The 13 Best Fitness Trackers and Watches for Everyone
Like every piece of gear you wear on your body day in and day out, fitness trackers are incredibly personal. Not only do they have to be comfortable and attractive, but they must also accommodate your lifestyle, as well as when and how you like to work out. Do you bike, row, or do strength training? Do you run on trails for hours at a time, or do you just want a reminder to get up every hour?
No matter what your needs, there's never been a better time to find a powerful, sophisticated tool that can help you optimize your workouts or jump-start your routine. We've tested dozens over the past four years to bring you these picks. While you're at it, don't forget to check out our guides to the best smartwatches and best running gear.
Updated December 2021: We updated our picks with this year's new releases and updated pricing and availability.
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- Photograph: Fitbit
Best All-Around
Fitbit Charge 5Even as Fitbit has faced stiff competition from other manufacturers—most notably, the Apple Watch—its trackers have always won me over. They hit a very specific sweet spot between attractiveness, affordability, accessibility, and ease of use. They're perfect for everyone who isn't an ultramarathoner or a semi-pro powerlifter trying to hit a PR.
The Charge line has consistently reached the top of our rankings, and the Charge 5 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is no exception. This year's iteration has softer lines, a bright AMOLED screen, and almost every sensor you could want, from stress scans to ECGs. Like the Apple Watch does with iPhones, the Charge 5 fast-pairs to Android phones and has both onboard and connected GPS so you can track outdoor workouts without a hitch. You do still have to pay $10 per month for a Fitbit Premium subscription to access the new Daily Readiness feature and personalized sleep and stress insights, but the hardware is still less expensive, and the subscription cheaper, than others on this list.
- Photograph: Garmin
Also a Great Pick
Garmin Venu Sq and Sq Music EditionFor several years, one version or another of Fitbit's Versa line has occupied this spot. But now that Garmin has its own entry-level, square-shaped tracker, the Venu Sq (8/10, WIRED Recommends) edges out Fitbit's latest Versa and Sense wearables. It has the Fitbit's accessible price that we like, but with Garmin's accurate and granular fitness data added.
The Venu Sq comes in a variety of attractive colors, with a bright and responsive LCD touchscreen that has an always-on option. And while many of its competitors have been offering blood-oxygen monitoring and sleep tracking only as premium features, Garmin has includes those features in its more basic trackers and doesn't require you to subscribe to its paid software service to unlock the features. You also don't need to pay a subscription fee to access Garmin's advanced metrics through Garmin Connect.
- Photograph: Letsfit
Best Budget Tracker
Letsfit Fitness TrackerLetsfit's smartwatch is a knockoff of the Fitbit Versa, right down to the typeface used on the watch face, but the differences are obvious to anyone who has used (and loved) a real Versa. The latch is made from cheap plastic, the tracked metrics on the watch face are rudimentary, and the VeryFitPro app is unattractive and not a joy to consult.
However, the tracker is waterproof and the pedometer is reasonably accurate. The battery lasts about one week between charges, and the band is soft and comfortable. If you want an even cheaper, simpler tracker, I like the comfortable, waterproof Xiaomi Mi Band ($49), which also has a long-lasting battery. If you're willing to spend a little more, look for older Garmin or Fitbit models that came out a year or two ago. Those regularly go on sale for well under $100.
- Photograph: Apple
Best If You Have an iPhone
Apple Watch Series 7Each year's Apple Watch update can feel iterative. But if you want a fitness tracker and you own an iPhone, you can't do better than the latest version. The Series 7 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is more waterproof and dust-proof than ever before, and this year's upgrades included improved algorithms for cycling, such as better fall detection and the ability to differentiate between ebiking and regular biking.
When you get an Apple Watch, you also get access to all of Apple's features, like integration with Fitness+, Apple's workout streaming subscription; Apple's addictive activity rings game that will have you closing circles by marching around your kitchen at night; integration with Apple Maps to guide you while running or biking; and the full suite of comprehensive sensors that can track your sleep or measure your blood oxygen. However, unlike almost any other tracker here, you have to charge it daily—an annoying inconvenience if the only time you have to work out is at 6:30 am before you get your kids ready for school.
- Photograph: Coros
Best Running Watch
Coros Pace 2For years, I saw no evidence that could convince me any running watch would ever be better than a Garmin. That was until I tried the Coros Pace 2 (8/10, WIRED Recommends), which has now become my favorite running watch. It's unbelievably light, and the battery lasts for weeks between charges, which is a feature you won't find in any other watch on this list. It also integrates with Strava for mapping your runs and rides, and it uses the same multi-system satellite positioning system as Garmin to trace your route.
On the minus side, it has a basic LCD screen, and EvoLab—Coros' analytics platform, meant to compete with Garmin's Connect—is still in its early stages. Accuracy can be iffy; a few of my outdoor runs were improperly tracked. But Coros also offers a ton of small, useful features, like a locking screen and simple two-button operation, at a very accessible price.
- Photograph: ŌURA
Best Ring
Oura Ring Gen3I had complaints about Oura's Gen3 ring—namely, that the company was strongly encouraging its customers to commit and upgrade to the Gen3 and a new $6-per-month subscription long before any of the newest features were even available. However, in a sea of identical square and round watches, there really isn't any other tracker like the Oura. It's extremely small and attractive, and this year's new onboard sensors are just as accurate as they were before.
New features will appear gradually from now through 2022. With the membership, you can access guided meditations, personalized insights, and educational content; without it, you will only be able to access your three basic Oura scores, which are your Daily Readiness, Sleep, and Activity scores (what you saw last year, basically). I especially recommend it for women who want to track their menstrual cycles, since it's sensitive enough to pick up the half-degree temperature drop right before my period starts. However, if you want a fitness tracker that you can wear at all times, read on.
- Photograph: WHOOP
The Most Wearable
Whoop 4.0The biggest problem with any fitness wearable, of any kind, is how often they get in the way of … working on your fitness. You can't wear the Oura ring while rock-climbing, for example. That's why the cult fitness tracker Whoop introduced a line of smart clothes this year. Right now, I'm wearing the tracker tucked into the Any-Wear bralette. I can't even feel it! Now I can track my runs with my Garmin!
Whoop is best suited for athletes who can independently interpret its somewhat arcane metrics. Daily strain only measures the cardiovascular load, so a day where I walked 3 miles to and fro is a harder day than when I lifted weights for an hour. The Whoop 4.0 is also smaller than last year's, with a new battery, but I did experience charging issues with the new battery. You have to keep the app running at all times, lest it warn you (constantly) that it can't update right this second. At $30, the monthly subscription is the most expensive one here, and the line of proprietary clothing does not have extended sizing. Even with all those caveats, it's the only wearable I've ever forgotten I'm wearing.
- Photograph: Garmin
Best Outdoors Watch
Garmin Fenix 6S ProIt's been a few years since it came out, but Garmin's Fenix 6S Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is still the best outdoor multisport watch I've had the pleasure of using. In addition to Garmin's impressive satellite navigation systems and tons of different sport modes, it also has a plethora of new power management features to extend the battery life if you're away from a charger for a while. (Unlike the bigger 6X Pro Solar, it doesn't have solar charging capabilities.) It also includes Garmin's emergency alert and incident detection system, which can send for help if you suffer a fall or slam into the pavement.
However, that price tag is intimidating. Earlier iterations like the Fenix 5S ($500) are still great watches with many of the same features, but you'll need the Plus version ($750) for newer features like automatic incident detection when doing outdoor activities, or the Solar version ($700) for solar charging.
- Photograph: Withings
Best Analog Watch Dupe
Withings ScanWatchThe Withings ScanWatch is unique for several reasons. Many other trackers, such as the Series 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch4, offer the ability to detect atrial fibrillation and measure blood oxygen levels through the SpO2 sensor. However, Withings obtained clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration before selling it in the United States. While most of the trackers on the list can go several days without charging, the ScanWatch can go up to 30. You can access all the features on the Health Mate app without a subscription.
Finally, while most fitness trackers look like fitness trackers, the ScanWatch looks like a normal analog watch. This is the best everyday fitness tracker for anyone who doesn't want to broadcast to the world that they count how many hours they sleep each night. Simon Hill gives it the highest Gadget Lab praise possible—even after nine months, he's still wearing it.
- Photograph: Garmin
Most Attractive Watch
Garmin LilyGarmin has a whole line of fashion watches, but they've always been wonky compared to their sporty counterparts. For example, the screen of this fashionable wearable didn't reliably turn on when I angled my wrist toward my face, and the touchscreen wouldn't reliably respond to my finger when I wanted to start an activity. However, the sport version of the Garmin Lily is undeniably gorgeous. The 34-mm case is small but still large enough to see incoming notifications and track activities with a swipe and a tap.
Sadly, the estimated battery life of five days shortens considerably with overnight pulse-ox sleep tracking. If you're not altitude-training or concerned that you might be sick (obligatory warning that this is not a medical device), you should probably turn that feature off.
★ Alternative: Earlier this year, Fitbit released the Luxe. I tested it, and it's a great daily step tracker with a beautiful AMOLED display, comfortable accessories, and Fitbit's easy app. However, I found the bezel and touchscreen to be a little wonky when tracking activities with sweaty fingertips.
- Photograph: Samsung
Best for Android Owners
Samsung Galaxy Watch4The most exciting development in the fitness wearable world is Wear OS 3, the operating system Google is codeveloping with Samsung and Fitbit. Reviews editor Julian Chokkattu got some hands-on time with the Galaxy Watch4, which is the first wearable to use it. Unlike previous iterations, you can use more apps, like Google Maps for directions.
We recommend the cheaper Watch4 over the Watch4 Classic. The Watch4's fitness and health measurements, including SpO2, heart rate, and ECG, all matched competitors like the Apple Watch, and the wearable does a great job of auto-detecting workouts. Unfortunately, this only works on Android phones, and ECG tracking is limited to Samsung phones (so is blood pressure monitoring, but that's not available in the US yet anyway). We're mostly excited for what's to come. This epic consolidation of smartwatch operating systems means more developers may soon start building good apps for Google's platform, which has historically been lacking in that area.
- Photograph: Amazon
Best for Feelings
Amazon HaloAmazon has a history of throwing janky ideas at the wall and seeing what will stick. At first glance, a fitness band that asks you to strip down to your knickers to evaluate your body fat percentage seems like one of the company's worst. I also found the Halo's weekly activity points metric to be useless (I can accumulate that many points in a day), and I missed having a watch and activity tracker easily accessible on my wrist.
However, as invasive as it sounds, the voice-tone tracker, which monitors your spoken interactions to detect changes in your emotional or psychological state, affected real change in my relationship with my spouse. According to family therapist Terry Real, any real-time biofeedback that helps you keep track of when you're starting to lose your cool can be helpful. If you find yourself becoming more irritable (or reactive, as Real might say) in this second year of quarantine, a tone-tracker just might help. We will also be getting this year's Halo View ($80) shortly, and I am looking forward to a full review then.
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- Photograph: Garmin
My Favorite Tracker
Garmin Instinct SolarEveryone enjoys different activities, so it's hard to recommend a fitness tracker that will work for ever user. But on the chance that anyone likes the exact same things I do—casual backcountry camping, paddling, and trail running where you need GPS but not fully detailed maps—the Garmin Instinct Solar (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is my favorite sports watch. This year's update includes a pulse oximeter to track your blood-oxygen levels while sleeping, the Garmin-specific Body Battery metric to tell you how pumped up you are for the day, and of course solar charging with a watch lens made of electron-absorbing Power Glass.
Solar charging doesn't extend the battery life as much as you'd think, but it's a useful supplement, especially if you spend long periods outside. If you're in the market for a hardy, GPS-enabled backcountry watch that charges surreptitiously while you're paddling a canoe or chasing after your kids, the Instinct Solar is your best pick.
Photograph: GarminHonorable Mentions
Other Trackers We LikeWe liked some other watches that didn't quite make it into our top picks.
- The Garmin Forerunner 35 for $99: Before and besides Coros, Garmin makes the best running watches, and they're easy to find on sale. This is the company's low-end model, but they only get lighter, smaller, and more feature-rich as you run up the product line.
- The Polar Ignite for $230: I like the Ignite's low profile and extremely granular data collection, which lets you check how factors like heart-rate variability, breathing rate, and heart rate all combine to ramp up your autonomic nervous system.
- The Timex Ironman GPS R300 for $83: This is one of the simplest and most affordable GPS-enabled watches. It also lets you tinker with the distance measurement after your run, in case the GPS messed up your mileage a little bit.
- The Suunto Peak 9 for $569: We recommended the Suunto 9 Baro for bikepacking, and the Peak 9 includes all of the features in a much more compact, attractive package. It's too sensitive to be a great everyday tracker (it tells me I've hit 400 steps before I even get out of bed) but it's a great adventure watch.
- The Wahoo Fitness Elemnt Rival for $330: The functions on this watch were pretty perfunctory; there are much more capable trackers for this price. However, it integrates with Wahoo's smart indoor trainer system, which is excellent.
Photograph: ZeppBuyer Beware
I Did Not Like These TrackersI test new fitness trackers all the time. Some of them are duds.
- The Zepp-E Circle for $250: Props to Zepp (formerly Huami) for design—its Circle and Square are convincing dupes for Apple products. However, the watches are uncomfortable to wear, and the Zepp app with its proprietary fitness metric of PAI (Personalized Activity Intelligence) was confusing.
- The Amazfit PowerBuds Pro for $120: The concept of earbuds that are also fitness trackers is intriguing, and these look and feel a lot like the AirPods Pro. However, they also connect to the terrible Zepp app. Their utility is also limited, since you don't wear earbuds constantly (at least, I don't).
- The Casio G-Shock Move Pro for $699: This watch is preposterously big. Moreover, its software is buggy. However, every time I talk about a new fitness tracker I'm testing, someone inevitably says, “Well, I've had my G-Shock for years.” If you're a fan of this cult watch, congratulations! There's now a smart version.
- The Matrix PowerWatch 2 for $500: Recharging from solar energy and body heat works! I wore this watch for more than three weeks without having to recharge it. However, it's huge and clunky. During my testing, the heart-rate monitor was inaccurate, and it was hard to change the display. The app was also beset by technical problems, and I constantly had to reinstall the app and reconnect the watch.
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