Skip to Main Content
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.
Heart Rate Monitors: Buying Advice, Tips, and News

Latest Heart Rate Monitor Top Picks

Latest Heart Rate Monitor Stories

Whether you use an armband or chest strap, add some smarts to your exercise and training routine with one of the top heart rate monitors we've tested.

By Angela Moscaritolo
Garmin HRM-Dual
4.0

The Peloton Heart Rate Band easily connects with the company's equipment and app—as well as third-party machines and software—to accurately track your pulse and show your heart rate zone at a glance.

By Angela Moscaritolo
4.5
Editors' Choice

Much more than a heart rate monitor, the Wahoo Tickr X doubles as a run tracker, works indoors and out, and even counts reps during strength training.

By Jill Duffy
4.5
Editors' Choice

The entry-level Polar H9 is the best heart rate monitor for anyone with basic needs, with a wide range of compatibility and an excellent companion app.

By Jill Duffy
4.0

Garmin's HRM-Dual chest strap heart rate monitor can connect to just about any device or app. It's reliable, accurate, long-lasting, and comfortable, although it doesn't include any special features.

By Jill Duffy
Garmin HRM-Dual
4.0

Setting up and using the Wahoo Tickr Fit armband to measure heart rate during exercise couldn't be easier, making it a top pick among heart rate monitors.

By Jill Duffy
Wahoo Tickr FIT

The Omron HeartGuide has an inflatable blood pressure cuff built into the watch strap, and it's received clearance from the FDA as a medical device. We tried it out at CES.

By Brenda Stolyar
Omron HeartGuide
4.0

Scosche's Rhythm24 armband heart rate monitor is a welcome alternative to chest straps, but be sure to set aside time to study the instructions.

By Jill Duffy
Scosche Rhythm24
4.0

The Polar OH1 is an optical armband heart rate monitor rather than a chest strap, and is one of the better devices in the category.

By Jill Duffy
Polar OH1 heart rate monitor
4.5

Versatile, comfortable, and highly accurate, the Polar H10 is one of the best heart rate monitors money can buy.

By Victoria Song
Polar H10 Heart Rate Sensor
4.0

The HRM-Run is the heart rate strap to buy if you have one of the Garmin fitness trackers that work with it. It's a data junkie's dream come true, giving you advanced stats, such as oscillation and ground contact time.

By Jill Duffy
Garmin HRM-Run
4.5
Editors' Choice

The Polar H7 Heart Rate Sensor is one of the best and most accurate HRMs for sports and fitness you can buy.

By Jill Duffy
Polar H7 heart rate monitor
3.0

The Wahoo Fitness Tickr Heart Rate Monitor is a good and reliable device that provides steady Bluetooth connectivity to both Android and iPhone apps for running and other activities. It isn't as innovative as some of the more tech-forward devices hitting the market, but its low price is compelling.

By Jill Duffy
Wahoo Fitness Tickr Heart Rate Monitor
3.0

Twenty-first century fitness enthusiasts no longer have to suffer the discomfort of chest strap heart rate monitors. The Scosche Rhythm+ armband collects your heart rate data and works with ANT+ and Bluetooth devices. It's not the most innovative device, but it's a reliable and reasonably priced option.

By Jill Duffy
Scosche Rhythm+
3.5

If you're in the market for a new heart rate monitor and are sick of wearing a chest strap, the MIO Link is a reasonably priced wristband that will meet your needs rather precisely, and that's all you should expect from it.

By Jill Duffy
MIO Link
4.0

For running, cycling, and plenty of other endurance sports, the MIO Alpha BLE represents a major upgrade in comfort and ease-of-use in heart rate monitors, but it's also quite expensive in comparison.

By Jill Duffy
MIO Alpha BLE