The best Fitbit alternatives (August 2023): Garmin, Apple, Samsung, and more

Fitbit devices may be among the most popular wearables in the world, but they aren’t the only ones out there. Garmin, Apple, Samsung, and many other companies make comparable or even better fitness trackers and smartwatches for the money. Here are the best Fitbit alternatives you can buy right now.

Buying the right Fitbit alternative for your needs

Fitbit has the budget-friendly and mid-range health tracker landscape covered quite well. Fitbit smartwatches offer big displays and lots of features, while the company’s trackers offer much lower price tags and fewer tools. For this list, we’ve chosen devices that match each Fitbit device’s feature set and price point. Not every pick is a 1:1 alternative — but we’ve done our best to offer close comparisons.

The best Fitbit alternatives

• Garmin Venu 2 Plus: The best Fitbit smartwatch alternative you can buy, the Garmin Venu 2 Plus offers smart features and a robust fitness tracking suite.
• Apple Watch Series 8: The best Fitbit smartwatch alternative for iPhone users is the Apple Watch Series 8 thanks to its unparalleled app support, seamless iPhone integration, and tough build.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: The best Wear OS option, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is a specifically strong choice for Samsung phone users.
• Garmin Venu Sq 2: The best Fitbit Charge 5 alternative you can buy, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 has a smartwatch form factor but a feature set similar to that of Fitbit’s top tracker.
• Xiaomi Mi Band 7: The best Fitbit Inspire 3 and Fitbit Luxe alternative you can buy, the Mi Band 7 offers a cheap price point and solid fitness tracking.
• Garmin Forerunner 265: Garmin’s latest midrange running watch is the best Fitbit Ionic alternative. It brings an AMOLED display to users’ wrists plus a boatload of advanced training features.
• Google Pixel Watch: Some shoppers will consider the Google Pixel Watch a Fitbit device and others won’t. Nonetheless, this Fitbit/Wear OS mashup is a solid alternative to a conventional Fitbit smartwatch.

Garmin Venu 2 Plus: The best Fitbit Sense, Sense 2, Versa 3, and Versa 4 alternative

When comparing Garmin vs Fitbit in terms of user experience, Garmin offers more detailed fitness tracking for dedicated athletes. The company also boasts a robust companion app that can be overwhelming at first glance but is easy to navigate once you spend time with it.

The Garmin Venu 2 was already a stellar alternative to the Fitbit stable of smartwatches. The Plus model makes an even more compelling argument. In fact, in our Garmin Venu 2 Plus review, we called it the best smartwatch Garmin has ever made. The Plus adds a host of features, including on-device calling, voice assistant support, and quick charging.

One of our favorite features of the Venu 2 Plus is the useful Health Snapshot tool, which provides an overview of fitness data garnered from the wearable’s host of sensors. This includes heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, respiration rate, and stress. The watch also offers ECG readings via Garmin’s FDA-approved ECG app, a first for the Garmin stable. Further adding to the Venu 2 Plus’ appeal is onboard music storage, a convenience you don’t get with Fitbit’s latest models. Like its predecessor, the Plus is not cheap, but we feel it’s a huge step in the right direction for Garmin’s smartwatch goals.

Apple Watch Series 8: The best Fitbit alternative for iPhone users

For iPhone users, there’s no better smartwatch than an Apple Watch. The Apple Watch Series 8 is the company’s best Apple Watch to date, and, in our opinion, the best smartwatch currently available. It features the same upgraded display and durability specs as the Series 7, plus an S8 chipset and a temperature sensor. This temperature sensor offers deeper insights into users’ sleep tracking as well as more advanced data for those who menstruate. The Series 8 also utilizes a built-in gyroscope to offer Crash Detection as an added safety measure.

Fortunately, we haven’t put Crash Detection to the test. However, during our Apple Watch Series 8 review, we were able to scope out many other features and were particularly impressed with the device’s advanced training metrics for runners. Other device highlights include medication management, AFib History, and sleep stage detection. These tools leverage the Series 8’s reliably accurate GPS and heart rate sensor to offer a powerful tool for athletes. Add in a virtually unmatched third-party app experience and the Apple Watch is a tough device to beat.

The battery specs on the Apple Watch still leave a lot to be desired. In fact, a close comparison of Fitbit vs Apple Watch shows just how much Fitbit pulls ahead in terms of battery life. However, Apple does offer low-power mode to help users mitigate the limitation. All-in-all it remains the best Fitbit alternative if you’re invested in the Apple ecosystem. You can connect a Fitbit to an iPhone, but the user experience is no comparison.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: The best Wear OS Fitbit alternative

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series devices are the top Fitbit alternative for those in the market for a Wear OS watch. The lineup includes two models: the base model Galaxy Watch 6 and the higher-end Galaxy Watch 6 Classic featuring a rotating bezel. At their cores, the devices are largely identical.

Like Fitbit’s top smartwatches, the base model Galaxy Watch 6 is suited for sporty users. It offers plenty of features, including everything from health and activity tracking to smart notifications and customization, plus Google Assistant. Its performance is snappy, its app store is loaded, and Wear OS 4 brings plenty of refinement to the user experience.

On the other hand, some of the best features are reserved for Samsung phone users only. The Galaxy Watch 6 also does not offer a remarkable upgrade compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 5. Some shoppers may want to shop for last year’s models in order to save some cash.

Garmin Venu Sq 2: The best Fitbit Charge 5 alternative

The Fitbit Charge 5 kicks on where the Charge 4 left off, adding a better display and a few additional sensors. But the new model isn’t short of flaws, including a somewhat high price and weaker battery life than its predecessor. Enter the Garmin Venu Sq 2, our pick for the best Fitbit Charge 5 alternative.

The Garmin Venu Sq 2 offers a simple, lightweight build, impressive fitness features, and a decent price point. Sure, it doesn’t quite have the slim tracker aesthetic of the Charge line, but the smartwatch form factor is arguably more practical. Plus, the latest generation features a bright, beautiful AMOLED display. You can even get music storage for offline listening if you pay extra for the Venu Sq 2 Music edition (which we highly recommend).

The Garmin Venu Sq 2 may be one of Garmin’s most affordable devices but it’s still a feature-packed wearable with a lot to like. In addition to an accurate GPS and improved heart rate sensor, the Venu Sq 2 offers some of the company’s top tools including Body Battery and Health Snapshot. It also features reliable sleep tracking and a daily sleep score. While reviewing the device, we were pleased to see the aesthetic upgrades to the Venu Sq line help elevate this watch to an everyday accessory. Plus, with great battery life, there isn’t much reason to take it off.

Xiaomi Mi Band 7: The best Fitbit Inspire 3 or Luxe alternative

Xiaomi’s fitness trackers come with lots of features and a low price point, making the Mi Band 7 the perfect Fitbit Inspire 3 alternative. Paired with the right upscale replacement band, the Mi Band 7 is also a fantastic Fitbit Luxe alternative. The device’s tracker pill offers a larger, higher-res screen that’s even more attractive than that of its predecessor, plus more fitness tracking modes and accurate heart rate readings.

We were particularly impressed with the device’s battery life during our Xiaomi Mi Band 7 review, though it takes a hit when you begin turning on the tracker’s more advanced features. These features include an always-on display and continuous SpO2 monitoring. Both of these are optional features, however, so you can stretch the life of your band by disabling them if needed.

Unfortunately, you won’t find built-in GPS or NFC support on this device. If GPS is a priority, we recommend the Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Pro. The slightly pricier model adds a few key features and an expanded display. If you can do connected GPS and you’re looking for a cheap Fitbit Inspire 3 alternative, look no further than the Mi Band 7.

Garmin Forerunner 265: The best Garmin Fitbit Ionic alternative

If budget isn’t a concern, Garmin’s Forerunner 265 brings a lot of running power to the wrist. Not only does the device offer Garmin’s robust fitness tracking suite, but it also features a colorful AMOLED touchscreen display.

For a perfect fit, the lineup is available in two sizes, each with fiber-reinforced polymer, a 5ATM water resistance rating, and 8GB of music storage. For advanced training, the devices offer GNSS support with SATIQ technology and reliable health and fitness sensors.

During our Forerunner 265 review, we loved tapping into wrist-based Running-Power measurements and Training Readiness. The 265 isn’t the top Forerunner series, but, for under $500, it represents Garmin’s mid-level entry point into the popular running watch lineup.

Google Pixel Watch: The best alternative to a conventional Fitbit

Google’s first-ever smartwatch is officially here and its place in the market isn’t totally clear-cut. In a lot of ways, the device is technically a Fitbit, with key apps and features from the Fitbit ecosystem. In fact, it’s even sold on Fitbit’s website. On the other hand, the Pixel Watch runs Google’s powerful Wear OS and offers tons more smartwatch features than your typical tracker. Regardless of how you personally categorize the device, it is certainly not a conventional pick from Fitbit’s stable.

For anyone who wants a combination of Fitbit and Wear OS features, the Google Pixel watch is your best (and only) option. The watch offers a modern, minimalist aesthetic housing the smoothest Wear OS user experience we’ve tested to date. Thorough Fitbit integration means the Pixel Watch boasts plenty of health and fitness features, plus reliable sleep tracking. Meanwhile, Google’s toolbox stars in rounding out the device including baked-in Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Wallet, and the Google Home app. For everything else, the Google Play Store provides easy access to third-party apps.

All that said, this is certainly a first-generation device with plenty of room for improvement. Battery life on the Pixel Watch is dismal compared to dedicated Fitbit devices and not everything from the wellness company can be found on board. Therefore, if you aren’t in a rush to buy, it may be worth waiting for the upcoming Pixel Watch 2.

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