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We Found the Best Fitness Trackers After Monitoring Our Runs, Walks, and More

After testing 27 fitness trackers for over 8,640 hours, we only trust these top picks

A person presses buttons on the side of the Amazfit Balance Smart Watch

Verywell Fit / Jacob Fox

Fitness trackers are easy and convenient way for health-minded individuals to track all kinds of stats, set goals, and monitor progress. Whether you're a competitive athlete or a casual exerciser, fitness trackers can be a good investment in your health. In addition to workout metrics, a quality device can help you track other things like sleep, body temperature, hydration, and more. According to certified personal trainer Kira Jones, CPT, the main benefit of wearing a fitness tracker is that you’re able to get tangible data about your fitness and overall health.

The key features to consider when purchasing a fitness tracker are accuracy and metrics. To find the best fitness trackers, we tested 27 of the most popular devices, using and evaluating them in our everyday routines for over a month. We also had a certified personal trainer from our Review Board review this article for accuracy, including how to use a fitness tracker to collect and analyze your health and wellness metrics.

Pros
  • Comfortable

  • Very accurate for distance and heart rate

  • Extensive features

Cons
  • Not compatible with iOS for text messages

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 14 days | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 164 feet underwater | GPS: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 5/5 

Who It’s For

Best for users seeking a feature-rich, precise tracker for a wide range of activities.

Why We Love It

Amazfit’s Balance Smartwatch is our top overall pick for its accuracy, comfort, ultra-long battery life, and much more. During testing, we found its metrics to be extremely precise, whether we were tracking our step count, calories burned, or heart rate. The touchscreen was simple to navigate and very responsive as we scrolled through the settings, which we could easily customize for our needs.

Other notable features include the watch’s 14-day battery life and water resistance rating of 5 atmospheres (ATM), meaning you can wear the device up to 164 feet underwater. Plus, the soft, silicone band felt comfortable and lightweight, with a barely-there feeling that’s ideal for all-day wear. We also like that the smartwatch updates us on our progress toward our goals and sends encouraging messages to keep us motivated.

Potential Flaws

  • Although we liked being able to answer calls through the smartwatch, we were disappointed that we could only respond to text messages if we had an Android phone.

Most Valuable Insight

“I like being able to use the tracker not only for health but for the other everyday features, such as my calendar, goals, and taking calls if I am not near my phone. There are so many features that I enjoy. The quality is great too—it’s made with material that feels like it will last long.” —Jacob Fox, Verywell Fit product tester

Pros
  • Comprehensive metrics

  • Lightweight design

  • Excellent battery life

Cons
  • Doesn’t include a compass or live maps

  • Band may tug on arm hair

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 11 days | Water Resistance: No | GPS: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.8/5

Who It’s For

Best for serious road and trail runners who like analyzing their stats and performance.

Why We Love It

Garmin’s Forerunner 165 is our favorite for running because it’s lightweight and provides useful, accurate metrics. It features a built-in GPS to monitor your workout time, distance, pace, and speed, and also tracks important metrics like heart rate and stress levels. Runners will also appreciate the watch’s personalized daily suggested workouts that adapt based on performance and recovery. 

During testing, we found the watch was very easy to use and seamlessly synced to third-party apps such as Strava. The large, color touchscreen is very clear and we were able to easily view it in bright sunlight and at night. We also liked that the watch didn’t overwhelm our wrist and felt lightweight and comfortable during runs. Plus, the battery is extremely reliable and lasts up to 11 days—making it a good option for marathoners and ultra runners.

Potential Flaws

  • While we found the watch to be lightweight and easy to wear, we sometimes felt the rubbery band tug on our arm hair. However, you could easily swap out the band if it becomes a nuisance.
  • This watch doesn’t have a compass or live maps, which can be valuable features for hikers and trail runners.

Most Valuable Insight

“The fitness metrics by Garmin are always top of the line and import easily to apps such as Strava. It was useful to be able to seamlessly sync this data. The tracker was always reliable, it never stopped mid-run or began when I wasn’t running.” —Carrie Gavit, Verywell Fit product tester

Pros
  • Durable

  • Robust features

  • Accurate workout tracking

Cons
  • Automatic activity detection doesn’t always work

  • Occasional discomfort when worn overnight

Key Specs                                                                                                      

Battery Life: Up to 3 weeks | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 328 feet underwater | GPS: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.8/5

Who It’s For

Best for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a durable, full-featured GPS watch with excellent battery life.

Why We Love It

With a battery that lasts up to 3 weeks, Amazfit’s T-Rex 3 is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts or frequent travelers who don’t want to worry about constantly recharging their devices. During testing, we found the watch very easy to use, and it accurately captured our workout metrics, such as elapsed time, distance, pace, elevation, calories burned, and heart rate. We were impressed with the watch’s 170-plus workout modes, personalized training plans, and in-depth graphs showing progress toward goals in the app.

Built with a stainless steel bezel and buttons, the durable, rugged watch is water-resistant to 328 feet—making it a good option for swimming, surfing, or freediving. However, it still felt lightweight and comfortable for daily wear, with a large, bright, responsive touchscreen. Plus, the watch is packed with useful features for outdoor adventures, such as downloadable maps, advanced GPS positioning, and weather alerts and data.

Potential Flaws

  • When wearing this watch to sleep, we found that the design caused it to dig into our wrist, which was slightly uncomfortable.
  • During testing, the automatic activity detection worked most of the time, but it occasionally didn’t function properly.

Most Valuable Insight

“This is the best full-featured GPS watch and tracker for someone who does not want to spend a lot of money. It looks good, feels good on the wrist, is very lightweight, and has a great screen.” —Stephen Vettorino, Verywell Fit product tester

Pros
  • Lightweight and comfortable

  • Excellent for sleep and stress insights

  • Feature-packed, user-friendly app

Cons
  • Connectivity may be inconsistent

  • No half sizes

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 6 days | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 32 feet underwater | GPS: No | Our Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Who It’s For

Best for users who want to track their sleep and stress data and prefer a lightweight, non-wrist-based fitness tracker. 

Why We Love It

If you find wrist fitness trackers to be uncomfortable, Ultrahuman’s Ring Air is a lightweight, convenient option that’s worn on your finger and looks like jewelry. Made with space-grade titanium, this durable, sleek device monitors key health indicators such as heart rate, movement, sleep, and heart rate variability. We found it to be ideal for sleep tracking since it was very comfortable to wear at night and offered in-depth analysis and sleep improvement tips based on comprehensive data.

We liked using the ring, along with the compatible, user-friendly app, to track our activity and workouts, including kickboxing, HIIT, running, and gym sessions. Another cool feature is the stress management tracking, which highlights periods of stress and suggests mindfulness features in the app. We also love that, unlike some other ring trackers, this one doesn’t require a paid monthly membership to use.

Potential Flaws

  • The Ring Air doesn’t come in half sizes, which we think would have provided a more accurate fit.
  • The ring initially connected to our phone and the app, but it stopped syncing a few days into the testing period. After some troubleshooting, it eventually reconnected with both.

Most Valuable Insight

“My favorite thing about this fitness tracker was the sleep insights. It has provided me with so much knowledge about what trends I have in my sleep and what my optimal bedtime is each day. The ring is incredibly light, which makes it very comfortable. It weighs 3 grams, and I barely even notice that I’m wearing it!” —Casey Jamison, Verywell Fit product tester

Pros
  • Lightweight and comfortable

  • Fast-charging battery

  • Seamless integration with iPhone and third-party apps

Cons
  • Inconsistent indoor workout tracking

  • Touchscreen may not work properly when wet

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 18 hours | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 164 feet underwater | GPS: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.6/5

Who It’s For

Best for users who want a tracker that integrates with the Apple ecosystem and offers accurate heart rate monitoring and GPS for outdoor workouts. 

Why We Love It

Packed with health, fitness, and safety features, Apple’s Watch Series 9 is our recommendation if you want a high-tech smartwatch that easily integrates with your iPhone. When we ran, cycled, and lifted while wearing it, we were impressed with its precise accuracy for tracking our distance, speed, heart rate, calories burned, and elevation gain, and we liked that it also indicated which training zone we were in. The smartwatch features numerous sport modes to track a wide range of activities, including hiking, weightlifting, yoga, swimming, dancing, and rowing, and allows you to add other workouts that aren’t included.

The watch felt so lightweight and comfortable that we often forgot we had it on and even wore it to bed without any issues. We also liked the extremely intuitive and very responsive touchscreen, as well as the fast-charging battery. Plus, the watch helped motivate us to move with daily goals, encouraging messages, challenges, and rewards.

Potential Flaws

  • While we noticed that the Apple Watch was accurate for tracking outdoor workouts, we found the indoor workout tracking (especially on treadmills) very inconsistent.
  • Although the watch is water-resistant, we sometimes had issues with the touchscreen recognizing our finger swipes when it was wet from sweat or rain. However, it always worked properly once we wiped it off.

Most Valuable Insight

"The watch works great in the Apple ecosystem. It's incredibly easy to connect to the watch and customize it so I can choose which apps are sending out notifications to my watch. Its versatility in connecting to not only Apple apps, but third-party apps is unmatched with anything I have used so far.” —Matt Wood, Verywell Fit product tester

Pros
  • Easy to use

  • Good compatibility with Google products

  • Fast-charging

Cons
  • No automatic start or stop feature

  • No built-in GPS

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 36 hours | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 164 feet underwater | GPS: No | Our Overall Rating: 4.7/5

Who It’s For

Best for users seeking a lightweight fitness tracker with excellent smartwatch features and integration with Google products.

Why We Love It

Google’s Pixel Watch 3 is an easy-to-use, sleek, and reliable fitness tracker that delivers advanced health and fitness metrics and personalized guidance to help you meet your goals. When we tested it, we were impressed with the straightforward setup process and liked that we could easily customize the touchscreen with our preferred settings and notifications. Whether we ran, walked, or lifted weights, we found the fitness metrics were accurate and helpful, and we appreciated the tracker’s encouraging messages when we moved or reached certain goals.

We also liked the watch’s daily feedback on sleep, movement, and other health metrics, with recommendations on balancing workouts with recovery. The watch easily connects with other Google products, which makes it easy to view our Google Home camera right on the screen. Another huge plus is its fast-charging battery, which went from 0% to 100% in about 40 minutes.

Potential Flaws

  • This tracker doesn’t automatically start or stop timing workouts, so it may not be the best option if you like that feature.  
  • This version of the Google Pixel Watch connects to your smartphone’s GPS to track outdoor walks, runs, and rides, but a more expensive model is available with built-in GPS.

Most Valuable Insight

“Because the watch is easy to use, so accurate, looks nice, is made of durable materials, has quick responsiveness, and is overall of good quality, I do think it's worth the price.” —Patricia Huffstead, Verywell Fit product tester

Pros
  • Amazon Alexa is built in

  • Lightweight design

  • Over 120 sport modes

Cons
  • Doesn’t track workouts automatically

  • Metrics aren't as in-depth

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 18 days | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 164 feet underwater | GPS: No | Our Overall Rating: 4.1/5

Who It’s For

Best for anyone who’s new to wearing a fitness tracker and wants a lightweight, basic device that still gets the job done.

Why We Love It

Amazfit's Band 7 impressed us with its robust list of features despite its inexpensive price tag. We especially love how accurate the sleep, stress, and fitness tracking metrics are. This water-resistant (up to 50 meters) band has Amazon Alexa built-in, so setting alarms and managing other tasks can be done hands-free. We also like how a full battery charge can last up to 18 days with normal use and 28 days in battery-saver mode.

Despite its featherweight feel and streamlined look, the band has many impressive features. It has alerts for abnormal heart rate, blood oxygen level, and stress, as well as a sedentary reminder and a stopwatch feature. We loved using the 120+ sport mode options for easy workout tracking, no matter what activity we participated in. Plus, the band even recognizes four sports, so you don't have to click a button to start tracking. We also appreciate that you can set it to track your menstrual cycle and view your statistics from the easy-to-navigate Zepp app. 

Potential Flaws

  • This tracker doesn't automatically track workouts, other than the four sports, so you have to remember to press a button for it to record your workout.
  • While we love all the features of this budget-friendly tracker, just note that there are no additional in-depth health metrics, GPS capabilities, or recovery tracking.
Pros
  • Rugged and durable

  • Excellent smartphone connectivity

  • Very accurate

Cons
  • Bulky size makes it uncomfortable for sleeping

  • Display is not customizable

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 60 hours | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 328 feet underwater | GPS: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.7/5

Who It’s For

Best for those with larger wrists looking for a durable, reliable fitness tracker for outdoor workouts.

Why We Love It

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra is rugged, waterproof, and reliable—making it a great option for outdoor enthusiasts who are willing to invest in a high-quality, high-performance tracker. The durable titanium design can withstand rough conditions, including rain, dust, and ocean swimming. During testing, we also liked the accurate, detailed health and fitness tracking—including metrics like heart rate, distance, pace, steps, and calories—as well as personalized insights and wellness tips based on our performance.

Another useful feature includes the watch’s Track Back functionality, which uses the built-in GPS to direct you back to the start of your trail run, hike, or ride. We also loved that the watch seamlessly synced with our earbuds and smartphone, delivering messages accurately and in real time. Plus, we didn’t have to charge it every day or worry about running out of juice mid-workout, thanks to its 60-hour battery life.

Potential Flaws

  • The watch’s large size made it too bulky and uncomfortable to wear while sleeping.
  • While we found the display clear and easy to read, we wish it was customizable so we could only view the stats we’re interested in.

Most Valuable Insight

“This watch works with my earbuds and connects to my phone, which I really love. My notifications delivered accurately and in real time. It’s also super easy to track workouts. It detected when I was riding a bike and automatically went to workout mode.” —Omer Toktay, Verywell Fit product tester

Pros
  • Tracks heart rate zones

  • 13-hour on-board memory

  • Comfortable to wear

Cons
  • Setup process is challenging

  • Heart rate zone alerts are subtle

Key Specs

Battery Life: 24 hours | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 9.8 feet underwater | GPS: No | Overall Rating: 4.7/5

Who It’s For

Best for exercisers who use heart rate zone training during their workouts.

Why We Love It

Scosche's Rhythm24 Armband Heart Rate Monitor has all the standard features you would expect in a fitness tracker. But what sets it apart is its sensitivity to changes in our heart rate. The tracker detects heart rate changes even during rest, and we especially like how well it tracks during our workouts by monitoring which of the five main heart rate zones we’re in and lighting up with different colors to display the zones. This helps us know how hard we’re pushing ourselves during a workout and whether we’re using our aerobic or anaerobic metabolism.

Rather than resting on the wrist like a traditional smartwatch would, this pick is an armband, so it sits on our forearm, just below our elbow. This makes the band comfortable and prevents it from bouncing up and down on our wrists like some traditional fitness trackers. We also like that it's waterproof and has an on-board memory of up to 13 hours of workouts, so you can leave your phone at home and upload your workouts later. Plus, it includes modes for running, cycling, swimming, duathlon, and triathlon.

Potential Flaws

  • The user guide is challenging to follow so it took us three tries to connect this monitor to our phone’s Bluetooth.
  • The heart rate zone alert colors are subtle, so they're hard to notice under a long-sleeved shirt or if you're not looking directly at the monitor often.
Pros
  • Extremely comfortable and lightweight

  • Highly accurate metrics

  • Very useful app

Cons
  • Small screen

  • No built-in GPS

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 7 days | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 164 feet underwater | GPS: No | Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5

Who It’s For

Best for fitness enthusiasts who want a lightweight, comfortable, and precise tracker to measure a variety of workouts.

Why We Love It

For a versatile, straightforward device that you can use to track a variety of activities, we love Garmin’s vivosmart 5. During testing, we found it provided very precise and helpful metrics for HIIT, treadmill runs, hikes, and more. With a sleek, lightweight design, the tracker felt comfortable and unobtrusive, even when we wore it to monitor our sleep patterns.

The tracker’s bright, intuitive touchscreen interface was easy to use and navigate to select different activities. We also loved that the tracker seamlessly synced with the Garmin app, which we used to customize and analyze our data, review healthy insights, and get motivated with fun challenges and rewards. Other useful features include heart-rate monitoring, built-in mindfulness exercises, and Garmin’s Body Battery energy monitoring, which helped us gauge our energy levels throughout the day so we could better plan our activities and rest.

Potential Flaws

  • Those who prefer devices with a large screen showing a lot of data may not like the tracker’s small screen.
  • The tracker needs to connect to your smartphone’s GPS to track outdoor walks, runs, and rides, so this may not be the best option for those who don’t like to exercise with their phone.

Most Valuable Insight

“This device offers exceptional value for its range of features. The metrics provided by this device are exceptionally accurate, far surpassing any other fitness tracker I've used. I feel like I've gotten much more from this tracker compared to pricier options.” —Lauren Sharpe, Verywell Fit product tester

A person holds up the box for the Garmin vívosmart 5 Fitness Tracker

Verywell Fit / Lauren Sharpe

Pros
  • Budget-friendly

  • Vibrating alarm feature

  • Comfortable design

Cons
  • Step counter is sensitive

  • Requires paid membership after free trial

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 10 days | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 164 feet underwater | GPS: No | Our Overall Rating: 4.7/5

Who It’s For

Best for beginner exercisers or those looking for a low-profile fitness tracker that’s easy to use and comfortable.

Why We Love It

Fitbit's Inspire 3 is a slim tracker that includes all the features you want without the bulk of a big device on your wrist. We love the Inspire 3 for its ease of use, comfort, and overall value. It tracks distance, calories burned, and heart rate. It also checks for irregular heart rhythms and tracks how many minutes you spend in your target heart rate zone during workouts. In the Fitbit app, you can view helpful wellness metrics like sleep and stress management scores, as well as participate in guided breathing sessions and workouts. 

While wearing the minimalist tracker, we received reminders to move and call, text, and app notifications. The notifications are near-silent vibrations that are noticeable without being too disruptive to our day. We also love the vibrating alarm that wakes us up during our most optimal sleep stage—it helps us feel more refreshed throughout the day. This Fitbit is also waterproof up to 50 meters, so you can wear it to track your swim workouts.

Potential Flaws

  • We found the step counter to be slightly over-sensitive. For example, it logged steps during other activities like making the bed. 
  • A free six-month Fitbit Premium membership is included, but after six months, you’ll have to pay a monthly fee to access most of the valuable tracking metrics.
Person wearing wearing Fitbit Inspire 3 on wrist

Verywell Fit / Sarah Felbin

Best With GPS Tracking

Fitbit Charge 5

Fitbit Charge 5
PHOTO: Amazon
Pros
  • In-app metrics visualization

  • Phone-free activity tracking

  • Daily mood log

Cons
  • Calorie tracker isn’t very reliable

  • Requires paid membership after free trial

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 7 days | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 164 feet underwater | GPS: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.4/5

Who It’s For

Best for outdoor exercisers and anyone who doesn't want to worry about their phone while the workout.

Why We Love It

Fitbit's Charge 5 is the brand's most advanced wearable, and we like it because it allows us to run, hike, and ride phone-free, thanks to its built-in GPS. And after our workouts, we loved seeing our pace and heart rate zones laid out on a visual map of our route straight from the Fitbit app. This advanced feature is really unique and would be helpful if you’re training for a marathon or other endurance event, or just really like to see a visual representation of your metrics. 

During testing, we wore this tracker for various types of activities, like CrossFit and strength training, and found most metrics are precise. And this Fitbit doesn’t just track fitness-related metrics; you can also view your sleep, stress, and readiness scores on the app. This helped us know exactly how to tackle our days. Just like the Inspire 3, Fitbit’s Charge 5 can wake you up with a soft vibration alarm at the most optimal point in your sleep cycle, as well as deliver call, text, app, and calendar notifications from your phone. We also like that you can log your mood daily in the app. 

Potential Flaws

  • We found most metrics are very precise, but the tracker slightly overestimated calories burned during activities like running and walking.
  • A free six-month Fitbit Premium membership is included, but after six months, you’ll have to pay a monthly fee to access most of the valuable tracking metrics.
Pros
  • Sleek, minimal design

  • Easy to use and wear

  • Converts stats into daily scores

Cons
  • Limited activity tracking

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 7 days | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 328 feet underwater | GPS: No | Our Overall Rating: 4.1/5 

Who It’s For

Best for users who want to prioritize readiness and sleep, but don't need to monitor activity too closely.

Why We Love It

Tracking your sleep allows you to understand patterns and make informed choices about sleeping habits. Oura's Ring Gen 3 is lightweight and stylish. It uses tiny sensors to transmit health data, including sleep data, right to your phone. The ring-style design makes wearing it while sleeping easier than a wrist tracker. The device uses factors like total sleep time, efficiency, restfulness, and time spent in each sleep cycle to provide daily sleep and readiness scores in the Oura app (with an additional monthly membership fee).

The ring also provides a daily activity score created by using your inactivity time, training frequency and volume, and your step count. We also love that it connects to Natural Cycles, an app that helps you cycle-sync your workouts by tracking each phase of your menstrual cycle. And we appreciate the automatic detection of up to 40 different activities and personalized goals. It's an investment, but one worth making if you’re interested in in-depth sleep and menstrual cycle tracking.

Potential Flaws

  • During testing, we found that activity tracking was limited and somewhat inaccurate, providing the wrong time, distance, and calories during a walk. It also didn't record any activity during Pilates or yoga.
Pros
  • Detailed GPS tracking

  • Unique tracking features

  • Shock and thermal resistant

Cons
  • Pricier than other options

  • Limited iOS compatibility

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 28 days | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 333 feet underwater | GPS: Yes | Overall Rating: 4.2/5

Who It’s For

Best for individuals who are very active in outdoor sports and activities, like skiing, swimming, and hiking.

Why We Love It

Garmin's Instinct 2 is the third Garmin on our list because the brand is known for reliability and accuracy. The Instinct 2 has all that in a heavy-duty, durable package. It tracks sleep, stress, menstrual cycles, fitness, and more. Thanks to its reinforced case and scratch-resistant lens face, it's water-resistant to 100 meters and thermal—and shock-resistant. This tracker will see you through all your outdoor adventures.

During testing, we found that the metrics were always spot-on for everything from hiking, climbing, or trail running. The Instinct 2 has GPS tracking, which we found intuitive and easy to use. We also like the many unique features, like trackback routing that can navigate you back to your starting point along the same route, and the reference point feature that lets you keep track of a known point like your car or the trailhead. With so many great features and compatibility, we think this tracker is well worth the money.

Potential Flaws

  • Although this Garmin is one of the higher-priced trackers on our list, we think its unique features make it worth it for very active individuals.
  • Like other Garmin products on our list, the watch can only respond to texts if you have an Android phone.
Garmin Instinct 2

Verywell Fit / Mathieu Jean-Lubin

Pros
  • Can be worn on the chest, arm, or wrist

  • Up to 6-month battery life

  • Easy to use

Cons
  • Not as comfortable as other options

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 6 months | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 32 feet underwater | GPS: No | Overall Rating: 4.7/5

Who It’s For

Best for exercisers who want to track their heart rate and need the flexibility of wearing the monitor in different ways.

Why We Love It

If you're looking for a heart rate monitor that provides accurate readings and wearable flexibility, MyZone's MZ-Switch Heart Rate Monitor is the tracker for you. This tiny device can be attached to different bands and worn on your arm, chest, or wrist. We found it incredibly easy to use—the app setup and installation were seamless. We like the versatility this tracker provides for various workouts and the fact that we get our heart rate data in real-time.

During testing, we also appreciated that this tracker is water resistant up to 32 feet—just enough to withstand a sweaty workout or a spilled water bottle. It also features five color-coded heart rate zones to track your efforts and stay motivated during your workouts. What’s extra special about this fitness tracker is its ultra-long battery life that lasts up to six months, which means we don’t have to charge it much at all.

Potential Flaws

  • When we wore this tracker on our wrists, it slipped slightly, making it less comfortable than some other options.

Fitness Trackers We Also Tested

We tested 27 fitness trackers, but only 16 earned a spot on our list of top recommendations. Although these options didn't score well enough to make the final cut, we still think they have some features that are worth mentioning.

  • FITVII’s Health & Fitness Tracker is a budget-friendly option with accurate tracking for basic metrics like steps and heart rate. However, during testing, it felt a bit bulky and we found that some of its features, such as cycle tracking, didn’t work properly.
  • Although we found Fitbit’s Charge 6 to be very comfortable and accurate for sleep tracking, we had trouble using the built-in GPS and syncing workouts to third-party apps.
  • Casio’s G-SHOCK DWH5600 features a rugged, durable design and provided accurate metrics for steps and heart rate during testing, but it lacked convenient features such as automatic activity detection. We also found the setup process and interface to be very non-intuitive and not user-friendly.
  •  When testing Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7, we found it was easy to set up, customize, and integrate with our smartphone. However, the band felt bulky and we were disappointed that the auto-stop feature was unreliable.

What We’ve Updated

  • We continue to test the newest fitness trackers as they hit the market, and we’ve updated our top product picks after testing 12 additional trackers. Based on new testing insights, we added eight new high-performing fitness trackers to our list of recommendations.
  • Based on our most recent testing, we’ve also reworked most of our superlatives and added some new ones, including Best for Apple Users, Best for Cross-Training, Best Ring, Sleekest Design, and Best Investment. 

Types of Fitness Trackers

Fitness trackers come in all shapes and sizes, and you’ll want to choose one that feels comfortable and best meets your needs. These are the types we recommend, and the most common ones you’ll come across as you shop.

  • Smartwatch: A smartwatch is basically an extension of your smartphone on your wrist, providing convenient access to your apps, alerts, notifications, calls, music, and more. Although they don’t always offer the same robust data and analysis as fitness wristbands, they can still track metrics like daily steps and heart rate, as well as workout data such as distance, pace, and elevation, using GPS.
  • Fitness Wristbands: These devices tend to be smaller, lighter, and more comfortable than smartwatches—making them a better option for all-day wear and sleep tracking. Beginner exercisers and less tech-savvy people also like that they’re usually budget-friendly and easy to use. However, they may not have built-in GPS or offer the same integration with your phone as a smartwatch.
  • Smart Rings: A smart ring is a subtle, wearable tracker that doubles as a piece of jewelry and monitors metrics such as sleep, daily activity, body temperature, and stress. They’re usually comfortable to wear all day and to bed, and typically offer comprehensive sleep, heart rate, and stress tracking. However, smart rings’ workout tracking capabilities are not always as accurate as wrist-worn models, and some require a monthly subscription to access all your data.  
  • Armbands: While not as popular as the other types, armbands are especially good for accurately tracking heart rate. They’re very comfortable for distance runs or rides but aren’t the most suitable option for everyday wear.

What to Look for When Shopping for Fitness Trackers

  • Style and Display: Fitness trackers don't have to be purely functional. Many watch-style trackers come with interchangeable bands to suit different wardrobes and occasions. If you're looking for a fitness tracker that can double as a daily accessory, check that the display is easy to read and understand while you're exercising. Look for bright displays with clear graphics.
  • Water Resistance: Trackers with a water-resistance rating of up to 50 meters (or 164 feet) are suitable for swimming pools. If you need a tracker suited for open water activities like ocean swimming, surfing, or paddle boarding, look for a rating of up to 100 meters (or roughly 333 feet) of open water.
  • Battery Life: Many devices can last seven to 10 days on a full charge, depending on the features being used. For example, GPS tends to use a lot of battery power. Some devices can even last up to 30 days or more. When shopping, be sure to check the average battery life compared to what you want to use the device for before purchasing.
  • Compatibility: Many high-tech fitness trackers are smartphone-compatible, meaning you can receive text, call, and app notifications right on your wrist. Some trackers allow music streaming and some even allow you to respond to your calls and texts. When shopping, make sure the tracker you're considering is compatible with your phone.
  • Metrics: Most fitness trackers track basic metrics like steps, heart rate, active minutes, distance, and pace. The metrics you want to track are a personal choice, so consider what stats are important to your goals and progress when selecting a device.
  • Price: Trackers that provide you with basic data—like sleep cycle tracking or the number of steps each day—are usually budget-friendlier. But if you’re looking for advanced features such as safety alerts, vibrating alarms, and recovery status, you’ll want to invest in a higher-priced device.

How We Tested the Fitness Trackers

Fitness trackers work best when used long-term to allow them to adapt to your lifestyle. For the most precise testing results, we tested 27 fitness trackers at home during a one-month period for over 8,000 hours. During testing, we assessed each tracker for the following attributes.

  • Setup and Ease of Use: After unboxing the new fitness trackers, we set them up and assess how intuitive the process is. If there's an app, we also note how easy the app is to navigate and if graphics and other details are easy to see and understand. We take note of whether the metrics are useful and how simple it is to customize the settings. We also assess how responsive the touchscreen or control interface is to use.
  • Comfort: We wear each tracker for a variety of workouts and for several hours throughout our day. We note if the strap or sensor feels secure and comfortable on our skin or if it causes irritation. We consider things like: Does the strap have enough adjustability? Is it sleek and lightweight or bulky and cumbersome? Is it sweatproof? Is it comfy to sleep with it on? Since a fitness tracker is only effective if worn regularly, we prioritize comfortable trackers.
  • Precision: Accuracy in a fitness tracker is important for its functionality. In addition to evaluating the tracker’s precision, we also note how quickly its monitor responds to changes in our heart rate during a workout. We check how easily it detects different types of movement, for example, walking versus running. If we have other means of tracking metrics (like another fitness tracker, our phone, or a heart rate monitor), we compare the data from our other tracker to the device we’re testing.
  • Connectivity: To evaluate the connectivity of each device, we evaluate whether the tracker syncs seamlessly with our smartphone or other device. We consider if notifications are delivered in real-time and are accurate. We also make note of any dropped signals or syncing issues.
  • Value: We thoroughly test each fitness tracker without knowing its cost, and only check the price at the end of our testing period. We then determine the value score based on whether the price accurately reflects the features and quality and our experience with the device. We think critically about whether we’d buy the item for its current price, and if we would recommend it to friends and family members.

Our Experts

Before testing fitness trackers, we spoke to experts for input on what key features to look for and potential flaws to be aware of. We also asked about specific fitness trackers they would recommend and kept their input in mind when choosing which trackers to test. For this story, we spoke with:

  • Kira Jones, CPT and founder of Cacti Wellness Collective based in New York City
  • Noelle McKenzie, ACE-CPT, personal trainer and co-founder of Leading Edge Personal Trainers in New York City

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of using a fitness tracker? 

Fitness trackers support your physical and mental well-being by helping you stay on track with fitness goals, says McKenzie. By tracking progress, offering prompts to move, and motivation, they can encourage a less sedentary, healthier lifestyle.

Which fitness tracker is most accurate? 

During our testing, we determined that all of our picks were accurate and high-performing. Garmin’s Forerunners 165 came out on top because, like Garmin’s other products, it offers precise measurements for workouts and daily activities.

How long does a fitness tracker last?

Pricier trackers may last up to five years or more, while those at lower price points may show wear and tear after around two years. Some parts that wear out, like straps or batteries, may be replaceable, so you don't have to purchase a whole new device.

Why Trust Verywell Fit

Jen Zeltwanger, ACSM-EP, is an ACSM-certified exercise physiologist and fitness writer. Jen has written articles and tested products for a variety of fitness and wellness publications. She has lots of experience with home and outdoor fitness and tracks it all wearing an Apple Watch. Jen knows what works and what to look for when shopping for fitness products, and she prioritizes products that are easy to use, versatile, and well-made.

Additional reporting by Christine Luff, ACE-CPT

A certified personal trainer, running coach, gym buff, and Verywell Fit writer, Christine Luff, ACE-CPT, spends countless hours researching and testing the latest exercise gear and gadgets. She prefers a Garmin Forerunner for tracking outdoor runs and wears an Apple Watch to track her daily steps and other health and fitness data.

Jen Zeltwanger - Verywell Fit

By Jennifer Zeltwanger, ACSM-EP
Jen Zeltwanger is an exercise physiologist and runner with 26 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. She specializes in researching and writing about products that support home and outdoor fitness.