The market is crowded with a boatload of fitness trackers all of which claim to the ‘the best’. It’s easy to get confused when trying to decide which fitness tracker would suit your requirements the best. Not all fitness trackers are created for flawless performance and to add to the confusion, most smartwatches these days can easily qualify for being fitness trackers as well.
If you’re looking to get yourself the best fitness tracker in the market, then we’ve made it super easy by carefully evaluating and selecting the best fitness trackers available in various price ranges.
So let’s check out the best fitness trackers currently available in their respective price ranges.
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Best fitness tracker: $500+
There aren’t many great options if you choose to buy a fitness tracker above the $500 price range; however, amongst the few devices that do come with the premium price tag, here’s the best of them all:
Garmin fēnix 5X Plus
What makes it the best?: The Garmin fēnix 5X Plus has almost no competition within its price range and what you get for the price is just mind-boggling. The tracker is packed to the brim with almost every feature you could want on a fitness tracker.
Features: The device comes with almost all features one could ask for such as; Pedometer, Sleep Tracker, Calories tracking, Gym activity tracking, VO2 Max.
Apart from the tracking features we’ve mentioned above, the Garmin fēnix 5X Plus comes with a continuous heart rate tracker as well which makes it super easy to keep an eye on your heart rate. The device also comes with Garmin Pay contactless payment solution which is pretty cool and allows you to make payments via the device itself.
Coming back to fitness, the device also comes with a Pulse Ox Acclimation sensor which enables you to measure your blood oxygen saturation levels. Although it shouldn’t be used as a medical instrument and is only there to provide an ‘estimate‘. The battery life is pretty great as well offering 13 hours of use while in GPS mode or while listening to music. You can even get an impressive 20 days battery backup if you use the tracker in smartwatch mode which is simply amazing.
The Garmin fēnix 5X Plus works on both Android as well as iOS and is also one of the most durable trackers with sapphire lens plus stainless steel or diamond-like carbon (DLC) titanium bezel, and rear case. This would ensure that the device would last a really long time. Hence you wouldn’t have to bother about shelling out a couple of hundred dollars every year for buying another fitness tracker.
Buy: Garmin fēnix 5X Plus (Amazon)
Best alternative: Suunto 9 Baro
The Suunto 9 is a beast of a fitness tracker and has a variety of features to offer. The device has various battery modes which are really helpful and also allows the battery to last a ridiculously long time with around 120 hours of continuous tracking. Now that’s just wicked!
For protection, the device comes with sapphire glass and is water-resistant up to 100 meters underwater which is great. You also get the GPS to track your running path and the device supports tracking for over 80 different sports and multisport activities. More importantly, the device when paired up to the Suunto app logs all your activities, and keeps you up to date on your activity, sleep, and overall fitness trends.
The device is packed with features and we’re sure you won’t miss out any possible feature if you choose to buy this fitness tracker at the given price.
Honorable mention: Garmin Descent Mk1
Now here’s a fitness tracker on steroids and it’s worth mentioning that this isn’t for an average person since the device is mainly geared towards divers and supports single-gas, multi-gas, gauge and apnea diving, including nitrox and trimix for divers to plan their dive perfectly. More importantly, the device also offers the exact same features you’d get with the Garmin Fenix 5X hence it can also be used as a regular multisport fitness tracker.
In the off chance that you love diving as well as fitness, then the Garmin Descent Mk1 would be your perfect wearable companion. The Dive log lets you store and review data from up to 200 dives. As we mentioned earlier, this isn’t for everyone; however, it’s worth the price if you’re a diver who’s looking for a great fitness tracker.
Buy: Garmin Descent Mk1 (Amazon)
Best fitness tracker: $300 – $500
The $300 – $500 price range is full of absolutely amazing fitness trackers. However, most of them are similar and don’t offer much to differentiate themselves from the various other fitness trackers. That’s why to save time we’ve picked only the best fitness tracker within the $300 – $500 segment.
Apple Watch Series 4
What makes it the best?: This might be expected for some but it is always good to emphasise that Apple watch is the best smartwatch available in the market and is far ahead of the game right now. Not only is it the best smartwatch, but it also can replace any traditional fitness tracker given the heap of activity tracking features that comes with it.
Features: Fall monitor, Workout tracking, Step counter, Pace, GPS tracking (GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS), Electrical heart sensor (ECG App).
The Apple Watch Series 4 comes with a significant improvement over the previous Series 3 watch. The watch has one of the best displays on a smartwatch/fitness tracker and is one of the most well-designed smartwatches you could lay your hands on. The device also has the best display and has many exciting features including the ability to answer and make calls from the watch itself.
Apple has also included an electrocardiogram (ECG) app with the watch series 4 which makes it the only certified ECG alternative wearable in the market. This just goes to show how far ahead Apple is from the rest of the competition. The only caveat here is that the Apple watch only work with the following devices; Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) requires an iPhone 6 or later with iOS 12 or later. Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS) requires an iPhone 5s or later with iOS 12 or later.
If you’ve got any of the newly released iPhone, then the Apple Watch Series 4 is the best fitness tracker for you that falls within the price range of $300 – $500. Users can even stream music via Apple Music on the watch and if you decide to pick up the Wi-Fi + Cellular model of the watch, then you won’t even need to be around a Wi-Fi hotspot to be connected to the internet.
Each and every aspect of the Apple Watch Series 4 has been carefully designed and taken into account including the Re-engineered Digital Crown which now comes with haptic feedback. The watch is waterproof up to 50 meters and also comes with Siri support for voice commands.
Lastly, you could also install a bunch of third-party applications on the device to further extend the possibilities of the watch.
Buy: Apple Watch Series 4 (Amazon)
Best alternative: Garmin Forerunner 935
If you aren’t willing to invest in the Apple ecosystem, then the Garmin Forerunner 935 is the best fitness tracker you could get within the price range of $300 – $500. Since it works with both iOS as well as Android devices. The device comes with almost every feature you could expect from a fitness tracker and everything works great as you could expect it too.
With this device, you would also get alerts for notifications that arrive on your smartphone. The device also enables you to track multiple sports and activities and evaluates your training status to indicate if you’re undertraining or overdoing it. There isn’t much you’d be missing if you picked the Garmin Forerunner 935 over the Apple Watch Series 4 which is why it is the best alternative to the offering from Apple.
Honorable mention: Suunto Spartan Sport
The Suunto Spartan Sport is a great fitness tracker and is one of the best rugged yet stylish fitness trackers you can find. This smart device gives you real-time lap tables with pace and heart rate while running and the device also allows you to track swimming information such as speed and distance and automatic intervals in the pool.
With it, you can also monitor your heart rate all day long and can track around 80 different sports which is great for those who lead an active lifestyle. The display is fairly good and is easily visible outdoors. The usage of sapphire glass is brilliant since this would prevent the watch face from being scratched or getting damaged while your intense workouts.
Buy: Suunto Spartan Sport
Best fitness tracker: $100 – $300
Within the $100 to $300 price bracket, you would find some of the best fitness trackers that can compete with some fitness trackers that come with a hefty price tag. Fitness trackers in this price range offer all the necessary features you would need. Given the number of great fitness trackers in this price category, it is a tough call to choose the best but the decision had to be made so here’s the best fitness tracker within the $100 to $300 price range.
Fitbit Charge 3
What makes it the best?: The Fitbit Charge 3 is the perfect fitness tracker for its price since it offers all the basics of a fitness tracker and also comes with a stylish and minimal design. Even though the device’s footprint is fairly smaller than most other fitness trackers, the battery life is quite impressive and can last up to 7 days.
Features: Heart rate monitor, Step counter, Calorie tracking, Sleep tracking, and a few more.
The Fitbit Charge 3 is an impressive device and can track about 15 different activities. The long-lasting battery is a bonus which saves you the trouble of charging the device every two to three days. The band is designed with the wearer’s comfort in mind as it simply wraps around the wrist and the light weight of this device is an added bonus.
Like most other fitness tracking devices from Fitbit, the device’s band is replaceable as well and you could pick from a whole bunch of other watch bands as per your preference. The device comes with a grayscale touchscreen which is quite responsive and the SmartTrack feature automatically detects workouts without you having to fumble around with the device.
The only thing that’s missing from the device is GPS although one can still do without it if you don’t track your running route often. The absence of GPS does give the device a slight battery advantage as well since turning on GPS drains a considerable amount of battery on fitness trackers.
Nevertheless, the Fitbit Charge 3 is best for those who want a basic fitness tracker that does the job right without any additional bells and whistles.
Best alternative: Samsung Galaxy Watch
The Samsung Galaxy Watch is hands down the best smartwatch of Android devices and is currently available for a little under $300 which is why it can be seen as an alternative to the Fitbit Charge 3. Especially if you don’t mind the slightly higher price tag. The Samsung Galaxy Watch has a lot to offer including guided meditation and breathing exercises as well as sleep cycle tracking.
The Galaxy Watch is powered by Samsung’s very own Tizen wearable platform rather than Google’s Wear OS. You could customize the device and add custom watch faces to match your style. The device also supports Samsung Pay which is super convenient in case you don’t feel like carrying your bulky wallet around.
You could also track a whole bunch of different activities with the Galaxy Watch making it a perfect option for those who want a basic fitness tracker but don’t want to compromise on style and design. The Galaxy Watch also has one of the best displays which is pretty obvious since the company does have the best displays on their smartphones as well.
Buy: Samsung Galaxy Watch
Honorable mention: Fitbit Surge
The Fitbit Surge is another great fitness tracker from the company and is definitely worth checking out. The Fitbit Surge offers everything you’d get with the Fitbit Charge 3 and also comes with GPS Tracking as well making it perfect for those who want to track their running trails.
What’s even better is the fact that you could also control songs from your mobile playlist which is great as you don’t have to pull out your smartphone every time to skip a track or play a different song while on your run or during a workout. Needless to say, the device is also water-resistant although you wouldn’t be able to track your swimming via the Fitbit Surge.
Buy: Fitbit Surge
Best Fitness Tracker: Under $100
There are many fitness trackers under $100 bucks which makes it quite difficult to pick the best of the bunch since almost all devices under this price range offer similar features and most devices do not have much to differentiate themselves over the competition.
Nevertheless, we’ve managed to pick the absolute best budget fitness tracker from more than a dozen options. So here’s the best budget fitness tracker for you.
Garmin vívosmart 4
What makes it the best?: The Garmin vívosmart 4 offers some amazing features for its price and even comes with the Pulse Ox sensor found on high-end fitness trackers from the company. You also get all day heart rate tracking as well as stress tracking to keep a check on your overall health. You can also swap out the band when needed and the device automatically tracks workouts and runs.
Features: Pulse Ox sensor, Sleep tracking, VO2 max, Notification alerts, Music control, Step tracking.
Garmin is a company known for developing some of the best fitness trackers and the Garmin vívosmart 4 is a great example to support the claim. The device comes with all the features one could expect from a fitness tracker and also is waterproof and most importantly can track your swims in the pool as well unlike most other offerings within the price range.
The Garmin vívosmart 4 sits comfortably on your wrist and is super lightweight and isn’t a distraction while working out or when you’re on your run. The device can also use the heart rate sensor along with a VO2 max estimate to give you an idea of your current fitness levels which is pretty cool and motivates you further to boost your fitness levels which is perfect for those who find it hard to drag themselves out of comfort to workout or go for runs.
You can also check the weather and control the music on your smartphone via the device itself and even view text messages when paired with your Android device. What’s even better is the fact that you can respond to text messages with a set of few preset responses within the Garmin vívosmart 4. The device also comes with a battery that can last up to 7 days on a single charge.
If you aren’t willing to splurge on an expensive fitness tracker, then the Garmin vívosmart 4 would be the best option for you given that you could pick up a brand new Garmin vívosmart 4 for just $99 which is a pretty sweet deal considering the fact that you’re getting almost all the features you’d get with fitness trackers that come in at double the price.
Buy: Garmin vívosmart 4
Best alternative: Fitbit Alta HR
The Fitbit Alta HR is the closest rival to the Garmin vívosmart 4 which is why it’s worth checking out in case you aren’t willing to purchase the Garmin vívosmart 4. The device offers all the basics you could expect from a fitness tracker and although the design is subjective, we think the Fitbit Alta HR is slightly more attractive than the vívosmart 4.
You could track your heart rate and even track your sleeping pattern along with the regular workout tracking which is great. Using the device alongside the Fitbit Health application would let you track and view all your fitness stats to make sure you’re hitting your fitness goals.
The device is great for casual fitness tracking and if you’re looking out for a basic fitness tracker, then you can’t go wrong with the Fitbit Alta HR.
Buy: Fitbit Alta HR
Honorable mention: Xiaomi Mi Band 3
Xiaomi is known for offering cool gadgets and smartphones at fairly low prices and the Mi Band 3 by Xiaomi is no exception. The Mi Band 3 comes with a hypoallergenic silicone band which is swappable as well. The device can also alert you for incoming calls on your smartphone and even allows you to reject a call using the Mi Band 3 itself.
The OLED display is a welcomed addition which makes it one of the only fitness trackers in the price to come with an OLED display. More importantly the Mi Band 3 is also waterproof up to 50 meters although the device cannot track your swims in the pool. Nevertheless, the features that do come with the device work fairly well and you’d probably not face any issues while using the Mi Band 3.
This is the perfect fitness tracker for those who just want a basic fitness tracker that can track steps, sleep, and even measure the heart rate.
Buy: Xiaomi Mi Band 3
Best fitness trackers feature wise
The best battery life
1. Withings Activité Pop: The Withings Activité Pop can last for an insane 8 months with a single button cell battery. Simply replace the battery at the end of its lifecycle and you’d be stress free for the next 8 months as well. The device also looks exactly like any other traditional watch, making it a great choice for those who don’t want to bother charging their fitness tracker every now and then.
2. Fitbit Zip: The Fitbit Zip is a cool activity tracker that can sit in your pocket and track your steps as well as calories burnt all day for up to 6 months. The device also comes with a single button cell battery which can easily be replaced when needed.
The best looking
1. Apple Watch Series 4: Apple is known for its premium hardware and the Apple Watch Series 4 seems premium. The device is the best looking fitness tracker/smartwatch you can get in the market and comes with an almost bezel-less screen that no other smartwatch has.
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch: Samsung is one of the only few companies that can compete with Apple in terms of hardware and design which is why the Galaxy Watch is also one of the best looking fitness trackers/smartwatches that allows you to easily customize the watch face as per your preference.
The best rugged
1. Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire: The Garmin Fenix 5X has a robust build with a stainless-steel bezel as well as sapphire glass which makes it one of the most durable fitness trackers available in the market. Not only is the device durable, but it also has a host of fitness tracking features which is why we recommend the device if you’re looking for a rugged fitness tracker.
2. Suunto Traverse Alpha: Much like the Garmin Fenix 5X the Suunto is designed for being used outdoors and is a solid device with a stainless-steel housing along with sapphire glass to prevent the glass from being scratched.
Best multisport fitness tracker
1. Garmin Fenix 5 Plus series: Without a doubt, the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus series of devices are the best multisport fitness trackers available. No matter which fitness tracker you pick from the company’s Fenix 5 Plus series, you wouldn’t be let down by the number of activities or sports you could track via the devices.
2. Garmin Forerunner 935: Here’s another fitness tracker from Garmin which offers the best multisport experience as compared to the other fitness trackers regardless of the price. Running, cycling, swimming and many more sports can easily be tracked via the Garmin Forerunner 935.
