I’ve tested all of the best fitness trackers of 2026: These are my top picks

In our testing, the fitness and sleep tracking on the Amazfit Band 7 proved just as reliable as the pricier competition. Better yet, battery life is fantastic, lasting on average a whopping 20 days per charge during the review period. Fitness trackers and smartwatches are enjoying huge success at the moment.

Garmin Vívoactive 6

It also includes features like school mode, where distractions are muted to help the child focus on their education. Trackers can work even better when you can evaluate your data on an accompanying app or sync data to a third-party app like Strava. Amazfit devices like the Helio Strap and Active 2 deliver solid tracking without asking for your credit card again. If you value long-term savings, a subscription-free device might be the smarter investment.

What are the main wearing styles for activity trackers?

Some fitness trackers, as we’ve just mentioned, are designed to track basic activity, like steps taken or calories burned, while others focus on more advanced features like heart rate monitoring or GPS tracking. Understanding your fitness goals and how your activity tracker can help you reach them can make all the difference. I’ve been professionally testing and reviewing wearables for years, dating back to before Samsung teamed up with Google for the Wear OS we know and love and before Apple launched its first-generation, massive Ultra. I’ve reviewed dozens of smartwatches, fitness trackers, dedicated heart rate monitors, smart rings, sleep trackers, exercise equipment, and health and fitness apps and platforms.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review

I preferred the Galaxy Watch 7 over the Ultra for casual fitness tracking and wearability, and that’s still true with the Watch 8, but the improvements over the previous generation aren’t significant. Its battery is barely bigger, and its brighter screen (up to 3,000 nits vs. 2,000) didn’t make much of a difference even in direct sunlight. One of the few technical details Apple didn’t improve was battery life — the SE 3 still lasts around 18 hours per charge.

Whoop charges from $199 per year, and the Oura Ring costs $5.99 per month after a free trial. A device you actually enjoy checking each morning will do more for your health than the most advanced one collecting dust in a drawer. The market serves every price point, and some of the best value exists in the $50 to $150 range. Heart rate monitoring tends to be the most reliable, with research showing accuracy around 76% across major brands.

Display

Some people may like the option of viewing an in-built screen on the fitness tracker while they are exercising. Others may wish to focus only on the exercise and study the data on the smartphone post the workout. Older kids might want to look for a tracker with a little more oomph, as the Ace 3 offers a cut-down range of fitness and notification features compared to Fitbit’s ‘adult’ trackers.

• Given that Fitbits are practically synonymous with fitness trackers at large, they’re almost always the first option considered when buying a wearable, but there are a few things to bear in mind.
• The HUAWEI Watch Ultimate 2 is a luxury adventure watch that genuinely feels like a high-end dive piece.
• It will help you to remember to take it off before showering and prevent breaking it as well as getting you into the routine of charging it regularly.
• Like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch/Active, you’ll have access to smartwatches that bring mobile functionality to your wrist while tracking fitness.
• It’s also said to have a better-than-average GPS, so your data won’t be as affected when running in urban areas where there are a lot of tall buildings.
• For athletes and fitness enthusiasts, blood oxygen sensing is a must-have feature.

How we test fitness trackers

Grace DeSimone, national director of group fitness, Plus One Health Management Inc., New York. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards.

Apple Watch Series 11: The best fitness tracker for iPhone users

«There’s traditional pedometers, there’s now watches, there’s rings you can wear. Even phone apps that all track your steps, your elevation, how many stairs you take,» Dr. Dixon said. «They really help you to stay on target and provide motivation for living an active lifestyle.» As someone who grew up as a three-sport athlete, I found fitness trackers to be a mandatory part of my life. These picks come from my personal experience, as well as ZDNET’s extensive web of testing and reviews. Most, if not all, products ZDNET recommends are expert-tested for long periods of time to ensure good quality.

Decoding the Data: What a Fitness Tracker Actually Tells You

It monitors steps, workouts, sleep stages, stress levels, respiration, and menstrual health, giving you a clear picture of both activity and recovery. I’ve found Fitbit’s sleep tracking to be especially strong, with easy-to-understand trends that show how rest affects your energy and workouts the next day. The WHOOP One costs $199 USD and is designed for general fitness enthusiasts, offering essential metrics like sleep tracking, strain recovery, and also acts as a heart rate variability monitor. It provides valuable insights into recovery and workout intensity, making it ideal for those looking to optimize their fitness without being overwhelmed by complex data. Fitness trackers have become fitness apps for weight loss a must-have accessory that makes health monitoring an everyday convenience.

Best Heart Rate Monitor

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or someone just starting on their fitness journey, there’s a fitness tracker out there to suit your needs. By considering your goals and lifestyle, you can choose the perfect fitness tracker to support your path to better health. We love helping all our clients at EW Motion Therapy stay healthy and active by creating custom treatment plans to fit their goals.

The harder you exercise and the more you move throughout the day, the more calories you burn. Here is an overview of the best fitness trackers to see how the Fitbit Charge 6 stacks up against the other picks on my list. The rugged wearable can also be used underwater and even has a night mode with different colors to choose from. If you are looking for a longer-lasting fitness tracker, make sure to check out the Amazfit T-Rex. One of the only downsides is the smaller display, which makes some actions slightly tedious on the touchscreen.

What are the benefits of using an activity tracker?

For example, budget-friendly fitness tracker like the Xiaomi Mi Band or Runmefit S5, priced around $49, offer basic but essential metric tracking with affordable price tag. The most popular feature for fitness tracker in 2025 will be long-lasting battery life. A high-performance battery ensures continuous monitoring without frequent charging.