Best Fitbit in 2022: Choose the right fitness tracker

Jane McGuire

September 16, 2022 at 1:26 AM·16 min read

Choosing the best Fitbit for you all depends upon your needs and budget. Fitbit's devices are some of the best fitness trackers you can buy, but range from the $70 Fitbit Inspire to the $329 Fitbit Sense, so it's important to know what you're looking for.

All of Fitbit's devices automatically track activities, steps, and sleep. They're all water-resistant, come with female health-tracking, and all can receive notifications from your smartphone. And all of them also connect with Fitbit's excellent app, as well as connect to a huge community of other Fitbit users, whom you can challenge to reach fitness goals. Whether you're trying to lose weight, tone up, or train for your first 5K, turning to the best Fitbit for tracking your exercise and health is a good place to start.

Some Fitbits have characteristics of the best smartwatches, including advanced features, such as heart rate monitoring, mobile payments, access to an app store, color displays, even built-in GPS and on-screen workouts. We've tested all of the best Fitbits on the market while running, swimming, and sleeping to bring you this list of the best Fitbits on the market.

What is the best Fitbit?

The best Fitbit on the market is the Fitbit Charge 5, which is a super-impressive fitness tracker in a small package. It also includes a number of features usually reserved for Fitbit's more premium trackers, an ECG heart rate monitor being one.

If you're looking for something with more features? The Fitbit Sense is one best fitness trackers that's also one of the best smartwatches. It offers advanced health analysis, a dedicated app store and the Alexa voice assistant on-board.

Finally, if you're on a budget, the $99 Fitbit Inspire 3 is the ultimate entry-level activity band and the best Fitbit for you. For a third of the cost of the company’s smartwatches, the Inspire 3 gets basic health metrics, automatic workout-tracking and accurate sleep insights, as well as a beautiful AMOLED screen. It also comes with a free year of Fitbit Premium (wondering if Fitbit Premium is worth it? Here are the pros and cons).

The best Fitbits you can buy today

Tom's Guide Awards 2022 logo

1. Fitbit Charge 5

The best Fitbit overall

Bright, always-on display

Fast connecting GPS

Addition of an ECG monitor

Daily readiness Score not ready yet

Lack of buttons on the Fitbit makes usability frustrating

No Spotify compatibility

The Fitbit Charge 5 is Fitbit's latest tracker and it has a number of exciting features, usually reserved for Fitbit's more expensive trackers, an ECG heart rate monitor being one. During testing, we found that the bright, always-on color touch screen was a massive improvement on the Fitbit Charge 4 — it is easy to read in bright sunlight and is great to use during a HIIT workout or on a hike, although we found the lack of physical buttons made it a little fiddly to navigate around when running.

The Fitbit Charge 5 will also be able to give wearers a "Daily Readiness Score", which is based on three different metrics — fitness fatigue (activity), heart rate variability (HRV), and recent sleep.

If you're looking for a tracker that looks beautiful against your wrist, is easy to read in the bright sunlight and has some impressive features for the price tag, this is a good buy. Also, if you're using a Fitbit Charge 3 or older, the upgrade is worth it for the color screen alone.

The Fitbit Charge 5 won the best fitness tracker award in our 2022 Tom's Guide awards, as it looks cool enough on the wrist that you don’t mind wearing it all day long thanks to the color OLED screen, and has a number of high-spec fitness tracking features.

Read our full Fitbit Charge 5 review.

2. Fitbit Inspire 3

The best Fitbit for first-time activity trackers

Bright AMOLED screen

Lightweight

Excellent battery life

6 months of Fitbit Premium included

Small screen won’t be for everyone

No on-board GPS

If you're new to fitness tracking, the $99 Fitbit Inspire 3 is the ultimate entry-level activity band and the best Fitbit for you. For a third of the cost of the company’s smartwatches, the Inspire 3 gets basic health metrics, automatic workout tracking and accurate sleep insights. It also comes with a free year of Fitbit Premium.

Fitbit rates the Inspire 3 battery life for 10 days, which makes it the longest-lasting Fitbit. There's no GPS or music storage, so you'll need your phone nearby for working out. But it does have Active Zone Minutes, which is a feature on Fitbit's pricier options that monitors the time you spend in the fat burn, cardio or peak heart-rate zones while exercising.

During testing, we were impressed by the price, the comfortable, lightweight design, and the fact it comes with six months of Fitbit Premium. Compared to the Fitbit Inspire 2, the newer device feels more premium, thanks to the bright AMOLED display, which is easy to see, even in bright daylight. The downside with this watch is the lack of in-built GPS, which isn't ideal for tracking activities outdoors, but if you don't mind taking your phone with you, don't let this put you off.

Read our full Fitbit Inspire 3 review here.

A photo of the Fitbit Sense, one of the best fitbits overall

3. Fitbit Sense

The best Fitbit if you're also looking for a smartwatch

Attractive

Long battery life

Comprehensive fitness/health features

No Spotify storage

The Fitbit Sense is the company's premium smartwatch that comes with more advanced health and wellness features that the Versa line. Not only does it have an FDA-approved ECG sensor and blood oxygen reading, but the Sense has the ability to measure electrodermal activity and skin temperature, too.

During testing, we were impressed by the Sense's long battery life and attractive design, as well as the huge number of health tracking options.

As one of the best Fitbits, best smartwatches the Sense works with both iOS and Android, and comes with onboard GPS, a native app store, Alexa, and more. No longer is Fitbit just a brand with products for tracking our steps: Fitbit devices like the Fitbit Sense show what it means to take a holistic look at our health.

If you are thinking of buying a Fitbit Sense, it might be worth waiting for the Fitbit Sense 2. As was the case with the original Fitbit Sense, the Fitbit Sense 2's standout feature is stress detection and management.

Read our full Fitbit Sense review.

A photo of the Fitbit Charge 4, one of the best fitbits for tracking

4. Fitbit Charge 4

The best last-season Fitbit

GPS built in

Accurate fitness tracking

Mobile payments

No onboard music storage

Not only does the Fitbit Charge 4 have GPS built-in — a first for Fitbit's fitness trackers — but it has a new metric, called Active Zone Minutes, that gives you a better indicator of your overall health. The Fitbit Charge 4 also has Fitbit Pay, so you can use it as a contactless payment device at participating locations. And, for those who use Spotify, the Charge 4 now has controls for that music service, though you still can't load music onto the device itself.

During testing, we found that the Charge 4 was comfortable to wear, and its GPS was accurate when we took it on runs. It's also pretty good at measuring sleep, and thanks to its SPO2 sensor, is able to warn you if you're at risk for conditions such as sleep apnea. The Charge 4 will last up to 7 days, but that number drops to five hours when using GPS. That's not as good as the best GPS watches, but good for a fitness tracker. Our Apple Watch 3 vs. Fitbit Charge 4 face-off explains why it's the most capable fitness trackers you can get for the price.

Read our full Fitbit Charge 4 review.

A photo of the Fitbit Charge 3, which is the best Fitbit under $100

5. Fitbit Charge 3

Fitbit's best fitness tracker under $100

SpO2 sensor

Water resistant

Nice design

Lacks on-board GPS

The Fitbit Charge 3 was previously our top pick as the best Fitbit, but it's been supplanted by the Fitbit Charge 4, which has GPS and a few other features. But that doesn't mean the Charge 3 still isn't a good device, and it's now pretty damn cheap, following the release of the Fitbit Charge 5.

Designed for those who want to keep healthy and stay in shape, but aren't going to be running marathons, the Charge 3 has a fairly large, grayscale touchscreen display that shows your heart rate, distance traveled, and notifications from your smartphone, if connected. The Charge 3 is also swim-proof, and can track your laps in the pool.

The Charge 3 comes in three sizes, so it should fit most wrists (Fitbit has a sizing chart on its site). In addition, the Charge 3's strap is removable and Fitbit, as well a a number of third parties makes straps in different colors, patterns, and materials. The Fitbit Charge 3 also has an SpO2 sensor that will be used to diagnose breathing disturbances while sleeping and week-long battery life. It still requires a smartphone to connect to GPS, but it's still a good Fitbit for the money — while supplies last.

Read our full Fitbit Charge 3 review.

A photo of the Fitbit Versa 3, one of the best Fitbits 2021

6. Fitbit Versa 3

The best Fitbit midrange smartwatch

Larger display than Versa 2

Great battery life

On-board GPS

Can only enable one voice assistant at at time

The best Fitbit midrange smartwatch is the Fitbit Versa 3, the next-generation of the Fitbit Versa 2. The Versa 3’s standout upgrade is on-board GPS. Now, even when you leave your phone at home, the Versa can (finally) track your location during outdoor exercise. A curvier, larger display is welcome, too.

Plus the Versa 3 has gained a great motivational workout feature, Active Zone Minutes. Introduced with the Charge 4, Active Zone Minutes monitors the time you spend in the fat burn, cardio or peak heart-rate zones while exercising. Your goal is to earn the AHA’s and WHO’s recommended 150 Active Zone Minutes each week.

If you are thinking of buying a Fitbit Versa 3, it might be worth waiting a few weeks for the Fitbit Versa 4, which is set to be on sale this fall.

Read our full Fitbit Versa 3 review.

A photo of the Fitbit Luxe, one of the best Fitbits on the market

7. Fitbit Luxe

The most fashionable Fitbit yet

Lightweight, attractive design

Color touchscreen

Great for basic fitness and sleep tracking

Has Fitbit’s stress management tools

No GPS

No contactless payments

The $150 Fitbit Luxe looks to make fitness tracking a fashion statement. While we've seen smartwatches offer lifestyle models as alternatives to their sporty counterparts, the Fitbit Luxe is the first activity band we’ve seen in a long while that’ll pass as wrist candy.

Unlike some of the best Fitbit models, the Fitbit Luxe introduces elevated, jewelry-inspired elements with a color touchscreen and stainless steel casing with metallic finishes. It looks even better paired with a “special edition” link bracelet from Fitbit’s partner designer brand. We wish it offered GPS and contactless payments for the price, but it's still the most attractive fitness tracker we've seen in a while.

Read our full Fitbit Luxe review.

A photo of the Fitbit Versa 2, one of the best Fitbits in 2021

8. Fitbit Versa 2

The best Fitbit with smartwatch features

Good battery life

Colorful display

On-screen workouts

No built-in GPS

Alexa works inconsistently

If you've ever wanted Alexa on your wrist, the Fitbit Versa 2 is the best Fitbit for you. This second-generation Versa has Amazon's assistant built in, which lets you do such things as control smart home devices, look up the weather and news, and a lot more.

It comes with advanced sleep-tracking features, which, when combined with the Versa 2's ability to monitor blood oxygen saturation levels, could help alert you to conditions such as sleep apnea. You can also download up to 300 songs to the Versa 2 itself, as well as from Pandora and Deezer, so you can leave your phone at home if you want to listen to some tunes. Sadly, the Versa 2 lacks on-board GPS, so you will need to tote your phone if you want that feature. Check out our Fitbit Versa 2 vs. Fitbit Charge 4 face-off for more on the advantages and disadvantages to the brand's smartwatch, as well as everything we know about its possible predecessor, the Fitbit Versa 3.

Read our full Fitbit Versa 2 review

9. Fitbit Ace 3

The best Fitbit for kids

Fun, kid-friendly colors

Great parental controls

Sleep tracking for kids

Large design

The Fitbit Ace 3 is one of the few fitness trackers designed for kids. Like Garmin's Vivofit Jr. models, the Fitbit Ace 3 offers parental controls for their children (8 and up) and helps set health goals in a way that's appropriate for little ones. Unlike the fitness bands Fitbit makes for grown-ups, kids won't be able to see metrics such as calorie burn or body fat percentage on the device or in the Fitbit app. Rather, the Fitbit Ace 2 offers achievements and trophies that can be unlocked by activity.

Fitbit Ace is designed to encourage kids to get up and move instead of sit in front of a TV. Colorful band options add a fun flair, while the game-based goals are certain to grab your kid's attention.

How to choose the best Fitbit for you

If you spend more time than you wish to disclose on your butt watching TV, and want to start down the path to a healthier lifestyle, a basic tracker that costs less than $100 will most likely suit your needs.

The $99 Fitbit Inspire 2 will track your daily steps, calories and distance, showing your stats on a small OLED touchscreen.

For those who work out more frequently, the Fitbit Charge 4 might better suit your needs. This band has all of the same features as the Inspire HR, but comes with a larger OLED touchscreen display, which makes it easier to see notifications and health data at a glance. It also has NFC built in, so you can use it for mobile payments via Fitbit Pay.

Those looking for more of a smartwatch-style fitness tracker should check out the Fitbit Versa 3 or Fitbit Sense. These devices have square, color touchscreens that can be used with Fitbit's small but growing app store.

How we test Fitbits

By wearing them, of course! When Fitbit comes out with a new fitness tracker or smartwatch, we fully charge it up, then strap it on our wrist for about a week or so to test out all its features.

First and foremost: How does it feel? Some fitness trackers are pretty bulky, which means they won't fit comfortably on smaller wrists. Next, we look at its fitness features, such as its heart rate monitor and, where applicable, its GPS. How accurate are both sensors?

We also look at the other features of the Fitbit, including sleep tracking, female health tracking, mobile payments, and smartphone notifications.

Finally, there’s comparing Fitbit's battery life claims to our actual use. Some sensors chew up juice faster than others, so if you've got the screen on constantly, or are always using the heart rate monitor, your mileage may vary.

What is Fitbit Premium?

If you want to get more from your Fitbit, you can sign up for the brand's Premium service, which gives you access to hundreds of video and audio workouts, personalized insights, and tailored health and fitness programs.

If you're really into tracking your sleep, Premium gives users more data to delve into, including an analysis of sleep duration and a deeper look into sleeping heart rate, and restlessness. Fitbit Premium also gives users a daily wellness report, which includes guidance on health and recovery, based on Fitbit stats. In 2022, Fitbit has added Sleep Animals to the Sleep Score feature, six animal archetypes have been chosen based on their sleeping type, including Giraffe, Bear, Dolphin, Hedgehog, Parrot, and Tortoise.

Fitbit often offers members a free trial to their Premium service when they buy a tracker, but after that it'll cost $9.99 a month, or $79.99 a year. We look at whether Fitbit Premium is worth it to help you determine whether you should pay that extra subscription fee.

You can read our interview with Fitbit co-founder Eric Friedman here.

Get healthy and in shape with our other fitness gear guides:

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