If you're looking for a device which monitors your sleep, tracks your steps, calories burned, offers suggestions for improvement and works seamlessly with the Google ecosystem, one of the best Fitbit models sounds like the right choice for you. It's one of the best-known and most popular fitness tracker brands out there, but Fitbits actually come in all shapes and sizes, from the slender Fitbit Inspire series to the tooled-up Versa and Sense smartwatches.
If you're just looking to move a little more, track your sleep better and get more active, a cheaper watch or fitness tracker such as the Fitbit Inspire 3 will do. However, if you're looking to get more involved with working out, or you require a device with GPS to better track running or cycling, a device like the Charge 5, Versa 4 or Sense 2 will fit the bill. The Pixel Watch, although it doesn't have Fitbit in the name, is a fully-tooled-up fitness watch with all of Fitbit's impressive tracking capabilities.
While many pricey smartwatches often seem impenetrable with their wealth of complicated metrics, the best fitness trackers and the best smartwatches from Fitbit take a more accessible approach. That's both in terms of price and usability. Its devices are simple to operate and often detect workouts like running and walking automatically.
As we've tested most Fitbit wearables on the market, we've put together a definitive list of the best Fitbit smartwatches we have put through their paces. Take a moment to check out this guide, whether it's your first time buying a fitness tracker or smartwatch, you want to upgrade from your current device, or you're looking for a cheap fitness tracker.
The best Fitbit for 2023
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 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
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
The Google Pixel Watch is what happened after Google's parent company, Alphabet, acquired Fitbit in 2021. The Pixel Watch is Google's attempt to take the fight to Apple with a fully-functioning smartwatch, with a gorgeous glossy curved face and all manner of clever tools. Crucially, the Pixel Watch incorporates Fitbit technology, using Fitbit as its main source of fitness tracking features.
All Fitbit's stuff like Sleep Score, Daily Readiness, workout profiles and active zone minutes are accessible on the Pixel Watch, making it the smartest Fitbit ever. It's perfect for people who want a full smartwatch instead of a slender fitness tracker, a device capable of doing it all. Turn-by-turn navigation courtesy of Google Maps? Instant GMail integration? Google Assistant? It's all here.
There are downsides: its battery life is a slender 24 hours, rather than five days or more, and the 41mm watch is one-size-fits-all rather than offering smaller and larger variants like Apple. However, if you're looking for the best overall fitness watch on the list with loads of smart features, this is the one.
Read our full Pixel Watch review
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
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
The Fitbit Charge 5 takes 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.
The Charge 5 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 workout tracking modes (you can select your five favorites for quick access), and heart rate monitoring is particularly accurate. In our tests, it was as responsive as a premium sports watch.
Unlike the Fitbit Charge 4, the Charge 5 doesn't let you control your Spotify playlist or other music from your wrist, but that's a minor quibble, and it's an otherwise excellent fitness tracker. The ECG app wasn't available when the watch first came out as it needed approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but it's now unlocked and ready to use.
Read our full Fitbit Charge 5 review
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
The Charge 4 has now been superseded by the Charge 5 but is still a solid choice, particularly for runners on a budget. It looks smart enough for everyday wear but has all the features you need for tracking workouts, too, including onboard GPS. This is much more accurate than connected GPS (which piggybacks on your phone), and means you can leave your handset at home if you like.
There's also Fitbit Pay for contactless payments, and if you are carrying your phone, you can use the Charge 4 to control your Spotify playlist. When paired with the Fitbit App, the Charge 4 will also track Active Zone Minutes – a measure of exercise intensity. These are based on heart rate training zones but simplified, so they're easy to understand. You'll set specific goals depending on your age and general fitness, which is a very handy way to make sure you're getting enough exercise each week.
During testing, we found the Fitbit Charge 4's interface to be superb, providing just enough information to be useful without feeling cluttered. It's very reasonably priced too, and can often be found very cheaply on Amazon. There's no color screen, but this is an excellent fitness tracker that has features that really count.
Read our full Fitbit Charge 4 review
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
The Fitbit Inspire HR, which was released a couple of years ago, is pretty simple, but if you're looking for your first Fitbit, then it could be a perfect choice. It’s one of the cheapest Fitbits around right now, but still offers heart rate monitoring, step tracking, workout modes, and breathing sessions to help with mindfulness.
It might not have the same breadth of features as the company's more recent devices, but there's still a lot to appreciate. Other highlights of the Fitbit Inspire HR include great battery life, which lasted us around five days during our testing and review, as well as a stylish design. It’s also waterproof, though it doesn't have a specific mode for tracking swimming.
It might be cheap, but it certainly doesn't look like it. If you're not concerned with tools like GPS and contactless payments, the Fitbit Inspire HR is definitely worth adding to your shortlist.
Read our full Fitbit Inspire HR 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 the best Fitbit
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.
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.)
