The best Fitbits for your fitness and health
Fitbit makes an array of fitness trackers, from basic fitness bands to full-fledged smartwatches, though the best Fitbit smartwatch isn't technically a Fitbit | Photo illustration by William Joel / The VergeEditor's note: Amazon's fall Prime Day event kicks off on October 7th; however, if you want to shop ahead of the two-day sale, we've rounded up the best early Prime Day deals you can already get.
In 2025, you might wonder if Fitbit is still relevant. Despite getting acquired by Google, Fitbit remains one of the most recognizable names in the industry. Fitbit trackers aren't meant for the most hardcore of athletes, but they're still excellent devices for tracking overall activity as well as monitoring certain health and wellness metrics, like EKGs and blood oxygen levels.
That said, we're still in the transitional period from the Fitbit of old to whatever Fitbit will be in the future. We're further away from 2023, which was a particularly messy year. There were multiple Fitbit server outages, and I wasn't impressed with the decision to sunset legacy community features like challenges or the fact that all Fitbit accounts will soon require you to log in via Google. Speaking of which, the Fitbit-to-Google account migration started in 2023 and is required if you buy the Fitbit Charge 6 or the new Google Pixel Watch 4. The Fitbit app also got a more Google-like makeover, which didn't go over well with many users. (Google has since made adjustments based on feedback.) And in 2024, much of Fitbit's leadership, including co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman, left the company as roughly a thousand Google employees were laid off. Now, in 2025, most of Google's focus seems to be on its own smartwatches.
The Googlefication of Fitbit will continue, but there are reasons to stick with its trackers in the meantime. Fitbit trackers are relatively affordable, especially since they often go on sale.All the devices also come with a free trial to Fitbit Premium, the company's subscription service that provides guided workouts, meditations, and access to more in-depth metrics. The service costs $9.99 per month, or $79.88 per year. And with the launch of the Google Pixel Watch 4 in October, it's clear that Google is taking its wearables seriously, too. The upcoming smartwatch has a longer-lasting battery, more repairable design, and compatibility with Fitbit's upcoming AI-powered fitness coach. You just have to go in with eyes wide open.
If you're not dead set on a Fitbit in particular, check out our guide to the best fitness trackers and watches.
- Best Fitbit smartwatch
- Best budget Fitbit
- Best Fitbit fitness tracker
- Best Fitbit for kids
- What's coming next
- Should you even buy a Fitbit right now?
Score: 8| Pros | Cons |
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The existence of the Pixel Watch, now in its third generation, has thrown a wrench into Fitbit's smartwatch lineup. Technically, it's a Google product, but Google owns Fitbit, so they're all Google products now. Fitbit powers all of the Pixel Watch's health and fitness features. But really, this is the smartwatch that Fitbit never could manage to build on its own.
The Pixel Watch 3 is a significant update over its predecessors. It finally feels like Google's no longer playing catch-up to its rivals. This time around, the screens are brighter, the bezels are smaller, and there's now a 45mm size for larger wrists. The larger size doesn't look chunky, either. Internally, the processor and health sensors are the same as those of the Pixel Watch 2, though the third-gen device has an ultra wideband chip that allows you to unlock Pixel phones and some BMW car models.
It's got the same beautiful design with a circular domed display that looks way more elegant than the squircle Versa or Sense smartwatches ever did. On your wrist, it looks like a watch, not a tracker dressed up as one.The display is a bit fragile for our taste, but as of 2023, you can get a Preferred Care extended warranty in the US and Canada. This is one reason we recommend the Pixel Watch 3 over the original, since at least you have a more affordable fallback should something happen to your display. Google also announced an option where you can skip customer support and mail in broken, out-of-warranty Pixel Watch devices for discounted replacements.
As for fitness features, the Pixel Watch 3 is much better for runners than it used to be. It includes a running dashboard, advanced form analytics, custom running workouts, and even AI-generated workout suggestions. It's also introduced a metric called Cardio Load, which measures the intensity of your workouts and suggests a target based on your fitness goals. It's conceptually similar to Garmin's Training Load. The Daily Readiness Score has also been revamped and is no longer locked behind the Fitbit Premium paywall. On the health front, users now have Loss of Pulse. If the watch detects you've lost your pulse, it'll call emergency services on your behalf.
Additionally, Google has strengthened the watch's integrations with its own services as well as other Pixel devices. For instance, you have offline Google Maps and a Google Home Tile. You can view your Nest Doorbell camera feed or control your Google TV from your wrist, and there's also the option to record audio with the Recorder app and transfer it to your phone. With Call Assist, you can use your watch to tell anyone calling you need an extra second to pick up the phone.
Pixel Watch 3 owners can also now take advantage of Google Gemini, which began rolling out to watches running Wear OS 4 with Google Assistant in July. The AI assistant can recommend restaurants, add calendar events, create playlists, summarize emails, and handle other complex queries. It's not always perfect, but it's generally helpful. Google also enabled Channel Sounding for the Pixel Watch 3, a feature that enables better Bluetooth tracking for the smartwatch. The watch calculates how much time it takes several radio signals at different frequencies to get from the smartwatch to a compatible accessory to better determine its distance and direction.
If you're patient, you can pick up the Google Pixel Watch 4 instead when it launches on October 9th starting at $349.99. The upcoming smartwatch has a new processor, faster charging, longer lasting battery, an updated design, and better repairability. It's the first Pixel Watch to have a display and battery that can be replaced instead of having to swap out an entire device if those components break. The LTE version of the Pixel Watch 4 has a Satellite SOS mode that's free to use, so you can contact emergency services from a remote area with no signal. Read our hands on.
If all you want is a fitness tracker that looks like a smartwatch, you can consider the $199.95 Versa 4 since it's the more budget-friendly option. But there's no real point in the Sense 2 since the Pixel Watch 3 can do all the same things - and more.
Read my full Pixel Watch 3 review.Best budget FitbitFitbit Inspire 3
Score: 7| Pros | Cons |
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The Inspire line hasn't always felt, well, inspired. But the $99.95 Inspire 3 is different. With a color OLED display, it's reminiscent of the Fitbit Luxe of 2021, only with a matte black plastic case instead of a metal one. It's a great throwback to classic Fitbits for people who only want the basics.
The Inspire 3 doesn't overcomplicate things. It's a fitness band. You won't get built-in GPS, contactless payments, or digital assistants. Still, what it lacks in smarts it makes up for with Fitbit's advanced sleep tracking, stress management features, and irregular heart rate notifications. The OLED display is also a step up from the Inspire 2's monochrome screen, and you still get 10 days of battery life. (Though it's more like two to three if you enable the always-on display.)
The Inspire 3 has a variety of accessories, including a clip attachment if you want to track steps discreetly. There's even a gold or silver mesh strap if you want to dress it up a bit.
To be honest, the Inspire 3 and the Luxe are quite similar; however, the latter has become increasingly difficult to find in recent months, as it's no longer listed on the Google Store or any other US retailer. That said, opting for the Luxe will net you a nicer case at the expense of five days of battery life, assuming you can find it.
Read our coverage of the Fitbit Inspire 3 here.Best Fitbit fitness trackerFitbit Charge 6
Score: 7| Pros | Cons |
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The Charge series has always been popular, and the $159.95 Charge 6 is no exception. It's Fitbit's higher-end fitness band but easily competes with the more expensive Versa 4 on features. It features a color OLED screen plus an EKG and EDA sensor. You also get built-in GPS, NFC payments, and SpO2 sensors - the only thing you're really missing is a digital assistant.
The only qualm we have with the Charge 6 is the always-on display. While it's beautiful, it's a major battery drain. The Charge 6 has an estimated seven days of battery life, but that dwindles down to about two if you have the always-on display enabled. This is the same issue that we had with the Charge 5, but it's fairly typical for Fitbit trackers these days.
Altogether, though, you're getting a hell of a lot for the price. It's the only FDA-cleared EKG wearable you can find for under $200, and the only other Fitbits capable of EKG and EDA readings are the Sense, Sense 2, and the Pixel Watch 3. So unless you're dead set on the smartwatch form factor, the Charge 6 is the better overall deal.
Compared to its predecessor, the Charge 6 also adds an improved heart rate algorithm, Bluetooth compatibility with some gym equipment, and a few apps - namely Google Maps, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music. While YouTube Music works well, I'm not stoked that it requires an additional $10.99 monthly subscription. That said, it's better than nothing, as Fitbit discontinued onboard music a while back.
In terms of hardware, the Charge 6 also features a haptic button instead of an inductive groove. It's not a physical button, which is a little disappointing, but it's more reliable thus far than the inductive groove, so I would count this as a net positive.
Read our Fitbit Charge 6 review.Best Fitbit for kidsFitbit Ace LTE
Score: 8| Pros | Cons |
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The $179.99 Fitbit Ace LTE isn't really a traditional fitness tracker, though it does track active minutes. Instead, it's a smartwatch with a mix of kid-friendly games and activities and thoughtful, family-oriented communication features. It's a walled garden, but an adorable one.
Instead of rigorously tracking health stats, the Ace LTE tracks active minutes," which fill a cute progress meter called a Noodle that runs around the face of the watch. Active minutes earn time with the Ace LTE's built-in games that, combined with activities, unlock customizations for your kid's avatar (called an Eejie) that lives in the watch, as well as its little house. You can also unlock different games and virtual items by connecting different watch straps.
With a $10/month subscription, you get real-time location tracking and both voice and text messaging to preselected contacts through the Fitbit Ace app (rather than the standard messaging and phone apps). As of November 2024, that includes other family members with Ace LTE watches, as well as a family group chat between parents and kids.
I like that the Ace LTE is built more like a cross-platform smartwatch for adults than other kid watches we've used, like the plasticky Garmin Bounce. It uses the same charger as the Pixel Watch 3, and gets about a day's worth of battery on a charge. My kids enjoy it but aren't obsessed with it - though they have been known to run laps up and down the hallway to earn more game time.
Google says the Ace LTE is best suited for kids aged 7 to 11, and that sounds right. My oldest is 10 now, and she's been using an Ace LTE for about a year. Once she hits middle school, I think she'll be frustrated that she can't use it to talk to her friends. But for now, it's great. We recently got one for our 8-year-old, and it's wild that they can text each other from their watches. It also means my 8-year-old can spam the group chat with emoji, but that's fine too.
- Nathan Edwards, senior reviews editor
Read our hands-on with the Fitbit Ace LTE.What's coming nextGoogle announced the Fitbit personal health coach, an AI-powered fitness trainer that utilizes Gemini. It'll begin rolling out to Fitbit Premium subscribers in October who have the latest Fitbit trackers, Fitbit smart watches, and Pixel Watch models as part of a redesigned Fitbit app. The Fitbit personal health coach creates weekly exercise routines, and can change its recommendations based on how much sleep you've gotten, injuries you're dealing with, and your changing fitness goals.
We were able to check out a demo of the AI health coach last month and were impressed by how much flexibility it offered based on what's happening in your life. For example, being on a 14-hour flight and dealing with jet lag won't cause you to miss your cardio goals because they're calculated on a weekly basis instead of daily. Similarly, telling the fitness coach that you've hurt your finger and would like to remove strength workouts for the time being will prompt it to come up with alternative exercises.
Should you even buy a Fitbit right now?Fitbit officially became part of Google in 2021. Nothing changed overnight, but technically, it's Fitbit by Google now. TheFitbit-to-Google migrationstarted in the summer of 2023, and account migration will be mandatory - not merely optional - for all users in early 2026. Google angered longtime Fitbit users by shuttering social features like challenges and removing streaks, though latter returned a few months later. In early 2024 Google laid off roughly a thousand employees from its hardware departments, including people on the Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest teams.
In early 2025 Google released a mandatory software update for Fitbit Versa 3 and Sense users to reduce the risk of battery overheating," which had the unfortunate side effect of reducing battery life from as many as six days to as few as one for some users. However, the fact that we're getting a significantly redesigned Fitbit app and AI-powered health coach does show Google is still putting resources into projects under the Fitbit name. The hardware improvements introduced with the Google Pixel Watch 4 are also a good sign Google is still interested in developing compelling wearable hardware.
Update, September 30th: Updated pricing and availability. Added information about the upcoming Google Pixel Watch 4 and Fitbit personal health coach. Brandt Ranj also contributed to this post.