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. What Is the Best Fitness Tracker for the Money?
Fitness trackers range from $25 to over $400. The simplest and least expensive trackers often lack a display, so you can’t check your step count without looking at your smartphone.
More expensive trackers usually include built-in optical heart rate monitors and GPS. Often, these features are meant to tempt athletes and exercise enthusiasts. Don’t get suckered into buying an expensive tracker if your primary activity is walking. If you walk and don’t do much else, there are compelling options in the $25 to $99 range. If you work out frequently and want comprehensive fitness-tracking features, we recommend spending at least $99 to access the tools you may need or want.
With most fitness trackers, you pay one price for the device and can access all or most of its accompanying software features at no additional cost. Some, like the Whoop, have a different pricing model. Whoop offers its tracker for free with the purchase of a membership, which unlocks access to its app. The Whoop MG didn’t make the cut for this list due to its high annual cost ($359) and the lack of detail it provides when recording workouts. What Are the Different Types of Fitness Trackers?
One important question to ask yourself before choosing a fitness tracker is the type of design you want. Most trackers are wrist-based, although there are also clip-on options and fitness-tracking smart rings, with the latter category gaining popularity recently. Bracelets and watches are typically hard to lose. That said, they can interfere with some daily activities, such as sleep and computer work, for example.
A clip-on is another option, although this style is no longer as popular. Fitbit sells a clip for the Inspire 3 that can be helpful if the included bands don’t fit, but it prevents the measurement of heart rate and sleep score. Clip-on devices, moreover, can fall off or accidentally end up in the wash.
The Oura Ring, meanwhile, brings health tracking to your fingers. The Oura’s ability to track workouts is relatively basic compared with a wrist-worn model, but it provides comprehensive sleep and stress tracking, and is more comfortable to wear to bed than a watch or wristband.
