Looking for your first running watch? These are the budget fitness bands and watches we’d recommend to get you on the right track

• May 9, 2026

My running pace isn’t going to set the race world alight. And while I’m a big proponent of taking things at your own speed, I would like to improve my stats just a smidge — and a fitness tracker is how I’m going to do that. So far, I’ve either not tracked my runs at all, or used a phone-based app to gather information that I can look at after I’ve finished. Some on-wrist information, I think, would help me become more aware of my progress, and ultimately, how to improve it.

So I’m in the market for a wearable. Today’s best fitness trackers and smart watches are crammed with tech and data, but I don’t need something particularly advanced, and I also don’t want to splash too much cash. If you’re in a similar position to me, I’ve gathered some top options below. These are highest-rated, budget running trackers we’ve tested at TechRadar, any of which would fit the bill perfectly.

In the affordable smartwatch arena, the standout is the Amazfit Active 2, which is bafflingly cheap and earned a perfect five stars in our review. Of the fitness bands we’ve tested, the Samsung Galaxy Fit3 is the shining star (provided you don’t live in the US or have an iPhone), or the efficient and beginner-friendly FitBit Inspire 3.

Read on for more options — and hit the View Details button to find out more information about each one.

On your marks…

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The Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 is a budget tracker for casual users who want an easy, simple and affordable device to track their everyday health stats and workouts. There’s a responsive color touchscreen that lays out information clearly, a well-designed app, and long battery life. Apple users will need to head elsewhere, though.

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The Amazfit Active 2 is a full smartwatch with a feature-list that far outstrips its modest price-tag, including accurate health tracking and a useful AI assistant, plus gym-friendly touches like an intelligent rep counter and timer. Our reviewer put it on a par with more expensive mainstream offerings.

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The Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is impressively good quality for its very cheap price. It boasts a smooth user interface, a bright display, and generally reliable health tracking. We noticed inaccuracies in sleep tracking, and the display didn’t always wake up exactly when it was meant to &mdash; but there’s nothing we couldn’t overlook for the price.

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The Fitbit Inspire 3 is efficient, easy-to-use and great for fitness newbies, with a solid range of tracking features for a low price. The health and fitness stats are clear and useful, although some might prefer a larger screen for easier scannability.

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It’s getting on a bit now, but the&nbsp;Vivosmart 5 remains the cheapest tracker in Garmin’s lineup, and we still rate it as good value for budding runners, cyclists, and generally active people. It hooks up to the sophisticated Garmin Connect app, which offers comprehensive training and recovery planning, plus a selection of guided workouts. The screen packs in plenty of data and is clear to read despite the lack of color.

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If you’re looking for a more fully fledged option, the Polar Pacer Pro is a great choice. It’s perfect for runners looking to up their game, with onboard GPS, enabling you to accurately track pace, distance, cadence, elevation and more without having to bring your phone along. A ‘Race Pace’ feature helps you plan to hit your goal time. The lack of full-color maps and on-watch music are the only real down-sides.

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The Forerunner 165 lacks the full gamut of features from Garmin’s pricier propositions, but there’s still plenty to get stuck into, including race-adaptive training plans, a useful ‘Morning Report’ and ‘Body Battery’ with recovery metrics. It’s slim and light, with an AMOLED touchscreen and decent battery life. A very solid pick for a first running watch.

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The CMF Watch 3 Pro by Nothing has a surprisingly premium look and feel, making use of Nothing’s signature design language. It covers the basics well, and comes in at a good price considering its exceptional battery life and a few neat tricks like voice recording. However, most features require a connection to your smartphone.

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