Key takeaways
- Cheapest pick worth buying: Amazfit Bip 6 ($69 – $89).
- Budget bands track steps, heart rate and sleep well enough for most people.
- Bands last a week or more per charge, much longer than full smartwatches.
In this article
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
On a budget? Here are the best-value fitness trackers in the US, starting with the cheapest model we rate, with typical prices and our verdict on each.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price.
Budget picks at a glance
| Product | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazfit Bip 6 | Buy | 8.2/10 | $69 – $89 |
| Fitbit Charge 6 | Buy | 8.6/10 | $99 – $159 |
| Garmin vívosmart 5 | Consider | 7.5/10 | $99 – $149 |
Budget picks in detail
Amazfit Bip 6
Budget pick · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.2/10 · Typical price: $69 – $89
Why we like it: Big screen and long battery for under $90.
Pros: Very low price · Large AMOLED display · Long battery life
Cons: App is less polished than Fitbit or Garmin · Limited third-party apps
Buy it if you want a large AMOLED screen, GPS and two weeks of battery for less than a basic band.
Skip it if you want polished software or contactless payments that work everywhere.
Fitbit Charge 6
Most people · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.6/10 · Typical price: $99 – $159
Why we like it: Accurate tracking with built-in GPS in a slim band.
Pros: Built-in GPS · Comfortable for sleep tracking · Up to 7 days of battery · Google Wallet and YouTube Music controls
Cons: Some insights need Fitbit Premium · Small screen
Buy it if you want a slim band that tracks steps, heart rate, sleep and runs with built-in GPS, on iPhone or Android.
Skip it if you want a big screen, apps or deeper training data than Fitbit offers.
Garmin vívosmart 5
Garmin fans who want a band · Verdict: Consider · Score: 7.5/10 · Typical price: $99 – $149
Why we like it: Garmin health data in a slim band.
Pros: Garmin Connect app with no subscription · Body Battery and stress tracking · About a week of battery
Cons: No built-in GPS · Small monochrome screen
Buy it if you prefer Garmin's app and want a slim band for health tracking and steps.
Skip it if you want built-in GPS for runs; the vívosmart uses your phone's GPS.
How to save money
Budget bands track steps, heart rate and sleep well enough for most people.
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.
Where not to cut corners
Bands last a week or more per charge, much longer than full smartwatches.
Common mistake: Treating sleep and calorie numbers as exact; they are best used for trends.
Compare more options
Search fitness trackers on Amazon See top-rated fitness trackers on Amazon
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What are the best cheap fitness trackers in the US?
The cheapest model we would still buy is Amazfit Bip 6, typically $69 – $89.
Are cheap fitness trackers worth it?
Budget bands track steps, heart rate and sleep well enough for most people. Do not compromise on the basics, though. Bands last a week or more per charge, much longer than full smartwatches.
When are fitness trackers cheapest in the US?
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.