The best Fitbit 2024: Band-style fitness trackers and smartwatches from Google

Fitbit produces some of the most-loved fitness trackers and smartwatches in the world. Every model covers basic fitness functionalities, including steps, heart rate, sleep tracking and recovery, while the more advanced trackers pack on-board GPS, a Daily Readiness Score, stress management, and guided workouts. 

The best fitness trackers deliver specific features designed to help users get fit and stay fit, but for a wider range of features, you’ll need one of our best smartwatches.

If you’re after the best Fitbit overall, then take a look at the Versa 3, which our review describes as a very compelling and affordable Apple Watch alternative, even though the Versa 4 has been out for a while now. On the other hand, if you’re more concerned about price, then the Inspire 3 is a budget-friendly option. 

We're looking forward to fully testing the Fitbit ACE LTE, to see if its gamification of movement and more advanced features can eclipse the Fitbit Ace 3 in our "best for kids" category. In the meantime, we've recently added the Pixel Watch 3 to this list. 

Matt Evans
Matt Evans

Our Fitness Editor Matt Evans has been writing about fitness and health tech online for years, which means he knows what to expect from a good fitness tracker: the information it can provide about your health and activity levels, how that info is presented, and how useful it is during your everyday life. 

The quick list

Here you can see a very brief overview of some of the best Fitbits available right now. From smartwatches to slender trackers, cheap to expensive, you'll likely find something you want in here.

Best Fitbit overall

best fitbit Fitbit Versa 3 with blue band on person's wrist

(Image credit: TechRadar)
The best Fitbit overall

Specifications

Screen: Yes
Heart rate tracker: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Activity tracking: Yes
GPS: Yes
Battery life: Up to 6 days
Compatibility: Android/iOS

Reasons to buy

+
Great-looking display
+
Built-in GPS for tracking runs
+
Lightweight and comfortable

Reasons to avoid

-
Poorly designed side button

The Fitbit Versa 3 is a great-looking and great-performing smartwatch, and even though the Versa 4 and Sense 2 have hit the shelves, this remains the smartwatch to buy thanks to some fan-favorite features not present in the newer versions, and its lower price. 

It can give you handy smartphone notifications, make contactless payments, control your music, monitor your blood oxygen saturation, track your sleep, and guide you through breathing exercises when the pressure gets too much. It also tracks dozens of workout types, with GPS for outdoor cardio sessions, and in our tests, it stood up well against dedicated sports watches.

Voice commands are supported, too, with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration, and you can download additional third-party apps through the Fitbit App Gallery. We found that the Fitbit Versa 3 will need charging more often than some other watches in this list, but if you don't mind clipping on its charger every six days or so, it's easy to recommend.

It's all capped off with a 1.58" AMOLED display, which is exceptionally bright and clear, making it easy to read notifications and check your workout stats at a glance. We're not fans of the touch-sensitive 'button' on the side of the case, which can be tricky to tap, but it's a relatively minor issue.

Read our full Fitbit Versa 3 review

Best budget Fitbit

Fitbit Inspire 3

(Image credit: Andrea Gaini)
The best budget Fitbit

Specifications

Screen: Yes
Heart rate tracker: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Activity tracking: Yes
GPS: Yes, through phone
Battery life: Up to 10 days
Compatibility: Android/iOS

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent health-tracking features
+
App makes it easy to read and analyze your metrics
+
Bright and colorful AMOLED display

Reasons to avoid

-
Screen might still be too small for some people
-
Scrolling isn’t very well optimized
-
Free Premium subscription cut from one year to six months

The Fitbit Inspire 3 has a revamped design featuring a wider and longer main unit and a better-fitting silicone band. And while it features a color AMOLED display – a first for the Inspire range – it boasts the same impressive battery life; even if you're using the always-on display, the tracker will last for around 10 days. 

It tracks your heart rate 24/7 and uses this information, combined with your sleep data, to provide an analysis of your Daily Readiness and Stress Management. It'll also remind you to get up and walk around for a bit if you haven't done so in a while, and if you're having a stressful day, you can also try and relax with the 2-minute guided breathing feature. 

New to the Inspire 3 is Sp02 monitoring, which tracks oxygen levels in your blood and can alert you if it drops below a certain threshold, such as 90%, potentially a warning sign of hypoxia, and can aid in sleep and recovery tracking. Most full fitness smartwatches carry this sensor, so it's nice to see it finally make its way to the slender Inspire range.

Read our full Fitbit Inspire 3 review

Best premium fitbit

Google Pixel Watch 3

(Image credit: Google)
The best premium smartwatch with Fitbit integration

Specifications

Screen: Yes
Heart rate tracker: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Activity tracking: Yes
GPS: Yes
Battery life: 24 hours
Compatibility: Android/Windows

Reasons to buy

+
Beautiful teardrop design
+
Choice of two sizes

Reasons to avoid

-
More of a smartwatch than a fitness tracker
-
Battery life is still frustrating

The Pixel Watch 3 is a sleek and stylish smartwatch that offers a premium experience for Android users. Its polished pebble design and comfortable fit make it a pleasure to wear, and the larger display allows for a more immersive experience.

Powered by a snappy processor, the Pixel Watch 3 handles tasks with ease, from tracking workouts to running apps. While the battery life is decent, users may notice that the smaller model runs out a bit faster than the larger one. However, overall, the performance is impressive.

One of the standout features of the Pixel Watch 3 is its integration with Fitbit. This allows users to take advantage of a wide range of health and fitness tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and more.

The Pixel Watch 3 is a well-rounded smartwatch that offers a combination of style, functionality, and performance. Its sleek design, impressive features, and seamless integration with Fitbit make it a compelling choice for Android users seeking a premium wearable.

Read our full Pixel Watch 3 review

Best for sleep tracking

best fitbit Fitbit Sense with cream band on person's wrist

(Image credit: Ida Blix)
Best premium Fitbit for sleep tracking, health monitoring and seniors

Specifications

Screen: Yes
Heart rate tracker: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Activity tracking: Yes
GPS: Yes
Battery life: Up to 6 days
Compatibility: Android/iOS/Windows

Reasons to buy

+
Detailed mood and stress logging
+
Very comfortable to wear
+
On-board GPS to track runs

Reasons to avoid

-
Step counts not 100% accurate

The Fitbit Sense is a super advanced watch that can track your stress levels by measuring the conductivity of your skin (basically, changes in conductivity are a sign of adrenal activity, which means stress). This data syncs with the Fitbit app, where you can also record your mood and any factors that might have influenced how you feel so you can look for patterns.

The Sense is an excellent sports watch as well, with a huge range of activity-tracking options. You can configure your favorite workouts, so they appear as quick shortcuts when you press the touch-sensitive button on the left-hand side of the Sense's case, and there's on-board GPS to map runs, walks and bike rides. It's a great-looking watch with an almost identical design to the Fitbit Versa 3. The soft silicone strap makes it extremely comfortable to wear, even at night.

Our only complaint is that the step tracking was a little inconsistent during our testing, recording steps even though we told the device we were taking part in a cycling activity. Otherwise, the Fitbit Sense is a superb watch that's easy to recommend. If you're looking for a device that offers similar features in a more compact package, the Fitbit Charge 5 also includes the same stress-tracking sensor.

Read our full Fitbit Sense review

Best for style

best fitbit Fitbit Luxe with cream band on person's wrist

(Image credit: Future)
The best Fitbit for people who want a stylish fitness tracker

Specifications

Screen: Yes
Heart rate tracker: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Activity tracking: Yes
GPS: No
Battery life: Up to 7 days
Compatibility: Android/iOS

Reasons to buy

+
Super accurate heart rate monitoring
+
Crisp, vivid AMOLED display
+
Modern, stylish design

Reasons to avoid

-
No on-board GPS to track runs

The Fitbit Luxe is the company's smartest, sleekest fitness tracker to date.  It looks great but doesn't sacrifice features for style. It monitors steps, sleep, stress levels, heart rate, respiration, and workouts and also features a blood oxygen saturation sensor. 

In our tests, the heart rate tracking was particularly impressive, rivalling that of a high-end running watch for high-intensity gym sessions. All these stats are shown on a super clear and bright AMOLED display (a big upgrade from the monochrome screen of watches like the Fitbit Inspire 2, which shows your daily stats in full color with smooth animations. We were impressed by how much data Fitbit has managed to fit onto such a compact screen, and it's all clearly laid out and easy to navigate. 

Plus, we found the touch interface smooth and responsive. The more you wear your Fitbit, the more you'll get from it as it builds up a more complete picture of your health, lifestyle, and habits, and the Luxe is one that you won't want to take off.

Read our full Fitbit Luxe review

Best for sports

Fitbit Charge 6

(Image credit: Future)
The best Fitbit if you're getting serious about sports

Specifications

Screen: Yes
Heart rate tracker: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Activity tracking: Yes
GPS: Yes
Battery life: Up to 6 days
Compatibility: Android/iOS

Reasons to buy

+
On-board GPS
+
Updated, more accurate HR
+
Bright, crisp display

Reasons to avoid

-
Only YouTube Music controls

The Fitbit Charge 6 takes many of the best features from all of the company's other devices and rolls them into one sporty package. You get onboard GPS for tracking runs, walks and bike rides without carrying your phone; an EDA (electrodermal activity) sensor to measure changes in stress levels, an ECG app, and (like the Fitbit Luxe) a bright AMOLED display that makes it a pleasure to use. 

An updated HR sensor makes it far more accurate during vigorous exercise like HIIT, and YouTube Music controls have been added. Google Wallet replaces Fitbit Pay. 

The Charge 6 is a fitness tracker built for people who are starting to take their workouts seriously but aren't ready to invest in a dedicated running watch or swimming watch. There's a great range of tracking modes (you can select your five favorites for quick access), although heart rate monitoring was found to be accurate enough for an estimation, but not pinpoint. 

Unlike the Fitbit Charge 4, the Charge 6 doesn't let you control your Spotify playlist or other music from your wrist, only YouTube Music. It's a slight downgrade from the Charge 5, but still a good choice for a sportier, performance-focused tracker for more advanced athletes. 

Read our full Fitbit Charge 6 review

Latest fitness watch

Fitbit Versa 4 on wrist

(Image credit: Andrew Williams)
Fitbit's dedicated fitness watch is a bit rough around the edges

Specifications

Screen: Yes
Heart rate tracker: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Activity tracking: Yes
GPS: Yes
Battery life: Up to 6 days
Compatibility: Android/iOS

Reasons to buy

+
Lower upkeep than an Apple Watch
+
Reworked interface is easy to understand
+
The design remains distinctive and cute
+
Fairly long battery life in the default mode

Reasons to avoid

-
Some HR accuracy issues
-
No third-party apps
-
Integrated speaker is poor
-
Some features not available at launch

When Google acquired Fitbit, we half expected the best Fitbits, including watches like the Fitbit Versa 4, would use Google’s WearOS software going forwards, but that has not happened. This watch, released in September 2022, is more like a tweaked version of the Fitbit Versa 3. It’s a beginner-friendly watch but doesn’t have all the smart potential of some rivals, such as the Apple Watch. 

Third-party apps are out, as is music playback and control, which is arguably far more important. It means the Fitbit Versa 4 isn’t a watch that will let people go out and exercise phone-free; disappointing. Even more sadly, the Fitbit Versa 4 is a less accurate fitness tracker for runners than, for example, an Apple Watch Series 8 or Garmin Venu 2 too.

However, despite having no real superlatives to crow about, the Fitbit Versa 4 is still a total breeze to live with. The battery lasts a good long while if you don’t use the “always on” display mode. Fitbit’s borrowing of the Pixel Watch’s interface layout presents its smarter features in a pleasant way, particularly notifications. And despite the fitness-related criticisms we’ll cover in this review, it’s easily good enough for folks looking to casually track regular runs and hikes.

Read our full Fitbit Versa 4 review

Best Fitbit for kids

best fitbit Fitbit Ace 3 with blue band on person's wrist

(Image credit: Fitbit)
The best Fitbit to help kids stay active

Specifications

Screen: Yes
Heart rate tracker: No
Waterproof: Yes
Activity tracking: Yes
GPS: No
Battery life: 8 days
Compatibility: Android/iOS

Reasons to buy

+
Tracks a wide range of activities
+
Screen is well protected
+
Tasteful all-ages design

Reasons to avoid

-
Short charging cable

The Fitbit Ace 3 is made just for kids and encourages them to get more active. It tracks steps, plus fun activities like trampolining and school sports, with achievements to keep them engaged.

There's no all-day heart rate monitor (which makes sense since kids' resting heart rate changes as they grow) and no calorie counting or GPS. However, if your kid has their own phone, they can use the Ace 3 to receive app notifications. The Ace 3 is designed for kids aged 6-13, and unlike some children's smartwatches, there are designs that aren't adorned with cartoon characters, which means it's not embarrassing as they get older (though there's a special Minions edition if they'd prefer).  

In our tests, we were also pleased to find its band didn't irritate sensitive skin, which is an important factor when kids are going to be wearing it all day. We also appreciated the way the case protects the screen from damage; essential when kids are active.

Read our full Fitbit Ace 3 review

How to choose the best Fitbit for you

Fitbit has several different models of smartwatches and fitness trackers, so the first thing you should figure out is if you want a simple fitness tracker for your activities and workouts or if you want a full-fledged watch with smart, fitness and health features.

Also consider the features you need. Many of its fitness trackers, for example, do not have GPS built-in. So, if you want something that can track your runs or hikes, you should go for one with GPS. On the other hand, if you need an ECG to monitor your heart, choose one with that feature included.

Of course, the price is also a factor, but the brilliance of Fitbit's products is that they are among the most affordable out there. Most of them are much more affordable than Apple's cheapest smartwatch, which means that unless you're on a very tight budget, you should have a few options available to you. Other important considerations are the design and ease of use.

How we test Fitbits

We put all Fitbit devices to the test in real-world conditions so you know exactly what to expect when making your choice. That way, we can tell you exactly how each one feels to use, how well they perform, and the data you can expect to receive each day. So, who better to help you find the best wrist-mounted fitness devices the brand has to offer on the market.

We wear each Fitbit day and night to obtain a full set of data and monitor how long the battery lasts in typical use on a full charge. We put each Fitbit to the test during a variety of indoor and outdoor workouts, comparing its heart rate and GPS measurements to those gathered by a high-end sports watch, and comparing the nightly sleep stats to those collected by a dedicated sleep tracker. 

Finally we compare each watch to the model that preceded it, and others in Fitbit's current line to help you make the best decision.

FAQs

What is the best Fitbit watch for seniors?

Thanks to its premium health monitoring features, the Fitbit Sense gets our vote as the best Fitbit for seniors. This smartwatch comes with all the features of the Versa 3 and packs a few more that seniors will find very useful, including an ECG and skin temperature sensors.

Are Fitbits waterproof?

Yes, all Fitbit devices are water resistant to 50 meters, making them suitable for swimming, showering, bathing and handwashing. If you swim in the sea, make sure you rinse your Fitbit off well afterwards, as salt could damage the case and strap.

Do Fitbits work with iPhones?

Yes, Fitbits work with both iPhones and Android phones. Just download the Fitbit app from the App Store or Google Play, and your watch will connect to your phone without a hitch.

Do Fitbits track blood pressure?

No, but in April 2021 Fitbit began a study to investigate whether pulse arrival time (how long it takes for a pulse of blood to reach your wrist after a heartbeat) could be used to estimate blood pressure, so it may be a feature that we see in the future.

Which is better: Fitbit or Garmin?

We love Fitbit's simple approach and friendly UX, and there's a surprising wealth of detail in the metrics when you dive in. It's great for beginners, fitness fans and casual regular exercisers alike. However, Garmin's better for serious endurance athletes, with sophisticated GPS/route tools and more in-depth information. (Here's our pick of the best Garmin watches.)

Matt Evans
Fitness, Wellness, and Wearables Editor

Matt is TechRadar's expert on all things fitness, wellness and wearable tech. A former staffer at Men's Health, he holds a Master's Degree in journalism from Cardiff and has written for brands like Runner's World, Women's Health, Men's Fitness, LiveScience and Fit&Well on everything fitness tech, exercise, nutrition and mental wellbeing.

Matt's a keen runner, ex-kickboxer, not averse to the odd yoga flow, and insists everyone should stretch every morning. When he’s not training or writing about health and fitness, he can be found reading doorstop-thick fantasy books with lots of fictional maps in them.

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