The most effective health trackers for 2025

Health trackers are a stable possibility in the event you actually need to hone in on monitoring, properly, your health. Among the greatest health trackers additionally embrace extra sensors to trace issues like stress, sleep and different superior well being metrics. Certain, you can go for one of the best smartwatch, however in the event you’re not concerned with the entire additional options they provide, a health tracker is perhaps a greater (and extra inexpensive) possibility.

Correct exercise and exercise monitoring is what health trackers do greatest; most embrace 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 properly. We’ve researched and examined a wide variety of the most well-liked health trackers on the market to assist make your resolution a little bit simpler.

Desk of contents

Finest health trackers and watches for 2025

Fitbit

Tracker: Health, coronary heart fee, ECG, SpO2, pores and skin temperature, stress, sleep | Supported OS: Android, iOS | Max battery life: 7 days | Measurement: Small, massive | Water-proof: Sure

Whereas we have not given the Fitbit Charge 6 the total evaluation 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 combination right here, specifically a extra correct coronary heart fee monitor, the power to pair with train machines by way of Bluetooth and a bodily aspect button that can be utilized in tandem with the touchscreen to navigate the gadget’s interface. The Cost 6 has 20 train modes for monitoring, and due to Fitbit’s dad or mum firm Google, you possibly can skip by way of and management YouTube Music playback, supplied you could have a YouTube Music Premium subscription.

In any other case, the Fitbit Charge 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 fee, step depend 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 embrace contactless funds with Fitbit Pay and Google Pockets, plus a helpful integration with Google Maps that permits 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. If you happen to’re in search of a wearable that may precisely map out runs and bike rides whereas additionally retaining monitor of your coronary heart fee and different stats throughout every exercise, the Cost 6 is a superb possibility for anybody in search of sturdiness and performance in a well being tracker.

Professionals

Constructed-in GPS
Extra correct coronary heart fee monitor
Seven-day battery life

Cons

No integration with Apple Well being
Some knowledge hidden behind Fitbit Premium paywall

$120 at Adorama

Garmin

Tracker: Health, coronary heart fee, SpO2, stress, sleep | Supported OS: Android, iOS | Max battery life: 7 days | Measurement: 122-188 mm (small/medium), 148-228 mm (massive) | Water-proof: Sure

A extra subtle-looking health band different is the $150 Garmin Vivosmart 5. It’s thinner than the Fitbit Cost 6 and suits in a bit higher with bracelets and different jewellery you would possibly put on commonly. However its enticing design is simply a part of its enchantment — Garmin is aware of monitor health, and the Vivosmart 5 is proof that you simply don’t must drop lots of on one of many firm’s in-depth health watches to get a succesful gadget.

It has numerous 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 convey your cellphone with you. The Vivosmart 5 tracks all-day coronary heart rhythm due to its coronary heart fee 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 gentle actions contribute to your health targets.

You may customise which present up in your gadget 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, girls’s menstrual cycle monitoring and extra. If you happen to’re in search of 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 tougher to make use of cellular app. However on the flip aspect, Garmin gadgets can sync with Apple Well being, whereas Fitbit gadgets nonetheless don’t have that characteristic.

Professionals

Slim design
Wonderful exercise monitoring options
Customizable on-device exercise modes
Syncs with Apple Well being

Cons

Linked GPS solely
Cumbersome cellular app

$150 at Adorama

Xiaomi

Tracker: Health, coronary heart fee | Supported OS: Android, iOS | Max battery life: 16 days | Measurement: 135mm–210mm | Water-proof: Sure

Engadget examined a few of the cheapest fitness trackers you should buy, all coming in at below $100. On the prime of the listing is the Xiaomi Band 8, which beat the Fitbit Encourage 3 and the Amazfit Band 7, specifically attributable to its many sport monitoring modes, distinctive “pebble” operating mode and free and correct sleep monitoring options. It’s additionally fairly comfy and pretty trendy with its smooth and nimble design. It additionally has a quick-charge characteristic 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 characteristic because it helps you to connect the tracker to your shoe utilizing the included operating clip accent, and it did a superb 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 way of the Mi companion app. When the Band 8 is in your wrist, it makes it straightforward to arrange exercise targets associated to time, distance or energy burned per session for actions like deadlifting or skateboarding.

Whereas the Amazfit Band 7 was solely crushed 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 gadget was restricted to solely six pre-loaded train shortcuts, the Xiaomi Band 8 had greater than 150 workouts you can monitor 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 gadgets, alternatively, supplied in-depth sleep experiences with curated recommendation on enhance your resting hours freed from cost. — Malak Saleh, reporter

Professionals

Snug
Simple to make use of UI
Detailed exercise experiences
Distinctive “Pebble” mode

$43 at Amazon

Photograph by Daniel Cooper / Engadget

Tracker: Health, sleep | Supported OS: Android, iOS | Max battery life: 18 months | Measurement: N/A | Water-proof: Sure

All the beforehand talked about health trackers are enticing in their very own means (bonus factors to people who have interchangeable bands), however they share an analogous look. There aren’t many different designs for these gadgets anymore. The $70 Withings Move watch is an exception, and probably the most historically trendy health trackers you will 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 alternative. Though this implies there’s no charger to juice the battery again up, you possibly can choose up a alternative coin cell comparatively cheaply.

Professionals

Engaging analog design
All-day exercise and sleep monitoring
Months lengthy battery life

$70 at Withings

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 can assist you attain your health targets too, however there are some areas the place health bands have confirmed to be one of the best purchase: focus, design, higher battery life, sturdiness and worth.

Once I say “focus,” I’m alluding to the truth that health trackers are made to trace exercise properly; 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 inner elements, which retains them smaller and lighter. Health trackers are additionally a greater possibility for individuals who simply need 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 provide 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 current ecosystem, syncing seamlessly along with your smartphone, different health apps and cloud storage to maintain all of your knowledge in a single place.

With regards to worth level, there’s no competitors. Most worthwhile smartwatches begin at $175 to $200, however you will get a stable good band beginning at $70. Sure, costlier bands exist (and we advocate just a few right here), however you’ll discover extra choices below $150 within the health tracker house than within the smartwatch house.

When to get a smartwatch as a substitute

If you happen to want a bit extra out of your wearable and don’t need to be restricted to a health or exercise tracker, a smartwatch could also be one of the best purchase for you. There are issues like on-watch apps, alerts and much more sturdy health options that smartwatches have and one of the best health trackers don’t. You should utilize one to regulate good residence home equipment, set timers and reminders, examine climate experiences and extra. Some smartwatches allow you to select which apps you need to obtain alerts from, and the choices transcend simply name and textual content notifications. Simply be certain your smartwatch is appropriate along with your Android or iPhone, nevertheless, earlier than buying, as not all of them work with each working methods.

However the additional health options are arguably a very powerful factor to consider when deciding between a health tracker and a smartwatch. The latter gadgets are usually bigger, giving them more room for issues like GPS, barometers, onboard music storage and extra. Whereas you could find built-in GPS on choose health trackers, it’s not widespread.

If you happen to’re somebody who’s severely coaching — say for a race or an endurance problem — a devoted running watch could also be price contemplating. These typically present extra in-depth cardio analytics, restoration insights, and real-time tempo knowledge that transcend what normal trackers can ship.

Different health trackers we have examined

Fitbit Encourage 3

The Fitbit Inspire 3 strips out all the luxurious options from the Cost 6 and retains solely the important monitoring options. You received’t get built-in GPS monitoring or Fitbit Pay or Spotify management however you do get stable exercise monitoring, computerized exercise detection, smartphone alerts and lots extra. The up to date model has a sleeker design and features a shade contact show and linked GPS, the latter of which helps you to monitor tempo and distance whilst you run or bike exterior whilst you have your cellphone with you. When in comparison with the Cost 6, the Encourage 3 is extra trendy, too. Its interchangeable bands allow you to swap up the feel and appear of your tracker everytime you need, and it’s slim sufficient to mix in with different jewellery you is perhaps sporting. We had 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 fluctuate 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 fee monitoring, GPS, or always-on shows may have recharging after one to a few days. If you happen to’re utilizing GPS or streaming music by way of your health tracker, you may discover that this drains the battery sooner. Through the use of these options much less, or turning them off, you may prolong battery life.

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