Best Fitbit 2023: Every model compared

There's such a selection of Fitbit smartwatches and fitness bands nowadays that it can feel mindboggling trying to choose the right device. That's why we've set up this feature, to try and compare Fitbit models.

The Fitbit Sense 2 and Charge 6 have reached another level of features and health tracking with ECG and advanced stress tracking on board, so, really, this is actually a choice about which things you want to track.

Fitbit devices range from simple step and sleep trackers (like the Fitbit Inspire 3) to in-depth monitors of your heart rate, sleep stages, and even body temperature and stress levels (Fitbit Sense 2).

You also need to weigh up whether you want a fitness tracker or a smartwatch form factor, which is a big part of the decision. 

Read on for our guidance - all based on years of reviews and testing.

• Buy the best: Top fitness trackers reviewed
• Top choices: Best smartwatches for your needs

Fitbit comparison chart

Fitbit Charge 6

Wareable

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The most advanced Fitbit tracker

The Charge 6 is Fitbit's latest release and its flagship tracker - but not much has necessarily changed here from the previous generation released back in 2021.

The stainless steel case and AMOLED display are still present, as is the sensor array that provides insights into skin temperature, daily stress (EDA sensor), heart rhythms (ECG), blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), and location tracking (GPS). 

While it may look and act almost identically to the Charge 5, however, there are a couple of significant additions here to be aware of.

One is the return of the side button, last seen in the Charge 4, and this makes interacting with the device a much more pleasant experience. 

It's also handy for quickly firing up things like Google Wallet - another new feature that really helps bolster the Charge 6's smart credentials. It's joined by Google Maps, as well, which delivers very solid (if a little cramped) turn-by-turn navigation.

We've now had time to review and live with the device for a while - and, while we do generally recommend it, it's important to understand the Charge 6's blind spots, too.

If you want the chunkier, more male-friendly form factor - or features like ECG - it's a no-brainer. The Charge 6 brings Fitbit's platform to your wrist in a sleek and very easy-to-wear package that's made even better with the reintroduction of the side button.

Yet, we've found the GPS accuracy to be very problematic, which undermines a huge part of its USP. And, if you're not interested in ECG, then is it worth paying more for?

For a lot of people, the Fitbit Luxe is the smarter buy. It's a question of personal design preference and interest in those advanced features.

• Read our in-depth Fitbit Charge 6 review

Fitbit Inspire 3

Wareable

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Best fitness tracker

We love the new Inspire 3 – and it's a massive update from the under-loved Fitbit Inspire 2 – and probably the best fitness tracker money can buy.

The color screen makes the whole experience better and doesn't compromise on battery life, with 10 days on offer between charges. We got over a week in our heavy testing.

What's more, SpO2 also makes its debut on the Inspire 3 for the first time, which is now ubiquitous across the whole range. And Fitbit packs in a temperature sensor, so it will offer the full range of Health Metrics dashboard features. 

Add in the new continuous scanning for heart rhythm problems and Active Zone Minutes, top sleep tracking (including the new sleep profiles), and not-too-shabby workout tracking – the Inspire 3 is extraordinarily complete.

• Read our full Fitbit Inspire 3 review

Fitbit Versa 4

Wareable

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Best Fitbit smartwatch

The Versa 4 is the revamped version of Fitbit's smartwatch, and with an excellent 6 days of battery life and a mid-range price tag, it offers a strong alternative to the Pixel Watch.

The key to understanding the Versa 4 is that it unlocks the main Fitbit experience in a smartwatch form factor. You get brilliant sleep tracking, heart rate data, and the Health Metrics dashboard – and it's a decent workout partner as well.

There's no ECG here, but it will scan for irregular heart rate events using the PPG sensor.

Fitbit has added a tactile button to the case, which makes the watch easier to use, and it's lighter too.

However, the Versa 4 is not a groundbreaking smartwatch. While it does basic notifications, the improved Google Wallet and Google Maps aren't launched yet – and things like watch faces feel clunky. What's more, there are zero apps or third-party experiences.

In short, it's a great Fitbit and an average smartwatch, and thus still easily recommended to those who value the strengths of Fitbit over techy features.

• Read our extensive Fitbit Versa 4 review

Fitbit Sense 2

Wareable

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Best for stress tracking 

Fitbit's flagship health watch is back, and it's gone all-in on stress tracking.

The EDA sensor, which reads stress responses via the palm, is now continuous. It's called the Body Response Sensor and can offer a much more detailed look at stressful feelings, and it will prompt you for manual feedback on how you feel. 

If you're concerned about stress, it can provide an interesting touchpoint in taking control of your feelings. However, we found it wasn't actionable enough, and didn't connect the dots between stress and our own behaviors and habits, such as stress, nutrition, and sleep.

The Fitbit Sense 2 is lighter and thinner than its predecessor and still packs in the ECG sensor found on the original Sense.

We tested the Fitbit Sense 2 and found that it's still an excellent health watch - even though problems persist as a smartwatch. Most Fitbits will now scan for heart rhythm issues using the HR sensor, and even the Inspire 3 now packs SpO2 and temperature sensing.

It means that the Sense 2 feels hard to justify at this price point; especially when the Versa 4 offers broadly the same features for less cash.

• Read our Fitbit Sense 2 review

Fitbit Luxe

Wareable

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Best Fitbit for style 

There's a new Fitbit in town and it's bringing some much-needed style to the party. The Fitbit Luxe introduces a stainless steel case and a color AMOLED display, both of which are a huge visual step up from the Charge and Inspire.

It's something you might want to wear. And while the look and feel are Luxe, the price tag is not.

It comes in white, black, and orchid (pink) options and there's a special edition with a gold link bracelet. It's not exclusively for women, but quite obviously marketed that way.

• Compare: Charge 5 vs Luxe

In terms of features, there's nothing exclusive to Luxe, but plenty of top features filter down the Fitbit range. It's not as advanced as the Charge 4 (there's no GPS, for example) but trumps the Inspire range with its SpO2 sensor for blood oxygen.

There's also a new drive towards mindfulness, and it will keep tabs on stress using a daily stress score. That feature is rolling out across Fitbit devices. That's on top of sleep, heart rate, and steps – everything you expect from Fitbit.

In short, the Luxe puts the best parts of the Fitbit experience in a nicer, sleeker, and more stylish package. What's not to like about that?

• Check out our in-depth Fitbit Luxe review

Google Pixel Watch 2

Wareable

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Best smartwatch with Fitbit powers

The Pixel Watch 2 is a Fitbit in its own right, with the core tracking experience powered by the Google-owned company's algorithms and stylings.

The key difference between the second-gen Pixel Watch and a Fitbit smartwatch like the Sense 2 is that it runs on Wear OS 4, rather than the Fitbit OS. That means it offers the full selection of apps from Google's suite, as well as third-party offerings from the Google Play Store.

The Pixel Watch 2 itself boasts a 41mm circular case with a domed screen, which certainly catches the eye. It's a great-looking watch, albeit slightly small on larger male wrists. We wish Google offered a 45mm version – but it's refreshing to see a smartwatch better suited to female wrists for once, on the same note.

The ace up its sleeve is access to Fitbit services. You'll use the Fitbit app to view everything that's tracked, including the 24/7 heart rate data, Health Metrics Dashboard information, sleep tracking with stages data, and even Premium-only features such as Daily Readiness.

The big downside for this extra power and features, however, is battery life.

Still only able to last around 24 hours, you'll be charging the Pixel Watch 2 every day. And, given that something like Versa 4 can manage around 5-6 days, it's a very different proposition. With the significantly larger price tag, as well, it's not an automatic recommendation.

• Read our extensive Google Pixel Watch 2 review

Fitbit Ace 3

Wareable

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The best Fitbit for kids

The Fitbit Ace 3 is aimed at kids aged six and up, with the latest generation featuring a modular design that utilizes a bumper to keep the display a little more protected as kids run around and play.

The Ace 3 puts move reminders at its core, reminding kids to get those 250 steps per minute on their way to 60 minutes of active time per day.

It's still a monochrome display, so no color options here. And the main features are still step tracking, sports monitoring, and sleep insights. There’s no heart rate monitor, but it does boast swim-proof 5ATM water resistance.

There are also bedtime reminders and silent alarms to help parents get a settled sleep schedule and there are also timers and race the stopwatch features built into the watch.

The larger tracker also means a boost in battery life and it will now last 8 days between charging, up from 6 days on the previous generation.

This article was first published in December 2015. However, we update it frequently to reflect the newest Fitbit devices, making sure that we've tested the latest and greatest devices available to buy.