Wearable technology has been a game-changer for athletes, providing a number of convenient and effective ways to track personal fitness goals, monitor key vital signs, and quickly manage music and other apps. While there are a number of companies making decent wearables, including big names like Apple, Fitbit has long been regarded as the leading brand in the fitness watch field. Their products are known to be robust, reliable, and tailored to suit the needs of busy athletes.
But with so many different Fitbit products to choose from, each of them offering a unique lineup of features and amenities, how can you determine which wearable is right for you? The ACTIVE Reviews Team is pleased to present a full comparison of Fitbit's top products, helping you determine the best Fitbit for your needs.
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The Best Fitbits - Our Top Picks
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- Best Fitbit Overall: Fitbit Charge 5
- Best Fitbit for Sleep Tracking: Fitbit Sense
- Best Fitbit for Runners: Fitbit Charge 4
- Best Budget Fitbit: Fitbit Inspire 2
- Most Stylish Fitbit: Fitbit Luxe
Best Fitbit Overall - Fitbit Charge 5
Features
- EKG sensor
- Quick-to-connect GPS
- Swim tracking
- Mobile payments
Simply put, the Fitbit Charge 5 offers just about everything you could ask for in a wearable: All the best available tools for collecting personal health data, an easy-to-use interface, a comfortable fit, and a reasonable price point. For these reasons and so many others, it's our pick for the best Fitbit overall.
Certainly, it provides plenty of sophisticated options to monitor your vitals, including an EKG reading app to help you get a good heart rate reading. There's also an electrodermal sensor to help you keep tabs on your stress level, along with readings for your skin temperature and blood oxygen level. Sleep monitoring can help you make some much-needed lifestyle adjustments, and a built-in GPS allows runners to record each workout, no matter how far.
Factor in water resistance, yoga programming, built-in workouts, a glare-free screen, and a button-free design, and you have a truly excellent all-around product.
What We Like
- Easy to read
- Quick and intuitive to control
- Bright, always-on display
- 7-day battery life (five hours with GPS on)
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't work with Spotify
- No daily readiness scores
Best Fitbit for Sleep Tracking - Fitbit Sense
Features
- ECG
- GPS
- Alexa
- Swim tracking
The Sense is Fitbit's premium offering, which means that it comes with a more robust set of metrics and features than some of the other Fitbit products. (Of course, it also means a higher price point.) While this fitness watch may be a little too high-end for casual athletes, it's an ideal match for anyone seeking a full smartwatch experience. In particular, it's the one we recommend if you need something to accurately monitor your sleeping habits, including nighttime breathing patterns.
The Fitbit Sense offers many other excellent features, including an FDA-approved ECG sensor and readings for blood oxygen and skin temperature. In addition to the robust menu of fitness metrics, the Sense also provides a reliable long battery life, GPS, Alexa, and more.
Simply put, this is a comprehensive fitness tracker, and the most robust product you'll find in Fitbit's portfolio.
What We Like
- 6-day battery life (5 hours if GPS is on)
- Stylish, sporty design
- Truly comprehensive set of fitness tracking features
What We Don't Like
- No Spotify storage
- Higher price point
Best Fitbit for Runners - Fitbit Charge 4
Features
- GPS
- Swim tracking
- Spotify controls
- Heart rate monitor
The Fitbit Charge 4 is technically "last season's" smart watch, as it's been one-upped by the more feature-heavy Fitbit Charge 5. But if you're looking for something more modestly priced, the Charge 4 still has plenty to offer. And if you're a runner, it may still be the all-around best Fitbit on the market.
Why do we say that? For starters, it's got a quick-to-connect GPS that will help you track and record all your outdoor excursions. It also has Active Zone Minutes, a unique metric that is a good window into your overall health and exertion level. It's also notable that your Fitbit Charge 4 will let you control music from your Spotify app, though there's not yet a way to load music onto the Fitbit itself.
We've taken the Fitbit Charge 4 on some long runs, and found it to be not just accurate but very comfortable to wear. For runners, it earns our highest recommendation.
What We Like
- Full week-long battery life (5 hours if you have GPS on)
- Very comfortable
- Accurate fitness metrics
What We Don't Like
- No way to store music on board
- For the most up-to-date features, you may prefer the Charge 5
Best Budget Fitbit - Fitbit Inspire 2
Features
- Active Zone Minutes
- Sleep tracking
- Water-resistant up to 50m
If you're new to fitness tracking, or if you're just looking for a little oomph to become more active and athletic, the Fitbit Inspire 2 may be just what you need. Priced at under $100, it's a cost-effective solution that delivers plenty of basic, reliable fitness tracking tools.
With this budget-priced Fitbit, you'll get accurate sleep insights and some basic workout analytics. There's no GPS, but there is Active Zone Minutes, one of our favorite Fitbit stats. We also love how this Fitbit is lightweight, comfortable, and stylish. Finally, it has a battery life of up to 10 days, which handily tops even the more high-end Fitbit products.
What We Like
- Comfortable and lightweight design
- Modest price point
- Free year of Fitbit Premium
- Long battery life
What We Don't Like
- No GPS
- No mobile payments
- Display is a little basic compared with high-end models
Most Stylish Fitbit - Fitbit Luxe
Features
- Swim tracking
- Stress management
- Heart rate monitor
Looking for a Fitbit that offers both form and function? Consider the Fitbit Luxe, which we judge to be the most stylish wearable in the Fitbit catalog.
Affordably priced, lightweight, and stylish, this is the first Fitbit that was expressly designed with fashion in mind. Its sleek, elegant look is definitely a plus, but let's not overlook the health tracking features. You'll get plenty of basic fitness tracking and sleep monitoring tools here, making this a fine option for beginning or intermediate athletes. The jewelry-inspired elements are just icing on the cake and will make you eager to wear your Fitbit even on days when you're not working out.
What We Like
- Stylish design with jewelry-inspired features
- Stress management tools
- Basic fitness and sleep tracking
- Color touchscreen
- Reasonable price point
What We Don't Like
- No GPS
- No mobile payments
How to Choose the Best Fitbit
As you think about the best Fitbit options, a good place to begin is simply being honest about your personal fitness level. If you consider yourself to be fairly out of shape and are hoping to develop a more regular exercise habit, then you'll probably be just fine with one of the most affordable Fitbits. Some basic metrics, like distance and calorie burn, will be more than enough to motivate your personal fitness routine.
If you're already a fairly committed athlete, on the other hand, then you may be better served by investing in more premium features or in sport-specific functions. (For example, swimmers will want to ensure a Fitbit that works well in water and offers a lap tracking option.)
Some other considerations include:
- GPS. For those who run or hike outdoors, a GPS function can be invaluable.
- Battery life. How frequently will you be able to charge your Fitbit?
- Style. There's something to be said for personal flair.
- Voice assistant. If you lean heavily on Alexa or Siri, getting a voice-assisted Fitbit is a must.
FAQs About Fitbit
Are Fitbits worth it?
If you're able to motivate yourself to exercise each day and to push your limits without any data to guide you, then a Fitbit may be of limited use. But if you love data, or need a clear way to monitor your own personal fitness journey, then investing in a good Fitbit can absolutely be worth it.
How long does a Fitbit last?
It all depends on how well you maintain your Fitbit. If you wear it regularly but try your best to keep it in good shape, you should get at least a year or two out of it. Lots of wear and tear, combined with a haphazard approach to maintenance, may result in your Fitbit dying prematurely.
Does Fitbit track blood pressure?
Blood pressure tracking technology is very difficult to develop and really isn't widely available in wearables. There is not yet a Fitbit that offers a blood pressure tracking function.
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