Best Fitbit Alternatives Reddit 2023

When it comes to fitness and activity trackers, I think it’s the cost of one’s own motivation that is the core issue here. We run, walk, exercise and burn calories, but, on a daily basis, what does that amount to besides a wild heartbeat? A fitness tracker does the job by converting all that panting hard work to some solid-looking numbers. And metrics, I tell you, can be motivating.

It’s good to have that kind of motivation handy. But is it really a luxury or a necessity? Because some of the so-called better trackers such as Fitbit cost a bomb. It would be fine if you were actually an athlete waking at 3 am to start conquering the world, but what if you are (like me, say) a regular health-conscious person looking to stay in shape?

The latest Fitbit models in the market can set you back by more than $200. That sounds like an awful lot; it puts the pressure on me to run like a dog during every free minute!

I say take a step back before you buy. Read on for our list of some humbler, some more stylish, some genuinely affordable and all very useful Fitbit alternatives to consider this year.

Why Get A Fitbit Alternative?

True, you could also just go for one of the cheaper Fitbit models. But even if you put aside the princely sum that you might be willing to shell out, there is one big consideration: what do you need the activity tracker for? Chances are, if you actually sit down and do an honest inventory of your fitness activities, you might realize that you don’t need as many features as the dollars draining away on them.

Moreover, there’s the matter of being a bit alternative yourself. Isn’t everyone just going the Fitbit way? I like to be able to pull off something less obvious, something more Me. And if it doesn’t leave me a pauper in the process, all the better!

Best Fitbit Alternatives Reddit

1. Garmin Vivosmart 4 – Best Fitbit Alternative According To Reddit

I like Garmin’s own track record. There’s something very confidence-inspiring in the fact that this company has been making GPS technology not only for our modest wristwear, but also for mounted panels in ships and aircraft, not to forget sonar fishfinders and dog training collars (yeah, maybe you should consider buying a matching one for your pup too!).

This experience shows in the tiny-tiny Garmin Vivosmart. It’s amongst the smallest activity trackers in the market but packing in loads of pretty much every fitness-centric feature you can think of. And keeping true to its legacy, it also has the surprise bonuses of a direct weather display, and the capacity to help you find your smartphone (provided it’s paired on Bluetooth).

What makes it the perfect choice?

Besides the usual daily step/calorie/route/distance count, Garmin Vivosmart also has a heart rate monitor, exercise tracking, movement identification and a ‘fitness age’ calculator. Itrelays notifications from your phone, and allows you to track your swimming achievements being waterproof. What makes it unique though, is that you can calibrate it (with a brisk walk) for better accuracy.

Who is this for?

For those of you looking for something lightweight and minimalist in design – wearable in the long run – which offers all the features of a robust fitness tracker, this is a great buy that’s more reliable than the cheaper models and yet doesn’t empty the wallet.

The Samsung Galaxy watch Active2 is ideal for tracking your way to success as far as your fitness goals go. It automatically detects up to 6 exercises while tracking up to 39 more, all from your wrist. But it doesn’t stop there, the watch actually helps you rest better by analyzing sleep patterns and encouraging you to wind down to keep you at your best, its’s compatible with a Samsung Smartphone, Non-Samsung Android Smartphone (Android OS 5.0 and above RAM 1.5GB and above), iOS 9.0 and above iPhone 5 and above.

It also helps you be proactive about your heart rate by sending you real-time alerts if it detects a heart rate that’s a bit high or low. Sync it with your phone to stream playlists and receive notifications. It can be worn for a swim, has gorilla glass, and is waterproof and dustproof up to 50m however it is not intended for scuba diving.

Who should buy it?

This product is ideal for you if you’re driven by data. It also makes the perfect companion for someone who wants to pay more attention to their heart and overall health.

3. Apple Watch Ultra – Best Fitbit Alternative For iOS Users

What Reddit Thinks About The Apple Ultra:

u/Fink41 – Full disclosure, the double capacity battery life was one of the biggest selling points for me as soon as I saw the Apple event. The extreme sports features are mostly lost on me, but the rugged build, flat screen and overall aesthetic of the watch hooked me immediately as well. Now that I have it on my wrist, I can tell you that I LOVE this watch as a whole. I’ve only ever had an S3 to compare it to, but it feels so much more premium it’s hard to put it into words.

Another point that hasn’t been talked about as much is the watch face. After two full days, I can also tell you that the exclusive “Wayfinder” watch face is my favorite ever, by a large margin. It has so much information & is beautiful in both regular mode & night mode.

u/Upstairs-Toe2873 – The bright big screen makes texting way easier, raised edges is the best change they’ve made, the materials are fantastic, I’d only mention the battery life as you could honestly use this as a phone replacement.

I used it on a night out for payments, gps, calling, texting and WhatsApp…also maps for a short period too. I also got a full day out of the watch and did a run too, I didn’t have AOD on.

u/Rom2814 – I love just about every element of mine – I love the look SO much more than the curved Apple Watch display, love the battery life (I was wearing my old Apple Watch as a sleep tracker but the battery life is so good on this, I’m now just wearing it at night and charging it for 15 minutes in the morning).

For me, a lot of the features I like are also on the other watches – I was coming from a Series 4, so the improved sleep tracking, blood oxygen, compass, etc. are all new for me as well.

The only thing that I thought I’d like is the always on display – it just is meh to me, because I feel like I’m staring at until the brightness goes up. Maybe I’ll get used to just taking a quick glance while it is still dim, but it weirdly feels more annoying to me than it did waiting for the face to come on.

I’m 6’3” with a large frame so I don’t think it looks big and it doesn’t look like a sport watch to me (compared to the black plastic sort of trackers I mean). I would have zero concerns with wearing this to a business dinner, but I’m in IT and not going to fancy parties. ;)

As some others have said, it’s the first time I felt that spark of love/joy over an Apple project in a long while (maybe my 2018 iPad Pro or my IPhone XS Max).

The Apple Watch needs no introduction. We all know it’s steep (most expensive on our list too!), we know it’s the most stylish thing since Coco Chanel, we all know it’s prime purpose isn’t even fitness tracking (it’s a smart watch capable of a lot more), and yet there’s no removing Apple from anywhere. Let’s just say it’s the kind of thing you might want for reasons besides just the sweat-producing pushups you attempt.

What makes it the perfect choice?

It’s a smart watch, yes, but with the integrated Apple Health App it does end up providing all kinds of tracking of your fitness statistics. What makes the Apple Watch Ultra fun is all the other fitness-related things you can do with it, such as downloading fitness-specific apps better customized to your personal preferences, and the impressive visual report it presents of your daily progress. Best of all: it’s faster with a dual-core processor.

Who is this for?

Someone rich! Kidding. But seriously, for someone who wants the most from a single gadget on their wrist and who cares to make a statement even on their daily run. Oh yes, and for general Apple-holics; the looks don’t disappoint.

Reason to Buy: Price isn’t a problem for you and you want the whole standalone experience with ultimate responsiveness and functionality and hands down the best app support.

Note: You do need a phone to set up the Apple Watch!

Best cellular connectivity: If you want standalone there isn’t any that’s offering better right now.  Apple has been late with a standalone smartwatch but it’s made sure to take its time developing the best standalone smartwatch with the Apple Watch Ultra. The built-in-e-SIM that lets you receive calls and even stream apple music right from your wrist!

Best App Support: If you’re gonna use your smartwatch a lot then you probably will need an app and there’s no other that will come nearly as close to the apple watch ultra with regard to app support. There’s an app for almost anything on play store.

Versatile Look: If you’ll be wearing your smart-watch a lot you’ll probably need to change it looks a lot which is easy with the apple series 5 having a fully customizable digital face and band. Apple’s added a whole arsenal of bands and you have so many more options with a third-party. Also, the explorer makes it super easy to customize the digital face.

Minor Drawbacks with Apple Watch Series Ultra

Low Battery life: Other than being pricey the Apple Ultra doesn’t have the best battery life. In fact, it’s got terrible talk-time of only 1 hour but again it isn’t a replacement for your smartwatch it’s a smart alternative.

Costly to use: You’ll be charged 10$ a month to use the LTE feature on your Apple watch ultra which makes sense as it’s got a separate sim and you’ll be using it to make and receive calls along with browsing the internet.

4. Wahoo TICKR FIT Heart Rate Monitor Armband​

If it’s a proper armband you wanted all this while (and not necessarily a suave smart watch), then you should probably take a closer look at Wahoo TICKR Fit Heart Rate Monitor Armband. It is third-party compatible and can just as easily be connected with your Apple Watch while it goes about gathering and sorting your workout data while tied snugly on your upper or forearm.

What makes it the perfect choice?

Several reasons, though affordability and value for money are high on that list. What makes Wahoo a cool buy is the fact that it really focuses on the nitty-gritties of fitness junkies as opposed to just the looks of a gadget. The sealed body doesn’t let sweat in (the topmost reason for chest straps to conk off), the battery lasts much longer than other trackers in the same price range, and the TICKR FIT has fast become a common favorite for its real-time heart rate monitoring.

Wahoo TICKR FIT is compact and comfy, and comes equipped with Bluetooth and ANT+ technology that let you pair it with other apps, smartphones and GPS bike computers.

Who is this for?

Cyclists would love it, so would just about anyone who cares about comfort while working out. If your focus is on heart rate, this this Wahoo buy is unlikely to disappoint.

5. Garmin Vivofit 4

Another Garmin product on the menu, but this one’s a tried and tested (and very much affordable!) little tracker – an obvious Fitbit alternative in the lower price range. It’ll keep you going for a year, will automatically start activity timer for you, and has more features packed in than any of the previous Vivofit models (including a color display, however small!).

What makes it the perfect choice?

MoveIQ is one useful Garmin feature that I don’t regret having spent on just a few months ago. It automatically detects, classifies and tracks activity, so that you don’t again have to go through the torture of having forgotten to turn the activity timer on or off (the last thing anyone wants after all those laps).

Perhaps the only minus point is that it syncs automatically but ‘periodically’, so for any instant syncing you gotta fish your phone out and do it manually.

Who is this for?

If a budget-friendly, sturdy tracker is what you wish to invest in, then Garmin Vivofit 4 is fab for all it offers. Ideal for those looking for long-haul, 24/7 tracking without the weekly bother of charging batteries; just strap it on and forget about it for a year.

6. Withings Steel HR Hybrid Smartwatch

Withings is essentially Nokia Health, and does what it used to – monitoring your heart rate, sleep tracking, maximizing workouts and showing your progress map through in-built GPS.What’s more, Withings Steel HR Hybrid Smartwatch does all this while still looking like a hybrid between my dad’s and my era’s watches. All metal, showing smartphone notifications and letting you enable Alexa Skill to ask for your progress.

What makes it the perfect choice?

A lovely little screen is a good starting point, but that’s not enough. It’s got the usual automatic run, walk, swim and sleep modes, each with its own features. You monitor your heart rate, get fitness scores and even follow the elevation and pace of your jogs. What makes it perfect though is the long battery life.

Calculating sleep score isn’t a rare feature to come by, but Withings HR Hybrid also comes with Smart wake-up alarm that synchronizes with your sleep cycle and accordingly wakes you at the optimal point.

Who is this for?

Those who crave for a traditional look, minimalistic app interface and special attention to sleep would like this smart watch, but if it’s just a simple fitness tracker you want then this might become a case of overspending.

7. Ticwatch Pro 3 – Cheap Fitbit Alternative

Reason to buy: Now let’s bring a brand that you might have never heard about. Mobvoi is relatively a new company when compared with the remaining options on this list. And guess what? This also happens to be the cheapest option on this list. So is that the only reason that you must purchase it? Read the reasons why we consider this as a good option:

• With TicWatch Pro 3, you get most of the features of Wear OS at the cheapest cost possible.
• Long Battery Life: Dual layers display 2.0 technology keeps Ticwatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS smartwatch going up to 72 hours in Smart Mode and 45 days in Essential mode. The new customizable backlight offers you better visual enjoyment, makes the screen comfortable to read under any conditions, especially in the dark.
• The TicWatch Pro 3 is sturdily built and can be used for swimming where you get stroke analysis and suggestions to improve form!
• Updated Chipset, Better Experience: Wear OS by Google Ticwatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS smartwatch with the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 Platform and Mobvoi Dual Processor System. Deliver faster and smoother performance and connectivity. 1G RAM and 8G ROM Memory. NFC payment supports Google Pay.
• Advanced Health and Fitness Monitoring: TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS keeps track of your real-time fitness and health data. IP68 waterproof and pool swimming suitable, upgraded 100+ professional sports modes, with built-in GPS, speaker and microphone, barometer and sleep tracking, blood Oxygen Saturation, stress Monitoring and 24-hour heart rate monitoring (empowered by a more accurate sensor ). New functions are added including IHB/AFib Detection and Fatigue Assessment etc.
• New Fatigue Assessment: Assess mental fatigue and track your daily energy levels. Note: This feature is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition or for any other medical purpose.
• Upgraded Premium Design, Flagship Model: Stylish and functional design with knurled stainless-steel bezel, 1.4-inch AMOLED Screen (454*454 high-resolution) with auto-adjustable brightness, Corning Gorilla Anti-fingerprint Cover Glass. Dual Display with Customized Colorful Backlight. US Military Standard 810G certified durability. You can customize the information shown on the watchfaces, such as weather/heart rate/steps, and choose the pattern style you like.

Verdict: Best Fitbit Alternative Reddit

Fitbit aside, the market’s now flooded with wearable tech. But provided you know what exactly you wish to use it for this should be an easy-peasy decision. The 7 options above are a good place to start the hunt. You can go cheaper still by spending on, say, a Xiaomi Mi Band 4. That’s just $34 for decent fitness tracking. But otherwise, the ‘perfect’ choice depends on your budget and gadget requirements. My only advice – keep it practical!

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Last update on 2023-06-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API