Fitbit vs. Apple Watch Health Tracker Comparability (2025), Examined

Health Monitoring 

Winner: Fitbit

All variations of Apple Watches and Fitbits provide a variety of health monitoring, permitting customers to observe their exercise minutes, steps, distance, energy burned, and extra. The Apple Watch and Fitbit smartwatch choices additionally observe particular exercise sorts, comparable to mountain climbing, working, and bicycling (whether or not it is indoor biking machines or train bikes), after which present exercise summaries.

Whatever the mannequin, Apple Watches include built-in GPS, coronary heart charge zone monitoring, and automated exercise detection, making them a well-liked selection amongst athletes and fitness-minded folks. The watches additionally characteristic the model’s easy however efficient exercise rings that gamify motion and encourage you to finish day by day transfer, stand, and train targets.

Though all Apple Watches include sturdy options, the Fitbit model is thought for its best-in-class health and sleep monitoring. When you obtain the app onto your telephone and sync your gadget, you possibly can simply view and dig into all of your well being and health information. “The app even recommends sure exercises and meditations to you based mostly on the info your tracker collects,” one in all our Fibit testers mentioned. “It is like having your personal private coach.”

Fitbit additionally affords a a lot wider vary of choices that cater to completely different wants and preferences. For example, the Fitbit Encourage 3 is right for individuals who need a fundamental health tracker, whereas the Sense 2 is a extra superior, sports-oriented smartwatch that has GPS, on-screen exercises, in-depth stats, and suggestions based mostly in your exercises and restoration. In case you go the Fitbit route, you’re extra more likely to get a tool that works to your particular health routine and targets.

Accuracy

Winner: Apple Watch 

Fitbits and Apple Watches each do a stellar job of measuring coronary heart charge by the gadget’s sensors, and the expertise retains bettering with every new mannequin. They’re additionally pretty equal relating to exercise monitoring accuracy. Two of our Fitbit testers, who examined the Encourage 3 and Cost 5, famous that a number of the information for step rely and calorie burn was barely inflated however, general, the health stats and particularly sleep information had been very correct. The Apple Watches we examined additionally had spot-on stats for exercise and sleep.

What actually units the gadgets aside when it comes to accuracy is GPS, which tracks distance, routes, and tempo. All Apple Watches include GPS, and the gap monitoring throughout our testing was very exact. The most recent mannequin, the Extremely 2, makes use of two frequencies for GPS, which reduces the chance of dropped alerts and delivers extraordinarily dependable, constant information. Alternatively, not all Fitbits have built-in GPS, so be certain that to learn the tremendous print if this can be a characteristic you need in a tracker.

Ease of Setup

Winner: Tie

All of the Apple Watches and Fitbits we examined had been easy to arrange, and the method for all of the gadgets is definitely pretty related. Though the watches often come partially charged, they have to be at 100% earlier than getting began. Subsequent, you merely pair the gadget to your telephone after which comply with a collection of prompts on the watch.

When testing each Apple Watches and Fitbits, we generally confronted inevitable delays within the setup course of, comparable to having to first obtain updates. However, usually, you may be up and working with a Fitbit or Apple Watch inside a couple of minutes.

Ease of Use

Winner: Apple 

Apple Watches and Fitbits are each recognized for being user-friendly, even for individuals who are new to health monitoring. Nevertheless, the Apple Watch’s design and person interface are a bit extra intuitive and easy, placing it a notch above Fitbit when it comes to ease of use. In our testing of Fitbit gadgets, we generally had bother with the touchscreen performance and buttons, which generally wanted actually arduous jabs to make use of.

The show on all Apple Watches is large, brilliant, and clear, even while you’re on the transfer. On the flip aspect, a number of the Fitbit wearables have tiny screens that may be powerful to learn in some lighting. “I like to have the ability to learn my stats with out squinting, and it simply wasn’t potential with the Fitbit Encourage‘s tiny display screen,” our tester mentioned. In case you’re leaning towards a Fitbit, make sure to test the display screen’s dimensions, since there’s fairly a little bit of variation.

Design and Consolation

Winner: Fitbit

Fitbit will get the sting for general design and luxury as a result of they’ve a extra numerous line-up of choices that cater to completely different sizes and preferences. Whereas Fitbit’s smartwatches, together with the Sense 2 and Versa 4, have an analogous design to the Apple Watch, the model’s slimmer exercise bands are extra comfy and fewer obtrusive for understanding.

One among our testers famous that the Fitbit Cost 5 felt so comfy that he barely felt like he had it on. “I can do CrossFit workouts, like energy cleans, pull-ups, snatches, and handstands with out it getting in my manner,” he mentioned. “That is one thing that I struggled with carrying the Apple Watch, because it at all times activated emergency mode and affected the standard of my exercises.”

After utilizing the Apple Watch Extremely for a month, our tester mentioned it’s “actually heavy and feels very clunky.” Even the sleeker Collection 7, Collection 8, or Collection 10 fashions should not as streamlined as a few of Fitbit’s choices.

Typically, the included silicone Fitbit bands are extra comfy for steady use than the Apple ones. Nevertheless, each Apple Watch and Fitbit gadgets characteristic interchangeable bands, so you possibly can swap them out to your most well-liked selection. 

Compatibility 

Winner: Fitbit

Apple Watches solely work with the iPhone lineup, so that you’re principally out of luck if in case you have an Android. Fitbit, alternatively, is suitable with each iOS and Android smartphones, giving them the benefit for this class.

That being mentioned, Apple Watch nonetheless will get main compatibility factors for the way effectively it really works with the iPhone, letting you utilize apps, ship texts, take calls, and take heed to music or podcasts straight out of your wrist.

Battery Life

Winner: Fitbit

Certainly, Fitbit is the clear winner when it comes to battery life. One of many greatest complaints in regards to the Apple Watch is that it requires frequent charging, with the Collection 8 and SE fashions solely lasting about 18 hours. Though the brand new Apple Watch Extremely 2 has double the battery lifetime of earlier variations, Fitbit gadgets nonetheless go lots longer on a single cost, with most lasting about 6-7 days. 

Waterproofing

Winner: Apple Watch

Whereas earlier Fitbits had been waterproof or sweatproof however not totally waterproof, their more moderen gadgets—together with the Fitbit Sense 2 and the Fitbit Versa 4—are swim-proof and able to monitoring swim exercises. Equally, Apple watches, such because the Collection 8, SE, and Extremely 2, are protected to put on within the pool.

Whereas many of the gadgets are comparable in waterproofing, the Extremely 2 takes the model excessive. As Apple’s most sturdy, rugged smartwatch, it’s swim-proof, can stand up to leisure diving to 100 meters, and is a best-in-class possibility for water sports activities.

Additional Options 

Winner: Apple Watch

Apple undoubtedly has extra options than Fitbit, which is sensible, given the upper common value. Along with well being and exercise monitoring, each Apple Watch mannequin affords notifications, alarms, timers, an expansive app retailer, telephone calls, music, textual content, Siri, and rather more.

Plus, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 comes with a breadth of security options, together with a built-in compass, a siren, and crash and fall detection. For swimmers and divers, it additionally has a depth gauge, which prompts routinely while you submerge, and a water temperature sensor.

Each Apple Watch mannequin has built-in, very correct GPS, vital characteristic for some runners, hikers, and cyclists who need to measure their routes. Some Fitbits, such because the Cost 5, Sense 2, and Versa 4, have GPS included, however not all do.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

Is it higher to get an Apple Watch or a Fitbit?  

Fitbit affords a greater diversity of merchandise when it comes to value and options, and the wearables additionally boast higher battery life, provide extra sturdy well being and health monitoring, significantly for sleep information, and sync with each Apple and Android gadgets. If in case you have an iPhone, chances are you’ll desire the Apple Watch because it integrates seamlessly with it, permitting you to make use of all of your favourite apps, take heed to music or podcasts, textual content and name out of your wrist, and rather more. And, since you will get mobile connectivity with an Apple Watch, you will have the choice of leaving your telephone at residence.

Is Fitbit good with iPhones?

Fitbits sync with each Apple and Android gadgets. So, if in case you have an iPhone, you need to use a Fitbit efficiently.

Can an Apple Watch test blood stress?

The Apple Watch can test blood stress utilizing a blood stress tracker app and simply your gadget. Whereas this should not exchange healthcare checkups, this data may be shared along with your supplier as a part of your therapy.

Why Belief Verywell Match 

Christine Luff, ACE-CPT, is a author for Verywell Match with greater than 20 years of expertise with well being and health content material and product suggestions. As a licensed private coach, working coach, and avid runner, she has used many sports activities watches, health trackers, and smartwatches through the years. She likes gadgets that present in-depth, dependable stats and may be comfortably worn all day.