Whether you're starting a fitness journey or seeking deeper workout insights, a fitness tracker can gamify exercise and provide valuable data. Fortunately, many affordable wearables—often smartwatch variations—offer excellent value. From feature-rich options rivaling top smartwatches to basic step counters and heart rate monitors, budget-friendly fitness trackers cater to all needs and wrist sizes.
TL;DR – The Best Budget Fitness Trackers:
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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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1. Fitbit Inspire 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker
Our Top Pick### Fitbit Inspire 3
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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: Bright AMOLED touchscreen, Long battery life
Cons: Some advanced features require a subscription
The Fitbit Inspire 3 proves that high-quality fitness trackers don't need a hefty price tag. For under $100, you get a vibrant AMOLED display and a durable, sleek band comfortable enough for sleep. Its 10-day battery life (reduced with the always-on display) minimizes charging needs. Navigation is easy via touchscreen and two haptic buttons.
Fitness tracking features include 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, blood oxygen level measurement, and movement reminders. Automatic exercise tracking and sleep monitoring provide valuable insights. Basic smartwatch features like phone notifications and a find-my-phone function (via Bluetooth) are included, though music storage and contactless payments are absent.
2. Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Best Ultra-Cheap Fitness Tracker
### Xiaomi Smart Band 9
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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: Over 150 sports modes, Impressive 21-day battery life
Cons: Tracking isn't always 100% accurate
The sub-$50 Xiaomi Smart Band 9 packs impressive features. It offers a sleek design and comprehensive health monitoring, rivaling Fitbit's offerings. It includes a pedometer, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen saturation monitor, and sleep monitoring. Over 150 fitness modes, from running to swimming, provide detailed workout data (though accuracy may not match higher-end devices).
The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 boasts a three-week battery life (with moderate use) and a bright 1.62-inch AMOLED display (1200 nits). While lacking physical buttons, its touchscreen is responsive. Smartwatch features include call and message notifications and music playback control, though phone pairing can be finicky.
3. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro: Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS
### Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
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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: Accurate built-in GPS, Large, full-color AMOLED display
Cons: No NFC
An upgrade to the Smart Band 9, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro features a larger (1.74-inch) AMOLED display and a surprisingly accurate built-in GPS. It retains 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and support for over 150 sports modes. While many modes primarily track heart rate and time, the GPS significantly enhances workout tracking.
Limited smartwatch features include music playback and phone notifications (no replies). NFC is absent. Despite this, the sub-$100 Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro offers style, a bright screen, user-friendly interface, and excellent battery life.
4. Amazfit Band 7: Best Budget Fitness Tracker With Health Monitoring
### Amazfit Band 7
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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: Extensive tracking (stress and sleep), Amazon Alexa and other smartwatch features
Cons: No built-in GPS
The $50 Amazfit Band 7 offers impressive capabilities. Its 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display clearly shows data, while the band remains slim and comfortable. The battery lasts eight days (28 days in battery-saver mode). It supports over 120 sports modes (four with automatic smart recognition) and is water-resistant to 50m.
Health monitoring includes heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress, with detailed sleep tracking. Smartwatch features include notifications and Amazon Alexa integration.
5. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen): Best Budget Apple Watch
### Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
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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: Wide app selection, Safety features (crash detection), Built-in GPS
Cons: Fewer sensors than other Apple Watch options
The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) offers a budget-friendly Apple Watch experience. It uses the same S8 SiP chipset as the Series 8, providing fast processing. It includes an optical heart rate sensor, built-in GPS, automatic workout detection (including swimming), and 32GB of storage for apps.
As a full smartwatch, it allows calls, messaging, contactless payments, and music streaming. Crash detection is a key safety feature. Battery life is good for an Apple Watch.
6. Garmin Venu 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts
### Garmin Venu 3
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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: Highly accurate GPS and heart rate monitor, Helpful Body Battery feature
Cons: Limited app selection compared to other smartwatches
The Garmin Venu 3, while the most expensive on this list, is worth the investment for serious fitness tracking. It offers extensive exercise tracking (swimming, cycling, golf, etc.), with over 30 preloaded sports apps. Its highly accurate GPS, heart rate monitor, ECG, blood oxygen, and temperature sensors provide comprehensive data. Animated workouts (pilates, HIIT, cardio) are included. The Body Battery feature tracks your body's energy levels.
The Venu 3 is a smartwatch with a bright AMOLED display and up to 14 days of battery life (reduced with always-on display and automatic workout detection). Standard smartwatch features are available, though app selection is limited compared to Apple and Google smartwatches.
What to Look for in a Budget Fitness Tracker
Choosing a fitness tracker involves considering hardware quality, comfort, software, and tracking accuracy. Higher prices often mean more features (heart rate monitoring, GPS, OLED displays). However, many affordable trackers offer substantial health data.
What kind of fitness tracker do I need?
Your needs determine the right tracker. Ultra-cheap bands like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 suffice for basic step counting, heart rate monitoring, and timekeeping. Many budget options include color displays, long battery life, sports modes, sleep tracking, blood oxygen sensors, and phone notifications.
GPS support is valuable 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 pairing their tracker with high-quality earbuds.
