Location data and history are never stored on AirTag
  • Replaceable battery lasts over a year
  • AirTag is IP67 water and dust resistant
  • Make AirTag yours with a range of colorful accessories, sold separately
10

ZOLEO Satellite Communicator – Two-Way Global SMS Text Messenger & Email, Emergency SOS Alerting, Check-in & GPS Location – Android iOS Smartphone Accessory
ZOLEO Satellite Communicator – Two-Way Global SMS Text Messenger & Email, Emergency SOS Alerting, Check-in & GPS Location – Android iOS Smartphone Accessory

$199.99
View Product
Product Highlights:

  • ?ZOLEO GLOBAL TWO-WAY SATELLITE COMMUNICATOR: Rugged, GPS location-aware and Iridium satellite based, the ZOLEO device links with the free ZOLEO app on your smartphone or tablet to keep you connected when outside cell coverage. Monthly subscription required: $20, $35 or $50 (25, 250 or unlimited satellite messages) with cellular, Wi-Fi and SOS messaging included. After the initial 3-month commitment, suspend for just $4/mo. Plans currently available in USA, Canada, Australia, but work globally.
  • ✉️GLOBAL MESSAGING AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE: Only ZOLEO extends your messaging coverage to everywhere on earth transmitting over the lowest cost network available (satellite, cellular or Wi-Fi). ZOLEO offers a familiar text messaging experience to and from any SMS text number, email address or another ZOLEO app user. By taking advantage of cellular or Wi-Fi when available and the Iridium network (a truly global satellite network) when it isn’t, only ZOLEO offers seamless coverage wherever you go!
  • ?DEDICATED SMS PHONE NUMBER & EMAIL ADDRESS: Your ZOLEO device includes a dedicated US SMS text number and email address that you can share with contacts that you want to remain accessible to, and that they’ll recognize when you message them. Contacts can send messages directly to your SMS number, email address or via the free ZOLEO app. It’s that simple!
  • ?EMERGENCY SOS & MORE: If something goes wrong, declaring an SOS ensures your SOS alert and GPS coordinates are sent to the expert 24/7 emergency monitoring service. Other safety features include check-in to let others know you’re OK (using built-in device button or the ZOLEO app) and the ability to add your GPS coordinates to any message. Location Share+ (add-on at $6/mo) allows for automatic location sharing at a selected interval including a breadcrumb trail viewable in a map.
  • ?BUILT TO LAST: Long-lasting, Lithium-ion battery lasts 200+ hours/8+ days checking messages every 12 minutes. Lightweight (150 g) and compact (9.1 x 6.6 x 2.7 cm). Rugged with MIL-STD 810G shock-resistance and superior dust- and water-resistance (IP68). Micro-USB Type B power input with a charging time of 2 hours. Operates in temperatures between -20°C to 55°C. ZOLEO can be used globally, but monthly subscribers must have a billing/payment address in the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

Video Overview

Best Personal Locator Beacon PLB or EPIRB – Better than Garmin Inreach, Spot or AIS

Best Personal Locator Beacon PLB or EPIRB – Better than Garmin Inreach or AIS Here is a link to a page that Captain Cody wrote that gives an in-depth review …

Final Words

So, these are all of the Best Locator Beacons available on the market. We hope this collection was helpful to find the right Locator Beacon for the money. However, we recommend checking out the features, benefits, and problems of each of these Locator Beacons before taking your decision.