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 game while providing valuable data. Fortunately, many of these wearable devices, which are often smartwatches, come at budget-friendly prices. From feature-packed models that rival the best smartwatches to basic ones that focus on essentials like step counting and heart rate monitoring, there's a wide range of affordable fitness trackers suitable 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. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsSize39.3mm x 18.6mmThickness11.75mmBattery life10 daysConnectivityBluetoothSensorsHeart rate monitor, SpO2TrackingSwim, sleep, stepsWater resistance Up to 50mPROSBright AMOLED touchscreen Long battery lifeCONSSome more advanced features require a subscriptionFitbit continues to dominate the budget fitness tracker market with the Fitbit Inspire 3. For under $100, you get a vibrant AMOLED display and a durable band that's sleek, compact, and comfortable enough to wear to bed. With a 10-day battery life, you won't need to charge it often, though this duration decreases with the always-on display mode. Navigation is user-friendly, thanks to touch technology and two haptic buttons.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 excels in fitness tracking, offering features like 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, step counting, blood oxygen level measuring, and movement reminders. It also provides automatic exercise tracking, which is helpful if you often forget to start a workout, and sleep monitoring to improve your sleep quality understanding. While it includes some basic smartwatch features such as phone notifications and a find my phone feature via Bluetooth, it lacks music storage and contactless payment capabilities.

2. Xiaomi Smart Band 9

Best Ultra Cheap Fitness Tracker

### Xiaomi Smart Band 9

0An affordable fitness tracker with a 1.62-inch AMOLED display and impressive battery life, offering basic tracking and 150 sports modes. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsSize46.53mm x 21.63mmThickness10.95mmBattery life21 daysConnectivityBluetoothSensorsHeart rate monitor, SpO2TrackingSwim, sleep, stepsWater resistanceUp to 50mPROSOver 150 sports modesImpressive 21-day battery lifeCONSTracking isn't always 100% accurateThe Xiaomi Smart Band 9, priced under $50, doesn't skimp on features. It offers a host of health monitoring options within a sleek, slim design, challenging even Fitbit's offerings.

It includes essential features like a pedometer, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen saturation, and sleep monitoring. Beyond the basics, it supports over 150 fitness modes, from running to swimming, providing detailed activity metrics such as calories burned and average heart rate. While these metrics may not be as precise as those from higher-end smartwatches with GPS, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 still offers valuable workout insights.

The latest model boasts a significant battery life improvement, lasting up to three weeks with moderate use. The screen's brightness has been upgraded to 1,200 nits, making it easily visible in direct sunlight. The colorful, 1.62-inch AMOLED display is highly responsive, facilitating quick access to fitness metrics and limited smartwatch features like call and message notifications and music playback control. However, phone pairing can be a bit finicky.

3. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS

### Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

0Get a built-in GPS to map your workouts along with 24/7 heart rate and SPO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and various sports modes with this tracker. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsSize43.27mm x 32.49mmThickness10.8mmBattery life21 daysConnectivityBluetoothSensorsHeart rate monitor, GPS, SPO2TrackingSwim, sleep, stressWater resistanceUp to 50mPROSAccurate built-in GPSLarge, full-color AMOLED displayCONSNo NFCIf you're looking for more advanced features than the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 offers, consider the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro. This upgraded model features a larger, rectangular 1.74-inch AMOLED display reminiscent of an Apple Watch, and a surprisingly accurate built-in GPS for tracking runs, bike rides, hikes, and more.

The Smart Band 9 Pro retains essential features like 24/7 heart rate and SPO₂ monitoring, sleep tracking, and stress monitoring. It supports over 150 sports modes, ensuring almost any activity you engage in can be tracked, though some modes offer only basic metrics like heart rate and time.

Despite not being a full smartwatch, it offers limited smartwatch functionalities such as music playback and displaying notifications when connected to your phone. However, you cannot respond to notifications, and there's no NFC support. Priced under $100, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro combines style, a bright and responsive screen, an easy-to-use interface, and impressive battery life.

4. Amazfit Band 7

Best Budget Fitness Tracker With Health Monitoring

### Amazfit Band 7

0The Amazfit Band 7 is ultra-affordable yet packed with features like long battery life, health monitoring, and sleep tracking. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsSize37.3mmThickness12.2mmBattery life18 daysConnectivityBluetooth 5.2SensorsHeart rate monitor, SpO2TrackingSwim, period, sleepWater resistanceUp to 50mPROSTons of tracking including stress and sleepAmazon Alexa and other smartwatch features built-inCONSNo built-in GPSAmazfit packs an impressive array of capabilities into the Band 7, especially considering its $50 price tag. You get a large 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display for easy viewing of health and workout data, yet the band remains slim and comfortable. Battery life is a major advantage, lasting eight days with typical use and up to 28 days in battery-saver mode.

The Amazfit Band 7 supports over 120 sports modes with automatic smart recognition of four, and its 50m water resistance makes it suitable for swimming. Health monitoring includes heart rate, blood-oxygen levels, and stress, while sleep tracking provides insights into your nightly sleep quality. The Band 7 also offers some smartwatch functionality with on-watch notifications and Amazon Alexa integration.

5. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

Best Budget Apple Watch

### Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

0A budget option that runs on the same S8 SiP chipset as the Apple Watch Series 8 for speedy processing at a fraction of the cost. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsSize40mm x 34mmThickness10.7mmBattery life18 hoursConnectivityCellular (optional), 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3SensorsHeart rate monitor, GPS, accelerometerTrackingSwim, sleep, period Water resistanceUp to 50mPROSHuge selection of appsSpecial safety features, like crash detection and built-in GPSCONSFewer sensors than other Apple Watch optionsNot every fitness tracker needs to focus solely on fitness, and not all the best Apple Watches need to be expensive. The 2nd-gen Apple Watch SE includes an optical heart rate sensor and built-in GPS, ensuring you never lose your way on hikes. It automatically detects various workouts, including swimming, and with 32GB of built-in storage, you can download additional fitness apps from the App Store.

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. This model also features crash detection, which can automatically call emergency services if you're involved in an accident. All these features are packed into a slim, comfortable design with impressive battery life by Apple Watch standards.

6. Garmin Venu 3

Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts

### Garmin Venu 3

0Beyond tracking exercise, a GPS, and a heart rate monitor, the Venu 3 lets you follow animated workouts, receive phone notifications, and make contactless payments. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsSize45mmThickness12mmBattery life14 daysConnectivityBluetooth, 802.11nSensorsHeart rate monitor, GPS, temperatureTrackingSwim, sleep, stress, energyWater resistanceUp to 50mPROSHighly accurate GPS and heart rate monitorHelpful Body Battery featureCONSLimited app selection compared to other smartwatchesFor serious health and fitness tracking, Garmin is a top choice, offering watches packed with insightful features. While Garmin's budget-friendly Venu 3 is the priciest option among our affordable picks, it's a worthwhile investment for dedicated fitness enthusiasts.

The Venu 3 tracks various exercises, including swimming, cycling, and golf, with over 30 preloaded sports apps working alongside its highly accurate GPS, heart rate monitor, ECG, blood oxygen, temperature, and other sensors. It also includes animated workouts for pilates, HIIT, and cardio. The standout feature is the Body Battery, which provides data on how well-rested your body is based on activity, stress, and sleep.

In addition to its fitness capabilities, the Garmin Venu 3 is a compact smartwatch with a bright AMOLED touchscreen display. It offers up to 14 days of battery life, though this decreases with the always-on display and automatic workout detection. Standard smartwatch features like receiving calls, using smart assistants, and responding to texts are available when paired with the best Android phones, though the app selection is more limited compared to Apple and Google smartwatches.

What to Look for in a Budget Fitness Tracker

When choosing a fitness tracker, consider more than just step counting and sleep tracking. The overall experience includes hardware quality, comfort, software capabilities, and the accuracy of the tracking features you're interested in.

As prices increase, 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 type of fitness tracker you need 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 come with color displays, long battery life, and additional features like sports modes, sleep tracking, blood oxygen sensors, and phone notifications.

If you're into running, biking, or hiking, consider spending a bit more for GPS support. For those seeking extensive functionality beyond fitness and health tracking, a smartwatch offers a larger screen, 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 a perfect fit for your lifestyle.