To find the best heart rate monitor watches on the market, we started by speaking to two industry experts to learn more about what key features to look for when shopping. With their guidance, we also tested 11 options from top, trusted brands. Throughout our testing process, we evaluate each device for its ease of setup and use, comfort, accuracy, and value. We also had a certified personal trainer from our Review Board review this article for accuracy, including how to use a heart monitor watch's results to enhance your workout and wellness routines.
Unlocking the secrets to your optimal fitness and health has never been easier, thanks to heart rate monitor watches (sometimes called smartwatches). Whether you're a dedicated fitness enthusiast or a competitive athlete, these wrist companions offer a wealth of insights into your well-being. Beyond just tracking heart rate , the best heart rate monitor watches provide a holistic view of your health, monitoring stress levels, sleep patterns, workout intensity, and more. Some even go the extra mile with features like GPS tracking, music streaming, and specialized sport functions.
Best Overall
Garmin Vivomove Sport
Garmin
View On Amazon
$180
View On Garmin.com
View On Tractor Supply Co.
$180
Our Ratings
Pros
Easy to use
Comfortable design
Extensive tracking capabilities
Cons
Requires specific charger
Key Specs
Metrics Tracked: Heart rate, steps, calories burned, sleep, and more | Battery Life: 5 to 6 days | Waterproof: Yes, up to 164 feet (5ATM) | GPS: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5
Who It’s For
Best for data-driven fitness enthusiasts and everyday athletes, offering a comprehensive and holistic health tracking experience.
Why We Love It
Garmin’s Vivomove Sport Watch stood out as a top performer among the heart rate monitor watches we tested. Its user-friendly interface, comfortable design, and precise tracking of heart rate, steps, and activities set it apart. The watch goes beyond basic metrics, also monitoring sleep, calories burned, oxygen saturation, menstrual cycle, and more. Plus, the accompanying app makes it easy to grab the stats you want and ignore the rest.
In testing, the watch proved easy to set up and connect to our phone. Along with health metrics, we also loved monitoring our fitness training with the GPS to track distance for running, walking, cycling, and swimming. Whether you aim to improve fitness or leverage heart rate data for training, this watch can help you stay within specific heart rate zones through alerts and track your VO2 max (maximal oxygen consumption). We also love that you can customize your watch with three face colors and over a dozen bands.
Potential Flaws
Verywell Fit / Tammy Gardini
Verywell Fit / Tammy Gardini
Best Budget
Amazfit Band 7
Amazfit
View On Amazon
$50
View On Walmart
$71
View On Amazfit.com
Our Ratings
Pros
Charges quickly
Lightweight and low-profile
Long battery life
Cons
Unclear instructions
Display is bright at night
Key Specs
Metrics Tracked: Heart rate, steps, calories burned, sleep, and more | Battery Life: Up to 18 days | Waterproof: Yes, up to 164 feet (5ATM) | GPS: No | Our Overall Rating: 4.2/5
Who It’s For
Best for beginner and budget-conscious users wanting to track data with a discreet, low-profile band.
Why We Love It
At its price point, Amazfit’s Band 7 Fitness Tracker delivers a solid amount of data, from activity tracking to monitoring sleep quality. It also includes indoor and outdoor running, biking, swimming, jump roping, and gym workouts. In testing, we especially loved the sleep feature that allows the watch to wake you up based on your personal sleep rhythm, ensuring an optimal wake-up time within a 30-minute window of your alarm. It’s a great option for beginners, offering basic and straightforward tracking.
The low-profile watch felt lightweight and comfortable when we strapped it on our wrist. The rubber material is gentle on the arm, without pulling at hair, and its button-free construction avoids any catching. We also love that it charges to full battery within an hour, and the battery life can extend up to 18 days (depending on your activity level).
Potential Flaws
Verywell Fit / Jeffrey Corona
Verywell Fit / Jeffrey Corona
Best for Running
COROS Pace 2
Amazon
View On Amazon
$199
View On REI
$179
View On Coros.com
$199
Our Ratings
Pros
Lightweight
Easy to use
Accurate run tracker
Cons
Data may be overwhelming for some
Key Specs
Metrics Tracked: Heart rate, steps, calories burned, sleep, and more | Battery Life: Up to 20 days | Waterproof: Yes | GPS: Yes, up to 164 feet (5ATM) | Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5
Who It’s For
Best for runners who want a comprehensive overview of running data and a rich array of health metrics
Why We Love It
Whether you’re training for a race or passionate about tracking your runs, Coros’ Pace 2 GPS Sports Watch is your ideal companion. The customizable activity tracking screen provides detailed insights into your runs, including stride length, elevation gain, fastest mile, heart rate, and effort expenditure. Plus, the accurate GPS allows you to plan routes, and the watch and app will help keep you on track.
The data tracking isn’t limited to running, we also used this watch to monitor sleep, recovery, and other workouts. It seamlessly syncs with the Coros app and other third-party fitness apps (like Nike Run Club, Strava, and more) to help you reach your goals. The watch is also incredibly lightweight, so it never interferes with our fitness or daily life.
Potential Flaws
Verywell Fit / Holly Klamer
Best With GPS
Fitbit Charge 5
Amazon
View On Amazon
$129
View On Walmart
$109
View On Fitbit.com
$150
Our Ratings
Pros
Lightweight
Easy to use
Variety of features
Cons
Calories burned seemed high
Required a restart
Key Specs
Metrics Tracked: Heart rate, steps, calories burned, sleep, and more | Battery Life: Up to 7 days | Waterproof: Yes, up to 164 feet (5ATM) | GPS: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.4/5
Who It’s For
Best for runners, hikers, cyclists, and outdoor fitness enthusiasts who want to plan and track routes.
Why We Love It
With integrated GPS, Fitbit’s Charge 5 allows you to track your routes, distance, and pace with unparalleled accuracy—making it an ideal choice for runners, hikers, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts. Tracking all activities proved easy with a simple press of a button. Plus, the watch even automatically detects workouts.
Beyond its advanced GPS capabilities, the device offers basic functionalities like tracking calories burned, sleep scores, heart rate, and much more. It feels super comfy on our wrists, with a lightweight, sweat-resistant band that doesn’t cause chafing. We also appreciate that the device seamlessly connects to your phone via Bluetooth, providing convenient access to text and call notifications. It also leverages features like Find My iPhone and integrates with the Fitbit app for easy stat viewing.
Potential Flaws
Verywell Fit / Michael Navarro
Verywell Fit / Christine Luff
Verywell Fit / Michael Navarro
Best for Sleep
Fitbit Inspire 3 Health & Fitness Tracker
Amazon
View On Amazon
$100
View On Fitbit.com
$100
Pros
Easy to set up and use
Comfortable and lightweight
Good value
Cons
Step count may be overestimated
Key Specs
Metrics Tracked: Heart rate, steps, calories burned, sleep, and more | Battery Life: Up to 10 days | Waterproof: Yes, up to 164 feet (5ATM) | GPS: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.7/5
Who It’s For
Best if you want to improve your sleep and overall health and wellness.
Why We Love It
Fitbit’s Inspire 3 offers a range of helpful features, from activity tracking to monitoring step counts, but what we appreciate most is the sleep data it provides. It accurately tracks each sleep stage, detailing the duration spent in each stage and providing an overall sleep score. The app also allows you to monitor stress levels and daily readiness for exercise.
The setup proved intuitive, requiring just a few clicks. The compatible Fitbit app is also user-friendly. Notably comfortable, the band never caused any pinching, tugging, or rubbing on our wrist during any activity or sleep. We also love that you can customize the band types and colors to suit your style.
Potential Flaws
Verywell Fit / Sarah Felbin
Best With App
Fitbit Sense 2
Amazon
View On Amazon
$250
View On Fitbit.com
$250
View On Best Buy
$250
Pros
Quick to charge and long battery life
Comfortable and lightweight
Extensive tracking capabilities
Cons
Doesn’t connect to many third-party apps
Key Specs
Metrics Tracked: Heart rate, steps, calories burned, sleep, and more | Battery Life: Up to 10 days | Waterproof: Yes, up to 164 feet (5ATM) | GPS: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.3/5
Who It’s For
Best if you want a heart rate monitor watch with smartwatch capabilities.
Why We Love It
Fitbit’s Sense 2 proved incredibly straightforward to set up and use. In addition to its lightweight design and water-resistant features, it offers comprehensive fitness and health tracking capabilities. The watch itself provides a wealth of data, covering fitness tracking, step counts, oxygen saturation, stress notifications, sleep scores, and more. For even more in-depth analysis, the intuitive app delves further into each category.
We were particularly impressed with how quickly it charged to full battery and the extended battery life, setting this watch apart from some competitors. Plus, we love that you can customize both the watch face and band to fit your lifestyle and preferences.
Potential Flaws
Verywell Fit/Lindsey Lanquist
Best for Triathletes
Polar Vantage V2 Smartwatch
Amazon
View On Amazon
$500
View On Polar.com
Our Ratings
Pros
Extensive training and recovery data
GPS guidance
Long battery life
Cons
Feels slightly bulky
Key Specs
Metrics Tracked: Heart rate, steps, calories burned, sleep, and more | Battery Life: Up to 100 hours | Waterproof: Yes, up to 328 feet | GPS: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.6/5
Who It’s For
Best for multisport enthusiasts seeking advanced features, including GPS guidance and personalized recovery data.
Why We Love It
Polar’s Vantage V2 Watch, a smartwatch and training companion in one, offers turn-by-turn guidance for running, biking, or hiking routes. It also provides insightful feedback on training load and recovery both during and after your workouts. We think this device is well worth the investment for serious athletes and fitness enthusiasts because it provides all the data you need for optimal performance and (importantly) recovery after training.
Easy to navigate, surprisingly comfortable, and equipped with extensive data support for workouts, recovery, and overall health, this watch stands out. We found its activity tracking, including run distance, to be precisely accurate. We also love the customizable tracking screen that lets you choose which metrics are most important to you.
Potential Flaws
Verywell Fit / Christine Luff
Verywell Fit / Justin Javier
Verywell Fit / Justin Javier
Best Stylish
Garmin Lily
Garmin
View On Amazon
$200
View On Walmart
$250
View On Garmin.com
Our Ratings
Pros
Comfortable design
Easy to set up and use
Variety of features
Cons
Limited customizability
Key Specs
Metrics Tracked: Heart rate, steps, calories burned, sleep, and more | Battery Life: Up to 5 days | Waterproof: Yes, up to 164 feet (5ATM) | GPS: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.6/5
Who It’s For
Best if you want a sleek, stylish watch to elevate your health and fitness.
Why We Love It
Garmin’s Lily Watch seamlessly blends style and functionality, letting us effortlessly transition from a spin class to brunch without skipping a beat. In testing, the metrics proved spot-on, and we love how many activities there are to choose from. We also enjoyed receiving texts, calls, and calendar reminders right from the watch, so we didn’t need to pause mid-workout.
Setting up and using this device is a breeze. The Garmin Connect app tracks an extensive array of wellness metrics—including sleep, stress, and hydration intake—allowing us to easily view and digest data. Plus, it’s super comfortable to wear (even during sleep) because of its lightweight and streamlined style.
Potential Flaws
Verywell Fit / Lily Moe
Verywell Fit / Lily Moe
Best Battery Life
Withings ScanWatch Hybrid Smartwatch
Amazon
View On Amazon
$310
View On Best Buy
$300
View On Withings.com
Our Ratings
Pros
FSA-eligible
Oximetry and ECG measurements
Easy to set up and use
Cons
Must enter your weight
Key Specs
Metrics Tracked: Heart rate, steps, calories burned, sleep, and more | Battery Life: 30 days | Waterproof: Yes, up to 164 feet (5ATM) | GPS: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.4/5
Who It’s For
Best if you want to monitor helpful health data without the hassle of frequent battery recharging.
Why We Love It
While it looks like a traditional fashion-forward watch, Withings’ ScanWatch offers comprehensive health and fitness data beyond aesthetics. As the first FDA-approved heart rate monitor watch capable of tracking heart rate rhythm (via ECG) and oxygen saturation, it enhances sleep quality by detecting breathing disturbances. We also love using the GPS to track pace, distance, and route during swimming and running sessions.
What’s most impressive, though, is the 30-day battery life—which we found particularly advantageous for sleep tracking since you won’t have to charge your watch overnight. We also love that you can customize the watch with different colored faces and various band styles to fit your individual style and needs.
Potential Flaws
Verywell Fit / Abigail Moore
Verywell Fit / Christine Luff
ECOLOGO
ECOLOGO certified products have reduced environmental impacts at one or more stages of their lifecycle – from raw materials to end of life. ECOLOGO certification indicates that a product has met environmental performance standards, which include criteria in some or all of the following categories: materials, energy, manufacturing and operations, health and environment, product performance and use, and product stewardship and innovation. Products are evaluated on the applicable criteria through testing and auditing.