GUIDE8 min read · 20 October 2026
Indoor positioning compared: Wi-Fi, BLE, UWB and visual
How each technology works, what accuracy to expect, and which one fits your venue.
GPS doesn’t work reliably indoors, so a blue dot inside a building needs another signal. There is no single best option: each technology trades accuracy against hardware cost, maintenance and phone support.
| Technology | Typical accuracy | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi fingerprinting | 5–15 m | Large venues with existing access points; zone-level analytics |
| Wi-Fi round-trip time | 1–2 m where supported | Android apps in venues with compatible access points |
| BLE beacons | 1–3 m with dense deployment | Blue dot in apps, proximity triggers, asset tags |
| Ultra-wideband (UWB) | 10–30 cm | Asset and vehicle tracking, safety-critical operations |
| Visual positioning | Under 1 m with good imagery | Phone apps where installing hardware is hard |
Phones are the constraint
For visitors, positioning has to work on the phone they already carry. iOS doesn’t let third-party apps scan Wi-Fi networks, so Wi-Fi fingerprinting in iPhone apps depends on Apple’s own indoor positioning for surveyed venues. Android supports Wi-Fi round-trip time on compatible devices and access points. BLE works on both, but needs beacons installed and their batteries maintained.
Assets are different
Tracking beds, carts or forklifts means putting a tag on each one. That’s where UWB and BLE tags shine, because you control the hardware on both ends. Many venues end up with one technology for visitors and another for assets, shown on the same map.
Sensor fusion smooths the dot
Phone motion sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer) fill the gaps between radio fixes and detect floor changes. How well those signals are blended decides whether people trust the dot or watch it jump.
How to choose
- Start with what you have. Existing Wi-Fi or a security RTLS system may already be enough.
- Decide what accuracy you need. Room-level is enough for most wayfinding; asset tracking may need sub-metre.
- Budget for maintenance, not just installation. Beacons need batteries and surveys go stale.
- Keep the map independent of the positioning vendor, so you can change one without redrawing the other.