Best heart rate monitors 2024 - and how to pick between a chest strap and watch

The accuracy of heart rate monitors is improving with each passing year, with the top options now able to provide superb workout tracking insights from different points on the body.

Choosing between them, however, has never been trickier. 

As ever, the best heart rate monitor for you depends on your goal. For those who want the most accurate readings during exercise, our testing still leads us to recommend the Garmin HRM Pro Plus chest strap.

For more convenient tracking, the Apple Watch Series 9 or Google Pixel Watch 2 smartwatches are also solid workout HR monitors - and offer versatility in using their tech to inform health features.

And don't forget dedicated sports watches and wearables. Our favorites here are Garmin watches that include the company's latest optical tech - such as the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) - and the Whoop 4.0.

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.

• Heart rate variability explained
• Smartwatches that can take an ECG

How we test heart rate monitors

A heart rate monitor is only worthwhile if it can capture accurate data consistently. And as we often show in our in-depth review testing, many still aren't.

Through our testing, we've been able to weed out the lesser devices and highlight only the cream of the crop in this buyer's guide.

However, it can take plenty of time to ascertain whether a chest strap, watch or armband is accurate.

That's why we perform long-term tests for features powered by heart monitoring - analyzing our trends to spot any anomalies - and also test against multiple devices if we're 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

Garmin HRM-Pro Plus

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Key considerations

• Body position: Chest
• Sensor tech: ECG
• Connectivity: Dual-band ANT+ / Bluetooth
• Phone compatibility: iOS and Android

The Garmin HRM-Pro Plus is 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), but Garmin has changed the main compartment's design here so you no longer need a screwdriver to swap out the coin cell battery. 

Generally, you can expect to get around a year of battery life from a Garmin chest strap like this. We've been using our test unit for around 7 months and the battery level is still showing as 'OK' - so we're on track there.

The only sore spot of using this chest strap is trying to keep it clean - 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 definitely one to consider. 

With that said, we've taken the HRM-Pro Plus on more rainy runs and sweaty intervals than we can count and we're yet to clean anything other than the sensors - and there's been no change of 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 of users on Garmin forums and elsewhere complain about quickly burning through their straps, after all.

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 means it can connect with other devices seamlessly, too.

For indoor runners, the HRM-Pro Plus will also track pace and distance. And if you participate in team sports, it can track additional metrics like steps, intensity minutes, and all-day heart rate data. It's a great all-rounder.

Polar H10

Polar

Key considerations

• Body position: Chest
• Sensor tech: ECG
• Connectivity: Dual-band ANT+ / Bluetooth
• Phone compatibility: iOS and Android

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If you're an exerciser who cares about accuracy, the Polar H10 chest strap is the one we've found to be one of the most reliable during testing.

The iOS and Android-friendly strap boasts Bluetooth and ANT+, so you can pair it to a whole 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 handily be included in washing machine cycles. This makes it a great option for those likely to get it wet via sweat or swimming consistently.

We've used it plenty of 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 go back to and can comprehensively say it still delivers the goods.

Apple Watch Series 9

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Key considerations

• Body position: Wrist
• Sensors: Optical, electrical heart rate sensor, temperature sensor
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Phone compatibility: iOS

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Whether used for exercise tracking or health monitoring, the Apple Watch Series 9 is the most complete heart monitor available for iPhone users.

When working out, we've put it through the same rigorous testing. And the Series 9, like its predecessors and its Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch SE siblings, consistently proves to be one of the most accurate optical heart rate sensors on 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 9 also 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, while 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 9 review

Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)

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Key considerations

• Body position: Wrist
• Sensors: Optical, ECG, SpO2
• External HR monitor pairing: Yes
• Phone compatibility: iOS and Android

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All of Garmin's watches offer broadly solid heart rate monitoring accuracy, but the fact the Epix Pro (Gen 2) is the most feature-packed to include the company's Gen 5 Elevate sensor array means it just 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 265 - 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.

We still think Garmin's Elevate technology (across the board) has a very slight tendency to overreport maximum heart rate figures during workouts, but the fact remains that the Epix Pro (and the Fenix 7 Pro and Venu 3 - the only other Garmin devices with the latest Elevate sensor) is at the peak of monitoring from the wrist.

You also have the option to pair up an external HR sensor, as well, if you're not quite satisfied with the level of accuracy on offer.

That optical HR accuracy is crucial outside of tracked exercise, too, as it powers a lot of useful insights. If you're a runner, cyclist, swimmer, or, really, any kind of athlete, Garmin's metrics are both in-depth and intuitive.

HRV Status is one of the latest, giving you an insight into your heart rate variability trends with plenty of contexts, but this scratches the surface of how heart rate data feeds into Garmin Connect.

Also present are the likes of resting heart rate, Body Battery, VO2 Max, Training Status, stress tracking, calorie burn, respiration tracking, sleep monitoring, and more.

It's comprehensive stuff, making the Epix Pro (Gen 2) a great pick for those who want the top training-focused heart rate monitoring experience.

• Our full Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) review

Google Pixel Watch 2

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Key considerations

• Body position: Wrist
• Sensors: Multi-path optical heart rate sensor, ECG, SpO2, EDA, skin temperature
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Phone compatibility: Android

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While the performance of the original Pixel Watch certainly wasn't poor, accuracy has been taken to another level with the second-gen model. 

Debuting a new multi-path optical heart sensor, the Pixel Watch 2's performance is one of the most accurate we've tested during workouts. It's very quick to respond to changes in heart rate, and almost always finishes bang in line with a chest strap. 

We've been seriously impressed - and it's something Google did emphasize during the announcement of the watch, noting that AI algorithms and machine learning would give it a bump in accuracy. 

This uptick is also bolstered by the fact Fitbit's platform is behind much of the heart health tracking and wellness. 

There are no new additions to get excited about in this regard with the Pixel Watch 2, but users are still treated to sharp insights and easy-to-understand graphs related to heart rate variability, resting heart rate, stress, sleeping heart rate, and much more that debuted with the original. 

The Pixel Watch 2 may not get close to something like a Garmin in terms of training and additional sports insights, but the stellar heart features make it a top wellness device - and that accuracy ensures it places 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 very most out of it.

• Our full Google Pixel Watch 2 review

Whoop Strap 4.0

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Key considerations

• Body position: Wrist, bicep, various Whoop Body locations
• Sensor: Optical
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Phone compatibility: iOS and Android

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The Whoop Strap 4.0 is the most versatile heart rate monitor on the market.

Designed to live on your wrist by default, the Whoop Body range of clothing also allows it to be worn on 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 really not limited in terms of placement here.

After testing different Whoop Body garments and different straps over the past couple of years, we've found the company's bicep band helped provide the best accuracy. The traditional wrist position proves pretty inconsistent in any activity tracking, so keep the potential additional cost of straps or Whoop Body clothing in mind if you prioritize tip-top accuracy.

Elsewhere, the fact that there's no display means that wearing Whoop 4.0 is almost always unobtrusive - and means you can wear a watch (or smartwatch) on the other wrist without looking like too much of a square.

The tracker also adds weekly and monthly reports on your fitness, recovery, sleep, and health – and there’s an excellent Health Monitor, which uses a traffic light system to keep tabs on your breathing rate, resting heart rate, and body temperature, to alert you when something is out of whack. We used it through a bout of COVID-19 and to monitor mild illness, and it’s certainly on point.

There are downsides, though. Whoop relies heavily on heart rate accuracy to power its entire platform, focusing mainly on recovery, activity strain, and sleep. And if this data has a bad day - and it very much can if you track solely from the wrist - it skews the whole picture.

The only other major thing to note is the cost. Despite Whoop lowering prices last year, it's still expensive.

The Whoop Strap 4.0 is free, but you'll have to pay either a monthly subscription (for a minimum of 12 months) or shell out upfront for a 12-month or 24-month term.

The best value option is the 24-month term, which sees you pay $399 / £384. Signing up for a 12-month will cost $239 / £229 upfront, meanwhile. Or, you can pay $30 / £27 for each month.

• Read our Whoop Strap 4.0 review

Choosing a heart rate monitor: What to consider

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Understanding what you want from a heart rate monitor, as we alluded to up top, is paramount if you're going to find 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 chiefly designed to aid exercisers who want the most accurate readings. As we explain in our picks below, this type of heart rate monitor can respond more quickly to your heart rate's changes than the optical sensors found in watch and fitness tracker monitors.

While the latency and accuracy in watches are often weaker than a chest strap, they do offer superior comfort, convenience, and features. These devices are designed to monitor you all day and come packed with features other than just simple BPM monitoring 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.

Generally, the averaged-out data won't be too far from a chest strap in the best options (seen below), but you'll still face latency issues in real time.

They can also be flummoxed by the movement of the wrist during exercises - ones such as press-ups, burpees, or Olympic lifting - as the skin contracts and tightens, making it harder for the sensor to do its job.

Dark skin and tattoos can also affect accuracy, as skin tone can affect the light reflection. Sadly, not enough work has been done across the board to overcome accuracy issues because of ethnicity, so, if you have dark skin and want the very best data from your workouts, we recommend a chest strap for workouts.

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 even 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.