BACtrack is one of the best known consumer breathalyzer brands in the United States, and its catalog runs from small semiconductor keychains to fuel cell units the maker sells as Pro Grade. This page sorts the lineup by sensor, stated accuracy and calibration path. Everything here is based on the manufacturer's published specifications and public documentation, and where the maker's own pages disagree we show both figures.
Quick picks across the BACtrack range
BACtrack S80 Pro, because it pairs a Pro Grade fuel cell with a published tolerance and a battery rated for about 1,500 tests.
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BACtrack Trace Professional, a slim standalone fuel cell unit with a stated tolerance at 0.050% BAC and a response of about 3 seconds.
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BACtrack C8, a fuel cell unit that shows its reading on the device and can also log results in the app over Bluetooth.
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BACtrack C6, a keychain sized fuel cell tester that works on its own screen or through the phone app.
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The table lists only what the maker publishes. Where a cell says "not published", the maker gives no figure, which is not the same as the device performing badly.
| Model | Sensor | Stated accuracy | Calibration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BACtrack S80 Pro | Xtend fuel cell, Pro Grade | +/- 0.005 at 0.100% BAC | Send in service, Pro Grade units hold calibration longer | Frequent home and small business screening |
| BACtrack Trace Professional | Xtend fuel cell, Pro Grade | +/- 0.005 at 0.050% BAC | Send in service, Pro Grade units hold calibration longer | Compact professional style screening |
| BACtrack Mobile (formerly Mobile Pro) | Xtend fuel cell with breath pump | +/- 0.005 at 0.050% BAC | Send in service, every 6 to 12 months per user guide | App based testing with test history |
| BACtrack C8 | BluFire fuel cell | Not published as a number | Send in service, no model specific interval | Personal use with optional app |
| BACtrack C6 | BluFire fuel cell | Not published as a number | Send in service, no model specific interval | Keychain carry with app or screen |
| BACtrack Go | Semiconductor (MicroCheck) | Not published as a number | Send in service, every 6 to 12 months per manual | Occasional casual checks on a budget |
Figures are the maker's published specifications.
The maker groups its store into Pro Grade or professional units (S80, Trace, Mobile and Scout, with the Element also sold as professional), personal units (S35, Keychain and Go), smartphone units that pair with the app (C8, C6 and Mobile) and keychain units (C6, Keychain and Go).
The split that matters most for buyers is the sensor. Most current BACtrack models use a fuel cell, while the Go is built on a semiconductor base the maker calls MicroCheck. If you are unsure which of the two suits you, our fuel cell vs semiconductor breathalyzer comparison walks through the trade offs.
Who it suits: households and small teams that test often and want a fuel cell unit with a stated tolerance and long battery life.
What to know: it is the largest unit in this group, it has no app logging, and the maker's own pages give two different sets of dimensions. Read the BACtrack S80 review for the full spec table.
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Who it suits: buyers who want Pro Grade hardware in a pocketable body.
What to know: there is no Bluetooth, and the number of decimal places on the LCD is not published by the maker. Details are in the BACtrack Trace Professional breathalyzer review.
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Who it suits: personal users who like the option of keeping a history in the app but still want a reading on the device.
What to know: without a numeric tolerance it is harder to compare with Pro Grade units, and battery life is far shorter than the S80 or Trace. See the BACtrack C8 review.
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Who it suits: people who want a fuel cell tester small enough to live on a keyring.
What to know: the maker's size and weight figures differ between the spec list and the marketing copy, and the upper range ends at 0.300% BAC. The BACtrack C6 review covers both modes.
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The Mobile, which the maker still describes as the Mobile Pro inside its box list, is a fuel cell unit with a built in breath pump and no screen of its own, so every result appears in the app. See the BACtrack Mobile Pro review. The Go is the budget option, a semiconductor keychain with no published tolerance and a battery rated for roughly 50 to 75 tests, covered in the BACtrack Go keychain breathalyzer review.
Start with the sensor. If you want readings you can compare over months, a fuel cell model is the safer pick, and the Pro Grade units are the only ones in the range with a published numeric tolerance on the maker's main US pages.
Next decide whether you want a phone involved. The C8 and C6 work either way, the Mobile needs the phone for every reading, and the S80 and Trace never use one.
Then look at upkeep. BACtrack runs a send in calibration service with a standard turnaround of about 10 to 14 business days after the unit arrives, and the maker recommends calibrating at least every 12 months, sooner with heavy daily use. Pro Grade units are described as holding calibration longer. No model in this group offers user calibration or a replaceable sensor module. Our guide to calibrating a breathalyzer explains what that service involves.
Each family uses its own mouthpieces, listed on our breathalyzer mouthpieces page. For a view beyond one brand, see the best breathalyzer ranking.
The S80, Trace, Mobile, C8 and C6 use fuel cells according to the maker, while the Go uses a semiconductor sensor.
Yes, the maker now sells it as the BACtrack Mobile (SKU BT-M5) and still calls it the Mobile Pro in parts of its own product page.
No, the maker does not publish a home calibration method for these models and offers a paid send in calibration service instead.
The maker recommends at least every 12 months, more often with heavy daily use, and some manuals name a 6 to 12 month window.
No, it is a screening estimate, and the only safe choice after drinking is not to drive.
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