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 options rivaling top smartwatches to basic step counters and heart rate monitors, budget-friendly fitness trackers 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
Our Top Pick
Fitbit Inspire 3
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 to dominate the budget fitness tracker market 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 two haptic buttons minimize interruptions. Fitness tracking includes 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, blood oxygen level measurement, and movement reminders. Automatic exercise tracking and sleep monitoring enhance its value. 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
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 typically found in more expensive trackers. It boasts a sleek design, health monitoring (pedometer, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen saturation, sleep monitoring), and over 150 fitness modes. While accuracy might not match high-end devices with GPS, it provides valuable workout insights. The latest model boasts a three-week battery life (with moderate use) and a brighter (1200 nits) 1.62-inch AMOLED display. Touch controls are responsive, offering access to fitness metrics and limited smartwatch features (call and message notifications, music playback control). Phone pairing may require some patience.
3. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
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 features a larger (1.74-inch) rectangular AMOLED display and a surprisingly accurate built-in GPS. It retains 24/7 heart rate and SpO₂ monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and support for over 150 sports modes. While some modes offer limited data, the GPS enhances workout tracking significantly. Limited smartwatch features include music playback and phone notifications (no replies). Despite lacking NFC, its sub-$100 price point makes it a stylish option with a bright screen, user-friendly interface, and impressive battery life.
4. Amazfit Band 7
Best Budget Fitness Tracker With Health Monitoring
Amazfit Band 7
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 offers impressive features for its price. Its large (1.47-inch) always-on AMOLED display, slim and comfortable band, and long battery life (18 days typical use, 28 days battery saver) are key highlights. It supports over 120 sports modes (four with automatic smart recognition), 50m water resistance, and health monitoring (heart rate, blood oxygen level, stress, sleep). Smartwatch functionality includes on-watch notifications and Amazon Alexa integration.
5. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
Best Budget Apple Watch
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
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 budget-friendly Apple Watch experience. It utilizes the same S8 SiP chipset as the Series 8, providing fast processing. Features include 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 allows answering calls, responding to messages, making contactless payments, and streaming music. Crash detection enhances safety.
6. Garmin Venu 3
Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts
Garmin Venu 3
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 offers extensive exercise tracking (swimming, cycling, golf, and over 30 preloaded sports apps), highly accurate GPS and heart rate monitoring, ECG, blood oxygen, and temperature sensors. Animated workouts (pilates, HIIT, cardio) and the Body Battery feature (assessing energy levels) enhance its value. Smartwatch features include calls, smart assistants, and text replies (with compatible phones). App selection is limited compared to Apple and Google smartwatches.
What to Look for in a Budget Fitness Tracker
Choosing a fitness tracker involves considering hardware quality, comfort, software, and tracking accuracy. Higher prices often mean more features (heart rate monitoring, GPS, OLED displays). However, affordable trackers can still provide ample health data. The ideal tracker depends on your needs: ultra-cheap options suffice for basic tracking, while GPS is beneficial for runners and hikers. For broader functionality beyond fitness, a smartwatch offers a larger screen, storage, app access, and communication features.
Consider pairing your fitness tracker with quality earbuds for a complete fitness experience.
