It’s been five years since Google officially acquired Fitbit for a reported $2.1 billion, grabbing hardware and software teams that also absorbed assets from Pebble, which Fitbit itself acquired in 2016. So, how have things changed? Well, for starters, Fitbit is now Google Fitbit. It’s not the most imaginative of name changes, and it hasn't stuck in consumers’ minds, but the good news is that Fitbit devices remain some of the most user-friendly and welcoming fitness trackers available. This is especially true if you're just starting, or reigniting, your fitness journey.
Fitbit’s dominance has waned slightly in the face of countless alternatives, but its affordable approach, user-friendly interface, and great styling make it one of the best wearable fitness brands. If you’re looking for a reliable step-counting, sleep-tracking monitor, you’re in for a treat—and thanks to Google’s stewardship, you can now even find a smartwatch with features to rival the competition. Here are my picks of the best Fitbit trackers, whatever your wearable needs are.
For more wearable recommendations, check out our guides to the Best Fitness Trackers, Best Smart Rings, and Best Garmin Watches.
Featured In This Guide
Best Fitbit OverallFitbit Charge 6Jump to review$160Google Store
Most Affordable FitbitFitbit Inspire 3Jump to review$100Google Store
Best Fitbit for KidsFitbit Ace LTEJump to review$180 $100 (44% off)Google Store
Best Fitbit SmartwatchFitbit Versa 4Jump to review$200Google Store
Jump toAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronBest Fitbit Overall
Courtesy of FitbitSave to wishlistSave to wishlistFitbit
Charge 6
$160Google Store
$160 $130 (19% off)Amazon
$160Best Buy
Launched in 2023, the Charge 6 remains the best fitness tracker for most people. It's the same slim build as its predecessor (the Charge 5), maintaining the bright AMOLED touchscreen, with an optional always-on display, and fortunately bringing back the physical side button. It monitors your heart rate, blood oxygen, and skin temperature, and it offers ECG and electrodermal activity scans to measure irregular heart rhythms and stress level insights. The largest upgrade on the functionality front is the new ability to connect Fitbit's heart rate sensor to particular gym equipment like the NordicTrack treadmill or Peloton bike. In testing, its heart rate sensors held up well against the Oura ring. Battery life is also fantastic, with up to a week per charge.
The built-in GPS support doesn't rival dedicated sports watches for accuracy, but it's useful enough for outdoor activities. Plus, unlike those wearables, Fitbit dishes out detailed sleep data that is both insightful and actionable. Google’s presence has increased on the Charge with the useful additions of Google Maps and Google Wallet. You get all of this and more for less than the cost of Fitbit's smartwatches.
SpecsCase Size36.73 x 23.09 x 11.20 mmCase MaterialAluminumBattery LifeUp to 7 daysColorsCoral/Champagne Gold Aluminum, Porcelain/Silver Aluminum, Obsidian/Black AluminumMost Affordable Fitbit
Courtesy of FitbitSave to wishlistSave to wishlistFitbit
Inspire 3
$100Google Store
$100 $93 (7% off)Amazon
$100 $90 (10% off)Best Buy
Along with its budget price, the Inspire 3 also offers the longest battery life of the Fitbit lineup. A full charge will last you up to 10 days, depending on how much you use it. It is pretty similar to the Charge 6, except that it lacks a built-in GPS, and it only features 20 exercise modes (as opposed to Charge 6's 40 modes, which I found to be excessive anyway). You also miss out on some of the other premium features, such as Bluetooth compatibility with certain gym equipment, the EDA Scan app for stress management, and NFC technology. If none of those qualities matter to you, I would opt for the Inspire 3, which is just as accurate as the Charge 6.
SpecsCase Size39.32 x 18.6 x 11.75 mmCase MaterialPlasticBattery LifeUp to 10 daysColorsMidnight Zen/Black, Lilac Bliss/Black, Morning Glow/Black (yellow)Best Fitbit for Kids
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Photograph: Adrienne SoSave to wishlistSave to wishlistFitbit
Ace LTE
$180 $100 (44% off)Google Store
$180 $124 (31% off)Amazon
$180 $100 (44% off)Best Buy
The first Fitbit Ace landed in 2018, offering kids ages 8 and above the ability to track their steps and sleep and to be in constant pursuit of virtual badges. The Fitbit Ace LTE ditches the fitness band form for a smartwatch one, instantly giving it more grown-up kids appeal. The Ace LTE is built for ages 7 to 14 and comes with a design perhaps best described as a more child-friendly Versa. There’s a sizable OLED screen with Gorilla Glass 3 to fend off scratches, and unlike the first Ace, it can be submerged in water up to 50 meters deep.
There are some familiar fitness tracker sensors in place, including an optical heart rate monitor and motion sensors to track movement, though Fitbit has ditched the sleep-tracking support that was available on the original Ace. It has LTE connectivity so parents and children can make calls to each other, and it also taps into Google Maps to give it location-tracking smarts. Payments are on the way for the watch, too.
There are also games to play, including a very Fitbit take on a Tamagotchi that’s sure to appeal. There is the matter of a $10 per month subscription fee to get the complete Ace experience; it isn’t a cheap kids’ smartwatch either. But it’s easy to use, and it gets the balance of fun and fitness just right to make it a good fit for kids. —Michael Sawh
SpecsCase Size41.04 x 44.89 x 13.35 mmCase MaterialPlastic, stainless steel, glass, and recycled materialsBattery LifeUp to 16 hoursColorsSpicy Pebble/Moovin’ Band, Mild Pebble/Strange Arcade BandBest Fitbit Smartwatch
Courtesy of FitbitSave to wishlistSave to wishlistFitbit
Versa 4
$200Google Store
$200 $169 (16% off)Amazon
$200Best Buy
Now that the Google Pixel Watch actually exists, the fate of Fitbit’s own smartwatches feels up in the air. But if the idea of owning a Pixel Watch doesn’t appeal and you’re interested in a more Fitbit-centric experience with better battery life, the Versa 4 is the one to go for. You get a smartwatch with a gently curved design; it’s almost identical to the original Versa, but with the welcome return of a physical button. There’s a large, vibrant, 1.5-inch AMOLED display touchscreen and a battery performance that can really stretch over the promised six days if you don’t leave the screen on 24/7.
As for sports, the Versa 4 is designed with a built-in GPS to track outdoor runs and rides and motion sensors to track indoor swims, though not with sports-watch-rivaling accuracy. Fitbit’s PurePulse heart rate sensor is a better fit for day-to-day heart rate stats than it is for a CrossFit class. And third-party app support has been replaced by native Google apps, like Maps, with Google Assistant joining Amazon’s Alexa. As a device that lets you check your phone notifications, keep an eye on step counts and sleep, and forget about constantly charging it, the Versa 4 has plenty to like. —Michael Sawh
SpecsCase Size40.5 x 40.5 x 11.2 mmCase MaterialAluminumBattery LifeUp to 6 daysColorsBlack/Graphite Aluminum, Waterfall Blue/Platinum Aluminum, Pink Sand/Copper Rose Aluminum, Beet Juice/Copper Rose AluminumBest Fitbit for Health Tracking
Courtesy of FitbitSave to wishlistSave to wishlistFitbit
Sense 2
$250Google Store
$250 $225 (10% off)Amazon
$250 $221 (12% off)Best Buy
The Fitbit Sense 2 was meant to attract the kind of people who were looking at the Apple Watch. It's designed with an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor that’s been approved in the US to help wearers detect potential signs of atrial fibrillation. A skin temperature sensor can monitor temperature changes during the night to spot any trends, and a SpO2 sensor goes to work when you’re sleeping to detect breathing disturbances. While it’s not a regulatory-approved feature, it can detect potential warning signs of a sleep disorder, like sleep apnea.
An electrical cEDA sensor captures on-the-spot and continuous measurements of galvanic skin response that Fitbit uses as a marker of stress. Fitbit needs to work on delivering information on potential stressors in a useful way, but it’s a start. The Sense 2 also grabs all of the cheaper Versa’s fitness-tracking and sports-tracking features, including built-in GPS, and uses a PurePulse heart rate sensor to keep track of your Active ZoneMinutes when you’re upping the intensity. You do need Fitbit Premium ($10 per month) to unlock the most valuable health insights.
SpecsCase Size40.5 x 40.5 x 11.2 mmCase MaterialAluminumBattery LifeUp to 6 daysColorsShadow Grey/Graphite Aluminum, Lunar White/Platinum Aluminum, Blue Mist/Soft Gold AluminumCompare Top 5 Fitbits
ProductWIREDTIREDWater and Dust ResistanceBattery LifePriceFitbit Charge 6Long battery life. Full suite of health features. ECG app. Built-in GPS. Google integrations. YouTube Music controls.No fall detection. Bluetooth connection frequently glitched. Doesn't always automatically recognize exercise activities.5 ATMUp to 7 days$160Fitbit Inspire 3Longest battery life. Lightweight. Most affordable.No Google integrations or YouTube Music controls. No ECG app.5 ATMUp to 10 days$100Fitbit Ace LTEEntertaining for children. Don’t have to add a line to your phone plan. Games are time- and step-limited. App is easy to use. Most secure kid smartwatch yet.Might not appeal to older kids. Short battery life.5 ATMUp to 16 hours$180Fitbit Versa 4Best Fitbit smartwatch. Built-in GPS. Google integrations.No YouTube Music controls. No ECG app.5 ATMUp to 6 days$200Fitbit Sense 2Most advanced health and fitness insights. ECG app. Built-in GPS. Google integrations.No YouTube Music controls. Priciest.5 ATMUp to 6 days$250Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Fitbit Premium?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronFitbit Premium is a subscription service that costs $10 a month or $80 a year, and gives you perks not available in the free version of the Fitbit app. For example, you get access to a library of recipes, mindfulness sessions, and workouts led by Fitbit's trainers and partner brands (Peloton, Calm, Aura Health, Breethe, and Ten Percent Happier). In addition to your sleep score, with Fitbit Premium, you'll receive more detailed sleep insights, including a monthly analysis of your sleep profile. Similarly, you also get a personalized stress analysis.
Whether the premium membership is worth it boils down to how much information you'd like to receive. It's relatively cheaper than most wearables' subscription models; plus, if you buy a new Fitbit, you'll get a free six-month trial to test it out yourself.
Are Fitbits Waterproof?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronAll of the latest Fitbit products, including the Charge 6, Sense 2, and Inspire 3, can be submerged in water up to 50 meters deep. Where supported, some Fitbits do offer the ability to track swimming, though only in an indoor pool, where it uses motion sensors to track your movements.
Note that while the Fitbit pebble itself is water-resistant, not all of Google's accessory bands or third-party bands are waterproof.
Can Fitbits Connect to Strava?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronYes, although the Strava app that was previously on some older models has been removed from the Fitbit Gallery. If you have a Pixel Watch, you can download the Strava Wear OS app. If you don’t have a Pixel Watch, you can use the strava.fitbit.com link and follow the steps to start sharing your exercise data between the two apps.
Can Fitbits Measure Blood Pressure?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronNo. While the Fitbit app previously supported the ability to manually log blood pressure readings, that is no longer the case. Google allows you to connect Fitbit to its Health Connect app to consolidate health, fitness, and wellness data in one place; if you use a blood pressure monitor and app that offers support for the Health Connect app, that’s currently the main way to bring the two platforms together.
Can Fitbits Detect Sleep Apnea?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronFitbits, like most activity trackers, aren't designed to diagnose sleep apnea, but they can help detect potential warning signs through their sleep-monitoring capabilities.
The Sense 2 and Versa 4 both offer a snore- and noise-detection feature, thanks to their built-in microphones. Unfortunately, they're not the most accurate, as they can pick up the snoring of someone next to you. They also work best with no background noise, which can be an issue for users who sleep with white noise or ambient soundscapes.
Which Fitbit Has an ECG sensor?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronAn ECG sensor is considered one of the most accurate ways to monitor heart rate activity and measures the electrical activity from the heart. That’s different from the way that photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors gather heart rate information; PPG sensors can be a little more susceptible to disruptions like increased movement that can affect data accuracy.
Fitbit introduced an ECG sensor to the Sense in 2020, and it’s now available in the Sense 2, the Charge 6, and the entire Google Pixel Watch lineup. Using the accompanying Fitbit ECG app, users can take on-the-spot ECG measurements, analyzing heart rhythm to help detect—not diagnose—signs of atrial fibrillation, which could be an indicator of a serious health condition.
Should I Get a Fitbit or an Apple Watch?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronFitbit and Apple remain the two biggest names in the activity tracking business. Fitbit offers more form factors to choose from, while Apple is led by its Apple Watch, with the Watch Ultra appealing to endurance athletes. Fitbit’s trackers and watches have a more beginner-friendly feel and can offer longer battery life between charges compared to Apple’s collection of smartwatches.
If you care about daily-activity tracking, both offer motivational features to keep you moving throughout the day. Fitbit doesn’t get you to close those rings like Apple does, but it will nudge you to get up. The majority of its stats and metrics are geared toward telling you how active or inactive you’ve been.
Both are serious about health tracking, offering ECG, SpO2, and optical heart rate monitors on most devices for useful and possibly life-changing insights. The Apple Watch has more strengths as a sports tracker; the richer app store gives it the edge here, though the growing presence of Google’s apps on Fitbit’s wearables is a step in the right direction. But for a variety of designs, ease of use, and sheer range of metrics and data across health, fitness, and mental well-being, Fitbit still certainly holds its own.
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