Whether you're starting a fitness journey or seeking deeper workout insights, a fitness tracker can gamify exercise and provide valuable data. Fortunately, many affordable wearables—often smartwatch variations—offer excellent value. From feature-rich models rivaling top smartwatches to basic step counters and heart rate monitors, budget-friendly options cater to all needs and wrist sizes.
TL;DR – The Best Budget Fitness Trackers:
Our Top Pick: Fitbit Inspire 3
Xiaomi Smart Band 9
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
Amazfit Band 7
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
Garmin Venu 3
Contributions by Kevin Lee
1. Fitbit Inspire 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker
Product Specifications: Size: 39.3mm x 18.6mm; Thickness: 11.75mm; Battery life: 10 days; Connectivity: Bluetooth; Sensors: Heart rate monitor, SpO2; Tracking: Swim, sleep, steps; Water resistance: Up to 50m
Pros: Bright AMOLED touchscreen; Long battery life.
Cons: Some advanced features require a subscription.
The Fitbit Inspire 3 proves that excellent fitness trackers don't need a hefty price tag. For under $100, it boasts a bright AMOLED display and a comfortable, durable band—perfect for all-day wear, including sleep. Its 10-day battery life (reduced with the always-on display) minimizes charging needs. Navigation is easy via touchscreen and two buttons. Fitness tracking includes 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, blood oxygen measurement, and movement reminders. Automatic exercise tracking and sleep monitoring offer valuable insights. Basic smartwatch features like phone notifications and a find-my-phone function are also included.
2. Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Best Ultra Cheap Fitness Tracker
Product Specifications: Size: 46.53mm x 21.63mm; Thickness: 10.95mm; Battery life: 21 days; Connectivity: Bluetooth; Sensors: Heart rate monitor, SpO2; Tracking: Swim, sleep, steps; Water resistance: Up to 50m
Pros: Over 150 sports modes; Impressive 21-day battery life.
Cons: Tracking isn't always 100% accurate.
The sub-$50 Xiaomi Smart Band 9 packs a punch. It features a 1.62-inch AMOLED display, exceptional battery life (three weeks with moderate use), and a sleek design. It includes a pedometer, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen saturation monitor, and sleep monitoring. Over 150 fitness modes—from running to swimming—provide detailed workout data (though accuracy might not rival high-end devices). The bright display (1200 nits) ensures readability in sunlight. While lacking physical buttons, touch responsiveness is excellent. It offers basic smartwatch features like call and message notifications and music control.
3. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro: Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS
Product Specifications: Size: 43.27mm x 32.49mm; Thickness: 10.8mm; Battery life: 21 days; Connectivity: Bluetooth; Sensors: Heart rate monitor, GPS, SpO2; Tracking: Swim, sleep, stress; Water resistance: Up to 50m
Pros: Accurate built-in GPS; Large, full-color AMOLED display.
Cons: No NFC.
An upgrade to the Smart Band 9, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro offers a larger 1.74-inch AMOLED display and a surprisingly accurate built-in GPS for mapping workouts. It retains 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and support for over 150 sports modes. While offering basic smartwatch features like music playback and notifications (no replies), it lacks NFC. Despite this, its bright screen, intuitive interface, and long battery life make it a strong contender under $100.
4. Amazfit Band 7: Best Budget Fitness Tracker With Health Monitoring
Product Specifications: Size: 37.3mm; Thickness: 12.2mm; Battery life: 18 days; Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2; Sensors: Heart rate monitor, SpO2; Tracking: Swim, period, sleep; Water resistance: Up to 50m
Pros: Extensive tracking (stress and sleep); Amazon Alexa and other smartwatch features.
Cons: No built-in GPS.
The $50 Amazfit Band 7 packs a lot of features. Its 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display makes data viewing easy, while the band itself remains slim and comfortable. An 18-day battery life (28 days in battery saver mode) is a significant advantage. It supports over 120 sports modes (four with automatic recognition) and is water-resistant up to 50m. Health monitoring includes heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress levels, alongside sleep tracking. Smartwatch features include notifications and Amazon Alexa integration.
5. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen): Best Budget Apple Watch
Product Specifications: Size: 40mm x 34mm; Thickness: 10.7mm; Battery life: 18 hours; Connectivity: Cellular (optional), 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3; Sensors: Heart rate monitor, GPS, accelerometer; Tracking: Swim, sleep, period; Water resistance: Up to 50m
Pros: Huge selection of apps; Special safety features (crash detection); Built-in GPS.
Cons: Fewer sensors than other Apple Watch options.
The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) offers a budget-friendly entry into the Apple ecosystem. Powered by the same S8 SiP chipset as the Series 8, it provides speedy performance. It includes an optical heart rate sensor and built-in GPS for accurate workout tracking, automatically detecting various activities including swimming. With 32GB of storage, it supports a vast app selection from the App Store. It functions as a full smartwatch, enabling calls, messages, contactless payments, and music streaming. Crash detection adds an important safety feature.
6. Garmin Venu 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts
Product Specifications: Size: 45mm; Thickness: 12mm; Battery life: 14 days; Connectivity: Bluetooth, 802.11n; Sensors: Heart rate monitor, GPS, temperature; Tracking: Swim, sleep, stress, energy; Water resistance: Up to 50m
Pros: Highly accurate GPS and heart rate monitor; Helpful Body Battery feature.
Cons: Limited app selection compared to other smartwatches.
Garmin's Venu 3, while the most expensive on this list, is a worthwhile investment for serious fitness enthusiasts. It tracks various exercises (swimming, cycling, golf, etc.) using highly accurate GPS and heart rate monitoring. Over 30 preloaded sports apps and animated workouts enhance the experience. Its unique Body Battery feature provides insights into energy levels based on activity, stress, and sleep. It functions as a smartwatch with a bright AMOLED display, offering calls, smart assistants, and text replies (with compatible phones). App selection is more limited than Apple or Google watches.
What to Look for in a Budget Fitness Tracker
Choosing a fitness tracker involves considering more than just step counting and sleep tracking. Hardware quality, comfort, software, and tracking accuracy are all crucial. Higher prices often mean more features (heart rate monitoring, GPS, OLED displays). However, many affordable trackers provide ample health data.
What Kind of Fitness Tracker Do I Need?
Your needs determine the best tracker. For basic step counting, heart rate monitoring, and timekeeping, an ultra-cheap band like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 suffices. These often include color displays, long battery life, various sports modes, sleep tracking, blood oxygen sensors, and phone notifications. For runners and hikers, GPS support is recommended. For broader functionality beyond fitness and health, a smartwatch offers a larger screen, storage, app access, and communication capabilities. Active individuals may also want a good pair of earbuds.
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