The Best Police Scanners

Just Buy This (All Around Best)

Uniden BearTracker 885

$329 at Amazon $369 at Walmart $400 at Lowe's

TL;DR: The Uniden BearTracker 885 is a full-featured CB radio and digital trunk tracking police scanner.

Why We Recommend It

One of the pricier options on this list, the Uniden BearTracker 885, offers a full-featured CB radio and digital trunk tracking police scanner.

It comes with GPS, so it can automatically select nearby channels from its database (updated weekly).

You don’t have to do complex programming while you drive, as the scanner does the work for you. It provides weather alerts, PA functionality, and much more with an easy-to-read LCD.

The BearTracker 885 also has a noise-canceling mic that allows for clear conversation and is also wireless mic-compatible.

Bonus: It alerts you when there’s a nearby public safety transmission so that it can serve as a radar detector alternative.

This is an excellent device for communications, safety, and general peace of mind for anyone who spends time on the road.

Purchasers give the Uniden Beartracker 885 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Best Home Unit

Uniden HomePatrol-2 Touchscreen Digital Scanner

$600 $520 at Amazon $590 $490 at Walmart $520 at The Home Depot

TL;DR: A highly functional touchscreen scanner that’s perfect for any room in the house.

Why We Recommend It

The HomePatrol-2 is a highly recommended digital scanner with specialized features like quick recording and playback.

This unit has a pre-programmed database with a highly functional scanner and includes a flip stand so that you can stand it up almost anywhere.

There’s no programming required; enter your zip code, and HomePatrol-2 will load all the recognized police, fire, and EMS channels in the surrounding area.

It includes channel information for the US and Canada from radioreference.com.

Weighing just over a pound, the HomePatrol-2 is easy to tote and use almost anywhere.

This product includes rechargeable batteries that last between five and six hours, but it also comes with a USB charging cord that you can connect to a standard USB power brick.

Purchasers give the HomePatrol-2 4 out of 5 stars.

Best Digital

Uniden BCD996P2 TrunkTracker V Scanner

$500 $380 at Amazon $500 at Walmart $398 at The Home Depot

TL;DR: Covers all the communications modes including APCO 25 Phase I & II, X2-TDMA, Motorola, EDACS, and LTR trunked.

Why We Recommend It

As a one-stop shop for analog scanning and digital transmissions, the Uniden BCD99P2 is one of the better scanners.

The BCD99P2 is capable of location-based scanning and can detect nearby radio transmissions.

The TrunkTracker V scanner also offers continuous band coverage spanning 25 MHz to 1.3 GHz—factor in 25,000 different dynamically allocated channels.

You’ll have enough options to cover all your local systems, recalled via the intuitive internal memory of the unit. It all comes in a compact 11 x 3.75 x 8.5-inch unit with a bright display and easy-to-navigate controls.

Whatever your needs, the BCD99P2 most likely has you covered, even if it does so in a reasonably pricey package. 

Purchasers give this product 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Easiest on the Budget

Uniden BC365CRS 500 Channel Scanner

$120 $95 at Amazon $109 at Walmart $95 at The Home Depot

TL;DR: The Uniden BC365CRS is a 500 Channel Scanner for a great price.

Why We Recommend It

The Uniden BC365CRS is a 500-channel scanner that also serves as an alarm clock, AM/FM radio, FM broadcast radio, and a weather alert device.

It includes 500 channels in 10 banks to search police and fire bands, aircraft, amateur radio, and marine transmissions.

This model is a tabletop scanner, so it’s not the best option to take with you on the go. The BC365CRS takes three AA batteries, including an antenna and AC adapter, which comes in the package.

The reception will depend somewhat on your geographic area and the type of transmissions you’re attempting to receive. Most users say they receive clear audio with police, fire, weather, and radio transmissions.

However, this is a basic, analog, non-trunking scanner, so it may not be able to pick up transmissions from some agencies. It’s best to check the compatibility against the local agencies in your area.

Purchasers give the BC365CRS 4.2 out of 5 stars.

Best Analog

Uniden Bearcat BC75XLT Handheld Scanner

$110 $98 at Amazon $100 at Walmart

TL;DR: This analog scanner is a great pick for it's built-in search functionality quick channel identification.

Why We Recommend It

Featuring the ability to connect to public safety, military aircraft, and racing scanner channels, Uniden’s BC75XLT is a terrific choice for analog scanner fans.

The built-in search functionality is first-rate, and it quickly identifies channels for police, fire, marine, air, weather, and more. 

Overall, the reception is solid. And you can save 300 channels into the scanner’s memory or 30 channels in 10 separate banks, making scanning for current transmissions on each stored channel easy.

Additionally, the inclusion of Close Call RF capture technology assists the BC75XLT in identifying and detecting nearby transmissions, even if they aren’t pre-programmed into a channel.

Powered by two AA batteries, the BC75XLT is lightweight and designed to fit in the hand.

Purchasers give the BC75XLT 4 out of 5 stars.