8 Best Fitness Trackers, Tested by Fitness Pros

✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: iPhone users who want to receive texts and calls while on a walk or run without their phone will be pleasantly surprised by the feature-rich Apple Watch Series 12.

✔️ WHY WE LOVE IT: Senior Reviews Writer and Product Analyst Olivia Lipski has used and evaluated the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 (pictured), and the Series 11. The Series 12 is the newest release. If you already use an iPhone, nothing beats the seamless experience you get when using it alongside other Apple products, whether AirPods or an Apple Watch. This watch is on the pricey side, but it is so much more than just a fitness tracker: You can use Apple Pay with it, and if you pay for a cellular plan, you can even send text messages and make phone calls.

With this watch, you can track different types of workouts, from running and yoga to HIIT and swimming (yes, it's water- and dust-resistant). Plus, the watch will notify you if you forget to start recording an activity and ask if you'd like to start a workout (walk, run, etc.). Beyond physical activities, the Apple Watch measures tons of other health metrics, and the Series 12 even provides a summary of your sleep quality in a sleep score.

Apple has two dedicated apps, Health and Activity, to show your stats, in addition to a premium home workout program, Apple Fitness+, to help you stay fit. The Series 11 introduced the Workout Buddy feature, which is powered by Apple Intelligence. This feature gives pep talks and motivational tips for exercising, and it’s available on the Series 12 as well.

It's available in multiple aluminum finishes, and it has a large, bright screen and a thin design. The battery life isn't as long as some other brands, but Apple has improved the battery life for the Series 11 and 12 up to 24 hours (you can get up to 8 hours of battery life with a 15-minute charge!). Plus, the Series 12 can connect to 5G networks, so you can download songs without being connected to Wi-Fi and get an overall speedier experience.

✔️ TESTERS SAID: "I find it very rewarding when I’m told I’ve met a goal–like an exercise or 'move' goal," says GH Institute Executive Director of Strategy and Operations Lexie Sachs, who has tried previous models of the Apple Watch. Lipski said, "It never felt too bulky, in the way, or uncomfortable."

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✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Lightweight and slim, this watch is ideal for anyone looking for a subtle (yet feature-rich) watch for workouts and swimming.

✔️ WHY WE LOVE IT: With its lightweight design, this fitness tracker is convenient to wear every single day if your main concern is tracking your steps. It has many of the same features as other Fitbit models, such as heart rate and blood oxygen measuring, just with less bulk. While many smart watches can be used to track swimming, I like this tracker for swimmers because of its slim, lightweight design that doesn't drag you down as you swim laps. You don't even have to take it off at the end of the day, since it's water-resistant and has a battery life of seven days, according to the brand.

Unlike some Fitbit trackers, this model comes with a built-in GPS to better record outdoor runs, and a six-month free trial to Fitbit Premium which unlocks access to advanced analytics and insights, such as a breakdown of your sleep score (based on how long and deeply you slept) and a wellness report that gives you a personalized summary of your activity, sleep, heart rate, and more. It comes in only three colors—black, white, and coral—but you can always swap for a more stylish band.

✔️ TESTERS SAID: Our GH testers found this watch comfortable and easy to wear, noting it encourages them to move more and be more active in general. "The step count is motivating and sleep tracking seems on point as well," said one tester.

✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Avid runners, cyclists, swimmers, or hikers can use this watch for phone-free workouts, no matter where they are.

✔️ WHY WE LOVE IT: Whether I'm running a half-marathon or a quick 5K, my Garmin Venu 4 watch is strapped onto my wrist (and I previously owned the Venu 3S, which I also loved!). You don't need to be near your phone to track a workout (even if you're running 20 miles from your home), and you can connect the watch to headphones to listen to music as you run. The interface makes it incredibly easy to read mileage, pace, time, and heart rate while running, which is useful for anyone utilizing zone running (a type of training that requires you to complete runs within specific heart rate ranges). While training for a 5K, I loved building custom training runs in the Garmin app that I could then follow on my watch to remember when to sprint or jog during intervals and speed work.

The tracking capabilities of this watch are truly endless. Beyond running, I've tracked weightlifting workouts, hikes, bike rides, kayaking routes, and swimming sessions with this watch. There is even a built-in GPS that can help you navigate long runs or hikes. It's overall an expensive but excellent choice for athletes of all trades, but especially avid runners.

✔️ TESTERS SAID: I was never a fan of watches because I found them bulky and uncomfortable to wear, but after a few days of wearing this watch, I was converted. Now, I only take the watch off when I need to charge it, shower, or go to a formal event, but it otherwise blends in with my day-to-day outfits. Plus, the battery life is superb (the brand claims up to two weeks), so I rarely find myself needing to charge it. I also love that the watch sends reminders to get moving after sitting for too long, and it adjusts goals like step count over time so that you can gradually increase your fitness levels. Another tester and I both experienced itchy, red skin under the watch at times during runs in the summer, but I haven't had any issues since cleaning the device with alcohol wipes every night.

At multiple doctor appointments, I cross-checked my heart rate, and the watch was always plus or minus one heartbeat per minute away from what the doctor recorded. I found that in all activities, the Venu 3S watch tended to overestimate by a bit—rather than 3.1 miles after a 5K, my watch read 3.2 miles, or rather than 2000 yards of swimming, my watch read 2200 yards—but the Venu 4 seems to be a bit more accurate.

RELATED: Garmin vs. Apple Watch: Which Smart Watch Should You Get?

✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: If one more screen in your life sounds intimidating, consider this screen-free fitness band that still tracks tons of analytics and workouts.

✔️ WHY WE LOVE IT: This GH Fitness Awards winner impressed our fitness pros with its minimalist design and health tracking, which collects insight and data on everything from your sleep to blood oxygen levels, skin temperature, heart rate, and much more. Though we wish the Whoop 5.0 weren’t subscription-only (it’ll cost you $30 per month or $239 for the year), our fitness experts think this comfortable and versatile wearable is well worth it.

Setting it apart from other fitness trackers on the market, the Whoop doesn’t feature a display, which some of our testers really appreciated. We also love that the app is intuitive to use and breaks down health metrics in a way that’s easy to digest. Plus, you can even choose among a variety of bands to suit your style, and each purchase from Whoop's website comes with a lifetime warranty.

✔️ TESTERS SAID: We tested the WHOOP 4.0, which is the previous iteration of the 5.0. The 5.0 is similar with some improvements, like a much longer battery life (rather than 4–5 days, the WHOOP band now has a 2-week battery life). “I’m glad the device didn’t have an interface or make any noises or vibrations," one of our consumer testers who tried the WHOOP 4.0 said. Another tester said, “The sleep tracker on the Whoop was by far my favorite feature. Keeping track of my (lack of) sleep was eye-opening, and the information provided on the app was beneficial to creating better habits.”

Compared to the slimmer Fitbit options, I personally thought the Whoop 4.0 was too thick and noticeable despite not having a screen, but most of our testers did not share my sentiments. One tester shared, “It is extremely comfortable and does not feel as if I am wearing a large, clunky smart watch."

Note: The second photo shows the WHOOP 4.0, which seems to be phasing out and is no longer available at most retailers.

✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Want to keep your fitness tracker under wraps? This classic-looking watch is ideal for anyone who wants the features of a fitness watch without the appearance of one.

✔️ WHY WE LOVE IT: Previous models of the Withings ScanWatch have been winners of the Good Housekeeping Fitness Awards, but this newer edition is great for people who don't want to look like they're wearing a fitness tracker since it closely resembles a regular watch. Even though it doesn't have built-in GPS to record running routes, it tracks activities like steps and distance, measures heart rate, and gives a sleep score.

It has an impressive battery life (the brand says up to 30 days), and the Withings app can help you dig deeper into your fitness stats. Plus, we like that it's available in both 38 millimeter and 42 millimeter sizes, and if you don't like the watch's band, you can swap it out for a different wristband. This watch has one of the thickest wristbands in this roundup, which gave it a more substantial feel, but some testers disliked its bulkiness.

✔️ TESTERS SAID: GH Institute Test Engineer Alec Scherma found the ScanWatch 2 easy to set up and connect with the app. "I like it because it looks more like an analog watch than a digital smart watch, but still has a small digital screen up top," he said. However, he pointed out that heavy lifters may need to be careful when using the watch during certain workouts, as flexing your wrist can accidentally hit the side button, which will pause your workout. I personally found the watch too large and bulky for my wrist, but it's a great option for those who prefer a classic watch face.

✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Athletes or anyone who participates in high-intensity workouts (marathon training, triathlons, etc.) can find all the features they're looking for with the Garmin Forerunner 265S.

✔️ WHY WE LOVE IT: Arguably the best Garmin watch available, the Forerunner 265S is currently ranked as our top pick from the brand. Theoretically, you could go for a two-week hike that involves swimming in lakes, and this watch won't die and will help you track it all. We love that this watch can track over 30 different activities—including running, swimming, biking, and Pilates—so it's perfect for the all-around athlete. You can even specify the type of running you're doing, from outdoor track to trail running to treadmill jogs.

Our Lab pros found the screen to be easy to read without significant glare from the sun. One standout feature is the Body Battery monitoring, which tracks physical activity, sleep, and more, providing a personalised score to represent how much energy you have. This can help you determine how long you need to rest, sleep, and recover, plus when to be active again. Since there's a built-in GPS, you can run phone-free and download music to listen to on your walks or runs.

✔️ TESTERS SAID: "I love that almost every feature on the watch is customizable, so you can always program it to display or hide the stats that are most important to you," said one of our testers. Our testers also noted that this watch recharged so quickly that there wasn't a large gap of time when they were unable to wear it. While it's a bit bulky and not the most stylish (it’s definitely a watch you’ll want to take off before a formal event!), I found this watch to still be comfortable to wear even on my small wrists.