The best Fitbit alternatives available in 2024: Garmin, Apple, Samsung, and more

Fitbit devices may be among the most popular wearables in the world, but they aren’t the only ones out there. Garmin, Apple, Samsung, and many other companies make comparable or even better fitness trackers and smartwatches for the money. In fact, with the exception of the Pixel Watch line, I don’t even recommend buying a Fitbit smartwatch as the company has essentially shuttered both the Versa and Sense lines. Instead, here are the best Fitbit alternatives you can buy right now.

Buying the right Fitbit alternative for your needs

Fitbit has the budget-friendly and mid-range health tracker landscape covered. For this list, I’ve chosen devices that match each Fitbit device’s feature set and price point. Not every pick is a 1:1 alternative — but I’ve done our best to offer close comparisons.

The best Fitbit alternatives

• Garmin Venu 3: The best Fitbit smartwatch alternative you can buy, the Garmin Venu 3 offers smart features and a robust fitness tracking suite.
• Apple Watch Series 9: The best Fitbit smartwatch alternative for iPhone users is the Apple Watch Series 9, thanks to its unparalleled app support, seamless iPhone integration, and tough build. The Apple Watch 10 will likely usurp this pick once it is available and reviewed.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: One of the best Wear OS smartwatches available, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is a specifically strong choice for Samsung phone users.
• Garmin Venu Sq 2: The best Fitbit Charge 6 alternative, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 has a smartwatch form factor but a feature set similar to that of Fitbit’s top tracker.
• Xiaomi Mi Band 8: The best Fitbit Inspire 3 and Fitbit Luxe alternative you can buy, the Mi Band 8 offers a cheap price point and solid fitness tracking.
• Garmin Forerunner 265: Garmin’s midrange running watch is the best Fitbit Ionic alternative. It has an AMOLED display on users’ wrists and a boatload of advanced training features.
• Google Pixel Watch 3: Some shoppers will consider the Google Pixel Watch 3 a Fitbit device, and others won’t. Nonetheless, this Fitbit/Wear OS mashup is a fantastic alternative to a conventional Fitbit smartwatch.

Garmin Venu 3: The best Fitbit Sense, Sense 2, Versa 3, and Versa 4 alternative

When comparing Garmin vs Fitbit in terms of user experience, Garmin offers more detailed fitness tracking for dedicated athletes. The company also boasts a robust companion app that can be overwhelming at first glance but is easy to navigate once you spend time with it. Most importantly, Garmin devices, including the Venu 3, boast highly accurate GPS tracking and heart rate sensors.

The Garmin Venu 3 is one of my favorite devices overall and a fantastic smartwatch for fitness buffs. It builds on the success of its predecessors with the return of on-device calling, voice assistant support, and ECG readings. It also improved the previous generation’s overnight tracking and added sleep coaching and automatic nap detection to the user experience.

During my review, I was especially excited to see the line is now available in two sizes, offering a Venu 3S for smaller wrists. I found the watch very comfortable for workouts and all-day wear. It’s also quite classy and easy to incorporate into more casual or even dressy wear after the gym. Thanks to its long battery life, I only needed to take it off every four to five days to charge.

Apple Watch Series 9: The best Fitbit alternative for iPhone users

For iPhone users, there’s no better smartwatch than an Apple Watch. Though the Apple Watch Series 10 is now available, the Series 9 is the company’s previous generation which I tested closely and have since worn regularly. It will likely be replaced on this list once I have equal time with the newer model. The 9 packs a colorful and responsive AMOLED touchscreen display, an attractive, durable build, and a powerful S9 chipset. Thanks to its upgraded internals, it offers tools like Double Tap gesture control and onboard Siri queries. Meanwhile, watchOS 11 offers a host of upgrades and added features.

Athletes will find useful performance metrics, workout options, and crucial wellness tools like medication management and the mindfulness app. Both the device’s heart rate sensor and GPS tracking proved exceptional during my review period. Meanwhile, at the center of the user experience, the App Store remains an endless resource for additional third-party features. Unfortunately, the battery specs on the Apple Watch still leave a lot to be desired. However, Apple does offer low-power mode to help users mitigate the limitation.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 series: One of the best Wear OS Fitbit alternatives

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is the top Fitbit alternative for those in the market for a Wear OS watch (with the exception of the Google Pixel Watch 3, below). The latest Samsung smartwatch offers plenty of features, including everything from health and activity tracking to AI-generated tools, plus a sleek, refined design and an attractive display. The watch’s performance is snappy, its app store is loaded, and Wear OS 5 brings plenty of refinement to the user experience. Samsung also upgraded some of the watch’s accuracy, providing users with better heart rate monitoring and a few new health and wellness metrics.

With that said, some of the best features of this device are reserved for Samsung phone users only. As we’ve seen in the past, this includes headline wellness tools like sleep apnea detection and Samsung’s new Energy Score. For this reason, I recommend the Galaxy Watch line for Samsung users in particular. Those with other Android phones might consider the Pixel Watch 3 a better buy.

Garmin Venu Sq 2: The best Fitbit Charge 6 alternative

The Garmin Venu Sq 2, is my pick for the best Fitbit Charge 6 alternative. The device offers a simple, lightweight build, impressive fitness features, and a decent price point. Sure, it doesn’t quite have the slim tracker aesthetic of the Charge line, but the smartwatch form factor is arguably more practical. Plus, the latest generation features a bright, beautiful AMOLED display. You can even get music storage for offline listening if you pay extra for the Venu Sq 2 Music edition (which we highly recommend).

The Garmin Venu Sq 2 may be one of Garmin’s most affordable devices, but it’s still a feature-packed wearable with a lot to like. In addition to an accurate GPS and improved heart rate sensor, the Venu Sq 2 offers some of the company’s top tools, including Body Battery and Health Snapshot. It also features reliable sleep tracking and a daily sleep score. While reviewing the device, I was pleased to see the aesthetic upgrades to the Venu Sq line help elevate this watch to an everyday accessory. Plus, with great battery life, there isn’t much reason to take it off.

Xiaomi Mi Band 8: The best Fitbit Inspire 3 or Luxe alternative

Xiaomi’s fitness trackers have many features and a low price point, making the Mi Band 8 the perfect Fitbit Inspire 3 alternative. Paired with an upscale replacement band, the Mi Band 8 is also a fantastic Fitbit Luxe alternative. The device offers only a few upgrades but a much more refined look than its predecessor. The Mi Band 8 tracker pill offers a larger, higher-res screen that can be worn on the wrist, attached to a shoe, or around the neck as a pendant.

Beyond its build, the Mi Band 8 also boasts even more fitness tracking modes (150!), a six-axis motion sensor for workout tracking, and improvements to its heart rate readings. The device also offers impressive battery life but takes a hit when you turn on more advanced features. These features include an always-on display and continuous SpO2 monitoring, both of which are optional. Unfortunately, you won’t find built-in GPS or NFC support on this Mi Band 8. If GPS is a priority, we recommend the Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Pro. The slightly pricier model adds a few key features and an expanded display.

Garmin Forerunner 265: The best Garmin Fitbit Ionic alternative

If budget isn’t a concern, Garmin’s Forerunner 265 brings much running power to the wrist. Not only does the device offer Garmin’s robust fitness tracking suite, but it also features a colorful AMOLED touchscreen display. For a perfect fit, the lineup is available in two sizes, each with fiber-reinforced polymer, 5ATM water resistance ratings, and 8GB of music storage. For advanced training, the devices offer GNSS support with SatIQ technology and reliable health and fitness sensors.

During my Forerunner 265 review, I loved tapping into wrist-based Running-Power measurements and Training Readiness. The 265 isn’t the top Forerunner series, but for under $500, it represents Garmin’s mid-level entry point into the popular running watch lineup.

Google Pixel Watch 3: The best alternative to a conventional Fitbit

In many ways, the Google Pixel Watch 3 is technically a Fitbit, with key apps and features from the Fitbit ecosystem. It’s even sold on Fitbit’s website. However, the watch runs Google’s powerful Wear OS 5 and offers tons more smartwatch features than your typical tracker. Regardless of how you categorize the device, it is certainly not a conventional pick from Fitbit’s stable.

For anyone who wants a combination of Fitbit and Wear OS features, the Google Pixel Watch 3 is the absolute best option. This third generation fixes many of the shortcomings of its predecessors, offering a much more refined experience, two case sizes with gorgeous displays, better battery life, and upgraded health and wellness tools. Meanwhile, Google’s toolbox still stars with baked-in Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Wallet, and the Google Home app. For everything else, the Google Play Store provides easy access to third-party apps and watch faces.

Thanks to the improvements Google brought to this generation, it’s become my top recommendation for the best Wear OS watch available. From the modern minimalist display to the reliable health sensors to the seamless integration with Google services, especially newer Pixel phones, the watch is a truly powerful companion.

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