What's the best fitness tracker of 2026? I've tested more than I can count, these are my top picks

Though the line between smartwatch and fitness tracker continues to blur, there are still some devices that, first and foremost, deliver a dedicated wellness experience. Whether a band or a watch, these fitness trackers help users focus on building better habits, keeping tabs on their health, and generally staying active. As Android Authority‘s seasoned wearables expert, I’ve tested numerous trackers for years, pushing the limits of sensors, features, batteries, and build quality. Below are the top devices I would recommend to anyone looking for the best fitness tracker available.

Honorable mentions

A fitness-first wearable wrapped in a luxury design, the HUAWEI GT 6 Pro’s 46mm octagonal bezel and sapphire-glass AMOLED display look premium, and I was surprised by how comfortable it felt during workouts. The 3,000-nit screen also stays bright outdoors, and battery life is a major highlight as HUAWEI’s claim of up to 21 days is genuinely achievable. Most importantly, fitness and health tracking are strong thanks to updated sensors and GPS worked well for my runs and rides.

The HUAWEI Watch Fit 4 Pro is a lightweight, fitness-focused smartwatch that borrows heavily from the Apple Watch playbook, pairing a slim, square design with a bright AMOLED display. In my testing, it delivered reliable heart-rate and GPS tracking, a wide range of workout modes, and excellent multi-day battery life that makes daily charging feel unnecessary. While it doesn’t offer the depth of a full Wear OS experience, it nails the fundamentals and feels clean and comfortable on the wrist.

Apple’s most rugged and capable smartwatch yet, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 combines deep iPhone integration with enhanced tools for athletes and adventurers. It improves on its predecessor with a bigger, brighter display, longer battery life (up to about 42 hours in typical use), and built-in satellite communications for SOS and messaging off the grid. In testing, GPS and heart-rate tracking remain excellent while new health features like hypertension notifications and a personalized sleep score add meaningful insights.

Making this list for a third time, Garmin also offers the Vivoactive 6, a well-rounded fitness smartwatch that balances everyday comfort with reliable training tools. During my review period, GPS and heart-rate tracking were consistently accurate, backed by useful metrics like Body Battery, stress tracking, and recovery insights. The bright display, lightweight design, and battery life that stretches close to a week make it easy to wear day to day.

Finally, the Garmin Fenix 8 is the brand’s true multisport powerhouse. It delivers professional-grade performance across nearly every outdoor and athletic metric you can think of plus every training tool Garmin has to offer. The device packs incredibly accurate multi-band GPS, detailed mapping tools, and advanced features for contextualizing workouts and recovery. Add in an an AMOLED display, excellent durability, and considerable battery life, and for outdoor enthusiasts, the Fenix 8 is hard to beat.

The WHOOP 5.0 is one of the most popular screenless fitness trackers. Its platform focuses entirely on recovery, strain, and long-term performance rather than on-wrist features, with continuous heart-rate tracking. Beyond tracking basic activity and health metrics, the device is designed to guide training load, rest, habits, and overall wellness. It’s a niche device, but for athletes who want deeper insight into how their body is responding to training without the distraction of a bright display, WHOOP’s approach stands apart.

What to look for in a good fitness tracker

If you’re shopping for a fitness tracker right now, the problem isn’t a lack of options, it’s the opposite. The market is more crowded than ever, with everything from simple activity trackers to recovery-focused bands and smartwatch hybrids all competing for space on your wrist. Comfort and form factor matter just as much as features (if not more), since the best tracker is the one you’ll actually wear all day. Of course, you’ll also need to choose a device that’s compatible with your phone and go-to workout apps.

Before getting lost in spec sheets, it helps to decide what actually matters to you. Priorities can range from everyday health tracking, to structured workouts, long battery life to deeper performance insights. The sections below break down the key factors I think are worth weighing before choosing any of the fitness trackers in this guide, or elsewhere on the market.

• Form factor: Fit on wrist is huge when it comes to an all-day wearable. A good fitness tracker should be light, unobtrusive, and comfortable enough to wear all day and night, especially if you care about sleep and recovery data.
• Phone compatibility: Make sure the tracker works seamlessly with your smartphone and its operating system, including reliable syncing and app support. Some more robust devices only pair with specific ecosystems, while others are more versatile.
• Advanced fitness tracking: At the heart of a fitness tracking is activity and workout tracking. Dig into the tools offered and find out how deep you want your analysis to go. The right pick tracks the activities you actually do, whether that’s running, strength training, swimming, or something even more niche, and delivers the insights you want for training.
• Health metrics: Consider which health stats matter most to you. While many trackers feature heart rate, sleep, and basic activity tracking, others add more metrics like stress, SpO₂, and HRV, or even on-demand tools like ECG readings.
• Sensor accuracy: On a related note, reliable heart-rate monitoring and GPS (for outdoor athletes) make a big difference in how useful data is over time. Make sure your sensor package aligns with your needs.
• Companion app: A good app should turn raw data into clear, actionable insights rather than overwhelming you with numbers. Check that the tracker you’re considering displays data in a way you will find helpful.
• Battery life: Are you okay with daily charging or do you want a tracker that can last a week or more between charges? Knowing what type of battery life you are after will likely dictate other choices, like screen size or smart features.
• Price/long-term cost: Budget may also play a part in choosing the right tracker for you. Think beyond the upfront price as well and factor in subscriptions, accessories, and how much value you’ll get over time.

Why you should trust me

I’ve been professionally testing and reviewing wearables for years, dating back to before Samsung teamed up with Google for the Wear OS we know and love and before Apple launched its first-generation, massive Ultra. I’ve reviewed dozens of smartwatches, fitness trackers, dedicated heart rate monitors, smart rings, sleep trackers, exercise equipment, and health and fitness apps and platforms. In other words, I’ve sweated my way through a ton of products to learn what makes them valuable and what features matter most.

At the start of every review, my focus is twofold: user experience and value. First, I approach each product as a typical user, noting everything from comfort and design to performance and features. I fire off texts, download apps, and tap into everything from timers to gesture controls. To dig even deeper, I bring expertise and comparable metrics to the conversation, using tools like heart rate monitors, pedometers, pulse oximeters, trusted sleep trackers, and GPS devices. I create varied workout plans to test fitness tracking accuracy and closely monitor my stress and sleep to review recovery metrics. Above all, I wear the device consistently to garner a thorough understanding of what it offers and what it’s like to own. I also simultaneously use competitors’ products to compare differences and collect comparative data.

When all that is done, I sit down with the wearable and all the details I’ve collected to evaluate its value. This means establishing its place in the larger market and determining whether its price is fair for what it offers. If a product boasts a large feature set but doesn’t deliver accuracy, it may not be worth its price. Conversely, if a wearable successfully executes more tools than competitors of equal price, I rate it higher.

Typically, my review period lasts at least a week, giving me time to explore the product fully. For some launches, this process can extend to weeks or months. I also revisit the devices I test regularly to check in on software updates and feature drops and to make sure my original findings stand the test of time.