The top heart rate monitors provide the best accuracy — but also comfort and convenience. Explore the best options in this guide.
The best heart rate monitors are accurate, comfortable, and offer features that enhance the experience beyond beats per minute. The good news is that you can also receive all these benefits through a traditional chest strap HRM, a sports watch, or a smartwatch, among others.
There are tons of choices—and we’re constantly testing the best picks from Garmin, Polar, Apple, and more. Yet, as ever, the best heart rate monitor is entirely personal and depends significantly on your goal. For women, chest strap HRMs must work well with a sports bra, while others require something that can withstand pool activities.
For those who want the most accurate readings during exercise, our testing still leads us to recommend the Garmin HRM-Pro Plus chest strap. However, this is under review with the launch of the Garmin HRM 600 in May 2025.
For more convenient tracking, the optical sensor technology in the latest Apple Watch devices (Apple Watch Series 10/Ultra 2) and Google Pixel Watch 3 smartwatches is also as reliable as it gets in the smartwatch space. Like others on this list, they also offer versatility, harnessing the built-in heart rate monitor to inform health features.
Dedicated sports watches and wearables are also good options. Our favorites are Garmin watches featuring the company’s latest optical tech, such as the Garmin Fenix 8, and the Whoop 5.0/MG.
Below, we’ll show our working out and explain the pros and cons of all these HR tracking devices – and also dive into what you need to know about tracking your heart with a wearable.
How Wareable tests heart rate monitors
A heart rate monitor is only valuable if it can consistently capture accurate data. As we often demonstrate in our detailed reviews, many still do not.
Through our testing, we’ve been able to weed out the lesser devices and highlight only the very best in this buyer’s guide. However, it can take considerable time to determine whether a chest strap, watch, or armband is accurate.
That’s why we conduct long-term tests for features powered by heart monitoring, analyzing our trends to identify any anomalies, and also test against multiple devices when gauging real-time heart rate metrics.
This process is ongoing, as we update this guide frequently to ensure our picks accurately reflect the current market.
- Read more about how we test and review at Wareable
In for testing: Garmin HRM 600
Announced alongside the Forerunner 970 and Forerunner 570 in May 2025, Garmin has a whole new chest strap to consider—the HRM 600.
Effectively, the latest top-end Garmin strap replaces the previous premium option from the brand, the HRM-Pro Plus (currently our top pick). While we’re still conducting our testing to determine whether it’s worth the upgrade (or the extra cost, if you’re choosing between them), the initial signs are very promising.
It addresses the biggest problem with the HRM-Pro Plus by allowing users to detach the central module, meaning the strap itself can be washed in the washing machine. For us, that’s worth the upgrade alone, but Garmin has also added a few clutch new features, particularly for runners.
When paired with the 970, the HRM 600 powers an all-new ‘Step Speed Loss’ feature that analyzes how much a runner slows down when their foot hits the ground. It also offers a decent two months of battery and is rechargeable, albeit via Garmin’s proprietary cable, rather than USB-C. That means you no longer have to try remember where you put the coin cell batteries a year ago.
The downside is that it’s expensive: $170/£150. That price won’t be for everyone, but we’ll let you know soon enough whether we think it’s the best chest strap for exercise in 2025.
Garmin HRM-Pro Plus
Key considerations
- Body position: Chest
- Sensor tech: ECG
- Connectivity: Dual-band ANT+ / Bluetooth
- Phone compatibility: iOS and Android
The Garmin HRM-Pro Plus is still, just about, our top recommendation if you require a heart rate monitor for exercise.
Like the older HRM Pro, it uses an ECG-style sensor and offers a superb lockdown fit (unless you’re in a pool). However, Garmin has redesigned the main compartment, so you no longer need a screwdriver to swap out the coin cell battery.
Generally, you can expect around a year of battery life from a Garmin chest strap like this. We used our test unit for around 15 months before the cell needed replacing, so we’d say that’s pretty good going considering its near-daily use.
The washing problem
The only sore spot using this chest strap is washing it – and we think Garmin perhaps didn’t go far enough with the design changes here.
Unlike the Polar H10 (below), the battery compartment can’t be removed from the strap and chucked into the washing machine. If you’re a frequent swimmer or prefer Polar’s apps to Garmin Connect, it’s worth considering.
Still, we’ve used the HRM-Pro Plus on more rainy runs and sweaty Zwift sessions than we can count and have yet to clean anything other than the sensors. There’s been no change in odor and no signs of degradation.
This isn’t the most hygienic practice, and, to be clear, we’re not sure it would translate well to every user. Plenty on Garmin forums and elsewhere complain about quickly burning through their straps.
Why it ranks as our top pick for exercise
But, for us, the tight integration with its range of sports watches – the most rounded and best-performing on the market – and unique features like Running Dynamics form analysis are huge. Bluetooth and ANT+ support also means it can connect with other devices seamlessly.
For indoor runners, the HRM-Pro Plus will also track pace and distance. If you participate in team sports, it can track additional metrics like steps, intensity minutes, and all-day heart rate data, too. It’s a great all-rounder.
Polar H10
Key considerations
- Body position: Chest
- Sensor tech: ECG
- Connectivity: Dual-band ANT+ / Bluetooth
- Phone compatibility: iOS and Android
If you’re an exerciser who cares about accuracy, the Polar H10 chest strap is another gold-standard, super-reliable option based on our testing.
The iOS and Android-friendly strap boasts Bluetooth and ANT+, so you can pair it to a host of devices and third-party apps – including even Garmin sports watches, if you like.
It also introduces a modified design (and a loftier price) over its predecessor, the Polar H9, adding silicon friction dots to help keep the strap in place. Plus, we’ve found it’s a bit more comfortable to wear.
As mentioned above, the battery compartment can also be removed, meaning the strap can be included in washing machine cycles. This makes it a great option for those likely to get it wet via sweat or swimming.
We’ve used it many times against the latest fitness trackers and smartwatches that have landed at Wareable HQ, mainly throwing data into Strava and the Polar Beat app, which is built for heart rate-based training.
It’s still a chest strap we return to and can confidently say delivers the goods.
Apple Watch Series 10
Key considerations
- Body position: Wrist
- Sensors: Optical, electrical heart rate sensor, temperature sensor
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Phone compatibility: iOS
Whether used for exercise tracking or health monitoring, the Apple Watch Series 10 is the most complete heart monitor available for iPhone users.
We’ve put the latest model through the same rigorous testing in workouts. And, like its predecessors, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch SE siblings, it consistently proves to be one of the most accurate optical heart rate sensors on the test.
In terms of final figures and latency, it performs well alongside dedicated sports watches – even during the likes of interval training. Though, naturally, be aware it won’t give you the same real-time reliability as a chest strap.
Data is viewable inside Apple’s Workout app, but the benefit of having a strong collection of third-party apps means you can also view that data in places like Strava and Runkeeper.
Wearing the Series 10 helps flood Apple Health with data, too. Heart rate variability, VO2 Max, resting heart rate, and walking average HR can all be viewed as trends across the last day, week, month, or year, and this data can also be exported to a PDF to be shared with medical professionals.
There’s even more, as well. The device’s ECG App harnesses the electrical heart rate sensor in the Digital Crown to take electrocardiograms and check for heart issues like atrial fibrillation, and the temperature sensor works in conjunction with the optical heart sensor to provide cycle tracking for women.
It’s an outstanding all-rounder that’s as good for those conscious of their heart health as it is for those serious about tracking exercise.
- Our full Apple Watch Series 10 review
Garmin Fenix 8 (and other Garmin Elevate Gen 5 devices)
Key considerations
- Body position: Wrist
- Sensors: Optical, ECG, SpO2
- External HR monitor pairing: Yes
- Phone compatibility: iOS and Android
All of Garmin’s watches offer broadly solid heart rate monitoring accuracy, though the Fenix 8’s vast array of features and new-gen Elevate Gen 5 sensor ensures it slightly edges those siblings.
It doesn’t offer the best blend of features, affordability, and design for most people – that’s reserved for something like the Forerunner 165 or Forerunner 570- but the accuracy is as good as we’ve ever tested in a sports watch.
It comes in three size options (42mm, 47mm, and 51mm), and, during over 100 tests against other watches and a chest strap, it’s the most consistently in line with the latter.
What our testing of Garmin’s Elevate Gen 5 shows
We still think Garmin’s Elevate technology (across the board) has a very slight tendency to overreport maximum heart rate figures during workouts. We’ve also had some experiences with early test units of the Gen 5 sensor being slow to ‘warm up’ (i.e, the first section of a workout hugely underregistering on HR), but this has always been rectified with software updates.
Despite the odd quirk, the fact remains that the Fenix 8 (and the Fenix 7 Pro, Epix Pro, Venu 3, and Forerunner 970/570—the other Garmin devices equipped with the latest Elevate sensor) is at the peak of wrist-based monitoring.
You also have the option to pair up an external HR sensor if you’re not quite satisfied with the level of accuracy on offer.
What else you get from Garmin’s wrist-based heart rate sensor
The Gen 5’s optical HR accuracy is crucial outside of tracked exercise, too, as it powers many useful insights. Runners and cyclists can benefit from Garmin’s in-depth and intuitive metrics the most, though things are getting better for swimming (with the Fenix 8 also including new dive smarts) and other sports.
HRV Status is one of the most helpful, giving you an at-a-glance view into your heart rate variability trends with plenty of context. Yet, this only scratches the surface of how heart rate data feeds into Garmin Connect.
Also present are features such as resting heart rate, Body Battery, VO2 max, Training Status, stress tracking, calorie burn, respiration tracking, sleep monitoring, and more.
It’s comprehensive, making the Fenix 8 a great pick for those who want the top training-focused heart rate monitoring experience.
- Our full Garmin Fenix 8 review
Google Pixel Watch 3
Key considerations
- Body position: Wrist
- Sensors: Multi-path optical heart rate sensor, ECG, SpO2, EDA, skin temperature
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Phone compatibility: Android
Heart rate accuracy has always been a strong point of Google’s smartwatch series, and the Pixel Watch 3 promises improved algorithms for measuring heart rate during running.
Both 41/45mm versions utilize the same multi-path optical heart sensor that was retooled for the Pixel Watch 2. However, despite Google’s claims of improved accuracy, we found that it performed very similarly to the last-gen watch in our testing.
That’s no bad thing, though – it was already among the best for responding to changes in heart rate and performing similarly to a chest strap, and that’s not changed for the Pixel Watch 3 (despite us testing the larger case size, which can often skew results considerably).
We’ve been impressed each time we’ve tested it, and the Fitbit tracking experience has been enhanced for the third-gen watch to include essential metrics for serious trainers, such as Cardio Load and Daily Readiness.
More than accuracy—what else Google’s HR gets you
They’ve been added to an already comprehensive heart tracking package, which includes heart rate variability, resting heart rate, ECG, body responses (stress tracking), sleeping heart rate, and more, all of which debuted with the original.
The Pixel Watch 3 still falls short of offering insights comparable to those of a Garmin in terms of training and additional sports features. Yet, the stellar features make it a top wellness device, and its accuracy ensures it ranks as the best for Android users who want reliable information.
The only downside from a heart monitoring perspective is that you’ll need to subscribe to Fitbit Premium to get the most out of it, even if elements like the Daily Readiness Score have now appeared behind this paywall.
- Check our full Google Pixel Watch 3 review
Whoop 5.0/MG
Key considerations
- Body position: Wrist, bicep, various Whoop Body locations
- Sensor: Optical
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Phone compatibility: iOS and Android
The Whoop 5.0 is the most versatile heart rate monitor on the market.
Designed to be worn on your wrist by default, the Whoop Body range of clothing also allows for alternative wear options, including the hip by securing it in the waistband of shorts, the ribs via a sports bra, or the upper arm through a dedicated sleeve. New collections are also being added all the time, meaning you’re not limited in placement here.
The accuracy question: What does our testing show?
After testing various Whoop Body garments and straps over the past few years (previously with the 4.0 tracker; now with the MG model), we’ve found that the company’s bicep band provides the most accurate readings.
The traditional wrist position proves to be quite inconsistent in any activity tracking, so keep the potential additional cost of straps or Whoop Body clothing in mind if you prioritize top-notch accuracy. We expected enhancements for the fifth-generation models, but unfortunately, it’s quite similar to the 4.0 device.
Still, the fact that there’s no display means that wearing the Whoop 5.0 is almost always unobtrusive, allowing you to wear a watch (or smartwatch) on the other wrist without looking too conspicuous.
Where Whoop’s optical sensor shines
The sensor may not be strictly the most accurate for workouts, but there’s so much more to Whoop than this. As we’ve detailed in our extensive Whoop 5.0 review, too, the generalized nature of the platform’s Strain score means pinpoint heart rate accuracy isn’t always necessary.
In our testing, we’ve found that the days of this being skewed enough to ruin a day’s worth of tracking are long gone, and now you can relax knowing that Whoop can represent your workload, health metrics, and recovery. That includes more thorough sleep analysis in the current generation, and features like Healthspan and ECG (depending on your choice of Whoop subscription tier)
The biggest issue with choosing Whoop
The only other major thing to note is the cost. Despite Whoop restructuring its tiers to include a ‘Core’ membership, it remains a very expensive option compared to rival platforms.
The Whoop Strap 5.0 is ‘free’, but you’ll have to make a long-term commitment (for a minimum of 12 months) to gain access. That’s a whole other equation to get your head around—and we’ve explained how to choose the right Whoop subscription (and which we recommend) elsewhere.
The upgrade process received significant backlash from the brand when it launched the 5.0/MG devices earlier this year. As a result, our advice is not to skip over the T&Cs section if choosing Whoop.
- Read our Whoop 5.0 review
Choosing a heart rate monitor: What to consider
As we alluded to earlier, understanding what you want from a heart rate monitor is paramount when finding the best fit for your needs.
Chest strap vs. heart rate monitor watch
Whether you choose a chest strap or a watch to measure your heart rate is a case of accuracy vs. practicality.
Chest straps are primarily developed to assist users seeking the most precise readings. As we explain in our picks below, this type of heart rate monitor can respond more quickly to changes in your heart rate than the optical sensors found in watches and fitness tracker monitors.
While the latency and accuracy of watches are often weaker than those of a chest strap, they offer superior comfort, convenience, and features. These devices monitor you all day and include features beyond simple BPM tracking for workouts.
Heart rate accuracy in watches
When you start ramping up the intensity – performing rounds of functional fitness movements or interval training during running or cycling – optical sensors in fitness trackers or watches struggle to cope with the rapid rises and falls in heart rate.
Averaged data won’t differ much from a chest strap in the best options below, but latency issues in real-time persist.
Wrist movement during exercises like press-ups, burpees, or Olympic lifting can flummox them, as skin contraction makes it harder for the sensor to function properly.
Dark skin and tattoos can also affect accuracy, as skin tone can impact the reflection of light. Sadly, insufficient work has been done to resolve accuracy issues related to ethnicity. Therefore, if you have dark skin and want the best data from your workouts, we recommend using a chest strap.
On the other hand, chest straps use electrocardiogram (EKG) sensors that are more accurate and – given their position close to your heart – more responsive to rises and falls. The steady position on your chest makes the data less noisy.
Types of data that heart rate trackers can capture
A heart rate monitor will track your BPM during workouts, and that data needs to be accurate if you’re using it to train within zones. A small discrepancy could have you training in the wrong zone, and this can negatively affect your training.
However, the quality of analysis of that data after your workout (such as VO2 Max estimates) is down to the platform you’re using to track your workout.
But heart rate monitors can be useful outside of the gym. They will track your bpm 24/7, and analyze resting heart rate, readiness, sleep, and stress. So, choosing a more generic device that can offer a more rounded look at your health can also be appealing.
Remember that you can double up
The benefit of ANT+ and Bluetooth technology (present in some devices) means you can get the best of both worlds if accuracy is your top priority.
For example, we use a sports watch’s optical heart rate sensor for most activities due to its versatility and ease of use. If we’re in the gym lifting weights, or simply hopping on the bike for a quick warm-up or warm-down spin, the accuracy is more than good enough.
However, where wrist-based options typically struggle – such as in the swimming pool or running workouts where we want to keep a consistent eye on our HR – we instead connect a chest strap to our watch.
