Health trackers are a strong possibility in case you actually wish to hone in on monitoring, effectively, your health. A few of the greatest health trackers additionally embody extra sensors to trace issues like stress, sleep and different superior well being metrics. Certain, you would go for the perfect smartwatch, however in case you’re not fascinated about all the additional options they provide, a health tracker could be a greater (and extra reasonably priced) possibility.
Correct exercise and exercise monitoring is what health trackers do greatest; most embody a pedometer to trace your steps all through the day. They may not look as glamorous as an Apple Watch, however they do a selected job effectively. We’ve researched and examined a wide variety of the most well-liked health trackers on the market to assist make your choice a bit of simpler.
Desk of contents
Finest health trackers and watches for 2025
Fitbit
Tracker: Health, coronary heart charge, ECG, SpO2, pores and skin temperature, stress, sleep | Supported OS: Android, iOS | Max battery life: 7 days | Dimension: Small, giant | Waterproof: Sure
Whereas we’ve not given the Fitbit Cost 6 the total assessment remedy but, we really feel assured recommending it because the successor to our earlier prime choose, the Cost 5. The corporate added just a few new options to the combo right here, specifically a extra correct coronary heart charge monitor, the power to pair with train machines by way of Bluetooth and a bodily facet button that can be utilized in tandem with the touchscreen to navigate the system’s interface. The Cost 6 has 20 train modes for monitoring, and due to Fitbit’s father or mother firm Google, you possibly can skip by means of and management YouTube Music playback, supplied you may have a YouTube Music Premium subscription.
In any other case, the Fitbit Cost 6 is similar to the Cost 5 that got here earlier than it. Key to its enchantment is that it is decidedly not a smartwatch. Which means it has a barely decrease profile on the wrist and lasts days on a single cost whereas monitoring exercise and monitoring your coronary heart charge, step rely and sleep. It additionally has a full-color AMOLED show and a comparatively skinny design, which makes it really feel pretty premium when in comparison with different health trackers.
Different perks embody contactless funds with Fitbit Pay and Google Pockets, plus a useful integration with Google Maps that allows you to see turn-by-turn instructions in your wrist. However make no mistake — built-in GPS stays the star of the present right here. In case you’re searching for a wearable that may precisely map out runs and bike rides whereas additionally holding observe of your coronary heart charge and different stats throughout every exercise, the Cost 6 is a superb possibility for anybody searching for sturdiness and performance in a well being tracker.
- Constructed-in GPS
- Extra correct coronary heart charge monitor
- Seven-day battery life
- No integration with Apple Well being
- Some knowledge hidden behind Fitbit Premium paywall
Garmin
Tracker: Health, coronary heart charge, SpO2, stress, sleep | Supported OS: Android, iOS | Max battery life: 7 days | Dimension: 122-188 mm (small/medium), 148-228 mm (giant) | Waterproof: Sure
A extra subtle-looking health band different is the $150 Garmin Vivosmart 5. It’s thinner than the Fitbit Cost 6 and matches in a bit higher with bracelets and different jewellery you would possibly put on frequently. However its engaging design is just a part of its enchantment — Garmin is aware of methods to observe health, and the Vivosmart 5 is proof that you simply don’t have to drop a whole bunch on one of many firm’s in-depth health watches to get a succesful system.
It has plenty of the identical options because the Cost 6, apart from a built-in GPS. It does assist linked GPS, although, so you possibly can map outside runs and bike rides so long as you carry your telephone with you. The Vivosmart 5 tracks all-day coronary heart rhythm due to its coronary heart charge sensor, plus sleep knowledge and exercises, and we’ve all the time appreciated what number of exercise profiles Garmin has to select from, together with workouts like energy coaching. The pedometer perform tracks your steps all through the day, making certain that even mild actions contribute to your health objectives.
You may customise which present up in your system and alter them everytime you need. You’ll additionally get extra well being and wellness data like Garmin’s Physique Battery rating, which tells you the way lengthy after a tough exercise you’ll want to attend till you possibly can prepare at peak efficiency once more, blood oxygen ranges, sleep stage knowledge, ladies’s menstrual cycle monitoring and extra. In case you’re searching for a well-rounded exercise tracker, the Garmin vívosmart 5 has all of it.
The largest disadvantages to health monitoring with the Vivosmart 5 are the aforementioned lack of built-in GPS, plus its barely more durable to make use of cellular app. However on the flip facet, Garmin units can sync with Apple Well being, whereas Fitbit units nonetheless don’t have that function.
- Slim design
- Wonderful exercise monitoring options
- Customizable on-device exercise modes
- Syncs with Apple Well being
- Related GPS solely
- Cumbersome cellular app
Xiaomi
Tracker: Health, coronary heart charge | Supported OS: Android, iOS | Max battery life: 16 days | Dimension: 135mm–210mm | Waterproof: Sure
Engadget examined among the least expensive health trackers you should purchase, all coming in at underneath $100. On the prime of the listing is the Xiaomi Band 8, which beat the Fitbit Encourage 3 and the Amazfit Band 7, specifically as a result of its many sport monitoring modes, distinctive “pebble” working mode and free and correct sleep monitoring options. It’s additionally fairly snug and pretty fashionable with its smooth and nimble design. It additionally has a quick-charge function that makes it straightforward to put on for 10 to 14 days (relying on utilization) earlier than it runs out of juice. Importantly, the watch made it very easy to trace area of interest workouts straight on the watch face with out being too distracting throughout exercises. And like the opposite health trackers on this listing, it really works with each Android and iPhone too.
Pebble mode is a standout function because it permits you to connect the tracker to your shoe utilizing the included working clip accent, and it did a very good job of reporting details about your tempo and cadence immediately on the show upon finishing a run. Extra detailed insights are additionally viewable in your smartphone by means of the Mi companion app. When the Band 8 is in your wrist, it makes it straightforward to arrange exercise objectives associated to time, distance or energy burned per session for actions like deadlifting or skateboarding.
Whereas the Amazfit Band 7 was solely overwhelmed by a hair when it comes to its train monitoring capabilities, the Xiaomi Band 8 had an actual edge when in comparison with the Fitbit Encourage 3. Whereas Fitbit’s system was restricted to solely six pre-loaded train shortcuts, the Xiaomi Band 8 had greater than 150 workouts you would observe immediately on the wearable straight out of the field. The Encourage 3 additionally blocked me from getting extra detailed insights about my sleep and restoration as a result of that data lives behind the Fitbit Premium paywall. Xiaomi’s units, however, supplied in-depth sleep reviews with curated recommendation on methods to enhance your resting hours freed from cost. — Malak Saleh, reporter
- Comfy
- Simple to make use of UI
- Detailed exercise reviews
- Distinctive “Pebble” mode
Photograph by Daniel Cooper / Engadget
Tracker: Health, sleep | Supported OS: Android, iOS | Max battery life: 18 months | Dimension: N/A | Waterproof: Sure
All the beforehand talked about health trackers are engaging in their very own method (bonus factors to those who have interchangeable bands), however they share an identical look. There aren’t many different designs for these units anymore. The $70 Withings Transfer watch is an exception, and one of the vital historically modern health trackers you may get. It’s an analog watch face with a few well being monitoring options together with step, calorie, distance and sleep monitoring, linked GPS, auto-recognition for greater than 30 exercises and a waterproof design. However we actually find it irresistible for its lengthy battery life: it’ll last as long as 18 months earlier than the coin cell wants a substitute. Though this implies there’s no charger to juice the battery again up, you possibly can choose up a substitute coin cell comparatively cheaply.
- Enticing analog design
- All-day exercise and sleep monitoring
- Months lengthy battery life
What do health trackers do greatest?
The reply appears easy: Health trackers are greatest at monitoring train, be it a 10-minute stroll across the block or that half marathon you’ve been diligently coaching for. Clearly, smartwatches may also help you attain your health objectives too, however there are some areas the place health bands have confirmed to be the perfect purchase: focus, design, higher battery life, sturdiness and value.
After I say “focus,” I’m alluding to the truth that health trackers are made to trace exercise effectively; the rest is additional. They typically don’t have the bells and whistles that smartwatches do, which may distract from their superior well being monitoring skills. In addition they are inclined to have fewer sensors and inside parts, which retains them smaller and lighter. Health trackers are additionally a greater possibility for individuals who simply desire a much less conspicuous gadget on their wrists all day.
Battery life tends to be higher on health trackers, too. Whereas most smartwatches final one to 2 days on a single cost, health bands supply between 5 and 7 days of battery life — and that’s with all-day and all-night use even with sleep monitoring options enabled. Many health trackers additionally slot properly into your present ecosystem, syncing seamlessly together with your smartphone, different health apps and cloud storage to maintain all of your knowledge in a single place.
On the subject of value level, there’s no competitors. Most worthwhile smartwatches begin at $175 to $200, however you may get a strong good band beginning at $70. Sure, costlier bands exist (and we advocate just a few right here), however you’ll discover extra choices underneath $150 within the health tracker house than within the smartwatch house.
When to get a smartwatch as a substitute
In case you want a bit extra out of your wearable and don’t wish to be restricted to a health or exercise tracker, a smartwatch could also be the perfect purchase for you. There are issues like on-watch apps, alerts and much more sturdy health options that smartwatches have and the perfect health trackers don’t. You need to use one to manage good dwelling home equipment, set timers and reminders, examine climate reviews and extra. Some smartwatches allow you to select which apps you wish to obtain alerts from, and the choices transcend simply name and textual content notifications. Simply ensure your smartwatch is suitable together with your Android or iPhone, nonetheless, earlier than buying, as not all of them work with each working programs.
However the additional health options are arguably an important factor to consider when deciding between a health tracker and a smartwatch. The latter units are typically bigger, giving them more room for issues like GPS, barometers, onboard music storage and extra. Whereas yow will discover built-in GPS on choose health trackers, it’s not widespread.
In case you’re somebody who’s significantly coaching — say for a race or an endurance problem — a devoted working watch could also be value contemplating. These typically present extra in-depth cardio analytics, restoration insights, and real-time tempo knowledge that transcend what customary trackers can ship.
Different health trackers we have examined
Fitbit Encourage 3
The Fitbit Encourage 3 strips out all the luxurious options from the Cost 6 and retains solely the important monitoring options. You gained’t get built-in GPS monitoring or Fitbit Pay or Spotify management however you do get strong exercise monitoring, automated exercise detection, smartphone alerts and lots extra. The up to date model has a sleeker design and features a colour contact show and linked GPS, the latter of which helps you to observe tempo and distance when you run or bike outdoors when you have your telephone with you. When in comparison with the Cost 6, the Encourage 3 is extra modern, too. Its interchangeable bands allow you to change up the feel and appear of your tracker everytime you need, and it’s slim sufficient to mix in with different jewellery you could be sporting. We have been additionally impressed by its multi-day battery life: Fitbit guarantees as much as 10 days on a single cost, and that checked out for us. After 4 days of round the clock use, the Encourage 3 nonetheless had 66 % battery left to go.
Health tracker FAQs
How lengthy do health tracker batteries final?
The battery lifetime of health trackers can range relying on the mannequin and its options. On common, most health trackers final between 5 to seven days on a single cost. Primary fashions with restricted options may stretch as much as 10 days or extra. Nevertheless, extra superior trackers with options like steady coronary heart charge monitoring, GPS, or always-on shows might have recharging after one to a few days. In case you’re utilizing GPS or streaming music by means of your health tracker, you will discover that this drains the battery quicker. Through the use of these options much less, or turning them off, you will lengthen battery life.
