You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a decent fitness tracker. Seriously—the options under $50 nowadays actually work pretty well. Heart rate, steps, sleep, workouts, the basics are all covered. The big trade-offs at this price are usually built-in GPS (most borrow your phone’s) and fancy health sensors like blood oxygen or ECG. But for everyday tracking, you’re golden.
I’ve tested most of these and rounded up the five best options below.
Budget fitness trackers give you the essentials: heart rate monitoring, step counting, basic sleep tracking, and phone notifications. The main thing you’re giving up compared to premium models is built-in GPS—most use your phone’s GPS instead. You also won’t get blood oxygen sensing or ECG.
The good news? The gap between cheap and expensive has shrunk a lot. Many under-$50 options now include water resistance, multiple sport modes, and batteries that last way longer than flagship smartwatches. The trick is figuring out which features actually matter for your routine.
| Model | Price (Approx.) | Battery Life | Water Resistance | Heart Rate | Sleep Tracking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi Band 7 | $35-45 | 14-18 days | 5ATM | Yes | Yes |
| Amazfit Band 7 | $40-50 | 18 days | 5ATM | Yes | Yes |
| Honor Band 7 | $35-45 | 14 days | 5ATM | Yes | Yes |
| Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 | $35-45 | 15 days | 5ATM | Yes | Yes |
| Fitbit Inspire 3 | $40-50 | 10 days | 5ATM | Yes | Yes |
Price: Around $35-45 | Battery: Up to 18 days
The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 earns the top spot. It’s small, lightweight, and does almost everything you’d want without the premium price tag.
The screen bumped up to 1.62 inches from the previous version—that doesn’t sound like much, but it actually makes reading stats way easier when you’re mid-run. The AMOLED display is bright and clear, even outdoors.
For fitness tracking, you’ve got over 110 sport modes. Running, cycling, swimming, HIIT, whatever. The heart rate sensor runs 24/7 and is accurate enough for casual use. Sleep tracking got better too—it now breaks down REM and deep sleep, not just total hours.
Downsides: some features are region-locked depending on where you live, and the app is honestly kind of a mess with ads. Minor annoyances, but worth knowing.
Pros:
– Battery lasts 2+ weeks without trying
– Large, bright AMOLED display
– Tons of fitness tracking features
– Lightweight enough to forget you’re wearing it
Cons:
– App experience isn’t great
– No built-in GPS—uses your phone’s
Price: Around $40-50 | Battery: Up to 18 days
If you hate charging things, this is the one. The battery life on the Amazfit Band 7 is genuinely nuts—15 to 18 days with normal use, including always-on heart rate monitoring. Even with GPS tracking on runs, it holds up.
Speaking of GPS: this one actually has built-in GPS built in. That’s rare at this price and a big deal if you want to run without carrying your phone. Health features include heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), stress levels, and sleep quality. The PAI system gives you a weird but occasionally useful activity score.
The look is sleek, though I personally prefer Xiaomi’s slightly more angular design. Display is AMOLED and readable everywhere.
Pros:
– Insane battery life
– Built-in GPS (uncommon under $50)
– Includes SpO2 and other health metrics
– App is less cluttered than Xiaomi’s
Cons:
– A bit chunkier on the wrist
– GPS can take a moment to lock on
Price: Around $35-45 | Battery: Up to 14 days
The Honor Band 7 is the budget champ. It undercuts most competitors on price while still delivering the features that matter.
The 1.47-inch AMOLED screen is plenty big for notifications and stats. Interface is straightforward—nothing fancy, but you won’t waste time figuring it out. Heart rate monitoring runs constantly, sleep tracking gives you decent breakdown, and 96 sport modes cover basically any activity you can think of.
Where this wins is comfort. The silicone band is soft and breathable, so wearing it 24/7 (including sleep) doesn’t annoy your skin. That’s important for sleep tracking accuracy.
Pros:
– Best price-to-feature balance
– Comfortable for all-day and overnight wear
– Good display
– Reliable basic tracking
Cons:
– Battery life is shorter than rivals (but still solid)
– Doesn’t integrate with many third-party apps
– No built-in GPS
Price: Around $35-45 | Battery: Up to 15 days
Already using Samsung phones? This integrates nicely. It works with any Android or iOS device, but Samsung users get smoother pairing and some exclusive features.
The curved, edge-to-edge display looks way more expensive than it is. It’s slim and light—good for never taking it off. The 5ATM water resistance handles swimming fine.
Samsung Health powers the tracking, which is a solid platform with reliable accuracy. It auto-detects walks, runs, bike rides, and elliptical sessions. Sleep tracking gives you stages and a sleep score.
Battery hits about two weeks. I like that it shows exact percentage—never get caught off guard.
Pros:
– Plays nice with Samsung ecosystem
– Looks premium despite low price
– Auto workout detection works well
– Solid sleep tracking
Cons:
– Fewer customization options
– Smaller notification screen
– No built-in GPS
Price: Around $40-50 | Battery: Up to 10 days
Fitbit’s name carries weight, and the Inspire 3 brings their tracking accuracy to a lower price point. It costs a bit more than rivals and battery is shorter, but the software experience might be worth it.
Design is clean and minimal—looks more like a regular watch and less like a fitness gadget. That’s a plus if you don’t want something screaming “I’m tracking my steps.”
The app is where Fitbit shines. Trends, patterns, insights—it’s actually useful for understanding your health over time. Sleep tracking is particularly good, with detailed Sleep Scores and stage breakdowns.
Ten days of battery is the weakest here. Worth turning off always-on display to stretch it.
Pros:
– Best-in-class sleep analysis
– Fitbit app is genuinely good
– Clean, attractive design
– Solid brand support
Cons:
– Battery only lasts about 10 days
– No built-in GPS
– Fewer sports modes than competitors
Here’s what actually matters when picking between these.
What are you actually tracking? Runners who don’t want to carry a phone need built-in GPS—Amazfit Band 7 is your only option under $50. Otherwise, any of these work fine for steps, sleep, and general activity.
Nothing worse than your tracker dying mid-workout. Xiaomi and Amazfit lead here at 2+ weeks. Honor and Samsung are close behind. Fitbit needs charging most often.
Check what apps play nice with what you already use. Samsung Fit 2 pairs best with Samsung phones and Samsung Health. Fitbit Inspire 3 needs the Fitbit app. Xiaomi and Honor use their own apps but can sync to Google Fit.
Bigger screen = easier to read mid-workout. Xiaomi and Amazfit have the largest displays here.
All five track heart rate continuously. For casual athletes, any of them are accurate enough. They won’t match a chest strap, but for everyday use, fine.
All do it, but depth varies. Fitbit gives the most detailed analysis. Xiaomi and Amazfit offer solid basic tracking with sleep stages.
All are 5ATM—safe for swimming, showering, rain. Skip hot tubs and saunas though; steam messes with the seals.
All display notifications, but bigger screens handle them better. None let you respond—they’re view-only.
What’s the best fitness smartwatch under $50?
Xiaomi Mi Band 7—best overall balance of features, battery, and price.
Are cheap heart rate monitors accurate enough?
Yep. Xiaomi, Amazfit, Honor, Samsung, and Fitbit all provide decent accuracy for casual use.
Do budget trackers have built-in GPS?
Usually no—they use your phone’s GPS. Amazfit Band 7 is the exception with actual built-in GPS.
Longest battery life?
Amazfit Band 7 and Xiaomi Mi Band 7 both hit 15-18 days easily.
Are sub-$50 fitness trackers worth it?
Absolutely. You get meaningful tracking for heart rate, sleep, steps, and workouts. The quality-to-price ratio at this level is honestly surprising.
Can I swim with these?
Yes—all five are 5ATM water resistant.
Xiaomi Mi Band 7 is the safe pick for most people. Great battery, solid features, good screen, reasonable price. It’s not flashy, but it works.
That said:
Any of these will serve you well. Budget trackers have actually gotten good—you’re not making a huge sacrifice anymore. Just pick the one that fits how you’ll actually use it.
Smartwatches have moved beyond simple step counting. The latest devices track heart rhythm, analyze sleep…
Finding the right smartwatch can transform your weight loss journey. These devices do far more…
I've tested dozens of wearables in real gym environments—from heavy lifting sessions to high-intensity interval…
Not all water-resistant watches actually track your swims well. Pool tracking, lap counting, stroke detection,…
Finding the right smartwatch for cycling isn't about strap style or brand loyalty—it's about getting…
After testing dozens of devices across trails, tracks, and treadmills throughout 2024, I've compiled this…