Fitbit VS Garmin – which one should you pick?

If you’re looking for a mid-range to a high-end smartwatch, you’ve no doubt heard of either Fitbit, Garmin, or both. After all, they are two of the most popular names for smartwatches and fitness bands. The question is when you put Fitbit VS Garmin, which one is the best? Or, instead, what’s the one that personally fits you best?

Both have their advantage and disadvantages in various aspects. Finding them is no easy task, though, and that’s why we decided to do it for you!

So, without any further ado, let’s get right into it!

Related reading

• If you’re tired of Google’s Fitbit changes, these devices are the best alternatives to Fitbit
• Apple Watch Ultra vs. Garmin: What’s the right fit for you?
• Fitbit Inspire 2 VS Garmin Vivosmart 4. Here’s what you should know
• Does Fitbit, Garmin, or other wearable devices offer a Pulse Oximeter?

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1: Fitbit VS Garmin: operating system & software

Most people focus on comparing the smartwatches between them – which is the logical thing to do. However, don’t forget that, at times, the software can be just as important as hardware, and Apple is an excellent example of that.

Both Fitbit and Garmin watches/bands have their proprietary software. Fitbit has, well, Fitbit, and Garmin has Garmin Connect. Both offer apps for Apple and Android.

Each app has its unique UI. And, arguably, there is no superior choice as far as looks are concerned. It all comes down to personal preferences.

However, one aspect that can be better or worse is each option’s features. And some features are exclusive to one brand.

The Fitbit app experience

Fitbit, for example, is much more user-friendly and shows your health and fitness information in a way that’s simple and easy to understand.

The app shows your Today stats, including steps, distance, floors, calories, and Fitbit’s signature active zone minutes. 

You also see your health reports for things like your heart rate, sleep, and stress.

Recently, Google (which now owns Fitbit) opened additional metrics to the free version of the Fitbit app. The app’s Health Metrics Dashboard now includes trends for 30 day and 90 days for the following stats:

• Resting heart rate (RHR): The number of times your heart beats per minute when your body is at rest (or sleeping.)
• Breathing rate: Breaths you take per minute.
• Heart-rate variability (HRV): The variation in time between heartbeats.
• Skin temperature: Your wrist’s skin temperature while you sleep (available on supported devices only.)
• Oxygen saturation (SpO2): The estimated amount of oxygen in your blood (available on supported devices only.)

For additional metrics and personalizations, Fitbit offers Fitbit Premium, which offers things like a daily readiness score along with advanced sleep and stress insights.

Fitbit Premium costs an annual fee of almost $80/year or $10/month, but it also brings heavy personalization and improvement tips to the table.

Based on your lifestyle, it can give you recommendations on improving your health with things such as food intake, sleep quality, workouts, etc.

While we are at it, let us not forget that when you purchase a new Fitbit watch, Fitbit also gives you a free trial of Fitbit Premium (usually 6 months.)

Garmin Connect app experience

On the other hand, Garmin Connect is free (no subscription fees) and offers a lot more data! However, it is definitely not as user-friendly as Fitbit.  

With Connect, you get more detailed reports and data analysis regarding your workouts and health. But you must know what you’re looking at.

It depends on what you want.

Easy to use with personalized recommendations? Go with Fitbit.
More metrics and detailed health and fitness data? Go with Garmin

2: Fitbit VS Garmin: options and hardware

A great thing about Garmin is that they offer plenty of options to choose from. There are more than 30 Garmin variations of different watches. Fitbit, however, only has a handful of bands and watches to choose from.

Not to mention that there are also plenty of very, very premium offerings on the side of Garmin. So, as far as sheer options are concerned, you are more likely to find what you are after in a Garmin smartwatch – at least as long as you are willing to spend a premium. On that aspect, we’d say that Garmin is the victor.

As far as hardware is concerned, your options can significantly vary depending on how much you are willing to spend. More expensive watches tend to offer more sensors and features that are impossible to find in lower-tier picks. Things such as connectivity, built-in GPS, SpO2 monitoring, extra features, local storage, and more.

Ultimately, both brands offer some great options, and as long as you’re willing to increase your budget, you can get whatever you want – be it with Garmin or Fitbit.

However, one thing to remember is that premium Fitbit watches, such as the Fitbit Sense Series, tend to present hardware issues more often than Garmin’s. And that’s something that you can easily see in user reviews. So, unfortunately, that’s minus one point for Fitbit.

At the end of the day, as far as hardware and options are concerned, Garmin seems to have the upper hand.

3: Fitbit VS Garmin: reliability

Reliability is a big hit or miss here cause it can vastly differ from watch to watch. But, if you look at user reviews, Fitbit watches appear faulty more often than the Garmin variants. And that’s something we also mentioned in the “hardware” section.

On the other hand, most Fitbit bands tend to come with removable/replaceable bands, while Garmin’s offerings do not. Imagine losing the functionality of a fully working watch because its laughably cheap band is non-replaceable.

Overall, Garmin seems more reliable regarding quality control as far as smartwatches are concerned. But it also appears inferior to fitness bands, if only since most of their offerings don’t have a replaceable band. That’s a tie as far as we can tell, but it also depends on what you are after. 

Then there’s also a warranty. Both bands offer a limited warranty, with Garmin promising one year of support in case something goes wrong and Fitbit pushing it up to 2 years (if purchased). That’s a win for Fitbit.

Of course, there is also the matter of how well each company handles warranty cases. But that’s not something that we can judge with our limited data.

If you have experience with warranty claims from either Garmin or Fitbit, feel free to let us know about it in the comments section below!

4: Fitbit VS Garmin UI (user interface)

The UI is an essential part of a smartwatch and a fitness band. After all, it’s something that we are forced to interact with daily.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, this can also be a matter of personal preference. We find it easier to navigate through Fitbit’s latest offerings – not to mention anything about the smoothness of animations, colors, and other visual aspects that can make a difference.

One thing that’s not a matter of personal preference, though, is customization options. In that aspect, Garmin offers thousands of watch faces and widgets to choose from. So, barely anyone can compete with them as far as that is concerned.

So, to conclude:

• Navigation and animations: Fitbit
• Customization options like widgets and watch faces: Garmin

5: Fitbit VS Garmin health tracking

Smartwatches are more than just watches. They are tools that we can use to track our fitness and overall health.

Some of the most important features that you’ll want to look out for as far as health tracking is concerned are:

1. Heart rate tracking (Both at rest and while performing intense activities/workouts)
2. Activity tracking
3. Spo2 monitoring
4. Built-in GPS so that you won’t have to carry your phone with you

And the truth is that both Fitbit and Garmin offer great, premium options that provide all that and, sometimes, even more.

However, as mentioned in the “options and hardware” section, Garmin offers many more watches. And that’s especially true in the premium sector.

So, we’ll have to give this one to Garmin if only thanks to the sheer volume of extra options you get – and the more detailed workout tracking. It is worth noting that Fitbit watches are generally better for tracking heart rate at rest.

Winner: Garmin

Fitbit VS Garmin smartwatches

So far, our comparisons have been very generalized. That’s why as we move forward, the comparisons are going to be more and more specific. For now, let us focus on smartwatches.

Regarding budget and mid-range picks, both Fitbit and Garmin are more or less on equal footing. However, as you start moving towards premium/flagship offerings, Garmin takes the upper hand.

Those willing to pay a premium for a Garmin watch can look forward to better performance, built-in GPS, great build quality, storage, wireless connectivity, and more features.

And though some of the most expensive Fitbit offerings also come with these features, don’t forget that, as we mentioned before, Garmin has more premium watches to choose from.

When writing this article, you are more likely to come across complaints about DOA (Dead on Arrival) Fitbit watches rather than the Garmin alternatives. Not to mention that Garmin, on average, seems to offer better quality control. That’s something that you can quickly tell by looking at Amazon reviews.

Conclusion: Garmin offers more premium variants and, on average, better quality control with more features. But, as far as budget to mid-range options is concerned, both are more or less on equal footing.

Fitbit VS Garmin Fitness Bands

Garmin may have the upper hand as far as premium watches are concerned—but when it comes to Fitness Bands—it’s hard to compete with Fitbit.

If you want a fitness band instead of a smartwatch, Fitbit offers a lot of options, from a bracelet like Fitbit Luxe to a more advanced tracker like the Fitbit Charge 5. And there’s also a model for kids, the Fitbit Ace Series.

We say that Fitbit has the upper hand as far as Fitness Bands are concerned for three reasons:

1. Removable bands
2. More customization options
3. Better looks
4. More advanced health tracking on some models.

We understand that none of that sounds like a big deal. But when everything else is more or less the same, that’s enough to make a difference.

A removable/replaceable band can make quite a bit of a difference. Imagine losing a fully-functional watch because your band broke, and it’s non-replaceable.

That aside, you can choose whatever band you think looks and feels best.

Not to mention that Fitbit’s offerings also look a little bit better as they are – or at least that’s to our eyes. That can be a matter of personal preference.

A removable/replaceable band and offering a variety of tracker models are enough to give Fitbit the winning crowd over Garmin.

Winner: Fitbit

Fitbit VS Garmin: Head-to-Head Comparison

That’s about it as far as generalized comparisons are concerned. We probably already mentioned all that there is to say about the brands in general.

At this point, the only way to better understand what’s better for you is to compare similarly-priced watches from Fitbit and Garmin. So, without any further ado, let the fight commence!

1: Fitbit Inspire 2 VS Garmin Vivosmart 4

Are you looking for a mid to high-end fitness band? The Fitbit Inspire 2 is Fitbit’s latest offering that’s set to come out on September 25. But keep in mind that you can already pre-order if you want to.

The closest competitor to it in terms of pricing is the Vivosmart 4. So, we’d say this is a fair comparison.

We’ve already made an in-depth comparison of them which you can check out on this page. If you want the short version of it, keep reading.

Features

As far as features are concerned, the Vivosmart 4 brings two extra utilities to the table that Fitbit’s offering doesn’t have:

1. SpO2 monitoring
2. VO2 Max

SpO2 monitors your blood oxygen levels, while VO2 can give you a good understanding of where you stand regarding fitness.

But then again, the Fitbit Inspire 2 comes with a yearly Fitbit premium subscription while also offering a removable/replaceable band.

As we mentioned before, a removable band can significantly affect lifespan. Cause if your band breaks and you have the option of replacing it, that can cost as little as a few bucks. But if it’s not removable, you are losing a whole smartwatch for a $12 damage that could have easily been fixed.

And that’s without even mentioning the possibility of choosing any band you want so that you’ll be able to stylize it to your personal preference.

To conclude:

• Fitbit for longevity and customization
• Garmin for SpO2 and VO2 monitoring

Battery Life and Display

Battery life can significantly differ depending on what features you are using. For example, sleep tracking and continuous heart rate tracking are massive battery killers.

But, on average, the Fitbit Inspire 2 promises about ten days of battery life, while the Garmin Vivosmart 4 only comes down to about a week without a charge. So, that’s a clear win for Fitbit here.

Both displays are monochrome – which is quite a shame by 2020 standards. But, at least the Inspire 2’s display is slightly larger.

So, no matter how you look at it, the Fitbit Inspire comes on top in battery life and display quality. The Vivosmart’s design may be better in terms of screen protection. But, then again, how many of us drop our fitness bands? They are not smartphones to slip from our hands.

Winner: Fitbit Inspire 2

Software

Both the Fitbit app and Garmin Connect have their pros and cons.

One of the biggest advantages of Garmin Connect is that it offers tons of widgets and watch faces to choose from. However, that’s not applicable in the Vivosmart 4 since it doesn’t give you the option to change watch faces.

Fitbit, on the other hand, offers Fitbit premium. A service to fully personalize tips and recommendations for your fitness and overall health.

The only downside of the Fitbit app is that it’s generally more unstable and buggy compared to Garmin Connect. And that’s especially true on Android devices.

To conclude:

• Fitbit Inspire 2: Comes with a bigger display, Fitbit Premium, and more customization options with a removable band but no SpO2 monitoring
• Garmin Vivosmart 4: Offers SpO2 and VO2 max but the non-removable band can prove troublesome in case yours breaks

2: Fitbit Versa 2 VS Garmin Forerunner 45

The Inspire 2 and the Vivosmart 4 are two of the best fitness bands that Fitbit and Garmin offer. But smartwatches are a different breed.

And as far as smartwatches are concerned, the Versa 2 is currently one of the best that Fitbit offers, with the Versa 3 being on the way. For now, you can only get the Versa 2, with the Garmin Forerunner 45 being the closest competitor in terms of pricing.

So, without further ado, let’s see which brand offers the best smartwatch!

Features

As far as hardware features are concerned, Garmin has the upper hand here, if only thanks to the built-in GPS. If you don’t need to take or make a call while jogging, this will allow you to leave the phone behind and go for a run without it – at least as long as you don’t need music.

Then there’s also Garmin Coach, similar to Fitbit Premium, VO2 Max, SOS alerts in case something goes wrong, multiple workout modes, and all that good stuff.

On the other hand, Fitbit’s offering comes with Amazon’s Alexa built-in. This allows you to perform certain actions with your voice, such as setting alarms or even controlling smart home devices at your place.

There’s also music control built-in – but, unfortunately, it asks for a recurring subscription. Add Fitbit Premium to the table, and the Versa 2 quickly gets rather expensive without providing a lot more than the competition.

Fitbit’s sleep tracking is arguably better. But that’s as far as its pros go. To conclude, if you absolutely need Alexa, go with the Versa 2. Otherwise, Garmin’s offering is hands down a better pick as far as features and hardware are concerned. 

Battery Life and Display

The Fitbit Versa 2 can survive up to 6 days away from its charger, while the Garmin Forerunner 45 can barely take it one step further at seven days. However, one thing to remember here is that Garmin’s battery life can be significantly reduced if you use the built-in GPS. It’s one of the most power-hungry components that the Fitbit Versa 2 doesn’t have.

Still, that’s somewhat a win for Garmin’s offering.

Both watches come with a colored display and an Always On option. However, the Fitbit Versa is noticeably larger at about 1.4 inches compared to the Forerunner 45’s 1.04 inches. Not to mention the superior resolution of 300×300 against Garmin’s 208 x 208.

To conclude, Garmin’s offering has slightly better battery life (Worse if you include the built-in GPS). Still, the Fitbit Versa 2 clearly has a superior display in both size and resolution.

Software

The apps here are pretty much the same you get on the fitness bands but with a few different features to match the hardware of the smartwatches.

But it is worth noting that Garmin Connect offers significantly more watch faces to choose from. Not to mention the companion app that you can use to track everything that’s going on on your smartphone and on the desktop. And as we mentioned above, Garmin’s offering also comes with SpO2 tracking, which can be helpful in certain scenarios.

So, that’s probably a win for Garmin – unless you value Fitbit Premium above everything we’ve already mentioned.

3: Garmin Instinct Solar Surf

It’s not that we forgot to include a competitor. It’s that there is not one, to begin with. Remember how we mentioned that Garmin offers certain premium offerings you can’t find on Fitbit’s side? Well, this is one of them.

At $449, it’s more than twice as expensive as the Fitbit Versa 2 and the upcoming 3. But, in exchange, it offers a few features you won’t find anywhere else.

As the name implies, apart from personal coaching, built-in GPS, Glonass, Galileo, waterproofing up to 100 meters, Pulse Ox monitoring, and all that good stuff, you also get wave tide tracking, surf activity, and solar charging!

Solar charging can extend the battery life to 54 days in smartwatch mode. And, if you are willing to use the Garmin Instinct Solar like a “normal” fitness band from time to time, you may never run out of battery at all, especially if there’s plenty of strong sunlight.

That’s something unique that you currently can’t find on Fitbit’s side. So, this is the only case where we have a clear winner, no questions asked.

No doubt it’s only targeted towards a particular crowd. But, as long as there is demand, there will be supply.

Fitbit VS Garmin: wrapping up

When everything is said and done, you can see no clear winner. Each side has its pros and cons.

But, on average, Fitbit seems to make better overall fitness bands while Garmin generally offers a few more features and better quality control as far as Smartwatches are concerned. That said, your mileage can vary from watch to watch.

The only category with a clear winner is the upper premium range. If you are willing to spend a lot for a particular niche, such as swimming with extreme waterproofing and unlimited battery, Garmin is still a one-way road.

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