The 10 Best Budget Fitness Trackers Of 2023

A fitness tracker can be a useful tool for boosting your exercise motivation, as well as improving your overall health. While some trackers can be expensive, there are some budget-friendlier models that help you to track activities like running or cycling while also keeping tabs on health and fitness data such as steps, heart rate, and sleep cycles.

Before investing in a fitness tracker, think about how you’ll want to use it and what features you’ll need to accommodate your preferences and goals. Some models come equipped with many of the same features you’d find in a higher-end device, such as built-in GPS and heart rate monitoring, but others are basic, no-frills options that are suitable for step counting.

Reviewed & Approved

Our best overall selection is Fitbit’s Inspire 3 for its long battery life and ability to accurately measure a wide range of activities and health metrics. Amazfit’s Bip U Pro Smartwatch is another high-quality, comfortable option that comes with built-in GPS and can be used for 60+ different sports.

To find the best budget-friendly fitness trackers on the market, we researched and reviewed dozens of lower-priced but still high-quality fitness trackers and evaluated them for features, ease of use, battery life, comfort, accuracy, price, and more.

Based on our research, here are the best budget fitness trackers on the market.

Fitbit’s Inspire 3 earns our top spot because the versatile device excels at tracking fitness stats, as well as a variety of health metrics, including heart rate variability and stress, sleep cycles, and breathing rate.

Best Overall

Fitbit Inspire 3

Slim, lightweight design
Tracks a huge variety of activities and health stats
Excellent battery life
No built-in GPS
Some may prefer a larger screen

Lightweight and comfortable, the Inspire 3 boasts all-day activity tracking, 20+ exercise modes, and an impressive battery life, lasting up to 10 days on a single charge. While the bright, color touchscreen display is smaller than some options, the slim wristband is ideal for those who want 24/7 unobtrusive health tracking.

Although the Inspire 3 doesn’t include built-in GPS, it can use your phone’s GPS to accurately track and map your runs, walks, and bike rides. And unlike other smartwatches that simply measure your sleep time, the Inspire 3 analyzes the amount of time in each sleep phase and gives a sleep score, along with tips for improving sleep quality. What’s more, the Inspire 3 includes a six-month free trial of Fitbit Premium, which provides in-depth insights on your health, personalized guidance, and access to an inspiring community of other fitness-minded people.Price at time of publication: $100

What Our Experts Say

“Fitbits are great for the individual who wants to keep track of movement and has a broader goal of ‘remaining active’.” —Lauren Wilson, ACE-CPT, USATF-certified run coach and master instructor for CycleBar

Amazfit’s Bip U Pro smartwatch is lightweight, water-resistant, and accurately tracks your health and activity stats, all for under $100. It comes with built-in GPS, a feature not typically found in this price range, so you can use it to track key metrics such as steps, pace, and distance.

Best Under $100

Amazfit Bip U Pro Smart Watch

Lightweight and comfortable
Clear, color touchscreen display
Built-in GPS
Workout tracking not as robust as higher-priced options

The watch offers 60+ sports modes while also accurately recording heart rate, blood oxygen levels, sleep quality, and stress levels. A large color touchscreen display makes it easy to view your stats as well as text, app, and call notifications from your synced smartphone.

While its performance and breadth of features don’t measure up to higher-end smartwatches, the Bip U Pro is a great value and budget-friendly alternative. And its battery life of nine days is actually better than many higher-priced smartwatches. With a simple set-up and easy-to-use interface, it’s an excellent buy for fitness tracker newbies.

Price at time of publication: $70

The choices for fitness trackers under $50 are somewhat limited, but Xiaomi’s Mi Band 7 stands out as a well-rounded option for that price point. Lightweight and easy to wear, it’s ideal for 24/7 health and activity tracking, including steps, sleep cycles, and heart rate. While its tracking may not be as precise as higher-end devices, it gets the job done with fairly good accuracy.

Best Under $50

Xiaomi Mi Band 7

Great value
Clear, colorful touchscreen display
Excellent battery life
No built-in GPS
Not as accurate as more expensive options

Meanwhile, the Mi Band 7 boasts a colorful, clear touchscreen display and a stellar battery life of up to 14 days. It also syncs with your phone, so you can get email, text, and app notifications right on the band’s display.

The tracker comes equipped with 110 workout modes, although you’ll have to connect to your phone for GPS. However, it’s a great value and a solid pick for those seeking a basic fitness tracker that’s comfortable, easy to use, and doesn’t require frequent charging.

Price at time of publication: $45

Despite a budget-friendly price, Fitpolo’s Fitness Tracker offers extensive tracking features and a touchscreen display, making it feel much more expensive than it is. It’s ideal for those who want to measure health metrics, such as heart rate, sleep quality, and menstrual cycles.

Best for Health Tracking

Fitpolo Fitness Tracker

Robust health tracking
Clear, crisp display
Simple to navigate
No built-in GPS

The tracker offers nine activity modes, including walking, running, and cycling, and you can use it to measure your steps, calories burned, distance, pace, and duration. Unlike many budget fitness trackers, it has an IP68 waterproof rating—the highest standard for this type of device—so you can wear it while swimming. Although it doesn’t come with a built-in GPS, you can pair it with your smartphone to use that functionality. You can also get text, call, and app notifications right on your wrist.

Given its robust tracking, the device has an impressive battery life of up to seven days, a huge benefit for those who like to wear their tracker 24/7.

Price at time of publication: $50

Fitbit’s Charge 4 really nails the basics, such as accurate activity tracking and heart rate monitoring, but it also comes with premium features you might not expect in an affordable tracker. Most importantly, it has a built-in GPS, so you don’t always have to carry your phone if you want to accurately track your distances during runs, rides, and other activities. When exercising outdoors, you can use it to measure your pace and distance and view a workout intensity map with your route and effort.

Best with GPS

Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness and Activity Tracker with Built-in GPS

Accurate activity tracking
Built-in GPS
Clear, touchscreen display
No on-board music options

The Charge 4 has a bright, simple-to-navigate touchscreen display, which is easy to see, even in bright sunlight. Even better? The battery life lasts up to one week, which is great for a fitness tracker with GPS.

One downside is that the device doesn’t offer onboard music options, so you’ll still need your smartphone for that. However, for a budget-friendly tracker, it’s packed with features and is a high-quality, excellent value for the money.

Price at time of publication: $150

“I love the Fitbit Charge series for something that’s more affordable but still offers a lot.”— Whitney Berger, certified personal trainer, yoga instructor, and founder of WhitFitNYC

For avid runners who like to meticulously track and analyze their workout metrics, Garmin’s Forerunner 45 offers many running-specific features without a big price tag. With built-in GPS, the Forerunner 45 accurately measures the pace and distance of outdoor runs and walks. Even better, it comes with Garmin Coach, which provides adaptive training plans to work on personal running goals and improve your performance. And the device automatically uploads your data to Garmin Connect, a free fitness online community, for extra motivation.

Best for Running

Garmin Forerunner 45

Built-in GPS
Good for running-specific metrics
Clear, large display
Limited sports modes
Not a touchscreen display

The Forerunner 45 also monitors your heart rate and has a large, crisp display, so you can view your stats with a quick glance as you’re running. Plus, the watch pairs with compatible smartphones, allowing you to easily control your music and receive text, email, call, and app notifications on the run.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Forerunner 45 offers limited workout modes beyond running, including cycling, gym cardio, elliptical training, stair-stepping, and yoga. However, this sleek, lightweight device is ideal for runners who want a lot of functionality for a reasonable price.

Price at time of publication: $174

“In my opinion, Garmin products offer the biggest bang for your buck and are the most cutting edge in terms of technology. If someone is looking to improve their cycling or running performance, without hesitation, I recommend they purchase a Garmin.” —Lauren Wilson, ACE-CPT, USATF-certified run coach and master instructor for CycleBar

Huawei’s Band 6 is comfortable and easy to use and offers robust tracking for an affordable tracker. It’s a great option if you’re interested in monitoring your activity levels as well as sleep patterns. It not only records how much you’ve slept in four different sleep phases but also suggests improvements for better sleep. And with an outstanding battery life of up to 14 days, you can wear it for long periods without sweating about charging it.

Best for Sleep Tracking

Huawei Band 6

Comfortable and lightweight
Great display
Robust health and fitness tracking

Since the watch syncs with your smartphone, you can use it to get apps, texts, and call notifications on your wrist. The Band 6 is also equipped with an impressive 96 exercise modes, including running, walking, rowing, and cycling—although you’ll need to use your phone’s GPS to track distances and routes. Unlike most fitness trackers in this price range, it also measures blood oxygen saturation—or the amount of oxygen in your blood—which can be useful for people with lung conditions such as asthma.

Price at time of publication: $48

A fitness tracker that doesn’t need to be charged? That’s what you get with the lightweight, easy-to-use Vivofit 4 from Garmin. The device comes with a replaceable coin cell battery that can last for a full year of use, so you never have to think about packing a charging cord.

Best Battery Life

Garmin Vivofit 4

1+ year battery life
Lightweight
Simple to operate
No built-in GPS or heart rate tracking
Small display screen

The Vivofit 4 tracks classic metrics like steps, distance, calories, and sleep while also automatically detecting various activities with its Move IQ system. Plus, its color display—while small—is clear, crisp, and always visible, even in bright sunlight.

Of course, with a budget-friendly price, the Vivofit 4 doesn’t offer premium features such as built-in GPS or heart rate tracking. However, it excels at recording daily activity and also periodically syncs to Garmin Connect, where you can set custom goals, participate in challenges, and get motivation from other Garmin users.

Price at time of publication: $80

Wyze’s Smartwatch features a crisp color display that’s one of the largest you’ll find on a device this size, making it an ideal choice for those who like to see their data at a quick glance. It syncs with your smartphone, so you can use it to review text, app, and call notifications.

Best Large Display

Wyze Smart Watch

Large color display
IP68 waterproof rating
Good battery life

Overall, the smartwatch doesn’t have as many advanced features for activity tracking as more expensive, higher-end fitness trackers do, but it’s a comfortable, convenient option for those who want to track their steps, distance, exercise duration, and calories burned.

You can also use it for 24/7 monitoring of your heart rate and sleep quality. What’s more, it has an IP68 waterproof rating, so you don’t need to remove it for showering or swimming. And with a battery life of up to nine days, it can take you through your week with enough juice to spare.

Price at time of publication: $40

“If you’re looking for something affordable with just basics, but great for tracking runs, you should look at the Wyze band.” — Whitney Berger, certified personal trainer, yoga instructor, and founder of WhitFitNYC

If your kids keep asking for a fitness tracker, but you don’t want to spend a lot, Biggerfive’s Vigor 2 Kids’ Fitness Tracker is a solid choice.

Best for Kids

Biggerfive Vigor 2 Kids’ Fitness Tracker

Lightweight and easy-to-use
Good battery life
Waterproof
Must connect to app to use it

Designed especially for kids ages 5 to 15, it has a child-friendly, easy-to-use interface and automatically tracks basic metrics like steps, distance, and active minutes. Like trackers geared toward adults, it supports multiple activity modes, including walking, running, biking, dancing, basketball, and other sports. Kids can also use it to track their heart rate and sleep quality.

You need to download an app to use the Vigor 2, but it’s compatible with most Android and iOS smartphones, and parents can use a family account on the app to track multiple devices. Plus, it boasts an IP68 waterproof rating, so kids can safely wear it during water activities and swimming. A full charge will keep the tracker going for up to seven days, so it can keep up with your little one.

Price at time of publication: $30

How We Selected the Best Budget Fitness Trackers

To choose the best budget fitness trackers, we first asked Lauren Wilson, ACE-CPT, USATF-certified run coach and master instructor for CycleBar, Denise Chakoian, a fitness consultant and owner/founder of CORE Studios, and Whitney Berger, certified personal trainer, yoga instructor, and founder of WhitFitNYC, for their expert advice on selecting fitness trackers and what to look for when shopping for one.We researched dozens of devices from popular, trusted manufacturers. Then, we evaluated them for setup, ease of use, features, battery life, accuracy, comfort, appearance, value, and more.

What to Look For in a Budget Fitness Tracker

Health Data and Insights

With so many options to choose from, consider how you plan to use a tracker and what type of health data you’re most interested in.

“Some trackers are better at monitoring health and sleep, while others are better for running or fitness classes,” Berger says. If you want to monitor your heart rate, stress levels, sleep cycles, and blood oxygen levels, be sure to look for trackers that accurately measure those metrics.

Type of Exercise Tracked

Athletes with specific workout and performance goals should choose a tracker with numerous activity modes and features that relate to their fitness routine. For example, “Garmin devices are extremely useful in terms of tracking cycling, running, and swimming,” Wilson says.

On the other hand, if you simply want to track your daily steps and activity time, a basic model should get the job done.

Budget

“You do not have to spend a lot on a fitness tracker, and there are some quality products available that cost under $100,” Wilson says.

However, it’s important to do your research to distinguish the quality, budget-friendly device from the cheap, unreliable models. When reading reviews, look for critiques about the tracker’s accuracy and durability.

“The price will change depending on the features,” Chakoian says. “It all depends on what you are looking for and what you really need out of it.”

Battery Life

Some budget trackers have a battery life of seven to 10 days on a full charge, while others last less than a day if you’re using the built-in GPS.

Meanwhile, some devices have batteries that last up to 30 days or don’t require any charging, which is useful for those who like to measure sleep cycles or other data that require extended wear.

Trackers with fewer features tend to have longer-lasting batteries than more comprehensive devices, so you may have to sacrifice some functionality if you want a longer battery life.

Extra Features

Fortunately, many budget-friendly trackers come with lots of the same features as more expensive models.

“Some fitness trackers sync with music, monitor sleep, have built-in GPS, and give text messages alerts, but you may not need all the bells and whistles,” Wilson says.

Other nice-to-have options may include heart rate monitoring, a waterproof rating, and automatic workout tracking.

Why Trust Verywell Fit

A certified personal trainer, running coach, gym buff, and fitness writer, Christine Luff, ACE-CPT, spends countless hours researching and testing the latest exercise gear and gadgets. She only recommends products that she can genuinely stand behind and that she believes would be a good investment for her readers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best inexpensive step tracker?
If you’re not ready to invest in a fitness tracker (not even a budget-friendlier one), a step tracker is the next best thing. Some inexpensive step trackers, such as iGANK’s Simple Walking Pedometer or the 3DFitBud Simple Step Counter, are perfect for those who want to simply track their daily steps. They’re not complicated to operate, have a long battery life, and are easy to read.
What is Fitbit’s most affordable tracker?
Fitbit’s Inspire 3 is the most affordable model in its line of fitness trackers and our best overall pick for a budget fitness tracker, although prices for many of the devices tend to drop when a newer version is introduced. Amazfit offers many similar wearables, such as its Bip 3 Smartwatch, and is another brand to consider if you’re on a tight budget.
What’s the difference between a fitness tracker and a fitness watch?
Although some might use the terms fitness tracker and fitness watch interchangeably, there are some basic differences. Generally, a fitness tracker is a device that monitors your physical activity and health, tracking metrics such as steps, heart rate, and activity duration. A fitness watch typically focuses more on sports-related stats, such as distance, pace, and intervals.Also, while a fitness watch is worn on your wrist, “there are a lot of new advances and different options to where you can wear your fitness tracker,” Berger says. In addition to wristband styles, fitness trackers come in clip-on models, which clip into a pocket or on your clothes, and fitness rings, which are worn on your finger.
How much do quality budget fitness trackers cost?
Generally, you can expect to pay $40-$130 for a quality budget fitness tracker. Cheaper devices typically offer fewer tracking options and may not include higher-end features such as built-in GPS. On the other hand, more expensive wearables may come with too many advanced features and can be complicated to use. The least expensive option for adults included here, Wyze’s Smartwatch, is often available for $40, while our top recommendation, Fitbit’s Inspire 3, was $100 when we published this list.

If you’re not ready to invest in a fitness tracker (not even a budget-friendlier one), a step tracker is the next best thing. Some inexpensive step trackers, such as iGANK’s Simple Walking Pedometer or the 3DFitBud Simple Step Counter, are perfect for those who want to simply track their daily steps. They’re not complicated to operate, have a long battery life, and are easy to read.

Fitbit’s Inspire 3 is the most affordable model in its line of fitness trackers and our best overall pick for a budget fitness tracker, although prices for many of the devices tend to drop when a newer version is introduced. Amazfit offers many similar wearables, such as its Bip 3 Smartwatch, and is another brand to consider if you’re on a tight budget.

Although some might use the terms fitness tracker and fitness watch interchangeably, there are some basic differences. Generally, a fitness tracker is a device that monitors your physical activity and health, tracking metrics such as steps, heart rate, and activity duration. A fitness watch typically focuses more on sports-related stats, such as distance, pace, and intervals.

Generally, you can expect to pay $40-$130 for a quality budget fitness tracker. Cheaper devices typically offer fewer tracking options and may not include higher-end features such as built-in GPS. On the other hand, more expensive wearables may come with too many advanced features and can be complicated to use. The least expensive option for adults included here, Wyze’s Smartwatch, is often available for $40, while our top recommendation, Fitbit’s Inspire 3, was $100 when we published this list.

How We Selected the Best Budget Fitness Trackers#

What to Look For in a Budget Fitness Tracker#

Health Data and Insights#

Type of Exercise Tracked#

Budget#

Battery Life#

Extra Features#

Why Trust Verywell Fit#