Top Budget Fitness Trackers: 2025

Embarking on a fitness journey or simply seeking deeper workout insights? A fitness tracker can gamify exercise and provide valuable data. Fortunately, many affordable wearables—often smartwatch variations—offer a range of features without breaking the bank. From feature-rich options rivaling top smartwatches to basic step counters and heart rate monitors, budget-friendly fitness trackers cater to every wrist and need.

TL;DR – The Best Budget Fitness Trackers:

Our Top Pick: Fitbit Inspire 3
See it at Amazon

Xiaomi Smart Band 9
See it at Amazon

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
See it at Amazon

Amazfit Band 7
See it at Amazon

Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
See it at Amazon

Garmin Venu 3
See it at Amazon

*Contributions by Kevin Lee*

1. Fitbit Inspire 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker

Affordable fitness doesn't compromise style or function. The Fitbit Inspire 3 proves this with its bright AMOLED display and comfortable, durable band—perfect for all-day wear, including sleep. Its 10-day battery life (reduced with the always-on display) minimizes charging interruptions. Navigation is intuitive via touchscreen and two haptic buttons.

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

The Inspire 3 excels at fitness tracking: 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, blood oxygen level measurement, and movement reminders. Automatic exercise tracking and sleep monitoring provide comprehensive data. While it offers basic smartwatch features like phone notifications and a find-my-phone function (via Bluetooth), it lacks music storage and contactless payments.

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

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 punches above its weight. This sub-$50 tracker boasts a 1.62-inch AMOLED display, impressive battery life, and basic tracking with over 150 sports modes. It rivals more expensive options.

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

Features include a pedometer, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen saturation, and sleep monitoring. Its 150+ fitness modes offer detailed workout insights, though accuracy may not match higher-end devices. The three-week battery life and bright 1.62-inch AMOLED display are notable upgrades. It also provides call and message notifications and music playback control, though pairing can be finicky.

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

An upgrade to the Smart Band 9, the Pro model features a larger, rectangular 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 numerous sports modes.

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

While offering music playback and notifications, it lacks notification responses and NFC. Despite this, its bright screen, user-friendly interface, and impressive battery life make it a compelling option under $100.

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

The Amazfit Band 7 is a remarkable value at around $50. It features a large 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display, impressive 18-day battery life (28 days in battery-saver mode), and comprehensive tracking capabilities.

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

With over 120 sports modes (four with automatic smart recognition) and 50m water resistance, it tracks heart rate, blood oxygen levels, stress, and sleep. Smartwatch features include notifications and Amazon Alexa integration.

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

A budget-friendly Apple Watch option, the 2nd-gen SE utilizes 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.

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

As a full-fledged smartwatch, it allows calls, messaging, contactless payments, and music streaming. Crash detection is a key safety feature. Its slim design and battery life are impressive for an Apple Watch.

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

Garmin’s Venu 3, while the priciest on this list, is a worthwhile investment for serious fitness enthusiasts. It offers precise tracking, GPS, heart rate monitoring, animated workouts, and smartwatch features.

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

With over 30 preloaded sports apps, highly accurate sensors (including ECG and blood oxygen), and the innovative Body Battery feature, it provides detailed insights into your fitness levels. Smartwatch features include calls, smart assistants, and text responses (with compatible phones). App selection is more limited than Apple or Google 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, affordable trackers can still provide substantial health data.

What Kind of Fitness Tracker Do I Need?

Your needs dictate your choice. Ultra-cheap bands like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 suffice for basic step tracking, heart rate monitoring, and timekeeping. Many budget options include color displays, long battery life, sports modes, sleep tracking, blood oxygen sensors, and phone notifications. For runners and hikers, GPS is beneficial. For broader functionality beyond fitness and health, a smartwatch offers a larger screen, storage, app access, and communication features.

Active individuals might also consider a good pair of earbuds to complement their fitness tracker.