Keep track of your ticker! These are the best heart rate monitors I’ve tested in 2025

While reviewing the new model, I tested the accuracy throughout a range of activities, including running, cycling, rowing, strength sessions, and daily wear. No matter the context, the heart rate data remained impressively stable and precise. Even during workouts with lots of movement or wrist flexion, where most wearables struggle, the watch matched trusted monitors and offered a much comfortable fit than a chest strap.

Beyond accuracy, Fitbit’s built-in platform also adds meaningful value, from real-time heart rate zones during workouts to post-exercise metrics like Cardio Load and Readiness. The watch also auto-detects many common workouts, offers ECG support, and accurately tracks additional metrics like sleep and stress.  Add in improved battery life and a powerful Wear OS experience, and the Pixel Watch 4 easily earns its place on my wrist.

I’ve worn the H10 during long runs, HIIT workouts, cycling sessions, and strength training, and it never falters. Because it sits close to the heart and uses electrical heart rate monitoring, it avoids many of the issues that plague wrist-based monitors, especially during workouts with tons of arm movement or grip-intensive exercises. Think weight lifting or even rowing. If heart rate accuracy is your top priority, and especially if you’re data mining or targeting specific zones, the Polar H10 is still the most trustworthy tool you can use.

I don’t personally love the feeling of a chest strap, but as straps go, the Polar H10 is comfortable enough for extended wear, and Polar’s mobile app offers basic insights for standalone use. But where the H10 really shines is in pairing with third-party fitness platforms, GPS watches, and apps like Strava. It supports both Bluetooth and ANT+, so it plays well with just about any device.

Greatly improving on past models, Wahoo’s Trackr maintains a stable connection throughout every session, making it a much more dependable option than others I’ve tested from the company. I wore it for everything from running and cycling to strength and HIIT workouts, and was pleasantly surprised by the perfect data it recorded. Meanwhile, the soft, adjustable strap fits comfortably and securely, though wetting the sensors before use remains a necessary nuisance.

With up to 100 hours of battery life and a simple magnetic charging cable, the rechargeable lithium-ion battery eliminates the hassle of coin-cell replacements, a convenience I really appreciate. It also means less e-waste, and I truly never know how to safely dispose of batteries. It supports both ANT+ and Bluetooth, allowing easy pairing with a wide range of devices and apps. However, it’s not a good choice for swimmers as it doesn’t support any onboard data storage, and broadcasting isn’t reliable through the water.

The Verity Sense uses optical heart rate tracking but consistently delivers data that rivals chest straps, especially when worn snugly. In my experience, it’s among the most accurate optical sensors available, even during high-intensity workouts and exercises with a lot of upper body movement (like when I force myself to begrudgingly do burpees). It’s a go-to for me in situations where comfort matters, like longer cardio sessions or mixed training days.

The band itself is soft, adjustable, and stays firmly in place without slipping or digging in. It’s lightweight enough to forget about during a workout and secure enough to handle everything from tennis to HIIT. Like the Wahoo Trackr, it features a rechargeable battery (but with only up to 20 hours of runtime) and also supports both Bluetooth and ANT+. And while aesthetics rarely matter in heart rate tracking, the Verity Sense does come in a few color options—an appreciated bonus if you care what your gear looks like in the gym.  

Like many generations of Apple Watch before it, the Series 11 consistently delivers reliable, real-time heart rate data across a range of workouts. Whether I’m logging a strength session, clocking an interval run, or just tracking daily activity, the optical heart rate sensor holds close to my control devices (namely, chest straps), and Apple’s algorithms remain among the smartest in the game, adjusting seamlessly between workout intensities and background monitoring without major drops or spikes.

The device also supports ECG recordings, high and low heart rate alerts, and Irregular Rhythm Notifications. This year, Apple also introduced blood pressure monitoring and an updated sleep tracking experience. In other words, this is a well-rounded health companion. Of course, you also get the full Apple experience, including seamless iPhone integration, unmatched third-party app support, and tons of fitness and wellness insights baked into Apple Health.

In my testing, the ScanWatch 2 provided dependable resting heart rate readings, and it even offers customizable high and low heart rate alerts. These will notify you after 10 minutes of inactivity if your heart rate falls outside preset ranges. It also offers on-demand ECG recordings with FDA-cleared atrial fibrillation detection, plus irregular rhythm notifications, making it a standout hybrid device for serious monitoring. It isn’t designed as a hardcore fitness tracker, and its heart rate data can be less consistent during intense workouts or rapid movement, but the ScanWatch 2 excels at passive, all-day wellness tracking.

Furthering its convenience, the device’s battery lasts up to 30 days, which is remarkable compared to my AMOLED-touting smartwatch stable. It also tracks additional health metrics like SpO₂ and continuous skin temperature monitoring, plus highly reliable sleep tracking. These all add valuable context to users’ heart rate data, all of which can be found in the device’s clean, easy-to-use companion app.

While it’s not built for real-time workout heart rate feedback, the Oura Ring 4 shines at all-day and overnight monitoring, providing detailed insights into your recovery and overall cardiovascular health through its intuitive app. Oura focuses on trends and big-picture wellness rather than streaks or stats, and it’s an approach I love for overall wellness tracking. The insights and guidance also improve the longer you wear the device.

Meanwhile, its slim, comfortable design makes it easy to wear 24/7, and it blends effortlessly with my everyday jewelry. The battery also lasts me about four full days, so I don’t have to obsess over a charging schedule, which is a huge plus for something you’re supposed to wear continuously. Plus, the ring’s water resistance means I can keep it on through showers and sweaty workouts, though I usually remove it when swimming out of fear of losing it.