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Heart rate monitoring watches make life easier for anyone wanting to monitor their heart health or track their heart rate for maximum benefit during exercise.
- Best for running with music: Garmin Forerunner 245 Music | Skip to review
- Best for coaching insights: Polar Vantage V | Skip to review
- Best for a lightweight watch: Garmin Forerunners 45S | Skip to review
- Best for rural running: Suunto 9 Baro | Skip to review
- Best for automatically tracking workouts: Fitbit Charge 5 | Skip to review
- Best for iPhone users: Apple Watch Series 8 | Skip to review
- Best for sleep tracking: Garmin Vivosmart 4 | Skip to review
- Best for blood pressure monitoring: Omron HeartGuide | Skip to review
- Best for menstrual health tracking: Fitbit Charge 4 | Skip to review
- Best for a range of outdoor activities: Garmin fēnix 5 | Skip to review
- Best for a long battery life: Polar H10 | Skip to review
- Best for replaceable batteries: Lezyne HR Flow | Skip to review
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
A heart rate monitor measures a person’s heart rate in real-time and records the data for the user. It is popular with people who like to measure their heart rate whilst exercising.
The two most common ways to measure heart rate is by electrical and optical monitors.
Electrical monitors use both a monitor or transmitter, usually on a chest strap, and a receiver. The monitor or transmitter detects a heartbeat and sends it to the receiver, which then displays the heart rate on a screen.
Optical monitors measure a person’s heart rate by
Medical News Today chooses fitness equipment that meets the following criteria:
- Price: MNT chooses products available for a wide range of budgets.
- Connectivity: Where fitness equipment has fitness memberships or subscriptions, MNT ensures variation in services that benefit a person’s health.
- Materials: MNT chooses products that have safe and durable materials that are easy to clean and maintain.
- Ease of use: MNT selects simple-to-use products that have clear instructions. If set-up is complicated, MNT chooses brands that offer a set-up or installation service.
- Quality: MNT chooses companies that adhere to high quality manufacturing processes that ensure its products are safe for personal use.
- Reputable: MNT chooses products from businesses that adhere to industry best practices and that offer reliable customer service and support.
For runners who wish to track their heart rate, the following watches could be suitable options.
Best for running with music: Garmin Forerunner 245 Music
- List price: around $350
- Battery life: up to 24 hours with GPS
- Water-resistance: up to 50 meters
- Exercise and health profiles: running, cycling, swimming
The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music can store and play music, so this product may be best suited for those who wish to listen to music when running but do not wish to take their phones with them.
This device also offers heart rate tracking, GPS tracking, blood oxygen saturation, and a variety of other features for runners.
It can measure running dynamics, such as stride length, cadence, ground contact time, and balance.
According to Garmin, the battery gives 6 hours of continuous music playback. It also logs a range of fitness data for other workouts and can calculate a person’s fitness age via the app.
Pros
- can store up to six hours of music
- offers some personalized training guidance and plans
- features built-in recovery time adviser and other performance indicators
- compatible with smartphones
- five color choices
Cons
- high cost in comparison to competitors
- does not have a smart pay feature
- no touchscreen feature
Best for coaching insights: Polar Vantage V
- List price: around $393
- Battery life: up to 40 hours with GPS
- Water-resistance: up to 100 meters
- Exercise and health profiles: running, swimming
The Polar Vantage V features coaching insights. It can tell individuals when to work out and when they should rest. The Polar Vantage V can also advise an individual on what they can do to optimize their future workouts.
Therefore, it may be suited to individuals who may benefit from these insights.
It can monitor heart rate and is waterproof, up to 100 meters, making it ideal for swimmers.
In addition, the watch can track VO2 max, which is the optimum level the heart, lungs, and muscles can effectively use oxygen as a person exercises.
It also features a calorie counter, sleep monitor, and GPS tracker.
The battery also lasts up to 40 hours.
Pros
- features a touchscreen
- long battery life
- contains an in-built barometer
- compatible with smartphones
Cons
- expensive in comparison with competitors
- does not have the ability to play music
- some customer reviews mention the product is difficult to get used to at first
- no strap color options
Best for a lightweight watch: Garmin Forerunner 45S
- List price: around $170
- Battery life: up to 13 hours with GPS
- Water-resistance: up to 50 meters
- Exercise and health profiles: running, cycling
The Garmin Forerunner 45S is lightweight, weighing just 32-36 grams. This, therefore, may be best for individuals who may prefer a lighter product.
It provides continuous heart rate monitoring, is water-resistant, compatible with smartphones, and has built-in GPS.
It is also compatible with Garmin Coach which provides training plans from coaches and plans which adapt to a person’s needs. These workouts sync directly to the watch.
The battery lasts up to 13 hours during exercise mode or up to 7 days in normal mode. It has 80 hours of memory to store data.
There is also a smart tracking option to send a user’s location to emergency contacts.
Pros
- more affordable in comparison with some competitors
- although it cannot play music itself, a person can control music on their phone from the watch
- five color options
- two choices of watch face size
- built-in incident detection and emergency assistance features
Cons
- not compatible with some sporting apps, such as Runkeeper
- although it tracks many sporting activities, it does not appear to include swimming
Best for rural running: Suunto 9 Baro
- List price: around $299
- Battery life: up to 170 hours with GPS
- Water-resistance: up to 100 meters
- Exercise and health profiles: running, cycling, swimming
The Suunto 9 Baro watch offers breadcrumb trail tracking, a built-in compass, GPS navigation and tracking, and other features for runners who wish to explore rural areas.
It provides up to 170 hours of continuous exercise monitoring. It is also waterproof up to 100 meters.
In addition to on-wrist heart tracking, a compatible chest sensor is also available to purchase.
These watches are customizable with straps available on the manufacturer’s website and on third-party sellers such as Amazon.
Pros
- is waterproof up to 100 meters, in comparison to competitors usual 50 meters
- customizable strap color, material, and optional engraving
- free shipping with a purchase of this product
- large touch screen
- compatible with the Suunto app, which can plot routes in 3D, track commutes, and find out information about road surfaces
Cons
- expensive in comparison with some competitors
- no ability for music playback
- quite heavy and bulky in comparison to competitors with similar features
Best for automatically tracking workouts: Fitbit Charge 5
- List price: around $150
- Battery life: up to 7 days
- Water-resistance: up to 50 meters
- Exercise and health profiles: all exercises
The Fitbit Charge 5 comes with SmartTrack technology, which automatically recognizes and records workouts such as swimming, running, epileptic and more. This may be best for individuals who would appreciate this automatic feature.
The watch has built-in GPS that provides a user with a map tracking their outdoor activity, such as running. The All-Day Activity Tracker tracks other activities, such as step counts, Active Zone Minutes, and calories burned throughout the day.
It can also measure skin temperature, breathing rate, sleep data, and menstrual cycle information.
Pros
- also has a stress management feature
- cheaper in comparison to competitors with similar features
- slim design, making it less bulky than competitors
- capable of vibration alarms
- can deliver irregular heart rhythm notifications
- compatible with many smartphones
Cons
- only three color options are available
- some individuals may find the smaller, slimmer screen difficult to use
- does not appear to have music control
- some features require a Fitbit Premium subscription
Best for iPhone users: Apple Watch Series 8
- List price: around $399
- Battery life: up to 18 hours with GPS
- Water-resistance: up to 50 meters
- Exercise and health profiles: all exercises
This watch is compatible with any watch band from the Apple Store and is compatible with the iPhone 8s and beyond. Therefore, it is most suitable for iPhone users.
The Apple Watch Series 8 uses an optical heart sensor to measure a person’s heart rate and provides low, high, and irregular heart rhythm alerts.
It also has built-in GPS, an emergency SOS system, 3 months free of Apple Fitness+, and a built-in speaker and mic. It can also measure blood oxygen, skin temperature, and ovulation cycles.
Pros
- water-resistant up to 50 meters
- features a family set-up where several watches can pair with one phone
- multiple colors and straps available
Cons
- not compatible with Androids or older models of iPhones
- some reviews mention that the new Apple watch does not differ much from the previous version
Best for sleep tracking: Garmin Vivosmart 4
- List price: around $130
- Battery life: up to 7 days
- Water-resistance: up to 50 meters
- Exercise and health profiles: all exercises
This watch features advanced sleep monitoring. This means a person can track their four sleep stages, movement, and blood oxygen levels. Therefore, this watch may be best suited to individuals who would like these insights.
The Garmin Vivosmart 4 can automatically detect exercises such as walking, cycling, swimming, and elliptical training.
It can measure heart rate and stress levels. People can also set a relaxation breathing timer and there is a Body Battery energy monitor to tell a person if they are ready to be active or require rest.
The battery can last up to 7 days. Using the Pulse Ox sensor will shorten the battery life.
Pros
- slim design which may feel less bulky and more lightweight
- good battery life
- cheaper than some competitors with similar features
- people can choose between two sizes: small/medium, or large
Cons
- some individuals may struggle with the smaller, slimmer screen
- only three strap color options
- does not have an in-built GPS, individuals need to connect to smartphone GPS
The following watches may suit people who wish to monitor their heart rate for health reasons or see how environmental factors affect their heartbeat.
Best for blood pressure monitoring: Omron HeartGuide
- List price: around $499
- Battery life: up to two days
- Water-resistance: none
- Exercise and health profiles: monitors blood pressure
According to Omron, this watch is the first to offer a clinically accurate blood pressure monitor. It also has FDA approval as a medical device. Therefore, it may be best for individuals with high or low blood pressure who need to track this.
It can also monitor physical activity and measure sleep quality. Additionally, a person can set reminders using the monitor and receive notifications from their smartphone.
People can expect to charge the watch 2–3 times a week.
Pros
- compatible with smartphones and can provide smartphone notifications
- allows users to set physical activity goals
- monitors blood pressure fluctuations
- has FDA approval as a medical device
Cons
- expensive in comparison to some other smart watches
- lower battery life than competitors
- many customer reviews mention that the blood pressure readings are inaccurate
Best for menstrual health tracking: Fitbit Charge 4
- List price: around $146
- Battery life: up to 7 days
- Water-resistance: up to 50 meters
- Exercise and health profiles: all exercises and menstrual health
The Fitbit Charge 4 may be suitable for those wishing to track their menstrual cycle.
It features GPS connectivity, sleep tracking, and 24-hour heart monitoring. The device also connects to the Fitbit app via phone, tablet, or computer.
This tracker monitors several health metrics, such as heart rate and steps taken.
The battery lasts up to 7 days, while the watch features secure contactless payment technology. This means a person can pay for items with the device without needing to take out a bank card or cash.
Pros
- contact payment technology
- cheaper than some competitors
- slim design, so less bulky than some competitors
- lightweight in comparison to competitors
- good battery life
Cons
- some individuals may find the smaller, slimmer display more difficult to read
- only one size strap is available
- a person can only use music playback if they have Spotify Premium
Best for a range of outdoor activities: Garmin fēnix 5
- List price: around $500
- Battery life: up to 60 hours
- Water-resistance: up to 100 meters
- Exercise and health profiles: running, cycling, outdoor activity, golfing, menstrual health
The fēnix 5 offers built-in GPS, accurate heart rate tracking, and a range of activity trackers, such as running, golfing, cycling, swimming, and outdoor recreation. Therefore, it may be best for individuals who take part in a range of outdoor activities.
It comes in 16 different styles and colors.
According to Garmin, the battery lasts for up to 24 hours in heart rate and GPS mode and up to 60 hours in GPS-only mode. In smartwatch mode, the battery could last for 2 weeks.
Pros
- wide range of colors and styles
- long battery life in smartwatch mode
- three choices of case size
- for an extra cost, a person can purchase a sapphire scratch-resistant lens
Cons
- expensive in comparison with some competitors
- bulkier than many competitors
- is not completely touchscreen controlled
- no music playback ability
There are several other heart rate devices available to buy online, including:
Best for a long battery life: Polar H10
- List price: around $85
- Battery life: up to 400 hours
- Water-resistance: up to 30 meters
- Exercise and health profiles: compatible with other devices that track fitness metrics
The Polar H10 has a very long battery life of up to 400 hours.
It is a budget heart rate monitor, suitable for people who do not need any additional features. It may also be suited for those who do not wish to charge their device too often.
This chest strap can connect to its custom app or other fitness apps. People can also wear it while swimming, and it offers up to 400 hours of battery life.
It comes in five strap colors.
Pros
- cheaper than smartwatches
- five strap colors to choose from
- features non-slip silicone spots to avoid slipping
- some may find this chest strap more convenient than a wristwatch
Cons
- very limited features
- no sleep tracking or music features
- some may prefer the convenience of wearing a watch around the wrist
Best for replaceable batteries: Lezyne HR Flow
- List price: around $45
- Battery life: uses a replaceable battery
- Water-resistance: no information available
- Exercise and health profiles: monitors heart rate
The Lezyne HR Flow is another budget option for those looking for a basic but accurate heart rate monitor.
This monitor uses a replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery rather than a rechargeable battery. It may be best suited to those who would rather use disposable batteries and would like a budget heart rate monitor option.
The Lezyne HR Flow comes without GPS or features that other heart rate monitors or smart watches might include.
It has a Bluetooth feature, enabling it to connect with most smartphones, and it comes with a flexible chest strap.
Pros
- cheapest heart rate monitor on the list
- has Bluetooth to allow for smartphone compatibility
- flexible and adjustable strap
Cons
- does not have a rechargeable battery
- very limited features
- does not have music or sleep-tracking features
- is not clear whether the device is water resistant
- no strap color options
The table below summarises the main features of some of the best heart rate monitoring watches.
| List price | Battery life | Water-resistance | Plays music? | Exercise and health profiles | Sleep tracking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Forerunner Music | around $350 | up to 24 hours with GPS | up to 50 meters | yes | • running • cycling • swimming | yes |
| Polar Vantage V | around $393 | up to 40 hours with GPS | up to 100 meters | no | • running • swimming | yes |
| Garmin Forerunner 45S | around $170 | up to 13 hours with GPS | up to 50 meters | no | • running • cycling | yes |
| Suunto 9 Baro | around $299 | up to 170 hours with GPS | up to 100 meters | no | • running • cycling • swimming | yes |
| Fitbit Charge 5 | around $150 | up to 7 days | up to 50 meters | no information available | all exercises | yes |
| Apple Watch Series 8 | around $399 | up to 18 hours with GPS | up to 50 meters | yes | all exercises | yes |
| Garmin Vivosmart 4 | around $130 | up to 7 days | up to 50 meters | no | all exercises | yes |
| Omron HeartGuide | around $499 | up to 2 days | none | no | monitors blood pressure | yes |
| Fitbit Charge 4 | around $146 | up to 7 days | up to 50 meters | yes | all exercises and menstrual health | yes |
| Garmin fēnix 5 | around $500 | up to 60 hours | up to 100 meters | no | • running • cycling • outdoor activity • golfing • menstrual health | yes |
| Polar H10 | around $85 | up to 400 hours | up to 30 meters | no | compatible with other devices that track fitness metrics | no |
| Lezyne HR Flow | around $45 | uses a replaceable battery | no information available | no | monitors heart rate | no |
While variations in heart rate are typical, especially when a person is exercising, consistently high or low heart rate may require contacting a healthcare professional.
Additionally, people should seek
- chest pain or discomfort
- shortness of breath
- lightheadedness or dizziness
- heart palpitations
- pain or discomfort in the neck, jaw, or arms
Here we answer some common questions about heart rate monitoring watches.
What is the best way to track heart rate?
Chest strap monitors provide the
If a person does not have access to any devices, they can track their heart rate manually. According to the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, the best way to measure heart rate manually is to find the pulse in the wrist or neck.
To find the pulse at the wrist, people should place their index and middle finger at the base of the thumb on the inside of the wrist. To find the pulse in the neck, people should place their index and middle finger at the side of the throat, underneath the jaw, and beside the windpipe.
Then, they can set a timer for 60 seconds and count the heartbeats. Alternatively, they can count the heartbeats for 30 seconds and multiply the number by two.
Are wrist heart rate monitors accurate?
Wrist heart rate monitors are reasonably accurate.
One
What is a good resting heart rate by age?
The
| Age | Target resting heart rate (bpm) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 100 – 170 |
| 30 | 95 – 162 |
| 40 | 90 – 153 |
| 50 | 85 – 145 |
| 60 | 80 – 136 |
| 70 | 75 – 128 |
Many smartwatches can track heart rate at rest, during exercise, and at night. While there are many options and styles, people may wish to choose theirs based on personal preference and the features they want, such as long battery life, GPS, and water resistance.
Runners and exercise enthusiasts may wish to consider more expensive watches that can track various physical activities. In contrast, people who simply want to monitor their heart health may opt for a simple watch they can wear every day that tracks their heartbeat.
Please note: Medical News Today does not imply warranty of fitness for a particular purpose or endorse any of these applications. Nobody at MNT has evaluated these apps for medical accuracy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved them unless otherwise indicated.