Embarking on a health journey or seeking deeper insights into your workouts? A fitness tracker can transform your exercise routine into an engaging game while providing valuable data. Fortunately, these devices, often resembling smartwatches, are available at various budget-friendly price points. From high-end models that compete with the best smartwatches to basic trackers that monitor steps and heart rate, there's a perfect fitness tracker for every wrist size and budget.
TL;DR – The Best Budget Fitness Trackers:
Our Top Pick### Fitbit Inspire 3
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### Xiaomi Smart Band 9
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### Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
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### Amazfit Band 7
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### Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
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### Garmin Venu 3
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Fitbit Inspire 3
Best Budget Fitness Tracker
Our Top Pick### Fitbit Inspire 3
0Smartwatches and fitness trackers don't have to break the bank, and the Fitbit Inspire 3 is a prime example. This device offers an impressive array of features at a price under $100. Its bright AMOLED display and durable, sleek band make it comfortable enough to wear while sleeping. With a battery life of up to 10 days (less with the always-on display), you'll rarely need to take it off. Navigating the device is intuitive, thanks to its touch technology and two haptic buttons.
The Fitbit Inspire 3 excels in fitness tracking with 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, blood oxygen level measurement, and movement reminders. It also features automatic exercise tracking, which is perfect for those who forget to start their workout sessions, and sleep monitoring to help you understand your sleep quality. While it includes basic smartwatch features like phone notifications and a find-my-phone function, it lacks music storage and contactless payment capabilities.
Xiaomi Smart Band 9
Best Ultra Cheap Fitness Tracker
### Xiaomi Smart Band 9
0Priced under $50, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 offers an affordable entry into fitness tracking with a 1.62-inch AMOLED display and an impressive 21-day battery life. Despite its low cost, it doesn't skimp on features, offering over 150 sports modes and essential health monitoring tools such as a pedometer, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen saturation, and sleep tracking.
Each sport mode provides detailed insights into your activity, including calories burned and average heart rate, though accuracy may not match that of higher-end devices like the Apple Watch. The latest model boasts enhanced battery life and a brighter screen, reaching 1,200 nits for easy visibility in sunlight. The touch-responsive display is ideal for quickly accessing fitness metrics and limited smartwatch features like call and message notifications and music playback control, though phone pairing can be finicky.
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS
### Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
0The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro builds on the success of its predecessor with the addition of built-in GPS, perfect for mapping out your runs, bike rides, and hikes. Featuring a larger 1.74-inch AMOLED display, this model resembles the Apple Watch in design and offers 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and over 150 sports modes.
While the sports modes provide basic metrics like heart rate and time, the GPS feature ensures more precise tracking. The band includes limited smartwatch features such as music playback and notification display, but lacks NFC support for contactless payments. With a battery life of up to 21 days and a user-friendly interface, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro is an excellent choice for those seeking a stylish and functional fitness tracker under $100.
Amazfit Band 7
Best Budget Fitness Tracker With Health Monitoring
### Amazfit Band 7
0The Amazfit Band 7 offers an impressive range of features for just $50. It features a large 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display and a slim, comfortable band. With a battery life of up to 18 days (or 28 days in battery-saver mode), it's ideal for continuous wear.
The Band 7 supports over 120 sports modes with automatic recognition for four, and is water-resistant up to 50m, making it suitable for swimming. Health monitoring includes heart rate, blood oxygen levels, stress, and detailed sleep tracking. Additionally, it offers smartwatch features like on-watch notifications and Amazon Alexa integration, though it lacks built-in GPS.
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
Best Budget Apple Watch
### Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
0The 2nd-generation Apple Watch SE offers a budget-friendly option that runs on the same S8 SiP chipset as the Apple Watch Series 8, ensuring speedy performance at a lower cost. It features an optical heart rate sensor and built-in GPS for accurate tracking during hikes and workouts. The watch automatically detects various exercises, including swimming, and supports additional fitness apps from the App Store thanks to its 32GB of storage.
As a full-fledged smartwatch, the Apple Watch SE allows you to answer calls, respond to messages, make contactless payments, and stream music directly from your wrist. It also includes safety features like crash detection, which can automatically call emergency services. With its slim design and impressive battery life (for an Apple Watch), the SE is a versatile and affordable choice.
Garmin Venu 3
Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts
### Garmin Venu 3
0The Garmin Venu 3 is ideal for those serious about their workouts, offering a comprehensive set of features including exercise tracking, GPS, and heart rate monitoring. It also provides animated workouts for activities like pilates, HIIT, and cardio, and a unique Body Battery feature that assesses your body's energy levels based on activity, stress, and sleep.
This fitness tracker supports over 30 preloaded sports apps and is equipped with various sensors for detailed health monitoring, including ECG, blood oxygen, and temperature. As a smartwatch, it can receive calls, assist with smart features, and respond to texts when paired with Android phones. Although its app selection is more limited compared to Apple and Google smartwatches, the Venu 3 offers a bright AMOLED display and up to 14 days of battery life, making it a solid investment for fitness enthusiasts.
What to Look for in a Budget Fitness Tracker
When choosing a budget fitness tracker, consider not only basic functions like step counting and sleep tracking but also the overall user experience, including hardware quality, comfort, and software features. As the price increases, so does the feature set, which may include heart rate monitoring, GPS, and OLED displays. However, even the most basic trackers can provide a wealth of health data at a low cost.
What kind of fitness tracker do I need?
The type of fitness tracker you need depends on your intended use. For simple tracking of steps, heart rate, and time, an ultra-cheap option like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 may suffice, offering color displays, long battery life, and additional features like sports modes and sleep tracking.
If you're into running, biking, or hiking, consider spending a bit more for a model with GPS support. For those needing more than just fitness tracking, a smartwatch with a larger screen, built-in storage, and access to a broader range of apps might be the best choice, offering the ability to answer calls, respond to texts, and receive notifications.
If you're an active runner or gym-goer, complementing your fitness tracker with a great pair of earbuds can enhance your exercise experience.
