The devices we recommend are equipped with features like automatic exercise detection, personalized workout programming, and the advertised ability to monitor stress and sleep quality. Many phones can track steps and distance, some ear buds even offer heart rate monitoring. But for accurate-as-possible always-on activity monitoring, you’ll want a wrist-worn wearable. Huawei packs it with its TruSeen 4.0 optical sensor to deliver good 24/7 heart rate data and to power mindfulness features like stress tracking.

Best Garmin fitness tracker

More expensive trackers usually include built-in optical heart rate monitors and GPS. Often, these features are meant to tempt athletes and exercise enthusiasts. Don’t get suckered into buying an expensive tracker if your primary activity is walking. If you walk and don’t do much else, there are compelling options in the $25 to $99 range. If you work out frequently and want comprehensive fitness-tracking features, we recommend spending at least $99 to access the tools you may need or want.

Hevy — Best for Social Motivation and Progress Tracking

Since it is an AI-based app, you don’t get access to a human trainer. You also won’t find any nutrition coaching or features like community leaderboards, forums, or push notifications to remind you to work out. You’ll also follow the workouts on your own, so aside from optional workout reminders, you’re not really getting any accountability with Shred.

• The Garmin Forerunner 965 is a running watch with multi-sport functionality.
• Healthline tester Melissa Lee used the app as a tool to learn different types of exercises while gyms were closed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The most data-hungry apps in the study were Fitbit (24 data types), Strava (21 data types), and Nike Training Club (20 data types, including sensitive information).
• For example, smartwatch options in this buying guide, including the Apple Watch 9 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 both offer optional support for cellular connectivity.
• Visible has been brilliant, my band arrived around about a week ago and so far has been super helpful, it’s EXTREMELY accurate and has helped me listen to my body.
• Build better habits with automatic tracking of your days and quiet tracking of your nights — so small actions can become something bigger, maybe even life-changing.

In our 1-mile distance test, the Charge 6 was -0.02 miles off and had an error rate of 1.3% in our step-count test, performing just below our pick. On a full charge we were able to get five days of use while working out regularly and using GPS. The Fitbit Inspire 3 was the most accurate fitness tracker for step count and near the top of the rankings for every other test we performed. The touchscreen display is only 1.5 inches tall but is simple to navigate, thanks to its sharp colors and easily readable text and icons.

Eat. Sleep. ____. Repeat.

We’re here to help you narrow your options and find the best fitness tracker for your needs and budget. The affordable Fitbit Air is the best screen-free tracker we’ve tested, while the Fitbit Charge 6 remains a top pick for its integrated GPS and color display. Whether you’re an avid exerciser or you’re just starting out, our list of the best fitness trackers has you covered.

Built for Everyday Training

When you connect Strava with Zapier, you can orchestrate rich, multi-step workflows that turn your activity data into something you can actually use. For example, you can automatically store your workouts in a spreadsheet or database, use AI to summarize trends or highlight milestones, and share relevant training recommendations. Unfortunately, if you primarily work out indoors, you won’t get much out of the app. It’s just not great at tracking activities like Pilates or weightlifting. And if you’re privacy-conscious or just not all that competitive, a lot of the strongest features are kind of useless. That’s great in terms of giving users variety—but when you’re scoping out a new app, it can often feel like you’re comparing apples to oranges.

Beyond the Wrist

The button style sometimes feels less secure, especially if we’re tackling three-point rows and deadlifts at the gym. Xiaomi and Amazfit dominate for cheap quality hardware and useful health software without a subscription. And Garmin has fantastic fitness tools paired with reliable health and sleep data. Up until late 2023, we reserved our top slot on this list for the Fitbit Charge 5, a fantastic “pseudo smartwatch” that crams useful tech into a compact package.

It even has a Garmin Run Coach that, when synced with your headphones, will tell you to slow your pace for a more sustainable heart rate. Whether you’re gearing up for a 5K or a full marathon, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is the best fitness tracker for dedicated runners. It keeps your training smart, structured, and on track — while also keeping up with your day-to-day life and recovery. After testing 15+ wearables over the last year, the sleek Garmin Vivoactive 6 stood out as the best fitness tracker overall. It hits the sweet spot between ease of use, tracking accuracy, and robust fitness functionality, enabling it to grow with you as your training changes.

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A Strava support article confirms it now syncs Apple Fitness+ workouts automatically via Apple Health (requires iOS 18.2+). Do you want a private logger with a good UI, no distractions, and no social pressure? Alternatively, choose BetterMe or Nike Training Club for follow-along workouts with built-in logging options. However, if you want more detailed analytics to monitor your performance and key metrics, personalized workout coaching you need apps like Hevy, Strava, and Zwift. However, the app doesn’t offer the option to log improvised sessions or cardio/sports activities.

Stop clinging to classic Outlook: The new version is finally better

The app offers both group and individual training plans which are written and modified by a certified coach based on progress. Gymverse also offers really great wearable connectivity; when I tested it with my Apple Watch, I could start, track, and end workouts on my watch rather than needing to open the app on my phone. And if that’s not enough, Gymverse offers calorie tracking when paired with a wearable, which is a nice addition and helps you get a better view of your overall fitness. I tested it again, this time using the Runkeeper app on my Apple Watch. Outdoor mode also offered more of the metrics I would expect from an app called Runkeeper, so if you mostly run outside (or have an Apple Watch), it can work well.

Data Not Linked to You

Pacing is widely recommended for these conditions, and is generally understood to help with living well with these conditions. I can honestly say it’s the most useful self-management tool that I have tried and I’ve tried a few. It has been a real turning point in helping me to learn how to pace my activities effectively. The best free step counter app for iPhone is Apple Health, but if you want to try something else, there are a few alternatives available in the App Store.

Set Personalized Heart Rate Zones

I found that the AirPods Pro 3 tracked these basic metrics fairly accurately. For example, counting a known 1-mile distance as 0.97 mile, and coming within the range I expected for estimated calories burned doing a test workout. If you have concerns about the appropriateness of a new exercise routine or suspect that you may have a health condition, check with a medical professional. And if an abnormal heart rate is a health concern for you, don’t rely on an activity tracker to help manage your condition. Fitness trackers can give you a better idea of how you move your body throughout the day. They’re useful for people who want to set goals to increase daily movement and gain a better picture of their activities.