You do not need to spend hundreds of dollars on a shiny new smartwatch to reap the benefits of fitness tracking — you can monitor your stats just as effectively with the best budget fitness trackers like the Fitbit Inspire 3 or the Garmin Vivosmart 5. These smart wearables boast good battery life, advanced features and eye-pleasing design, yet they cost less than most fitness watches out there.
True, the best budget fitness trackers do not offer the high-octane performance and military-grade durability typical of best Garmin watches, but they are just as useful when it comes to achieving your health and fitness goals. "That extra bit of analysis and personalized coaching can be a total game-changer for smashing your goals without costing an arm and a leg," Patrick Stephenson, a personal trainer and a golf fitness coach, told Live Science. You can find more information in the Budget Fitness Trackers FAQs section down below.
There is one caveat, though. The market is flooded with cheap fitness trackers of dubious quality, and even the most tech-savvy people may struggle with determining if something is truly worth the money. But that is where we step in.
We have tried and tested countless fitness trackers to help you find the best budget options out there. Our expert reviewers put each model through its paces, taking note of their battery life, design, features, ease of use, and many other aspects (you can read more about our testing protocol in the How we test section down below). We think these fitness trackers can give you the best run for your money this spring.
The quick list
See the quick list below for a brief overview of our favorite fitness watches on a budget, or scroll further down for more detailed reviews of each tracker.
Best overall
This colorful Fitbit takes the top spot thanks to its compact, unobtrusive design, bright display and good tracking accuracy — a whole package for just $99.95.
Best for tracking workouts
Feather-light and packed with fitness tracking features, this sleek band comes with over 150 sports modes and long battery life — and it costs just $60.
Best budget outdoor watch
Reliable GPS, altimeter, compass, plenty of health-tracking features and much more, all for less than $250 — this Google Wear OS outdoor watch can easily compete with its more expensive competitors.
Best budget smartwatch
Extensive smartwatch functionality without breaking the bank — this light and stylish fitness tracker packs plenty of features into its $70 price tag.
Best for sleep tracking
Sleek-looking and comfortable to wear, the Fitbit Charge 5 is one of the best cheap watches for sleep tracking — and it costs less than $150.
Best budget running watch
The Forerunner 165 is a serious tracking tool. True, it is not the cheapest watch in this guide, but it offers excellent value for money for beginner and seasoned runners alike.
The best budget fitness trackers we recommend in 2025: As chosen by our experienced fitness kit reviewers
Why you can trust Live Science Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best ones for you. Find out more about how we test.
Best fitness tracker overall
✅ You want reliable tracking features: It offers accurate stress and sleep measurements.
✅ You need something small and compact: It is lightweight and unobtrusive.
✅ You want long battery life: It lasts up to 10 days between charges.
❌ You struggle with small and fiddly displays: It has a tiny screen.
❌ You want an outdoor watch: It does not feature GPS or on-watch maps.
🔎 Fitbit Inspire 3: This sleek fitness tracker won our seal of approval with its excellent tracking performance, lightweight design and value for money. However, its features are quite basic. ★★★★
Fitbit may have lost some popularity in recent years, but it is still a go-to brand for quality fitness trackers that do not cost the earth. In fact, now that the demand for the best Fitbits has markedly dropped, you are more likely to buy them cheaper than ever. But this brings up an inevitable question: exactly which model should you spend your hard-earned money on? While there are quite a few good options to choose from, we think it is the Fitbit Inspire 3 that strikes the best balance between functionality and affordability. Here is why.
The Fitbit Inspire 3 won our seal of approval with its compact design, long battery life and a plethora of tracking features — it is rare to see so much value in a fitness tracker under $100. This sleek watch can track steps, workouts, heart rate and sleep, and it can also tell you how much time you spend in each heart rate zone, personalized to your age and fitness level. Similar to the Apple Watch’s Activity app, it has a metric called Active Zone Minutes that encourages you to reach daily movement goals.
During our Fitbit Inspire 3 review, we enjoyed how it tracks passively in the background giving you useful insights into your health and fitness habits. All stats are laid out well and easy to understand, making the Fitbit Inspire 3 a particularly great option for beginners.
As with so many of Fitbit’s products, it is the battery life – 10 days – that is most impressive on the Inspire 3. While this will depend on usage, and go down significantly if you use the always-on display mode, it is still great to not have to charge the tracker too often.
The Inspire 3 does not have the same quick-release buttons as the Charge 5, so swapping bands is a little bit fiddly. It is also lacking GPS but you can use your phone to track routes and distances on hikes and runs. Comes with six months free Fitbit Premium membership so you can enjoy extra features and content.
- Read our full Fitbit Inspire 3 review
Best fitness tracker for sports
✅ You want exceptional battery life: It can last up to three weeks on a single charge.
✅ You are looking for a multisport watch: This humble band can track more than 150 activities.
✅ You want to track your periods: It allows you to monitor your menstrual cycle.
❌ You want exceptional accuracy: Its heart rate and workout tracking features may lack precision.
❌ You want a smartwatch: It does not work as a phone extension.
🔎 Xiaomi Smart Band 9: This neat fitness band offers a wide range of tracking features and exceptional battery life for less than $70. However, it lacks the reliability of more premium devices, and its tracking features could use some improvement. ★★★★
Xiaomi proves time and time again that you do not have to spend a fortune on workout tracking, nor sacrifice fancy features if you are on a tight budget. This brand is known for making quality fitness watches without breaking a bank, and the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is no exception. True, it may not have the speedy Fitbit's connectivity or the signature durability of Garmin watches, but given it costs just $63 (not accounting for seasonal discounts), this humble-looking wristband exceeds all expectations.
During our Xiaomi Smart Band 9 fitness tracker review, we were particularly impressed by the sheer number of features on this Fitbit lookalike. The band tracks heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep quality and stress levels – an impressive set of stats for a product in this low price range – and we liked the extra features such as guided breathing meditations and weather forecasts. If you are a swimmer, it is water resistant up to 50 meters, but not durable enough to sustain diving and competitive swimming. Interestingly, you can also use it to track your menstrual cycle - a feature previously reserved for some of the more premium players, such as the Apple Watch.
One of the best aspects of the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is its ludicrous number of activity tracking options, with over 150 different sports modes to choose from. Whatever activity you fancy, no matter how rare or niche it is, this watch will surely keep you company. We also liked its impressive battery life (up to a month in our tests) and sleek, unobtrusive design.
Mind you, some of its measurements may be imprecise during intense exercise, but it is not necessarily a deal-breaker. If health tracking is your priority, you may be better off splashing more cash on the Garmin Vivosmart 5. Still, if you are a budget-conscious fitness fanatic and you are willing to compromise on accuracy, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 will be right up your street.
- Read our full Xiaomi Smart Band 9 review
Best budget health tracker
✅ You are data-driven: It provides a wide range of in-depth health and fitness stats.
✅ You want something small and discreet: No rugged or bulky design.
✅ You can stretch your budget: At $150, it is one of the most expensive trackers in this guide.
❌ You want to use it mainly outdoors: No GPS or on-watch maps.
❌ You want exceptional sturdiness: This watch is not as durable as some of the more premium Garmin watches.
🔎 Garmin Vivosmart 5: This compact fitness band delivers the best of Garmin's tracking features for less than $150, but it lacks the frills typical of more premium devices. ★★★
Garmin makes some of the best fitness trackers on the market. These top-shelf wearables impress with their accurate tracking features, exceptional durability and advanced tracking features. The problem is, they do not come cheap. However, there is an exception to this rule. If you are the kind of person who loves a huge amount of data, and do not mind the Vivosmart 5’s utilitarian design, then this could be the budget fitness tracker for you. Lightweight, easy to use and with heart rate and SpO2 sensors, it has a crisp OLED screen, but it is still monochrome rather than color. It is one of the best budget Garmin watches you can get right now.
You can look at your stats free of charge in the brilliant Garmin Connect app, where there are also guided workouts to try, plus running and cycling training programs. During our Garmin Vivosmart 5 review, we were particularly impressed by the automatic sleep tracker. Every morning you get a mini sleep report including a ‘sleep score’ to help you understand how much rest you are getting. But note, it does not track naps – so if you like a snooze this could mess up your nightly sleep data.
Garmin says the watch has a seven-day battery life – but most people report five days when they have been using it for regular workout tracking.
Mind you, the Vivosmart 5 does not have an inbuilt GPS, so you will need a Bluetooth connection to your phone to track your route and pace when training outside. It has an on-board accelerator that can gauge distance and pace, but we would only use this as a rough estimate. This watch is all about the stats, so if you are a numbers nerd you will love it. But if you are looking for an outdoor watch, you may want to invest in one of the pricier Garmin models.
- Read our full Garmin Vivosmart 5 review
Best budget smartwatch
✅ You want something light and comfortable: No rugged or bulky design.
✅ You want long battery life: It can last up to 14 days on a single charge.
❌ You want highly accurate workout tracking: It may lack some of the precision seen in more premium trackers.
❌ You want exceptional durability: This watch may not pull its weight as an outdoor watch.
🔎 Amazfit Bip 3 Pro: With its long battery life, multiple smartwatch credentials and ultra-comfortable design, this fitness tracker punches way above its wallet-friendly price point. ★★★★
A good smartwatch will indeed set you back hundreds of dollars, but if you do not have that much cash to spare, you will not be left empty-handed. If money is your main concern, think Amazfit. This brand may be a relative newcomer to the smartwatch industry, but it is already making some serious waves with its ever-growing selection of affordable gems. While there are plenty of Amazfit models we would happily recommend (in fact, the Amazfit Balance smartwatch is easily one of our all-time favorites), it is the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro that wins the price contest.
Priced at just $69.99, it strikes a great balance between functionality and affordability. Like all the best fitness trackers, The Amazfit Bip 3 Pro is lightweight, comfortable to wear (even during sleep) and very easy to use. The sleep tracker on this band comes with lots of actionable tools, although the accuracy does vary.
During our Amazfit Bip 3 Pro review, we particularly liked its smartwatch capabilities, packing in tools like ‘find my phone’ and displaying notifications on its easy-to-read screen. While it does not have in-built music storage, it does allow you to navigate your tunes from your wrist (when your phone is connected) and you can control your camera, although we are not sure how useful that would be.
Women can use the watch to track their cycles and monitor fertility, which is a nice touch, and its in-depth sleep tracking actually tells you how well you are managing the different stages of sleep (light, deep and REM.)
If you want absolute accuracy for distance tracking, you will need to try one of the best running watches — but we think most people will be impressed with the in-built GPS on this model. All in all, it is a good package for this price. Mind you, it is quite an old model. if you want something more recent (and willing to spend more money), check out the Amazfit Active model from 2024.
- Read our full Amazfit Bip 3 Pro review
Runner-up
Best budget smartwatch: Runner-up
The Amazfit Active costs around $40 more than the Bip 3 Pro, but it offers longer battery life, more precise fitness measurements and better smartwatch credentials. Its display looks better, too.
For
- Feather-light
- Ultra-long battery life
- Accurate tracking features
Against
- Chunky display
- Lacks some durability
- Some features are subscription-only
Best budget sleep tracker
✅ You want advanced health tracking features: It can track your sleep, stress levels, heart rhythm and more.
✅ You need something small and unobtrusive: It features a light and compact design.
✅ You want long battery life: This fitness tracker can last a week between charges.
❌ You struggle with small displays: It may be difficult to read.
❌ You want media playback: It does not store music.
🔎 Fitbit Charge 5: This skilfully designed fitness tracker comes with good battery life, crisp display and plenty of health tracking features, but it is not as advanced as some of the pricier Fitbits. ★★★★
The Fitbit Charge 5 is one of our favorite Fitbit watches, and for a good reason. It is a great budget tool for keeping your wellness in check. Packed with options for stress and sleep tracking, mindfulness sessions and health and fitness data you did not even know you needed, it has everything you may need to get a better shut-eye and post-exercise recovery. At nearly $150, it is one of the most expensive models in this guide, but this watch is worth the money — and here is why.
The Fitbit Charge 5 feels like the Swiss Army Knife of fitness trackers, with in-built GPS, heart rate and step monitoring, as well as an ECG app and new electrodermal activity (EDA) tracker. This will allow you to check for atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat) while the EDA test looks at sweat secretion — a marker of stress. Once you have worked out your stress levels, you can help reduce them with the library of mindfulness sessions. And as we all know, stress and sleep are very interconnected.
But that is not all. During our Fitbit Charge 5 review, we loved how easy it was to read, even in sunlight, which is a good thing as there are no physical buttons. Sadly there is no option for music playback and it is quite reliant on its accompanying app if you want to get the most out of it, but other than that we struggle to fault this extremely impressive and affordable wearable. As we mentioned before, the Charge 5 is slightly more pricey than the other options in this list, but also has a wider range of features.
Too expensive? Take a look at the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 instead. This band costs almost $100 less, but it offers some great insights into your sleeping routine.
- Read our full Fitbit Charge 5 review
Best budget swimming watch
✅ You want advanced health tracking features: It can track your training load, stress levels, heart rate variability and more.
✅ You need something durable: It is certified to military-grade standards.
✅ You want to take it diving: This fitness tracker is waterproof for up to 328 ft (100 m) and can sustain free dives up to 147 ft (44.8 m).
❌ You want something discreet: It is big and chunky.
❌ You want to track strength workouts: It is the only feature that lacks good accuracy.
🔎 Amazfit T-Rex 3: It is durable, reliable and jam-packed with tracking features, rivaling some of the more premium fitness trackers at a fraction of the price. However, its rugged design may not appeal to everyone. ★★★★
Most fitness trackers do not have the necessary certifications for open water swimming and diving. Why? It can be prohibitively expensive to make a highly waterproof device that can withstand high pressures, cold temperatures, sea salt and other chemical contaminants found in water reservoirs, such as chlorine and heavy metals. However, there are a handful of swimming watches that will not set you back hundreds of dollars, and the Amazfit T-Rex 3 is one of these rare exceptions. This rugged outdoor watch costs around $280 and is often on sale, making it an attractive alternative to pricey premium models like the Garmin Fenix 8 and Apple Watch Ultra.
The Amazfit T-Rex is rated 10ATM, meaning it is waterproof to 328 feet (100 m), and it is suitable for free dives (without any breathing equipment or diving gear) of up to 147 feet (44.8 m). Moreover, it can withstand scratches, physical shocks and temperatures from 158 to -22 degrees Fahrenheit (70 to -30 degrees Celsius). Plus, it can last up to three weeks on a single charge. It is a tough cookie.
During our full Amazfit T-Rex 3 review we were particularly impressed with its tracking features. This budget-friendly watch can track a wide range of health and fitness stats, including training load and post-exercise heart rate variability, as well as over 170 sports activities. It was very accurate doing so, too. The only exception was strength workouts — our testing unit struggled with counting our sets and reps.
We were also not keen on its overly rugged looks. The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is a big and chunky device, and we found it uncomfortable to wear while sleeping. Look past that, though, and you have yourself an affordable fitness tracker to swim with.
- Read our full Amazfit T-Rex 3 smartwatch review
Best budget outdoor watch
✅ You spend a lot of time outdoors: It is rugged, durable and offers robust geolocation features.
✅ You want easy access to your Google features: It runs on the Google Wear OS.
✅ You want long battery life: It lasts up to 45 days in the power-saving mode.
❌ You are an iPhone user: It is not compatible with iOS.
❌ You hate fingerprint marks: Its screen smudges easily.
🔎 TicWatch Atlas: This wallet-friendly GPS smartwatch offers an excellent alternative to premium mainstream competitors: it is durable, comfortable to wear and boasts accurate tracking features. However, it is not compatible with iOS devices. ★★★★½
Outdoor GPS smartwatches are some of the most expensive fitness trackers on the market, and understandably so. These rugged wearables are built to sustain extreme environmental conditions, from high temperatures and physical shocks to prolonged contact with sweat and rainwater. Good outdoor smartwatches should have excellent battery life, reliable GPS and accurate fitness tracking features. Not to mention, they need to be comfortable to wear for days on end. Put simply, they can't be cheap or they will not fulfil their role.
That said, you do not need to spend hundreds of dollars on one of the best Garmin watches to get a quality outdoor watch. The excellent TicWatch Atlas is a great example here. It offers military-grade durability, user-friendly design and stacks of features for outdoor enthusiasts, from reliable GPS and altimeter to on-watch maps — but it only costs $349.99.
During our full TicWatch Atlas review, we were particularly impressed with its user-friendly design and long battery life. If used in the power-saving mode, this watch can last up to a whopping 45 days on a single charge. With typical use, it offers nearly a week of battery life. We were also surprised with how comfortable it felt on our wrist given its above-average weight.
However, the Ticwatch Atlas is not without its flaws. Most importantly, it runs on Google Wear OS, meaning it is not compatible with iPhones and other iOS devices. Moreover, its screen smudges easily. But if you can look past these caveats, you have a top-quality outdoor watch without breaking the bank.
- Read our full Ticwatch Atlas review
Best budget running watch
✅ You want reliable tracking tools: Its GPS, HR and fitness measurements are highly accurate.
✅ You run a lot: It is light, comfortable to wear, and easy to use during workouts.
✅ You want something durable: While it is not as tough as some of the more premium models, this watch can take some pounding.
❌ You are a triathlete: It lacks advanced water resistance and relevant features.
❌ You want weeks of battery life: It does not last nearly as long as some other options in this guide.
🔎 Garmin Forerunner 165: One of Garmin’s best-value watches, this sleek wearable delivers advanced tracking features, a lovely OLED screen and excellent functionality for novice and veteran runners alike. ★★★★★
Good running watches do not come cheap, and for a good reason. These wearables are designed with serious runners in mind and their steep prices fully reflect that. The best running watches are jam-packed with reliable tracking tools, resistant to changing weather conditions, comfortable to wear and often solar-powered to prolong battery life. This is not to say that these marvels of technology are essential to achieving good results. It is entirely possible to boost your running performance with fitness trackers under $100. However, wearables on the more affordable side often lack the advanced features that can fully satisfy the needs of serious runners. The good news is, there are rare exceptions to this rule. The sleek Garmin Forerunner 165 is a great example here.
Priced at $249.99, it is by far the most expensive fitness tracker in this guide, but you would be hard-pressed to find a better running watch in this price range. The Garmin Forerunner 165 is not only beautifully crafted and comfortable to wear, but it also has pretty much everything you may need to succeed in your running endeavours. From a crisp, colorful display and reliable GPS to advanced workout tracking features, it can easily compete with some of the more premium Garmin models. In fact, we were so impressed with its performance that we gave it a rare five-star rating in our full Garmin Forerunner 165 review.
There are, of course, some minor downsides to this watch. For example, it is nowhere near as durable and robust as top-shelf running watches, and its battery life leaves something to be desired. Moreover, it does not have a 10 ATM rating, meaning it is not waterproof enough to suit the needs of triathletes and scuba divers. However, these flaws do not necessarily diminish the overall value of Garmin Forerunner 165. We would recommend this wearable to anyone who wants to boost their running performance.
- Read our full Garmin Forerunner 165 review
Best budget fitness tracker with a large display
✅ You travel a lot: It lasts up to 24 days on a single charge.
✅ You want reliable tracking features: Its health stats were largely accurate in our tests.
✅ You need a large display: Its 2.07-inch AMOLED display is easy to read and navigate.
❌ You are a serious athlete: Its workout tracking features are geared more towards regular exercisers.
❌ You swim a lot: The touchscreen can become less responsive when wet.
🔎 Redmi Watch 5: With its long battery life, reliable tracking features, and colorful 2.07-inch AMOLED display, this unassuming smartwatch outperforms expectations for its affordable price point. However, its design may not be up to everyone's taste. ★★★★
Whether it is the high-end Garmin Vivosmart 5 or the ultra-cheap Xiaomi Smart Band 9, most cheap fitness trackers feature an infuriatingly small display. Why? The answer to this question is quite simple. The screen is one of the most expensive elements of a fitness watch, and the larger it is, the more money it tends to cost. However, you can still find a handful of affordable smartwatches that do not skimp on the screen size. The Redmi Watch 5 is one of those rare exceptions. With its bright and colorful 2.07-inch AMOLED display, this fitness tracker is exceptionally easy to read and navigate, and a great choice for those whose eyesight and manual dexterity are not as good as they used to be. The best part? The Redmi Watch 5 costs less than $100.
It performs well, too. During our full Redmi Watch 5 review, we were particularly impressed by its long battery life. This smartwatch can reach a full battery in less than an hour and lasts up to 24 days on a single charge. In that regard, it beats nearly all fitness trackers in this guide. The Redmi Watch 5 also did a great job of measuring our health stats, delivering largely accurate measurements of heart rate, step count and other vital metrics.
That said, the Redmi Watch 5 is far from perfect. For example, its screen can become less responsive when wet, so it may not be the best option for keen swimmers. Moreover, its crown gets easily caught on long-sleeved tops. We were not too keen on its short charging cable, either.
- Read our full Redmi Watch 5 review
Best budget fitness trackers: Comparison
Product | Rating | ✅ Pros | ❌Cons | Screen size | Battery life |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fitbit Inspire 3 | ★★★★ | Tracking accuracy, features, compact design. | Small display, no GPS, app subscription. | 1.55-inch AMOLED | 10 days |
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 | ★★★★ | Battery life, sports modes, compact design. | Imprecise tracking, patchy app connectivity. | 1.62-inch AMOLED | 21 days |
Garmin Vivosmart 5 | ★★★ | Tracking accuracy, features, lightweight design. | Small display, no GPS, relatively expensive. | 0.76-inch OLED | 7 days |
Amazfit Bip 3 Pro | ★★★★ | Smartwatch features, lightweight design. | Imprecise tracking, flimsy build. | 1.69-inch TFT | 14 days |
Fitbit Charge 5 | ★★★★ | Tracking accuracy, features, compact design. | Small display, hard-to-read notifications. | 0.86-inch AMOLED | 7 days |
Garmin Forerunner 165 | ★★★★★ | Tracking accuracy, display, looks, durability. | Not suitable for triathletes. | 1.2-inch OLED | 11 days |
Redmi Watch 5 | ★★★★ | Display, battery life, tracking accuracy. | Short charging cable, catches on clothes. | 2.07-inch AMOLED | 24 days |
Our expert consultants
Patrick Stephenson is a golf fitness coach and senior editor at Weekend Golfing, a website dedicated to golfing fans. He was a Division 1 golfer at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, and holds a +4 handicap. Patrick told Live Science why fitness trackers do not need to be expensive and recommended his favorite budget-friendly models.
Best budget fitness trackers: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best budget fitness tracker?
In our opinion, the Fitbit Inspire 3 strikes the best balance between quality and affordability. This compact, lightweight band watch offers long battery life and plenty of tracking features — and it tends to cost less than $100.
It is also Stephenson’s personal favorite. "I'm a huge fan of the Fitbit Inspire 3," he said. "It's packed with neat features, including an in-depth sleep analysis which can be an absolute game-changer for optimizing rest." Runners, however, may prefer the Garmin Forerunner 55. “It's a little pricier but it has got some serious specs, such as built-in GPS to map your routes and VO2 max estimates," Stephenson said.
What is the best budget smartwatch?
If you are looking for good smartwatch credentials at a bargain price, we recommend the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro. This watch tends to cost less than $70, but it comes with an impressive battery life, lightweight design and a wide range of features.
If you are willing to spend a bit more, the Fitbit Versa 2 is a stellar shout, Stephenson said. "At around $170 you can find it at a discount. It has all the workout tracking and heart rate sensor goodies you'd expect, but then you can also check texts, control music, and even make payments straight from your wrist," he said.
Are the budget fitness trackers worth it?
Budget fitness trackers may not have the cutting-edge sensors or fancy materials typical of more premium models, but they are still better for health tracking than just using your phone, Stephenson said. "The data is more accurate, and having it automatically record your moves takes all the hassle out of it," he said. In addition, many budget fitness trackers come with fitness apps and premium subscription options. "That extra analysis and personalized coaching can be a total game-changer for smashing your goals without costing an arm and a leg," Stephenson said.
How to choose the best budget fitness tracker for you
Choosing a budget fitness tracker is about striking the right balance between price and functionality. Ultimately, it is better to spend more and get a wearable that can make a real difference to your health and fitness than opt for the cheaper option and feel like you wasted your money. Think carefully about what you want from your fitness tracker and how much you are willing to pay for it, but be prepared to change your expectations if necessary.
Generally, fitness bands like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 are cheaper than smartwatches, and smartwatches tend to be less expensive than GPS watches designed specifically for runners and outdoor explorers — the Garmin Forerunner 165 or TicWatch Atlas, for example. However, this does not account for any additional subscriptions. Many fitness trackers hide their premium features behind a paywall and it is worth noting that these additional costs can quickly add up over time.
How much a fitness tracker costs will be largely determined by its connectivity, durability and tracking features. GPS is a prime example here. Most fitness watches can pair with your phone to track your location and it is entirely possible to map your routes and measure your running distance with a fitness band under $100. However, a reliable GPS can be invaluable for hikers, runners and other outdoor enthusiasts. If you need your watch to guide your way no matter the circumstances, it might be worth paying extra for this feature.
Battery life is another key factor to consider when choosing a fitness tracker. While many cheap wearables have surprising stamina (for example, the Amazfit Bip 3 can last two weeks on a single charge), their battery life will go down depending on how you use them. If you are tracking sleep every night and working out several times a week, expect to charge your device more often. If you use GPS, your fitness tracker can last mere hours. Think about how you intend to use your wearable and how long you need it to last — at the end of the day, you do not want your fitness tracker to lose power when you need it the most.
Last but not least is the design. A good fitness tracker should be easy to use and comfortable to wear, and when it comes to 24/7 wear, many people prefer smaller fitness bands to large outdoor smartwatches. However, smaller displays also make it more difficult to read the stats. Choose a fitness tracker that fits in with your lifestyle and you will be more likely to stick to it long term.
How we tested these budget fitness trackers
How we test the best budget fitness trackers
Our reviewers. We know a lot about the best budget fitness trackers — we use them all the time at Live Science. As highly experienced fitness professionals and self-proclaimed exercise fanatics, we know firsthand the many benefits of progress tracking, and only the very best wearables take pride of place on our wrists. However, good does not necessarily mean expensive. Many of our all-time favorite models are on the affordable end of the spectrum, helping us to hit our fitness goals without breaking the bank. You can trust us here — we have tested plenty of budget fitness trackers over the years, so we know which models can punch way above their affordable price points.
We strive to be as objective as possible in our reviews, which is why we test all fitness trackers to the exact same standard, using the same procedures. After spending at least a week with each model, we rank it across the following categories:
Design. We carefully assess the tracker's durability, appearance and overall functionality. We check whether it is comfortable to wear, easy on the wrist and intuitive to use, and we make note of its size, weight and ability to withstand minor scuffs and scratches. Put simply, we want to know who this fitness tracker was made for.
Display. This is where we look into the heart of a fitness tracker — its display. We check the size, durability and resolution of the screen, and assess how bright, colorful and easy to read it is in different circumstances (for example, in direct sunlight). We also make note of the touchscreen's responsiveness and any lags we experienced during testing.
Features. We want to know every single setting of the fitness tracker in question. For example, how many sports modes and health tracking features does it have? Does it come with any smartwatch credentials or connected apps? Can it store music or on-watch maps? Also, does it offer personalized health and fitness guidance, and if so, is it any useful?
Performance. We put the fitness tracker through its paces to get a good understanding of its battery life, tracking performance and connectivity with third-party devices. We wear it during the day, while performing a range of different workouts, and during sleep, regularly switching between different modes and settings. Finally, we assess the validity of its heart rate tracking features using a chest-strap heart rate monitor (such as the Polar H9) or a more high-end fitness tracker model.
Value for money. Finally, we give our verdict on the key issue: does this affordable fitness tracker offer real value?
After testing, we use these categories to calculate a final score out of five, and decide whether the watch deserves a spot in our roundup of the best budget fitness trackers on the market.
Latest updates
April 23, 2025: We added the Redmi Watch 5 as the best budget fitness tracker with a large display.
March 25, 2025: We added the Amazfit T-Rex 3 as the best budget swimming watch.
March 3, 2025: We updated the How to choose section and added the TicWatch Atlas as the best budget outdoor watch.
February 7, 2025: We expanded the Comparison table and named the Garmin Forerunner 165 as the best budget option for runners.
