The 14 Greatest Health Trackers and Watches of 2025, Examined

Health Trackers and Watches We Additionally Examined

We spent over one yr testing 36 health trackers, however solely 14 earned a spot on our closing listing of suggestions. Though these choices did not rating excessive sufficient to make the ultimate minimize, we nonetheless assume they’ve some options value mentioning.

• FITVII’s Well being & Health Tracker is a budget-friendly choice that precisely tracks fundamental metrics like steps and coronary heart price. Nonetheless, throughout testing, it felt a bit cumbersome, and we discovered that a few of its options, akin to cycle monitoring, didn’t work correctly.
• Though we discovered Fitbit’s Cost 6 to be very snug and correct for sleep monitoring, we had bother utilizing the built-in GPS and syncing exercises with third-party apps.
• Casio’s G-SHOCK DWH5600 has a rugged design and providesƒ correct metrics for steps and coronary heart price throughout testing. Nonetheless, it lacks handy options akin to automated exercise detection. We additionally discovered the setup course of and interface to be very nonintuitive.
•  When testing Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7, we discovered it straightforward to arrange, customise, and combine with our smartphone. Nonetheless, the band felt cumbersome, and we had been dissatisfied that the auto-stop function was unreliable.
• Amazfit’s Helio Ring is extra budget-friendly than different good rings, and we had been impressed with its snug, discreet design and sleep-tracking accuracy. Nonetheless, we discovered its exercise monitoring and exercise metrics to be considerably restricted.

What We’ve Up to date

• Since publishing our examined roundup of the most effective health trackers, we’ve re-evaluated our earlier picks and hands-on examined eight new units. We evaluated every gadget for its ease of setup, ease of use, consolation, connectivity, options, accuracy, and worth to seek out the highest choices available on the market.
• Based mostly on long-term testing and our most up-to-date testing insights, we’ve reworked our product picks for a few of our superlatives, together with Greatest Sensible Look ahead to Sleep, Greatest Ring, and extra. We’ve additionally added new superlatives, together with Greatest Health Tracker for On a regular basis Use and Most Comfy Health Watch.

Sorts of Health Trackers and Watches

Health trackers are available in all styles and sizes, and also you’ll wish to select one which feels snug and finest meets your wants. These are the categories we advocate, and the most typical ones you’ll come throughout whereas purchasing.

• Smartwatch: A smartwatch is actually an extension of your smartphone in your wrist, offering handy entry to apps, alerts, notifications, calls, music, and extra. Though they don’t all the time supply the identical sturdy information and evaluation as health wristbands, they will nonetheless monitor metrics like every day steps and coronary heart price, in addition to exercise information akin to distance, tempo, and elevation, utilizing GPS.
• Health Wristbands: These units are typically smaller, lighter, and extra snug than smartwatches, making them a greater choice for all-day put on and sleep monitoring. Newbie exercisers and fewer tech-savvy folks additionally like that they’re often budget-friendly and straightforward to make use of. Nonetheless, they could not have built-in GPS or supply the identical integration together with your telephone as a smartwatch.
• Sensible Rings: A wise ring is a refined, wearable tracker that doubles as a bit of jewellery and displays metrics akin to sleep, every day exercise, physique temperature, and stress. They’re often snug to put on all day and to mattress, and usually supply complete sleep, coronary heart price, and stress monitoring. Nonetheless, good rings’ exercise monitoring capabilities aren’t all the time as correct as wrist-worn fashions, and a few require a month-to-month subscription to entry all of your information.  
• Armbands: Though not as standard as different sorts, armbands are particularly good for precisely monitoring your coronary heart price. They’re very snug for distance runs or rides, however aren’t the best option for on a regular basis put on.

What to Search for When Purchasing for Health Trackers and Watches

• Type and Show: Health trackers do not need to be purely useful. Many watch-style trackers include interchangeable bands to go well with totally different wardrobes and events. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a health tracker that may double as a every day accent, test that the show is straightforward to learn and perceive when you’re exercising. Search for vibrant shows with clear graphics.
• Water Resistance: Trackers with a water-resistance ranking of as much as 50 meters (or 164 toes) are appropriate for swimming swimming pools. If you happen to want a tracker suited to open-water actions like ocean swimming, browsing, or paddle boarding, search for a ranking of as much as 100 meters (or roughly 333 toes) of open water.
• Battery Life: Relying on the options used, many units can final seven to 10 days on a full cost. GPS, for instance, tends to make use of quite a lot of battery energy. Some units may even last as long as thirty days or extra. When purchasing, remember to test the common battery life in comparison with what you intend to make use of the gadget for earlier than buying.
• Compatibility: Many high-tech health trackers are smartphone-compatible, permitting you to obtain textual content, name, and app notifications immediately in your wrist. Some trackers enable music streaming, and a few even help you reply to your calls and texts. When purchasing, ensure the tracker you are contemplating is suitable together with your telephone.
• Metrics: Most health trackers monitor fundamental metrics like steps, coronary heart price, energetic minutes, distance, and tempo. The metrics you wish to monitor are a private selection, so think about what stats are vital to your targets and progress when choosing a tool.
• Worth: Trackers that offer you fundamental information, like sleep cycle monitoring or the variety of steps every day, are often budget-friendly. Nonetheless, should you’re on the lookout for superior options like security alerts, vibrating alarms, and restoration standing, you’ll wish to put money into a higher-priced gadget.

How We Examined the Health Trackers

Health trackers work finest when used over the long run, permitting them to adapt to your life-style. For probably the most exact testing outcomes, we spent over one yr testing 36 health trackers at dwelling throughout a one-month interval, sporting them whereas figuring out, sleeping and in our every day routines. When testing health trackers and watches, we consider every choice primarily based on the next key standards.

• Ease of Setup: After unboxing the brand new health trackers, we set them up and assess how intuitive the method is. We word if we encounter any points or difficulties through the setup. We additionally decide if there are any options or capabilities which might be significantly obscure or use.
• Consolation: We put on every tracker for quite a lot of exercises and for a number of hours all through our day. We word if the strap or sensor feels safe and comfy on our pores and skin or if it causes irritation. We think about issues like: Does the strap have sufficient adjustability? Is it smooth and light-weight or cumbersome and cumbersome? Is it sweatproof? Is it comfortable to sleep with it on? Since a health tracker is just efficient if worn usually, we prioritize snug trackers.
• Ease of Use: As we take a look at the gadget, we word the issue degree of monitoring exercises and accessing information. If there’s an app, we additionally word how straightforward it’s to navigate and whether or not graphics and different particulars are clear and straightforward to grasp. We be aware of whether or not the metrics are helpful and the way easy it’s to customise the settings. We additionally assess how responsive the touchscreen or management interface is to make use of.
• Accuracy: Along with evaluating the tracker’s precision, we additionally word how rapidly its monitor responds to modifications in our coronary heart price throughout a exercise. We test how simply it detects several types of motion, for instance, strolling versus working. If we’ve got different technique of monitoring metrics, akin to one other health tracker, our telephone, or a coronary heart price monitor, we examine the info from these different trackers to the gadget we’re testing.
• Options: As we proceed to check the tracker, we consider the vary and high quality of its well being and health monitoring and evaluation. We additionally be aware of gamification, motivation, and goal-setting options that encourage constant use. We think about whether or not the tracker affords customized options primarily based on information and consumer preferences, akin to coaching plans or custom-made shows. We additionally test if the watch has psychological well being components, akin to stress monitoring or mindfulness help.
• Connectivity: To judge the connectivity of every gadget, we consider whether or not the tracker syncs seamlessly with our smartphone or different units. We think about whether or not notifications are delivered in real-time and are correct. We additionally make word of any dropped indicators or syncing points.
• Worth: We totally take a look at every health tracker with out understanding its price, and solely test the value on the finish of our testing interval. We then decide the worth rating primarily based on whether or not the value precisely displays the options and high quality, and our expertise with the gadget. We predict critically about whether or not we’d purchase the merchandise at its present value and if we’d advocate it to family and friends members.

Our Consultants

We consulted specialists at every stage of our analysis, testing, and reporting course of. The next specialists helped us higher perceive what key options to search for when searching for a high-quality choice and potential flaws to pay attention to. We additionally requested about particular health trackers they might advocate and took their enter into consideration when selecting which trackers to check. Whereas we choose merchandise independently, professional enter helps inform our selections.

• Kira Jones, CPT, private coach and founding father of Cacti Wellness Collective in New York Metropolis
• Noelle McKenzie, ACE-CPT, private coach and co-founder of Main Edge Private Trainers in New York Metropolis

Regularly Requested Questions

What’s the highest-rated health tracker?

Throughout our testing, we decided that every one of our picks had been high-performing and correct. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a high-quality, cost-effective health tracker, Amazfit’s Steadiness Smartwatch is our advice resulting from its complete well being and health monitoring options, built-in GPS, coronary heart price monitoring, lengthy battery life, and sleep evaluation capabilities.

Is it value it to purchase a smartwatch for train monitoring?

With options like coronary heart price monitoring, GPS, workout-specific modes, and sleep monitoring, a smartwatch can improve your health routine should you plan to make use of it to set targets, monitor your progress, and enhance your motivation. If you happen to don’t assume you’ll make the most of the superior performance of a smartwatch, a fundamental, budget-friendly health tracker could also be adequate.

What are the advantages of utilizing a health tracker? 

Health trackers help your bodily and psychological well-being by serving to you keep on monitor with health targets, says McKenzie. By monitoring progress, providing prompts to maneuver, and offering motivation, they will encourage extra motion.

How lengthy does a health tracker final?

Pricier trackers might last as long as 5 years or extra, whereas these at lower cost factors might present put on and tear after round two years. Some elements that put on out, like straps or batteries, could also be replaceable, so you do not have to buy a complete new gadget.

Why Belief Verywell Match

Jen Zeltwanger, ACSM-EP, is an ACSM-certified train physiologist and Verywell Match author. She has a number of expertise with in-home and out of doors health and tracks all of it sporting an Apple Watch. Jen is aware of what works and what to search for when searching for health merchandise, and he or she prioritizes merchandise which might be straightforward to make use of, versatile, and of top quality.

Further reporting contributed by Christine Luff, ACE-CPT

An authorized private coach, working coach, fitness center buff, and Verywell Match author, Christine Luff, ACE-CPT, spends numerous hours researching and testing the newest train gear and devices. She persistently wears an Apple Watch to trace her out of doors runs, every day steps, and different well being and health information.

Each authors reviewed insights from our Lab and at-home checks to assist create this listing of prime performers.