8 Best Heart Rate Monitors to Buy in 2024, According to Cardiologists

“Most of my patients have better success with long-term heart rate monitoring using watches such as the Fitbit,” says Dr. Harkin. This sleek watch doubles as an accessory with a tracker and offers up to five days of battery life without having to stop for a charge, according to the brand. You can also track how hard your heart is working with the Active Zone Minutes feature.

Another pick of Dr. Shah’s, this smartwatch offers a bunch of heart-tracking features. It has real-time ECG Monitoring that gives accurate readings, according to the brand. And it has an atrial fibrillation feature, a common form of irregular heart rhythm that can lead to blood clots. It stores the data gathered from monitoring, which can also be viewed on your smartphone.

We partnered with BodiMetrics to create this Prevention circul+ ring. It’s the only wearable pulse oximeter on the market that provides continuous monitoring to accurately measure heart rate, blood oxygen, finger temperature, and heart rate variability. It also records a single-lead ECG and blood pressure. Plus, the oximeter has been validated for all skin tones. It also has a unique patented design, according to Neil Friedman, COO of Bodimetrics, which allows the sensor to be stabilized against the bottom of the finger for accurate measurement. It’s made of stainless steel and durable plastics and comes in three different sizes to fit any of your fingers.

“I think this ring, in particular, may be more comfortable for people that don’t want to have something on their wrist when they go to sleep,” says Dr. Shah. “It has the same health monitoring features as traditional smartwatches but offers a different way of getting the same information and potentially getting better sleep tracking than some of the other devices.”

This iconic chest strap monitor is known for its superb accuracy, a comfortable fit, and all-around versatility thanks to Bluetooth and ANT+ (a wireless sensor network) compatibility. “This has been a fantastic heart rate monitor. It quickly pairs with my Apple Watch 4 and continuously monitors my heart rate, without gaps like when I used the sensor on the Apple Watch. I can tell it’s working because my watch displays my heart rate, but the green light sensor on the underside of the watch isn’t flashing. This tells me the Polar H9 is providing the heart rate data,” wrote one satisfied customer.

“Chest straps can be a bit more reliable,” says Dr. Harkin. And her next pick comes with an electrode pad sensor to track the heart rate and provides detailed running metrics, including stride length, vertical ratio, and ground contact time. It’s also small, lightweight, and can connect to any Bluetooth smart technology.

“My personal preference is the Apple Watch, simply because I’m in the Apple environment,” says Dr. Shah. “It talks to my phone, to my laptop, and plays well with my other devices. In addition to heart rate monitoring, it can also measure the actual heart rhythm with an electrocardiogram. It provides oxygen levels and a whole bunch of other things, like step counts that help me understand my health better.”

Prevention’s Senior Editor Emily Goldman also sings the Apple Watch’s praises. “I have sworn by my Apple Watch for years,” she says. “I have a Series 6 (which has lasted me years, clearly, since the series 8 is now available) and use the heart rate function for workouts all the time. It’s super accurate (I sometimes compare it to the heart rate monitors seen on gym equipment), and I love that it offers a graph depicting heart rate fluctuations.”

Besides offering superior sound quality and a secure fit, these wireless earbuds also come equipped with a heart rate monitor. It’s able to read your heart rate through the blood passing through your ears, unlike the way smartwatches and fitness bands read the blood flowing at your wrist. “I have been using these for three months now and I’m very happy with the connection,” wrote one reviewer. “The heartbeat monitor seems to be accurate and gets a read relatively quickly after putting them on.”