A smartphone breathalyzer pairs with an app on your phone, usually over Bluetooth, and sends each result there. The trade off is dependence on a phone, a battery and an app that handles personal data about your drinking. This page compares the app linked models we cover, based on the makers' published specifications, and points out what the makers do and do not say about the app side.
BACtrack Mobile, because it is the only app linked model here with a maker stated tolerance, plus a breath pump that draws in a steady blow.
We earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
BACtrack C8, because it shows results on its own body and lets you add the app only when you want a log.
We earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
BACtrack C6, because it packs a fuel cell sensor into a keychain unit with an app mode and a small standalone screen.
We earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
| Model | Sensor | Stated accuracy | Calibration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BACtrack Mobile | Xtend fuel cell with pump | +/- 0.005 at 0.050% BAC | Send-in, every 6 to 12 months | App first users who want a stated tolerance |
| BACtrack C8 | BluFire fuel cell | Not published by the maker | Send-in service, interval not published | Pocket use with or without the app |
| BACtrack C6 | BluFire fuel cell | Not published by the maker | Send-in service, interval not published | Keychain carry with an app |
| BACtrack Go | Semiconductor | Not published by the maker | Send-in, every 6 to 12 months | Budget keychain with NFC tips, no Bluetooth |
Figures are the maker's published specifications.
The maker now sells this unit as BACtrack Mobile, SKU BT-M5, while the box contents still call it the Mobile Pro.
Who it suits: someone who already reaches for the phone for everything and wants the most precise app linked unit in this group.
What to know: the user guide says the USB cable only charges and passes no data, so results travel over Bluetooth. When the sealed battery wears out, so does the tester. The maker asks for calibration at least every 6 to 12 months and advises blowing into it at least once a month so the sensor does not dry out. Our BACtrack Mobile Pro review has the full sheet.
We earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Who it suits: a buyer who wants the convenience of logs but does not want the phone to be the only way to see a result.
What to know: the maker does not give a numeric tolerance, and the two published ranges differ, so we show both.
We earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Who it suits: someone who wants a fuel cell sensor always on the keys, with an app history when the phone is at hand.
What to know: no numeric tolerance is published, and the small body leaves room for a single AAA cell only. Calibration is by mail through the maker's service, with no model specific interval published. See our BACtrack C6 review for more.
We earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
The BACtrack Go is often mistaken for an app breathalyzer. It has no Bluetooth; the maker lists an NFC link that opens information on your phone about your result and how to use the device. It runs on a semiconductor sensor with no published tolerance and needs recalibration every six to twelve months, or monthly with daily use. If an app log matters to you, the C6 is the closer keychain match. Our bactrack go keychain breathalyzer review describes the Go in full.
An app that records when and how much you drank holds sensitive personal information. For the Mobile, the maker states no app privacy terms on the product page or in the user guide, and the published specifications we rely on for the C8 and C6 do not cover them either, so look these points up yourself before pairing.
Decide first whether the phone should be the only display. A screenless unit like the Mobile is light and simple, but it is useless when your phone is flat or left behind. Units with their own display, like the C8 and the C6 in Standalone Mode, give you a fallback.
Check the sensor and the published accuracy next. All three Bluetooth models here use fuel cell sensors, yet only one has a tolerance figure from its maker. Our guide on how accurate are breathalyzers explains how to read those numbers.
Look at power. A sealed rechargeable battery means no spares to buy but ties the device's life to the battery's. An AAA unit is quick to refresh but needs regular replacements.
Treat time estimates with care. The maker describes ZeroLine as an estimate of when you return to 0.00%, which makes it a projection from one reading, not a later measurement of your body. Our bac calculator over time shows how such estimates are built and why they vary.
Finally, confirm that your phone model and operating system are on the maker's compatibility list before you buy, and plan for calibration on the maker's schedule, described in our guide on calibrating a breathalyzer.
The phone only displays the result, so accuracy depends on the sensor and its calibration, and among these models only the BACtrack Mobile has a published tolerance.
For the BACtrack Mobile yes, since it has no screen, while the C8 and the C6 in Standalone Mode can show results without a phone.
The maker's published specifications for these models do not set out app privacy terms, so read the app's own policy and permissions before pairing.
It is a projection rather than a measurement, so treat it as a rough guide and never as a signal that you can drive.
No, the maker lists NFC for opening information on your phone, not a Bluetooth link that records results in an app.
Enter your email and we send a 6-digit code to confirm it. The buyer's checklist and your calibration reminders then go to the same address.
We send only the checklist, reminders and occasional guide updates. Unsubscribe in one click.