“Fitness tracker” now covers three different things: a band on your wrist, a ring on your finger, and a low-cost GPS watch. They differ less in what they measure than in three practical ways: whether there is a screen, how often you charge, and whether you keep paying after you buy. This comparison puts the current models side by side on those points, with the cost of two years of ownership worked out for each.

How this comparison is compiled. Every figure comes from the manufacturer’s own product page, specification page, support article or press release, checked on 11 October 2026. Prices are US list prices. Battery figures are the makers’ claims under their own conditions. We have not lab-tested these devices, and nothing here is a measured result. Where a maker does not publish a figure, the table says so instead of guessing.

Fitness tracker comparison: current models, October 2026

What two years actually costs

The price on the box is the wrong number to compare, because three of these brands charge a membership. This table adds 24 months of the membership to the purchase price, at the makers’ current US rates and ignoring free trial months.

Two things stand out. A $99.99 Fitbit Air with Premium costs more over two years than a Galaxy Ring with none. And WHOOP, which has no purchase price, is cheaper over two years than an Oura Ring 5 unless you choose the top WHOOP tier.

Bands

Google Fitbit Air: the cheapest way in

Google announced the Fitbit Air on 7 May 2026 at $99.99. It has no screen: you read everything in the Google Health app. It weighs 5.2 grams without the band (12 grams with it), lasts up to 7 days, charges fully in 90 minutes, and is water resistant to 50 meters. It tracks heart rate, blood oxygen and skin temperature variation. It has no GPS of its own and uses your phone’s. It works with Android 11 and iOS 16.4 or newer.

Choose it if you want sleep and activity data without a screen on your wrist. Skip it if you want to see pace or heart rate during a workout without taking out your phone.

Check Fitbit Air prices on Amazon

Fitbit Charge 6: a band with a screen and its own GPS

The Charge 6 dates from autumn 2023 and is still the current Charge: Google sells it at $159.95, and its store lists no Charge 7. It has an AMOLED display, built-in GPS and GLONASS, sensors for the ECG app, blood oxygen and skin temperature variation, up to 7 days of battery and a two-hour full charge. It is water resistant to 50 meters. The subscription is now called Google Health Premium and is optional.

Choose it if you want a slim band that can record a run on its own. Skip it if the age of the hardware bothers you; it is three years old.

Check Fitbit Charge 6 prices on Amazon

WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP MG: membership, not a purchase

WHOOP does not sell its band on its own. You pay for a 12-month membership and the device comes with it. There are three tiers:

• One, $199 a year: WHOOP 5.0 with a wired charger. Sleep, strain and recovery scores, VO2 max and heart rate zones.
• Peak, $239 a year: WHOOP 5.0 with a wireless battery pack. Adds Healthspan and Pace of Aging, a health monitor with alerts, and a real-time stress monitor.
• Life, $359 a year: WHOOP MG. Adds ECG readings with on-demand AFib detection and blood pressure insights. WHOOP says the ECG feature is not for users under 22 and that blood pressure insights are for wellness, not a medical device.

WHOOP claims 14 days or more of battery on both devices. Choose it if recovery and training load are what you want and you would rather not have a screen. Skip it if you dislike paying every year; when the membership stops, so does the service.

Check WHOOP prices on Amazon

Rings

Oura Ring 5

Oura introduced the Ring 5 on 28 May 2026. It costs $399 in Silver or Black and $499 in Gold, Deep Rose, Stealth or Brushed Silver. It is 6.09 mm wide, weighs from 2 grams depending on size, is waterproof to 100 meters, and lasts 6 to 9 days depending on ring size and use. Sensors cover heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen, temperature and movement. It works with iPhone and Android. Membership is $5.99 a month or $69.99 a year; Oura says that without it the ring and app still work, but insights and health data are much more limited.

Check Oura Ring 5 prices on Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Ring

The Galaxy Ring launched in July 2024 and Samsung lists no second generation. It now starts at $299.99, down from $399.99 at launch. Samsung quotes up to 7 days of battery, rates it 10 ATM and IP68, and lists three sensors: an accelerometer, an optical sensor and a skin temperature sensor. Samsung’s pages mention no subscription. Samsung says some features need a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone, and its pages do not mention iPhone.

Check Galaxy Ring prices on Amazon

Oura or Galaxy Ring? Samsung’s pages do not list iPhone support, so on an iPhone Oura is the one to check. If you have a Samsung phone and do not want a membership, the Galaxy Ring is $239 cheaper over two years.

Low-cost GPS watches that do a tracker’s job

At about $250, a basic GPS watch costs the same as a ring and less than two years of most memberships, and it shows your numbers on your wrist.

Garmin Forerunner 70

Garmin announced the Forerunner 70 on 12 May 2026 at $249.99 as its entry-level running watch. It has a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen and five buttons, weighs 40 grams, and is rated 5 ATM. Garmin’s manual gives up to 13 days in smartwatch mode and up to 23 hours in GPS-only mode. Garmin Connect+ is an optional $6.99 a month; Garmin says existing Connect features stay free.

Check Forerunner 70 prices on Amazon

COROS PACE 4

COROS launched the PACE 4 on 10 November 2025 at $249. It weighs 32 grams with the nylon band, has a 1.2-inch AMOLED screen, and COROS lists 19 days of daily use, and 41 hours with all satellite systems on. COROS publishes no GPS-only figure for it, so its 41 hours and Garmin’s 23 are not measured in the same mode.

Check COROS PACE 4 prices on Amazon

Apple Watch SE 3

If you have an iPhone and want apps, calls and payments as well as tracking, the SE 3 starts at $249. The cost is battery life: Apple quotes up to 18 hours, so it is charged daily. It has no ECG app and no blood oxygen app. Our smartwatch comparison covers it alongside the Series 12.

Check Apple Watch SE 3 prices on Amazon

Fitness tracker selection: five questions that decide it

1. Which phone do you have? The Galaxy Ring is listed for Samsung Galaxy phones. The Apple Watch SE 3 needs an iPhone. The Fitbit Air, Charge 6 and Oura Ring 5 are listed for both.
2. Do you want a screen? The Fitbit Air and both rings have none. If you want to glance at pace, heart rate or the time, choose the Charge 6 or a watch.
3. Will you pay every year? WHOOP requires it. Oura limits most insights without it. Google and Garmin make it optional. COROS, Samsung and Apple list no membership for these devices.
4. Do you record runs or rides without your phone? Then you need built-in GPS: the Charge 6, Forerunner 70, PACE 4 or SE 3. Rings have none, and the Fitbit Air borrows your phone’s.
5. How often will you put up with charging? Daily for the SE 3. About weekly for the Fitbit bands and rings. About two weeks for WHOOP and the two GPS watches.

Picks by need

• Lowest cost: Google Fitbit Air on the free tier, $99.99.
• Lowest cost with a screen and GPS: Fitbit Charge 6, $159.95.
• No screen, no membership: Samsung Galaxy Ring, if you use a Samsung Galaxy phone.
• Sleep and recovery on an iPhone, in a ring: Oura Ring 5.
• Training load and recovery, and you accept a yearly fee: WHOOP 5.0 on the One or Peak tier.
• Running: Garmin Forerunner 70 or COROS PACE 4.
• ECG: Fitbit Charge 6 or WHOOP MG among the bands. Neither ring lists it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best fitness tracker in 2026?

There is no single one. For the lowest cost, the Google Fitbit Air ($99.99). For a band with a screen and GPS, the Fitbit Charge 6 ($159.95). For a ring, the Oura Ring 5, or the Samsung Galaxy Ring with a Samsung phone. For running, a $250 GPS watch such as the Garmin Forerunner 70 or COROS PACE 4.

Which fitness tracker has the longest battery life?

Among the models on this page, by the makers’ claims: the COROS PACE 4 at 19 days of daily use, then WHOOP at 14 days or more and the Garmin Forerunner 70 at up to 13 days. The Fitbit bands and the rings last about a week.

Which fitness trackers work without a subscription?

The Samsung Galaxy Ring, COROS PACE 4 and Apple Watch SE 3 list no membership. The Fitbit Air, Fitbit Charge 6 and Garmin Forerunner 70 work on a free tier, with an optional paid plan. WHOOP requires a membership, and Oura limits most insights without one.

Are fitness trackers worth buying?

They are worth it if you will act on what they show. A tracker can show that you slept six hours and walked 4,000 steps; it cannot change either. If cost is the worry, start with a $99.99 band on a free tier before committing to a ring or a membership.

How much does a good fitness tracker cost?

From $99.99 to about $400 to buy. Over two years, including memberships, the models on this page run from $99.99 to $718.

Sources

• Google Store, Fitbit Air and Fitbit Charge 6 specification pages: Fitbit Air, Charge 6; Google’s Fitbit Air announcement, 7 May 2026: blog.google
• WHOOP membership tiers and prices: whoop.com/us/en/membership
• Oura Ring 5 product page and membership page: ouraring.com, membership
• Samsung Galaxy Ring product page: samsung.com/us/rings/galaxy-ring
• Garmin Forerunner 70 press release, 12 May 2026: garmin.com newsroom
• COROS PACE 4 product page and battery specifications: coros.com/us/pace4, COROS support
• Apple Watch SE 3: Apple’s product and specifications pages.

Checked 11 October 2026. If a maker changes a price or figure after that date, the maker’s page is right and this one is out of date.

Written byconner mcdonald

Conner McDonald compiles Wearable Gear Reviews' buying guides and comparisons of smartwatches, fitness trackers, rings and smart glasses. Every specification and price comes from the manufacturer's own pages and is dated; the guides compare published figures and do not claim hands-on testing.