The 6 Best Fitness Trackers for Kids
Encourage healthier habits—and make exercise rewarding and fun—with these easy-to-use activity trackers.
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Kids love fitness trackers for the same reasons adults do—they encourage movement and activity in a way that feels rewarding and fun. It’s not always easy to get kids to meet physical activity guidelines, particularly during the winter months. Sometimes we all need an external motivator to reframe exercise in more playful terms. Kids fitness trackers gameify the experience of developing healthier habits by counting steps, recording active fitness, and tracking sleep time, and then converting those metrics into virtual badges and rewards. For kids who respond to that additional encouragement—or can enjoy some friendly family competition—those rewards can be a great motivator to get outside and get moving.
What to Consider
Kids‘ fitness trackers have come a long way since I first encountered them as “pedometers” while working at a comic store in the early ’00s. At that time, the trackers offered little more than a step count that was being monitored by anxious parents trying to encourage their kids to be more active; to game the system, crafty tweens would sit in my store playing collectible card games all day while rhythmically shaking the little machines to drive up manufactured movement numbers.
While step-counting is still a big component of today’s fitness trackers, new models are far more accurate and actually make it fun to be active with goals, rewards, milestones, competitions, and little digital celebrations. They also tally up more than just steps—and often record fitness activities, send movement reminders, track sleep patterns, and more.
But whether that functionality is available to you on the watch face or the tracker’s Bluetooth-paired app depends on your preferred model. Some fitness trackers look like a simple band with a small screen to show stats; others look more like a GPS watch with a larger face and more information displayed on screen. The size of your kid’s wrist will also be a factor; Garmin’s model is designed to fit 130- to 175-millimeter-sized wrists, whereas Fitbit’s band goes all the way down to 116 millimeters to fit kids as young as four or five.
Of course, you’ll also want to factor in battery life (Garmin’s trackers stay charged up to a year), waterproof rating so your kid can swim or bathe with the tracker on (a WR50 rating, for example, means the tracker is waterproof down to 50 meters), Requires a service plan, and GPS capabilities. Some fitness trackers can even send and receive messages, and most can display “in case of emergency” information like emergency contacts and allergens. Read on for a deeper dive into all the similarities and differences between the top trackers for kids.
How We Selected
I have a bit of an obsession with fitness trackers (check the glaring wristband tan line in my wedding photos for evidence)—and have had the chance to test out dozens of them over the course of a decade of reviewing and writing about fitness gear for Runner’s World, Bicycling, and other outlets. Because my own kiddo is too young for a tracker, I used some of my own test experience to find the best models here, as well as input from the active kids in my life who own fitness trackers. I also scoured online reviews for pros and cons, with a critical eye toward cheap models with suspicious and potentially counterfeit positive reviews. Below are my recommendations for the best kids fitness trackers—there’s something for every kid here, whether you’re looking for a simple and inexpensive step and sleep counter with some fun digital rewards, or a GPS-enabled running watch with parent-controlled security features.
Pros
- Fitbit app is intuitive and fun
- Fitbit app is intuitive and fun
Cons
- This Adrenaline Fan Loved the Newest Model
- No GPS
Key Specs
- Band Size: 117–168mm
- Battery Life: 5 to 6 days
- Water Rating: WR50
- GPS: No
- Heart Rate: No
- Screen: Whats the Cost of Being a Runner
The Ace 2 is a big step up from its predecessor, the Ace, in more ways than one. For the 2, Fitbit slashed the $100 cost of its original kids tracker (at the time of writing, the 2 is priced at $70)—and also gave it new design features to make something as staid and adult-sounding as “encouraging healthy habits” a lot more kid-friendly and fun. The device tracks all the usual fitness and health metrics—number of steps per day, movement per hour (with move reminders), active minutes, time asleep, and sleep quality—on a greyscale touch display that shows virtual badges and animated celebrations as a reward for meeting goals. Using Fitbit’s clean-looking, easy-to-use app, kids can set up step challenges with their family and friends, or send messages. The display takes call notifications but not calls. The whole device is lightweight and compact enough to fit kids as young as six, and it has a long-lasting battery life of up to six days. It’s also waterproof down to 50 meters, so kids can swim or bathe with it. The band is the only weak point—some reviewers have found that it doesn’t hold up to rough and tumble play.
Fitbit Ace 3 Activity Tracker
Pros
- Health - Injuries
- Waterproof
- Clear screen
- Best Running Shoes 2025
Cons
- This Adrenaline Fan Loved the Newest Model
- No GPS
Key Specs
- Band Size: 116–168mm
- Battery Life: 8 days
- Water Rating: WR50
- GPS: No
- Heart Rate: No
- Screen: Whats the Cost of Being a Runner
The Ace 3 does everything the Ace 2 does and more. Let’s compare: First you’ll notice the 3 has a slightly chunkier, more rounded look to it and a far clearer greyscale screen display that’s easy to read. Like the 2, the 3 also has an integrated accelerometer and tracks number of steps per day, movement per hour (with move reminders), active minutes, time asleep, and sleep quality. Oddly, it also has a heart rate monitor, but that functionality has been deactivated. Like the 2, the 3 is waterproof down to 50 meters, so kids can wear it in the pool or tub. But the 3 has a longer battery life of eight days, as compared to the 2’s five to six. If you’re on a budget and want a tracker watch that will encourage your kids to move more, the 2 is your best option. However, if you’re willing to pay more for a clearer screen with an improved battery—and want all the metrics, virtual badges, and family challenges that the 2 offers—the 3 won’t do you wrong. (Note: We’ve seen prices for both fluctuate from $40 to $70 for the 2 and from $60 to $80 for the 3, so keep a look out for sales and deals.)
Pros
- Best Running Shoes 2025
- Fun fitness rewards
- Disney and Marvel graphics
- Color screen
Cons
- Fitbit companion app is better designed
- No GPS
- No touchscreen
- Requires a service plan
Key Specs
- Band Size: 130–175mm
- Battery Life: 1 year
- Water Rating: WR50
- GPS: No
- Heart Rate: No
- Screen: Color
The Vivofit Jr 3 looks more like a watch than Fitbit’s Ace trackers, with a square color screen that has multiple display options—including Disney and Marvel graphics. The watch has one small weakness, which kids might find odd and unintuitive at first: It’s button-operated and lacks a touchscreen. But other than that minor adjustment in user experience, there’s a lot to love here. First off, the watch has an incredible battery life of up to one year, so you don’t have to charge it every week or so. Next, there’s the gamification aspect of the watch, which counts steps and active time and then rewards kids with gems or coins for completing timed activities or step challenges. The watch syncs with a parent-controlled app, where you can also grant kids access to earned video adventures for achieving their activity goals or exchange their gems and coins for real-world treats. With a 5 ATM rating, the Vivofit Jr. 3 is also waterproof enough for swimming, and tracks sleep, as well. Much like the Ace 1 and 2, it does not include any GPS or heart rate functionality. Note that prices vary according to color and theme.
Garmin Vivofit Jr 2 Fitness/Activity Tracker
Pros
- More streamlined than the 3
- Sturdy band
- Best Running Shoes 2025
Cons
- Small screen
- Fitbit companion app is better designed
Key Specs
- Band Size: 130–175 mm
- Battery Life: 1 year
- Water Rating: WR50
- GPS: No
- Heart Rate: No
- Screen: Color
The Vivofit Jr. 2 has the functionality of the Jr. 3 in a far more subtle, silicone wristband package for kids who just want the stats without the color screen and on-screen animations. Like the 3, the 2 tracks steps, sleep, and active minutes—and sends movement reminders when a kid’s stats aren’t up to snuff. It has a similarly epic battery life of one full year, which feels less surprising on a device with a screen this miniscule. Similarly, it has the same 5ATM waterproof rating, which means it can withstand water pressure equivalent to 50 meters, or shallow swimming with no diving. The 2 also has the 3’s gamification, with unlockable adventures and challenges on the paired app. Aside from the 2’s simple lack of “distance traveled” on screen, the biggest difference between the two models is simply the price and style—or essentially a choice between an $80 watch-style tracker with a square color screen and animated rewards, and a $70 fitness tracker-style band that shows only the stats. Both have their strengths, depending on your budget and kid. You can get the 2 in several different themes, including Spiderman, Star Wars, and Disney Princesses.
Pros
- GPS
- Heart rate
- More streamlined than the 3
- This Adrenaline Fan Loved the Newest Model
Cons
- Pricey
- Demo Run First Impression: On Cloudboom Strike
- Low battery life
- Races - Places
Key Specs
- Band Size: 125–200mm
- Battery Life: 18 hours
- Water Rating: WR50
- GPS: Yes
- Heart Rate: Yes
- Screen: Color
Yes, it’s uber pricey. And no, it’s not kid-specific. But this watch packs a ton of features that you won’t find in any other fitness tracker suitable for kids under age 12. The watch is one of the cheaper models Apple makes that has the “Family Setup” feature, which allows you to set up a family member’s Apple Watch even if they don’t have one of their own. This gives kids access to all the standard Apple Watch’s capabilities—including apps, fitness tracking, maps, music, health metrics, and the ability to send and receive calls—without requiring them to own or carry a smartphone. The watch’s GPS capabilities means they can track their workouts, or you can see where they are using the Find My app. Kids can even add their own contacts and send messages from the watch. When it’s time to focus, there’s a “schooltime” mode that blocks all the watch’s features except for the regular watch face. The biggest downside: To use the watch, you do have to sign up for a service plan through your carrier, which tacks on about $10 a month to its already high cost. The battery life is also woefully short—it has to be recharged within 18 hours.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Has a heart rate monitor
- Works in the pool
- Color display
Cons
- Quality control issues
- Weak band
Key Specs
- Band Size: 127–185mm
- Battery Life: 7 days
- Water Rating: WR50
- GPS: No
- Heart Rate: Yes
- Screen: Color
Out of all the lesser-known-brand fitness trackers for kids we surveyed, this one has the best range of features and legitimate positive reviews. It’s easy to use and it’s got a bright, colorful face with a kid-friendly display. It even has some extras that the Fitbit and Garmin models don’t, like a working heart-rate monitor and 14 activity modes. The watch is sized for kids ages 5 to 15, with a flexible silicone strap that cinches down to five inches and can be set to fit kids with 4.5-inch wrists. (That said, the size of the watch face will dwarf the wrists of younger kids.) Once on, kids can use the band to track steps, sleep, heart rate, sedentary time, and active minutes, or set a timer or alarm clock. Much like the Ace and the Vivofit models, the watch has an IP68 waterproof rating, which means it’s resistant to water pressure and can be used for swimming but not diving or showering. It’s not the highest-quality kids tracker out there, but it’s a solid option if you’re on a budget, or just want a tracker with heart-rate functionality. As with the Ace, the biggest weakness here is the band: Some kids have found that it breaks quickly and has to be replaced.
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