Embarking on a fitness journey or simply seeking deeper insights into your workouts? A fitness tracker can transform exercise into a fun, data-driven game. Fortunately, many affordable wearables—often smartwatch alternatives—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 wrist and need.
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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*Contributions by Kevin Lee*
1. Fitbit Inspire 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker
Our Top Pick: Fitbit Inspire 3
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High-quality fitness trackers don't have to cost a fortune, as the Fitbit Inspire 3 proves. For under $100, you get a vibrant AMOLED display and a comfortable, durable band perfect for all-day wear, even sleep. Its 10-day battery life (reduced with the always-on display) minimizes charging interruptions. Navigation is intuitive with touch controls and two haptic buttons.
Fitness tracking features include 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, SpO2 measurement, and movement reminders. Automatic exercise tracking eliminates the need to manually start workouts, and sleep monitoring provides valuable sleep quality insights. Basic smartwatch features like phone notifications and a find-my-phone function (via Bluetooth) are also included. Note that music storage and contactless payments are not supported.
| 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 | CONS |
| Bright AMOLED touchscreen | Some more advanced features require a subscription |
| Long battery life |
2. Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Best Ultra-Cheap Fitness Tracker
Xiaomi Smart Band 9
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The Xiaomi Smart Band 9, priced under $50, boasts a 1.62-inch AMOLED display and exceptional battery life, delivering comprehensive basic tracking and 150+ sports modes. It rivals Fitbit in features and value.
Essential features include a pedometer, heart rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, and sleep monitoring. Over 150 fitness modes, ranging from running and HIIT to swimming, provide detailed workout data (though accuracy may be less precise than higher-end devices with GPS). The impressive three-week battery life and bright 1200-nit display are major highlights. While lacking physical buttons, the touchscreen is highly responsive. Note that phone pairing can be finicky.
| 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 | CONS |
| Over 150 sports modes | Tracking isn't always 100% accurate |
| Impressive 21-day battery life |
3. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro: Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
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Seeking an upgrade from the Smart Band 9? The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro offers a larger, rectangular 1.74-inch AMOLED display and a surprisingly accurate built-in GPS for mapping workouts. It retains 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and extensive sports mode support.
While offering over 150 sports modes, note that many only track heart rate and time. Limited smartwatch features include music playback and phone notifications (no replies). Despite lacking NFC, the Smart Band 9 Pro delivers style, a responsive screen, user-friendly interface, and impressive battery life for under $100.
| 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 | CONS |
| Accurate built-in GPS | No NFC |
| Large, full-color AMOLED display |
4. Amazfit Band 7: Best Budget Fitness Tracker with Health Monitoring
Amazfit Band 7
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The Amazfit Band 7, priced around $50, packs a surprising amount of functionality. Its large 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display showcases health and workout data clearly, while the band itself remains slim and comfortable. The impressive battery life lasts up to eight days (28 days in battery-saver mode).
It supports over 120 sports modes with automatic recognition of four, and its 50m water resistance makes swimming a breeze. Health monitoring includes heart rate, SpO2, and stress tracking, along with detailed sleep analysis. Smartwatch features include notifications and Amazon Alexa integration.
| 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 | CONS |
| Tons of tracking including stress and sleep | No built-in GPS |
| Amazon Alexa and other smartwatch features built-in |
5. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen): Best Budget Apple Watch
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
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Not all great Apple Watches need a hefty price tag. The 2nd-gen Apple Watch SE offers the same S8 SiP chip as the Series 8 for fast processing at a fraction of the cost. It includes an optical heart rate sensor, built-in GPS, automatic workout detection (including swimming), and 32GB of storage for apps from the App Store.
As a full-fledged smartwatch, it handles calls, messages, contactless payments, and music streaming. Crash detection is a valuable safety feature. The design is slim and comfortable, with impressive battery life (by Apple Watch standards).
| 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 | CONS |
| Huge selection of apps | Fewer sensors than other Apple Watch options |
| Special safety features, like crash detection and built-in GPS |
6. Garmin Venu 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts
Garmin Venu 3
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Garmin delivers precise health and fitness tracking, but often at a premium. The Venu 3, while the most expensive on this list, is worth the investment for serious fitness enthusiasts. It tracks various exercises (swimming, cycling, golf, etc.) using highly accurate GPS and heart rate monitoring, along with ECG, SpO2, and temperature sensors.
Animated workouts (pilates, HIIT, cardio) are included. The standout feature is the Body Battery, which assesses your body's energy levels based on activity, stress, and sleep. It's a moderately sized smartwatch with a bright AMOLED display and up to 14 days of battery life (reduced with always-on display and automatic workout detection). Smartwatch features include calls, smart assistants, and text replies (when paired with compatible phones). Note that app selection is more limited than Apple or Google smartwatches.
| 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 | CONS |
| Highly accurate GPS and heart rate monitor | Limited app selection compared to other smartwatches |
| Helpful Body Battery feature |
What to Look for in a Budget Fitness Tracker
Fitness trackers offer more than just step counting and sleep tracking. Consider hardware quality, comfort, software, and tracking accuracy. Higher prices typically mean more features (heart rate monitoring, GPS, OLED displays, etc.). However, many affordable trackers still provide a wealth of health data.
What Kind of Fitness Tracker Do I Need?
Your needs determine the right tracker. The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 suffices for basic step counting, heart rate monitoring, and timekeeping. Many budget options include color displays, long battery life, sports modes, sleep tracking, SpO2 sensors, and phone notifications. GPS support is worthwhile for runners, cyclists, and hikers. For broader functionality beyond fitness and health, a smartwatch offers a larger screen, storage, app access, and call/text capabilities. Active individuals might also consider a good pair of earbuds.
