What is the best fitness tracker besides Fitbit? Top alternatives in 2025
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Fitbit dominated the fitness tracker market for years, but it’s no longer the only game in town. If you’re looking for something better, different, or just not a Fitbit, you’ve got more options than ever-many of them actually outperform Fitbit in key areas like accuracy, battery life, and smart features.
Why look beyond Fitbit?
Fitbit still works fine for basic step counting and sleep tracking. But if you’ve ever noticed your Fitbit missing heart rate spikes during a HIIT session, or draining its battery in two days, you know it’s not perfect. In 2025, other brands have caught up-and in some cases, left Fitbit behind.
Companies like Garmin, Apple, and Samsung now offer trackers with military-grade GPS, clinical-grade heart monitoring, and battery life that lasts weeks, not days. Fitbit’s software feels dated compared to the seamless integration these newer devices offer with smartphones and health apps.
So if you’re ready to upgrade-or just want to explore what’s out there-here are the top five fitness trackers that beat Fitbit in real-world use.
Garmin Venu 3: Best for serious athletes
If you train hard-whether it’s running, cycling, swimming, or lifting weights-the Garmin Venu 3 is the most capable fitness tracker you can buy right now. It doesn’t just count steps. It tracks your training load, recovery time, and even your body battery energy level using advanced metrics from your heart rate variability and sleep data.
Its GPS is accurate to within 1 meter, even under tree cover. It records 30+ sports modes, including trail running, rowing, and yoga with form feedback. The display is bright enough to read in direct sunlight, and the battery lasts up to 14 days on a single charge-far longer than Fitbit’s 5-7 days.
Garmin also gives you detailed insights into your aerobic and anaerobic fitness. If you’ve ever wondered why your runs feel harder even though you’re not slower, the Venu 3 explains it with VO2 max trends and training status alerts. It’s not just a tracker. It’s a coach.
Apple Watch Series 9: Best for iPhone users
Apple Watch Series 9 isn’t just a fitness tracker-it’s your phone, wallet, and health monitor all wrapped into one. If you use an iPhone, this is the most seamless wearable you’ll find. It tracks steps, sleep, and workouts like Fitbit, but adds things Fitbit can’t: ECG readings, blood oxygen monitoring, fall detection, and crash detection that calls emergency services automatically.
The new S9 chip makes everything faster. Siri responds quicker, workouts load instantly, and the always-on display is brighter than ever. The heart rate sensor is clinically validated and has been used in studies by Stanford University to detect atrial fibrillation.
What sets it apart? Integration. Your Apple Watch syncs with Health app, Apple Fitness+, and even your doctor’s records if you use compatible systems. If you care about your long-term health data being centralized and actionable, this is the only tracker that truly connects the dots.
Battery life? Just 18 hours. That’s worse than Fitbit. But if you charge it overnight-and you already charge your phone-it’s not a dealbreaker for most users.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: Best Android alternative
For Android users who want Apple-level features without switching ecosystems, the Galaxy Watch 6 is the top pick. It’s thinner, lighter, and more stylish than Fitbit, with a rotating bezel that makes navigation intuitive.
Its bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) sensor measures body composition-fat mass, skeletal muscle, and water weight-right from your wrist. That’s something Fitbit’s cheaper models still don’t offer. It also tracks sleep stages with high accuracy, including REM and deep sleep, and gives you personalized sleep coaching.
Workout tracking is excellent. It auto-detects activities like walking, running, and cycling. It even reminds you to hydrate after intense sessions based on your heart rate and sweat loss estimates.
Battery lasts 40 hours, which is better than Apple but still behind Garmin. Samsung’s Wear OS is now fast and smooth, with Google apps fully integrated. If you use Google Fit or Samsung Health, this tracker makes sense.
Who should skip these?
Not everyone needs a smartwatch with GPS and ECG. If you just want to know how many steps you took today, or how long you slept, you might be overbuying.
For simple, no-frills tracking, the Amazfit Bip 5 is worth a look. It costs under £50, lasts up to 12 days on a charge, tracks steps, heart rate, and sleep, and even has a built-in GPS. It doesn’t have a touchscreen as smooth as the Apple or Samsung watches, but it gets the basics right without the premium price.
And if you’re on a tight budget and don’t mind a chunkier design, the Fossil Gen 6 still holds up. It runs Wear OS, has good fitness tracking, and looks like a real watch. You’ll pay more than Amazfit, but less than Apple or Garmin.
Key features to compare before buying
Here’s what actually matters when choosing a Fitbit alternative:
- Battery life: Garmin wins (up to 14 days). Apple and Samsung last less than 2 days.
- GPS accuracy: Garmin and Apple lead. Fitbit’s GPS often drifts in cities or forests.
- Heart rate tracking: Apple and Samsung use medical-grade sensors. Fitbit’s is decent but less reliable during high-intensity workouts.
- Body composition: Only Samsung and Apple offer body fat and muscle estimates via BIA.
- Smart features: Apple and Samsung support calls, apps, and payments. Garmin focuses on fitness, not distractions.
- Water resistance: All these models are 5 ATM or better-safe for swimming.
Don’t get fooled by fancy screens or extra colors. Focus on what you’ll actually use daily.
Real user experiences
A runner in Manchester switched from a Fitbit Charge 5 to a Garmin Venu 3 and said: "I finally understand why my pace dropped after two weeks of training. Garmin showed my training load was too high. I adjusted, and my 10K time improved by 45 seconds. Fitbit never told me that."
A nurse in Birmingham uses her Galaxy Watch 6 to track sleep after night shifts. "It showed I was getting 2 hours less deep sleep than I thought. I changed my bedtime routine, and now I feel less drained. Fitbit just told me I slept 7 hours. This tells me why I still feel tired."
These aren’t marketing stories. These are people using the data to change their habits-and that’s what real fitness tracking is about.
Final verdict
There’s no single "best" fitness tracker besides Fitbit-it depends on what you need.
- Choose Garmin Venu 3 if you want the most accurate, long-lasting, data-rich tracker for serious training.
- Choose Apple Watch Series 9 if you’re deep in the iPhone ecosystem and want health monitoring that feels clinical.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 if you use Android and want body composition tracking with a sleek design.
- Choose Amazfit Bip 5 if you want solid basics without paying extra for a smartwatch.
Fitbit still has its place-for casual users who don’t need advanced metrics. But if you’re serious about your health, your next tracker shouldn’t be a Fitbit.
Is Fitbit still worth buying in 2025?
Fitbit is only worth buying if you want a simple, low-cost tracker for basic steps and sleep. Models like the Fitbit Inspire 3 still work fine for that. But if you want accurate heart rate data, GPS for runs, or insights into training load and recovery, Fitbit falls behind Garmin, Apple, and Samsung. It’s not obsolete, but it’s not the best anymore.
Which fitness tracker has the longest battery life?
Garmin leads with up to 14 days on a single charge in smartwatch mode. The Amazfit Bip 5 can last up to 12 days. Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch last about 1-2 days. If you hate charging daily, Garmin is your only real option among premium trackers.
Can fitness trackers detect heart problems?
Yes, but only certain models. Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch can detect irregular heart rhythms and flag possible atrial fibrillation using ECG sensors. These aren’t medical diagnoses, but they’ve prompted users to visit doctors and catch issues early. Fitbit’s sensors can’t do ECG readings, so they can’t detect this condition reliably.
Do I need GPS built into my fitness tracker?
You only need built-in GPS if you run, cycle, or hike without your phone. If you always carry your phone, your tracker can use its GPS instead. But built-in GPS is more accurate and doesn’t drain your phone’s battery. For serious athletes, it’s a must-have.
Are cheaper fitness trackers accurate?
For steps and sleep, yes-brands like Amazfit and Xiaomi are surprisingly accurate. But heart rate tracking during workouts is less reliable on budget models. If you’re training hard or managing a health condition, spend a bit more for better sensors. You get what you pay for.