The best fitness trackers do far more than count steps. Today's wearables can help you understand how well you've slept, whether you're recovered enough to train, how your heart is performing and even when it's time to take a rest day. Better still, you don't need to spend flagship smartwatch money to benefit from those insights.
The category has evolved dramatically over the last few years, too. Alongside familiar fitness bands, you'll now find lightweight GPS watches, discreet smart rings and even screen-free trackers that quietly collect health data without constantly demanding your attention. Choosing the right one is less about finding the device with the longest feature list and more about finding the one that fits your lifestyle.
Our team has spent more than a decade testing fitness trackers, smartwatches and wearable technology from Garmin, Apple, Fitbit, Samsung, Amazfit and many more. We judge every device on tracking accuracy, battery life, comfort, software, training tools and overall value, wearing each one for weeks before deciding whether it deserves a place in this guide.
Whether you're aiming for your first 5K, keeping an eye on your heart health, improving your sleep or simply looking to move more, these are the best fitness trackers we've tested.
August 2026: We're currently testing the new Garmin Cirqa, Garmin's first screen-free fitness tracker, to see whether it earns a place in this guide.
The best fitness trackers of 2026
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The fitness tracker overall
Garmin's Vivoactive 6 sits in a sweet spot within the company's lineup. It offers many of the training and health features you'll find on Garmin's more expensive watches, but in a slimmer, lighter package that's easier to live with every day and considerably kinder to your wallet.
On test, we found it comfortable enough to wear around the clock, whether we were heading out for a run, tracking sleep or simply wearing it day to day. Better still, we rarely had to think about charging it, with the battery comfortably lasting beyond a week.
Garmin Connect is one of the best companion apps we've tested, presenting health and training data in a way that's easy to understand. The Vivoactive 6 also includes Garmin's more advanced tools, including PacePro, which helps you stick to a target pace during runs, alongside route navigation, automatic workout detection and a smart wake alarm that aims to wake you during lighter stages of sleep.
There are compromises. The Vivoactive 6 uses Garmin's previous-generation heart rate sensor, only comes in one size and misses out on dual-band GPS. It's still a dependable tracker for everyday exercise, but serious runners and endurance athletes may want one of Garmin's more advanced models instead. We've rounded up our favourites in our guide to the best Garmin watches.
Read our full Garmin Vivoactive 6 review
The best budget fitness tracker
The Samsung Galaxy Fit3 is a very aggressively-priced fitness tracker with a big screen, lots of battery and generally good fitness tracking features. It's a good buy if you're looking for a fitness tracking solution on a budget for gyms, fitness classes and light running.
For a very reasonable price, you get a 1.6-inch 256 x 402px AMOLED display. There's no GPS, but you do get up to 13 days on a single charge. It's fast, accurate and our cheap wearable of choice for 2026.
It's a by-the-numbers fitness tracker, and while the lack of GPS might be a turn-off for some, there are plenty of fitness modes to track a range of different workouts, and it interfaces with the same excellent Samsung Health ecosystem as the Samsung Galaxy Ring below.
It might not be the all-singing, all-dancing experience of the Apple Watch SE 3, but you won't find more bang for your buck anywhere else.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 review
The best fitness tracker for iPhone users
If you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch SE 3 is the fitness tracker we'd recommend. It offers the same fast performance and seamless integration with watchOS 26 as Apple's pricier watches, but at a much more approachable price. While it lacks some of the advanced health features found on the Series 11 and Ultra 3, it still delivers everything most people need to stay active and connected.
Unlike most of the entries on this list, it's a true smartwatch rather than a dedicated fitness tracker. That means it pairs seamlessly with your iPhone to deliver calls, messages, Apple Pay and thousands of apps, alongside comprehensive health and fitness tracking.
It's not cheap compared to some of the fitness bands on this list, but it's a powerful fitness tool with a smorgasbord of excellent third-party apps, such as AllTrails and SmartGym. Its native Workout app is particularly strong for running and cycling, while Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhones unlock even more contextual insights. It can also help identify signs of health conditions such as sleep apnea and hypertension.
In our Apple Watch SE 3 review we wrote "it matches the Series 11 and Ultra 3 in speed and smoothness, offers solid battery life, and feels like a compact yet uncompromised Apple Watch".
Read our full Apple Watch SE 3 review
The best smart ring
The Oura Ring 5 is the smallest and lightest Oura Ring yet, shrinking the design by 40% without sacrificing the detailed sleep and recovery tracking that made its predecessor so popular. Comfortable enough to forget you're wearing, it looks more like a piece of jewellery than a fitness tracker while quietly collecting health data around the clock.
During testing, our reviewer found it easy to wear day and night, with the battery lasting around a week between charges. Sleep tracking remains the highlight, with more than 50 health and wellness metrics feeding into Oura's Sleep and Readiness Scores, while heart rate readings closely matched those from a Polar H10 chest strap during testing, one of the most accurate heart rate monitors we've tested.
It's one of the most expensive smart rings you can buy, and an Oura membership is required to unlock many of its best features. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Ring, however, you don't need to buy into a particular phone ecosystem to get the best from it. Whether you're an Android or iPhone user, the experience is just as polished.
Read our full Oura Ring 5 review
The best fitness tracker for wellness
The Google Fitbit Air feels like a return to Fitbit’s roots: a simple, screenless fitness tracker focused on health, sleep and everyday activity rather than trying to double as a smartwatch. It’s an excellent choice if you want a discreet, comfortable tracker for general wellness, gym sessions and sleep monitoring without the distractions of a screen.
For a relatively low price, you get a lightweight 12g design that’s comfortable enough to wear around the clock, paired with heart-rate and sleep tracking that held up impressively well against the Apple Watch Ultra 3 during our fitness editor Matt Evans’ testing. Battery life is also great, lasting more than a week on a single charge, with fast charging when you do need to top it up.
Like many Fitbit devices, the experience is closely tied to the app, and this is where things get more mixed. The redesigned Google Health app can feel cluttered and confusing to navigate. However, the optional AI Health Coach is actually pretty useful if you’re happy to lean into chatbot-style guidance for workouts, recovery and food logging.
There’s no built-in GPS, which means runners are better served elsewhere, and some of the more advanced features sit behind a subscription. Still, if your focus is sleep, recovery and everyday health tracking, the Fitbit Air is an easy recommendation.
Read our full Google Fitbit Air review
5. The best screenless fitness tracker
Not every fitness tracker needs a screen. In fact, one of the biggest trends in wearables right now is moving in the opposite direction. The Amazfit Helio Strap quietly tracks your workouts, recovery and sleep without ever lighting up your wrist, and after testing it, we're convinced it's one of the best examples of the category.
During testing, we found it delivered reliable heart rate tracking, with readings closely matching both a Garmin watch and a chest strap. It also offers detailed recovery insights, comprehensive fitness metrics and up to 10 days of battery life, all for just $99.99 / £99.00 / AU$179.
While the Whoop MG remains the better-known option, its high price and ongoing subscription make it difficult to recommend. The Helio Strap delivers a remarkably similar experience for a fraction of the cost.
Read our full Amazfit Helio Strap review
Best fitness trackers: Specs comparison table
Component |
Apple Watch SE 3 |
Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 |
Google Fitbit Air |
Oura Ring 5 |
Amazfit Helio Strap |
Garmin Vivoactive 6 |
Price |
From $249 / £219 / AU$399 |
$59 / £49 / AU$139 |
$99.99 / £84.99 / AU$199 |
$399 / £399 / AU$649 (each) for two base finishes OR $499 / £499 / AU$799 (each) for four premium styles |
$99.99 / £99.00 / $179.00AU |
$299.99 / £279.99 / AU$549 |
Dimensions |
40 x 34 x 10.7mm (40mm), 44 x 38 x 10.7mm (44mm) |
42.9 x 28.8 x 9.9 (mm) |
34.9 x 17.0 x 8.3 (mm) |
Ring sizes 4–15 |
33.97 x 24.3 x 10.59 (mm) |
42.2 X 42.2 X 10.9 (mm) |
Display |
Always-On Retina LTPO display |
1.6-inch 256 x 402px AMOLED display |
None |
None |
None |
1.2-inch AMOLED, 390 × 390 px |
GPS? |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
None |
Yes |
Yes (built-in multi-GNSS) |
Battery life |
18 hours, fast charging |
13 days |
7 days |
Up to 9 days |
10 days |
11 days |
How to choose the best fitness tracker
When choosing a fitness tracker, start by thinking about how you exercise. If you're mainly interested in tracking daily activity, sleep and general wellness (such as recovery, stress, heart health and overall activity levels), a simple fitness band or screenless tracker may be all you need. However, if you run, cycle or spend a lot of time training outdoors, it's worth looking for a device with built-in GPS so it can accurately track your routes and pace without relying on your phone.
Next, consider how much data you actually want. Some trackers focus on simple metrics like steps, heart rate and sleep, while others provide detailed training analysis, recovery insights and personalised coaching. More information isn't always better, so think about whether you'll use those extra metrics before paying for them.
Comfort matters too. A fitness tracker proves the most useful when you wear it consistently, so it's worth considering how it will fit into your everyday life. If you already wear a traditional watch, a smart ring such as the Samsung Galaxy Ring or a screenless tracker like the Google Fitbit Air or Amazfit Helio Strap can be a good alternative, offering health and activity tracking without adding another watch-sized device to your wrist.
Finally, think about the display. Devices with bright AMOLED screens are generally easier to read at a glance and outdoors in bright sunlight, while simpler fitness bands often prioritise battery life over display quality. If you plan to check your stats regularly throughout the day, a larger, sharper screen may be worth the extra cost.
What is a fitness tracker?
A fitness tracker is a device, typically a wristband, that monitors statistics such as your heart rate, the number of steps you take each day, and how long you spend working out. You might think of Fitbit bands as the quintessential tracker, but Apple Watches and other devices, such as smart rings, are fitness trackers too.
Most fitness trackers have several dedicated modes for recording different forms of exercise, and some also have GPS for tracking your location during runs, walks and bike rides. Most fitness trackers also monitor how long you spend sleeping, and in each sleep stage.
All this data is sent to an app on your smartphone, where you can track changes over time. Most apps give you virtual 'awards' for achieving particular goals, such as taking 10,000 steps per day or going to bed on time.
Why do you need a fitness tracker?
It can be tough to break old habits and develop new ones, and a fitness tracker can help give you the encouragement you need. Tracking the number of steps you take each day and aiming for a particular target might be simple, but it can push you to make simple changes (like getting off the bus a stop earlier, or walking short distances rather than driving), which can add up to make a significant difference over time.
Which fitness trackers are most accurate?
Most modern fitness trackers do an excellent job in tracking heart rate, stress and sleep accurately. Fitness trackers have optical heart rate sensors that can keep up with quick changes in heart rate.
Some have GPS to better track running, walking and cycling workouts outdoors. This is generally an estimation, but if you run, walk or cycle frequently and want to closely track those workouts, it's best to choose a tracker with GPS as it can monitor your routes, distance travelled, and speed.
Check our full reviews for more information: we test fitness trackers against each other and industry gold standards, such as the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or Polar H10 heart rate monitor, to determine whether there are significant differences in GPS and heart rate readings.
What makes a good fitness tracker?
A good fitness tracker is one that you'll wear every day and will help you build up a complete picture of your health. With that knowledge, you can start to make small tweaks that will help you sleep better, lower your resting heart rate, improve your fitness, and generally feel better.
How we test the best fitness trackers
Battery
During testing we extensively study the battery life of all these devices. Simply wearing them for a few days isn't enough, so we always make sure to run them down completely to get a true feel for how long battery lasts in a given fitness tracker. Obviously your mileage may vary, but we always use them the way most regular people would to give a fair assessment.
Health tracking and accuracy
All of our reviewers have extensive experience with fitness and health tracking tech, so we know what to look for when it comes to calorie tracking, heart rates, and sleep. We even test these devices alongside existing tech to look for disparity and erratic results.
Workouts
Obviously, we undertake extensive fitness tracking to test the best fitness trackers, conducting a variety of workouts including running and cycling. All of our reviewers engage in a variety of different sports, together they bring years of experience and a huge variety of disciplines to the table.
