Top Budget Fitness Trackers for 2025: Stay Active Affordably

Whether you're embarking on a new health journey or seeking deeper insights into your workouts, a fitness tracker can transform exercise into an engaging experience by providing valuable data. Fortunately, many of these devices, often resembling smartwatches, are affordable. From feature-rich models that can compete with the best smartwatches to basic ones that track steps and monitor heart rate, there's a wide selection of budget-friendly fitness trackers available for all wrist sizes.

TL;DR – The Best Budget Fitness Trackers:

Our Top Pick### Fitbit Inspire 3

0See it at Amazon### Xiaomi Smart Band 9

0See it at Amazon### Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

0See it at Amazon### Amazfit Band 7

0See it at Amazon### Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

0See it at Amazon### Garmin Venu 3

0See it at AmazonContributions by Kevin Lee

1. Fitbit Inspire 3

Best Budget Fitness Tracker

Our Top Pick### Fitbit Inspire 3

0Smartwatches and fitness trackers don't have to break the bank, and the Fitbit Inspire 3 is a prime example. This device offers a vibrant AMOLED display and a durable band that's sleek, compact, and comfortable enough to wear while sleeping. With a battery life of up to 10 days, you won't need to charge it frequently, though using the always-on display mode will reduce this duration. Navigation is user-friendly, utilizing touch technology and two haptic buttons.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 excels in fitness tracking with features such as 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, blood oxygen level measurement, and movement reminders. It also includes automatic exercise tracking, which is particularly useful if you forget to start your workout manually, and sleep monitoring to help you understand your sleep quality. Additionally, it offers basic smartwatch functionalities like phone notifications and a find my phone feature via Bluetooth connectivity, although it lacks the ability to store music or make contactless payments.

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

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2. Xiaomi Smart Band 9

Best Ultra Cheap Fitness Tracker

### Xiaomi Smart Band 9

0For under $50, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 offers an affordable option with a 1.62-inch AMOLED display and exceptional battery life. It provides basic tracking features and supports over 150 sports modes, making it a versatile choice for various activities.

This fitness tracker includes essentials like a pedometer, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen saturation, and sleep monitoring. With over 150 fitness modes covering activities from running to swimming, it delivers valuable insights into your workouts, including calories burned and average heart rate. While it may not match the precision of higher-end devices like the Apple Watch, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 still offers significant value for its price.

The latest model boasts an impressive battery life of up to 21 days with moderate usage, and the screen's brightness has been upgraded to 1,200 nits, ensuring visibility even in direct sunlight. The colorful, touch-responsive AMOLED display allows for quick access to fitness metrics and limited smartwatch features, such as call and message notifications and music playback control. However, be prepared for some challenges with phone pairing.

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

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3. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS

### Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

0If you're looking for a step up from the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 with added features, the Smart Band 9 Pro includes a built-in GPS for tracking your workouts. This model features a larger, rectangular 1.74-inch AMOLED display that resembles the Apple Watch. Alongside the GPS, it offers 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and over 150 sports modes.

While the Smart Band 9 Pro is not a full smartwatch, it includes limited smartwatch features like music playback and notification display when connected to your phone. However, it does not support NFC or allow you to respond to notifications. Despite these limitations, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro remains a stylish and functional fitness tracker with a bright, responsive screen and impressive battery life, all for under $100.

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

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4. Amazfit Band 7

Best Budget Fitness Tracker With Health Monitoring

### Amazfit Band 7

0The Amazfit Band 7 is an excellent choice for those seeking an affordable fitness tracker with comprehensive health monitoring features. It boasts a large 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display and a slim, comfortable design. The battery life is impressive, lasting up to 18 days with typical use and 28 days in battery-saver mode.

This fitness tracker supports over 120 sports modes with automatic smart recognition of four, and its water resistance up to 50m makes it suitable for swimming. Health monitoring includes heart rate, blood oxygen level, and stress tracking, while sleep tracking provides detailed insights into your sleep quality. Additionally, the Amazfit Band 7 offers some smartwatch functionalities, including on-watch notifications and Amazon Alexa integration.

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:

• Tons of tracking including stress and sleep
• Amazon Alexa and other smartwatch features built-in

Cons:

• No built-in GPS

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5. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

Best Budget Apple Watch

### Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

0The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) offers a budget-friendly option with the powerful S8 SiP chipset, ensuring fast processing at a lower cost compared to other Apple Watches. It includes an optical heart rate sensor and built-in GPS, making it ideal for various activities, including hiking and swimming. The watch automatically detects workouts and supports additional apps from the App Store with its 32GB of storage.

As a full-fledged smartwatch, the Apple Watch SE allows you to answer calls, respond to messages, make contactless payments, and stream music directly from your wrist. It also features crash detection, which can automatically call emergency services in the event of an accident. All these features are packed into a slim, comfortable design with a respectable battery life by Apple Watch standards.

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:

• Huge selection of apps
• Special safety features, like crash detection and built-in GPS

Cons:

• Fewer sensors than other Apple Watch options

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6. Garmin Venu 3

Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts

### Garmin Venu 3

0The Garmin Venu 3 is a top choice for those serious about their workouts, offering detailed exercise tracking, GPS, and a heart rate monitor. It also features animated workouts for activities like pilates, HIIT, and cardio, and its Body Battery feature provides insights into your energy levels based on activity, stress, and sleep.

In addition to fitness tracking, the Garmin Venu 3 functions as a smartwatch, allowing you to receive phone notifications and make contactless payments. The bright AMOLED touchscreen display and up to 14 days of battery life enhance its appeal, though using the always-on display and automatic workout detection will reduce this duration. While it offers fewer apps compared to Apple and Google smartwatches, it remains a powerful tool for fitness enthusiasts.

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

See it at Amazon

What to Look for in a Budget Fitness Tracker

When selecting a fitness tracker, consider more than just step and sleep tracking. Evaluate the hardware quality, comfort, software capabilities, and how well it performs the tracking functions you need. As the price increases, so do the features, such as heart rate monitoring, GPS, and OLED displays. However, many basic trackers offer a wealth of health data at a lower cost.

What kind of fitness tracker do I need?

The right fitness tracker depends on your intended use. For basic tracking like steps, heart rate, and time, an ultra-cheap, compact band like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is sufficient. These affordable options often include color displays, long battery life, and additional features like sports modes, sleep tracking, and phone notifications.

If you're into running, biking, or hiking, consider spending a bit more for GPS support. For comprehensive functionality beyond fitness and health tracking, a smartwatch like the Apple Watch SE or Garmin Venu 3 is ideal. These devices offer larger screens, built-in storage, access to more apps, and the ability to handle calls, texts, and other notifications.

For active runners or gym-goers, pairing your fitness tracker with a great pair of earbuds can enhance your overall experience and ensure you find the perfect fit for your lifestyle.