The Best Budget Fitness Trackers for Staying Active in 2025

Embarking on a health journey or seeking deeper insights into your workouts? A fitness tracker can transform your exercise routine into an engaging game while providing valuable data. Fortunately, many of these wearable devices, often resembling smartwatches, are available at budget-friendly prices. Whether you're looking for advanced features that compete with the best smartwatches or basic functions like step counting and heart rate monitoring, there are numerous cost-effective fitness trackers suitable for all wrist sizes.

TL;DR – The Best Budget Fitness Trackers:

Our Top Pick### Fitbit Inspire 3

0See it at Amazon### Xiaomi Smart Band 9

0See it at Amazon### Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

0See it at Amazon### Amazfit Band 7

0See it at Amazon### Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

0See it at Amazon### Garmin Venu 3

0See it at AmazonContributions by Kevin Lee

1. Fitbit Inspire 3

Best Budget Fitness Tracker

Our Top Pick### Fitbit Inspire 3

0Smartwatches and fitness trackers don't need to break the bank, and the Fitbit Inspire 3 is a prime example. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsSize39.3mm x 18.6mmThickness11.75mmBattery life10 daysConnectivityBluetoothSensorsHeart rate monitor, SpO2TrackingSwim, sleep, stepsWater resistance Up to 50mPROSBright AMOLED touchscreen Long battery lifeCONSSome more advanced features require a subscriptionFitbit continues to dominate the budget fitness tracker market with the Fitbit Inspire 3. Priced under $100, it offers a vibrant AMOLED display and a durable, sleek band that's comfortable enough to wear while sleeping. With a 10-day battery life, you'll rarely need to take it off, though using the always-on display mode will shorten this duration. Navigation is intuitive, thanks to touch technology and two haptic buttons.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 excels in fitness tracking, featuring 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, blood oxygen level measurement, and movement reminders. It also includes automatic exercise tracking and sleep monitoring, helping you better understand your sleep quality. Additionally, it offers basic smartwatch features like phone notifications and a find my phone feature via Bluetooth, though it does not support music storage or contactless payments.

2. Xiaomi Smart Band 9

Best Ultra Cheap Fitness Tracker

### Xiaomi Smart Band 9

0An affordable fitness tracker with a 1.62-inch AMOLED display and exceptional battery life, offering basic tracking and 150 sports modes. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsSize46.53mm x 21.63mmThickness10.95mmBattery life21 daysConnectivityBluetoothSensorsHeart rate monitor, SpO2TrackingSwim, sleep, stepsWater resistanceUp to 50mPROSOver 150 sports modesImpressive 21-day battery lifeCONSTracking isn't always 100% accurateThe Xiaomi Smart Band 9, priced under $50, is a budget-friendly option that doesn't skimp on essential features. It offers comprehensive health monitoring within a sleek, slim design that rivals even Fitbit's offerings.

It includes basic functions like a pedometer, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen saturation, and sleep monitoring. With over 150 fitness modes, including running, HIIT, kickboxing, and swimming, it provides detailed activity insights such as calories burned and average heart rate. While not as precise as higher-end devices with GPS, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 still delivers valuable workout data.

The latest model boasts a remarkable 21-day battery life with moderate use and a brighter screen reaching 1,200 nits for easy visibility in sunlight. The colorful 1.62-inch AMOLED display is touch-responsive, making it easy to access fitness metrics and limited smartwatch features like call and message notifications and music playback control. However, phone pairing can sometimes be challenging.

3. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS

### Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

0This tracker offers built-in GPS for mapping workouts, along with 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and various sports modes. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsSize43.27mm x 32.49mmThickness10.8mmBattery life21 daysConnectivityBluetoothSensorsHeart rate monitor, GPS, SpO2TrackingSwim, sleep, stressWater resistanceUp to 50mPROSAccurate built-in GPSLarge, full-color AMOLED displayCONSNo NFCIf you're looking for a feature-rich fitness tracker without breaking the bank, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro is a great choice. The Pro model features a larger 1.74-inch rectangular AMOLED display that resembles the Apple Watch, and it includes an accurate GPS for tracking runs, bike rides, and hikes.

In addition to GPS, the Smart Band 9 Pro offers 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep tracking, and stress monitoring. It supports over 150 sports modes, ensuring comprehensive tracking for various activities, though some modes may only measure heart rate and time.

While not a full smartwatch, it provides basic smartwatch features like music playback and notification display when connected to your phone. Unfortunately, it lacks NFC support for contactless payments. At under $100, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro combines style, functionality, and impressive battery life in a budget-friendly package.

4. Amazfit Band 7

Best Budget Fitness Tracker With Health Monitoring

### Amazfit Band 7

0The Amazfit Band 7 offers affordability without compromising on features like long battery life, health monitoring, and sleep tracking. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsSize37.3mmThickness12.2mmBattery life18 daysConnectivityBluetooth 5.2SensorsHeart rate monitor, SpO2TrackingSwim, period, sleepWater resistanceUp to 50mPROSTons of tracking including stress and sleepAmazon Alexa and other smartwatch features built-inCONSNo built-in GPSAmazfit's Band 7 packs a wealth of capabilities into a budget-friendly package, priced at just $50. It features a large 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display for easy viewing of health and workout data, all within a slim and comfortable band. The battery life is impressive, lasting up to 18 days with typical use and up to 28 days in battery-saver mode.

The Amazfit Band 7 supports over 120 sports modes with automatic recognition of four and is water-resistant up to 50m, making it suitable for swimming. It monitors heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and stress, while also providing detailed sleep tracking. Additionally, it integrates with Amazon Alexa and offers other smartwatch functionalities like on-watch notifications.

5. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

Best Budget Apple Watch

### Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

0A cost-effective option powered by the same S8 SiP chipset as the Apple Watch Series 8, offering fast processing at a lower price. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsSize40mm x 34mmThickness10.7mmBattery life18 hoursConnectivityCellular (optional), 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3SensorsHeart rate monitor, GPS, accelerometerTrackingSwim, sleep, period Water resistanceUp to 50mPROSHuge selection of appsSpecial safety features, like crash detection and built-in GPSCONSFewer sensors than other Apple Watch optionsThe Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) proves that not all fitness trackers are solely for fitness, and not all Apple Watches need to be expensive. It features an optical heart rate sensor and built-in GPS, perfect for outdoor activities like hiking. It automatically detects various workouts, including swimming, and supports additional apps from the App Store with its 32GB of storage.

As a full-fledged smartwatch, the Apple Watch SE allows you to answer calls, respond to messages, make contactless payments, and stream music directly from your wrist. It also includes crash detection, automatically calling emergency services if needed. All these features come in a slim, comfortable design with impressive battery life for an Apple Watch.

6. Garmin Venu 3

Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts

### Garmin Venu 3

0Beyond basic exercise tracking, the Venu 3 offers GPS, heart rate monitoring, animated workouts, phone notifications, and contactless payments. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsSize45mmThickness12mmBattery life14 daysConnectivityBluetooth, 802.11nSensorsHeart rate monitor, GPS, temperatureTrackingSwim, sleep, stress, energyWater resistanceUp to 50mPROSHighly accurate GPS and heart rate monitorHelpful Body Battery featureCONSLimited app selection compared to other smartwatchesFor serious health and fitness enthusiasts, Garmin's Venu 3 is a top choice, though it's the priciest of our budget picks. It's packed with features for tracking various exercises, including swimming, cycling, and golf, supported by over 30 preloaded sports apps and highly accurate sensors like GPS, heart rate, ECG, blood oxygen, and temperature.

The Venu 3 stands out with its Body Battery feature, which assesses your body's energy levels based on activity, stress, and sleep. Its bright AMOLED touchscreen display and up to 14-day battery life (without always-on display and automatic workout detection) make it a versatile smartwatch. It also offers typical smartwatch functions like call handling and text responses when paired with the best Android phones, though its app selection is more limited compared to Apple and Google smartwatches.

What to Look for in a Budget Fitness Tracker

When choosing a fitness tracker, consider more than just step and sleep tracking. The overall experience includes hardware quality, comfort, software capabilities, and tracking accuracy. Higher-priced models often come with advanced features like heart rate monitoring, GPS, and OLED displays, but even basic trackers can provide a wealth of health data at a lower cost.

What kind of fitness tracker do I need?

The ideal fitness tracker depends on your specific needs. For basic tracking like steps, heart rate, and time, a budget-friendly option like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is sufficient. These affordable devices often include color displays, long battery life, and additional features like sports modes, sleep tracking, and phone notifications.

If you're into running, biking, or hiking, consider spending a bit more for a model with GPS, such as the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro. For those needing more than just fitness tracking, a smartwatch like the Apple Watch SE or Garmin Venu 3 offers a larger screen, more storage, and access to a wider range of apps, along with the ability to handle calls and notifications.

For active runners or gym-goers, complementing your fitness tracker with a quality pair of earbuds can enhance your exercise experience.