Short answer. Get an Apple Watch if you have an iPhone and want one device for everything (Series 12 from $399, SE 3 from $249). Get a Garmin if you use Android or hate charging nightly: the Vivoactive 6 launched at $299.99 with up to 11 days of battery. For a cheap band, the Fitbit Charge 6 lists at $159.95.
If you want no screen at all, the Fitbit Air is $99.99, and WHOOP is a yearly membership starting at $199. Most wellness stipends cover the device. Memberships are the part to check with HR before you buy.
This page compares the trackers people search for most, using the specs and prices each maker publishes. We have not lab-tested these devices; battery figures are the makers' own claims, and every number links to where we read it. Prices were checked on November 3, 2026 and change often, so confirm before you buy.
Fitness trackers compared
| Tracker | What it is | List price | Battery (maker claim) | Ongoing cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 12 | Full smartwatch, iPhone only | From $399 (42mm), $449 (46mm) | Up to 24 hours; 38 in Low Power Mode | None listed |
| Apple Watch SE 3 | Cheaper Apple Watch, iPhone only | From $249 | Up to 18 hours; 32 in Low Power Mode | None listed |
| Garmin Vivoactive 6 | Fitness smartwatch with GPS | $299.99 at launch | Up to 11 days; 21 hours with GPS | None listed |
| Garmin Forerunner 170 | Entry running watch | $299.99 at launch | Up to 10 days | None listed |
| Garmin Forerunner 570 | Running watch (replaced the Forerunner 265) | $549 at launch | Up to 11 days (47mm); 18 hours GPS | None listed |
| Fitbit Charge 6 | Slim band with screen and built-in GPS | $159.95 | Up to 7 days | Optional Google Health Premium (3 months included) |
| Fitbit Air | Screenless band | $99.99 | Up to a week | Optional Google Health Premium (3 month trial included) |
| WHOOP | Screenless band sold as a membership | $199, $239 or $359 a year | Not compared here | The membership is the price |
Sources: Apple's Apple Watch store (starting prices), Series 12 specs and SE 3 specs (battery); MacRumors (46mm price); Android Authority (Vivoactive 6) and its Forerunner 70 and 170 launch report; DC Rainmaker (Forerunner 570 and 265); the Google Store Charge 6 page; Google's Fitbit Air announcement; Engadget (WHOOP tiers).
Which one should you buy?
- You have an iPhone and want calls, texts, payments and health tracking in one device: Apple Watch Series 12. Apple lists an ECG app, a Blood Oxygen app, sleep score and hypertension notifications on the Series 12 spec sheet. The catch is battery: up to 24 hours, so you charge it daily.
- You have an iPhone and a smaller budget: Apple Watch SE 3 from $249, with up to 18 hours of battery and sleep score, per Apple. Apple notes the ECG app is not available on SE models.
- You have an Android phone, or want a week or more between charges: Garmin Vivoactive 6. Up to 11 days in smartwatch mode is roughly ten times the Apple Watch figure.
- You run and want training data: a Garmin Forerunner. The Forerunner 170 ($299.99) is the entry point; the Forerunner 570 ($549) is the model that replaced the 265.
- You want the basics for the least money with a screen: Fitbit Charge 6 at $159.95, with built-in GPS and up to 7 days of battery. Google says it works with most phones on Android 11 or iOS 16.4 and newer.
- You want something you forget you're wearing: a screenless band. Fitbit Air costs $99.99 once. WHOOP costs $199 to $359 every year, which adds up: two years of the cheapest WHOOP tier is $398.
If you saw the Series 10 or Forerunner 265 recommended
Older guides, including an earlier version of this one, recommended the Apple Watch Series 10 and Garmin Forerunner 265. Both have been replaced. Apple's store now sells the Series 12, SE 3 and Ultra 4. Garmin's successor to the 265 is the Forerunner 570, and DC Rainmaker reports the price rose to $549 from the 265's $449 list price, while rated smartwatch battery dropped from 13 days to 11. If you find a Series 10 or a 265 at a clearance price, it can still be the better buy; compare the discount against the table above.
Apple Watch vs a fitness tracker
| Apple Watch Series 12 | Band tracker (Fitbit Charge 6) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $399 | $159.95 |
| Battery | Up to 24 hours | Up to 7 days |
| Phone | Needs an iPhone | Android 11 or iOS 16.4 and newer |
| Best at | Apps, notifications, payments, health features in one device | All-day tracking you rarely have to think about |
The honest split: a smartwatch is a phone accessory that also tracks fitness; a band is a tracker first. If you mostly want sleep and step data, the band's battery life matters more than the watch's apps.
Buying one with a wellness stipend
Fitness trackers are one of the items wellness stipend providers name directly. Forma, a benefits platform, says fitness stipends can reimburse wearable fitness trackers like smartwatches or activity monitors. Coverage still varies by employer, so:
- Check smartwatches specifically. Some policies cover fitness devices but question a full smartwatch. Our Apple Watch eligibility page covers how each stipend type usually treats it, and the stipend matcher checks other items.
- Ask about memberships before you pick WHOOP. A yearly membership is a recurring charge, which some programs reimburse and some don't.
- Expect tax. Most wellness stipends are paid as taxable income. Forma calls the wellness stipend a taxable benefit; see are employee stipends taxable for the details.
- Budget it. The wellness stipend calculator shows how a tracker fits next to a gym membership or app.
A message you can send HR: "I'm planning to use my wellness stipend for a fitness tracker (model and price). Is that covered, and does the policy also reimburse the yearly membership if the device needs one?"
Where to check prices
- Apple Watch Series 12 on Amazon
- Apple Watch SE 3 on Amazon
- Garmin Vivoactive 6 on Amazon
- Garmin Forerunner 570 on Amazon
- Fitbit Charge 6 on Amazon
- Fitbit Air on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Are fitness trackers accurate enough to rely on?
Treat them as wellness tools, not medical devices. Apple itself says its Blood Oxygen app is for wellness purposes only and not for medical use. Trends over weeks (resting heart rate, sleep duration, step counts) are more useful than any single reading. If a reading worries you, talk to a doctor.
Are fitness trackers covered by wellness stipends?
Often, yes. Wearables are a standard example in wellness stipend programs, but each employer writes its own list. Check your policy or ask HR before you buy, especially for a full smartwatch or a device that needs a membership.
Which trackers need a subscription?
Of the devices above, WHOOP is the one sold as a membership: $199 a year for One, $239 for Peak and $359 for Life, per Engadget. Fitbit devices include a three-month Google Health Premium trial, which is optional after that.
Is a tracker worth it if I don't exercise much?
It can be. For desk workers the useful data is daily steps, sleep and resting heart rate, not workout stats. A cheap band covers that; you don't need a $400 watch.
Building out the rest of a routine? See what a wellness stipend can buy, meditation apps and home gym equipment under $300.