Whether you want to monitor your heart rate for medical reasons or just tracking your stamina for a race, a fitness tracker with a heart rate monitor becomes handy.
With such a device, you can measure your step count, monitor your heart rate, and even receive all the notifications from your smartphone simultaneously.
Your phone is not going to bother you during your training. No more breaks right in the middle of your workout when suddenly your phone rings, and with the tracker, you won’t have to miss a thing either.
To help you choose a fitness tracker cut out for you, we will review the top 10 best fitness trackers featuring a heart rate monitor.
Table of Contents
What is a fitness tracker, and what are its benefits?
A fitness tracker is a device equipped with a facility to track all your activities (including your heart rate) throughout the day. It can differentiate workouts and measure calorie counts accordingly.
It is a great utility for those who indulge in workout and outdoor activities and want to track their fitness.
Having a fitness tracker on your wrist has plenty of benefits.
Besides telling you your daily step count and the number of calories burnt, it can monitor your heart rate 24/7. You’ll get to know the distance covered, hourly activity, swim tracking, floors climbed, and active minutes.
You can connect it with your smartphone and get all the notifications from your phone on it, ranging from alarms and reminders to social media messages and alerts.
Top 10 Best Fitness Tracker (with HRM) Currently on the Market for 2021
Fitbit Versa 2
Fitbit is the leading brand in fitness trackers because its products are not only feature-friendly but also affordable. Light on the wallet and true on performance, these fitness trackers truly deliver what they claim. Versa 2 by Fitbit is a real example of that.
This fitness tracker is essentially a smartwatch that comes with a heart rate monitor. Apart from tracking your heart rate, it can measure your sleep pattern. The fitness tracker also can track the numbers associated with various activities, including swimming.
Moreover, it comes with an inbuilt Amazon Alexa. You can use it with your smart home hub.
The usage and readability of this fitness tracker are great. The watch can continue to monitor your heart rate during your sleep. It can provide you with data on your entire day’s activity. You can also control your Spotify app and store more than 300 songs on it.
It also has a good battery life and can last for up to 6 days per charge. But the timing will vary according to the usage.
Besides all that, you can also get all the notifications and alerts from your phone. You can send quick voice and text replies as well with this trusty sidekick of yours.
That’s not all… Now you can pay for purchases using the Fitbit pay.
Sleep tracking.
Swim and another activity tracking.
Spotify app control.
Larger display.
Heart rate tracking 24/7.
Best place to buy
Fitbit Charge 3
If you need a simple fitness tracker with a heart rate monitor, Charge 3 is the way to go. It understands your resting heart rate and differentiates it properly when you are in an activity. 24/7 tracking is there, and even with that, it provides you with a battery life of more than seven days.
Another excellent feature of this fitness tracker is that you can fully charge it within 2 hours. There are more than 15 exercise modes in this tracker. These include biking, running, swimming circuit training, yoga, and others.
You can conveniently set a goal and get your real-time stats during your activity. The tracker is fully resistant to water for up to 50 minutes. Now you can jump into your pool with it or use it in your shower too. But don’t wear it in a sauna or a hot tub.
Your pack will include a small as well as a large band. It also features Bluetooth 4.0 and can conveniently connect from a distance of 6 meters.
Available in different colours.
Full day activity tracking.
Breathable straps.
Easy to use.
Good connectivity range.
Best place to buy
Apple Watch Series 4
Want to get the best and accurate fitness data tracker? Count on Apple Watch Series 4? This watch is all about quality and checks every box regarding cutting-edge features and long-lasting performance.
It will track all the activities of your entire day. The strap of this watch is highly breathable, and you can wear it continuously without any rashes or irritations.
You can choose the watch between two different dial sizes, including 44 mm and 40 mm.
This smartwatch features both optical and electrical sensors to gather heart rate data. There is a designated ECG app that works with this watch too. Your data will automatically sync with your iPhone for better results.
The sleek design with lightweight construction allows you to wear it comfortably throughout the day.
Furthermore, you can use it as your walkie-talkie and use it to send and receive messages and calls. Use it to play music and podcasts. There is so much that this fitness tracker with a heart rate monitor can do for you.
As far as the battery timing is concerned, it isn’t bad either. You can use it for up to 18 hours on a single charge.
Comfortable to wear all day.
Connectivity through a mobile network, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
Louder music.
Water and swim proof.
Best place to buy
Garmin Forerunner 735XT
How we can forget Garmin when it comes to fitness trackers. Garmin Forerunner 735 XT is a fine quality smartwatch that is built to stand the test of time.
Using this watch is very simple. It is a true GPS watch designed for activities and tracking your heart rate. It will continue to monitor your heart rate throughout the day and during your sleep.
Want to become a better athlete by beating yesterday’s data? Wondering how?
Put the 735 XT Forerunner on your wrist and start analysing data every day so you can beat the records. With its running dynamics data, you can get insights such as vertical ratio and stride length.
This watch can work as a fitness tracker and estimates your all-day activity, including steps, intensity minutes, and calories. Furthermore, it will also remind you when you need to move.
The fitness tracker can automatically upload all your information to Garmin Connect, an online fitness community.
You can join different challenges and also receive insights and, of course, share your progress. It will enable you to keep up with your goals effectively. It is available in four different colours, and you can pick one according to your preferences.
GPS routing available.
Secure connectivity with your smartphone.
Garmin Connect data management and socialisation network.
All-day tracking.
Up to 11 days of battery life on watch mode.
Best place to buy
Fitbit Inspire
The Inspire fitness heart rate monitor can track 24/7. You will get more accurate numbers on your activity tracking and your calorie count during the activity. You can track everything you do in an entire day, including steps, distance, calories burnt, hourly activity, and active minutes.
It can also track sleep for you, and with the heart rate monitor, you can also get your sleep data in great detail. It can tell you how deep you are sleeping and provide you with information on your different sleep stages.
You can enjoy a battery life of five full days per charge, and it can also track various activities with its smart tracking features. With Bluetooth 4.0, its connectivity range is up to 6 meters. It means that it can comfortably connect with different iOS, Android, and Windows 10 devices.
That’s not all! You can also connect this fitness tracker with your phone’s GPS, and it will provide you with a map of your route in the Fitbit app. It can track anything that you tell it to. You can use it for swimming because it can easily resist water up to 50 meters.
Heart rate tracking 24/7.
15+ exercise modes.
GPS tracking.
50m water-resistant.
Best place to buy
Fitbit Alta
The Alta fitness tracker by Fitbit is a good choice for people who want their bands to be slim. It is available in 2 different sizes, and you track your heart rate 24/7 with it. The tracker can also provide you with data on the peak, cardio, and fat burn with your heart rate.
Therefore, you get the chance to pick the right kind of activity and the space that would be best suited for your goals. You can also compare your resting heart rate with your activity numbers and assess the number to improve your health.
It also tracks your sleep with its PurePulse feature. You will get all the data based on your sleep patterns at various stages. The fitness tracker can last for more than seven days per charge, but the discharge depends upon how you use your tracker.
Setup and usage are pretty straight forward, but if you don’t have any experience with these devices, you should consult the owner’s manual.
The only downside of this tracker is that you cannot use it underwater.
Two different sizes are available.
Seven days of battery life.
Measures different sleep stages.
Features different use zones.
Best place to buy
Garmin Vivosmart 4
Another watch from Garmin that is built to last! This fitness tracker features a heart rate monitor and can track your entire day activity. It is available in five different colours and has a very slim design.
These watches have elegant metal accents, and the display is effortless to read. With advanced sleep monitoring, it can easily measure different stages of your sleep.
With its Pulse Ox feature, the fitness tracker can also track blood oxygen levels throughout the day. The fitness tracker also has a good battery life that can last for more than seven days, depending upon how you use it.
You can conveniently connect it with your phone’s GPS and can accurately track all your runs and walks with ease. It can fit wrists of different sizes and has a strap that will not irritate your skin with long time use.
The fitness tracker can also track your stress levels throughout the day. If you are pursuing simplicity, there is no better option than the Vivosmart 4 by Garmin.
Blood oxygen measuring with Pulse Ox.
Connects with your smartphone and gives alerts.
Connects with your phone’s GPS for routing.
Best place to buy
Polar A370
The A370 Polar fitness tracker comes in two different sizes. It can continuously monitor heart rate and can distinguish your pulse during different activities throughout the day.
The tracker also comes with an assisted GPS so that you can connect your smartphone’s GPS with it. You can track your route, speed, and distance and get all the notifications from those incoming texts and calls. It can also notify you regarding your calendar appointments and social media apps.
The fitness tracker is accurate in its measurements of your sleep data as well as your heart rate. You can work on your activity level accordingly and maintain proper health. With the Polar app, you can also save all your data and compare it with others in your social circle.
It comes with decent battery timing. However, it doesn’t have water resistivity, so you can’t use it while swimming or during a shower. Still, it can help you in achieving a variety of other tasks as well.
And it is straightforward to connect and operate. Apart from that, you can also alter the wristbands whenever you want without any trouble.
Sleep tracking.
GPS routing
Workout feedback and guidance.
Swappable wristbands.
Smart notifications.
Best place to buy
MorePro E-CG
MorePro is a good budget-friendly option for you to try out if you are new to your activity. It will get you going with your new lifestyle with its new and simple to use features. This tiny device might be light on your budget, but it is fully packed with features.
It comes with a blood pressure monitor as well as an enhanced sleep monitor. It seamlessly connects with iOS and Android devices and is available in three different colours. It will adapt to your daily routine and will provide you with all your heart data by continuously measuring it throughout the day.
You can conveniently monitor how well you sleep daily and the cardiac load during your resting times. You can maintain all your data and compare the past readings as well as using the WoFit app.
The battery of this wristband can last for up to 7 days with normal usage. With peak usage, it can still last for about two days.
It is equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 technology and can run comfortably with all iOS 8.0 or later and Android 4.4 and later devices. The display is evident to read, and you can comfortably go through it at a glance during your activity.
Continuous monitoring.
Monitoring different sleep stages.
7-day battery life.
Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.
IP68 water resistivity.
Best place to buy
HalfSun Activity Tracker
Last on our list, but not least. Wondering why we have included Halsfun among the top brands?
This device comes with an inbuilt blood pressure monitor, a calorie counter, and a pedometer. Moreover, it can record all your day’s activity using different metrics.
It can measure your calories burnt; distance covered, steps taken, and sleep quality, and active minutes. The tracker can also measure your heart rate and your blood pressure at the same time. It also features various activity modes to make sure that all the readings and numbers are accurate.
But it would be best if you kept in mind that you connect this device using your H Band, not Bluetooth. The sync will remain progressive this way. You won’t have to deal with any frequent disconnections along the way.
The design of this tracker is very ergonomic and has a large colour screen. You will experience an apparent and pleasant full-screen experience with this tracker on your wrist.
Additionally, you can save all your data on cloud servers and use it later for various purposes. It is straightforward to use and won’t cause you any trouble during the operation as well. The battery time is excellent. It can go without charging for up to 15 days.
Heart rate as well as blood pressure monitor.
Continuous sleep tracking.
Ergonomic construction.
Long battery life.
Best place to buy
Types of Fitness Tracker – Which Type is Right for You?
1) Smartwatch vs Fitness Tracker
There are different types of fitness trackers available on the market. You can find smartwatches, and you can also opt for fitness trackers. The difference seems to be diminishing between these two categories because more and more models are coming with overlapping features.
A fitness tracker is an activity or sport-specific wristband, while a smartwatch is essentially your phone on your wrist.
2) Is Heart Rate Monitoring Necessary?
If you are looking for a good quality heart rate monitor, then a fitness tracker will be a good choice for limited budgets. Smartwatches will cost you more for this feature but will have plenty of others too.
The quality of the numbers depends upon the quality of the product. And don’t expect to get 100% accurate results all the time.
3) Sport Specific
For an individual who is sport-specific, a fitness tracker is a good choice. If you don’t need any other features, you shouldn’t invest in them at all. There is no point in having your phone in your pocket and wearing a smartwatch at the same time.
But if you need to know who is calling during your workouts or stay in touch with others, you might need to invest in a smartwatch.
What to Consider BeforeBuying a Fitness Tracker?
Here are some essential things that you need to keep in mind when buying the best fitness tracker that meets all your needs and requirements.
1) Where to Start
Of course, if you are looking for a heart rate monitor as a must-have feature, then you need to look for a device that comes with it. If you have invested in a band that doesn’t have this feature, then there is no point in buying it if heart rate monitoring is your top priority.
2) Choose your style
By style here, we mean those types. If you are looking for a band that purely tells you about calories burnt, step counts, heart rate, and nothing else, then you need to go for a fitness tracker. It is your budget-friendly option, as well.
You will get those smartphone connectivity features too. But if budget is not your concern, then go for a smartwatch that will allow you to do tons of other stuff as well, just like your smartphone.
3) Design
It is entirely up to you what kind of design you prefer. Maybe you prefer to go for those sleek designs where your fitness tracker looks like a band. Maybe you prefer a tracker that looks more like a watch than anything else. Just go for a strap that keeps the airflow at best and doesn’t irritate your skin.
4) Physical activity
It would help if you also made your choice of what types of trackers you need based on the activity that you will be tracking. For example, if you need a tracker to track your swim activity, then the features need to be there, and it must also be water-resistant.
5) Wellness Features
It is important. After all, you track your activity or heart rate or sleep because you want to stay healthy.
If a device cannot assess all this data and provide you with feedback, you are merely playing with numbers. So wellness features will allow you to be stricter on your goals.
6) Compatibility
This one is pretty simple as you need to make your choice based on your phone’s operating system. If you have an android phone, you need to go for a tracker that is compatible with this operating system, and similar is the case with Apple’s iOS.
Some fitness trackers come with multiple compatibility features, and they work with iOS and Android and Windows.
7) Battery life
Fitness trackers are far better in terms of battery life as compared to smartwatches. Based on normal usages, you won’t have to charge your fitness tracker for five days, at least.
But you will have to charge your smartwatch daily, just like your phone. Smartwatches also take a lot longer for their full charge as compared to fitness trackers.
Our Verdict
So the winner of this roundup of the best fitness tracker with a heart rate monitor is the Fitbit Versa 2. It is a great wristband that features a high-quality heart rate monitor that can give you very accurate and consistent results.
Moreover, it is equipped with a wide range of other features when connecting it with your smartphone. It is compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
So which one of these fitness trackers have you decided to choose as your workout sidekick? Do you have any recommendations or suggestions for us? Leave your comments below!
Stay fit, stay fab!
*Last updated – April 2021