The Best Fitness Trackers for Reliable Health and Activity Data

Like every piece of gear you wear on your body day in and day out, fitness trackers are incredibly personal. The right tracker for you should be comfortable, accurate, and tailored to your lifestyle, including your preferred workouts and health goals. Do you bike, row, or strength train? Do you run on trails for hours at a time, or do you just want a reminder to stand up every hour? Do you want to wear it on your wrist or your finger, or tuck it into your sports bra?

No matter what your needs are, there’s never been a better time to find a powerful, sophisticated tool to help optimize your workouts or jump-start your routine. We test dozens of fitness trackers every year while running, climbing, hiking, or just doing workout videos on our iPads at night, to bring you these picks.

Our top choice for most people is the Garmin Vivoactive 6 ($300), which works well with Android and iOS, but we also vouch for the latest Oura Ring 5 ($399) and the budget-friendly Google Fitbit Air ($100). For more wearables, check out our guides to the Best Smartwatches, Best Smart Rings, and Best Sleep Trackers.

Featured In This Guide

Best Fitness Tracker Overall

Garmin Vivoactive 6

Jump to review

$300

Amazon

Best-Value Fitness Tracker

Google Fitbit Air

Jump to review

$100

Amazon

Best Smart Ring

Oura Ring 5

Jump to review

$399

Oura

Best for iPhone Owners

Apple Watch Series 11

Jump to review

$399 $299 (25% off)

Amazon

Photograph: Adrienne So

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Garmin

Vivoactive 6

$300

Amazon

$300

REI

$300

Garmin

$300 $264 (12% off)

Best Buy

Garmin makes some of the most accurate fitness trackers on the market, and the Vivoactive 6 is the best midrange option for most people. It strikes a solid balance between smartwatch features and fitness tracking, with support for both iPhone and Android users.

Why WIRED recommends: The Vivoactive 6 is accurate, comfortable, and packed with useful wellness features without feeling overwhelming. It uses Garmin's proprietary algorithms to power features like Morning Report and Body Battery, which provide daily insights into your sleep, recovery, and readiness. It also has built-in satellite connectivity and GPS, so you can track outdoor workouts without bringing your phone along. There's also incident detection, which alerts emergency contacts if it detects a serious fall.

Garmin's biggest advantage remains its free Connect platform, which enables health and fitness tracking without requiring a subscription. The company also continues to add new software features through regular updates without putting them behind a paywall.

The trade-offs: Garmin launched Connect+, a $70-per-year subscription with extras like live tracking and access to Garmin's AI-powered Active Intelligence. Former editor Adrienne So doesn't think most people need it, but it's worth noting if you're looking for a completely subscription-free experience. The Vivoactive 6 may also feel like overkill for casual users who only want basic activity and sleep tracking.

TL;DR: If you want a reliable fitness tracker with excellent accuracy, long-term software support, and no required subscription, the Vivoactive 6 is the one to buy.

The Google Fitbit Air is a fitness tracker designed to disappear into your routine. It delivers a Whoop-like experience, but at a lower overall cost and with data that's much easier for beginners to digest.

Why WIRED recommends: The Fitbit Air offers the core features most people want from a fitness tracker, including but not limited to activity tracking, cardiovascular insights, and sleep monitoring. Its screenless design makes it an especially good pick for people who find smartwatches distracting or uncomfortable but still want a consistent record of their health. If you want deeper guidance, Google's Health Coach adds AI-powered recommendations, personalized check-ins, and adaptive feedback based on your habits and goals. Unlike the Google Pixel Watch lineup, it's compatible with both Android and iPhone. Plus, at just 12 grams, it's the lightest Fitbit yet, comfortable to wear all day and night.

The trade-Offs: You'll need to bring your phone for location tracking, and serious runners or cyclists will get more useful data from a Garmin. The optional Google Health Coach may also feel unnecessary if you prefer analyzing your own data rather than receiving automated guidance.

TL;DR: The Google Fitbit Air is the best-value fitness tracker for people who want a lightweight, screen-free wearable with advanced health tracking and optional AI coaching without paying for a premium device.

Courtesy of Oura

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Oura

Ring 5

$399

Oura

$399

Amazon

The latest Oura Ring 5 is the best fitness tracker for people who don't want to wear a smartwatch. It has no screen, notifications, or distractions. Instead, it simply collects health data in the background and turns it into digestible insights about your activity, sleep, and recovery.

Why WIRED recommends: The latest Oura is 40 percent smaller than its predecessor, making it one of the comfiest wearables to keep on all day and night. The Ring 5 also features redesigned sensors, stronger signal detection, and consequently, better accuracy, while maintaining its durable titanium design. It also has improved battery life, lasting up to nine days of use.

The biggest new feature is Oura's push toward AI-powered health guidance. Similar to Google Health Coach, the Oura Advisor can answer wellness questions, provide personalized recommendations, and help identify patterns across your long-term data. New health features, including blood pressure signals and nighttime breathing insights, expand Oura's focus beyond basic fitness tracking.

The trade-offs: The Ring 5 isn't the best choice for athletes who need live workout stats or a built-in GPS. While it now supports live activity tracking through the app and can work with compatible heart rate monitors, a smartwatch is still better for workouts. Smart rings are also not ideal to wear during strength training or contact sports. Finally, you'll need an Oura membership ($6 per month or $70 annually) to unlock most of its insights.

TL;DR: The Oura Ring 5 is the best smart ring, with a smaller design, upgraded durability, and a suite of AI-powered wellness features.

For years, we've said you don't need to upgrade to the newest Apple Watch if you already own a recent model, but the Series 11 is the rare exception.

Why WIRED recommends: Apple finally improved the watch's battery life enough to make overnight wear more realistic, with up to 24 hours of use. Its new sleep score incorporates factors such as bedtime, sleep duration, and interruptions to evaluate your rest, though it's overly generous and less detailed than what you'll find on dedicated sleep trackers. The standout upgrade is the FDA-cleared hypertension notifications, which can alert you to signs of high blood pressure after 30 days of wear. The Series 11 also brings back blood oxygen sensing after a prolonged patent dispute and is compatible with watchOS 27, which means access to the new Siri AI.

The trade-offs: Excluding the improved battery life, the Series 11 isn't a huge upgrade over its predecessor, which has many of the same software features. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, the sturdier Apple Watch Ultra 3 may be a better fit thanks to its even more impressive battery life (up to 42 hours) and satellite communication features.

TL;DR: The Series 11 is the best fitness tracker for iPhone users who want a refined smartwatch experience, reliable health tracking, and finally enough battery life for consistent sleep tracking.

The Google Pixel Watch 4 combines Google's smartwatch experience with Fitbit's increasingly sophisticated health and fitness features.

Why WIRED wecommends: Unlike most trackers, the Pixel Watch 4 is fully repairable; Google sells replacement parts on iFixit, so you can swap out the battery or domed display yourself. It's also a joy to use. Editor Julian Chokkattu found the design, interface, and performance impressive. The display is 50 percent brighter than its predecessor, and fast charging is incredibly convenient. Its wellness features are also excellent, with improved sleep tracking powered by machine learning, enhanced skin temperature sensing, and dual-frequency GPS for better live tracking. There's also satellite messaging, so you can take it on off-grid adventures.

The standout feature is Google Fitbit's AI-powered Personal Health Coach. After testing it for several weeks, I found it to be one of the most intuitive AI health coaches available, with useful recommendations that consider factors like workouts, illness, and changes in routine.

The trade-offs: If you prefer a fitness tracker that works across platforms, need longer battery life, or don't want a subscription experience, Garmin may be a better fit. The AI coaching can also feel strange at times, especially if you're not comfortable taking advice from a chatbot.

TL;DR: The Pixel Watch 4 is the best fitness tracker for Android users who want a beautiful smartwatch, Fitbit-powered insights, and a device you can repair and keep longer.

The Garmin Forerunner 970 is the latest, high-end iteration of Garmin's storied running line. That said, Garmin watches tend to age well, and older Forerunner models are frequently discounted, making them worth considering if you don't need the newest features.

Why WIRED recommends: The Forerunner 970 has nearly everything a runner could want, including a bright AMOLED screen, up to two weeks of battery life, and useful extras like a built-in flashlight, speaker, and microphone for voice commands. Its running-specific training features are where it shines; Garmin's Running Tolerance score uses acute impact load to measure not just how far you ran, but how hard the run felt. It also provides metrics like Step Speed Loss and Running Economy to help you run more efficiently, though you need the company's heart rate monitor, the HRM 600 ($170), to unlock those measurements. The Forerunner 970 also brings advanced navigation features that have been cribbed from the Fenix line, like round-trip routing, which can help you plan routes and find your way back home.

The trade-offs: The Forerunner 970 is overkill for casual runners who only need basic pace, distance, and heart-rate monitoring. It's also expensive, and Garmin's midrange Forerunner 570 ($550) offers many of the same core features for cheaper; but the Forerunner 570 has a shorter battery life, less-premium materials (Gorilla Glass 3 versus Sapphire, aluminum bezel versus titanium), less memory at 8 GB versus 32 GB, no built-in mapping, and no flashlight.

TL;DR: The Forerunner 970 is the best fitness tracker for runners who want advanced training insights, accurate GPS, and a premium smartwatch.

Best for Outdoor Activities

Photograph: Adrienne So

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Garmin

Fenix 8 AMOLED

$1,000 $750 (25% off)

Amazon

$1,100 $950 (14% off)

REI

$1,000 $750 (25% off)

Garmin

Garmin has combined features from its previous Epix and Fenix lines back into the Fenix 8 AMOLED. The company also offers a Pro version ($1,300) with satellite communication features, including two-way messaging and emergency assistance, but most people won't need those capabilities unless they regularly travel beyond cellular coverage.

Why WIRED recommends: You get the updated, bright AMOLED screen of the Epix with the much longer battery life of the Fenix. You also get support for nearly every sport, most notably Garmin's proprietary off-grid maps, which include SkiView for ski resorts and golf course maps. There are leak-proof buttons for scuba and practical extras like a built-in flashlight, speaker, and microphone for voice commands. Dynamic routing is especially useful: Enter how far you want to go, and the watch can create a route that gets you back to your starting point on time.

The trade-offs: This fitness tracker is pricey and unnecessary for anyone who mainly tracks walks or casual runs. If you don't need advanced navigation or rugged construction, a less expensive Garmin or smartwatch will likely be a better value.

TL;DR: The Fenix 8 AMOLED is the best outdoor fitness tracker you can buy, with exceptional battery life, bright mapping, and the navigation tools you need when you're away from your phone.

Photograph: Adrienne So

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Fitbit

Ace LTE

$180

Google Store

$125

Amazon

$180 $150 (17% off)

Best Buy

The Fitbit Ace LTE is the first fitness tracker that former editor Adrienne So managed to get her kids to wear. Apple Watches were too difficult to keep charged and didn't give them much incentive to keep on. The Ace LTE solves that by combining fitness tracking, gaming, and communication features into a device that's useful for both kids and parents.

Why WIRED recommends: The Ace LTE includes Google Fitbit's full suite of health sensors, so it can monitor steps and activity levels. Fitbit Arcade offers movement-based games that reward kids for staying active. The built-in LTE connection means kids can call and text approved contacts without needing their own phone. For parents, the Fitbit Ace app makes it easy to manage contacts, monitor activity, and check a child's location through Google Find Hub.

The trade-offs: Like most Google Fitbits, the Ace LTE requires a $10-per-month subscription for LTE connectivity and Fitbit Arcade. Its playful design may also not appeal to older children and tweens.

TL;DR: The Fitbit Ace LTE is the fitness tracker that children actually want to wear, combining activity tracking, games, and location sharing into one device.

Courtesy of Polar Electro

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Polar

H10

$105 $94 (10% off)

Amazon

$105

Polar

Most fitness trackers can measure your heart rate from your wrist or finger, but dedicated heart rate monitors remain more accurate during intense aerobic exercise. The Polar H10 is the best option for runners, cyclists, and other endurance athletes who want reliable data.

Why WIRED recommends: WIRED contributor Michael Sawh found the Polar H10 to be the most comfortable and dependable heart rate monitor he's tested. He noticed no drop-outs and no under- or overreporting of data. Unlike traditional loop-and-hook straps, it uses a buckle connector that feels more secure and comfortable during long workouts. Small silicone dots keep the strap in place, which means fewer gaps in readings and more consistent data. The H10 also includes built-in memory, so it can store workout data without staying connected to your phone, and ANT+ connectivity lets you pair it with compatible fitness equipment like bike trainers. Its replaceable battery can last up to a year.

The trade-offs: If you mainly want step counts, sleep tracking, and daily insights, your fitness tracker's built-in sensor is probably enough; a separate heart rate monitor is unnecessary for most casual fitness enthusiasts.

TL;DR: The H10 is the best heart rate monitor for people who want more accurate data than a wrist-based tracker or smart ring can provide, with a comfortable fit, reliable readings, and broad device compatibility.

Photograph: Adrienne So

Whoop MG Fitness Band for $239 (Peak): Whoop is a compelling option for data-obsessed athletes, but the high ongoing cost makes it harder to recommend over more affordable trackers. The latest Whoop 5.0 and the Whoop MG are both smaller and more energy-efficient than the 4.0, and the Whoop MG adds ECG capabilities, blood pressure estimates, and longevity-focused features like Healthspan and Pace of Aging. However, many of the most compelling features require the premium Whoop Life membership, and the blood pressure feature remains debatable after the FDA warned Whoop about marketing claims made without FDA clearance. (Whoop stands by its decision but it's worth noting that similar trackers, like the Apple Watch, have opted to pursue clearance.)

Google Fitbit Charge 6 for $160: The Fitbit Charge 6 remains one of the best entry-level fitness trackers, packed with just enough features to build healthy habits without overwhelming you with data. Its heart rate tracking held up well against more expensive devices in testing, and it can even connect to compatible gym equipment including Peloton bikes and NordicTrack treadmills. The Charge 6 is now a couple of years old—it launched in 2023—and the Fitbit Air offers most of these features at a lower price point. But if you're looking for a tracker with a screen, consider the Charge 6. If you don't care for a built-in GPS, the Fitbit Inspire 3 costs less than $100 and is just as accurate.

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 for $53: I was shocked by how much I liked this affordable little fitness band. The 1,200-nit display is clear and bright, and the touchscreen is responsive. The aluminum case feels sturdy, and it tracks your steps and heart rate with reasonable accuracy. However, there's just no comparison between the user experience of this band's Mi Fitness app and Google Fitbit's, especially at this price. (Yet.) —Adrienne So

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Samsung Galaxy Watch8 for $350: The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is beautiful and easier to use than ever, but the new health features definitely need some work. Samsung says the new Vascular Load feature measures the load on your circulatory system (the blood vessels that carry blood throughout your body), helping you gauge whether habits like drinking alcohol or consuming excessive sodium are affecting your long-term health. Unfortunately, neither editor Julian Chokkattu nor I got actionable results. While in theory, the Antioxidant Index feature seems like a good way to judge if you're eating enough fruits and vegetables, the results were so off-base that they made me laugh. The watch told me my Antioxidant Index was low and that I needed to eat more canned pumpkin puree. That's despite living in Portland, Oregon, at the height of fruiting season, and while snacking on fresh berries and plums on every dog walk. —Adrienne So

Withings ScanWatch 2 for $370: The Withings ScanWatch 2 could pass for a classic analog watch, and it comes with a battery life of 22 days with regular use (30 days with light use). Reviewer Simon Hill found the comprehensive suite of health features to be generally accurate, including the new temperature tracker and Cardio Check-Up. Withings updated the ScanWatch 2 with a new operating system, HealthSense 4, which features advanced algorithms that use predictive AI to anticipate health events, like getting sick or when your period is coming. Most features are locked behind a $10/month subscription, though.

Amazfit Bip 6 for $80: Like the Amazfit Active 2, which I also liked, the Bip 6 is a gorgeous little watch, with a big and responsive AMOLED screen, well over a week of battery life, and 140 sport modes. I still find the tracker and the Zepp app occasionally inaccurate, but it's cheap, comfortable, and works well. However, for only $20 more, I'd just get the Active 2 instead. —Adrienne So

Photograph: Adrienne So

Garmin Instinct 3 for $400: Garmin's Instinct line doesn't have as many high-end features as the Fenix 8, but it's popular because it's cheaper and it has a cool, chunky retro aesthetic that I love. This year's updates include the built-in flashlight and a new reinforced bezel, which is good considering that I still managed to bang up the Fenix and Epix watches quite a bit. For more information, check out our guide to the Best Garmin Watches. —Adrienne So

Garmin Venu X1 for $700: Garmin's Venu line is the company's attempt at an Apple Watch Ultra dupe that works with both iOS and Android. It has a polymer case, a nylon strap, and Garmin's biggest display, which is an enormous 2-inch AMOLED that's great for displaying built-in maps. Like the Ultra, it has speakers and a mic for taking calls; unlike the Ultra, it has over a week's worth of battery life. This is what to get if you have an Android phone but are jealous of your Apple friends' great big screen. —Adrienne So

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra for $343: Your eyes have not deceived you. Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra is a direct rip-off of the Apple Watch Ultra, but for Samsung phone owners. It even has the Quick button (which Apple calls an Action button) and the Double Pinch feature (which Apple calls Double Tap). Apple's watch is better, with support for more sports, a better interface, and better comprehensive algorithms like Training Load and Vitals. However, what the Galaxy Watch Ultra does, it does well, and Samsung has the resources to catch up quickly. It has a sapphire glass face rated to 10 ATM, an IP68 rating, and it can withstand elevations up to 9,000 meters (almost 3,000 feet) and temperatures up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. It also has backcountry navigation features, dual-band GPS, a compass, and breadcrumb navigation, which Samsung calls Track Back and which Apple calls Backtrack (this is getting silly). The battery life is still just an adequate two days and change, though. This is the 2025 model, which added more storage and a new color. —Adrienne So

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

OnePlus Watch 3 for $485: The OnePlus Watch 3 can last for five days on a single charge. OnePlus now includes many by-now standard health features, like fall detection, a skin temperature sensor, irregular heart rate notifications, and an electrocardiogram. This is another great pick if you want a smartwatch that's also a decent fitness tracker. —Adrienne So

Suunto Vertical 2 for $599: Reviewer Michael Sawh noted that the Suunto Vertical 2 is going to attract a lot of Garmin fans who may be put off by the company's high prices. It has a bright AMOLED screen, strong tracking and mapping support, and decent battery life. However, the feature set is limited on iPhones versus Android phones, the sleep and heart rate tracking is a little unreliable, and the app presents its insights a little awkwardly.

Photograph: Adrienne So

Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro for $99: The Nothing brand is distinguished by its quirky charm, so I was not surprised to discover that I love the retro look of the CMF Watch 3 Pro. When I compared live heart rate readings with my Oura Ring 4, they matched exactly. (It did overestimate my time spent asleep by as much as an hour on some nights.) CMF's proprietary metric is Active Score, which takes into account your heart rate data and metabolic equivalent of task (MET) values to determine whether you've been active enough that week. As a medium-active mid-forties parent, I blew this score through the roof every day and did not find it helpful. But it weighs a remarkably little 51 grams, and the battery lasts for well over a week while tracking multiple activities per day. The screen is bright and easy to read in daylight. It tracks sleep, blood oxygen, stress, and 131 different activities, with smart activity recognition. It has dual-band GPS monitoring, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope for accurate activity measurement. There's even a custom running coach, though it's harder to adjust than the other built-in running coaches I've tried. Plus, it costs under $100 and goes on sale quite often. —Adrienne So

Coros Apex 4 for $429: Coros is the king of affordable watches for extreme sportspeople, and the Apex 4 is the company's alpine watch that Kilian Jornet recently used in his States of Elevation project. The battery life lasts forever. It has five specialized climbing modes and vertical GPS, and it can auto-detect climbing routes. I love this watch for climbing. —Adrienne So

Coros Nomad for $349: Coros also has an angler-specific sport watch with sport modes for fishing. A new feature called Adventure Journal lets you record voice memos and pin locations as you're hiking and running so that you can remember where bathrooms, campsites, or really great berry-picking spots are. —Adrienne So

Nowatch B for $449: This activity tracker uses a ton of battery power to measure your stress responses by the minute; you have to charge it for three hours and recharge it every other day. It's no match for a Fitbit which can monitor your stress relatively quickly. —Adrienne So

Amazfit T-Rex 3 for $280, Amazfit Helio Ring for $150, and Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro for $400: Both WIRED reviewer Simon Hill and I found functionality for these Amazfit trackers somewhat limited. Reviewer Brent Rose also found the T-Rex 3 Pro to be a buggy dupe for a Garmin Fenix 8. —Adrienne So

Evie Movano Ring for $269: Evie announced an upgraded version of the Movano, with a medical-journal-trained AI chatbot and improved sleep and heart rate tracking. I tested it and unfortunately did not find enough on offer to rescind my previous opinion. The smart ring market has exploded since then, and many new rings have explicitly women-centered features. It simply doesn't offer enough features to be an attractive product right now. —Adrienne So

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