The Best Pedometers in 2023

Now they are more often called fitness trackers, and can do much more than count steps. The best will also track sleep, measure how far you’ve walked, and even estimate calories burned.

The best fitness tracker available now is the Fitbit Charge 5, but there are many other great options.

Our top ten pedometers come in a range of styles and prices for every budget. Depending on how many things you want to track, the most expensive is not always your best option.

Read on to see which is the right pedometer for you….

Top 5 Best and Favorites

Best Overall

1. Fitbit Charge 5

The Fitbit Charge 5 is a stylish and functional tracker that does much more than count steps. It’s packed with many features to see every facet of your personal fitness and health.

With built-in GPS navigation, you can track your movements in real-time as you run, bike, hike, swim (the Charge is waterproof), and more. This provides a much more accurate measurement of steps, distance, and calories burned.

There are alerts that let you know when you’ve hit specific goals you’ve set for yourself. The Charge 5 emits a low vibration with each target met, keeping you on track at all times.

Want to keep an eye on your heart rate throughout the day? Or stay on top of the calories you’ve burned? Fitbit’s Charge takes care of it.

The Charge 5 also monitors sleep depth and quality. Review your data on the Fitbit app to track your stages of sleep and overall sleep score.

When synced with your smartphone, you can control music via your phone. Not only that, you can monitor calls, text messages, and other phone notifications.

A newer feature is the ability to make secure purchases. Like an Apple Watch with Apple Pay, you can make contactless payments with the Charge 5.

If you need guidance in your fitness, the Charge comes with more than 20 fitness programs. While certain apps and functions affect battery time, expect to get a week’s worth of use on a single charge.

Best Value

2. LETSCOM Fitness Tracker

If you want a good way to track your fitness but don’t want to spend a lot, LETSCOM has you covered. Their feature-rich fitness tracker has plenty to help you stay on top of your health.

With a built-in heart rate monitor, you can keep an eye on your pulse in real-time. At night, it monitors quality and consistency of sleep to show you whether you’re getting adequate rest.

LETSCOM’s fitness tracker also records how many steps you take each day, and far you’ve traveled. And if you want to keep an eye on the calories you’ve burned, you’re covered there, as well.

To help you stay on goal, the tracker comes with 14 fitness programs. There’s even a GPS feature built into this budget-friendly device.

When you sync the tracker with your phone, you can see incoming calls, text messages, and calendar alerts. You’ll also receive notifications from Facebook, Instagram, and more.

I like the battery life here, too. With a single charge, you can get up to a week’s worth of use. Charging is sleekly designed; there are no cords or docks involved. All you need is access to any USB port with power. The face of the tracker detaches, revealing a plug that can be inserted into any USB port.

It’s a clever idea that works well. When you stop and consider the low price of this unit, you’re getting quite a lot for little money.

Top Pedometer for Walking

3. Realalt 3DTriSport Walking 3D Pedometer

Realalt delivers a more traditional pedometer with the 3DTriSport. It’s pretty basic in its design, sure, but comes at a great price with lots to offer.

You can either clip the device to your waist or wear it around your neck. The screen is large enough for easy viewing. From here, you can see all the steps you’ve taken throughout the day. Thanks to 3D triple-axis sensors, you’re getting some of the most accurate tracking available.

Whether walking or running, the 3DTriSport records your movements with incredible precision. And it’s not just your steps, either. Your distance is tracked, too.

This little unit keeps a log of how long you’ve been exercising. If you want to know how many calories you’ve burned in the process, that information is saved.

When you want to review your records, change modes to see everything logged. The 3DTriSport saves up to 30 days of activity for easy viewing.

Step goals are preloaded into the device to help you stay on track. The buttons on the face of the 3DTriSport are big and clearly labeled.

It’s one of the most user-friendly digital pedometers I’ve used. Switching modes is easy and straightforward. As limited as it is, you’re getting a lot at a great price.

Best Pedometer with GPS

4. Garmin Forerunner 55

Smart, attractive, and functional. The Garmin Forerunner 55 has everything you could want in a pedometer, and a whole lot more. Let’s break down its many features to see why it made the list.

The Forerunner 55 sports a large color digital display. From there, you can track important fitness information like distance traveled, heart rate, pace, and goals.

When using the Garmin Coach Adaptive application, you get a personalized fitness coach, directly from your wrist.

If you need help with things like cardio, running, cycling, and more, the Forerunner 55 will easily track those activities.

Want to stay updated from your smartphone? No problem there. You can monitor all types of notifications without having to check your phone. Notifications include calls, text messages, and tracking information. Control the music playing on your phone right from the Forerunner 55.

The Forerunner 55 has safety features built into the device. With incident detection, an emergency alert is sent directly to your contacts.

The watch’s actions are controlled with buttons along the perimeter of the face. I would have liked it if the display had touch capabilities, but the buttons serve their purpose well.

Best Pedometer for Seniors

5. Fitbit Inspire 2

Do you have trouble with technology? Are you looking for an easy way to monitor your activity throughout the day? Then Fitbit’s Inspire 2 is for you.

This device tracks your movement, logging the steps you’ve taken and the distance you’ve traveled. You can also keep an eye on the calories you’ve burned in the process.

I like the Inspire’s alarm mode. Instead of emitting a jarring sound to wake you up, you’ll feel a vibration on your wrist. I found this to be a great way to get up in the morning. It feels much more natural, and it’s easier on you, too. And while you’re sleeping, the Inspire keeps track of how much rest you’re getting through the night.

All actions are done via the tiny touchscreen display. It’s quite intuitive for its size, and very user-friendly. And thanks to the backlit face, it’s easy to see what you’re doing.

You can expect to get up to 5 days of battery life on a single charge. This provides ample time, considering the limited (read: easy) functionality of the Inspire.

Top Pedometer for Running

6. Garmin vivosmart 4

If you’re serious about running, you should give Garmin’s vivosmart 4 a look. This capable little device is packed with lots of features, making it a worthy contender.

As you sleep, the vivosmart 4 monitors the oxygen saturation levels in your blood. On top of that, your REM sleep cycle is tracked, as well. This allows you to see if you need to make any changes to your diet or fitness.

It’s also equipped with a breathing relaxation timer. Coupled with its ability to check your heart rate, this ensures that you’re getting proper oxygen into your system.

Want to study your stress levels? The Garmin vivosmart 4 does that, too. With this device, you’ll have important information to keep you feeling your best.

All of the standard features you’ve come to expect from fitness trackers are here. Your training activity is recorded, like steps taken and distance traveled.

If you swim, this device is water-resistant and swim-proof. Now you can even track your movements while submerged without fear of damage.

The battery life of the vivosmart 4 is commendable, giving you up to 7 days of use on a single charge.

Best for Kids

7. Garmin vivofit Jr 3

Monitoring fitness activity isn’t just for adults. With the cyber lives that many kids lead, it’s important to keep an eye on their health, too.

Enter: the Garmin vivofit Jr 3. This cute little device is worn like a watch. It comes loaded with plenty of features to ensure your kids are getting plenty of exercise.

They’re given fitness goals throughout the day. Each one is catered to kids, making it fun to stay in shape. The color screen will display Disney-related icons and rewards after completing certain goals.

The device can be worn while swimming, too. It’s quite durable and built to withstand a child’s active lifestyle.

Want to keep an eye on their sleep behavior? The Garmin vivofit Jr 3 can do that, as well. On top of recording their daily steps, you’re getting a sleep tracker that’s tailored for kids.

The vivofit Jr 3 comes with lots of handy tools that parents can use to help improve their child’s life.

You can set daily chores with rewards, activate alerts to remind them to do their homework, or even when to brush their teeth.

There are many wrist straps available to choose from – many have Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel themes. It’s easy to find a style that suits your child. Each band is adjustable so that they get a comfortable fit.

Best for Battery Life

8. Omron Alvita Ultimate Pedometer

This tiny device can record your daily activity for up to 6 months! It uses a simple CR2032 battery that is easily replaced once it dies. Now you can focus on your fitness without having to worry about recharging.

The Alvita Ultimate is equipped with a basic LCD screen. It sports large digits that are easy to read. And I really like the user interface.

It’s set up like a smartphone, with ‘Home’, ‘Memory’, and ‘Mode’ buttons directly below the display. It’s very user-friendly in its presentation.

With this device, you get your standard fitness tracking features. It counts your steps, any calories that you’ve burned throughout the day, and how far you’ve traveled.

Omron’s Alvita Ultimate is a compact unit that comes at an affordable price. I found it to be very accurate for such a straightforward pedometer.

It does what it’s designed to do rather well. It weighs in at less than an ounce, and can be clipped just about anywhere.

Top Waterproof Pedometer

9. Lintelek Fitness Tracker

Do you spend most of your time in the water? If so, you need a waterproof pedometer. And for that, Lintelek has you covered.

Their fitness tracker looks like most of the other variations that flood the market. While it won’t win any awards for innovative designs, it does have a leg up on its competition.

There are lots of water-resistant pedometers out there. But none do it quite so well, or for such an affordable price. Boasting a rating of IP67, you no longer have to worry about getting caught in the rain or jumping in the pool.

You’re also getting access to many other great features. You can monitor your heart rate and quality is, count your steps, or check the calories you’ve burned.

Not only that, Lintelek’s fitness tracker alerts you to incoming calls, text messages, and social media updates.

Fourteen exercise modes come preloaded to keep you reaching your goals. It’s a great way to stay in shape without having to constantly check your smartphone. I do like that you can sync to your phone’s GPS, though.

This opens up even more features, like reviewing a map of where you traveled throughout the day. Even your walking pace is recorded for study.

I’m a big fan of the charging style used on this tracker. Just snap off the face from the wristband to reveal a USB-ready charging device. All you need is a powered USB port to plug into.

Within an hour or so, you’ll be charged up and ready to go. You can look forward to using this fitness tracker for up to a solid week before needing recharged again.

There are several designs and styles available to best suit your tastes. It’s an affordable model that’s great for everyone.

Best Waistband Pedometer

10. OZO Fitness SC 3D Digital Pedometer

Wanting to break free from your smartphone for a change? OZO Fitness makes it possible with the SC 3D. This digital pedometer ditches all the connectivity and opts for an easier approach.

At about the size of an old-school pager (remember those?), this handy little device clips to just about anything. It’s easy to bring along for a walk or run. You barely know it’s there thanks to its lightweight construction.

Or, if you prefer, use the provided lanyard. This allows you to wear the unit around your neck while you’re out for a walk.

The SC 3D sports a large LCD screen that readily displays your fitness information. It does a great job of recording your time spent exercising, how far you’ve traveled, calories you’ve burned, and steps you’ve taken.

Armed with just 2 buttons, the SC 3D is very easy to use. Programming its functions is a cinch, and it will save your activity for up to 30 days. You can quickly review any of your logs at the push of a button.

Top Simple Pedometer

11. 3DActive 3DFitBud

Couldn’t care less about calories burned or the distance you’ve traveled? Are you looking for a pedometer that just counts your steps? 3DActive eliminates all of the extra features with a simple and straightforward design.

Counting steps is what 3DFitBud does best. There’s no syncing to a smartphone or downloading an app. It’s a unit of plastic with a big LCD screen.

Large digits show you how many steps you’ve taken, and that’s it. If you want something easy, this is the device for you. Simply slip it into your pocket, toss it in your bag, or clip it to your clothing.

Once you start moving, the 3DFitBud takes care of the rest. You get amazing accuracy thanks to its triple-axis sensors. Regardless of how the pedometer is positioned, you’re sure to get precise tracking.

It boasts exceptional battery life, so you never have to worry about fiddling with chargers. Simply replace the CR2032 battery after it has run its course.

FAQs

How do pedometers work?

Older pedometers consisted of internal moving parts that calculated your movement. Every time you took a step, a mechanism would activate a switch. This switch would then change the numbers on the unit’s counter.

Today’s models are a lot more advanced, to say the least. By making use of GPS navigation, gyroscopes, and accelerometers, everything is recorded digitally. It’s a much better way of tracking your movement, as it collects a lot more data.

With the advent of Bluetooth, pedometers can now sync up with your smartphone to give you all sorts of new features. Gathered data is sent to your phone’s fitness app to gauge and measure more than just steps.

Some pedometers come with these features already installed, reducing the need for a smartphone.

Should I buy a waist or wrist pedometer?

This all depends on personal preference. In the past, waist-worn pedometers had to be positioned a certain way, otherwise they wouldn’t accurately record your movements. Thanks to ‘3D’ pedometers, it no longer matters how you wear them.

If you want simplicity, you’re likely better off with a waist model. If you’re looking for a device that’s loaded with features and can track more than steps, a wrist device is going to be your best bet.

How accurate are pedometers?

Pedometers have been thoroughly studied due to how widely-used they are. Many people depend on them to keep a proper record of their activity.

It’s been shown that you’ll get the best results when going faster than 3 miles an hour. In fact, a pedometer is 96% accurate when exceeding this speed. However, that accuracy takes quite a hit when you go any slower.

So much so that the pedometer is only between 60 and 71% accurate. Pedometers are pretty sensitive devices, so it pays to pick up the pace whenever using them. Plus, you’ll get a much better workout by doing so.