Embarking on a fitness journey or simply seeking deeper workout insights? A fitness tracker can gamify exercise and provide valuable data. Fortunately, many affordable options exist, ranging from feature-rich models rivaling top smartwatches to basic step counters and heart rate monitors. There's a budget-friendly fitness tracker for every wrist and need.

TL;DR – The Best Budget Fitness Trackers:

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Our Top Pick

Fitbit Inspire 3

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Xiaomi Smart Band 9

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Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

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Amazfit Band 7

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Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

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Garmin Venu 3

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*Contributions by Kevin Lee*

1. Fitbit Inspire 3

Best Budget Fitness Tracker

Our Top Pick

Fitbit Inspire 3

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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 more advanced features require a subscription

Fitbit continues to lead in budget fitness trackers with the Inspire 3. For under $100, it offers a bright AMOLED display and a durable, comfortable band suitable for sleep. The 10-day battery life (reduced with the always-on display) and intuitive touch interface with haptic buttons are key advantages.

Fitness tracking features include 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, SpO2 measurement, and movement reminders. Automatic exercise tracking and sleep monitoring provide valuable insights. Basic smartwatch features like phone notifications and a find-my-phone function are also included (via Bluetooth).

2. Xiaomi Smart Band 9

Best Ultra Cheap Fitness Tracker

Xiaomi Smart Band 9

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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

The sub-$50 Xiaomi Smart Band 9 boasts a 1.62-inch AMOLED display and exceptional battery life, offering comprehensive tracking and 150+ sports modes. It rivals Fitbit in features, including a pedometer, heart rate monitor, SpO2, and sleep monitoring. While accuracy might not match high-end devices, it provides valuable workout insights.

The Smart Band 9 offers a three-week battery life, a bright 1200-nit display, and responsive touch controls. Smartwatch features include call and message notifications and music playback control, although pairing can be finicky.

3. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

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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

An upgrade to the Smart Band 9, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro features a larger 1.74-inch AMOLED display and a surprisingly accurate built-in GPS. It retains 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and support for over 150 sports modes (though some offer limited data).

Limited smartwatch features include music playback and notifications (no replies), lacking NFC. Despite this, it's a stylish tracker with a bright screen, user-friendly interface, and impressive battery life for under $100.

4. Amazfit Band 7

Best Budget Fitness Tracker With Health Monitoring

Amazfit Band 7

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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

The $50 Amazfit Band 7 packs impressive features, including a large 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display, long battery life (18 days typical, 28 days in battery saver mode), and over 120 sports modes (with automatic recognition for four).

Health monitoring includes heart rate, SpO2, and stress, alongside sleep tracking. Smartwatch functionality includes notifications and Amazon Alexa integration.

5. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

Best Budget Apple Watch

Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

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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

A budget-friendly Apple Watch, the SE (2nd Gen) uses the same S8 SiP chipset as the Series 8, offering speedy performance at a lower price. It includes an optical heart rate sensor, built-in GPS, automatic workout detection (including swimming), and 32GB of storage for apps.

Full smartwatch capabilities include call answering, messaging, contactless payments, and music streaming. Crash detection is also included.

6. Garmin Venu 3

Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts

Garmin Venu 3

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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

Garmin's Venu 3, while the most expensive on this list, provides comprehensive fitness tracking. It tracks various exercises (including swimming, cycling, and golf) with highly accurate GPS and heart rate monitoring, ECG, SpO2, temperature sensors, and animated workouts.

The standout feature is the Body Battery, providing insights into energy levels. Smartwatch features include calls, smart assistants, and text replies (when paired with compatible phones), though app selection is limited compared to Apple and Google watches.

What to Look for in a Budget Fitness Tracker

Choosing a fitness tracker involves more than just step counting and sleep tracking. Consider hardware quality, comfort, software, and tracking accuracy. Higher prices often mean more features (heart rate monitoring, GPS, OLED displays, etc.), but many affordable options provide extensive health data.

What kind of fitness tracker do I need?

Your needs dictate the type of tracker. For basic step counting, heart rate, and time, an ultra-cheap band like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 suffices. These often include color displays, long battery life, sports modes, sleep tracking, SpO2, and phone notifications.

Runners, bikers, and hikers may benefit from GPS. For broader functionality beyond fitness and health, a smartwatch offers a larger screen, storage, app access, and call/text capabilities. Active individuals might also consider pairing their tracker with good earbuds.