The 6 Best Heart Rate Monitors of 2020

Heart rate monitors may sound like a medical device you’d find in the hospital, but they’re actually more common for everyday use than you might suspect. Today, heart rate monitors are often built into fitness trackers, such as Fitbits, and they’re a popular tool for anyone who’s interested in optimizing their workouts. With a heart rate monitor, you can see how hard your heart is pumping and ensure you’re in the proper heart rate zone when exercising. This will help you achieve your fitness goals more efficiently without overdoing it and risking injury. 

Different styles of heart rate monitors use different methods to measure your pulse. Chest strap-style monitors typically use a process called electrocardiography to measure the electrical activity of the heart. Watch-style monitors, on the other hand, use small LED lights to measure blood flow through the skin in a process called photoplethysmography. With both methods, the data is then transferred to a receiver—usually a watch or smartphone app—that you can use to monitor your heart rate in real-time.

Depending on the style and sophistication you’re looking for, heart rate monitors can cost anywhere from $20 to several hundred dollars. Before you start shopping, you’ll want to figure out which pulse monitoring method would work best for your needs, as well as if you want additional features bundled into your monitor. Here are some guidelines on how to buy a heart rate monitor that’s right for you.

There are several factors you’ll want to consider as you shop for a heart rate monitor. 

As mentioned, there are two common styles of heart rate monitors: chest straps and watches. The major differences between these two styles come down to convenience and pulse monitoring method.

Chest straps, which typically use electrocardiography to monitor your pulse, are more cumbersome to use, and some people find them uncomfortable. However, they're typically more accurate and therefore the go-to style for serious athletes.

Wristwatches or fitness trackers with built-in pulse monitors are typically more comfortable and convenient to wear, and many people choose to wear them all day—not just when they’re exercising. Many of these models display your heart rate right on the screen, so there’s no need to carry a receiver, but they’re typically a little less accurate.

As the market for fitness technology has grown, several new, innovative styles of heart rate monitors have been introduced. For instance, you can now find fitness rings, armbands, and earbuds that have pulse-monitoring features. Because they’re new, these styles are typically more expensive, but they’re a good option if you find a chest strap or watch to be cumbersome. 

For many people, the main purpose of a heart rate monitor is to ensure they’re in the “target zone” to get the most out of each workout. Knowing your target heart rate zone and ensuring you stay within it while exercising will help you lose weight or build endurance more efficiently without worrying about overexerting yourself. Target heart rate zones vary depending on your age and fitness level—the American Heart Associationhas resources that can help you calculate your individual target heart rate zone.

To this end, another key consideration when purchasing a heart rate monitor is whether it communicates your current “zone” to you while exercising. Basic monitors may simply relay your heart rate, and it’s up to you to know what your target zone is.

However, more advanced models send notifications when you reach your target zone and if your heart rate gets too high. Some products offer as many as six zones and can track your time spent in each zone, and you may also find heart rate monitors that include different parameters for various kinds of exercise.

The best option for you really depends on personal preference. If you don’t mind doing the mental work to figure out if you’re in your target heart rate zone, a basic heart rate monitor may serve your needs perfectly. However, if you tend to zone out while exercising, you may benefit from a monitor that alerts you when you’re not exerting enough effort or when you’re pushing too hard.

As discussed in the intro, there are two main methods of measuring your pulse, one of which is more accurate than the other. 

Electrocardiography, the method typically used with chest straps, monitors the electrical activity of your heart. To do this, chest straps anchor a small electrode pad (which must be wet) against your chest, and when you exercise, this pad picks up the electrical signals naturally given off with each heartbeat. This method allows you to get continuous heart-rate readings, and it’s widely viewed as a more accurate method of heart rate monitoring. After all, this is the same system used in hospitals to do cardiac monitoring, just with one electrode pad instead of several. 

On the other hand, optical heart rate monitors, which typically sit on your wrist or arm, use small LED lights to track your pulse—you’ve probably seen these bright green lights if you’ve ever worn a fitness tracker or smartwatch. The green light refracts off the blood flowing through your veins, and while this method is accurate when done properly, it relies on the light having proper contact with your skin. If your watch is loose or slipping around, it can interfere with the accuracy of the reading. 

Because of these distinctions, serious athletes generally opt for chest straps that use electrocardiography. However, optical heart rate monitors have improved significantly in recent years, and today, they’re quite accurate if used according to directions. As such, a watch-style heart rate monitor is generally sufficient for the purpose of everyday workouts.

In our digital world, many people like being able to view and store data on their phones. If you’re interested in analyzing data from your heart rate monitor, you may want to look for a model that can be synced to an app or have its data downloaded to a computer. This information can be useful for fine-tuning your workouts, and some people even transmit the information to their doctors. 

Today, many watch-style heart rate monitors come with an array of additional features, many of which are focused on fitness. Popular fitness trackers with heart rate monitors often include:

• A digital interface
• Step counter
• Stopwatch
• Calorie counter
• Speed/distance monitor
• Sleep tracker
• Alarms

Keep in mind that the more features your device has, the higher the cost will likely be. You’ll want to evaluate which features will be genuinely useful for you.

There are pros and cons to each style of heart rate monitor that you should take into account as you shop.

As you may have guessed by their name, chest strap heart rate monitors are designed to be worn around your chest. They come with a band that holds the monitor firmly in place below your chest muscles, and you must wet the electrode pad so it can sense the electrical currents created by your heart. Keep in mind this style of heart rate monitor must be in contact with your skin, so you’ll have to wear it under your clothes. 

Most chest strap monitors come with a watch that acts as a receiver, displaying your heart rate for you to see. However, some newer models transmit this information directly to your smartphone instead. Generally, this style of heart rate monitor is considered more accurate because it uses electrocardiography methods, but many people find it inconvenient to put on and uncomfortable to wear throughout a workout.

You can purchase low-end chest strap monitors for as little as $20, but you’ll probably end up spending over $50 for a reliable model.

Because fitness trackers have gained such widespread popularity, there aren’t many basic wrist-based optical monitors available today. However, there are still several optical armbands that you can purchase, and these are a good alternative for serious athletes who don’t like wearing a chest band.

This style of optical monitor uses the LED lights discussed earlier, but because the sensor is placed snugly on your arm—not your wrist—it will often get more accurate readings. Most armband monitors send their data to your phone, which can be both a blessing and a curse. It’s good if you like storing your data in an easy-to-access place, but not great if you don’t typically keep your phone on you while working out.

There aren’t many armband monitors available today, but the models you can buy are all in the $80 range.

Arguably the most popular style of heart rate monitors today, fitness trackers come in all shapes, sizes, and price points. Some of the most popular brands are Fitbit and Garmin, but there are dozens of companies that offer these all-in-one fitness devices. 

Fitness trackers with heart rate monitors use LED lights to measure your pulse, and most come with many additional features to help you stay healthy. For instance, most have a digital face that displays the time, as well as a step counter. Many also include calorie counters or sleep trackers, and some can even be paired with your smartphone to display notifications when you get a call or text. 

The downside of fitness trackers is that they can move around on your wrist, leading to less-than-accurate heart rate readings. However, most experts agree a wrist-based heart rate monitor will work just fine for general workout purposes. Depending on what brand and style you choose, a fitness tracker with a heart rate monitor can cost you anywhere from $40 to $200.

There are also new fitness tracker rings that have a lot of the same features but without the digital display. Because they’re a new offering, these rings are typically quite expensive, costing $150 or more.

Finally, there are heart rate monitors that do double duty as headphones! The premise here is that many people listen to music while exercising, so why not measure your heart rate at the same time? These earbuds use optical technology to sense your pulse with LED lights, but there are several downsides to this style of heart rate monitor. 

For instance, most are wireless Bluetooth headphones, and they typically have a relatively short battery life and need to be recharged regularly. Further, low-end models often have poor audio quality and may not sit snugly in your ears. 

Depending on which brand you choose, this style of heart rate monitor can cost anywhere from $50 to over $200. 

There are several popular heart rate monitor brands that you may want to consider as you shop.

The most popular fitness tracker brand today, Fitbit offers several wrist-based models that include optical heart rate monitors. While these products tend to be pricey, many people like the convenience and wide array of features offered by Fitbit products.

Garmin offers several fitness trackers that include a heart rate monitor, and the brand also sells a chest strap monitor. While this company may not have the same name recognition as Fitbit, Garmin products are widely regarded as high-quality and durable.

Fitness company Polar offers a variety of heart rate monitors with a focus on durability and accuracy. They offer chest straps, armbands, and fitness watches at a variety of price points and sophistication levels. 

Wahoo heart rate monitors are widely regarded as some of the best you can buy, thanks to their comfort, accuracy, and convenience. Wahoo chest straps and armbands are a top choice among many professional athletes, and they’re surprisingly affordable given the quality.

If you’re interested in earbud heart rate monitors, one of the top brands in the space is Jabra. While not cheap, Jabra earbuds are designed to be comfortable and deliver superior audio, all while measuring your pulse during your workout.