Ever since Google acquired the brand in 2022 for $2.1 billion, the future of Fitbit has been hazy at best.
Even as Google continued to produce Fitbit-branded smartwatches like the Sense 2 and Versa 4 alongside its flagship Pixel Watch, it seemed only a matter of time before the Fitbit line was folded into the other Pixel wearables, with several models almost certain to get lost in the shuffle.
Alas, in 2024, Google announced the end of all Fitbit-branded smartwatch lines, officially killing off the Versa and the Sense, though these models are still available for sale, just like 2023's Fitbit Charge 6 and 2022's Fitbit Inspire 3.
However, aside from the 2024 launch of the kid-friendly Fitbit Ace LTE, it's been a darn long time since we've seen a new Fitbit release. Is the end of Fitbit near? And if so, what are the best replacements for today's popular Fitbits? I'll answer these questions below.
Fitbit’s uncertain future under Google
Thankfully, it sounds like we may well get a new Fitbit model in 2026. While unveiling new AI features coming to Fitbit Premium (which is now the default fitness app on the Pixel Watch), the brand quietly confirmed plans for a new Fitbit-branded model next year.
It's also worth mentioning that when the news of the death of the Sense and Versa lines dropped in 2024, reps from Google reaffirmed the brand’s commitment to existing Fitbit customers via email, while also hinting at new models. Read it below:
"We are very committed to Fitbit, and even more importantly, to the customers that use and depend on those products and technology. It's also worth noting that many of the health and fitness features we launched in Pixel Watch 3 were because of Fitbit's innovation and ground-breaking fitness advancements. In addition, we just launched Fitbit Ace LTE, and you’ll continue to see new products and innovation from Fitbit."
5 Fitbit alternatives
Of course, no one likes uncertainty. While I’m still a big fan of Fitbit products, I thought it might be helpful to offer up some capable alternatives to the most popular Fitbit models, including both fitness trackers and smartwatches.
Fitbit Inspire 3 alternative: Amazfit Band 7
Both the Fitbit Inspire 3 and Amazfit Band 7 pack full-color AMOLED screens into minuscule, lightweight packages. The Amazfit screen is a bit bigger than the Inspire 3's display and the whole package is a little over 10 g heavier than the Fitbit.
Still, you'll find many of the same features and capabilities on either model including 10 or more days of battery life, workout, sleep and stress tracking, heart rate monitoring and even blood oxygen saturation detection.
The Amazfit Band 7 even has some tricks up its sleeve that the Inspire 3 doesn't, including wrist-based access to Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant. Best of all, the Amazfit option is $49, or half the price of the Fitbit.
Fitbit Charge 6 alternative: Garmin Vivosmart 5 or Amazfit Active 2
The Fitbit Charge 6 is admittedly a difficult fitness tracker to match, feature and tech-wise, hence its high regard in our buying guides, but the closest match is the Garmin Vivosmart 5.
Garmin's latest fitness band-style tracker features a similar low-profile design to the Charge 6 and keeps tabs on many of the same metrics, all for about the same price. You also get up to a full week of battery life with either model.
However, the Vivosmart sports a monochromatic screen compared to the Charge's full-color display. The Garmin also doesn't have an onboard GPS, so you'll need to piggyback off your phone for location tracking, something Charge 6 owners won't have to worry about.
Those drawbacks aside, the Vivosmart 5 performed well in our testing, proving itself to be a competent tracker for sleep and fitness and a comfortable device for 24/7 wearing. Oh, and unlike the Charge 6, it comes in two sizes.
If no GPS is a deal-breaker, instead, consider the Amazfit Active 2. It's a little bit bigger than the Charge 6, but quite slender and easy-wearing on the wrist. It's also loaded with tracking modes and training tools. The companion app isn't quite as easy to navigate as Garmin's or Fitbit's, but it's good enough.
Fitbit Luxe alternative: Garmin Lily 2 Active
The Fitbit Luxe may be a bit long in the tooth, but it's one of only a very small handful of stylish and affordable fitness trackers out there that don't skimp on capability. Another is the Garmin Lily 2 Active.
These devices admittedly have quite different designs: the Luxe looks more like a bracelet, while the Lily looks like a stylish watch. Still, both maintain their elegance by keeping size and weight to a minimum and via the use of premium metal materials in their designs.
One major distinction between the two is that Garmin has onboard GPS, while the Fitbit does not. That said, both are capable of tracking the basics, like fitness and sleep. The Lily 2 Active also offers fairly comprehensive female health tracking features, like menstrual cycle tracking and pregnancy tracking. You also get contactless payments via Garmin Pay, unlike on the Luxe.
Fitbit Versa 4 alternative: Amazfit Bip 6
The Fitbit Versa 4 shares the same impressive build quality and design as its pricier smartwatch sibling, the Sense 2, but delivers it for just under $200.
However, the Versa 4 isn't the most full-featured smartwatch out there. Unlike models from Apple or Samsung, you don't get a giant selection of downloadable apps, but it does offer a bright and beautiful display, basic fitness and health tracking, along with voice support for Alexa, Google Maps and Google Wallet.
Those on the hunt for a similarly wallet-friendly smartwatch with plenty of fitness and health tracking chops and some "smarts" should consider the somewhat oddly-named Amazfit Bip 6. Like the Versa 4, it monitors heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, sleep, stress and activity. It also has an onboard GPS and plays nicely with Alexa and a small smattering of apps. Another plus: two weeks of battery and support for offline maps.
The build quality isn't quite as nice as that of the Versa 4, but the Bip 6 is less than half its price. Plus, you get a slightly larger screen.
Fitbit Sense 2 alternative: Apple Watch SE 3 or Google Pixel Watch 4
One thing that makes the Fitbit Sense 2 such an easy smartwatch to recommend to folks is the fact that it works with Android and Apple smartphones. With its potential demise, things get more complicated.
The Apple crowd considering a Sense 2 for its smartwatch and fitness tracking capabilities might be better off springing for the entry-level Apple Watch SE 3 instead.
The two devices are priced similarly and share a similar design format, too. The latest SE model is a competent tool for monitoring wellness and activity, just like the Sense 2, but offers way more functionality outside of holistic features. The only downside is that the battery life on the Apple Watch is no match with the Fitbit Sense 2.
The Android faithful should consider the Google Pixel Watch 4, the legit spiritual successor to the Fitbit Sense 2. It uses the same Fitbit app, with access to a small smattering of Fitbit Premium-only metrics. It also ships with Google's fantastic Gemini AI voice assistant built in, something you won't find on any Fitbit model.
