The Best Budget Fitness Trackers for Staying Active in 2025

Whether you're starting a fitness journey or 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:

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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Affordable fitness doesn't compromise quality, as demonstrated by the Fitbit Inspire 3. For under $100, you get a bright AMOLED display and a comfortable, durable band. Its 10-day battery life (reduced with the always-on display) minimizes charging needs. Navigation is easy via touchscreen and two buttons.

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). Note that music storage and contactless payments are not supported.

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

2. Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Best Ultra Cheap Fitness Tracker

Xiaomi Smart Band 9
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The sub-$50 Xiaomi Smart Band 9 packs impressive features. It boasts a 1.62-inch AMOLED display, exceptional 21-day battery life, basic tracking, and over 150 sports modes. It rivals Fitbit in value.

Features include a pedometer, heart rate monitor, SpO2 monitoring, and sleep tracking. Over 150 fitness modes provide detailed workout data (though accuracy may be less precise than higher-end devices). The bright display (1200 nits) ensures easy readability. Smartwatch features include call and message notifications and music playback control.

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

3. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro: Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
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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 maintains 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and over 150 sports modes.

The larger screen enhances usability. The GPS accurately tracks various activities. Limited smartwatch features include music playback and phone notifications (no replies). Note that NFC is not supported.

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

4. Amazfit Band 7: Best Budget Fitness Tracker With Health Monitoring

Amazfit Band 7
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The $50 Amazfit Band 7 offers a 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display, long battery life (18 days typical use, 28 days battery saver), and extensive health and workout tracking. It supports over 120 sports modes with automatic recognition of four.

Health monitoring includes heart rate, SpO2, and stress tracking, along with sleep analysis. Smartwatch features include notifications and Amazon Alexa integration. It lacks built-in GPS.

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

5. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen): Best Budget Apple Watch

Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
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A budget-friendly Apple Watch, the 2nd-gen SE offers the S8 SiP chipset for speedy performance. 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 calls, messages, contactless payments, and music streaming. Safety features like crash detection are included. Battery life is good for an Apple Watch.

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

6. Garmin Venu 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts

Garmin Venu 3
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For serious fitness tracking, the Garmin Venu 3 (though pricier than other options) offers precise data. It includes exercise tracking, GPS, heart rate monitoring, animated workouts, phone notifications, and contactless payments.

Over 30 preloaded sports apps, along with accurate GPS, heart rate monitoring, ECG, SpO2, and temperature sensors provide detailed insights. The Body Battery feature tracks your body's energy levels. It's a full-featured smartwatch with a bright AMOLED display and up to 14 days of battery life (reduced with always-on display).

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

What to Look for in a Budget Fitness Tracker

Consider factors beyond step counting and sleep tracking. Hardware quality, comfort, software, and tracking accuracy are crucial. Higher prices often mean more features (heart rate monitoring, GPS, OLED displays). However, many affordable trackers offer substantial health data.

What Kind of Fitness Tracker Do I Need?

Your needs determine the right tracker. Ultra-cheap bands like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 suffice for basic step counting, heart rate monitoring, and timekeeping. Many budget options include color displays, long battery life, sports modes, sleep tracking, SpO2 sensors, and phone notifications.

For runners, cyclists, and hikers, GPS is essential (consider a slightly more expensive model). For broader functionality beyond fitness and health, a smartwatch offers larger screens, storage, app access, and call/text capabilities.

Active individuals may also want to consider a good pair of earbuds for their workouts.