Getting fit doesn’t have to be a difficult decision when you have a little motivation to drive you. That’s where fitness trackers can help build confidence and maintain a commitment to reaching whatever health or fitness goal you want to pursue. The average fitness tracker monitors health vitals, like heart rate, blood oxygen saturation level, calorie burn, and sleep tracking to give you a broader picture of where you stand.
Thing is, you don’t have to break the bank on the journey to get there. There definitely are fitness trackers that cost more because of their expensive options, which is also reflected among the best smartwatches. But there are also many affordable options available that can deliver plenty of bang for the buck, like those listed below.
These cheap fitness trackers are packed with features
Best overall
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro
Pro in name, pro in features
There’s a lot to love about the Xiaomi Band 8 Pro in how it offers a large color display to easily view stats, health and fitness sensors, built-in GPS, and compatibility with Android and iOS devices. This unisex design also has replaceable straps and strong battery life.
- Large and sharp AMOLED display
- Built-in GPS
- Useful widgets to work with
- No support for Bluetooth calls
- App is a little basic
- Lacks NFC for payments
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro may be double the price of the regular Smart Band 8, but that “Pro” moniker gets you a more sophisticated device that’s easier to see and utilize. It starts with the larger display that makes information so much more visible and negates you having to pull out your phone. Not that you’ll need it if you want to run in peace with the built-in GPS keeping track of all the route and location data you’d want to know. The only catch is you can’t play any music on the Band itself, so your phone will have to come along if you’d prefer to exercise while listening to something.
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Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro review: GPS for less
Going Pro gets you a smartwatch-size screen and built-in GPS
Xiaomi’s Smart Band 8 Pro supports all-day heart rate and blood oxygen saturation level measurement and has sleep, stress level, and women’s health monitoring. It can also track over 100 sports modes, including swimming. Key to all that are the widgets that give you quick access to all those details, letting you swipe across them to see the various metrics — all without touching your phone. When you do pull out your phone, the dedicated Mi Fitness app, available for Android and iOS devices, won’t present you with a deep array of features and settings considering its basic layout. The Smart Band 8 Pro isn’t just a capable fitness tracker but a stylish one, too. There are tons of watch faces, plus a wide range of first- and third-party straps to amp up its look.
Premium pick
Fitbit Charge 6
Fitbit’s top fitness tracker
$139 $160 Save $21
The Fitbit Charge 6 retains the company’s penchant for building premium fitness trackers, punctuated by advanced health-tracking features and Google integration. It’s a modest upgrade from its predecessor, yet it’s still one of the best to strap on your wrist.
- Premium build
- Advanced health tracking
- Google Maps and Wallet integration
- Best features require a subscription
- Comparatively fewer sports modes
- Media controls limited to YouTube Music
The Fitbit Charge 6 sits at the top of Fitbit’s tracker line because of its deluxe design and premium features. That confidence extends further considering the Charge 6 is almost a carbon copy of the Charge 5, only there is more going on under the hood to put some distance between them. The Charge 6 tracks heart rate, blood oxygen, and sleep tracking, including potential signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib). There are plenty of exercises to track (though lighter on sports), which you can take further with a Fitbit Premium subsrciption (first six months are free upon purchase) by following a guided routine or regimen via the huge catalog of content within it. Subscribing to Premium also means deeper metrics and data, including advanced stress management with a daily score and suggestions on ways to relax.
Read our review
Fitbit Charge 6 review: Do you really need a smartwatch?
Quality fitness tracking, more Google than ever
With Google Maps now on board, you have a better way to track exercises outdoors, and built-in GPS means you won’t need your phone to get the details on distance and pace. You can also use Google Wallet straight from the tracker to pay for things, though make sure to check compatibility to ensure it supports your bank and card. It’s also a shame onscreen media playback controls are limited to YouTube Music. Battery life will hold up well while all this is going on, lasting up to a week if you leave the always-on display off.
Best value
Xiaomi Smart Band 8
Lots of features for a low price
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 offers a lot of value at an affordable price tag, made even better with a bigger battery and brighter screen. It can track over 150 workout modes, while also leaving things open to personalization and customization based on your own tastes.
- Color AMOLED display
- Long-lasting battery
- Competitive price tag
- Confusing app
- No integrated GPS
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 is further proof the company knows how to make a fitness tracker for less. It undercuts competitors in a number of ways, and while very similar to its predecessor, it sports a brighter color AMOLED display and bigger battery to make functional differences while you wear it. It can track over 150 workout modes, including automatic tracking for a handful of exercises, like running, cycling, and swimming. The Xiaomi app organizes the data from all the tracking, offering a workout analysis to better determine when you may be ready to get up and going again. It’s even possible to detach the unit from the straps and use it as a pedometer — provided you get the right accessory to keep it secure.
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Xiaomi Smart Band 8 review: Fitness tracking on a budget
This is a lot of fitness band for just $50
The Smart Band 8 can also track heart rate and blood oxygen saturation, and has the goods to handle sleep and stress tracking on top of that. You will need a phone to handle GPS, app notifications, and media playback control, so there are limits to what this fitness tracker can do on its own. Battery life holds up well through it all, going strong for up to two weeks or more per charge if you leave always-on display off. Just don’t lose the proprietary charging cable.
Affordable Alexa
Amazfit Band 7
Heavy on features, light on the wallet
The Amazfit Band 7 is a lightweight fitness tracker that packs several features at a pocket-friendly price. It has an AMOLED display, a long-lasting battery, and all-day heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and stress level tracking.
- Impressive battery life
- Built-in voice assistant
- Suitable for swimming
- Bland design
- Requires a connected phone for GPS
The Amazfit Band 7 is for those who want a fitness tracker that’s cheap but doesn’t skimp on features, either. It’s not going to win all the style points, but its lightweight body is comfortable, has a large AMOLED display, and comes in three color options with replaceable straps available in four extra colors. Without any buttons, you’ll need to access everything by touching the screen, which also means seeing Amazon Alexa’s responses to queries, as well as all the health and fitness data on the fly. Even with all that going on, you can expect at least a week with everything turned on, though can go much longer if you don’t.
Read our review
Amazfit Band 7 review: Amazing fit for your casual exercise journey
Not an elite athlete or weekend warrior? You still deserve a high-quality fitness tracker, and this might be the one
The tracker provides all-day heart rate, including alerts you can set in case you hit a dangerously high level during activity. To help the cause, you can keep track of blood oxygen and track stress. The Band 7 includes an option to measure all three simultaneously with one tap. With more than 120 sports modes and 5 ATM water-resistance, there’s plenty to cover. Same with the Zepp app, which really opens the door to a number of other features, including (but not limited to) music and camera controls while paired with your phone. Speaking of pairing, you’ll need your phone’s GPS connection because the Band 7 itself doesn’t have built-in GPS itself.
Versatile usage
Fitbit Inspire 3
The power of Fitbit for less
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is the entry-level model in Fitbit’s fitness tracker line. A lightweight design, extended battery life, and access to Fitbit’s advanced health features earn it a spot on this list.
- Lightweight design
- Can be worn in multiple ways
- Supports women’s health tracking
- Miniature display
- Fewer features than cheaper alternatives
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a fitness tracker that has the basics nailed down. While Inspire 3 isn’t particularly a head-turner (with its basic silicone band in three color choices), buyers can style it up with any of the handful of official replaceable bands, including a stainless steel mesh available in platinum and gold. Buyers who prefer wearing a traditional watch on their wrist will be happy to know Fitbit sells an accessory clip that attaches the Inspire 3 to a pocket, shirt, or bra. However, certain health features, such as heart rate, can’t be tracked in this mode.
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Fitbit Inspire 3 review: A lightweight tracker with impressive battery life
A bit on the pricey side for an entry-level tracker, but it’s got all the goods to get you started
The tracker logs basic health metrics, such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, sleep, stress, and menstrual health, and supports irregular heart rhythm notifications. However, it lacks a GPS module, but will automatically begin to track high-movement exercises, like walking and running (that are at least 15 minutes long). And like the other trackers on this list, it can be worn while swimming. Its color touchscreen should be sufficient for viewing key stats, but for more detailed information and to enjoy the bundled free Fitbit Premium subscription, users must fall back to the app on their Android smartphone or iPhone. Best of all, its battery life also lasts up to ten days.
Minimalist design
Garmin Vivosmart 5
A no-frills fitness tracker
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 has a simple but comfortable design. It’s easy to use and great for those new to tracking their health and physical activities. To top it all off, its battery lasts up to a week.
- Support for accident detection
- Great for tracking sleep
- Doesn’t require a subscription
- Monochrome display
- Few sports modes
- Need phone GPS for tracking
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 is for those who want a low-profile fitness tracker that can log calories, steps, and basic exercises. The design is so simple that it can almost pass for a silicone bracelet despite commanding a more premium price tag. It is available in black, mint, and white colorways, but unfortunately, Garmin doesn’t sell replaceable bands in other colors. The Vivosmart 5 has a small OLED display (albeit a monochrome one), but it is bright enough to view outdoors. It also boasts a sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness depending on the ambient light.
The Vivosmart 5 supports all-day heart rate, respiration rate, and stress tracking. It will also provide users with a sleep score and keep an eye on women’s health, blood oxygen saturation, and stress. It can track yoga, indoor rowing, Pilates, and elliptical training, among other sports modes. This device also presents owners with a fitness age, which estimates how fit they are compared to their true age. Another interesting feature is Garmin’s signature Body Battery Energy monitoring, which tracks a user’s energy levels throughout the day. It also has incident detection support during select outdoor activities and will send a message (via the connected smartphone) with the wearer’s live location to emergency contacts.
Stylish fit
Fitbit Luxe
Stay fit and trendy
The Fitbit Luxe’s shiny stainless steel case, metal buckle, and trendy straps make it one of the few stylish fitness trackers. It also has excellent heart rate monitoring, can be worn to swim, and works with Android and iOS devices.
- Color AMOLED display
- Support’s women’s health tracking
- Free Fitbit Premium subscription
- Display is small
- Battery life is so-so
- Stylish bands are pricey
The Fitbit Luxe is a fashion-focused fitness tracker that blends style and function. It rocks a polished stainless steel housing with a gold, platinum, or graphite finish, and the option of a straightforward silicone band or a jewelry-like gold stainless steel link bracelet. Fitbit also offers various stylish bands made from leather, fabric, or steel mesh. The device’s cost depends on the band type; silicone bands are the cheapest.
Read our review
Fitbit Luxe review: Tiny screen, terrific fitness stats
This small and mighty fitness tracker nearly does it all
Style isn’t the Fitbit Luxe’s only selling point; it has almost the same feature suite as the more expensive Fitbit Charge 5. Unfortunately, it lacks built-in GPS, can’t notify users if their heart rate is high or low, doesn’t have the stress management app, and has a shorter five-day battery life. However, it has irregular heart rhythm support, detecting signs of atrial fibrillation, as well as menstrual health tracking. It also includes a free six-month Fitbit Premium subscription.
Biggest display
Redmi Watch 3
Almost perfect
The Redmi Watch 3 has a large and sharp display that’s easy to read while exercising outdoors and a built-in GPS module for tracking routes when walking or running. There’s also a voice assistant that can help users set alarms and reminders and control smart home appliances.
- Display is large and crisp
- Support for Bluetooth calling
- On-board voice assistant
- Size can be an issue for some
- No on-board storage
- Lacks NFC support
The Redmi Watch 3 also adopts a smartwatch-like design with its square-ish screen and flat metallic frame (similar to an Apple Watch). Its AMOLED display is quite large and gets plenty bright, even on sunny days. This fitness tracker is available in black and ivory with optional replaceable straps in bright colors like aqua blue and lime green that can be purchased separately to spice up the tracker’s appearance. There are also over 200 watch faces to choose from.
With support for over 120 sports modes, including swimming, running, hiking, and skipping, a built-in five-satellite positioning chip, heart rate and blood oxygen level monitoring, sleep tracking, and menstrual cycle tracking, the Redmi Watch 3 has health and fitness data covered. It also has Amazon Alexa built-in for controlling smart home devices or setting reminders and alarms. The device even has a built-in speaker that’ll take calls with a simple hand raise, and its battery can last up to 12 days on a single charge.
Burning calories shouldn’t burn a hole in one’s pocket
The popularity of fitness trackers has provided buyers with options that cut across different price points, but just because a fitness tracker doesn’t cost a small fortune, doesn’t mean it can’t track health and fitness progress well.
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro proves how true that is, sporting a built-in GPS chip, 100+ sports modes, battery life lasting almost two weeks, and an easy-to-navigate interface. It’s not enough to just have these features, they also work well in demonstrating the value of a wearable that doesn’t require a big commitment from your wallet.
Those with more cash to spend looking for something more premium won’t be disappointed in an advanced fitness tracker like the Fitbit Charge 6. It’s not just how sophisticated it looks or feels, it’s also the extensive set of features and options that make it hard to resist. You have to pay extra to use Fitbit Premium long-term, but it’s worth the money if you’re serious about making changes or maintaining your gains.
The Amazfit Band 7 steals the spotlight for the super budget-conscious user, with its wide sports mode array, excellent 18-day battery life, and built-in smart assistant.
Best overall
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro
Affordable excellence
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro’s large screen, built-in GPS, dozens of sports modes, and long battery life make it a well-balanced fitness tracker at an affordable price.
