Per the American Heart Association, one person in the U.S., every 33 seconds, faces cardiovascular disease.

Entering 2026, heart-rate monitoring is becoming less of an option and more of a necessity. And if you're looking at smartwatches built to help you stay fit, these are our top picks.

Garmin Forerunner 265 Smartwatch

The Garmin Forerunner 265 comes with GPS and advanced optical heart-rate sensors, which help monitor your heart 24/7.

Pros

• Built-in GPS
• Safety features such as incident detection
• Multiple activity modes, including running

Cons

• Relatively short battery life with continuous GPS use
• Expensive ($299.99 USD)

Fitbit Sense 2

It comes with 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, stress-response sensors, and much more, all in an affordable price range.

Pros

• Built-in GPS
• All-day stress detection
• Multiple sports modes
• Comes with a price tag of $209

Cons

• Some reports of issues with heart-rate accuracy
• Lacks certain features, such as music control and third-party apps

Whoop 5.0

Whoop 5.0 stands out as the most versatile, screen-free heart-rate wearable, built around a pod-style sensor that integrates into wrist straps and apparel from the Whoop Body line, including swimwear and athletic clothing.

Pros

• The most detailed data available from all the heart-rate monitors
• Can charge while wearing
• Longer battery life than most other options (no display)

Cons

• A monthly subscription can become costly ($199 to $359 per year)
• Some may find checking the phone for stats inconvenient
• The depth of data can feel overwhelming for some users

Garmin Vivosmart 5

This is the most budget-friendly watch of all($149), offering solid optical heart-rate tracking

Pros

• Tracks stress levels
• Offers guided breathing exercises
• Sleek, slim, and lightweight design

Cons

• Smaller touch screen than some may prefer
• The setup process may feel complex for some users

Google Pixel Watch 4

We know it’s a bit expensive, which comes with a price tag of $349.99, but this might turn one of the best purchases of the year. The Google-powered watch comes with Fitbit heart-rate tracking, ECG support in select regions, and much more.

Pros

• Advanced and accurate heart-rate tracking
• 4G LTE support for app access without Wi-Fi
• Includes a blood-oxygen sensor

Cons

• Expensive ($349.99 USD)

Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar