Apple Watch vs Fitbit: Sleep Tracking, Calorie Burn, & More15:03

The two leading smartwatches and fitness trackers on the market right now are the Apple Watch and the various Fitbit trackers. However, it can be difficult to know how to compare the two and to figure out which is really better for you.

Both have most of the basics such as step tracking, calorie tracking, and distance tracking. At first glance, they look like they have even more similarities such as sleep tracking. However, there are several key differences between the two devices.

Below you will find a complete guide to Apple Watch vs Fitbit. The Sleep Tracking, Calorie Burn, and much more. By the end of the article, you will have a better grasp on which of the two devices (or both) is better for you and your lifestyle. The best option really depends on exactly what you are looking for, but by this article will help you figure out what that is.

Apple Watch

The Apple Watch was first put on the market in April of 2015. The Apple Watch first edition, along with the gold Apple Watch released around the same time were both very focused on apps, and it was very much like having a small phone on your wrist.

While the newer generations still have apps and can operate in many ways like a phone (calls, texts, etc.), Apple has switched it to be much more health and fitness tracker focused.

Currently, you can buy three different models from Apple directly, though there are others that you can find elsewhere. The three you can buy from Apple are the Apple Watch Series 3, the Apple Watch SE, and the Apple Watch Series 6.

All three will come with the newest operating system that Apple is currently offering for Apple Watches: WatchOS 7. All three are also able to integrate with other Apple Products and iOS services.

Fitbit

On the other hand, Fitbit has been around since 2009, when they released a clip-on step and sleep tracker. Since then, they have grown a lot and have a variety of different options so that their customers can get exactly what they are looking for.

For that reason, Fitbit really has become one of the leading fitness trackers on the market. Today, we are just going to focus on a few of their best and most popular.

Charge 3 and 4

The Fitbit Charge 3 and Fitbit Charge 4 are the two most recent versions of one of Fitbit’s more classic fitness trackers. It is really great for anyone looking to track typical fitness activities (steps, distance, calories, etc.) and sleep.

However, it is not a smartwatch like the Versa and does not have quite as many trackers as the Fitbit Sense. The Charge 4 has a little bit more than the Charge 3 with Fitbit pay and built-in GPS.

Sense

The Fitbit Sense is one of the more higher-end watches that Fitbit has on the market right now. Its design is similar to Fitbit Versa 3, but it has more advanced tracking features such as an electrodermal activity sensor (which helps detect stress), skin temperature sensor, heart rate tracker, and blood oxygen and saturation sensors.

It really is a good Fitbit option for someone looking to track as much as possible when it comes to their overall wellness.

Versa 2 and 3

The Versa is one of Fitbit’s devices that is more of a smartwatch rather than just a fitness tracker. The Versa has a larger screen than the other two types of trackers on this list.

Both keep many other tracking features: steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, sleep, heart rate, stationary time, etc. The Versa 3 also have goal-based exercises such as swimming along with built-in GPS.

Which is Better Fitbit or Apple Watch?

This in many ways depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking for a fitness tracker, the Fitbit does have more to offer you, especially with the Fitbit Sense. They offer more trackers overall and tend to be a little bit more health and wellness-focused because that is pretty much their only primary focus.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a smartwatch that also doubles as a fitness tracker, you may prefer the Apple Watch. The different apps plus the call and texting abilities really make it a convenient add-on to your phone in addition to being a fitness tracker.

Both options have an app that goes along with the device where you can see a full picture of all the different things the device tracks along with change some of the settings in your device. Both apps are okay, but the Fitbit app is definitely clearer and more intuitive, while the Apple Watch may take you a little longer to figure out and understand how to use.

Sleep Tracking

Fitbit trackers that have sleep tracking tend to be far better in that area than the Apple Watch. Pretty much all Fitbit trackers have an extended battery life, so you can use them all day, including when you are sleeping. That means that it can keep operating while you are sleeping and track things like your heartbeat to give you an estimate of how well you are sleeping.

However, you have to charge the Apple Watch pretty much every day, so it does not make a very accurate or good sleep tracker, even considering the options they do provide you with.

Sleep tracking can offer you really good information when it comes to your health, especially Fitbit’s sleep tracking that tracks how many times you wake up through the night, your total amount of sleep, and the different sleep stages.

Learn more about Rest vs Sleep

With that information, you can figure out what habits help you sleep better vs worse and adjust accordingly. It also just helps you get a better understanding of your overall health. If sleep tracking is important to you, the Fitbit may be the best option for you.

Calorie Burn

Tamim Tech in the above video explains that both Fitbit and Apple Watch have the ability to track both your active calories and the calories that you naturally burn throughout the day. However, on the Fitbit Sense, there is the ability to see the full picture of how many calories you have burned that day (active+natural) on the face of your watch.

On the face of the Apple Watch, it only shows your active calories, so you have to look into the health app to find more detailed information. Some people prefer to only focus on their active calories, so it can come down to a personal preference.

What Can Apple Watch Do That Fitbit Can’t?

The Apple Watch really does make a great addition to your iPhone. There are many apps that you may have on your iPhone that also have apps on the Apple Watch, which gives you some additional capabilities that the Fitbit does not provide.

While there are Fitbit devices that can show you notifications, even text or call, it really does not compare to the Apple Watch text and calling that you can fully operate separate from your phone (as long as you are within range of your phone which is quite wide.)

The Apple Watch especially stands apart from some of the other Fitbit models that do not have built-in GPS, music control, etc. The Fitbit Sense is really the Apple Watches biggest competitor, but they are still quite different.

What Can Fitbit Do That The Apple Watch Can’t?

The Fitbit, especially the Fitbit Sense, has far more fitness tracking capabilities than the Apple Watch does, and it goes beyond sleep tracking. The Fitbit Sense has a tracker (EDM tracker) that tracks your stress level through out the day and will give you recommendations accordingly. It also tracks your skin temperature and blood oxygen levels.

All of these things, combined with the more common fitness tracker features, really give you a complete picture of your health and wellness, beyond just the physical. The skin temperature specifically, even tracks slight changes in your temperature to help give you warnings that you might be getting sick.

How do Sleep Trackers Work? Are they Accurate?

Wearing It to Bed: Apple Watch vs Fitbit

Even if sleep tracking is not your priority, it is an added bonus not to have to remember to take off and plug in your watch every night before you go to bed. This is where the Fitbit wins. The battery lasts much longer and we already discussed how superior its sleep tracking capabilities are.

If you do decide that you want to wear the Apple Watch through the night, you have to make sure that you leave a couple of hours in the morning to get it fully charged. Your battery will likely be almost dead by the time you wake up. The Apple Watch does have a low-power mode that you could opt to use if you could not charge it, but when you put it in that mode, it loses most of its capabilities besides telling the time.

No matter which device you have, if you decide to wear it to bed there are some safety precautions that you have to keep in mind. You want to make sure that you keep the wristband on the device loose while you are sleeping so it does not cut off your circulation.

Of course, you do not want the watch falling off. If it does you will lose a full night of sleep tracking. However, if it is too tight and gets stuck between you and the mattress, it can be quite dangerous.

How Long Will It Last?: Apple Watch vs Fitbit?

Both companies come out with new products fairly regularly, so if you are a person who always wants the newest and greatest, they will both age relatively quickly. However, if you are talking about ability to function over time, both the Fitbit and the Apple Watch are durable devices.

Fitbit has lots of waterproof options and the Apple Watch is a waterproof device. The Fitbit does have some more heavy-duty options that can be good for kids who play rough on the playground, however, both can stand up well to your typical wear and tear.

Benefits of Having both an Apple Watch & a Fitbit?

If you have the capabilities to have both the Apple Watch and a Fitbit, you really will get the best of both worlds. You can use your Apple Watch as an addition to your phone to send and receive text messages, call others and receive calls, etc. and then you can use your Fitbit tracker to track your overall health and wellness.

You will especially get use out of your Fitbit at night when you use it as a sleep tracker. In fact, some successful people wear their Apple Watches exclusively during the day for meetings and regular fitness tracking, but then switch open to the Fitbit at night when their Apple Watch has to charge and they want to track their sleep.

Making the Switch: Fitbit or Apple Watch?

If you are looking to only own one of the two options (a Fitbit or an Apple Watch), you need to figure out if what you mainly want is a smartwatch with impressive technology or an all around fitness and wellness tracker. If you are looking for a smartwatch, Apple really does have some of the most impressive technology on the market. The variety of apps and features that come with the Apple Watch (not health related) are really great. However, if you are looking for an all around fitness and wellness tracker, right now the Fitbit is probably your best bet, especially the Sense which has some of the strongest tech that Fitbit has to offer.

Conclusion

Both devices have capabilities that can improve your life healthwise and with day-to-day conveniences. Both the Apple Watch and the Fitbit offer trackers that will provide you with data that you can use to really improve your health.

In the end, the Fitbit is slightly better in the health/wellness tracking department. However, if you are an Apple user and are looking for a product to make your life even more convenient, the Apple Watch is a fantastic option.

Get the best Apple Watches and Fitbit Smartwatches here!