Whether you're embarking on a new health journey or seeking deeper insights into your workouts, a fitness tracker can transform exercise into an engaging game while providing valuable data. Fortunately, many of these devices, often resembling smartwatches, are available at affordable prices. From feature-packed models that rival the best smartwatches to basic ones that track steps and monitor heart rate, there's a wide range of budget-friendly fitness trackers suitable for all wrist sizes.
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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Fitbit Inspire 3
Best Budget Fitness Tracker
Our Top Pick### Fitbit Inspire 3
0Smartwatches and fitness trackers don't have to break the bank, and the Fitbit Inspire 3 is a prime example. With a price tag under $100, this device features a vibrant AMOLED display and a durable, sleek band that's comfortable enough to wear while sleeping. Its impressive 10-day battery life means you won't need to charge it frequently, though using the always-on display mode will reduce this duration. Navigation is user-friendly with touch technology and two haptic buttons.
The Fitbit Inspire 3 excels in fitness tracking, offering 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, blood oxygen level measurement, and movement reminders. It also includes automatic exercise tracking, which is perfect if you often forget to start a workout, and sleep monitoring to help you understand your sleep quality better. Additionally, it provides basic smartwatch features like phone notifications and a find-my-phone function via Bluetooth, though it lacks music storage and contactless payment capabilities.
Xiaomi Smart Band 9
Best Ultra Cheap Fitness Tracker
### Xiaomi Smart Band 9
0Priced under $50, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 offers an affordable yet feature-rich fitness tracking experience. It boasts a 1.62-inch AMOLED display and an impressive 21-day battery life, along with basic tracking and over 150 sports modes.
The band includes essential health monitoring features such as a pedometer, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen saturation, and sleep tracking. It supports a wide range of activities, from running and HIIT to kickboxing and swimming, providing detailed metrics like calories burned and average heart rate. While these metrics may not be as precise as those from higher-end devices like the Apple Watch, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 still offers valuable insights into your workouts.
The latest model enhances battery life and screen brightness, reaching up to 1,200 nits for clear visibility in sunlight. The touch-responsive, colorful display allows easy access to fitness data and limited smartwatch features like call and message notifications and music playback control. However, pairing with a phone can sometimes be challenging.
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS
### Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
0The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro, priced under $100, adds a built-in GPS to the features of the standard model, allowing you to map your workouts accurately. It also includes 24/7 heart rate and SPO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and over 150 sports modes.
The Pro model features a larger, 1.74-inch rectangular AMOLED display that resembles the Apple Watch. While it supports a wide range of sports modes, some of the more unique ones only measure heart rate and time. It offers limited smartwatch features like music playback and notification display, but lacks NFC support and the ability to respond to notifications.
Despite these limitations, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro stands out with its stylish design, bright and responsive screen, user-friendly interface, and long battery life.
Amazfit Band 7
Best Budget Fitness Tracker With Health Monitoring
### Amazfit Band 7
0The Amazfit Band 7, priced at just $50, offers a comprehensive set of features including long battery life, health monitoring, and sleep tracking. It features a large 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display, ensuring easy readability while maintaining a slim and comfortable design.
With over 120 sports modes and automatic smart recognition of four, the Band 7 is versatile and water-resistant up to 50m. It monitors heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and stress, and provides detailed sleep analysis. Additionally, it integrates with Amazon Alexa and offers other smartwatch features like on-watch notifications.
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
Best Budget Apple Watch
### Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
0The 2nd-gen Apple Watch SE offers a budget-friendly option that runs on the same S8 SiP chipset as the Apple Watch Series 8, ensuring fast processing at a lower cost. It includes an optical heart rate sensor and built-in GPS, making it ideal for outdoor activities like hiking.
As a full-fledged smartwatch, the Apple Watch SE allows you to answer calls, respond to messages, make contactless payments, and stream music directly from your wrist. It also features crash detection, which can automatically call emergency services in the event of an accident. With a slim design and impressive battery life for an Apple Watch, it's a versatile and capable device.
Garmin Venu 3
Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts
### Garmin Venu 3
0The Garmin Venu 3 is ideal for those serious about their workouts, offering a range of features including exercise tracking, GPS, and heart rate monitoring. It also provides animated workouts for activities like pilates, HIIT, and cardio, and includes a unique Body Battery feature that assesses your energy levels based on activity, stress, and sleep.
With over 30 preloaded sports apps and a highly accurate GPS, the Venu 3 is perfect for swimming, cycling, and golf. Its bright AMOLED touchscreen display and up to 14 days of battery life make it a reliable choice, though this duration decreases with the always-on display and automatic workout detection. As a smartwatch, it supports calls, smart assistants, and text responses when paired with Android phones, though its app selection is more limited compared to Apple and Google smartwatches.
What to Look for in a Budget Fitness Tracker
When choosing a fitness tracker, consider more than just step counting and sleep tracking. The overall experience includes hardware quality, comfort, software capabilities, and the accuracy of the tracking features.
As prices increase, so do the features, such as heart rate monitoring, GPS, and OLED displays. However, even basic, affordable trackers can provide a wealth of health data.
What kind of fitness tracker do I need?
The right fitness tracker depends on your intended use. For basic tracking like steps, heart rate, and time, an ultra-cheap option like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is sufficient. These models often come with color displays, long battery life, and additional features like sports modes, sleep tracking, and phone notifications.
If you're into running, biking, or hiking, consider spending a bit more for GPS support. For those seeking comprehensive functionality beyond fitness, a smartwatch like the Apple Watch SE or Garmin Venu 3 offers larger screens, more apps, and the ability to handle calls, texts, and other notifications.
For active runners or gym-goers, pairing your fitness tracker with a great pair of earbuds can enhance your overall experience and ensure a perfect fit for your lifestyle.
