The best 10 fitness trackers in comparison

Health and activity tracking features have become standard on smartphones and smartwatches. You might be asking yourself what the differences between fitness trackers and smartwatches are or whether you even need a wearable device. After all, there are thousands of health and fitness apps available for your phone.

To help you decide whether you should invest in a fitness tracker, as well as what you should take into account when buying one, we've compiled this helpful guide.

Should you buy a fitness tracker or a smartwatch?

Fitness trackers, also called activity trackers, are packed with sensors and have advanced health and tracking features, such as heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen level monitoring, and sleep tracking. Smartwatches, on the other hand, are usually paired with a smartphone and emphasize communication features, such as accepting or rejecting calls, answering messages directly from your wrist, or even making calls.

While smartwatches nowadays have all the essential functions of activity trackers (counting steps, measuring the distance traveled, measuring heart rate), accurately monitoring specific sports activities such as swimming and cycling requires a fitness tracker. Even though a few high-end smartwatches are also capable of tracking such activities, the design of a dedicated fitness wearable is better suited for sports.

Because all smartwatches are equipped with screens, this makes them heavier and bulkier compared to fitness trackers. Fitness trackers typically have a lightweight, sleek body, with or without a screen, and can be worn differently.

To sum up, a dedicated fitness tracker is a better option if you work out regularly and you want to track a wide range of activities. If you are a casual athlete who goes out jogging every few days, a smartwatch is more than enough. If you are the smartwatch type, you can check out our guide to smartwatches.

What features should you look for in a fitness tracker?

If you are still reading, it's time to talk about the features you should consider when choosing a fitness tracker. Choosing a fitness tracker depends on your individual needs and lifestyle.

There are plenty of options, from low-end activity trackers with a price tag of less than $50 to high-end wearables that cost well over $200. The less expensive models usually don't have a display, so you have to rely on your smartphone to see your activity reports.

In contrast, more costly trackers have a screen and typically include an optical heart rate monitor and GPS. The wearables with built-in displays usually come in the form of bracelets, but other types of designs are available.

Types of fitness trackers

Depending on your workout routine, you can choose between bracelets, watches, or clip-on activity trackers.

Bracelet or wristband fitness trackers are designed to be worn on the wrist and are usually very thin and light, as they have a small display or, in some cases, only LEDs for notifications.

Watch-style fitness trackers are significantly larger and can be very stylish. Having a larger screen, these activity trackers make activity reports easily accessible.

Clip-on fitness trackers are very discreet due to their small form factor. You can attach them to your clothes or running shoes if you prefer to keep your wrists free. They have a design that allows you to wear them on any occasion, attached to your clothes, or using accessories such as necklaces and bracelets.

Design

Wearable devices often double as fashion accessories. As they are meant to be worn throughout the day, fitness trackers have to be stylish and comfortable, and durable. Leaving aside your aesthetic preferences, you should look at the display, band type, and water resistance properties.

Display

Clip-on trackers usually lack screens, so you have to use your smartphone to check your activity stats, which can be inconvenient if you want to have a quick look while running or cycling. However, many wristband fitness trackers have touch screens. The average screen size is 1.06 inches in 2021.

Bands

Wristband devices may accommodate more sensors, even microphones, and speakers, making them thicker and heavier, giving the impression of bulkiness. You might have a hard time matching your activity tracker with your outfit, unlike in the case of clip-on wearables. However, some trackers come with replaceable bands, giving you the possibility to adjust your tracker's style. If you consider your tracker's aesthetic is just as important as its functionality, make sure to choose one of the wearables with detachable bands.

Water-resistant vs. waterproof fitness trackers

Most fitness trackers are weather-sealed, meaning that they are resistant to sweat, water splashes, and raindrops due to their water-repellant coating. However, this doesn't mean you can keep them on while showering. For this, you would need a water-resistant device that can withstand immersion into water.

Top fitness trackers are fully waterproof (impermeable), which means they can withstand being submerged into water entirely. Waterproof wearables are ideal for swimming. Manufacturers usually specify the maximum depth at which you can wear your tracker without risking damaging it and for how long. These waterproof ratings are known as IP ratings.

Battery

Is there anything worse than running out of battery during your workout? To make sure this doesn't happen, you'll need a device with reasonably long battery life. The battery capacity determines how long your wearable can last on one charge. Additional factors, such as the display size, GPS, and ambient temperature, also significantly impact battery life.

Fitness trackers typically consume more power with the GPS enabled, so it's a good idea to turn it off when your activities don't require GPS tracking. The display is also one component that requires a significant amount of power, especially if it's large and has a high resolution. Consider lowering your screen's brightness if you want to squeeze more hours from your device.

Health & fitness monitoring

Heart rate monitoring

Heart rate monitors are nowadays a standard feature on wearables. They measure the number of heartbeats (contractions of the heart) per minute. It is a crucial indicator of the intensity of your physical effort. Monitoring your heart rate can help you adjust your training and make sure you exercise safely. There are two types of heart rate monitors - optical and electrical - about which you can read in detail here.

Some high-end wearables feature ECG (EKG) sensors that measure the heart's electrical activity and trace the waveforms of heartbeats, generating electrocardiograms. With the help of these sensors, irregularities in the heart's rhythm can be easily detected. If this is an important feature for you, we suggest checking out our top list of the best smartwatches with ECG.

Activity tracking

All fitness trackers use accelerometers, also called inertial sensors, to detect movement and acceleration. This way, the wearables can count steps, measure the distance traveled, and send inactivity alerts. Inactivity alerts are beneficial for people with sedentary occupations. If the device doesn't detect movement for a long time, it vibrates gently to remind you that you need to make a few steps or stretch a bit.

With additional sensors, a wearable can track more activities with higher accuracy. A barometric altimeter measures the barometric pressure to detect changes in altitude. This type of sensor is frequently used in wearables to count the number of stairs climbed and hiking activities. In combination with a GPS and a compass, it enables you to track your routes and pace. Furthermore, a compass is very helpful for long hikes, as it can point you in the right direction in case you get off your trail.

Tracking a wide range of activities and exercises is vital for measuring the number of calories burned. If you are focused on weight loss, you can adapt your fitness routine and include exercises that help you reach your goal, such as cycling and running.

Cycling, running, and swimming require additional sensors for accurate tracking. For cycling, a cadence sensor helps measure the energy output in the form of rotations per minute (RPM). Fast pedaling develops your quadriceps and hamstrings, thus helping you build endurance.

For running, it's essential to track your pace and heart rate. High-end activity trackers feature a VO2 max sensor that measures the amount of oxygen you take in during your workout. Measured in milliliters of oxygen consumed per kilogram of body weight in one minute (mL/kg/min), it can give you valuable insights into your oxygen consumption during workouts. Low oxygen levels cause fatigue, so monitoring this metric and adjusting your workout accordingly can help you increase your endurance. It goes without saying that tracking swimming requires a waterproof fitness tracker with an IP rating of at least 67.

Wearables usually come with a pre-installed health and fitness app developed by the manufacturer. Through the companion app and online portal, you have access to your activity reports and performance stats, as well as recommendations for improving your workouts. However, you can also install third-party apps. On Versus, you can also compare health and fitness apps.

Sleep monitoring

Fitness trackers are meant for sports enthusiasts and for any person who wants to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In addition to a pleiad of activity tracking features, wearables also offer health tracking features. Besides cardiac health, discussed above, fitness trackers also measure the duration and quality of your sleep.

You can see how much time you spend in each sleep phase (light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep), and set up a smart alarm that wakes you up when it detects that you are in the light phase of your sleep. You can find out how sleep tracking works in our description of this feature.

Using fitness trackers and smartwatches to keep track of your physical activity has many benefits for your health and wellness. The popularity of wearable devices has been steadily increasing, and the product offering is rapidly growing. If you are still wondering which wearable device is right for you, you can consult our guides for smartwatches, and sports watches to discover alternatives to fitness trackers.