Fitness wearables can help you move more, sleep better, and stay healthy. Here’s how to pick the right one for you, along with the best fitness trackers we’ve tested.
There has never been a better selection of fitness trackers, but with choice comes confusion. We’re here to help you narrow your options and find the best fitness tracker for your needs and budget. We’ve been reviewing fitness trackers for more than a decade and have tested each model below, considering factors such as accuracy, battery life, ease of setup and use, features, specs, and style before recommending it to you. The Fitbit Charge 6 is our top pick, thanks to its cross-platform support, long battery life, and robust activity-tracking capabilities. However, it isn’t the only model we recommend. Whether you’re an avid exerciser or you’re just starting out, our list of the best fitness trackers has options for everyone looking to improve their health. Why We Picked It
The Fitbit Charge has long been among the most value-rich fitness trackers, and the sixth-generation model extends that legacy. It offers 40 sports profiles (up from 20 in the previous generation) and a feature that lets you send your heart rate via Bluetooth to gym equipment. In addition, the Charge 6 has a color touch screen, a 5ATM water-resistance rating, multi-day battery life, a built-in GPS, sensors to monitor key overnight health metrics like skin temperature and SpO2, and support for on-demand ECG heart health and EDA stress readings. Though it’s primarily for fitness and health tracking, the Charge 6 features several Google lifestyle apps, including Google Maps, Google Wallet (which replaces Fitbit Pay), and YouTube Music. Its companion app clearly displays your data, and can be customized to highlight metrics related to your goal.Who It’s For
Anyone interested in improving their health: With tons of tools for monitoring your activity and health, key lifestyle features, and a fantastic companion app, the Charge 6 is the best standalone fitness tracker for most people.
Android and iOS users: Fitbit’s latest tracker is compatible with most phones running at least Android 9.0 or iOS 15 via the Fitbit app (which requires a Google Account to log in). Why We Picked It
The Apple Watch Series 11 offers a broad suite of built-in fitness, health, and safety tools, along with the best selection of third-party apps (such as AllTrails, Nike Run Club, Peloton, and Strava) of any smartwatch. This generation features a harder screen for improved scratch resistance, in case you accidentally knock into it while lifting weights. It also includes 5G connectivity for streaming music while away from your phone, as well as hypertension notifications to help you catch signs of high blood pressure early.
Its Activity, Exercise, and Stand rings can help motivate you to get moving, and its companion Fitness+ workout streaming service ($9.99 per month or $79.99 per year after a three-month trial) offers a variety of studio-style classes with excellent music and instruction for the home or gym. It goes beyond the basics with a multisport tracking option for triathletes and advanced running metrics, including real-time power, stride length, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation.
On the health front, it accurately tracks your activity, body temperature fluctuations, fertility windows, heart rate, menstrual cycle, overnight respiration, sleep patterns, and more. The thin design feels comfortable as you move, and the display is visible for quick glances at your stats even when your wrist is down. It also features water depth and temperature sensors, making it ideal for swimming. The new watchOS 26 software includes a Workout Buddy to keep you motivated with encouraging words and stats as you exercise.
The Series 11 can even alert you if it detects a high or low heart rate, irregular heart rhythm, and loud sounds that can damage your hearing. It also supports Emergency SOS and international emergency calling, as well as automatic calls for help if it detects a hard fall. Who It’s For
iPhone users: The Apple Watch Series 11 is ideal for iPhone users seeking a capable fitness tracker with excellent connectivity features. It requires an iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26, so it’s not an option if you use Android.
Runners, swimmers, and cyclists: It’s a particularly excellent choice for runners, swimmers, and cyclists. Its wrist-based running power measurements help you gauge your effort in real-time, a WR50 rating makes it safe for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or the ocean, and automatic bike ride detection ensures you never lose credit for an outdoor cycle workout. Why We Picked It
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 has the most wellness features of any smartwatch we’ve tested. Its Galaxy AI can build a guided running program for you or coach you to sleep better. When you wear the watch to bed and place a compatible smartphone on your nightstand, they can work together to listen for snoring and even record it. The watch also tracks your sleep duration, stages (awake, light, deep, and REM), and overnight SpO2.
For fitness tracking, the Galaxy Watch 8 supports more than 100 different workouts (everything from walking and running to archery and flying disc) and can automatically detect certain activities. It also gives you access to many third-party fitness, health, and sports apps via the Play Store, including C25K, Cardiogram, Golf GPS Rangefinder, Komoot, MyFitnessPal, Seven Minute Workout, and Strava. It can even measure your body composition, similar to a smart scale. Who It’s For
Android users: With cutting-edge fitness and health-tracking tools plus useful connectivity features, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is the best Android-compatible smartwatch we’ve tested. Like the rest of Samsung’s current smartwatch lineup, the Galaxy Watch 8 works with Android phones (running Android 12 or newer with at least 1.5GB of RAM), but some features, like snore detection, are only available when paired with a Samsung handset.
Health-focused AI enthusiasts: The Galaxy Watch 8 comes with Samsung’s new AI wellness coach that can help you train for a marathon and get a restful night’s slumber, building on the wearable’s already extensive repertoire of activity, exercise, sleep, and stress tracking abilities. Moreover, Google’s AI Gemini comes built-in for voice-controlled convenience.Why We Picked It
With long battery life, a color AMOLED touch screen, and all the basic activity and sleep features you need, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is one of the best fitness trackers you can get for less than $100. Unlike the pricier, jewelry-inspired Fitbit Luxe, its design screams basic, but we appreciate its bright screen that can stay on all day. The tracker’s simple interface and well-designed companion app make monitoring key fitness and health metrics easy, including your steps, heart rate, calories burned, sleep, overnight SpO2, and more. Despite a slight decrease in battery life compared with the previous model, it’s still the most affordable and long-lasting Fitbit. Who It’s For
Newbies: The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a top choice for fitness beginners who are just starting on a path to better health, as well as those on a budget. It lacks a built-in GPS, so it must connect to your phone to accurately track your pace and distance during outdoor walks, runs, hikes, and bike rides.
Android and iOS users: The Inspire 3 works with both major smartphone platforms via the Fitbit app. Keep in mind that a Google account is required to use the Fitbit app. Why We Picked It
Designed specifically for women, the Garmin Lily 2 stands out for its classic, jewelry-like design. It features a beautiful, patterned face, an aluminum bezel and case, and a 14mm quick-release band that’s much slimmer than most smartwatch straps, so you can wear it alongside other bracelets. More than just attractive, the Lily 2 can track health stats such as your calories burned, energy level, heart rate, respiration, sleep, SpO2, steps, stress, and workouts. It also offers smartwatch features such as phone notifications, music playback controls, and useful calendar and weather widgets. It’s water-resistant to 164 feet and can last up to five days on a charge. Who It’s For
Fashionable women: If you want a fitness tracker that seamlessly transitions from workout classes to fancy dinners, the Garmin Lily 2 is a top choice. This aesthetically pleasing wellness wearable is much more comfortable for small wrists than a bulky sports watch.
Newbies: The Lily 2 offers activity profiles for all the basics, from dance fitness to pool swimming to yoga.
