8 Best Heart Rate Monitors, Tested by Our Fitness Editors

We’ve been raving about Whoop for years, and it’s still one of our favorite fitness trackers simply because it collects so much useful data. This stylish and understated device uses PPG sensors to continuously check your heart rate, and can use the data it captures to figure out when your deepest sleep is happening.

Every day it delivers a recovery percentage and suggests the level of activity you should aim for, whether that a five-mile run or a rest day. In the past, the brand stuck with a simple black band, but these days there are more color and style options for anyone wanting to elevate the look of their HRM.

I personally am a fan of the ability to check my insights when I want, without a distractingly bright screen that pulls my attention.

Read More: Our Review of Whoop

While products like the Whoop band and the Oura Ring are relatively new on the scene, Garmin has been making wearable fitness trackers for a long time now. This heart rate monitor transmits real-time heart rate data over ANT+ connectivity and Bluetooth, giving you the immediate feedback you need to take your performance to the next level.

This Garmin comes with a rechargeable battery with a seriously long life (two months). It charges easily using the provided 4-pin charging cable, similar to the ones that come with their watches.

We were also impressed with how comfortable this strap is to wear, made out of a lightweight nylon weave. For placement, you want to put the sensor in the middle of your ribcage against your skin, not over your clothes, so that it can get the best readings. Once you are done with your run, you will be able to connect it to your smartphone or Garmin watch via Bluetooth, and then pull up your stats from the menu option.

Because this Garmin has Bluetooth, it is also able to connect pretty simply to cardio machines at your gym like treadmills if you want to track your workouts there. If you are a Garmin fan, and want even more functionality and access to the Garmin Connect app, you may want to spring for the Garmin HRM Pro model (about $60 more).

Read More: Best Fitness Trackers, Tested by Us

This is a subtle and sleek way to monitor your heart rate throughout the day. Most people aren’t going to wear a ring like this while lifting weights, which is why we love the Oura Ring to track those important metrics during the 23 hours of the day that you’re not at the gym. What’s most impressive about the Oura Ring is its small size, and how one small ring can monitor your sleep, steps, and heart rate.

This ring gives you all the information you need to make improvements in your daily health and well-being. For those looking to try a smart ring for the first time, it doesn’t get better than Oura, which is why it took the top spot in our best smart rings testing and this head-to-head piece against the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

Read More: The Oura Ring Vs. the Galaxy Ring

When it comes to heart rate monitors, the chest strap is by far the most accurate piece of wearable tech. The Polar H10 works with all your favorite devices and apps (Polar, Garmin, Apple, Suunto, Strava, etc.) to provide precise metrics that you can use to inform your fitness goals.

There is a reason this bas been named our favorite pick for multi-sport athletes. It’s perfect for those taking on triathlons, because it is much better waterproof rating than other chest straps on the market like the Garmin HRM.

For a more affordable option, check out the CooSpo Heart Rate Monitor. It monitors your performance in real time and is compatible with fitness apps, bike computers, sports watches, and even gym equipment like the Peloton. The sensor is waterproof and sweatproof, so you can take it with you on those cold or wet training days.

That being said, don’t try to track any of your swims with this device on, unless you want to emerge from the water with a useless brick attached to you. For the price point though, this HRM is a great deal for anyone looking to track any above sea level efforts.

The Pixel Watch 4 from Google is packed with useful features. One of our favorites is Active Zone Minutes, which uses your resting heart rate to gauge exercise effort and give you a buzz when it’s time to step up the intensity so you can make the most of your workouts. It monitors activity, sleep, and nightly blood oxygen levels, tracking your trends over time to see important changes in your overall health.

This is a great pick for anyone looking to get great health insights from a wrist piece, who also would like a subtly stylish look. Since Google now owns Fitbit, this watch features some of that great Fitbit technology, which means there are a lot of great integrations if you have a Google account. But because of this, the pairing with iOS devices is not optimal. Something to take into consideration if you’re an Apple user.

Google also knows how to make app experiences easy on new users, including older users without a lot of time with technology.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is essentially a wearable personal trainer and advisor powered by AI. With built-in pace coaching and a heart rate monitor, you can add and customize your workouts for maximum efficiency, helping you reach your fitness goals in no time. It connects to your smartphone so you can easily take calls, receive texts, or pull up directions with the flick of your wrist.

The newer design is certainly better looking than previous editions. The integrated Run Coach also impressed some of our editors, guiding those who require additional motivation.

That being said, despite the fact that the Galaxy Watch 8 supports iOS and iPhone users through its companion app, those users might be better over going for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 for the additional integrations. The heart rate measurements and sleep tracking is where this device really shines, which is perfect for those looking for a new HRM.

Read more: Best Smartwatches, Tested By Us

The Apple Watch is by far one of the most popular smartwatches on the market, and like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, it also tracks quite a lot of data, including heart rate. Although not as accurate as the chest bands, the Apple Watch 11 gets the job done well enough for the casual fitness goer.

In addition to heart rate, it also features an SpO2 sensor to monitor blood oxygen level readings, an ECG to test for atrial fibrillation, fitness tracking, sleep monitoring, and all the run-of-the-mill smartwatch features. Our editors have already spent some time with this latest release, and it’s fair to say we’re suitably impressed.

Read More: Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 Reviews