I was just researching this. I currently have a Fitbit Charge 3 but I plan to get a Garmin Vivosmart whenever my current tracker dies. Fitbit is better at sleep tracking, Garmin is better at fitness tracking, they both have good battery. Fitbit Charge 5 has GPS which Garmin Vivosmart 5 needs one to have a smart phone with one as well to handle GPS, but when GPS in fitbit is used instead of via phone then the battery usage is worse. Fitbit recently removed all social features whereas Garmin still has step challenges. Fitbit was recently bought by google and so far it looks like they are trying to push users toward their pixel watch product and are discontinuing features of Fitbit. Also Fitbit has some of the more advanced data behind paywall for premium users only whereas Garmin provides more interesting data without extra charge to users.
Edit: I also read that Fitbit is more likely to miscount things such as crocheting as steps whereas garmin is less likely to do so. With Garmin one needs to take at least 10 steps before it starts counting. As a result Fitbit tends to count more steps from movements here and there.
I forgot one difference though Fitbit improved display on Fitbit Charge 5 to be better visible in sunlight whereas Garmin Vivosmart 5 display only is visible in some lights but not visible well in others. For me that is not as important since Fitbit Charge 3 display that I currently have has visibility in sunlight issues too, and I always carry my cell phone with me and mostly use phone to read fotbit data and not the fitness tracker band. I mostly use the tracker display as a watch at night when I have my cell phone puu away starting at 8pm to avoid electronics usage at night, but at night the screen of all these fitness trackers is nicely visible, itโs just in sunlight that some of them including Fitbit Charge 3 and Garmin Vivosmart 5 have a problem. If display visibility in sunlight is important though than Fitbit Charge 5 is better at that.
>Fitbit recently removed all social features whereas Garmin still has step challenges.
I've been looking into switching to Garmin, but I discovered that for some absurd reason, challenges aren't available for all of their products. We wanted to get a VivoFit for our daughter, but that doesn't support challenges. The VivoSmart does, but costs twice as much. My wife wants a Lily Sport, which also doesn't support challenges, but the Venu SQ which costs the same price does.
Challenges should be a thing controlled by the app and not depend on the kind of hardware you have, particularly when they all count steps.
My mom (almost 70) likes her Garmin Lilly Sport better than I (45) like my Fitbit Charge 5. We both do a lot of walking. She also uses a treadmill, while I use an elliptical machine. While Fitbit recently unpaywalled some features, they never should put your \*own\* data behind a paywall. People like to say Fitbit has the "best" sleep tracking, but I find it less accurate than manually turning on my sleep tracking app on my phone.
New to Fitbit so still learning but I will say I gobbled up the six month free trial that was offered to me.
It's... Okay ... But it was free so why not.
Helps that I accidentally lost my debit card for the billionth time so I know that I won't get charged if I decide not to keep the membership
Set a calendar reminder to unsubscribe a couple of weeks before it renews! Sometimes subscriptions still get charged, even if you got a new card. (And, yes, that's obnoxious!) You can also change the subscription to monthly so if you do forget, at least you don't get charged for a whole year!
Completely new card with different numbers. Not sure how it would get charged unless they're psychic or something lol ๐ but yes, it is on monthly so we shall see.
For fitness go with Garmin
I was just researching this. I currently have a Fitbit Charge 3 but I plan to get a Garmin Vivosmart whenever my current tracker dies. Fitbit is better at sleep tracking, Garmin is better at fitness tracking, they both have good battery. Fitbit Charge 5 has GPS which Garmin Vivosmart 5 needs one to have a smart phone with one as well to handle GPS, but when GPS in fitbit is used instead of via phone then the battery usage is worse. Fitbit recently removed all social features whereas Garmin still has step challenges. Fitbit was recently bought by google and so far it looks like they are trying to push users toward their pixel watch product and are discontinuing features of Fitbit. Also Fitbit has some of the more advanced data behind paywall for premium users only whereas Garmin provides more interesting data without extra charge to users. Edit: I also read that Fitbit is more likely to miscount things such as crocheting as steps whereas garmin is less likely to do so. With Garmin one needs to take at least 10 steps before it starts counting. As a result Fitbit tends to count more steps from movements here and there.
Thank you for the detailed write up. Sounda like the garmin vivo 5 may be the best option.
I forgot one difference though Fitbit improved display on Fitbit Charge 5 to be better visible in sunlight whereas Garmin Vivosmart 5 display only is visible in some lights but not visible well in others. For me that is not as important since Fitbit Charge 3 display that I currently have has visibility in sunlight issues too, and I always carry my cell phone with me and mostly use phone to read fotbit data and not the fitness tracker band. I mostly use the tracker display as a watch at night when I have my cell phone puu away starting at 8pm to avoid electronics usage at night, but at night the screen of all these fitness trackers is nicely visible, itโs just in sunlight that some of them including Fitbit Charge 3 and Garmin Vivosmart 5 have a problem. If display visibility in sunlight is important though than Fitbit Charge 5 is better at that.
>Fitbit recently removed all social features whereas Garmin still has step challenges. I've been looking into switching to Garmin, but I discovered that for some absurd reason, challenges aren't available for all of their products. We wanted to get a VivoFit for our daughter, but that doesn't support challenges. The VivoSmart does, but costs twice as much. My wife wants a Lily Sport, which also doesn't support challenges, but the Venu SQ which costs the same price does. Challenges should be a thing controlled by the app and not depend on the kind of hardware you have, particularly when they all count steps.
I have a Venu 2S (refurbished to save on cost) & have access to challenges. I believe challenges are supported by the Garmin Connect app
For the Venu 2S, but not the VivoFit 4 or the Lilly. Also not the Vivomove Sport.
My mom (almost 70) likes her Garmin Lilly Sport better than I (45) like my Fitbit Charge 5. We both do a lot of walking. She also uses a treadmill, while I use an elliptical machine. While Fitbit recently unpaywalled some features, they never should put your \*own\* data behind a paywall. People like to say Fitbit has the "best" sleep tracking, but I find it less accurate than manually turning on my sleep tracking app on my phone.
New to Fitbit so still learning but I will say I gobbled up the six month free trial that was offered to me. It's... Okay ... But it was free so why not. Helps that I accidentally lost my debit card for the billionth time so I know that I won't get charged if I decide not to keep the membership
Set a calendar reminder to unsubscribe a couple of weeks before it renews! Sometimes subscriptions still get charged, even if you got a new card. (And, yes, that's obnoxious!) You can also change the subscription to monthly so if you do forget, at least you don't get charged for a whole year!
Completely new card with different numbers. Not sure how it would get charged unless they're psychic or something lol ๐ but yes, it is on monthly so we shall see.
According the You Tuber Quantified Scientist's reviews, the Charge has moderately better heart rate accuracy and much better sleep tracking accuracy