One of the best health trackers for 2025

Health trackers are a strong possibility should you actually wish to hone in on monitoring, properly, your health. Among the greatest health trackers additionally embrace further sensors to trace issues like stress, sleep and different superior well being metrics. Positive, you would go for the most effective smartwatch, however should you’re not thinking about all the further options they provide, a health tracker is likely to be 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 won’t look as glamorous as an Apple Watch, however they do a selected job properly. We’ve researched and examined a wide selection of the most well-liked health trackers on the market to assist make your resolution somewhat simpler.

Desk of contents

Greatest health trackers and watches for 2025

Fitbit

Tracker: Health, coronary heart price, ECG, SpO2, pores and skin temperature, stress, sleep | Supported OS: Android, iOS | Max battery life: 7 days | Dimension: Small, giant | Water-resistant: Sure

Whereas we’ve not given the Fitbit Charge 6 the complete assessment therapy but, we really feel assured recommending it because the successor to our earlier high choose, the Cost 5. The corporate added a number of new options to the combo right here, specifically a extra correct coronary heart price 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 machine’s interface. The Cost 6 has 20 train modes for monitoring, and because of Fitbit’s guardian firm Google, you may skip via and management YouTube Music playback, supplied you might 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 price, 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. In the event you’re searching for a wearable that may precisely map out runs and bike rides whereas additionally retaining observe of your coronary heart price and different stats throughout every exercise, the Cost 6 is a good possibility for anybody searching for sturdiness and performance in a well being tracker.

Professionals

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

Cons

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

$120 at Adorama

Garmin

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

A extra subtle-looking health band various 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 repeatedly. However its enticing design is barely a part of its enchantment — Garmin is aware of the best way to observe health, and the Vivosmart 5 is proof that you just don’t have to drop lots of on one of many firm’s in-depth health watches to get a succesful machine.

It has plenty of the identical options because the Cost 6, aside from a built-in GPS. It does assist linked GPS, although, so you may map outside runs and bike rides so long as you carry your cellphone with you. The Vivosmart 5 tracks all-day coronary heart rhythm because of its coronary heart price sensor, plus sleep information and exercises, and we’ve all the time appreciated what number of exercise profiles Garmin has to select from, together with workout routines like power coaching. The pedometer operate tracks your steps all through the day, guaranteeing that even gentle actions contribute to your health objectives.

You’ll be able to customise which present up in your machine and alter them everytime you need. You’ll additionally get further well being and wellness info like Garmin’s Physique Battery rating, which tells you the way lengthy after a tough exercise you’ll want to attend till you may prepare at peak efficiency once more, blood oxygen ranges, sleep stage information, ladies’s menstrual cycle monitoring and extra. In the event 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.

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 price | Supported OS: Android, iOS | Max battery life: 16 days | Dimension: 135mm–210mm | Water-resistant: Sure

Engadget examined a few of the cheapest fitness trackers you should purchase, all coming in at below $100. On the high of the listing is the Xiaomi Band 8, which beat the Fitbit Encourage 3 and the Amazfit Band 7, specifically because of its many sport monitoring modes, distinctive “pebble” working mode and free and correct sleep monitoring options. It’s additionally fairly comfy and pretty fashionable with its glossy and nimble design. It additionally has a quick-charge function that makes it simple 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 workout routines 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 enables 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 via the Mi companion app. When the Band 8 is in your wrist, it makes it simple 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 machine was restricted to solely six pre-loaded train shortcuts, the Xiaomi Band 8 had greater than 150 workout routines 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 info lives behind the Fitbit Premium paywall. Xiaomi’s units, however, supplied in-depth sleep reviews with curated recommendation on the best way to enhance your resting hours freed from cost. — Malak Saleh, reporter

Professionals

Comfy
Simple to make use of UI
Detailed exercise reviews
Distinctive “Pebble” mode

$43 at Amazon

Photograph by Daniel Cooper / Engadget

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

All the beforehand talked about health trackers are enticing in their very own manner (bonus factors to people who have interchangeable bands), however they share the same look. There aren’t many different designs for these units anymore. The $70 Withings Move watch is an exception, and one of the vital historically trendy 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 water resistant design. However we actually adore it 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 may 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 objectives too, however there are some areas the place health bands have confirmed to be the most effective 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 further. They usually 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 parts, which retains them smaller and lighter. Health trackers are additionally a greater possibility for many 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 information in a single place.

On the subject of worth level, there’s no competitors. Most worthwhile smartwatches begin at $175 to $200, however you may get a strong sensible band beginning at $70. Sure, costlier bands exist (and we advocate a number of 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 an alternative

In the event 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 most effective purchase for you. There are issues like on-watch apps, alerts and much more sturdy health options that smartwatches have and the most effective health trackers don’t. You should utilize one to manage sensible house home equipment, set timers and reminders, test 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, nevertheless, earlier than buying, as not all of them work with each working methods.

However the further 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 the event you’re somebody who’s critically coaching — say for a race or an endurance problem — a devoted running watch could also be value contemplating. These usually present extra in-depth cardio analytics, restoration insights, and real-time tempo information that transcend what commonplace trackers can ship.

Different health trackers we have examined

Fitbit Encourage 3

The Fitbit Inspire 3 strips out all the posh 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 strong exercise monitoring, computerized exercise detection, smartphone alerts and many extra. The up to date model has a sleeker design and features a coloration contact show and linked GPS, the latter of which helps you to observe tempo and distance whilst you run or bike outdoors 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 change up the appear and feel of your tracker everytime you need, and it’s slim sufficient to mix in with different jewellery you is likely to 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 p.c battery left to go.