The Best Budget Fitness Trackers for Staying Active in 2025

Choosing the Right Budget Fitness Tracker: A Comprehensive Guide

Whether you're a fitness novice or a seasoned athlete seeking data-driven insights, a fitness tracker can revolutionize your workout routine. Fortunately, numerous affordable options exist, ranging from basic step counters and heart rate monitors to feature-rich devices rivaling top-tier smartwatches. This guide explores several budget-friendly choices for all wrist sizes and preferences.

TL;DR – Top Budget Fitness Trackers:

Our Top Pick: Fitbit Inspire 3

Xiaomi Smart Band 9

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

Amazfit Band 7

Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)

Garmin Venu 3

Contributions by Kevin Lee

1. Fitbit Inspire 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker

Product Specifications:

• Size: 39.3mm x 18.6mm
• Thickness: 11.75mm
• Battery Life: 10 days
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Sensors: Heart rate monitor, SpO2
• Tracking: Swim, sleep, steps
• Water Resistance: Up to 50m

Pros: Bright AMOLED touchscreen, long battery life.

Cons: Some advanced features require a subscription.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 offers exceptional value. For under \$100, it boasts a vibrant AMOLED display, a comfortable and durable band suitable for sleep, and a 10-day battery life (reduced with the always-on display). Navigation is intuitive via touchscreen and haptic buttons. Fitness tracking features include 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, SpO2 measurement, automatic exercise tracking, and sleep monitoring. Basic smartwatch functions like phone notifications and a find-my-phone feature are also included.

2. Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Best Ultra-Cheap Fitness Tracker

Product Specifications:

• Size: 46.53mm x 21.63mm
• Thickness: 10.95mm
• Battery Life: 21 days
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Sensors: Heart rate monitor, SpO2
• Tracking: Swim, sleep, steps
• Water Resistance: Up to 50m

Pros: Over 150 sports modes, impressive 21-day battery life.

Cons: Tracking accuracy may not always be perfect.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 punches above its weight at under \$50. It provides comprehensive health monitoring (pedometer, heart rate monitor, SpO2, sleep monitoring), over 150 sports modes, and a sleek design. Its three-week battery life and bright 1.62-inch AMOLED display are standout features. While accuracy might not match high-end devices, it offers valuable workout insights.

3. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro: Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS

Product Specifications:

• Size: 43.27mm x 32.49mm
• Thickness: 10.8mm
• Battery Life: 21 days
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Sensors: Heart rate monitor, GPS, SpO2
• Tracking: Swim, sleep, stress
• Water Resistance: Up to 50m

Pros: Accurate built-in GPS, large AMOLED display.

Cons: No NFC.

An upgrade to the Smart Band 9, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro features a larger 1.74-inch AMOLED display and a surprisingly accurate built-in GPS. It retains 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and support for over 150 sports modes. Limited smartwatch features include music playback and phone notifications (no replies).

4. Amazfit Band 7: Best Budget Fitness Tracker with Health Monitoring

Product Specifications:

• Size: 37.3mm
• Thickness: 12.2mm
• Battery Life: 18 days
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
• Sensors: Heart rate monitor, SpO2
• Tracking: Swim, period, sleep
• Water Resistance: Up to 50m

Pros: Extensive tracking (stress, sleep), Amazon Alexa integration.

Cons: No built-in GPS.

The Amazfit Band 7, priced around \$50, offers remarkable capabilities. Its 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display, slim design, and long battery life (18 days) are key selling points. It supports over 120 sports modes (four with automatic recognition), is water-resistant to 50m, and includes health monitoring (heart rate, SpO2, stress) and sleep tracking. Smartwatch features include notifications and Amazon Alexa.

5. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen): Best Budget Apple Watch

Product Specifications:

• Size: 40mm x 34mm
• Thickness: 10.7mm
• Battery Life: 18 hours
• Connectivity: Cellular (optional), 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3
• Sensors: Heart rate monitor, GPS, accelerometer
• Tracking: Swim, sleep, period
• Water Resistance: Up to 50m

Pros: Wide app selection, safety features (crash detection), built-in GPS.

Cons: Fewer sensors than other Apple Watches.

The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) offers a compelling blend of fitness tracking and smartwatch functionality at a more affordable price. It includes an optical heart rate sensor, built-in GPS, automatic workout detection (including swimming), and 32GB of storage for apps. It also provides smartwatch features like call answering, messaging, contactless payments, and music streaming, along with crash detection.

6. Garmin Venu 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts

Product Specifications:

• Size: 45mm
• Thickness: 12mm
• Battery Life: 14 days
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, 802.11n
• Sensors: Heart rate monitor, GPS, temperature
• Tracking: Swim, sleep, stress, energy
• Water Resistance: Up to 50m

Pros: Highly accurate GPS and heart rate monitor, Body Battery feature.

Cons: Limited app selection compared to other smartwatches.

The Garmin Venu 3, while the most expensive on this list, is a worthwhile investment for serious fitness enthusiasts. It offers precise tracking for various activities (swimming, cycling, golf, etc.), utilizing GPS, a heart rate monitor, ECG, SpO2, temperature, and other sensors. Animated workouts and the insightful Body Battery feature further enhance its value. Smartwatch features are included, but app selection is more limited than Apple or Google watches.

Choosing Your Fitness Tracker:

Consider your needs and budget. For basic tracking, an ultra-cheap band like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 suffices. GPS is essential for runners and hikers. For comprehensive functionality beyond fitness, a smartwatch is recommended. Remember to evaluate hardware quality, comfort, software, and tracking accuracy when making your decision.