Fitbits compared: features, prices, displays, batteries, GPS, water resistance and more. We explain which is the best activity tracker for you.
Fitbit currently sells six activity tracker wristbands – the Fitbit Flex 2, Alta, Alta HR, Charge 2, Blaze and Ionic – and one clip-on activity tracker: the Fitbit Zip. That’s a great but confusing range, and the company has replaced its Surge sports tracker with its new smartwatch – read our Fitbit Ionic review – that competes against the Apple Watch and others.
(Also see Best Fitbit deals. There are some great deals on Fitbits, with as much as £50 off on certain models.)
Activity trackers can motivate you to exercise more or improve your sports and fitness regimes. Even moderate exercise can have a positive effect on your physical and mental health. Buying one is a wonderful way to commit to a new year’s resolution to get more healthy and fit.
Like Hoover and vacuums many people regard all activity trackers as “Fitbits” but there are other makes so be sure to read the best activity trackers currently available to buy too. Fitbit is by far the market leader, and has quality trackers for most people.
Super-serious sports, running and fitness fanatics – for whom even the new Fitbit Ionic isn’t sophisticated enough – may prefer the more expensive top-end Garmin or TomTom trackers, which focus on specific sports such as running, cycling or swimming.
Here’s a brief function summary, before we go into more detail about features, price, battery life and more.
The clip-on Zip offers the least features but is perfect if you don’t want to wear a wristband. We do worry that it is easier to lose than the wristbands, though.
I like to first distinguish the wristbands by certain physical and functional features:
Pop-clasp straps: Flex 2 and Alta. These are the slimmest Fitbits, with the Flex 2 measuring 1.12cm wide and the Alta 1.55cm wide.
Watch-buckle straps: Alta HR, Charge 2, Blaze and Ionic. We prefer the more secure buckle-type straps as they are less prone to slipping off the wrist. At 1.55cm wide the Alta HR is still as slim as the Alta. The Charge 2 is 2.13cm wide, but therefore benefits from a larger stats display.
Heart-rate monitors: Alta HR, Charge 2, Blaze and Ionic. Special LEDs on the underside of the wristband detect blood volume and capillary-size changes under pressure, and therefore measure your hear rate. Chest-strap heart monitors are more accurate, but uncomfortable and much less convenient. Measuring heart rate optimises exercise, helps you reach weight loss goals, track fitness and even manage stress. It also makes Fitbit’s sleep analysis much more interesting, showing Deep, Light and REM sleep stages.
Colour screens: Blaze and Ionic. The Blaze is 4cm wide, and the Ionic 2.9cm wide. Both feature colour LCD touchscreen displays for better stat display and access. The Ionic is also less deep than the Blaze.
Onto the features and functions. The watch-buckle Charge 2, Blaze and Ionic wristbands boast the most features, including Floors Climbed via the altimeter. They also show more right there on their displays, including Call and Text Notifications from your phone, including Caller ID.
The Alta HR boasts the watch buckle but not the altimeter for Floors Climbed. We prefer the watch-buckle clasp as it’s stronger than the pop-clasp.
The slimmer pop-clasp Flex 2 and Alta wristbands are more chic, and arguably aimed at women – although there’s nothing in the design to put off men. However, neither model has an altimeter, a heart-rate monitor or multi-sport functions. The Alta HR is similar but boasts the watch buckle and heart-rate monitor, so is worth considering – even at the slightly higher cost.
One solution is to own more than one Fitbit! You can sync multiple trackers to your Fitbit account, so maybe wear a fully featured sporty tracker during the day, and slip on a slimmer, more chic Alta or Flex 2 in the evening.
We love the Flex 2 minimalist display, but think the Alta’s better display gives you more data right there on the wrist. In some ways the Alta HR is the best of both world’s, being super slim but still having the heart-rate monitor.
The Zip is the cheapest Fitbit, and if you can live without the altimeter and sleep tracking then this is a great entry point. Sleep tracking is fun but not at the top of most people’s fitness lists, but the buzz is a great way to know you’ve reached your key target. Is that worth an extra £20 for the Flex 2? That’s really up to you.
When it comes to choosing between the four Fitbit watch-buckle wristbands it’s really a matter of price vs features. The top-end Ionic, with its built-in GPS, is the obvious choice for the serious fitness nut – or you can wear one, and pretend to be a performance fitness nut, and just use it to count your steps, tell you the time, and send you call/text/calendar notifications.
But the multi-sport functions and smartphone-connected GPS connectivity of the Charge 2 and Blaze should satisfy most fitness enthusiasts. Their lack of built-in GPS might disappoint some, but most runners take their smartphone with them for music or call, so their wireless connection to the phone’s GPS does the same trick.
The Alta HR misses some sports features but is the slimmest heart-rate monitor you can wear on your wrist.
The Fitbit Blaze is similar to the other Fitbits but comes with a flashier colour display, also seen on the Ionic. Both will appeal to those people who want an activity tracker but also a watch-like timepiece. Their colourful displays are also going to attract attention. The Blaze is cheaper but the Ionic has the built-in GPS and is slimmer.
Choosing the best Fitbit for you will come down to features and price, but you should also consider size, battery life and of course looks. There’s a Fitbit tracker for everyone. If you’re unsure you can always later sell up and upgrade to a higher-spec Fitbit tracker. Getting fitter now is the main thing, so get started soon.
Let’s start with a key factor: cost. None of the Fitbits are pocket change like the Xiaomi Mi Band, but we’ve listed the best prices for each Fitbit below. You can also order direct via the Fitbit Store, where you’ll get free delivery, a 4 5-day money back guarantee, and 2-year warranty.
Although it’s been discontinued for a year (replaced by the superior Charge 2) the Fitbit Charge HR can still be found online at discounted prices. We’ve seen it on Amazon for less than £70. Its display is limited and you don’t get any on-wrist call or text notifications but it remains a decent tracker choice.
For more detailed reviews of each model, see our full reviews, listed below.
F itbit Zip review| Fitbit Flex 2 review| Fitbit Alta review| Fitbit Alta HR review| Fitbit Charge 2 review| Fitbit Blaze Review| Fitbit Ionic review
The cheap clip-on Fitbit Zip lacks the sleep tracking and silent wake alarm found on the other trackers. It also doesn’t features a heart-rate monitor, or the sports functions and notification alerts.
The cheapest Fitbit wristband is the Flex 2, but this lacks some features of the more expensive Fitbits, such as an altimeter to measure “floors climbed”, multi-sport functions, heart rate, Caller ID, text notifications and GPS tracking. But casual users don’t really need the heart-rate monitor or sports capabilities, and only the top-end Ionic actually boasts a built-in GPS anyway. With the Ionic, the Flex 2 is also one of only two swim-ready Fitbit trackers.
The Alta is one step up from the Flex 2, but quite a jump in terms of price. For the extra money you gain Caller ID and Text Notifications, which many will find very useful. If your phone is a short distance from you but not in your pocket or in Silent mode then that little vibration alert that a call is incoming can be super handy. We do suspect that Fitbit will quietly discontinue the Alta in favour of the heart-rate monitoring Alta HR, but it’s a good deal if the heart monitor and sleep tracking aren’t important to you..
If you do jog, run or exercise in any way as well as walking we think that it’s worth paying for the extra heart-rate-monitoring functionality you get with the Alta HR, Charge 2, Blaze and Ionic. Monitoring heart rate can also be used if weight loss is one of your key goals. But if you’re just interested in everyday exercise the Fitbit Flex 2 or Alta will suffice, and are excellent trackers. The heart-rate function also gives you more detailed Sleep analysis – see later on for more details.
We also prefer the watch-buckle strap found on the Alta HR, Charge 2, Blaze and Ionic. It feels more secure, and again is worth the paying extra for. If you want a wide range of straps and other accessories the Flex 2 has the most options, including a bangle and pendant, but the Alta and Alta HR also boast a large array of accessories, and you get options with the Charge 2, Blaze and Ionic.
Remember to factor in the cost of the straps and accessories to the price of the wristband trackers if you fancy something different to the included Classic bands. Having a choice of straps is appreciated, but it does make the pricing harder to compare.
If you’re looking for weight tracking, then check our Fitbit Aria review. These scales sync with the trackers to add measurements of your weight. There are also other good smart scales to buy. Fitbit has also announced a new Aria 2 smart scale.
All Fitbits have an accelerometer that measures motion patterns to determine your calories burned, distance traveled, and steps taken. All but the Zip also monitor sleep quality.
Alarm
The Flex 2, Alta, Alta HR, Charge 2, Blaze and Ionic also contain a vibration motor, which allows it to vibrate when alarms are set to go off.
