More than ever before, the best fitness trackers do their job. Whether it's tracking your continuous heart rate, storing a running or cycling route to keep you on track, or providing information on your sleep patterns, the latest offerings are no longer just basics.

Full of smart tech features, contemporary fitness trackers study all kinds of data in order to provide users with information on how and when to train and recover With long battery lives, water resistance, and light but tough build quality, they can last as long as you need.

Finding the best fitness tracker is not a given. It can be difficult to find the one with so many options. There are many trackers that can read heart rate and track races, as well as others that can give insight based on our statistics. We rounded up this buying guide to the best fitness trackers that fit your budget and needs.

Many are able to link up with music or audiobooks. We have a guide to the best running headphones if you go down this route. Since their advent, fitness trackers have gained popularity but they are often outpaced by more expensive watches. I don't know what the difference is. There are different groups attracted to fitness trackers and watches.

Users can use a fitness tracker to track their race pace and achieve timed goals. Read our article to find out how accurate fitness trackers are. In our guide to the best running watches, we outline the top picks for tracking heart rate, pulse oximetry, sleep, and stress levels, so you can focus on your running form.

Best fitness trackers

Apple Watch Series 7

(Image credit: Lloyd Coombes)

If you have the money to spend, the Apple Watch Series 7 is a good choice. That could make it seem like it's so special.

There is only one watch series that has a committed following that fosters a vibrant app scene. If you like working out from home and want to pay a subscription, you should check out Apple's own fitness+ service.

Video workouts are played on your TV or iPad, with on-screen statistics recorded. The Apple Watch Series 7 has the best heart rate accuracy of any watch on the market.

Apple's baked-in fitness software is well suited to casual fitness fans, while the near-peerless support for third-party platforms means the hardcore exercisers are catered for too. The only downside is the battery life. The Apple Watch Series 7 needs to be charged every day.

This is much more upkeep than a fitness tracker. A watch that does less but lasts longer is what many people prefer.

Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar

(Image credit: Andrew Williams)
  • Related: Best workout equipment for home workouts (opens in new tab) 

If you're looking for the most comprehensive set of built-in exercise features, the best fitness tracker to get is the Garmin Fenix 7, it's the best one. When you add other hardware, these stand out.

The Fenix 7 series can be used to connect to a variety of things. If you want to leave your phone at home, you can download continents' worth of maps to the watch's internal memory.

Some of the most popular music services include Deezer and Spotify. In bright sunlight, the MiP screen becomes clearer, so tracked outdoor sessions won't kill the long- lasting battery.

The presentation of training load and VO2 Max is tailored for the fitness enthusiast and its heart rate and gps accuracy are great.

If you only want to track 5 km runs a couple of times a week, you may be better off with a smaller device. It's not cheap and it isn't light. The bulk isn't ideal for sleep tracking, so if you like the sound of Garmin's style but would prefer something smaller

The watches are not as intimidating as they used to be. A quick glance up from the watch face gives you a neat run-down of all your important daily data. It is well suited for casual all day tracking.

  • Read our Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar review (opens in new tab)

Garmin Epix 2 worn on person's wrist, showing weather on watch face

(Image credit: Andrew Williams)

The Fenix 7 is similar to the Epix 2 in that it swaps the MiP screen for anOLED one, but the Epix 2 has a different look. It's perfect if you want a serious fitness tracker with a sheen.

There are no changes to the core features. The Epix 2 software can be used without a phone. Downloadable maps, the ability to program routes on the watch itself and sync music to its internal storage makes the Epix 2 feel more like a fitness computer than other trackers. The library is limited but you can download additional apps.

Is this worth buying over the Fenix 7? It is better to use indoors if you are acting as a watch or giving instructions to work out. There is a sacrifice for batteries. The watch has a screen for six days. The mode that only lights the display when in use isn't as enjoyable to use as the mode that1-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-6556

It is leagues ahead of the Apple Watch when you get the best deals, and we will not complain about it. The starting price is more expensive than the Fenix 7. It's difficult to justify when cheaper watches have the same displays as more expensive ones. It is a great fitness tracker if you have the money.

Fitbit Sense worn on a wrist with fence in background

(Image credit: Lloyd Coombes)

Thanks to its combination of features and sleek display, the Fitbit Sense is our favorite model from the fitness tracker company. It is frequently discounted to $229.95/$219. While you won't get all the high-end features found on Garmin watches, you do have some other tasty extras. The model will suggest some meditation practices if it senses that you are feeling stressed.

If your heart rate is high or low, the watch will give you an alert if it's a sign of a heart problem. The heart rate monitor was pretty accurate when compared to the Apple Watch Series 7 model.

The Sense has a score that tells you how much you should work out. Did you work out too much and not sleep? It is possible that the tracker will tell you to rest and not work out. The tracker gets used to your patterns.

The overall design of the watch was nice and it feels comfortable to wear during sleep. We were impressed with the six-day battery life and the large screen made it easy to read. The only issue we have with the tracker is that it doesn't allow you to download and listen to music unless you use Deezer or a similar app.

  • Read our full Fitbit Sense review (opens in new tab)

Fitbit Charge 5

(Image credit: Lloyd Coombes)

The Charge 5 is the best device for most people, according to us. You just have to decide if you want the bigger, more expensive Fitbit Sense or the smaller, more affordable Fitbit.

The model is very small. The band is not a timepiece. You don't get the downloads of the apps that are available on Fitbit's Sense. If you want to listen to music while running, you will have to use your phone.

The Charge 5 contains a lot of stuff. It has a full gps system. The Sense watch has an electrocardiogram sensor and the EDA stress sensor. The hardware is completely different from the optical heart rate reader on the back.

It is rare to see a fitness tracker that is so comprehensive in the data it gathers, and it is also rare to see one that tracks sleep. If you want to see the Charge 5 at its full strength, you have to sign up for a premium membership. A 6-month trial is included in the watch's price. There are fitness plans and blood oxygenation readings behind the paywall.

  • Read our Fitbit Charge 5 review (opens in new tab)

Whoop 4.0 band

(Image credit: Future)

Every trend has a price tag of 4.0 dollars. The usual watch-like Buckle is replaced with a woven, elasticated strap, and the step counter which won the likes of FitBit is not included.

Continuous monitoring of an array of health metrics including heart rate, skin temperature and heart rate variability is what you get. strain, sleep and recovery are produced using this data.

The alternative approach we tried had both benefits and drawbacks. We were unable to track or check their pace during running sessions because we lacked a screen or in-built gps. The discreet, screenless design did not show any signs of damage after being hit with a kettlebell or submerged in a pool.

The simplified strain, sleep and recovery scores allowed us to train smarter at a glance, while the well-presented app gave plenty of in-depth data for stat fiends to sink their teeth into.

We were able to improve our recovery score when we followed the sleep coach's recommendations on when to go to bed and how much sleep we needed.

  • Read our Whoop 4.0 review (opens in new tab)

Amazfit GTR 3 review: image shows Amazfit GTR 3

(Image credit: Emma Hall)

There is a fitness tracker that looks like a wristwatch. It has a 1.39-inch screen that's similar to the display of the watch of the same name, which is more expensive.

It has a similar design to the Apple Watch Series 7's. The back of the watch is made of plastic This is just the beginning of what the Amazfit GTR 3 is all about. Amazfit tries to pack in features and higher-end style where you will notice it, and leave out more expensive parts where you won't.

It provides blood oxygenation readings and has an optical heart rate reader. Amazfit has a battery life of up to 21 days if you use the always on screen mode.

The Amazfit GTR 3 does a lot for not a lot of money. Not expecting stellar depth or accuracy is important. The heart rate sensor is not as good at tracking interval workouts as an Apple Watch, and unlike the "pro" version of the GTR 3, you can't load this watch with music for phone-free workouts.

  • Read our Amazfit GTR 3 review (opens in new tab)

Image of Oura fitness tracker ring

(Image credit: Oura)

Some fitness trackers are not worn on your wrist. The Oura is a ring of sorts. There is no outward sign that this is a tracker. Titanium is a tough metal.

You don't do anything with oura like that. There isn't a button. You don't have to worry about the ring doing its job. If you want to wear a normal watch but don't like filling your wrist with gadgets, this may be a good option. For its size, the Oura ring harvests a lot of information.

It can calculate your blood oxygenation level and record your heart rate all day and night. The Oura knows how many steps it takes. Its most impressive feature is passive activity tracking The Oura quietly gathers location information from your phone to provide maps of your routes when you get home.

The Oura approach is all about giving meaningful advice in the phone based on the data the ring gathers. You can avoid high-intensity exercise if your HRV is low, or take some time to relax before bed. You must pay for this. A six-month trial of Oura's software is included in the price of access.

The item is being reviewed at the moment. This guide will be updated as soon as it has been tested.

Image of Withings fitness tracker

(Image credit: Withings)

A class of fitness tracker called the Withings ScanWatch is very much lovable. Activity smarts are built into a classic watch.

The Withings ScanWatch offers much more than a surface level of fitness information. It has a small porthole screen built into the watch face that shows data live instead of requiring you to open the companion app on your phone.

The ScanWatch records your heart rate 24 hours a day and even has an electrocardiogram sensor. It's not likely to see an advanced health feature like this on a classic timepiece for most of the time.

You can use a second dial at the bottom of the screen to see how close you are to your daily goal. Tracks can be started from the watch itself. The Withings Scanwatch can take location data from your phone, even though it doesn't have aGPS.

Much of the substance of a fitness watch can be found in a less techy looking package. It is possible to have a battery life of up to 30 days. It is important to value the design as more traditional runner's watches at a similar price do more. When does the appearance of a Wearable not matter?

The item is being reviewed at the moment. This guide will be updated as soon as it has been tested.

Image of xiaomi fitness tracker

(Image credit: xiaomi)

You don't have to pay for a fitness tracker. TheXiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 is one of the very best and is cheap enough to be considered a pocket money buy.

The amount of money you get here is remarkable. There is a 1.57-inch screen on the Mi Smart Band. It is bright and sharp enough to appear clear outdoors, which is far better than the dim display of the more expensive fitness tracker.

The interface is easy to use. What limitations there are do not detract from the fun of using a Mi Smart Band 6.

There are bad bits. The Mi Smart Band 6 can connect to your phone during runs, even though it doesn't have a gps device. Smart features start and end with phone notifications, and you don't get the guided workouts of a pricier fitness tracker.

It does a great deal for the price, including capturing blood oxygenation readings. The heart rate recording feature is responsive and accurate, even though you don't get the same kind of performance as in an Apple Watch Series 7.

The item is being reviewed at the moment. This guide will be updated as soon as it has been tested.