BestFitbit AlternativesiMore2020
Fitbit was a pioneer when it came to one of the first companies to design wearable health and fitness tracking devices. Though it remains a beloved favorite, there are countless other companies out there, creating new and excellent alternatives to Fitbit. If you're looking for a device that truly offers it all when it comes to smart tech, abundant features, and premium health and fitness tracking, our favorite is the Apple Watch 5. It is truly at the top of its class when it comes to high-tech features like 24/7 heart rate and ECG monitoring, multi-sport fitness tracking, and built-in GPS and cellular so you can make calls, texts, and read emails from the slopes to the waves without your phone.
Fitbit Blaze™ Wi-Fi Smart Scale. Get started with your new Fitbit tracker or scale by setting up your device and downloading and installing our free software. Fitbit Blaze is a very feature-rich fitness tracker with a high-tech design that resembles an Apple Watch. Apr 15, 2020 Fitbit has an app known as Fitbit Connect, which allows you pair and sync your Fitbit tracker with your Mac using the handy wireless USB dongle. First, download the free Fitbit Connect app.
Best Overall: Apple Watch 5
The latest and greatest smartwatch from Apple, the Apple Watch 5 is truly in a class of its own. It features a fresh design with an always-on retina display so you can always see the time and the information that matters without raising your wrist. Cases are available in a range of materials, including 100% recycled aluminum and, for the first time, titanium. You can customize your watch further with any compatible band of your choosing.
When it comes to health, this watch monitors your heart rate and lets you know if something is wrong. It's also one of the few watches that can monitor your ECG anytime, anywhere. It's capable of generating an ECG similar to a single-lead electrocardiogram. It helps you keep track of your menstrual cycle and taps you if noise levels rise to the point that could impact your hearing. You can add complications like Breathe, Heart Rate, and Noise to your watch face and keep them top of mind throughout your day.
When it comes to fitness, the Apple Watch is great at measuring all of your multi-sport stats. You can set workout-specific goals, see full summaries when you're done, and track how you're trending over time in the Activity app on your iPhone. Apple Watch even works for wheelchair users, with two specific wheelchair workouts. It's water-resistant up to 50 meters and was designed with swimmers in mind. The Pool Swim workout automatically records splits and sets and can recognize your stroke. The Open Water Swim visualizes your route on a map and both track active calories, distance, and overall pace.
Runners can get pace and cadence alerts, and in addition to counting flights of stairs and providing elevation gain in an outdoor workout, it will give you your current elevation. It's compatible with most gym equipment so you can keep track of metrics like heart rate, speed, and calories, and can connect to hundreds of different fitness apps to track your progress and help you reach your goals.
One of the unique features of this watch is that you don't have to bring your phone with you to stay connected. Built-in cellular lets you go with just your watch. It also features a built-in compass so that you can navigate directly from your watch face. You can use the Maps app to know exactly what direction you're facing.
This watch is pricey, but we think that it's well worth the investment for all of the features and tech that you get. Because this watch features an always-on retina display (that sucks up the battery), you will need to charge it every day.
Pros:
- Always on retina display
- 24/7 heart rate + ECG
- Multi-sport tracking
- Health tracking
- Built-in cellular
Best Overall
Apple Watch 5
Take a bite out of this apple
High-tech smartwatch that features 24/7 heart rate + ECG, advanced fitness and health tracking, and built-in cellular.
Source: Samsung
This watch features a thin, durable, lightweight, and swim-ready design that comes in a variety of colors and interchangeable bands so you can really make it your own. It has a great battery life that will last for days on a single charge. You can get call, text, and calendar notifications when synced with your smartphone, and it's compatible with Samsung, Android, and iOS.
When it comes to fitness tracking, it can automatically detect up to six exercises and can track 39+ exercises when manually selected. It features sleep tracking to help you analyze your sleep patterns and cycles and ultimately get better rest. It also offers heart rate monitoring that will send you real-time alerts if it gets too high or too low.
On the downside, even though the manufacturer claims this watch can go for days on a single charge, many users report short battery life and having charging issues.
Pros:
- Great value
- Health and fitness tracking
- Swim proof and durable
Best Value
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active
Great bang for your buck
Durable watch that is a great value features heart rate monitoring, high-tech health and fitness tracking, and is swim-ready.
Source: Xiaomi
This budget-friendly fitness tracker gives you a lot of bang for your buck. It features heart rate monitoring, heart rate alerts, sleep monitoring so you can get a better understanding of your cycles and ultimately get better rest, and idle alerts to keep you moving. Its activity tracking can recognize six different workouts: treadmill, exercise, outdoor running, cycling, walking, and swimming. It also counts your steps, your distance, and calories burned.
This fitness tracker features an AMOLED display for sharper blacks and more vibrant colors, and it's lightweight and durable. It's water-resistant up to 50 meters so you can track your swimming and wear it in the shower. It comes with an 18mm adjustable strap, a rechargeable battery, and a battery life of up to 20 days.
Keep in mind that this is simply a fitness tracker, not a smartwatch, so that you won't get smart features like call, text, or email notifications. It's also fairly basic in its abilities, but we think that for the price, it gets the job done and does an excellent job at what it's supposed to do.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Heart rate monitoring
- Health & fitness tracking
- Great battery life
Best Budget
Xiaomi Mi Band 4
Basic fitness tracker
Budget-friendly fitness tracker that offers heart rate monitoring, health and fitness tracking, and has a great battery life.
Source: Garmin
This is a GPS running watch with great multi-sport features. It offers a wrist-based heart rate so you can run freer on race day and advanced running dynamics like VO2 max and more. It also has smart notifications, automatic uploads, and compatibility with Connect IQ for custom watch faces and apps. When used with heart rate, this watch can estimate your VO2 max and predict your race times. You can improve your form with running dynamics data such as ground contact time balance, stride length, and vertical ratio.
It pairs well with the affiliated app: Garmin Connect. Garmin Connect is a free online community where athletes can save, plan, and share their activity. It will keep track of your personal records and give you digital insights tailored to your stats and habits, like cues to move and healthy tips. You can connect with other users to challenge and compete, and it's available on your desktop or compatible mobile device.
On the downside, this watch is pricey, but we highly recommend this product to runners and anyone looking for a high-tech built-in GPS. Some users also complained of the software updates being unreliable and that the heart rate monitor isn't always super accurate.
Pros:
- Great built-in GPS
- Running + multi-sport watch
- Advanced running dynamics
- Garmin Connect
Cons:
- Pricey
- Software updates unreliable
- Heart rate monitor isn't super accurate
Best Built-in GPS
Garmin Forerunner 735XT
Designed for runners
A runner's multi-sport tracking watch that features a high-tech, built-in GPS and advanced running dynamics.
Source: iMore
When it comes to tracking your workout stats in the water, the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro is ready. It is swim-proof and ready for any type of wet activity. It will keep working and track your progress in the pool, the rain, and even the shower. You can turn on the Water Lock Mode to keep tracking your workout no matter what touches the screen. It's water-resistant up to 50 meters and can track your strokes and your laps in the pool.
You can put your workout playlists right on your wrist via Spotify. You can store up to 500 tracks, including your own MP3s. Samsung partnered with Under Armour to give you apps that help you track multiple exercises, balance your diet, and challenge your friends. You can also capture routes with built-in GPS tracking and get an all-day look at your health with continuous heart rate monitoring.
On the downside, the battery life on this watch isn't great. Many users complained of it being too short.
Pros:
- Waterproof up to 50M
- Store up to 500 tracks via Spotify
- Multi-sport tracking + built-in GPS
Best Waterproof
Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro
Swim, rain, and shower ready
Waterproof watch up to 50m tracks your workout progress in the pool and rain. It features multi-sport tracking and a built-in GPS.
Bottom line
We understand wanting to explore the various alternatives to Fitbit, which is why we comprised this list. Some of these products are smartwatches, and some are basic fitness trackers. Still, all are exceptional at fitness tracking, health monitoring, and providing you with premium and abundant high-tech features.
The Apple Watch 5 takes the cake as our best overall because it's truly in a class of its own when it comes to premium health and fitness tracking. It is state of the art and features an always-on retina display, 24/7 heart rate and ECG monitoring, noise monitoring, menstrual tracking, multi-sport tracking, built-in GPS, and an integrated cellular system so you can make calls and send texts from anywhere with just your watch (no phone required). No matter what your budget is or what your needs are, you'll find the perfect Fitbit alternative on this list of the best Fitbit alternatives.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Nicolette Roux is a master fitness instructor and health coach from sunny Los Angeles. She has worked with some of the top names and brands in the fitness industry and is no stranger to smartwatches and fitness trackers. She fully endorses every product that made this list and firmly believes that using one will keep you active, healthy, and will help you reach your fitness goals.
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Different day? different look!?Fitbit Blaze Setup
Class up or dress down your Fitbit Inspire HR with one of these bands
Your Fitbit Inspire HR is a great little fitness and health tracker meant to be worn 24/7. That doesn't mean you have to wear the same band all the time, though. You can easily swap out the standard band with a classier option for dressy occasions, or a casual option that is an alternative to silicone. We've found some great choices available now.
If you own a Fitbit Alta HR, Fitbit Charge 2, Fitbit Blaze, or Fitbit Surge and have entered your birthday into your profile, you’ve probably noticed a colorful bar graph pop up in your workout summaries. This chart tracks how much time you spent in each heart rate zone—ranges that represent a percentage of your max heart rate and correspond to different exercise intensities.
For example, you’re considered in your Fat Burn zone when your heart rate is between 50 and 69 percent of your max heart rate. (For more information, see Get in the Zone.) Targeting specific heart rate zones can help you exercise more efficiently and hit your fitness goals faster—but only if you’re using the right ones.
How can you know whether you’re exercising at the right intensities? You have to verify your max heart rate. Why? Well, that requires a brief math and science lesson. Don’t worry, you won’t be tested on this later.
How Max Heart Rate is Calculated
The most effective way find out your max heart rate is to get a maximal stress test at a cardiologist’s office, health lab, or sports science facility, says Roy Benson, running coach and co-author of Heart Rate Training.The technician will put you on a treadmill and gradually increase the pace and incline until you have to stop.
To spare you the time and money of a stress test, Fitbit estimates your max heart rate using the industry-standard formula of 220 minus your age (hence why you should put your birthday in your profile).
This formula is designed to work for the majority of the population, says Benson. But it’s impossible for it to be one hundred percent accurate for everyone because max heart rate is like height—it varies by individual.
“Max heart rate doesn’t have anything to do with performance or how fit you are,” says Benson. It’s simply a function of genetic factors, such as the size of your heart. Some hearts are larger and need to beat fewer times, while smaller hearts beat more often to push blood around your body.
As a result, true max heart rates are distributed across the population in a bell curve. That means that although two-thirds of people will have max heart rates within 12 beats of the number the formula (220-age) calculates for them, there will be outliers on both ends of the spectrum. “When you’re approaching the far slope of a bell-shaped curve, you can see some pretty extreme numbers,” says Benson. “And there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s just the way you were born.”
If you’re among that two-thirds, you’ll end up with zones that are close enough to help place you at the right exercise intensity. But if you fall within the remaining one-third, the farther your max heart rate is from the average, the less helpful automatically generated heart rate zones will be for you. And that can lead to a lot of ineffective exercise.
How Do You Know If Your Max Heart Rate is an Outlier?
While exercising, compare your rate of perceived exertion (RPE)—i.e. how hard you feel like you’re working on a scale of 6 to 20—to the exercise zone your Fitbit tracker tells you you’re in. This guide should help:
FAT BURNING ZONE
Intensity: Moderate (50 to 69 percent of your max hr)
RPE: 11-14
Feels like: Your heart rate and breathing is elevated, but you’re still able to talk in full sentences or sing out loud.
Intensity: Moderate (50 to 69 percent of your max hr)
RPE: 11-14
Feels like: Your heart rate and breathing is elevated, but you’re still able to talk in full sentences or sing out loud.
CARDIO ZONE
Intensity:Hard (70 to 84 percent of your max hr)
RPE: 15-16
Feels like: You’re breathing harder and only able to speak in short sentences, but the pace is sustainable—you’re not fantasizing about quitting or worried that you won’t be able finish the workout.
Intensity:Hard (70 to 84 percent of your max hr)
RPE: 15-16
Feels like: You’re breathing harder and only able to speak in short sentences, but the pace is sustainable—you’re not fantasizing about quitting or worried that you won’t be able finish the workout.
PEAK ZONE
Intensity: Vigorous (85 to 100 percent of your max heart rate)
RPE: 17-19
Feels like: You can only sustain this effort for a few minutes and uttering more than one word at a time is difficult.
Intensity: Vigorous (85 to 100 percent of your max heart rate)
RPE: 17-19
Feels like: You can only sustain this effort for a few minutes and uttering more than one word at a time is difficult.
If your effort level seems to match the heart rate zones indicated on your Fitbit tracker, you can skip the rest of this article and carry on, comfortable in knowing you fall within average ranges and the automatically calculated zones are working for you.
If, however, things feel out of sync—maybe every time you start to work a bit hard, your heart rate shoots to the highest zone and stays there (perhaps even exceeding your predicted max), or you find that you can work yourself to exhaustion and still not get your heart rate out of the moderate zone—then your max heart rate may be an outlier and is not adequately gauged using the predictive formula.
2 Ways to Find Your True Max Heart Rate
MAX-OUT TEST
If you exercise regularly and are fit and used to doing hard interval workouts, try a max-out test. “Go out and run for 20 to 25 minutes, gradually increasing your effort, with a really hard two minutes at the end,” says Benson. “Or do a hard interval workout, like three to four 800m (2 laps of a track) or 1200m (3 laps) repeats and make sure the last couple of minutes are all-out.” The duration of your rest periods (jogging or walking) should not exceed your hard efforts. In other words, if one 800m interval takes you three minutes and 30 seconds, your rest period should be three minutes and 30 seconds or less.
And all-out means just that: panting and pushing for the full two minutes and topping it off with a sprint. The top reading at the end of this two minutes of all-out work will be close enough to use as the basis for your heart rate zones.
Note: You can’t just run as hard as you can from the start and look at your heart rate when you feel like quitting. “You need to speed it up gradually, then once you get running really fast, increase the effort,” Benson says. A fast 100m won’t give your heart time to get to max, or, if you run a fast 400m or up a steep hill, your muscles and aerobic system will max out before your heart rate does.
Schedule this test on a day when you’re feeling rested, healthy, and motivated. It will serve as a hard workout in your training week.
SUB-MAXIMAL TEST
If the idea of pushing yourself to your limit is unappealing, you can get an estimate of your max heart rate by carefully paying attention to your effort and heart rate during a sub-maximal test.
Go to a track, run on a treadmill, or use a route where you know approximate distances, says Benson. After warming up, run three-quarters of a mile, or three laps of the track, at a gentle pace. “During this phase you should be able to talk easily and barely notice your breathing,” Benson says. “At this effort, you would not feel tired unless you went for many miles or a long time.” Note your heart rate during the last few minutes of this phase.
At the end of the three-quarter mile, do not stop. Simply speed up to a moderate pace for another 1/2 mile (2 laps). This phase should feel like running, not jogging. You can still talk, but in short sentences. Note your heart rate during the last few minutes of this phase.
At the end of your moderate laps, without stopping, speed up again for a final quarter mile (1 lap) at a strong but not maximal effort. This should feel fast—about as fast as you can run without sprinting. By the end you’ll be panting, and happy to stop, but not straining in a heroic effort. You should finish feeling like you could run another lap if you had to. Take note of your heart rate at the end of this phase.
To calculate your max heart rate, divide the easy heart rate by .75, the moderate by .85, and the final heart rate by .90. Use the average of those three numbers as your max heart rate.
Benson admits that this method is trickier, and relies on subjective evaluation of your effort, but it should get you close enough to set effective heart rate zones. And, he says, “It’s a more humane way to find your max than the cruel and unusual punishment of all-out intervals.”
Download Fitbit Software For Mac
How to Manually Set Your Max Heart Rate on Your Fitbit Account
Once you have your new max heart rate number, you can enter it into your Fitbit settings. On the Fitbit app dashboard, tap or click Account and find the option to change your heart rate zones. From there you can create a custom max heart rate. Your Fitbit will automatically calculate your heart rate zones based on this max. Going forward, you should then feel an appropriate level of effort when exercising in the easy (Fat Burn), moderate (Cardio) and hard (Peak) zones.
If you manually set your zones, they won’t automatically adjust as you age. You’ll have to reset them every few years as your max heart rate declines. Remember, this doesn’t mean you’re getting less fit—your zones are just shifting. Check out:Getting Older Affects Your Max Heart Rate (But That’s Ok!).
Fitbit Blaze Through Mac Custom Software Download
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.