Which Models Are Worth It?
- Business
ThePostMaster- 0
- 33 minutes read
Fitbit is one of the most approachable names in fitness tracking, and for good reason. The best Fitbits help you move more, sleep better, and stay on top of your health without overwhelming you with the bells and whistles of a full-fledged smartwatch.
I’ve been covering health and fitness for more than a decade, and I recently spent several months testing three of Fitbit’s newest devices to see how they actually perform in everyday life. After all that hands-on time, the Fitbit Charge 6 is my top pick. It’s simple to use and offers robust health and activity-tracking features. If you’re shopping on a tighter budget, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is a strong alternative. It doesn’t have quite as many advanced tools, but for under $100, it covers the essentials and makes a great entry-level option.
At the end of the day, the best Fitbit for you depends on your goals and how much functionality you want on your wrist. For most people, the Charge 6 and Inspire 3 clearly stand out. But if you’re looking for something that feels more like a traditional smartwatch, the Google Pixel Watch 3 earns an honorable mention. It’s not technically a Fitbit, but it uses Fitbit’s tracking technology and layers in more advanced smart features.
Our top picks for the best Fitbit
Best overall: Fitbit Charge 6 – See at Amazon
Best budget: Fitbit Inspire 3 – See at Amazon
Honorable mention: Google Pixel Watch 3 – See at Amazon
Best overall
Fitbit Charge 6
The Charge 6 boasts a more expansive feature set than the budget-friendly Inspire 3, catering to both fitness amateurs and enthusiasts. While it’s a pricier option, it’s still an amazing value for such a capable fitness tracker.
Whether you want to increase your daily step count, track your sleep, or set a regular running routine, the Fitbit Charge 6 is the best Fitbit for most people looking to improve their fitness.
I tested the Charge 6 for several weeks across various activities, including workouts, sleep, long days at my desk, and travel. I found it really hits the sweet spot between comfort, accuracy, and features — all at a relatively affordable $160 price point.
The Charge 6 is impressively accurate in measuring heart rate, sleep stages, and step counts, rivaling more expensive wearables from Apple and Garmin. In fact, this model has the most accurate heart rate tracking across Fitbit’s lineup, especially during fast-paced interval training. Fitbit’s signature features — such as Zone Minutes, movement reminders, and A+ sleep tracking — work precisely as intended and genuinely help build healthier habits.
Rachael Schultz/Business Insider
You also get over 40 workout modes, an ECG app for tracking irregular heart rhythms, and on-wrist stress detection via EDA scans. The Fitbit app offers more in-depth information about your daily activity, sleep patterns, and overall health. However, you need a Premium subscription ($10/month) to access advanced sleep metrics and coaching.
Design-wise, the Charge 6 is slim and comfortable enough to wear 24/7. Its AMOLED display is easy to read, but it is small, which limits the amount of data you can view at once. As such, this tracker isn’t ideal if you’re training for a race and need to easily switch between different metrics (for race training, I recommend the Garmin Forerunner 265). Another downside is the device’s built-in GPS, which I found to be unreliable until I switched to dynamic GPS paired with my phone.
Battery life is strong, lasting around six to seven days on a single charge. However, it’s worth noting that some people report that their Charge 6 drops to a single-day charge after about a year. (A recent firmware update may fix this.)
As a “smart-ish” device, the Charge 6 offers basic smart features, including Google Maps, Google Wallet, and call and text notifications. But it’s definitely a tracker first, smartwatch second, as these features feel like little extras rather than core strengths. This model is really geared toward users who want a discreet, accurate, and approachable fitness tracker rather than a full smartwatch. In that context, the Fitbit Charge 6 is the Goldilocks of Fitbits, offering the best choice for most people seeking to enhance their health and fitness.
Read our full Fitbit Charge 6 review.
Best budget
Fitbit Inspire 3
The Inspire 3 may be one of Fitbit’s most basic watches, but it still packs a powerful fitness-tracking punch with tons of trackable activities, advanced health features like skin temperature sensing, and a comfortable, lightweight design.
If you’re starting a health or fitness routine and want a simple, no-fuss tracker for under $100, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is the best Fitbit for you.
This is the most comfortable and lightweight wearable I’ve tested. It’s so unobtrusive that I often forget I’m wearing it. It delivers the core metrics you need: steps, heart rate, sleep stages, and active minutes. It auto-detects most basic activities (better than pricier Fitbit models, in fact), so even short walks and bike rides are logged accurately without you having to press a button. It also features Fitbit’s signature Reminder to Move, which vibrates your device and prompts you to get up and walk around if you haven’t taken at least 250 steps in this hour.
Rachael Schultz/Business Insider
For its price, the Inspire 3 also packs thoughtful features, such as daily stress management scores, heart rate zone tracking, and one of the most gentle smart alarms I’ve used — a vibrating wrist alarm that wakes you up when it’s most optimal for your sleep cycle.
Though the screen is small, the vibrant AMOLED display clearly shows you one workout metric at a time (e.g., time elapsed, distance, pace). The device also offers Fitbit’s stand-out sleep tracking, but you need to pay for Fitbit Premium to unlock deeper analytics.
Of course, given that this is Fitbit’s budget model, some features are missing. The Inspire 3 lacks built-in GPS, music control, or in-depth training tools. Notifications are hard to read on the small screen, and the tracker lags slightly during high-intensity intervals (one area where the Charge 6 excels). But given the Inspire 3’s budget-friendly price, these shortcomings are easy to forgive.
In a sea of tricked-out fitness trackers, the Inspire 3 strips away the extras and offers you a tracker that focuses on the basics with a price tag to match. It’ll help you move more throughout the day, make sure you’re hitting your target time or heart rate during workouts, and sleep a bit better at night — all in a device that’s easy to wear and even easier to use.
Read our full Fitbit Inspire 3 review.
Visit our guide to the best fitness trackers.
Honorable mention
Google Pixel Watch 3
The Google Pixel Watch 3 offers robust fitness tracking benefits, including Fitbit Morning Brief, advanced running features, and a target cardio load. The bezel is quite thick, but given that most apps run on a black background, it’s really not that noticeable.
Although not technically a Fitbit-branded device, the Google Pixel Watch 3 is powered by Fitbit’s technology, and it’s such a good wearable that it warrants a mention in this guide. For Android users who want smart features and Fitbit health data, the Pixel Watch 3 is worth the price tag and a better buy than Fitbit’s own smartwatch models, such as the Versa 4.
Utilizing Fitbit’s top-tier heart rate sensors and tracking software, the Google Pixel 3 logs basic data, such as steps, calories, and distance, as well as advanced metrics, including cardio load, workout fatigue, and loss-of-pulse alerts. All your workout and sleep data syncs with the Fitbit app, a significant perk for longtime users, as the algorithm becomes smarter with more historical data. That said, Pixel Watch owners still need to pay for Fitbit Premium to access the app’s more advanced sleep metrics and features, such as a personalized workout builder.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
Fitness aside, the Pixel Watch 3 is a fully featured smartwatch, offering LTE connectivity with an onboard microphone and speaker that let you make calls, set reminders, and respond to texts. You’ll get better app integration and smart features than any Fitbit device, even the Versa. However, the tradeoff is battery life, as the Pixel Watch 3 requires charging every 24 to 36 hours. It’s also Android-only, so iPhone users are out of luck.
Buyers should note that Google launched a new Pixel Watch 4 in October 2025. The new model has a brighter screen that uses a dome shape to provide a larger viewing area. Google says the Pixel Watch 4 also offers longer battery life, with up to 40 hours of use. The LTE model also has emergency satellite communication. If those features sound interesting, you may want to grab the newer model, but keep in mind that it costs around $50 to $150 more than the Pixel Watch 3 typically sells for.
What else we considered
Rick Stella/Insider
Fitbit Versa 4 – See at Amazon
Fitbit’s main smartwatch, the Versa 4, is fully equipped with the brand’s foundational health and fitness technology, including reliable heart rate tracking, in-depth sleep insights, and over 40 activity modes. But it falls short as a true smartwatch: The touchscreen lags, and it has limited app support and smart features (especially for iPhone users), making it feel behind the competition. The Google Pixel Watch 3, which uses Fitbit’s fitness technology, is a better choice for Android users seeking a smartwatch, while iPhone users may be happier with a Garmin or an Apple Watch.
Read our full Fitbit Versa 4 review.
Fitbit Sense 2 – See at Amazon
The Sense 2 offers everything the Versa 4 does, plus an ECG app for detecting heart rhythm irregularities and an EDA sensor for continuous stress monitoring. If heart health and stress tracking are top priorities, it’s a strong choice. However, for most people, the Fitbit Charge 6 offers a better value for basic fitness and health tracking. You can also find more advanced apps and communication features in a smartwatch from Apple, Garmin, or Google at this price.
Read our full Fitbit Sense 2 review.
How we test Fitbits
Rachael Schultz/Business Insider
As a health and fitness writer for over a decade, I’ve worn numerous Fitbits across various generations while training for half-marathons, sweating in HIIT classes, and commuting to and from office jobs. For this guide, I tested three leading Fitbit models — the Versa 4, Charge 6, and Inspire 3 — over the course of three months, wearing each 24/7 to see how they handled workouts, daily movement, periods of inactivity, sleep, and showering.
When picking the best Fitbit for different types of people, I prioritized:
- Sensor quality and accuracy (heart rate, GPS, SpO2, ECG, EDA)
- Battery life during real-world use
- Design, comfort, and durability for everyday and sleep use
- Companion app quality for interpreting health data
- Platform compatibility across Android and iOS
I also considered which models offer the most features without requiring Fitbit Premium — although many models unlock deeper insights with a subscription.
Why Fitbit?
Rachael Schultz/Business Insider
In the vast sea of fitness trackers available, Fitbit stands out from its competitors for several reasons.
First and foremost, it has one of the best continuous heart rate trackers on the market, especially for interval training. An accurate heart rate monitor means that other areas relying on this technology — namely, sleep and stress tracking — are also highly accurate.
Secondly, Fitbit has two stand-out features across all its models, which I found to be very helpful in training and moving more:
- Active Zone Minutes track the time you spend in elevated heart rate zones, helping you gauge whether your workout is actually improving cardio fitness or burning fat. Instead of focusing on time or distance, you can use this feature to keep your heart rate in the right range without needing to know exact numbers, for a more effective, goal-driven workout.
- Reminders to Move gently nudge you to get up and take at least 250 steps each hour to reduce sedentary time throughout the day. Rather than solely focusing on reaching, say, 10,000 steps per day, this feature encourages you to move regularly and often to keep blood flowing.
The best Fitbit devices also offer solid, multi-day battery life, seamless compatibility with both iOS and Android, and access to Fitbit’s well-established app, which stores all your data — years’ worth, for brand loyalists — in one place. Lastly, many Fitbits are relatively affordable compared to competitors like an Apple Watch or a Garmin.
Fitbit FAQs
Shannon Ullman/Business Insider
Are Fitbits worth it?
The best Fitbit wearables feature reliable heart rate technology, are well-designed to be compact yet readable, and are generally well-priced compared to other fitness trackers. Furthermore, the free Fitbit companion app provides significant value to individuals seeking guidance on enhancing their workouts, sleep, and stress management, although the Premium subscription offers even greater benefits.
There are other brands with longer battery life, better GPS tracking, and potentially more robust smartwatch features. But if you want a reliable health and fitness tracker without spending a fortune, Fitbits are definitely worth it.
For other top picks in the wearable tracker space, check out our guides to the best Android smartwatches, best smart rings, and best Garmin watches.
Will there be new 2026 Fitbit models?
Based on comments the company made in 2024, Google does not plan to release new Fitbit Versa or Sense models. However, new Charge and Inspire models are a possibility, though nothing concrete has been announced.
What is Fitbit Premium?
Fitbit Premium is the company’s optional monthly membership. You can use the Fitbit app for free to view core stats, including steps, sleep scores, period tracking, activity history, and your Daily Readiness Score. However, for $10 a month, Fitbit Premium unlocks more in-depth health and fitness tools, including advanced sleep insights (such as detailed sleep-stage breakdowns), nutrition guidance, and full access to Fitbit’s workout and mindfulness libraries.
The subscription also includes guided meditations, exclusive video workouts, expanded goal-setting features, and additional wellness metrics, such as blood oxygen, heart rate variability, and breathing rate.
You don’t need Fitbit Premium to use a Fitbit device, but it does add a meaningful boost to the overall experience across the lineup.
Is the Fitbit app getting a new AI coach?
During its August 2025 Pixel product launch, Google announced plans to bring a new AI-powered personal health coach to the Fitbit app. The new feature is part of a larger redesign of the entire app, and it is now available as a preview to Fitbit Premium subscribers. You can sign up to access the preview on the Google website.
The Fitbit personal health coach is built using Google’s Gemini AI. The company says it can create fitness plans tailored to your specific goals, featuring training routines, sleep insights, and wellness suggestions. The AI coach will learn more about your needs by tracking your fitness data and your ongoing conversations within the app.
Is a Fitbit better than an Apple Watch?
The best Apple Watch models are more powerful and feature-rich than Fitbits, but if you don’t need a big app ecosystem, a Fitbit will get the job done. Both platforms offer robust tracking for activities such as running, cycling, and weightlifting, and each features a clean, easy-to-use interface.
While the Apple Watch now delivers extensive fitness and activity tracking, it still leans more toward the smartwatch side — similar to Fitbit’s Versa line, just more advanced. If you prefer straightforward fitness tracking without the extra bells and whistles, a simpler option like the Fitbit Charge 6 is likely a better fit.
Will a Fitbit work with an iPhone or Apple Health?
Fitbits are compatible with any iPhone running iOS 16.4 or later, which is the minimum requirement for the Fitbit app. You can learn more about compatibility on the Fitbit website.
While a Fitbit can’t directly sync with the Apple Health app, it is possible to use third-party apps, such as Strava, as a go-between to transfer data indirectly from a Fitbit to the Apple Health app.
What’s the battery life like on a Fitbit?
The latest Fitbit models offer battery life ranging from four to 10 days, with an average of six days. In our experience, the Sense 2 lasts an average of six days on a single charge, while the Inspire 3 lasts up to 10 days, for instance.
While top Garmin watches generally have a longer battery life, most Fitbits last long enough that you won’t have to worry about charging them every night.
How accurate are Fitbits for tracking steps, heart rate, and sleep?
Fitbits are generally very accurate in tracking steps, heart rate, and sleep. As one of the original fitness-tracking brands, Fitbit has spent nearly two decades refining its sensors and algorithms. Garmin still has an edge in on-wrist GPS accuracy — especially for tracking precise mileage on runs — but for everyday metrics like step count and heart rate, most modern fitness trackers, including Fitbit, perform similarly well.
Which Fitbit is best for beginners
The best Fitbit for beginners is the Inspire 3. It offers all the basics you’ll want to kick-start your health journey — step count, sleep quality, automatic workout detection — without any of the superfluous data to overcomplicate things, and all for $100 or less. If you pay for a Fitbit Premium membership, you’ll also get coaching to improve your workouts or reduce stress.
