These little gadgets count our steps, track sleep, and sometimes even nudge us to stand up—without costing more than a week’s worth of sandwiches. With so many choices, we want to help you save your cash for smoothies or, who knows, maybe an actual gym membership.
Fitness trackers have gotten a lot smarter lately. Even affordable models now keep tabs on heart rate, calories burned, and basic workouts.
They sync with our phones, so we’re always just a glance away from seeing if we hit 10,000 steps—or just made seventeen trips to the fridge.
When we hunt for a budget tracker, we check build quality, battery life, and whether it actually counts steps instead of just pretending we’re marathoners while we’re petting the dog. It helps if the app is easy to use and the screen isn’t microscopic.
We tested several popular options under $50 to see which ones actually deliver a decent mix of features, reliability, and a little motivation to get up and move.
Best Budget Fitness Trackers Under $50
Let’s be real—most of us want to get fit without emptying our wallets. We found some budget-friendly fitness trackers that actually get the job done.
Here are our top picks for staying active without breaking the bank.
If you want a fitness tracker that does more than nag you about your step count (and doesn’t empty your wallet), this gadget is a strong contender.
Pros
Tracks a wide range of fitness stats for nearly any activity you can imagine
Colorful display and plenty of watch faces to suit your mood
Battery lasts longer than most people’s motivation
Cons
Display isn’t super bright in full sunlight
App interface can be confusing at first
Strap feels okay, but it’s not exactly luxury
Once we wrapped this tracker around our wrist, it felt lightweight and comfortable—no awkward bulk. Swapping watch faces was oddly satisfying, and the tracker didn’t fight us about it (unlike our last one).
We put it through its paces during everything from neighborhood runs to our most intense home-dancing sessions. It kept up, rarely missing a beat—except when we forgot to charge it (which, thankfully, wasn’t often).
Notifications for calls, texts, and urgent pet memes landed on our wrist reliably. Navigating all 104 sports modes made us laugh—who knew we could log martial arts, skiing, and dancing all in one day if we were that ambitious?
Waterproofing was handy when we “forgot” to take it off for the third time while rinsing dishes. Glancing at our sleep stats in the morning became a new routine—sometimes fun, sometimes a little alarming.
The battery definitely lasted several days between charges, so we didn’t have to scramble for the charger every night. If you want a device that balances features and price (and handles sweat, rain, and questionable dance moves), Auxiou Fitness Tracker is a playful pick for your fitness journey—no gym membership required.
If you want to get your steps in and keep an eye on your health without spending a fortune, this little tracker is an easy pick—just don’t expect spaceship features.
Initial setup feels more like a brain teaser than a warm welcome
Button-only navigation makes us long for a touchscreen
Some features aren’t quite as precise as we’d hoped
We strapped on the Amzhero Health Tracker and immediately noticed how light it felt. The screen is bright and easy to read, so we didn’t have to squint every time we checked our step count or heart rate.
The band fit both small and not-so-small wrists thanks to the extra included strap—pretty thoughtful for a budget tracker! There are a lot of tracking modes packed in here, covering everything from yoga to swimming.
We especially liked seeing our sleep quality and having one less excuse for hitting snooze. Notifications come straight to the wrist, though we did wish for a smoother way to wake the screen—pushing the button every time got old pretty fast.
Connecting this tracker to our phones took more patience than we usually sign up for, but once we got through it, we didn’t have to touch it again for two weeks because the battery lasted that long. If tracking health basics on a budget is the goal—and you don’t mind a few quirks—Amzhero Health Tracker is a solid companion for daily walks and sleep checks.
Let’s be honest—most of us just want a tracker that doesn’t send our bank account into panic mode. The DEKELIFE Fitness Tracker fits the bill and even looks halfway fancy.
The silicone and magnetic bands let us pretend we own more watches than we actually do. Swapping the bands and changing the watch face is just the right mix of fun and simple; honestly, we spent more time choosing photos than actually exercising.
For those of us who are allergic to running, no worries—this tracker covers plenty of activities, from basketball to yoga. The step counter seemed pretty accurate, and the real-time updates on heart rate and calories are actually useful.
Trying to see our heart rate during an intense jog, though, is basically an eye exam. If you need big numbers, bring reading glasses.
We liked getting buzzed when calls or messages came in. Even though we can’t reply from our wrists, at least we’re not missing birthday messages from Aunt Linda.
The sleep tracking gave us a general idea of how terrible our sleep habits are—though sometimes it seemed a bit optimistic. For the price, it’s hard to complain, and it makes a fun gift for that friend who still claims steps don’t count unless your phone’s in your pocket.
Heart rate, blood oxygen, and sleep tracking all work smoothly
Comfortable, lightweight design—we forgot it was even there
Cons
Setup can be a little confusing if we skip the manual (which, let’s face it, we always do)
Screen isn’t massive, so folks with large fingers may fumble
Customizing takes a few extra steps through the app
Unboxing this tracker felt like opening a gadget you’d actually want back if you loaned it to a friend. The band feels soft and doesn’t freak out if you sweat a bit too much during your “cardio bursts” (translation: slow walks).
The AMOLED screen is shockingly good—nothing like the pixelated, dim displays on other cheap trackers. Navigating the menus takes a little practice—our first impression: “Did we miss a button?” Nope, just needed a light tap, and suddenly, it all worked.
Tracking steps, checking our heart rate, and even getting a little nudge when we’ve lived at our desks too long is genuinely useful. The 24/7 health tracking means we’re constantly reminded how much better we could be doing (thanks for the motivation…we guess).
Downloading and pairing with the “Keep Health” app isn’t rocket science, but it does take a few minutes. We recommend actually skimming the manual for once, just so you don’t miss a feature or set something up backwards.
Once everything’s going, notifications come through with no fuss, and setting our own photos as watch faces is a fun touch. If you need the basics and a few extras for less than fifty bucks, this device does more than just count our pitiful number of steps—it adds a little dash of personality, too.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly tracker that covers all the fitness basics (and then some) without draining your wallet, this colorful gadget deserves a spot on your wrist.
Pros
Clear and bright display is surprisingly easy on the eyes
Tracks a remarkable amount of details for under $50
Battery life lets us forget about chargers for a while
Cons
The touch screen can be a bit too sensitive (hello accidental swipes)
App setup takes some patience if you’re new to smart watches
Band color choices are limited, so fashionistas may groan
Let’s be honest: most cheap fitness trackers feel like toys, but this Wontrum model surprised us with a crisp display that makes checking steps (or pretending we slept better than we did) kind of fun.
The heart rate monitor works all day, so the device constantly reminds us to move when we binge-watch shows. Setting goals with the 128 exercise modes is motivating—even if we still aren’t sure what half of them are.
Nothing’s perfect, though; we noticed the screen responds even when our sleeve brushes by, and getting through the app setup had us scratching our heads a few times. Still, once it’s working, syncing is smooth, and the sleep tracker actually agrees with how groggy we feel in the morning.
On the bright side, the battery seems to last longer than our willpower on leg day. It handled everything from hand washing to overly enthusiastic dancing at family gatherings thanks to its waterproof rating.
If you’re willing to overlook a few quirks, this fitness tracker packs a lot of features into a small price tag.
If you want a tracker that actually looks like you put some effort into your outfit and doesn’t empty your wallet, this one’s a decent pick—though it’s got its quirks.
Pros
Stylish and doesn’t scream “I count steps for fun”
Tracks blood oxygen, heart rate, and sleep—multitasking at its finest
The battery lasts about a week, which is more than I can say for most of my New Year’s resolutions
Cons
Menus can be confusing until you get the hang of it
Not the most rugged—I wouldn’t wear it for sumo wrestling or deep-sea diving
App and device sync sometimes feels like arguing with a stubborn toddler
Let’s be honest, most fitness trackers make you feel like you’re wearing a mini smartphone on your wrist.
The FITVII Slim Fitness Tracker, though, looks more like a fashion accessory than a gadget.
Friends gave me approving nods, thinking I’d finally figured out how to dress.
Switching out the bands and customizing the watch face gave me options—which is always a plus when just getting to the gym on a Tuesday feels like a win.
I tested the fitness features: heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen—yep, I’m alive and apparently need more sleep.
Sleep tracking revealed some comforting and some terrifying truths about my habits.
At least now I know why mornings feel so rough.
Tracking steps, calories, and distance felt simple, though the menus took a little getting used to, kind of like learning to program an old VCR.
It’s not perfect.
The app can be unpredictable and sometimes just refuses to pair with my phone.
On the plus side, I only had to charge it once a week, so I didn’t feel chained to a cable.
If you want a fitness tracker with a bit of style and enough features to keep things interesting—without spending more than a fancy dinner—this one gets my vote (as long as you don’t expect NASA-level precision).
If you want a fitness tracker that doesn’t eat up your wallet but still gives you legit health insights, this one’s a solid option.
Pros
AMOLED screen actually looks sharp, even in sunlight
Continuous heart and blood pressure checks—without annoying alerts
Lets you spy on your sleep quality without needing a science degree
Cons
Band seems to soak up dirt faster than my gym towel
Some features are pretty basic unless you pair with an app
No built-in GPS, so it’s not tracking your wild 5K routes
Setting up the FITVII Ole Budget Tracker is a breeze.
Just pop it on, tap a few times, and suddenly your heart, blood pressure, and step count are right there.
That big, bright AMOLED screen is way easier to read than squinting at a tiny watch face.
Tracking steps, calories, and even sleep has become so automatic, I almost feel like a fitness pro.
The heart and blood pressure monitoring won’t turn me into a doctor, but it’s nice to check after a sweaty workout.
I like checking my blood oxygen data on the go (and pretending to be an astronaut).
One thing this tracker can’t do is clean itself.
After a couple weeks, the band looked like I wore it while digging for fossils.
But for the price, I can forgive a messy strap—just wipe it down and keep moving.
If you want your fitness basics covered and prefer spending your money on post-workout snacks, the FITVII Ole Budget Tracker gets the job done with minimal fuss.
If you need a wallet-friendly fitness sidekick that can take a beating (and maybe even a surprise deep-sea adventure), this tracker checks almost every box.
Pros
Clear and colorful screen is easy on tired eyes
Tons of health features packed inside for the price
Survived my klutzy waterproof testing (including accidental scuba diving)
Cons
Some screen prompts are mistranslated or confusing
Notifications feel more like a polite nudge than a jolt
The band color might make you feel like you joined a lavender cult
The FITVII caught my eye with its large, bright screen—seriously, even grandpa could read this thing while squinting at his crossword.
I tried it during a sweaty workout and still had no trouble checking my heart rate and step count.
For under $50, this tracker made my old expensive model look like overpriced wrist furniture.
The features impressed me.
It kept up with heart rate, blood oxygen, and even managed to gently judge my sleep schedule—though it’s definitely more motivational than medically accurate.
Notifications buzzed in, but I wouldn’t trust it to wake me up for an early flight.
I’ve got to mention the translation in the app and setup—sometimes the directions felt like a riddle from an ancient sage.
But once I fumbled through, tracking activity became smooth.
The battery lasted an entire week before I had to hunt for the charger, which, let’s be honest, is a minor miracle in the world of budget tech.
If you can get behind a purple band (or swap it for something else), this FITVII tracker is worth considering for thrifty fitness fans.
Buying Guide
Let’s be honest—finding a decent fitness tracker under $50 feels a bit like searching for matching socks after laundry day. The good ones? They vanish fast.
Still, with a few tips and a sharp eye, you can find something worthwhile.
First, check the essentials:
Step Tracking
Sleep Monitoring
Battery Life
Water Resistance
If the features list looks longer than your grocery list, pause and think about what really matters. For most people, tracking steps and monitoring sleep are the big draws.
Counting steps is great, but nobody wants a tracker that just counts calories.
Battery life plays a big role, too. If you’re charging your tracker more often than your phone, that’s a problem.
Aim for at least 5 days of battery life, so you’re not always hunting for a charger.
Here’s a quick table of features to focus on:
Feature
Why It’s Useful
Step Counter
Keeps us moving
Sleep Tracker
Tracks our Zzz’s
Waterproof
Survives showers
Heart Rate
Tracks workouts
Notifications
Less phone checking
Comfort really matters. If a tracker feels like a medieval wristband, you’ll probably leave it in a drawer.
Pick something lightweight and easy on your wrist.
Don’t get distracted by fancy extras you’ll never use. Sometimes, more features just mean more fiddling and less actual fun.
Check for easy syncing with your phone. Most budget trackers use Bluetooth, but make sure your phone’s compatible.
And honestly, the screen shouldn’t be harder to read than your doctor’s handwriting. Go for a simple display to save yourself some headaches—literally and figuratively.
Hi, my name is Garrett Jones, and I am a tech enthusiast. I enjoy researching the new tech that has been released, and have a vast knowledge of the best tech to purchase.
From a young age, I have always had a big interest in technology, and this blog is an extension of that interest. Through this blog, I hope to provide others with all of the information they need regarding tech options to consider, and things such as compatibility. Some of the different items I will be discussing include headphones, smartwatches, and how to fix common issues.
