If you’re looking for a convenient way to track your fitness and health, wearables are a great way to do it. With them, you can document your daily activity to help you achieve your goals and form better habits. Although they are often grouped together, fitness bands and smartwatches have key differences and serve different purposes. Fitness trackers from brands like Fitbit, Amazfit, and WHOOP are focused on recording workouts and measuring key health metrics like heart rate and blood oxygen level.
By design, smartwatches are far more useful than the most advanced fitness bands. They’re meant to act as an extension of your smartphone, providing a convenient way to check notifications and access things like Google Gemini smartwatch features. That said, there is a lot of overlap between the two. Most smartwatches have comprehensive exercise and health features, while many fitness trackers have communication features. Neither is inherently better, meaning the choice between one or the other depends on what you want from your device.
Fitness groups excel at one thing
Fitness bands are ideal if all you want is a convenient way to track your workouts and your health. If you want to minimize distractions, models like WHOOP, Google Fitbit Air, and Amazfit Helio Strap don’t even have a screen. For those on a tight budget, fitness trackers are generally less expensive than smartwatches, with options like Google Fitbit Air and alternatives you can check out for under $100. Even well-reviewed models like the Amazfit Band 7, Samsung Galaxy Fit3, and Xiaomi Smart Band 10 will only cost you around $50. There are budget-friendly smartwatches, but you’ll probably be happier with a $100 fitness tracker than a $100 smartwatch.
There are some things to keep in mind when shopping for a fitness tracker. If you’re considering buying a Fitbit, know that a lot has changed since Google acquired the company in 2021, and not for the better. Fitbit users are not supporting the latest update, replacing the Fitbit app with AI-centric Google Health. Even before that, many believed the brand was in decline, including one Reddit user who said he switched to Garmin after a decade with Fitbit.
Additionally, some fitness tracker brands lock features for a subscription fee. In cases like Fitbit and Garmin, you may not need a paid plan if you only care about the basics, and it may be worth the price for the extra details. However, some are completely useless without a subscription like WHOOP, which starts at $199/year. The first year’s fee includes the device itself, but keep in mind that if you cancel, your fitness tracker will become an expensive wristband.
Smartwatches are versatile, but distracting
Smartwatches have many more features than fitness bands, being able to do most of the things your smartphone can, albeit on a much smaller screen. Options like the Pixel Watch and Apple Watch are a no-brainer if you’re already in this ecosystem, as they’re designed to seamlessly connect to your other devices. Of course, while smartwatches can be great for productivity, they can also be incredibly distracting and aren’t ideal for those who want to focus and switch off during their workouts.
At the same time, many smartwatches come with security features you might not have known existed. The Apple Watch’s heart rate monitor alerts and fall detection have been real lifesavers during health emergencies and accidents, and its Backtrack navigation feature is ideal for hikers. This alone could make a more expensive smartwatch worth it over a fitness band, especially for older adults and those who frequently exercise outdoors.
Plus, because smartwatches do more than track workouts and biometrics, they’re less reliant on subscriptions. You may find the deeper information and workout libraries you get from services like Google Health Premium or Apple Fitness+ useful, but your device won’t lose much of its functionality if you don’t want to add additional monthly or annual fees.
