The best fitness trackers for swimming recommended by experts

Many of the best fitness trackers can perform well in the water but there are nuances to what they can do. The main difference is their water resistance rating, ideally with you wanting more than 5ATM (submersible up to 50 meters) and even some of the best budget fitness trackers can offer this. Some will be able to offer you customizable workouts, track your strokes and pace and give detailed data, whereas others will only be able to track your swimming distance through GPS.

Leo Gebbie, a Wearables Analyst, told us that more advanced smartwatches can offer deeper insights, which “can help more advanced swimmers to better track their performance in the water. Smartwatches with GPS also tend to offer an open water swimming mode.” However, Leo warns against their accuracy: “The GPS signal is essentially lost every time the watch dips below the water, meaning it is far harder to obtain a smooth track of where a user has swum.”

We’ve narrowed down our favorites to help you choose a fitness tracker to suit your swimming routine. Garmin watches haven’t made an appearance in this guide, especially as we haven’t personally reviewed their best fitness tracker for swimming, the Garmin Swim 2. But if a Garmin is what you’re after, our best Garmin watches guide may be more relevant.

The quick list

The best fitness trackers for swimming we recommend in 2025

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The best fitness tracker for swimming overall

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The Polar Grit X is a solid fitness tracker that we mainly tested for runs and workouts but it does have great water resistance up to 100m. It has a range of battery life depending on what you’re using it for, with the most being 100 hours in power-saving mode. Of course, if you’re using it for open water swimming, you will be using the GPS and this brings it down to 40 hours which is still more than adequate, albeit a bit of a pain. Although it has a Gorilla Glass screen and stainless steel bezel, it’s light weighing only 64g.

Price: The Polar Grit X is one of the more expensive fitness trackers out there, even though it is now considered an older model. It normally comes in around the $379 mark which sounds steep but it still packs a punch and is worth the investment if you don’t mind not having the latest fitness tracker tech.

Water resistance: The reason we’ve rated this as the best overall is because of its amazing water resistance. You can wear this fitness tracker down to depths of 100m which means it is suitable for many types of swimming and what’s even better, it is wearable in both pools and open waters.

Accuracy: What’s surprising about this fitness tracker is its accuracy even though it is not the latest release. We tested it in runs and workouts and found it had decent stat accuracy with our reviewer commenting that for heart rate and location tracking, it worked “if not perfectly”. It also performed well during our test workouts in recording our distances and locations, performing similarly to the Garmin Forerunner we tested against. For swimmers, the Polar Grit X can track your swims and identify your swimming style from four types with Polar noting that ‘Freestyle’ is the only swim style recognised for open water swims. The tracker can also record your times, pace, distance and rests for each swim.

However, one thing it lacks compared to newer models like the Garmin Epix 2, is multi-band GPS. Multi-band GPS uses different frequencies to reduce the errors caused by obstacles such as tall buildings or trees. This technology can help fitness trackers’ accuracy when you’re in more challenging environments. As the Polar Grit X doesn’t have this, it’s worth bearing this in mind if you swim in disused quarries or remote locations as accuracy may be affected.

Battery life: The Polar Grit X has various battery life depending on what you’re using it for. For swimming, the GPS will be enabled so you can expect a mediocre battery life of 40 hours before it needs charging.

Design: The Gorilla Glass and stainless steel bezel make the Polar Grit X a highly durable fitness tracker that will last a long time. Even though it has the stainless steel bezel and Gorilla Glass screen, it remains light at 64g meaning it won’t become too cumbersome while swimming. We also noted in our review that there was minimal use of color for the display and that sometimes the interface wasn’t that intuitive so this is something to bear in mind if you lack patience.

Read more: Polar Grit X

The best budget option

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The Amazfit Active is a recent addition to the Amazfit cohort and works excellently for its price point. We loved how light and unobtrusive it was to wear with comfortable straps that didn’t bother us. Although we didn’t test it directly in the water, we expect it to be comfortable in the water and it does have a 50m water resistance making it suitable for swimming. It’s not short on features despite the price with it being able to track your heart rate, steps, heart rate variability, temperature, blood oxygen, breathing rate, sleep quality and stress level. You may expect a lack of workout modes but the Amazfit Active boasts 120 activities including pool and open water swims and even offers AI-powered coaching apps.

Price: The Amazfit Active is at the cheaper end of the scale coming in at around $110 at normal price but this doesn’t mean it doesn’t perform as well as more premium models. We loved this bargain fitness tracker and couldn’t believe how much we got for the price.

Water resistance: An adequate 50m of water resistance means you can wear this fitness tracker without worry in pool or open water swims. We wouldn’t recommend it for diving or scuba diving though.

Accuracy: Tested alongside a chest strap, the Amazfit Active proved to record accurate health stats and it didn’t do too badly when it came to tracking our performance in our workouts. It was particularly good at capturing our pace, jumps, distance and stroke rate. The Amazfit Active also has support from five satellite systems which they say helps track you with accuracy — this is a bonus for anyone swimming in more remote outdoor locations.

Battery life: The Amazfit Active is advertised as having 14 days of battery life and this is for a typical user. Our reviewer found the watch lasted for 27 days with moderate to heavy daily use while Amazfit states the tracker will last 30 days in battery saver mode. Either way, we were massively impressed with its battery life, it didn’t let us down. If you have GPS continuously on, the battery life does drop to 16 hours so this is something to bear in mind for those outdoor swims.

Design: Made from aluminum alloy with plastic straps, the Amazfit Active does feel a little less luxurious than the more premium models. However, we found it comfortable to wear and even complimented the straps for their comfort, although we did note that they may stain easily. It is so lightweight, weighing only 24g, which is amazing when other models weigh 2 or 3 times that amount. Its lightweight design makes it a great contender when in the pool. We liked the use of color on the display and how easy it was to read although the reflective screen did make it hard to see sometimes under bright lights — something to be mindful of when in a pool or during open water swims.

Read more: Amazfit Active

The best alternative to a watch

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The FORM Smart Swim 2 has been classed as the world’s first smart goggles and if this is the starting point for this tech, we’re excited to see where it goes in the future! There is a small unit on the side of one of the lenses which is where the tech lives. From here, a digital readout appears when you put the goggles on. As soon as you’re in the water, the goggles are doing the work. It gives you real-time feedback on your heart rate, split times and distance and so much more. You can personalize this information to suit your needs. The great thing about these smart goggles is that you can focus on swimming while the tech captures all the information.

Price: We’d recommend these smart goggles for serious swimmers looking to improve their technique as they do not come cheap. They sell for around $279 so it’s a big investment if you don’t go swimming often.

Water resistance: Being a pair of swimming goggles, these are suitable for both pool and open water swims. They come with replaceable eye seals for added comfort and to secure the fit helping to reduce the chances of any water leaking in.

Accuracy: Our reviewer was impressed with the accuracy of the FORM Smart Swim 2 goggles and loved how the second you got in the water, they started tracking automatically. There was no need for her to press any buttons if she paused with it also detecting turns seamlessly. Our reviewer did mention ensuring you get the nose piece to fit properly as this is important for connection and thus accuracy of the data. It comes with 5 interchangeable nose pieces to help you get the perfect fit.

Battery life: These smart goggles have 14 hours of battery life on a single charge which is more than adequate for a swim or even a few! Our reviewer found a ten-minute boost before a swim gave two hours in the pool.

Design: Upon opening, you need to connect the goggles to the FORM app on your smartphone. The app guides you through the process of fitting the nose pieces. Once you’re set-up, you can configure the app to show the data you want to see while swimming. The unit can be moved from the left or right eye and the display can be seen for prescriptions up to -3.

Read more: FORM Smart Swim 2

FORM Smart Swim 2: Price Comparison

The best for beginners

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The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is still a newer addition to their range being released back in 2023. It boasts a bigger screen than its predecessors which is something we liked. Our reviewer mainly tested it when hiking and in the gym and the bigger screen wasn’t an issue then, although it may be more cumbersome in the water. With an adequate 50m water resistance, you can wear your Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 in the pool and open water swimming — remember to turn on the Water Lock mode before though! Samsung also advised that in reality, the watch can be submerged in 5 feet of water for 30 minutes maximum so shorter swims are best.

Price: The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 sells for around $349 without any discounts applied. Sometimes you can get it cheaper for around $190. A reasonably priced fitness watch in our eyes.

Water resistance: This fitness watch has adequate water resistance for pool and open water swimming with a 5ATM rating meaning it’s water resistance up to 50 m. However, Samsung notes that in reality, this means it can be submerged in water up to 5 feet for 30 minutes so we recommend it for shorter swims. You must remember to use the Water Lock function too before entering the water.

Accuracy: Our reviewer found the health stats tracking to be “impressively accurate” and loved the accuracy for the heart rate and body composition functions, especially when the body composition results were compared to a standing bioimpedance machine. However, we found the tracking for the workout modes did not track anything but heart rate and duration so workout stats are simple in comparison to other fitness watches. Although we didn’t test this watch in the water, you can track your swim metrics using the Samsung Health App, capturing your laps, distance, pace and stroke recognition.

Battery life: A disappointingly small battery life of a single day even though it’s advertised as 40 hours. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing if, as a swimmer, you’re mainly using the watch to track your swims rather than capturing day-long health stats or sleep data. We did find an hours charge gave us a full battery.

Design: This watch comes in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm. We tested the 44mm graphite-colored model with the silicone sport strap. Our reviewer liked the softness of the silicone strap which didn’t slide during workouts. We also noted that it didn’t feel heavy to wear. However, we did notice the sensor was quite bulky meaning it didn’t sit close to the skin. For those with narrower wrists, this might not be the best choice as we found there weren’t many adjustment holes.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: Price Comparison

The best for subtlety

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The Whoop 4.0 is an older model now, being released back in 2021 but we still rate it highly. It has an unusual design compared to other fitness trackers due to there being no screen. This is refreshing as screens dictate so much of our lives — it’s wonderful to be allowed to be present during a swim. The lack of a screen wasn’t that much of an issue for us, although our reviewer did note it better suits activities where you don’t need to check your stats during the session, swimming being one. The Whoop 4.0 is great for swimming as there is no need to faff with buttons and screens before getting in the water, all you need to do is get in and swim. The tracker sends the data to your phone through a Bluetooth connection so you can browse in-depth fitness data from your swim afterwards, perhaps over a coffee.

Price: The Whoop 4.0 is based on a monthly subscription service. You can pay for various memberships with the 24 month membership working out around $16 per month whereas the annual is around $19 a month. However, you can get a one-month trial for free.

Water resistance: This fitness tracker has the lowest water resistance rating of our selection, with it being submergible in depths of 10m. Whoop also say it can only be submerged for a maximum of two hours. This is still sufficient for swimming but ensure your swim as shallow and kept shorter. Our reviewer did test this tracker during a wild water swim and it held up fine. However, Whoop advise it’s best used in chlorinated water.

Accuracy: The highlight of the Whoop 4.0 is the strain and recovery scores. We found the strain and recovery scores a good tool for knowing how prepared we were for exercise and for help in adjusting our workouts. There are also individual metrics that the tracker monitors. With all of this data, it helps you to understand yourself better and make better habits. It does more than just monitor your swims — it can let you know how much you can handle in your next swim and which behaviours might be hindering your performance.

Battery life: Whoop states a solid battery life of 4-5 days which, with 24/7 health monitoring, is impressive. It is also more than sufficient for those wanting to take it swimming. We loved how we could charge the battery pack independently of the sensors so you never lose health tracking.

Design: People won’t know you’re wearing a fitness tracker with the Whoop 4.0 — it’s so subtle in its design. The strap is also unlike other fitness trackers being a ‘SuperKnit’ design. You can tighten or loosen the strap like a rucksack strap before placing it over your hand onto your wrist. Another highlight of the Whoop 4.0 is the daily journal as this helps you log things outside of your exercise to help you see patterns in what you’re eating, drinking or doing and how this is impacting your recovery score.

Read more: Whoop 4.0

Whoop 4.0: Price Comparison

The best for customization

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The Apple Watch Series 8 is a great fitness watch for swims. It has a water resistance rating of 5ATM meaning it is water resistant to 50m and suitable for swimming but not heavy-duty watersports or diving. Depending on the exact model of the Apple Watch Series 8 that you get, the weight can be anything from 32g to 52g — a reasonable weight for a swim. The GPS is also good on this watch and although we didn’t test it in the water, it should be able to track your outdoor swims with ease.

Price: The Apple Watch Series 8 sells for around $250 which isn’t bad considering what this watch has to offer with specialist swimming workout modes.

Water resistance: This watch has a 5ATM water resistance rating meaning you can use it for swimming. Apple says you can use this watch for both pool and open water swimming with its own mode for open water swimming.

Accuracy: The Apple Watch Series 8 has good accuracy in terms of its stats and measurements. Our reviewer particularly liked that there were more mid-exercise statistics offered, compared to previous models, for a deeper dive into your health and workouts. The GPS on Apple Watches is always great which bodes well for any outdoor swims you might want to track.

Battery life: This is where this watch falls short — only 18 hours of battery. This isn’t surprising seeing as Apple watches are renowned for lower battery life. There is a low-power mode that turns off WiFi and 4G and the ‘Always-on’ display mode. It also reduces the amount of notifications from your iPhone. This feature can save you some battery which is why it may suit those wanting to use it for particular workouts, like swimming, or for those not bothered about tracking every second of their day.

Design: We found the watch comfortable to wear with the strap causing us very few problems. Our reviewer was impressed with the graphics with him commenting that the “on-screen graphics are even richer than what you’d see in a high-end Garmin.” Sadly, we found the app menu to be overloaded with icon dots and no titles making it harder for those unfamiliar with Apple watches to know what each app does. However, the USP of the Apple watch is the fact that it works with third-party apps so you can plan a swim training session on one app and sync it to your watch for when you’re in the pool. Even better, if you’d rather not use third-party apps, you can customize your workouts straight on your watch. Best of both worlds.

Read more: Apple Watch Series 8

Apple Watch Series 8: Price Comparison

Best fitness trackers for swimming: Comparison

Our expert consultants

Leo Gebbie

Wearables Analyst

Leo is the Principle Analyst and Director of CCS Insight. He leads their connected device research with focus topics including the smartphone, wearables, virtual and augmented reality, PC and tablet, smart home and semiconductor markets. He also manages research focused on second-hand devices and the circular economy. Leo is based in San Diego and leads the company’s presence in the Americas. He holds a BA in Geography from the University of Oxford.

Best fitness trackers for swimming: Frequently Asked Questions

What does the water resistance rating mean on a fitness watch?

Fitness watches are given different water resistance ratings. The watches we’ve covered in this guide have either been rated as 5ATM or 10ATM. This means the watches can be submerged in water to a depth of either 50 meters (5ATM) or 100 meters (10ATM). However, this doesn’t mean they can be submerged for long periods. So, while they can be in deeper water, they are really only sufficient for swimming and showering. Most fitness trackers come with their own guidance on how long they can be submerged, so do follow those instructions to ensure no damage to your fitness watch.

What is the best fitness tracker for swimming?

Our guide is here to show you our round-up of the best fitness trackers for swimming but the right one for you will come down to what you need your fitness tracker to do. Most are water resistant, can track swims and distance with GPS and can differentiate stroke and pace etc. Some offer customizable swim workouts whereas others don’t. What one you choose will depend on the data you want to see from your swim — some people want a bit of data whereas others want a lot. Another thing to consider is, that if you’re wanting a fitness tracker for more than swimming, it’s worth considering the other features you may need outside of the pool.

What are the benefits of using a fitness tracker to track your swims?

Using a fitness tracker when swimming can be a great way of improving your swim times and technique. Most fitness trackers will log your heart rate, distance, time and stroke which can give you a lot of data on how you’re performing in the pool. Others offer swim workouts which can help increase your stamina and help you train. Having a fitness tracker on while swimming can help you stick to your goals of swimming so many lengths before you get out of the pool. They’re a great way to keep you motivated on your fitness journey and they offer interesting stats for viewing after your swim to keep you improving.

How do fitness trackers track swimming?

Just like when you use a fitness tracker for any other exercise, your watch will use the sensors found on the back to monitor your swim. Depending on the tracker, these sensors collect data on your movement, distance, calories burned and body temperature amongst other things. Alongside these sensors, the GPS on your fitness tracker can log the distance swam which is particularly helpful for those who prefer wild swimming. They also monitor your heart rate so you can see how much of a cardiovascular workout you’re getting. Some can even automatically detect the stroke you’re using!

How to choose the best fitness tracker for swimming for you:

Consider where you’ll be swimming: Most fitness trackers can handle pool swimming so as long as you have sufficient water resistance for swimming, you can choose any of our favorite fitness trackers in this guide. However, for those of you more likely to engage in open-water swimming, be sure to check the manufacturer’s guidance before purchasing. Some fitness trackers perform better in pools than in open water. You will also want to check the GPS function of any fitness tracker you’re thinking of buying for open-water swimming. As mentioned by Leo Gebbie, our expert, the GPS signal is lost every time the arm dips below the water so you will want decent GPS tracking to ensure a more accurate distance is captured.

Consider the battery life: You may want to wear your new fitness tracker all day, every day, to track your other health stats as well as your swims. If you’re not likely to have anywhere to charge it every day, for example, you’re on the go a lot, we suggest going for one that lasts longer. If charging on the go isn’t an issue for you, battery life won’t restrict you much, apart from having time regularly where the watch can’t track your health stats.

Level of swimming: Some fitness trackers are more suited to those partaking in triathlons or undertaking serious training to improve whereas others are sufficient for the everyday person who is looking to increase their fitness. Be sure you choose a fitness tracker based on your level of swimming and the sort of data you will find useful to improve your swimming. The level of detail you may want may be different to someone else. Rather than get carried away in the tech and what the watches can do, consider if you need it to do it for you. Otherwise, we may have a great fitness tracker but you may not be using many of its functions!

How we tested these best fitness trackers for swimming

How we test the best fitness trackers for swimming

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Location: All of the fitness trackers in this guide have been tested and reviewed by our expert team here at Livescience. Our reviewers tested these fitness trackers during home workouts, gym workouts, hiking and runs. The Whoop and Form Smart Swim 2 were tested in the water. Although we haven’t tested all of the fitness trackers in this guide during swimming sessions, we did our research as to how they performed for others in the water. We can vouch for them being reliable fitness trackers and decent brands with them featuring in our best fitness trackers guide.

Length of time tested for: Our reviewers had the products for a while, with most being tested for over a month during various workouts and worn day-to-day to capture the health stats. The trackers were also worn during sleep. The Form Smart Swim 2 are the exception with them only being tested in the water.

What tests do we do: The majority of these fitness watches were tested in the gym, during home workouts, hiking and runs. The Whoop and Form Smart Swim 2 were tested in the water. The Whoop was tested during a wild swimming session whereas the Form Smart Swim 2 was tested in the pool and open water.

Expertise of writers: All of our reviewers have years of experience in the health and fitness world.

Products we’ve also tested

Here are some other fitness trackers we’ve tested. They are all suitable for swimming and as none of the Garmins we tested made it into this guide, we’ve included a couple below in case you’re a big Garmin fan.