The Best Accurate Heart Rate Monitor For 2024

Jonathan Wilson By, Jonathan Wilson
Updated
Fitbit Inspire 2 Health & Fitness Tracker Heart Rate
Image credit: Amazon.com

The Rundown

1. Best Of The Best: Fitbit Inspire 2 Health & Fitness Tracker Heart Rate

"The Fitbit Inspire 2 is the most advanced tracker on the market. This activity tracker features a heartrate monitor to track your resting heart rate and better measure calorie burn, and offers 24x7 heart rate monitoring to track your sleep quality each night." Read Review

2. Best Reliable: Polar H7 Bluetooth Heart Rate Sensor

"Keep tabs on your heart rate with the Polar H7 Bluetooth Heart Rate Sensor. This waterproof heart rate sensor is compatible with all Apple iPhone, iPads, and Android Devices. With Gym Link by Polar, you can connect your heart rate monitor to compatible gym equipment to track your workouts on the fly." Read Review

3. Runner Up: Fitbit Charge 5 Advanced Fitness Health Tracker

"The Fitbit Charge 5 is an advanced fitness tracker with the latest technology. This includes a new color touchscreen that’s two times brighter than the Charge 4 in daylight with battery life of up to 7 days. Track your stats, see your real-time pace & distance without your phone using built-in GPS during outdoor activity, then see a map of your workout route in the Fitbit app." Read Review

4. Best Quality: Amazfit Band 5 Activity Fitness Tracker

"Amazfit Band 5 is a smart activity and fitness tracker designed for daily wear, with a heart-rate monitor that tracks your activity and sleep. It also connects to other compatible devices for fun and fitness competitions. Amazfit Band 5 has up to 30 days of battery life, built-in GPS and NFC contactless payments." Read Review

5. Best Versatile: Wahoo TICKR Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap

"The Wahoo TICKR is a heart rate monitor that's built with ANT+ and Bluetooth technology. With the ability to connect to multiple devices at once and a built-in sensor, this kit provides you with everything needed to monitor your heart rate while you work out or run." Read Review

When it comes to fitness, having the right heart rate monitor can be the difference between exercising regularly and sticking to a routine. Fortunately, there are some great options on the market right now. With an accurate heart rate monitor you can get an accurate read on how hard your body is working during your workout.

Your rate should ideally increase as you become more active and decrease with lighter activities. A good example might be if you’re playing a sport - your rate will increase as you begin to run faster and become more focused on the game at hand. In order to find the best accurate heart rate monitor, we took into account several factors including price, features, user reviews, manufacturer reputation, target audience and overall value for money. These tests helped us determine which brands were worthy of our recommendations below.

After 13 hours of research on customer feedback & product specifications, We've come up that the best accurate heart rate monitor is Fitbit Inspire 2 Health & Fitness Tracker Heart Rate. If you desire extra features not included in this model, you might look into another one: Polar H7 Bluetooth Heart Rate Sensor. It could better suit your needs.

Compare

TOP Choice #1 Fitbit Inspire 2 Health & Fitness Tracker Heart Rate
Our Score:
9.9
Fitbit
  • Use 24x7 heart rate to track resting heart rate & better measure calorie burn
  • Track all-day activity: your steps, distance, hourly activity and calories burned.Maximum operating altitude: 28,000 ft
  • Enjoy 10 days of battery life for daily progress without constant charging. Varies with use and other factors. Track your time in light, deep and REM sleep, then get a Sleep Score to better understand your sleep quality each night.Stay inspired from the shower to the pool with this swimproof tracker (water resistant to 50 meters) and motivated by connecting with friends, competing in challenges, earning badges and celebrating goal milestones.
  • Earn Active Zone Minutes as you progress toward your weekly 150 minutes of heart-pumping activity and use 20 plus exercise modes to track goals like distance, calories burned and more.Operating temperature: 14° to 113°F.Water resistance depth:50 meters
TOP Choice #2 Polar H7 Bluetooth Heart Rate Sensor
Our Score:
9.8
POLAR
  • CALORIE COUNTER CAPABILITIES: For those who want to count the calories they burn and get basic heart rate-based features to keep their fitness training simple
  • HEART RATE MONITOR: Provides live, accurate heart rate to compatible mobile training apps through Bluetooth Smart technology
  • FITNESS TRACKER: Waterproof heart rate sensor compatible with all Apple iPhone, iPads, and Android Devices
  • STRONG BATTERY LIFE: For optimal battery life, detach transmitter from chest strap after every use
  • ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY: Gym Link connects Polar heart rate monitors and activity trackers with compatible gym equipment
  • Get a better understanding of your sleep quality with a daily Sleep Score and graphs of your time in light, deep and REM sleep—then see how you can improve your sleep and wake up feeling energized
  • Includes a 6-month Premium membership complete with personalized insights, advanced analytics, guided programs and more (New & returning Premium users only. Valid payment method required. Content and features may change)
  • Use the 20 exercise modes to set personal goals for runs, rides, strength training and more, then get real-time stats to help you keep the pace or maintain your target heart rate zone
  • Optimize your workout routine with a Daily Readiness Score that reveals if you’re ready to exercise or should focus on recovery (Requires Fitbit Premium membership)
  • Your stats come to life on a new color touchscreen that’s two times brighter than Charge 4 in daylight, all with battery life of up to 7 days. Use of the always-on display and SpO2 features will require more frequent charging. We recommend charging your tracker every few days to ensure you are always tracking.
  • See your real-time pace & distance without your phone using built-in GPS during outdoor activity, then see a map of your workout route in the Fitbit app
  • Track calorie burn and optimize workouts with 24/7 heart rate tracking and Active Zone Minutes, which guide you toward your desired intensity level
  • Get a daily Stress Management Score showing your body’s response to stress and take steps to improve your levels with an on-wrist EDA sensor mindfulness session
  • With the Health Metrics dashboard, track SpO2, heart rate variability, skin temperature variation and more (Not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition and should not be relied on for any medical purposes. It is intended to provide information that can help you manage your well-being)
  • WOMEN’S HEALTH TRACKING: With the female period tracking system, Band 5 records and predicts the female menstrual cycle and sends smart notifications reminders.
  • 15-DAY BATTERY LIFE: Say goodbye to daily recharge. With a fully charged Amazfit Band 5, you don’t need to bring a charger for a two-week trip. On a single charge, it has enough power to get you charged for 2 whole weeks mind-free.
  • AMAZON ALEXA BUILT-IN: Talk to Amazon Alexa on your Amazfit Band 5 activity fitness tracker. Ask Alexa questions, get translations, set alarms and timers, check the weather, control your smart home devices, and more..Water resistance depth:50 meters
  • YOUR SMART SPORTS COMPANSION: An ultimate easy-to-use activity fitness tracker with 11 built-in sports modes, enable you to record the distance, speed, heart rate changes, calories burned, and other data during your workouts. With a water-resistance grade of 5 ATM, Band 5 can withstand all your daily activities and you can wear it while swimming.
  • BLOOD OXYGEN SATURATION MONITOR: You can measure your blood oxygen saturation and understand your physical state with OxygenBeatsTM. Ideal for high-intensity workouts and sports such as marathons and gym workouts.
  • 24/7 HEART RATE, SLEEP TRACKER: With Huami-proprietary BioTracker TM2 PPG optical sensor, this health tracker performs 24/7 real-time heart rate monitoring and high heart rate warning. Band 5 can also professionally interpret the sleep characteristics at each stage and analyzes sleep quality, to help you adjust your sleep habits. It even monitors your 20-minute daily nap.
5 Wahoo TICKR Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap
Our Score:
9.3
Wahoo Fitness
  • APPLE WATCH AND APPLE TV INTEGRATION - Connect directly via Bluetooth to your Apple Watch or Apple TV as another option for gathering heart rate data while you workout.
  • DUAL-BAND ANT+ & BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY - Both ANT+ and Bluetooth capabilities allow for a wireless connection to both smartphones and GPS devices at the same time or separately.
  • CONNECT HEART RATE TO YOUR FAVORITE TRAINING APPS AND DEVICES - Proven technology delivers accurate heart rate and calories to the Wahoo Fitness and other popular training apps.
  • SLIM, LIGHTWEIGHT HEART RATE SENSOR POD - At 1.7oz (48g) and 12.01mm thick, the TICKR is one of the lightest and slimmest heart rate monitor and strap combinations.
  • CHOICE OF CHAMPIONS - Official Heart Rate monitor of Team INEOS, Bora-Hansgrohe, Katusha Alpecin, Ironman World Champion Jan Frodeno, Heather Jackson and Pro Mountain Biker Sonya Looney
  • FRONT SENSOR & STRAP CONNECTION – The front connection on the TICKR and strap allows you to gear up quickly. Don’t fumble through side placements of snaps and hooks.
  • INTEGRATED CHEST STRAP DESIGN - The integrated sensor and strap design of the TICKR provides a more secure connection and a more secure fit to prevent sliding and shifting while working out.
  • REAL-TIME HEART RATE, CALORIE, & WORKOUT DURATION TRACKING - TICKR measures vital workout metrics, including heart rate, calorie burn, and workout duration in real-time with the Wahoo Fitness app. These metrics can also be sent to compatible third-party apps that track these metrics.
  • APPS - Record workout data with the Wahoo Fitness app and automatically upload data to your favorite training platform like Strava. Works with 50+ apps including Wahoo Fitness, Zwift, Runtastic, Runkeeper, UA Record, Endomondo, Peloton, Map My Run
  • WORKS WITH EVERYTHING: Polar HRM works with many sports and smart watches (Polar, Garmin, Apple, Suunto, etc.), Polar Beat, fitness apps such as Strava and Nike, and ALL HRM compatible Cardio Equipment
  • POLAR PRO CHEST STRAP: With improved electrodes, an easy-to-use buckle and silicone dots, the strap is comfortable and interference-free, and stays put when you're on the move.
  • CONNECTIVITY: Bluetooth, ANT+ and 5 kHz provide an excellent variety of connection options (e.g. with Peloton). You can use Bluetooth and ANT+ connections simultaneously as well as two Bluetooth connections simultaneously.
  • Operating temperature : -10 °C to +50 °C / 14 °F to 122 °F. Compatibility-iOS mobile devices: iPhone 5 and later, with iOS 11 or later; Android mobile devices with Bluetooth 4.0 capability and Android 5.0 or later
  • SOFTWARE UPDATES: Via Polar Beat app to keep your HRM up-to-date; Materials: Strap: 38% Polyamide, 29% Polyurethane, 20% Elastane, 13% Polyester, Silicone prints.
  • SUPREME ACCURACY: Widely recognized for its top precision by many sources, Polar H10 is the most accurate heart rate sensor in Polar’s history. Polar H10 provides top quality heart rate measurement and it's the choice of many pro athletes.
  • VERSATILITY: Wear Polar HR monitor when rowing, cycling, running, training indoors or swimming. Polar H10 is fully waterproof and it has internal memory for one training session.
7 Garmin Dual Heart Rate Monitor
Our Score:
8.9
Garmin
  • Simply remove the heart rate module, and it’s washable, too
  • Don’t worry about running out of juice
  • HRM dual features a soft strap that is comfortable and adjustable
  • The battery lasts for up to 3.5 years
8 Polar H9 Heart Rate Sensor
Our Score:
8.8
POLAR
  • NOW YOUR CARDIO WORKOUTS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE: From gym to indoor cycling via jogging and group exercise, track your heart rate and get an accurate calorie burn. Choose you size: XS-S: 20" - 26", M-XXL: 26” - 36”
  • EXCELLENT CONNECTIVITY OPTIONS: Polar H9 connects to sports and smart watches (Polar, Garmin, Wahoo, Zwift, Peloton), activity trackers, gym equipment and other Bluetooth and ANT+ devices.
  • GOLD STANDARD IN HEART RATE TRACKING: Built on decades of scientific research and development, recognized by both regular users and researchers around the globe, Polar is proud to be the Gold Standard in HR tracking.
  • POLAR PRESENTS A NEW AFFORDABLE HRM: When you're looking for a reliable high quality heart rate monitor for your everyday sports, Polar H9 is a trusted choice of HR sensor that fulfills all your needs.
  • TURN YOUR PHONE INTO A FITNESS TRACKER: Enjoy endless connection possibilities to Polar Beat, Polar Club, Peloton, Nike+ Run Club and other popular fitness and training apps.
9 Wahoo TICKR FIT Heart Rate Armband
Our Score:
8.6
Wahoo Fitness
  • APPLE WATCH AND APPLE TV INTEGRATION - Connect directly via Bluetooth to your Apple Watch or Apple TV as another option for gathering heart rate data while you workout.
  • USB RECHARGEABLE BATTERY - Includes a USB rechargeable battery with up to 30 hours of battery life.
  • CHOICE OF CHAMPIONS - Official Heart Rate monitor of Team INEOS, Bora-Hansgrohe, Katusha Alpecin, Ironman World Champion Jan Frodeno, Heather Jackson and Pro Mountain Biker Sonya Looney
  • REAL-TIME HEART RATE, CALORIE, & WORKOUT DURATION TRACKING - TICKR measures vital workout metrics, including heart rate, calorie burn, and workout duration in real-time with the Wahoo Fitness app. These metrics can also be sent to compatible third-party apps that track these metrics.
  • DUAL-BAND ANT+ & BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY - Both ANT+ and Bluetooth capabilities allow for a wireless connection to both smartphones and GPS devices at the same time or separately.
  • LED INDICATOR - Light shows visual confirmation of the TICKR connection status via Bluetooth and / or ANT+: searching for a connections, connecting, and reading heart rate.
  • CONNECT HEART RATE TO YOUR FAVORITE TRAINING APPS AND DEVICES - Proven technology delivers accurate heart rate and calories to the Wahoo Fitness and other popular training apps.
  • APPS - Record workout data with the Wahoo Fitness app and automatically upload data to your favorite training platform like Strava. Works with 50+ apps including Wahoo Fitness, Zwift, Runtastic, Runkeeper, UA Record, Endomondo, Peloton, Map My Run
10 Polar Ignite Fitness watch
Our Score:
8.4
POLAR
  • FitSpark DAILY TRAINING GUIDE: Get your personalised and ready-made daily workout guidance based on your recovery and overall readiness.
  • BECOME YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL: Polar Ignite, a sports smartwatch for women and men who want to push their limits the right way. Perfect for gym, group and team exercise, swimming, running, cycling, walking.
  • SLIM DESIGN OPTIMIZED FOR 24/7 WEAR: Your new-generation smart workout partner with a 1-button interface includes such essentials as a wrist-based OHR monitor, speed, distance and route tracking with integrated GPS, calorie counter, color touch display.
  • SLEEP PLUS STAGES: Learn about your sleep quality, follow your sleep stages and get detailed sleep insights with the new Sleep Plus Stages feature.
  • NIGHTLY RECHARGE: Nightly Recharge measures how well your body recovers from the day stress during the night.

What to Look For in a best accurate heart rate monitor?

Often buyers are reluctant to buy best accurate heart rate monitor. When considering a large purchase, certain things should be examined. Our knowledge and experience of best accurate heart rate monitor will help in making the best options.

Please keep in mind the following criterial before selecting the best accurate heart rate monitor:

Apps

If there is a tracker for your fitness, chances are there's an application. There are many apps available, but each app has its own unique features. This means that if data is a concern you could choose based on which supported apps they are.

Smartphone Compatibility

You should first check that your fitness tracker is compatible with your smartphone before you attempt to connect it to the internet. Although most fitness trackers will work on Android or iOS, there may be some issues with less well-known models.

Battery Life

Battery life may vary depending on how advanced the device. If the tracker has color touch screens or an assortment of sensors, it is more likely that you will have to charge your battery frequently than with a band without any LED lights.

Accuracy

It is not possible to fool trackers. These trackers use algorithms and sensors which can interpret footsteps, punches thrown, steps taken, hours sleep, as well as other data. It's possible to be somewhat inaccurate. For hard data you might consider a function-specific instrument. Heart rate monitors that attach to your chest to transmit information to your activity tracker will generally be more accurate than any in-device sensor.

Heart Rate Monitor

The most expensive activity trackers will have a heart-rate monitor. They are aimed at athletes who want to be serious about exercising and taking their sport very seriously. A heart monitor is a great way to better track your progress and help with health.

Style

Fitness trackers have always looked functional. However, fashion designers are more concerned about style. A variety of shapes and colors are possible, as well as models that have been developed in partnership with fashion designers. Find a look that's comfortable to wear every day.

Water Resistance

Do you ever come in contact with water during your workouts? It's important to remember that water is an essential part of your workout. Most trackers will be at most splashproof. Other trackers are waterproof and can take a shower indoors or outside. You should choose a tracker that is more water resistant if you intend to swim in your pool.

Display

Some trackers are more skilled and reveal the data via symbols, numbers, or words on a display that is watch-face-like. Others simply use an app to share their data. The tracker's companion application syncs data to your smartphone and computer. This not only preserves information, but can also help you analyze it. Make sure you preview the tracker companion app before finalizing your purchase.

FAQs

Do Fitness Trackers Increase Physical Activity?

Though fitness trackers might be an integral part of your exercise regimen, they don't immediately start showing results. However, it is your responsibility to move off of the couch and get the job done. A fitness tracker might motivate you to exercise regularly.
These programs allow you to create goals and monitor your progress for weeks, months or even years. You will also receive feedback on how your health is improving. A goal for fitness such as running 20 minutes per week can be motivating.

Can Fitness Trackers Help Me Sleep?

An essential component of healthy living is a restful night's sleep. Smartwatches as well as fitness trackers have integrated sleep tracking technology. You won't get better sleep from these, but you can benefit by having important data to aid you in your daily sleep.
The information you collect about your sleep habits, restlessness at nights, and heart beat can tell you if or not, as well as whether your health. Many fitness apps and trackers can collect the data, which will either tell you how your sleeping patterns are improving or provide tips to help you improve. The onus lies on you to translate this information into your own life and implement it.

Can Fitness Trackers Measure Blood Pressure?

While there may be fitness trackers out that can measure blood pressure, they are very rare in Australia. We don't collect this information during our test. Even though accurate blood pressure measurements can be extremely important, every person will have different results.
Although it seems unlikely, a fitness band capable of doing the same thing as professional equipment will be able to do the job. It is important to speak to your physician to find the right equipment for your specific needs.

Should I Buy A Fitness Tracker Or Smartwatch?

Smartwatches are now equipped with fitness tracking features that often outperform the best. These smartwatches also include many other smartphone features, such as texting and digital payments.
The watches are essentially mini smartphones that you wear around your wrist. You can view some data, control certain apps and even stream music from your smartphone. As an additional option, they can support third-party health apps.
But they are generally larger and heavier than other models, which makes them more expensive. The battery life can also drop due to the added features and bright screens.

How To Connect A Fitness Tracker To A Phone?

Bluetooth allows fitness band and smartwatches for connection to your mobile phone. If it's not connecting properly, switch on Bluetooth scanning to ensure the Bluetooth pairing is successful. Once that's done, go into your Settings and search for your Bluetooth device. After it's detected, it will automatically link. Or you can manually connect to the same device.
Some devices also have location settings that must be turned on before they can be set up. Set up a WiFi network to get an app/software or firmware update.

Can Fitness Trackers Accurately Measure My Heart Rate?

Nearly every fitness tracker comes with a heart beat monitor. This can be used to measure your active and resting heartbeats per minute. These data will be graphed in your phone's app, so that you can track your heart rate over time.
As certain kinds of exercises such as weight loss or cardio, heart-rate monitors have to be accurate, they must also accurately measure heart rates. This range is a 10 percent zone, so inaccuracies greater than five percent of the time are not acceptable. Inaccuracies in readings can demotivate and reduce effectiveness.

Do All Fitness Trackers Need A Smartphone?

An external device must be used to link fitness trackers to a compatible app. It is nearly always a smartphone. Based on your brand, you may be able substitute your phone with a tablet/laptop.
It is easier than looking at detailed health data on a smartphone, as it allows you to see the entire picture. A lot of bands offer only the basics or no information at all. This is why the smartphone is so important. This device can also be used for creating an account and such things.

What Does A Fitness Tracker Do?

Bands and fitness trackers as well as smartwatches can offer different types of fitness logging functions, depending on their model. They track steps, distance traveled, and then store this information in an associated app. The graphs allow you to see your activity progression.
You can get features like sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring (active/resting), calories input logs, as well support for various smartphone apps, such as Spotify. With the option to monitor different exercise types, such as rowing, swimming and weight lifting, some of the apps accompanying the model can be quite detailed. Some apps even allow you to keep track of your food intake.

When new data becomes available, we routinely adjust the list of best accurate heart rate monitor. Please do regularly visit our website for the most up-to-date news.

If you have any questions or difficulties with best accurate heart rate monitor, please do not hesitate to contact us. We'll try our best to do everything we can to assist you if you ask!


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About Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan Wilson is a former pro football player and tech reporter who now serves as the editor of Kris Van Assche's website. He is a dedicated fitness enthusiast who splits his workout time between strength and conditioning training, martial arts and running.

Jonathan's athletic career began in college, where he was a star running back. He went on to play professionally for several years before injuries forced him to retire. Afterward, Jonathan transitioned into a career in tech reporting, where he quickly made a name for himself as a knowledgeable and insightful commentator on the industry.

In addition to his work with our website, Jonathan remains active in the world of sports. He regularly competes in martial arts tournaments and running events, and he is always looking for new ways to challenge himself physically. Jonathan is an inspiration to many people, and he is proof that it is never too late to pursue your passions.

Read Jonathan's full bio