Best FitBit Fitness Tracker Review 2024: Which FitBit is Right For You?
The Fitness Tracker industry may still be in its infancy, but that hasn’t stopped its competitiveness. There are more than a dozen companies vying for that real estate on your wrist and they will sell more than 247 million devices this year. Yet, one of them has already emerged as the acknowledged market leader. In this guide, you will discover everything you ever wanted to know about the best FitBit. You’ll discover why you should prefer this brand. Then we’ll look in-depth at each of its products and provide a thorough review so that you can compare the features and benefits of each model.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 15 hrs of research
step count accurate
silent alarm
monitor your sleep
day-records
easy to use
waterproof
10 Best FitBit Fitness Trackers
1. Fitbit Flex 2 Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband, Black
step count accurate
silent alarm
monitor your sleep
day-records
easy to use
waterproof
small screen
Velcro gets dirty over time
Fitbit Flex 2 has a simple and minimalistic design.
At the main core of the watch is a durable rubber-band. The heart of the functionality is a module inside the band. This device is very easy to remove and is similar to a USB stick in size.
Read moreThe Flex 2 has a set of LED lights to the front, and an internally fitted battery, with a proprietary port for charging. The watch will measure your steps , state how calories have been burned, your distance traveled and even your sleep patterns.
The battery time of the Flex is about seven days, with the device taking a few hours to recharge. There is no need for a button to push with this watch. Just, gently tap the screen beneath the LED display to get different functions.
The Flex will gather and hold all data. To see the data it, sync to a computer or suitable mobile app.
This version is swim proof-safe. So you don't need to worry about swimming. The watch will also automatically monitor and gather data for your swimming activity.
With this product you get Smarttrack auto recognition for exercises and daylong activity tracking.
2. FitBit One
syncs automatically
works with Android and Windows
Water Resistance
Bluetooth 4.0
track steps
monitor sleep
Battery life varies
A great design. very compact, USB size, so it easily fits in most pockets securely and the case is a highly protective silicone design.
With this Fitbit you also get a dongle for your computer so that you can keep the tracker charged up.
Thanks to a nice secure velcro band you can wear this safely on the wrist, works great like this for tracking during sleep.
Read moreThis has a receiver and needs to be connected to a computer USB port, the tracking will cover a lot of activity, even walking up flights of stairs, distances, the number of used up calories, its easy to slip into a pocket and carry around. this has an APP for downloading to an iPhone, connecting conveniently through Bluetooth and the added benefit of an APP for My FitnesPal.
offered at a lower price compared to other models this has all the standard fitness tracking features at a nice price.
3. FitBit Zip
Tracks steps
Set goals
Sync stats
iphone and android
bluetooth
comfortable
water resistance
long battery
bulky?
The Zip is a clip-on as opposed to a wrist-worn activity tracker.
The package comes with the actual FitBit Zip device, a clip-on carry case, and a small black receiver, similar to the FitBit One. This is to sync the device to your computer.
The Zip has Bluetooth functionality to allow you to connect it to your SmartPhone.
Read moreYou simply tap the device once the app is open to synchronize between the tracker and SmartPhone.
The device will tell you how many steps you have walked, how many miles you have covered, the number of active minutes, and how many calories you have burned.
The battery should last about six months. However, it is not a rechargeable battery and you will have to purchase a new one when the current one runs dies.
4. FitBit Blaze
heart rate zones
PurePulse
multi sport tracking
cardio
daylong activity
GPS
Keep an eye on battery power 5 days?
The Blaze is an activity tracker, sleep tracker, heart rate monitor, fitness watch, Smartwatch, and fashion accessory all in one.
The Blaze is extremely lightweight and comfortable. It looks very stylish on the wrist. You can style the unit even more by purchasing separate watch bands - leather, and metal bands are available.
The Blaze comes in small, large or extra large and in three colors (black, chrome, blue).
Read moreThe band is made from a very soft, textured silicone material. It provides a good balance between looking good and working well while working out.
The actual fitness module is detachable from the wrist band housing. The detachability allows you to upgrade to the leather or metal bands. It also allows you to place the unit in a charger that comes with the package. The battery life on the Blaze is around five days, but this clearly depends on how often you use it.
The display of the Blaze is very impressive. It is extremely clear, uses great colors and the touch screen is responsive. The unit has an in-built ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the display’s brightness.
The Blaze is also fitted with a gyroscope. This means that if you flip your tracker to reference the watch, the display immediately turns on so you can see the time. This saves battery life.
The FitBit Blaze is not waterproof. This means that you should not submerge it or swim with it. It is just rated for sweat, and light water exposure.
If you turn the watch over, you’ll find an optical wrist-based heart rate sensor. This works well for traditional cardio exercises like running and cycling and has improved its accuracy with plyometric and high-intensity interval training. However, when it comes to exercises that involve a lot of muscle flexion and contraction, such as weight training, the Blaze will not give you a terribly accurate heart rate report. It will not be as accurate as a heart rate sensor.
The Blaze does not connect with any external heart rate sensors.
The Blaze records your number of steps taken, calories burned, distance traveled, active minutes, floors climbed and your heart rate. It also automatically monitors your sleep. All of this information will be synced to your FitBit profile via Bluetooth. You are given a daily goal. This is set to steps by default. However, you can manually change this.
In terms of being a fitness watch, the FitBit Blaze does not have GPS or GLONASS. But it is able to utilize the GPS information from your Smartphone. So, if you go on a run, the Blaze will display the distance, pace and speed information that your watch is collecting. It will work with Android, iOS and Windows phone applications.
The Blaze tracks all sorts of workouts beyond running and cycling. It monitors your treadmill workout, weights sessions, circuit training program, yoga and much more. You can change which sports profiles are loaded onto the device. The Blaze automatically recognizes certain activities such as running and cycling.
There are three pre-loaded Fitstar exercise routines loaded on the Blaze. You get a warm-up regimen, a seven-minute workout, and a ten-minute abs circuit. The tracker will monitor all of your fitness details throughout the workout. It will also walk you through each exercise, showing you an avatar of what you should be doing.
The Smart features of the Blaze allow you to see your film notifications, text messages, calls, calendar, and reminders - so long as you are within 20-30 feet of your phone. It does not give you email notifications.
You can also control music playback on your Blaze. It works well for both stored and streamed music.
Using the Blaze is a satisfying experience. It will provide you with all of the features you need to keep on top of your workouts, while also integrating with your other technology and looking very stylish while it does it.
5. FitBit Charge 2
PurePulse
heart rate tracking
heart rate zones
OLED display
syncs wirelessly
calendar alerts
track calorie burn
Battery 5 days
The Charge 2 comes in three sizes. You can get it in small, large and extra large.
If buying in-store you can actually check your wrist size against the box to find the right size for your wrist. You can get between 7-10 days battery life from the Charge and It takes about two hours to recharge.
Read moreThe Charge 2 is water resistant. It is not water-proof. This means that water still has a chance of getting inside the mechanism. So, it would pay to take it off before showering.
The band itself is made from a very flexible, durable material that is used in many Smart watches and bands. It has a stainless steel clasp of high quality. The screen is extremely bright and vibrant. That’s because it uses a OLED display.
A cool new feature of the Charge 2 is guided breathing sessions based in your heart rate. You also get continuous automatic wrist based heart rate tracking with the hassle of having to use an uncomfortable chest heart rate strap.You can also connect with the GPS on your phone to get real time stats on display. The New Charge 2 will also provide you with a personalized cardio fitness score.
In terms of syncing the Charge 2, this is very easy to do. It either syncs to your computer via Bluetooth or your Smartphone. You get seven days of tracking with the device. So, if you don’t sync it within seven days, you will lose the stored data.
The step calculator on the Charge 2 is very good at counting steps when you’re taking the steps. While the previous version of the Charge was not good at determining other types of exercise compared with inactivity, the Charge 2 features automatic exercise recognition to make the process easier.
On the display panel of the FitBit Charge 2 you will be able to see the time, the steps you have taken, distance traveled, floors climbed, calories burned and your active minutes (the times you were actually working out). The active minutes feature, however, is not overly accurate, especially if you are doing weight training.
The Charge 2 also has a built-in stop-watch. It also has an automatic sleep tracking feature. With the FitBit Flex you have to tap the unit a number of times to activate the sleep function. You don’t have to do that with the FitBit Charge 2. It will track when you fall asleep, when you’re restless and when you wake up in the night.
You can set up goals through the FitBit app. These may be to lose weight, build muscle or they may revolve around the activities that you do to get in shape. The app also has a water tracking feature to allow you to stay on top of your H20 consumption. There is also a social media function where you can compete against your social media contacts.
If you are doing a lot of activity, this band may not give you what you need. You will be doing too much activity and not getting the challenge you need. The FitBit Charge 2 is ideal for people who are trying to lose weight or trying to get achieve a basic fitness goal. It will provide you with the motivation and the self awareness to be able to achieve your goals
6. FitBit Alta
track calories
track distance
track steps
monitor sleep
smart track
monitor battery life
The Alta is a simple device that features an activity and sleep tracker.
It is designed to keep health and fitness front and center. It does this by keeping you motivated and on track as it quantifies your life. There is also a big emphasis on style with this device. They want you to be able to wear them in every situation.
As a result, this unit is a lot more stylish than many other models out there.
Read moreThe Alta features a range of Smartphone features in addition to automatically logging your all-day steps, calories burned, distance traveled, active minutes, steps climbed and sleep. All of this data is displayed on your wrist as well as on the FitBit app. The Alta also displays the time of day and the date. It also shows whether you have a silent alarm. You can actually set a full range of alarms via the mobile app.
There is no button on the Alta. This enhances its sleek design look. However, it also means that, in order to interact with the tracker, you need to tap it in the side. This generally works, but you will find times when you are tapping away and nothing happens. There is also no way to manually record activities on the device.
The Alta does not come with a heart rate monitor. It also is not compatible with any existing heart rate monitors on the market. However, the Alta does come with Smart Track. This allows it to automatically recognize certain activities if you do them for more than ten minutes. This works well on exercises like running and walking. For activities such as cycling and aerobic activity, however, it is not so reliable.
The Alta is a stylish looking fitness tracker. You can even get different bands to make it even more attractive. The band that comes to a standard-issue is a sports watchband. You can purchase metal and leather bands in various color options. It is easy to switch out the bands. However, you will notice a bit of wiggle between the band and the tracker, even when it is fully locked in place. You won’t actually notice this when you are wearing the device, however.
7. FitBit Aria 2 WiFi Weight and Body Fat Scale
Solid Construction
Sleek design
Easy and simple set up
Accurate readings
Expensive
The Aria 2 is a scale that also measures your body fat. It doe this by running an electrical charge through your feet. On the basis of the amount of charge going from foot to foot, it calculates your body fat percentage.
To get an accurate reading, you need to be standing on the device in bare feet. This is then compared to your weight and your height, giving you an idea of what your body fat percentage is.
Read moreThere are two modes of Aria 2 for the body fat reading. The first mode is the average person, with the other being for athletes. When you switch between the two, you’ll get a lower body fat percentage when you’re in the athlete mode.
The Aria 2 connects to your wireless network. It will send your readings to the account that you create at the FitBit website. All of the information from your scale is uploaded to the cloud. The information is then redistributed to your other devices, such as your iPhone, iPad and fitness tracker. This syncing process takes place in less than twenty seconds.
All you need to do is to step on the sale to have your weight and body fat percentage displayed. Up to eight people can use the scale, with personal details for each being recorded. When you step on the scale, it can tell who it is based on the weight. If the scale is not sure, you can simply tap the scale with your foot to let it know who is using it.
In terms of graphing your weight fluctuations, the FitBit portal or app, depending on which device you are using to view it, will provide you with detailed graphic information of your changes over time. You can choose between different graphic representations, including raw weight, lean muscle versus body fat and body mass index.
When you first get your FitBit Aria 2 scale, you need to sync it to the FitBit website. You will receive full instructions on how to do this on a hard copy sheet that comes with the device. The sheet does not show you how to set up the Aria on your mobile device, even though that is easier than doing it through the FitBit website.
The surface of the Aria 2 is made out of glass. This is reflective, allowing for smudges and fingerprints to show up. However, when it is clean it looks very elegant. There is a silver ring around the LCD screen. The underside has a neat looking uniform bubble design. There are rubber feet in all four corners. This ensures that the weight scale will remain stable at all times, while evenly distributing the weight as it is measuring it.
The power to the Aria 2 is supplied by four double A batteries.
The Aria is a fantastic complement to any of the FitBit fitness trackers. When used in conjunction with the tracker, it will provide you with a very complete health profile.
The Fit Bit Aria 2 is not cheap. It comes in at more than double the price of many other digital scales on the market.
8. Fitbit Versa Smart Watch
core fitness
smart features
heart rate tracking
notifications
music
work-outs on screen
4 day battery
A great core fitness system with high tech smart capability, tracking the heart, regular updates, and the potential for a four-day battery life.
Offered in bright colors, with a user-friendly 1 button system, see your work-outs on screen, enjoy music with all the standard monitoring features to be expected from FitBit.
Read moreGood for tracking all activity all day, your heart, your sleep, this offer fifteen modes for exercise and will record workouts. Excellent GPS for real-time location and distances.
Allows the user to access APPS for all sports, users can make calls, send out texts and receive alerts via an APP. These functions can be synced via your smartphone. (Andriod).
The design is slim, the weight is light, nice durable protection from the aluminum case, plus it's a great choice if you are looking for a waterproof watch.
9. Fitbit Ionic Watch
personalized workouts
Syncing 30 feet
300 songs
download playlists
built-in GPS
heart tracking
track sport activities in real time
durable screen
app for weather
app for sport
track distance & pace
slow charger
Offers workouts which can be personalized for the user, even coaching step by step too guide training. This has a sync range for 30 feet with a good range of compatible devices including up to date windows 10.
This can store over 300 tunes and even download a nice range of song lists from the popular Pandora. reliable GPs will give you on the spot positioning and distance.
This offers the majority of the features which users expect from FitBit.
Read moreSafely store three hundred or more tunes, use Pandora to download a nice choice of playlists, track pace-performance via GPS, accurate PurePulse monitoring for heart activity and enjoy real-time zones while your performance is being monitored.
This model means you can access all your preferred sports APPS, check the weather, do online payments, track swimming, workouts, rides, runs day and night activity. the screen is tough and resistive to damage, with an easily readable display.
This is an impressive Fitness tracker which will give a very good performance.
10. Fitbit Inspire HR Heart Rate & Fitness Tracker
24/7 heart rate
track calorie burn
track resting heart rate
track all-day
standard Fitbit features
A battery can last up to 5 days, but needs monitoring
This lightweight and slender watch offer great basics, a nice range of fitness tracking, and accurate heart performance monitoring.
Monitor your heart performance for a full 24 hours and keep track of calories which are burned off, an automatic sleep-rate monitoring capability, this will automatically monitor rides, walks and swimming.
Read moreThe Inspire has a good performing fitness tracking system due to the use of good current tech.
This will monitor automatically for periods up to around 5 days, a nice user-friendly system which encourages and guides users to achieve fitness and weight goals which means good healthy lifestyle and even monitors your different stages of sleep throughout the night
A standard watch giving standard features at a nice standard price.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Accuracy
Accuracy is via the APP
Accuracy is very important, an example of accurate performance is monitoring the stages of sleep.
The Sleep mode is a favorite function of many people. It will tell you how many hours and minutes of sleep you got in the night, how many times you woke up and how long you were restless for. The way that this calculation is that the FitBit App takes the time that you went to bed and woke up. It tells you how long it took you to fall asleep.
The minutes that you are awake and restless are subtracted from the time that you are in bed. The bar graph will show you the times you woke up and the times you were restless. You can toggle the bar graph to provide either the asleep view or the awake view.
Durability
Durability allows performance.
We reviewed the different levels of durability performance between the selected models and other products.
The use of modern synthetic materials are the key to durability, these materials have been selected on the basis of protection, safely housing the technology designed into the model and the ability to withstand shock while being used.
Brand makers do put in a good amount of research in order to produce products which offer durability which in turn ensures continued long-term performance.
The Fitbit models we researched and selected for our buying guide are all offering a nice high level of durability.
Ease of Use
Ease of use makes a product user-friendly
Ease of use with a Fitbit device is seriously important because there are a range of features which the user needs easy access for use.
FitBits with automatic functions offer superb ease for use because the function allows the user the freedom of not having to preset programs. Another ease for use factor is how many buttons, ideally one or two buttons to set functions is enough and the buttons should be at a size where they are easy and responsive.
Some models offer a one button function and this has proven to be very popular among users.
Brand makers have researched and are fully aware that users prefer a good sized screen for clear readers and therefore the majority of these models when a screen is needed they design in a reader-friendly size.
Variation for easy for wearing these products does change, with examples of wrist straps with buckles, velcro or small enough to put in a pocket.
Battery Life
No battery power equals no performance.
We looked at the battery performance and noted that on average these batteries perform for periods up to four or five days.
This looks good and re-charging the batteries varies with the different products, some are quick to charge, some take longer.
Important users need to be aware that if they run a lot of features simultaneously this will mean that the battery power will be depleted more quickly.
We are able to conclude that the range of batteries available with these models in conjunction with current battery power tech is very good.
Value
Value covers all performance, features and durability
For durability, we factored in looking at how the watch can perform, the basics and more high tech features.
Does it depend on what you want it for?
If you are after a device that will precisely and accurately monitor your heart rate steps and mileage, you will probably be disappointed. Though accuracy is as near to 100% as can be the only thing more accurate would be a device which measures exactly real time and give data on exact heart rate along with steps. It is difficult to be 100% and it is difficult to prove measurements are not at 100% accuracy. For fitness development and monitoring, the performance of these models is clearly accurate and good enough.
Value also covers the product durability because durability is more than longevity, it also covers the use of durable materials which offer good protection against knocks, shock, and weather.
Durability also involves the high tech features because these are all a result of materials which must be durable and efficient. Our extensive comparative research established that durability is good in these models which we have selected.
Expert Interviews & Opinions
The style might not seem so high on the list of importance when compared to durability, tech, performance, features, and value.
However, you will be using the product often and therefore you should choose a style and design with which you feel comfortable.
So many style options are available and you should go online, check out Fitbit buying guides and also read customer reviews, these are the best people to let you know all you need to know about a product. While checking out the buying guides which have display pics and a lot of info, you will eventually see a style which appeals to you.
You need to carry our research on Fitbit products and read up on via online reviews and buying guides to find out the wide choice of features available. If you are looking for standard performance, it seems pointless to pay more for features which you may well not even use. use some time to research, think about which features for performance you want and through doing research you will get the exact product for your fitness aims.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: How do I figure out band size?
The makers print guides which you can use to determine the exact correct fit for you. Sizes for different watches may vary, pay close attention to the FIT sizes in the guide and you will get the correct size.
q: Are HR readings accurate?
Generally, they are as near as accurate as can reasonably be, though excessive intensive work-outs might impact on the readings, to counter this, input your type of exercise so that the Fitbit can this into account for HR monitoring and readouts.
q: I have to buy a Fitbit to match my phone brand?
Only if you intend to access more features than a standard Fitbit offers, such as GPS tracking, special features for HR monitoring, music, texting, calling, etc are standard phone features not standard Fitbit features, a Fitbit will need to be synced to a phone. Apart from this, the standard monitoring features work without any need for a smartphone.
q: Which phones will work with Fitbit?
A good range of options such as iOS, Windows 10, Andriod and the connection is established via Bluetooth, the Fitbit APP will also work fine on any of these three operating systems.
q: Are all Fitbits fully waterproof?
Most if not all are waterproof in the rain, protective from sweat, dampness and many of them state waterproof to a certain depth in water, this can be found in the instructions provided with the watch.
Sources
- Best Fitbit 2019: which is right for you? | TechRadar, Guide-Review ,
- 5 Best Fitbits, Buying Guide ,
- The Best Fitbits for 2019 , Reviews-Guide ,