If you’ve been thinking of buying a new fitness tracker, you have a wide selection of options to choose from. Fitbit is a name you’re bound to have heard of, as it’s one of the top brands in the fitness industry, with more than a dozen varieties of fitness trackers and smartwatches to suit different needs.
With that number of devices to choose from, it’s not hard to see why people might become overwhelmed when choosing between them. Thankfully, there are definitely Fitbits that excel in certain areas, and as such, it’s not too hard to narrow down your choice to find the best Fitbit for you. We’ve done a bit of the work for you here by gathering some of the best Fitbit options around, breaking them down, and pointing out what makes them so special.
Before we start, keep in mind that there’s a downside that all Fitbit models share, whether fitness tracker or smartwatch: the Fitbit subscription. While not required, if you want to access the best analysis and breakdowns of your data, you will need to pay for a Fitbit subscription after any free trials have concluded. This isn’t the case with many competitors, including Apple, Samsung, and Garmin, and it can be a reason to avoid Fitbit for many. But there are still many reasons Fitbit is one of the top fitness-tracking brands around. Here are the best Fitbits for 2023.
Looking to widen your vision past just Fitbit? We’ve got lists of the best smartwatches, and the best fitness trackers too!
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
Fitbit Charge 6
The best Fitbit overall
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Robust health-tracking tools
- Built-in GPS
- Google apps work well
- Fast, responsive software
- Nearly a week of battery life
Cons
- Unreliable notifications
- No local music storage
- Many features require Fitbit Premium
Why you should buy this: It’s got a bit of everything that makes Fitbit so great.
Who it’s for: Anyone who knows you don’t have to pay a lot to get a great fitness tracker.
Why we picked the Fitbit Charge 6:
Fitbit’s catalog is large and it has models to cover almost every niche, from pure fitness to mental wellness, so finding a great middle ground option that covers all the bases can seem like a challenge. Thankfully, it isn’t, as the Fitbit Charge 6 is simply the best Fitbit overall that you can buy in 2023.
It’s a fitness tracker-style device, so if you’re looking for a smartwatch, this may not be the device for you. However, you should still consider the Charge 6, as it’s one of the most comfortable, nonintrusive wearables you can buy. The 1.04-inch display is an AMOLED panel, so it has vibrant colors and deep inky blacks, and the performance is swift and snappy. It’s quite similar to the Charge 5, with the exception of the reintroduction of a side button, and a new heart rate sensor, which Fitbit claims is 60% more accurate than previous versions.
The heart rate sensor forms the backbone of Fitbit’s fitness tracking. It’s excellent, as you might have expected. The Charge 6 has over 40 trackable workouts, with a number of those being automatically recognized and tracked. It also tracks sleep, SpO2 levels, and heart rate variability. It has an ECG and EDA (for stress), and it’ll notify you if it notices an irregular or high or low heartbeat rate. It’s a solid, all-in-one suite that offers everything you’re going to need from a fitness tracker.
Its use as a smart device is one of the wearable’s few failings, unfortunately. Setting up notifications involves diving into the app’s settings (which it doesn’t tell you about), and even when enabled, notifications are very unreliable — with notifications not being sent at all on some days. There’s also no local storage for music files, which limits how phone-free you’re able to go during workouts.
Thankfully, the battery life is another big win for the Fitbit Charge 6. It lasted almost an entire week before needing charging at 16%, and that figure included sleep tracking every night and six workouts. Granted, that’s also with the always-on display turned off, but the lift-to-wake function is good enough that you probably don’t need that on. If you do turn it on, expect to see the battery life drop.
The best part of all this is the price: The Fitbit Charge 6 costs just $160, making it a very reasonable prospect for a fitness tracker. Granted, it has some downsides, chief of which being its inability to masquerade as a smartwatch, but the upsides make it more than worth it for most people.
Fitbit Charge 6
The best Fitbit overall
Andy Zahn / Digital Trends
Fitbit Inspire 3
The best value Fitbit
Pros
- Lightweight
- Very comfortable
- Accurate fitness sensors
- Battery lasts over a week without a recharge
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Lacks an altimeter
- Charger is tricky to disconnect
Why you should buy this: It’s an excellent “put it on and forget it” fitness tracker, at an amazing price.
Who it’s for: Someone who doesn’t like to be reminded they’re wearing a tracker, and wants one at a great price.
Why we picked the Fitbit Inspire 3:
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a great cheap fitness tracker, but that’s not what makes it amazing. Instead, it’s one of the most subtle, discreet trackers you’ll come across. It shines as a device you can forget about for long periods of time, thanks to its light and comfortable build and 10-day battery life. Yes, 10 days. Combine that with an AMOLED display that’s bright and colorful, and you have a real winner.
Fitness tracking doesn’t let it down, thankfully. The heart rate tracker is reliable and accurate, and so is sleep tracking. There’s no altimeter, which may disappoint the hikers among us, but there’s a relaxation mode that can help you get over that, and it’s great when you’re feeling a little stressed.
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a simple device, but that’s what makes it so good. There’s little here to obsess on — you simply put it on and forget about it. Best of all, the rock-bottom price means it’s a tempting device.
Fitbit Inspire 3
The best value Fitbit
Fitbit
Fitbit Ace 3
The best Fitbit for kids
Pros
- Easy to use
- Comfortable, kid-sized fit
- Engaging, animated interface
- Fun, family challenges
Cons
- Clasp can break
- Works best with a parental Fitbit
Why you should buy this: You want a great Fitbit tracker for a child.
Who it’s for: Any active kid.
Why we picked the Fitbit Ace 3:
Kid-friendly fitness trackers are curiously few and far between. It’s curious because there are few people as active as the average child, and if you’re as data-hungry as most of us, you might want to know exactly how active your child is. The Ace 3 is a tracker unit held in a silicone band, and as such, it’s durable and simple to keep clean. it’s also easy to swap in a new strap if your child wants something a bit more grown-up.
In terms of tracking, the Ace 3 is similar to Fitbit’s other fitness trackers, just with some elements turned off for privacy’s sake. The heart rate sensor is turned off, but it has sleep and step tracking, though not much in the way of actual workout tracking. It tracks “active minutes” as a whole though, and it has a swimming mode through the Water Lock setting.
Stats are presented in a fun and engaging way, and the animations that change as steps get closer to the target are a particular hit with younger kids, though older ones may find them childish. Either way, this is an excellent choice if you want a fitness tracker for a child, and it’s available at a fantastic price.
Fitbit Ace 3
The best Fitbit for kids
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Google Pixel Watch 2
The best Fitbit smartwatch
Pros
- Battery lasts more than 24 hours
- One hour battery charge
- Slick, fast performance
- Comprehensive fitness tracking
- Comfortable to wear 24/7
Cons
- Only one case size
- Subscription required for all fitness data
- Small screen, big bezel
Why you should buy this: Google’s second go turned out to be a pretty good smartwatch.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants Fitbit’s fitness suite in a solid smartwatch.
Why we picked the Google Pixel Watch 2:
After a disappointing first act, Google bounced back with the Google Pixel Watch 2. With Fitbit-powered fitness capabilities, the Pixel Watch 2 is an excellent Wear OS smartwatch that more than deserves to be on this list, and should be the first port of call for anyone looking for a Fitbit smartwatch.
The design isn’t a particular high point of the watch, as it seems to straddle the line between fitness tracker and smartwatch. It’s not as attractive or stylish as many smartwatches, but also not as subtle and easy for forget as most trackers. It’s a weird place to find a wearable, and a lot will come down to whether you like the design or not. It’s only available in one size, so it’s worth checking out in person before you buy it.
It’s fast though. The Pixel Watch 2 uses the Snapdragon W5 processor, and it really shows how much Google has learned from the hitches on the original Pixel Watch. While not as quick as some competitors, it’s noticeably faster than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, and it loads apps fast. Battery life has also improved, lasting between 24 and 36 hours on a single, and a full recharge takes less than an hour. That’s longer and faster than Google’s claims, which is a rather nice surprise.
The Pixel Watch 2 has more or less the same fitness and health tracking software you’ll find in other current Fitbit devices, including automatic workout tracking, tracking for over 40 exercises, sleep and stress tracking, and heart rate tracking. It’s a comprehensive and complete package, but keep in mind that despite not being a Fitbit-branded device, it still uses Fitbit’s analysis software, and still needs a Fitbit subscription for the most comprehensive breakdowns of data.
The Google Pixel Watch 2 is a good choice if you want a Fitbit smartwatch, and it’s definitely a huge step up from last year’s Pixel Watch. It starts from $349, with the LTE model costing $399.
Google Pixel Watch 2
The best Fitbit smartwatch
Andy Zahn / Digital Trends
Fitbit Sense 2
The best Fitbit smartwatch runner-up
Pros
- Highly responsive interface
- Excellent display
- Rugged and highly water resistant
- Advanced fitness and health tracking
- Comfortable to wear
Cons
- A bit pricey
- Audio quality for calls isn’t great
Why you should buy this: It’s a great all-around smartwatch and fitness tracker from Fitbit.
Who it’s for: Someone who wants a strong best-of-both-worlds approach.
Why we picked the Fitbit Sense 2:
The Fitbit Sense 2 is one of Fitbit’s smartwatch options, and it is an excellent smartwatch by most metrics. It looks classy and elegant, and while the squared design means it won’t pass as a normal watch, it looks good enough that you might not care. It’s comfortable to wear too, and the strap-swapping system is extremely easy to use.
But the meat of any Fitbit device comes from its fitness tracking, and the Sense 2 is not lacking here. It tracks steps and heart rate, as well as your stress levels over time, helping you pinpoint your stress triggers. Also included is an ECG app, as well as comprehensive food and drink tracking too, which makes your health tracking even more accurate. It’s tough and durable and came out of our strenuous test trip without a scratch. Add in a six-day battery life, and you’ve got a winner on your hands.
It’s not perfect, however. The built-in microphone and speaker aren’t great for calls, and it’s certainly on the pricey side as far as these gadgets go. At this price, the Apple Watch SE is a strong competitor, and it’s hard for Fitbit to match that level of support. But even with that in mind, this is an excellent device, and should be high up your list to consider.
Fitbit Sense 2
The best Fitbit smartwatch runner-up
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best Fitbit for me?
How can you find the best Fitbit for you? It all comes down to your needs. Ask yourself the following questions to find a suitable Fitbit device for your needs.
- What do I need from a fitness tracker?
- Which features are the most important to me?
- Which features are good-to-have, but can be sacrificed to save money?
- How do I plan to use this device? Do I need a waterproof model for swimming?
- What’s my budget for a new fitness tracker?
Once you understand your needs, it becomes easier to compare different Fitbit models and find which one best suits your preferences. While top-end Fitbits tend to excel in a number of areas, sometimes there’s no reason to pay top dollar if a lower-priced option gives you everything you need.
At the end of the day, your choice of Fitbit depends on what you need from a fitness tracker. If you feel stuck, revisit the questions below to understand which features you need, which ones are good to have, and which ones you don’t care about at this time. Hopefully, this will help you to find the best Fitbit device for you.
What are the best Fitbit features for workouts?
If you are a runner or exercise often, there are some features you’ll want to keep an eye out for. These apply whether you’re a professional athlete with years of experience behind you, or a complete newbie still aiming for their first mile.
- GPS (for mapping your route).
- Music player/streaming.
- Step and distance tracking.
Beyond these basics, here are some extra features that make workouts more effective and fun:
SmartTrack: With SmartTrack, your Fitbit can automatically identify and record your workouts, and track your stats, like workout duration, calories burned, and heart rate zones. This feature is super helpful for users who don’t remember to start tracking, or switch between tracking modes when exercising.
Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) monitoring: This feature monitors the level of oxygen in your blood, which can add nuance to your workout stats, and detect any respiratory issues.
Active Zone Minutes (AZM): AZM tracking helps you understand how you are moving, how often, and how intensely. This is great if you want to meet specific activity goals, like having a certain number of active minutes per day.
What are the best Fitbit features for mental health?
While Fitbit devices are most commonly used for fitness tracking, the latest versions have started offering more lifestyle-oriented features for stress management and improving overall well-being.
If you’re in the market for a Fitbit device to help you manage anxiety and stress, here are some mental health-focused features to look out for:
- Stress monitoring: Some Fitbit devices measure stress through electrodermal activity (EDA), heart rate variability, and sleep monitoring. These features are key for busy individuals who frequently work in fast-paced environments.
- Guided meditations: Having guided meditations at hand (literally) goes well with stress-monitoring features. Whenever you see your stress score go up, simply check out a meditation or two for relief on the go.
- Music: For many people, music is a huge part of managing their mental health. If this is you, having a robust music player or online streaming on your Fitbit device can really help.
What are the best Fitbit features for casual use?
If you want to use a Fitbit device casually, look for options offering decent features at an affordable price.
Some features to look out for include:
- Step counting
- Workout tracking
- Sleep monitoring
- Heart rate monitoring
- Music functions
- Smartphone notifications
- Water-resistance
- Decent battery life
Other semi-advanced “good-to-have” features include:
- On-screen workouts
- Guided meditations
- Stress score
- Music storage
- Voice assistant
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