Become a TechRadar Insider
The best cheap running watches take a lot of the features found in the best fitness trackers but package them up into something more affordable. They let you accurately track runs, plan runs, and improve your performance. Even though they might not include all the bells and whistles found in the best smartwatches they're still a great option for most runners.
The dedicated sensors, gyroscopes, and software inside running watches provide information about your runs, including speed, stride, and health metrics. Alternatively, if you're looking for a more all-purpose budget solution to exercise tracking, then you'll want one of the best cheap fitness trackers.
We updated this guide on 28 April 2026, replacing the Coros Pace 3 with the Coros Pace 4 as our best overall pick. We’re also currently testing the Amazfit Active 3 to see if it earns a place in this guide.
Matt is TechRadar's fitness, wellbeing and wearables editor, which means he’s an expert on all things fitness tech, and how it can be used to support your training and performance. He’s personally tested many of the watches below.
The best cheap running watches for 2026
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The best cheap running watch overall
The Coros Pace 4 is a lightweight running watch that uses dual-band GPS for more accurate tracking and delivers excellent battery life in a simple, performance-focused package. It’s aimed at runners who care more about accurate tracking and long battery life than smartwatch extras, and it does that job very well for the price.
In testing, it connected with GPS very quickly, even in tricky environments like around lots of tall buildings, and delivered consistent distance and pace data during runs. At just 32g, it’s genuinely easy to forget you’re wearing it, and that small weight makes it especially comfortable for long sessions and 24/7 use.
Compared with cheaper Amazfit models (like the Amazfit Active 2 below), the Pace 4 is the more serious training tool, particularly when it comes to GPS reliability and longer battery life. Against Garmin’s mid-range watches, it holds its own on core running features, but Garmin still has the advantage when it comes to smartwatch-style extras like music, payments, and offline maps.
The Pace 4 now takes the top spot as our best overall pick, replacing the older Coros Pace 3. The Pace 3 is still a really great value buy and is now often discounted since the newer model launched, but the Pace 4 is the more refined, all-round option and the better fit for most runners.
Read our full Coros Pace 4 review
The best budget option
The Amazfit Active 2 takes TechRadar's award for the best budget running watch thanks to its smart design, thoughtful training features and (crucially) shockingly low price. It's a powerhouse activity watch costing $99 in the US and £99 in the UK.
Two buttons for power, triggering workouts and navigation are complemented by a touchscreen, with a stainless steel bezel rounding things off for a premium look.
GPS is accurate to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 – a watch costing over seven times as much – and during our tests, was just 1 BPM out in terms of heart rate accuracy. That's a terrific achievement. It even manages to squeeze in full-color maps on-wrist, which you normally get in premium Garmin watches. How Amazfit has done this is a mystery, but it certainly helps with navigation during complex routes.
Our reviewer gave it 5/5 stars for sheer value alone: if you're looking for bang for your buck, the Amazfit Active 2 is tough to beat. A premium version contains a leather strap and NFC technology, which you can use for Wallet-style payments.
Read our full Amazfit Active 2 review
The best Garmin
In our guide to the best running watches, Garmin occupies half of the top 10, a clear indication Garmin makes great running watches, and the Forerunner 165 is no exception. The only difference is that it’s a bit more affordable ($249.99/£249.99/AU$489.99) than most of its Garmin compatriots.
When testing it, I found the watch was a really solid middle-ground option, cutting the cost slightly while keeping many of the premium features that make the Forerunner series a force to be reckoned with. The AMOLED touchscreen, Nap Detection, and course creation via the Garmin Connect app, for example, as well as in-depth training metrics.
The cost cuts had to come from somewhere, and with the Forerunner 165 it’s evident in small sacrifices such as using chemically strengthened glass for the screen rather than the Forerunner 265’s stronger Gorilla Glass, and plastic for the case instead of the heavier, harder polymers used in other Garmin watches. The battery is good, not great, and the wearable has less storage (4 GB) than pricier rivals.
I found the Body Battery feature was a solid way to monitor my recovery and readiness to tackle various exercise sessions, although it didn’t provide the same levels of insight as Garmin’s useful (and absent) Training Readiness and Hill and Endurance scores.
However, I still think what is on offer for a reasonable RRP still represents a very appealing package for runners. Garmin’s fantastic training and planning features recommend workouts to help you optimize your exercise time, the real-time running data covers everything most runners will need, and the AMOLED screen makes this a potential Coros-topper for the right customer.
Read our full Garmin Forerunner 165 review
The best Apple Watch
This wouldn’t be a roundup of the best wearables without an Apple Watch, and the SE 3 slips into the list with its low starting price hiding a lot of power. As the cheapest watch in Apple’s current lineup (by quite some way) it's got the same chipset as all the other modern Apple Watches (yes, that includes the Ultra 3) and the same excellent watchOS 26 suite of software.
It boasts a huge array of sports, a slick design, and loads of lifestyle features via third-party apps. Apple Intelligence features are possible if you have a compatible iPhone, and gesture controls allow you to operate it hands-free.
As for running, you get full GPS functionality as well as live updates on your pace, heart rate, heart rate zones, and elevation. You can also follow race routes from your wrist and create custom workouts – ideal for otherwise finicky interval sessions. If you want an Apple Watch for running (and life in general) this is still an excellent option and the best value choice you can make.
Read our full Apple Watch SE 3 review
The best fitness band
Is it a running watch, or is it a fitness band? The Fitbit Charge 6 definitely treads a fine line between the two, but it’s earned its spot in this roundup thanks to its touchscreen and impressive range of features, the most notable inclusions being the on-wrist ECG, EDA stress sensor and full GPS. The last one in particular tends to distinguish “tracker” from “running watch”.
However, during our tests, we found the GPS encountered some issues when the strap was done up too tightly, but when they loosened it the heart rate readings were sent awry. The band performed far better when tracking workouts in the gym, but if you only want to run recreationally as part of a varied exercise routine, it should do the job just fine. Crucially, it’s well-priced at $159 / £139 / AU$229, with Fitbits historically subject to frequent discounts.
Read our full Fitbit Charge 6 review
How to choose the best cheap running watch for you
Choosing the best cheap running watch will often come down to a few factors. Thankfully, everything on this list is designed to fit as many budgets as possible, taking that consideration out of the equation.
You’ll want to consider where you’re at with your training, working out how long you’ll be running for, and how regularly you’ll be training. For newcomers that want to be contactable and are taking their phone with them for a brisk 30-minute jog, GPS is likely to be less important because the running watch can piggyback off of your phone’s location.
If you want to step up your running regimen, you’ll want plenty of battery life so you’re not constantly charging and draining the battery again. Thankfully, many of them offer a few days of battery at least, but it remains a consideration.
Finally, the size of the watch is important, not just for comfort (and style), but for having a screen that’s big enough to be read in all conditions.
What's the best running watch for women / men?
Largely, there's not much difference in choosing the best running watch for women compared to the best running watch for men. Some differences to bear in mind are screen sizes better suited to smaller or larger wrists, and we've detailed the dimensions of each watch in our full reviews.
Many watches, like the Fitbit Charge 6 or Garmin Forerunner 165 offer "women's health tracking", showing the user information about their menstrual cycle based on heart health and skin temperature.
However, there are potential privacy concerns here for users (check out our list of ways to protect your period tracking data for more information), and it's worth bearing in mind watches with these features aren't exclusively aimed at women: they're just extra features users can turn on or off depending on their needs.
How we test the best cheap running watches
We test cheap running watches the same way we review expensive running watches – by wearing them for running. Running on treadmills just won't do!
We often test cheap wearables alongside more expensive models to compare both heart rate and GPS tracking accuracy.
Fit is also essential; where applicable, we'll always mention if the watch is suitable for people with smaller wrists.
We also explore all the features cheap running watches offer, including smart notifications and anything else that comes included in the package.
