Are cheaper Find My-compatible tags like ATUVOS or UGREEN as good as AirTag?

They use the same Find My network, so basic last-seen tracking is comparable for stationary items like luggage. What you give up, per expert reviews and r/AirTags threads, is Precision Finding (Apple's UWB-based close-range arrow), a louder speaker, and Apple's tighter privacy/anti-stalking implementation. For checked-bag use specifically, the gap narrows considerably.