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 alternatives—offer excellent value. From feature-rich options rivaling top smartwatches to basic step counters and heart rate monitors, budget-friendly fitness trackers cater to various needs and wrist sizes.
TL;DR – The Best Budget Fitness Trackers:
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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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*Contributions by Kevin Lee*
1. Fitbit Inspire 3
Best Budget Fitness Tracker
Our Top Pick
Fitbit Inspire 3
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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 more advanced features require a subscription
Fitbit continues its dominance in budget fitness trackers with the Inspire 3. For under $100, it offers a bright AMOLED display and a durable, sleek, and comfortable band suitable for sleep. The 10-day battery life (reduced with the always-on display) and intuitive touch interface with haptic buttons minimize interruptions. It excels at fitness tracking with 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, blood oxygen measurement, and movement reminders. Automatic exercise tracking and sleep monitoring provide valuable insights. Basic smartwatch features include phone notifications and a find-my-phone function (via Bluetooth), though music storage and contactless payments are absent.
2. Xiaomi Smart Band 9
Best Ultra Cheap Fitness Tracker
Xiaomi Smart Band 9
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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 features expected in pricier trackers. Its sleek design incorporates health monitoring, a pedometer, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen saturation sensor, and sleep monitoring. Over 150 fitness modes (including running, HIIT, and swimming) provide detailed workout data (though accuracy may not match higher-end devices). The impressive three-week battery life and bright 1.62-inch AMOLED display with excellent touch responsiveness are significant upgrades. Smartwatch features include call and message notifications and music playback control, although phone pairing can be finicky.
3. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
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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 boasts a larger 1.74-inch AMOLED display and accurate GPS tracking for various activities. It retains 24/7 heart rate and SpO₂ monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and support for over 150 sports modes (though some offer limited data). Smartwatch features include music playback and notifications (but no replies), lacking NFC. Despite this, its sub-$100 price point, stylish design, responsive screen, user-friendly interface, and impressive battery life make it a compelling option.
4. Amazfit Band 7
Best Budget Fitness Tracker With Health Monitoring
Amazfit Band 7
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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: Tons of tracking including stress and sleep, Amazon Alexa and other smartwatch features built-in
CONS: No built-in GPS
The $50 Amazfit Band 7 packs impressive features. Its large 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display and slim, comfortable band offer easy data viewing. The long battery life (up to 18 days, 28 in battery saver mode) is a major advantage. Over 120 sports modes (with automatic smart recognition for four) and 50m water resistance make it versatile. Health monitoring includes heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress levels, along with sleep tracking. Smartwatch features include notifications and Amazon Alexa integration.
5. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
Best Budget Apple Watch
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
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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, like crash detection and built-in GPS
CONS: Fewer sensors than other Apple Watch options
The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) offers a capable smartwatch experience at a budget-friendly price. It features an optical heart rate sensor, built-in GPS, automatic workout detection (including swimming), and 32GB of storage for apps from the App Store. Full smartwatch functionality includes calls, messaging, contactless payments, and music streaming. Crash detection is a valuable safety feature. Despite its slim design and impressive (for an Apple Watch) battery life, it has fewer sensors than higher-end models.
6. Garmin Venu 3
Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts
Garmin Venu 3
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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 priciest on this list, offers serious fitness tracking capabilities. It tracks various exercises (including swimming, cycling, and golf) using its accurate GPS, heart rate monitor, ECG, blood oxygen, and temperature sensors. Animated workout guidance (pilates, HIIT, cardio) is included. The standout feature is the Body Battery, providing insights into energy levels. It functions as a smartwatch with a bright AMOLED display, long battery life (up to 14 days, reduced with always-on display and automatic workout detection), and standard smartwatch features, although app selection is limited compared to Apple and Google watches.
What to Look for in a Budget Fitness Tracker
Fitness trackers offer more than step counting and sleep monitoring. Consider hardware quality, comfort, software, and tracking accuracy. Higher prices often mean more features (heart rate monitoring, GPS, OLED displays). However, affordable trackers can still deliver substantial health data.
What kind of fitness tracker do I need?
Your needs determine the right tracker. Ultra-cheap options like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 suffice for basic step counting, heart rate monitoring, and timekeeping. Many budget models offer color displays, long battery life, sports modes, sleep tracking, blood oxygen sensors, and phone notifications. GPS support is beneficial for runners, cyclists, and hikers. For broader functionality beyond fitness and health, a smartwatch provides a larger screen, storage, app access, and call/text capabilities. Active individuals might also consider high-quality earbuds for a complete fitness setup.
