Choosing the best Fitbit amidst the plethora of available devices can be a daunting task, which is why we've put together a list of top picks based on features, prices, and reviews to simplify your search.
Fitbit has carved a niche as a leader in the fitness tracking realm, offering devices that excel not only in monitoring health stats but also as some of the finest running watches on the market. These gadgets boast the capability to track pace, route, time, and much more, making them invaluable tools for fitness enthusiasts.
Yet, Fitbit devices are not confined to fitness tracking alone; they're also pretty smart too, providing insights into day-to-day activities and comprehensive sleep monitoring. Also, Fitbit watches go the extra mile by offering a Daily Readiness Score. This unique feature can help you gauge whether you're primed for a workout or if a rest day would be more beneficial.
The versatility of Fitbit's range is evident, catering to diverse needs from budget-friendly options for running and fitness like the Charge 6, to stylish everyday wearables such as the Luxe. Whatever it is you're after, Fitbit, as well as our comprehensive list, has you covered. Let's dive in...
Best Fitbits
- Fitbit Versa 4 - best overall smartwatch
- Fitbit Inspire 3 - a great budget tracker
- Fitbit Charge 6 - the best choice for fitness
- Fitbit Sense 2 - a seriously smart watch
- Fitbit Luxe - a great option to wear every day
1. Fitbit Versa 4
Best Fitbit overall
In terms of the best Fitbit available as well as the best fitness watches for men and women around, the Versa 4 ticks a lot of boxes which helps establish it as one of the brand's top fitness trackers.
Like its predecessor, it's styled like a smartwatch and comes with a range of handy features to enhance your workouts. For instance, you get 40+ exercise modes, a built-in GPS, and a Daily Readiness Score to inform whether you're up for a challenging workout or in need of a recovery day.
You also get heart rate monitoring and Bluetooth connectivity, making it a great option to consider if you enjoy fast-paced workouts like a spin class on your best exercise bike.
All in all, the Versa is not just a great fitness tracker but is also a useful smartwatch to be used every day thanks to its impressive quoted battery life and convenient, time-saving features like mobile payments.
- Read More: Best sportswear deals
2. Fitbit Inspire 3
Best budget Fitbit
The Inspire 3 has been designed with the more casual user in mind, including those who have just started their journeys towards building healthier habits and creating a more active lifestyle.
What we like about this device is that it comes with several key health tracking features, including sleep monitoring, 24/7 heart rate tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, plus skin temperature analysis, meaning it should be a great option for everyday use, particularly with its impressive 10-day battery life.
Moreover, the Inspire also comes with Active Zone Minutes, a feature that monitors the time you spend in the fat burn, cardio, and peak heart-rate fitness zones which have been designed to motivate you during challenging workouts.
Other notable features include a built-in Daily Readiness score to inform whether your body's ready to work out or needs time to recover, a litany of different exercise modes, plus a Find My Phone feature in case you lose your parent device.
- Read More: Best fitness deals
3. Fitbit Charge 6
Best Fitbit for fitness
The Fitbit Charge 6 stands as one of the finest fitness trackers in Fitbit's lineup, with standout features including an ECG heart rate monitor and an always-on colour touch screen to keep it readable, even under bright sunlight.
One of its most innovative aspects though is its ability to provide a Daily Readiness Score. As touched on before, it utilises a combination of metrics, including your fatigue level, heart rate variability, and recent sleep patterns to provide a comprehensive assessment of your readiness for physical training. Furthermore, the inclusion of a built-in GPS allows you to seamlessly track your outdoor workouts when you are ready to train directly from the device.
The Charge 6 is also fully integrated with Google. This partnership brings a slew of enhancements not found in its predecessor, the Charge 5. You can now effortlessly control YouTube music, access turn-by-turn directions via Google Maps, and take advantage of Google Wallet if you want. Additionally, the device boasts a diverse selection of over 40 exercise modes, catering to a wide range of training preferences and needs, ensuring you maintain your fitness and health goals.
Whether you're headed to the gym or embarking on a challenging hike, the Fitbit Charge 6 is more than up to the task. Its band-like design and compact form ensure that it doesn't become a distraction or a burden during your training sessions or adventures either. It's a well-rounded wearable that can seamlessly accompany your fitness journey.
- Read More: Best swimming watches
4. Fitbit Sense 2
Best smart Fitbit
The Sense 2 is similar to the Versa 4, but it stands out with a set of additional features, elevating it to a position of one of the most intelligent and premium smartwatches within the Fitbit product lineup.
Distinguishing itself from the Versa 4, the Sense 2 is equipped with an ECG heart rhythm monitor and includes integrated EDA mindfulness sessions, offering a comprehensive approach to maintaining not only your physical health but also nurturing your mental well-being.
Additionally, the Sense 2 has integration with a variety of Google's smart applications, such as Maps and Google Wallet. This integration empowers you to execute swift and secure payments directly from your wrist.
In essence, this Fitbit model caters to both serious fitness enthusiasts and individuals seeking everyday utility. With built-in GPS and water resistance, it excels in fitness tracking, while its capabilities extend to mindfulness practices, sleep monitoring, and seamless mobile payments for your daily needs.
- Read More: Best cycling watches
5. Fitbit Luxe
Best Fitbit for everyday wear
The Fitbit Luxe is designed to be chic and stylish for everyday wear with its compact, jewelry-like aesthetic.
It's not all about the looks though, as this device is packed with fitness tracking technology such as sleep, heart rate, and calorie tracking. The device also provides you with a daily readiness score which is designed to reveal if you're ready to work out or should focus on recovery.
With a 5-day quoted battery life as well, this Luxe looks to be an excellent choice if you're looking for an effective fitness tracker to wear every day.
- Read More: Best watches under 1500
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
With so many different models to choose from, you probably have a few queries about Fitbit, but we're here to clear up some of the most common questions.
What does a Fitbit do?
A Fitbit device is typically used for fitness tracking as it can count your steps and monitor your heart rate, not only during exercise, but throughout your everyday life.
With that being said, most models also come with a few extras to help you achieve your fitness goals. These extras can include the following depending on the device:
- Sleep tracking
- Blood oxygen monitoring
- GPS tracking during exercise
- Storing and listening to music
- Receiving call and text notifications
- Contactless payments
You can also use Fitbit's social platform to share your stats, achievements, and more with your friends to help motivate one another to keep working hard.
Is a Fitbit worth it?
The answer to this question will vary depending on your available budget and whether you need a fitness tracker to monitor your exercise and everyday life.
For example, if you run regularly and want something to track your stats so you can keep track of your progress, then picking up a top Fitbit could be your answer.
You may also simply want a Fitbit for everyday tasks like counting the number of steps you take in a day.
With that being said, a Fitbit may not necessarily be 100% accurate, however, it can still be a useful tool for tracking your workouts, calories, and everyday life, especially if you regularly use the same watch to give you consistent readings over a long period of time.
Does a Fitbit track blood pressure?
At this moment in time, Fitbit devices do not measure blood pressure; however, most smartwatches and trackers do include a relative SpO2 sensor.
That said, it would seem Fitbit is exploring ways to implement such technology in the future according to Fitbit's forums. This included running a study into blood pressure tracking last 2021.
What's the difference between a Fitbit tracker and a smartwatch?
Generally speaking, Fitbit's fitness trackers are more compact bands to help keep you focused on your exercise. This means they typically feature smaller screens to relay only the most important fitness metrics back at you.
Smartwatches are normally a bit bigger and more akin to a regular watch. They usually come with larger screens to deliver, not only tracked fitness statistics, but also notifications and updates from your parent device as well.
How long does a Fitbit take to charge?
The instructions that come with your watch should tell you how long your particular device takes to charge, however, most instructions state they typically take between 1-2 hours to charge fully.
How you check your Fitbit's battery life does vary, but for the Versa 4 and the Sense 2, for example, all you have to do is double-tap the touch screen display and a percentage will appear to tell you how much charge your device has.
Can you use a Fitbit without the app?
Simply put, no don't need your phone and the app nearby to use your Fitbit.
After initially creating your Fitbit account, you can leave your parent device behind and just use the band to continually record data providing it has a built-in GPS.
Once you're within 30-feet of the parent device you used to sign up with, then your Fitbit should automatically synchronise in the background.
As a side note, you can also get MobileTrack which lets you use the Fitbit app without a Fitbit device by using your phone's sensors to track basic activity data including steps, distance, and calories burned.
Does a Fitbit work without a subscription?
No, you don't need to pay for a Fitbit subscription to use its software.
However, if you want to take your training to the next level, then you can get Fitbit Premium which grants you access to a few additional features like premium challenges for extra motivation, plus information about your heart rate, resting heart rate, SpO2 levels, and skin temperature variants.
Fitbit Premium also gives you access to over 200 activities and 100 mindfulness sessions so provides you with more variety when working out.
Does a Fitbit require WiFi?
Fitbit devices don't need an active internet connection 24/7 which means you to take them with you wherever you go and they should still function as expected.
It's actually the parent device that needs an internet connection; however, this is only required when you sync data to the Fitbit server.
Your parent device may be a laptop or PC, but can also be a smartphone which is more likely to have an internet connection at all times through 3G or 4G data.
Are there alternatives to a Fitbit?
Fitbit is not the only smartwatch and fitness tracker manufacturer on the market. There are now a ton of companies getting in on the act, including Apple, Garmin, Polar, and many more.
It's often the case that many of these smart devices will come with similar features to a Fitbit. One of the biggest differences though is the Fitbit app and Fitbit Premium which, as touched on earlier, gives you access to fitness challenges as well as stats like skin temperature and your SpO2 levels.
One of the more intriguing and up-and-coming competitors to Fitbit though is WHOOP and its 4.0 device. According to the brand, the 4.0 can provide the most in-depth and accurate health feedback around by monitoring your sleep, recovery, and daily exertion.
However, you don't get any smartwatch features with the 4.0 as it's simply a band. There are still alternatives if you're after that sort of thing though.
How do you clean and maintain a Fitbit?
To clean and maintain your Fitbit watch, we'd recommend doing the following for most devices:
- If your Fitbit watch has a removable band, detach it from the watch before cleaning.
- Use a non-abrasive, lint-free cloth to gently wipe the exterior of the watch. Avoid using abrasive or harsh cleaning agents that may damage the watch's surface.
- If your Fitbit watch has a silicone band, you can wash it with mild soap and water. Use a soft cloth or sponge to gently clean the band. Rinse it thoroughly and let it air dry before reattaching it to the watch. Leather bands or metal bracelets require specific care instructions. Refer to Fitbit's guidelines or user manual for cleaning and maintenance recommendations for these types of bands.
- Ensure that both the watch body and the band are completely dry before reassembling them. Moisture can damage the watch's internal components, so it's important to dry it thoroughly.
With all this in mind, remember specific cleaning and maintenance instructions can vary between Fitbit watch models. For detailed and model-specific instructions, refer to the user manual or support documentation provided by Fitbit for your particular device