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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

Whether you’re an avid exerciser, a competitive goal-setter, or a health-minded individual, a fitness tracker can be a great investment. The best fitness trackers offer a fun and intuitive way to help you set goals and measure your progress. They can also help you keep track of other metrics, like sleep, readiness, body temperature, and more. According to Kira Jones, CPT, certified personal trainer and founder of Cacti Wellness Collective, 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—you want to choose a device that fits your activity level, lifestyle, and overall goals, says Jones. 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

  • Charges quickly

  • 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 not used to wearing a fitness tracker, because it's ultra-lightweight.

Why We Love It

Amazfit’s Band 7 is one of the best budget fitness trackers on the market because it’s less expensive, but still provides helpful health data. We especially love this band for its accurate sleep, stress, and fitness tracking. Unlike other picks on our list, this one also has Amazon Alexa built in, for setting alarms and completing other important tasks with your Amazfit hands-free.

Despite its featherweight feel and streamlined look, the Amazfit has rather impressive features: alerts for abnormal heart rate, blood oxygen level, and stress; over 120 sport modes; an 18-day battery life; and more. We also love that you can set it to track your menstrual cycle and view your statistics from the easy-to-navigate Zepp app. 

Potential Flaws

  • You have to press a button in order for it to record a workout.
  • 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
  • Very precise heart-rate monitoring

  • Bluetooth connectivity

  • Comfortable to wear

Cons
  • Tricky setup process

  • Heart rate zone alerts can be 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 anyone who uses target heart rate zones during their workouts.

Why We Love It

We love that Scosche's Rhythm24 Armband Heart Rate Monitor is sensitive to both major and minor changes in our heart rate, even when we’re at rest. It has all the standard and well-loved features you want in a fitness tracker, with an emphasis on tracking your heart rate during your workout. This monitor keeps us updated on which of the five main heart rate zones we’re in during a workout. While we exercise, the monitor lights up in different colors depending on the heart rate zone we’re in. 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, which means 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. The fitness tracker’s location is especially helpful for longer workouts or tough training sessions when a wristwatch may get in the way.

Potential Flaws

  • It took us three tries to connect this monitor to our phone’s Bluetooth, so we wish the user guide was easier to follow.
  • The heart rate zone alerts change via subtle colors, so they are hard to notice if you are wearing a long-sleeved shirt or are not looking down 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

  • Lightweight

  • Easy to use

Cons
  • Step counter is slightly 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 beginners or those looking for a budget-friendly, low-profile fitness tracker that’s easy to use and comfortable.

Why We Love It

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a winner for its ease of use, comfort, and overall value. It tracks distance, calories burned, heart rate, and other helpful statistics. In the Fitbit app, you can also 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 receive irregular heart rate alerts and reminders to move, as well as call, text, and app notifications. The notifications come as near-silent vibrations that are enough to make us notice without disrupting 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.

Potential Flaws

  • We found the step counter to be slightly sensitive, logging steps during other activities like making the bed. 
  • After the free six-month Fitbit Premium membership, you’ll have to pay extra to access most key features, such as your daily readiness score, stress management score, and access to Fitbit's workouts on the app.
Person wearing wearing Fitbit Inspire 3 on wrist

Verywell Fit / Sarah Felbin

Pros
  • Wide range of colors

  • Delivers morning reports

  • Very accurate

Cons
  • Limited iOS compatibility

  • Limited activity tracking

Key Specs

Battery Life: Up to 5 days | Water Resistance: Yes, up to 164 feet underwater | GPS: No | Our Overall Rating: 4.6/5

Who It’s For

Best if style and functionality are equally important to you.

Why We Love It

Garmin's Lily Watch, like many other products on our list, measures steps, sleep, stress, and energy levels. We use it to set, track, and reach fitness goals. And we appreciate the pre-programmed workouts that encouraged us to change up our workout routines and try something new. What sets this wearable apart—besides its stylish design—is the morning report feature, which provides a summary of the weather outside, your energy level, step goals, menstrual cycle stage, and the first calendar event for each day. 

We also enjoy the built-in apps for yoga, cardio, walking, and mindful breathing—which have become a regular part of our routine. And just like our best overall pick, you can download the Garmin Connect app to view all of your health data and insights at a glance, which we find intuitive and easy to digest. We appreciate that the Lily Watch is easy to use, comfortable, and accurate in tracking your blood oxygen saturation, hydration, and more. At an average price compared to other fitness trackers on our list, we think this one’s a great choice for anyone who's looking to gain insight into their health—and look stylish while doing it.

Potential Flaws

  • Note that you can only respond to texts on the watch if you have an Android phone.
  • Although the tracker tracks basic activities, it doesn’t have as in-depth activity tracking as other fitness trackers on our list.

Best With GPS Tracking

Fitbit Charge 5

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

  • Precise activity tracking

  • Daily mood log

Cons
  • Calorie tracker isn’t very reliable

  • Requires paid membership for some features

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 if you enjoy exercising outdoors without your phone, thanks to its built-in GPS that tracks distance and pace in real time.

Why We Love It

Fitbit’s Charge 5, the brand’s most advanced wearable, is a heavy-duty version of the Inspire 3. It allows you to run, hike, and ride phone-free, thanks to its built-in GPS. After a run, we can see our pace and heart rate zones at different points throughout our route laid out on a visual map in the Fitbit app. This feature is really unique and one that would be helpful if you’re training for a marathon or just really like to see visualizations of your metrics. 

We wear this wearable for various types of activities, like CrossFit and strength training sessions. We find that most metrics are precise, and this Fitbit doesn’t just stop at tracking fitness-related metrics. You can also view your sleep, stress, and readiness scores on the app to develop a better understanding of how to tackle each day. Just like the Inspire 3, Fitbit’s Charge 5 can wake you up with a soft vibration 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 each day in the app. 

Potential Flaws

  • Most metrics are precise, but the watch slightly overestimated the amount of calories burned when it comes to activities like running and walking.
  • After the free six-month Fitbit Premium membership trial, you’ll have to pay extra to access most of the valuable tracking metrics.
Pros
  • Sleek design

  • Easy to use

  • Converts statistics 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 if you want a holistic health overview with detailed sleep and menstrual cycle metrics.

Why We Love It

If tracking your sleep, readiness, and menstrual cycle is your top priority, Oura’s Ring Gen 3 is for you. This lightweight, stylish wearable uses tiny sensors to transmit helpful health data from your finger to your phone in a matter of seconds. It 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, although you’ll need to pay extra each month for a membership.

The ring also provides a daily activity score that’s created using your inactivity time, training frequency, and more. The Oura Ring Gen 3 is an investment but one worth making if you’re interested in in-depth sleep and menstrual cycle tracking. We love that it connects to Natural Cycles, an app that helps you cycle-sync your workouts by tracking each phase of your menstrual cycle.

Potential Flaws

  • We found activity tracking was limited and inaccurate, providing the wrong time, distance, and calories during a walk and not recording any activity during Pilates or yoga. We think this tracker is best for readiness and sleep, not activity monitoring.
Pros
  • Detailed GPS tracking

  • Long battery life

  • Rugged design

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 skiers, hikers, swimmers, and other outdoor fitness enthusiasts, thanks to its durable construction and high-tech features.

Why We Love It

The third Garmin product on our list, the Garmin Instinct 2, combines all the features that we love about the Vivomove and Lily in one heavy-duty wearable. It tracks sleep, stress, menstrual cycles, fitness, and more. Whether we’re hiking, climbing, or running, the metrics provided by the watch and the Garmin Connect app are always spot-on. 

Although the Instinct 2 is packed with features, it still has GPS tracking and an intuitive interface that’s easy to use. With so many unique elements, like daily workout suggestions and compatibility with mobile apps like Starbucks, we think it’s well worth the money.

Potential Flaws

  • It’s one of the higher-priced items on our list. We think it's worth it for very active individuals, but may not be necessary for beginner users. 
  • Like other Garmin sports watches on our list, you can only respond to texts on the watch if you have an Android phone.
Garmin Instinct 2

Verywell Fit / Mathieu Jean-Lubin

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

  • Battery life lasts up to 6 months

  • 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 someone who wants to wear their heart rate monitor in different ways for different workouts. 

Why We Love It

MyZone's MZ-Switch Heart Rate Monitor is incredibly easy to use. We love how seamless it is to set up and to install the app. The tiny, pinky nail-sized device can be attached to different band types and placed on your arm, chest, or wrist. Versatile enough to wear during a variety of workouts, we like that it’s water resistant up to 32 feet—that’s just enough to withstand a sweaty workout or accidentally spilled water. Plus, you’ll get your heart rate data in real time, so you won’t have to wait until after your workout to check your stats.

We also like that the device features five color-coded heart rate zones on its monitor that show you how much you are exerting yourself during a workout. This feature helps us keep motivated and push ourselves during 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

  • The heart rate monitor isn’t as comfortable as other options, and when worn on our wrist, we did find that it slipped a bit. But we got used to it after a few wears.

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. Smartwatches don’t always offer the same robust data and analysis as fitness wristbands, but they’re still equipped to 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 very comfortable to wear all day and to bed and usually 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

  • Water Resistance: Fitness trackers that are water-resistant up to 50 meters (or 164 feet) are suitable for swimming pools, and those that are water-resistant up to 100 meters (or roughly 333 feet) are open-water-friendly, meaning you can wear them in the ocean.
  • Battery Life: According to Neel Chokshi, MD, MBA, an associate professor of medicine and cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania, battery life can be one of the biggest factors when finding a good fitness tracker. Many devices last seven to 10 days on a full charge (but less than 24 hours if GPS features are activated). Others will last up to 30 days or more.
  • Compatibility: Many high-tech fitness trackers are smartphone-compatible, which means you can get text, call, and app notifications delivered right to your wrist. Some will also let you stream music from your phone, and others will let you respond to calls and texts. If this feature is important to you, make sure the fitness tracker you use is compatible with your phone—many will only work with either iOS or Android but not both.
  • Heart Rate Tracking: All of the fitness trackers on our list come with built-in heart rate sensors, which will monitor your heart rate continuously throughout the day. However, some budget-friendlier options on the market lack heart rate sensors. If heart-rate tracking is important to you, be sure the fitness tracker you’re eyeing has it.
  • Metrics: The most important metrics to track will greatly depend on your fitness goals. Many people enjoy tracking steps, heart rate, and active minutes. If you are a runner, biker, or swimmer, you may also want to track distance and pace. Additionally, sleep time and quality are important metrics for many individuals.
  • Price: If you want a tracker that provides you with basic data—like time spent in each sleep cycle or the number of steps each day—you can opt for a budget-friendlier product. 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 item.

How We Tested the Fitness Trackers

Fitness trackers require long-term, daily use to adapt to your lifestyle and deliver the most accurate metrics. For the most precise testing results, we tested 27 fitness trackers at home over a one-month period. After the month, we rated each fitness tracker on a scale of 1 (would not recommend) to 5 (highly recommend) for ease of setup, comfort, ease of use, accuracy, and value. Here’s how we assess each attribute when testing fitness trackers. 

  • Setup and Ease of Use: When the trackers first arrive, we assess how seamless the setup process is. Fitness trackers advertise different features, so we evaluate the metrics that each wearable tracks and select the ones that best fit multiple readers’ lifestyles. Then, we note how easy it is to connect the device to any additional apps, like Apple Health, if applicable. 
  • Comfort: To accurately evaluate each fitness tracker, we wear it during a variety of workouts to gauge its level of comfort. We note if the strap or sensor feels secure and comfortable on our skin or clothing, also making sure to take notice if the fitness tracker’s band causes irritation or chafing. It’s crucial that each fitness tracker is comfortable enough not to interfere with our workouts.
  • Precision: If you’re investing any amount of money in a fitness tracker, you obviously want to know that you’re actually getting accurate data out of it. In addition to evaluating the tracker’s accuracy, we also note how quickly its monitor responds to changes in our heart rate (when we’re walking and start jogging, for example). If we have other means of tracking our heart rate and other 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. Outside of basic stats like steps and heart rate, we also note if our fitness tracker tracks other metrics for a more comprehensive health assessment.
  • Value: We always test each fitness tracker without knowing its cost and only find out the price of the item at the very end of our testing period. This allows us to more accurately evaluate our thoughts on the value of each device. To give each device a value score, we think critically about whether we’d buy the item for its current price, knowing the features and benefits it offers.

Our Experts

Before testing the fitness trackers, we first spoke to three experts to get their input on what key features we should look for in fitness trackers and the potential flaws we should be aware of when testing. We also asked each expert about specific fitness trackers they recommend and kept their input in mind when choosing which trackers to test. The professionals we spoke to include:

  • 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
  • Neel Chokshi, MD, MBA, director of the Penn Center for Digital Cardiology and medical director of the Penn Sports Cardiology and Fitness Program

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of using a fitness tracker? 

Fitness trackers can help you prioritize your physical and mental well-being and stay on track with fitness goals by providing access to real-time metrics, says McKenzie. By offering prompts to move, they also can encourage a less sedentary, healthier lifestyle.

Which fitness tracker is most accurate? 

During our test, we determined that all of our picks are 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?

While the most expensive trackers may last up to five years with no issues, those at lower price points may show signs of wear after around two years of use. Before replacing your current fitness tracker, see if there is an option to replace the battery, strap, or other broken parts if they become an issue. 

Why Trust Verywell Fit

Neha Tandon is a Verywell Fit writer and certified fitness instructor who is passionate about making great product recommendations. She enjoys staying up-to-date on the best products and has personally enjoyed tracking her sleep and menstrual cycle with her Oura Ring, which she has owned for over two years and continues to recommend to her friends. 

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.

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By Neha Tandon
Neha Tandon has been writing about health and wellness for over six years.