The best cheap fitness trackers you can buy
Cheap fitness trackers are more capable than ever. These affordable wearables now pack hardware and features previously reserved for more premium trackers. From SpO2 sensors and continuous heart rate monitoring, you no longer need to break the bank for a competent fitness wearable. But not all are made equal, and some trackers have to sacrifice on a few of these to offer low prices.
With the advancements made to cheap fitness trackers, it’s now a tough task choosing one for your wrist. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best cheap fitness trackers available.
Buying the right cheap fitness tracker for your needs
What do you need from your fitness tracker? While more expensive trackers offer all the features you could possibly want, cheap fitness trackers sacrifice a few of these to keep costs low. Most cheap fitness devices track basic metrics like steps and distance traveled. If you need a tracker for running, it’s best to get a device with built-in GPS or connected GPS capabilities. Looking for sleep, stress, or blood oxygen tracking? Some trackers on the below list pack these features. Of course, if you want everything and the kitchen sink, it’s probably best to save up for a full-fledged smartwatch.
The best cheap fitness trackers
- The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 is the best cheap fitness tracker you can buy. It’s an excellent, cheap alternative to more premium fitness trackers.
- The Fitbit Inspire 2 is the best cheap Fitbit you can buy. However, it only really makes sense for the year-long Fitbit Premium membership.
- The Withings Move is the best-looking cheap fitness tracker. It has a classic watch appeal with fitness tracker smarts and heaps of customizability.
- The Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 is the best cheap Samsung fitness tracker you can buy. It’s lightweight, attractive, and should serve the majority of users well.
- The Honor Band 6 is the best cheap fitness tracker with a pulse oximeter. It also packs a large smartwatch-sized display.
Xiaomi Mi Band 5: The best cheap fitness tracker
It’s become something of a refrain that the Mi Band is the best cheap fitness tracker series. The fifth iteration is no exception. The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 gains a slightly larger face, a new magnetic charging system, more sport tracking modes, and continuous heart rate tracking over the Mi Band 4. New sleep tracking and menstrual health features also improve an already stellar formula.
Where it does fall short is its region-specific features. While the Chinese variant sports an SpO2 sensor and NFC support, the European and Indian models do not. Although these features feel a sore miss, it’s hard to fault the Mi Band 5 at its sub-$40 price point.
Pros
- Fantastic value
- Improved charger with 14-day battery life
- Good display
- Useful smart features
- Mostly accurate heart rate sensor
Cons
- Mi Fit app needs refining
- NFC, voice assistant, pulse ox unavailable outside of China
Check out our full review to learn more about the Xiaomi Mi Band 5.
Fitbit Inspire 2: The best cheap Fitbit
The Fitbit Inspire 2 is the cheapest way to board Fitbit’s ecosystem. Like its siblings, the Inspire 2 excels in tracking sleep, heart rate, and the usual daily activity metrics. Connected GPS is also great addition at this price point for runners and hikers.
Despite its price, the Inspire 2 offers questionable value. Its design is bland compared to the other fitness trackers on this list, while the dull display makes viewing data difficult outdoors. The real reason to buy the Inspire 2 is arguably the year-long membership to Fitbit Premium it brings in tow. As the membership is worth a good $80, it effectively pays for the Inspire 2. Beyond this, if you really need a Fitbit, save up the additional ~$60 and buy a Charge 4 instead.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Small, lightweight design
- Great sleep tracking and insights
- Good heart rate tracking
- Connected GPS is a plus
Cons
- Bland design
- Side buttons unresponsive at times
- Display could be brighter
- Questionable value outside Fitbit Premium trial
Check out our full review to learn more about the Fitbit Inspire 2.
Withings Move: The best looking cheap fitness tracker
Without a doubt, the Withings Move is the best looker in its class. It resembles a smartwatch in style but packs analog charm. It’s vastly customizable too, and buyers can choose between a number of color combinations. As a fitness tracker, it keeps tabs on the common metrics including total steps and caloric burn. It also has connected GPS.
You won’t need to worry about charging either — a single battery should keep it going for 18 months.
Where else the Move falls short is its lack of a heart rate sensor. As a hybrid smartwatch, it also lacks notification support. That beautiful exterior is also prone to damage if you’re a little rough, too.
Overall, the Move is the perfect cheap fitness tracker for those who can’t quite let go of their watches. And if you’re willing to spend a little more, the Withings Move ECG focuses more on heart health than any other watch at its price point.
Pros
- Completely customizable design
- Accurate fitness tracking
- Connected GPS is a huge bonus
- Affordable price
- 18-month battery life
Cons
- Sleep tracking can be inaccurate
- No smartphone notifications
- Plastic case is easily scratched
- No heart rate sensor
Check out our full review to learn more about the Withings Move.
Samsung Galaxy Fit 2: The best cheap Samsung fitness tracker
Samsung’s Galaxy Fit 2 features a larger display than its predecessor which makes it much easier to use for those with larger hands. Buyers also get a battery that’s good for a claimed three weeks per charge, stress and sleep tracking, and the usual fitness monitoring smarts. Heart rate monitoring is available, too, but it’s on-demand only and not continuous.
Overall, the Galaxy Fit 2 seems ill-equipped compared to the likes of the Mi Band 5, but Samsung wins a point back for its excellent smartphone software suite. It’s also the best choice if you already own a Samsung smartphone.
Read more about the Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 in our list of the best Samsung smartwatches.
Honor Band 6: The best cheap fitness tracker with a pulse oximeter
The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 holds this title in China, but everywhere else, it’s difficult to ignore the Honor Band 6. It sports a large 1.47-inch AMOLED display which makes it an easy sell for those with waning vision. More interesting is its SpO2 sensor which monitors oxygen saturation in the blood. It also packs a continuous heart rate monitor, tracking smarts for up to 10 workouts, stress and sleep tracking, and menstrual cycle tracking. That’s quite a feature set for a cheap fitness tracker.
The large display may not be to everyone’s taste, and the Band 6 does lack in the styling stakes. On paper, it’s a competent cheap fitness tracker that’s worth considering.
Honorable mentions
That’s it for our list of the best cheap fitness trackers you can buy, but it’s only a fraction of what’s out there. We also want to give an honorable mention to the following products:
- Amazfit Bip U (Amazon): The Bip U offers a large 1.43-inch display, long battery life, tracking for more than 60 activities, and an SpO2 sensor. We didn’t include it in the large list as it’s more a smartwatch than a fitness tracker, but it’s worth considering for its ~$60 price tag.
- Amazfit Band 5 (Amazon): If you really need a fitness tracker in form, the Amazfit Band 5 is a good shout. It’s a sub-$50 tracker that packs Amazon Alexa support and a pulse oximeter, too.
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