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Embarking on a fitness journey or simply seeking deeper workout insights? A fitness tracker can gamify exercise and provide valuable data. Fortunately, many affordable wearables—often smartwatch variations—offer impressive features without breaking the bank. From feature-rich options rivaling top smartwatches to basic step counters and heart rate monitors, budget-friendly fitness trackers cater to every need and wrist size.
TL;DR – The Best Budget Fitness Trackers:
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Our Top Pick
Fitbit Inspire 3
See it at Amazon
See it at Amazon
See it at Amazon
See it at Amazon
See it at Amazon
See it at Amazon
Contributions by Kevin Lee
1. Fitbit Inspire 3
Best Budget Fitness Tracker
Our Top Pick
Fitbit Inspire 3
See it at Amazon
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 boasts a bright AMOLED display and a durable, sleek, and comfortable band suitable for sleep. Its 10-day battery life (reduced with the always-on display) minimizes charging needs, while touch technology and two buttons ensure easy navigation.
Fitness tracking features include 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, blood oxygen level measurement, and movement reminders. Automatic exercise tracking is a plus for forgetful users, and sleep monitoring enhances sleep quality understanding. Basic smartwatch features like phone notifications and a find-my-phone function (via Bluetooth) are included, although music storage and contactless payments are absent.
2. Xiaomi Smart Band 9
Best Ultra Cheap Fitness Tracker
Xiaomi Smart Band 9
See it at Amazon
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 doesn't skimp on features. It offers a sleek design, comprehensive health monitoring, and rivals Fitbit's offerings. It includes a pedometer, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen saturation monitor, and sleep monitoring. Over 150 fitness modes (running, HIIT, swimming, etc.) provide detailed workout insights (calories burned, heart rate, etc.), though accuracy may not match higher-end devices with GPS.
The Smart Band 9 boasts a three-week battery life (with moderate use), a brighter 1,200-nit display for sunlight readability, and excellent touch responsiveness on its 1.62-inch AMOLED display. Smartwatch features include call and message notifications and music playback control, but phone pairing can be finicky.
3. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
See it at Amazon
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 for tracking various activities. It retains 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and support for over 150 sports modes (though some modes offer limited data).
Limited smartwatch features include music playback and phone notifications (no replies). Despite lacking NFC, the sub-$100 Smart Band 9 Pro offers style, a bright responsive screen, user-friendly interface, and impressive battery life.
4. Amazfit Band 7
Best Budget Fitness Tracker With Health Monitoring
Amazfit Band 7
See it at Amazon
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 shows health and workout data clearly, while the band remains slim and comfortable. Excellent battery life (18 days typical use, 28 days battery saver) is a major advantage.
Over 120 sports modes are supported (four with automatic smart recognition), and 50m water resistance allows for swimming. Health monitoring includes heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress, 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
A budget-friendly Apple Watch, the 2nd-gen SE features an optical heart rate sensor and built-in GPS. It automatically detects various workouts (including swimming) and offers 32GB of storage for additional apps from the App Store.
As a full-fledged smartwatch, it allows for calls, messages, contactless payments, and music streaming. Crash detection automatically calls emergency services. It's slim, comfortable, and offers impressive battery life (for an Apple Watch).
6. Garmin Venu 3
Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts
Garmin Venu 3
See it at Amazon
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, is ideal for serious fitness tracking. It tracks various exercises (swimming, cycling, golf, etc.) using its highly accurate GPS, heart rate monitor, ECG, blood oxygen, temperature, and other sensors. Animated workouts (pilates, HIIT, cardio) are included.
The standout feature is the Body Battery, which assesses body rest based on activity, stress, and sleep. It's a modestly sized smartwatch with a bright AMOLED display and up to 14 days of battery life (reduced with always-on display and automatic workout detection). Standard smartwatch features are included, though app selection is limited compared to Apple and Google watches.
What to Look for in a Budget Fitness Tracker
Fitness trackers are more than step counters and sleep monitors. Consider hardware quality, comfort, software, and tracking accuracy. Higher prices usually mean more features (heart rate monitoring, GPS, OLED displays, etc.), but affordable trackers can still deliver substantial health data.
What kind of fitness tracker do I need?
Your needs dictate the tracker type. Ultra-cheap bands like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 suffice for basic step counting, heart rate checks, and timekeeping. Many budget options include color displays, long battery life, sports modes, sleep tracking, blood oxygen sensors, and phone notifications.
GPS support is advisable for runners, cyclists, and hikers. For broader functionality beyond fitness and health tracking, a smartwatch offers a larger screen, built-in storage, app access, and call/text capabilities. Active individuals might also consider high-quality earbuds for a complete fitness setup.
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