Best fitness trackers for 2023

The Charge 5 improves on previous Charge models by adding a color screen and an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) app on top of the already solid fitness and sleep tracking that Fitbit is known for. There’s built-in GPS so you can track outdoor workouts without your phone, as well as a blood oxygen sensor. With the recent addition of a new Daily Readiness Score, the Charge 5 can also tell you if your body is ready to exercise or if you should take a day off. But many of Fitbit’s most useful features, like this score, are only available as part of Fitbit’s $10-a-month Premium service. Without a Premium subscription, you can still use the Charge 5 for fitness and health tracking, it just won’t give you the most in-depth metrics and trends over time. The battery should last at least four full days and it’s compatible with iPhone and Android.

Read our Fitbit Charge 5 review.

If you’re looking for a low-key (and more affordable) fitness band, you might want to consider the Fitbit Luxe. You won’t get built-in GPS or mobile payment options, but it does have the essentials of health and fitness tracking, including heart rate monitoring, automatic workout detection, and a detailed sleep analysis.

This fitness band is also the closest thing to jewelry I’ve worn so far, especially if you pair it with the Gorjana link bracelet. You can also swap out the bands for more traditional silicone bands if you’re worried about sweating or using it to track swims. The biggest downside is that for some people the screen and text may be too small to read without much effort (or glasses).

Read our Fitbit Luxe review.

For around $50, the Mi Band 7 is the best fitness tracker on this list. It has a large AMOLED color touchscreen, 24/7 heart rate and sleep tracking. Battery life is excellent too, with around six days of use before needing to charge. The main downside is that heart rate tracking for intense workouts tends to be spotty, and some features like contactless payments aren’t available in the US.

Read our Mi Band 7 and Fitbit Charge 5 comparison.

These $300 smart insoles can turn any old running shoe into a high-tech tracker, giving you more fitness tracking information on your run than any wrist tracker we’ve ever had. tested. Each insole has 16 sensors that detect the pressure you put on your foot with every step you take. With the app and trackers, they can measure everything from step length to foot strike balance to give you real-time feedback on how to reduce injuries or improve your times.

Read our Nurvv Run insoles review.

The Series 8 might be a bit fancier, but the $249 Apple Watch SE has everything you need in a fitness tracker with some extra smartwatch functionality. Both watches share the same variety of exercise modes, sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, the ability to detect irregular heartbeats, and cardio fitness notifications. There’s also a new, redesigned Compass app to help you avoid getting lost on your next run. Apple Watch SE is also compatible with dozens of fitness apps like Strava, Nike Training Club and Apple’s Fitness Plus. The Series 8 lacks the ability to take an ECG, measure wrist temperature, and monitor blood oxygen. But for those who just need extra motivation to close their activity rings, the Apple Watch SE has plenty to offer at a lower price than the Series 8.

Read our Apple Watch SE review.

If you’re not quite ready to give up the look of a traditional wristwatch, but want something with smart features, consider the Garmin Lily. This is a tracker designed for smaller wrists and features a cool pattern etched into the background of the watch that gives it a unique look when the monochrome display is on or off. Despite its small footprint, it doesn’t skimp on all the important features you’d expect, including blood oxygen, sleep tracking, and 24/7 heart rate monitoring. Unlike some of the other trackers on this list, the Lily doesn’t have built-in music storage, or built-in GPS.

Read our Garmin Lily review.