Wear Action

There are tons of wearable fitness trackers on the market today. On the one hand, that means that you can find precisely what you want, and prices are much more competitive. On the other hand, it can be pretty overwhelming to find the right fit for your needs.

Right now, plenty of future owners have narrowed it down to two: The Garmin Vivosmart 3 or the Fitbit Charge 2

This guide will take a look at these two fitness trackers in order to help you come to a decision about which one is best for you. Our individual reviews of each can be found here: Vivosmart 3 and Charge 2.

Overview

The price of both the Vivosmart 3 and the Charge 2 are about equal. Depending on where you buy, the Charge 2 might be just above. The Charge 2 has the advantage of being a Fitbit – the most well-known of the activity and fitness trackers. However, Garmin is no slouch; they have long had a good reputation of offering great products with cutting edge technology.

Size on both is also very close, though the small/medium size of the Vivosmart 3 goes just a little bit smaller and the large is a little bigger than the Charge 2. If your wrist size is on the low or high end of either, this might make a difference to you.

Because of the minute differences in price and sizing, choosing between these two devices comes down to particulars – in features, design, or the accompanying app. Luckily, there are enough differences between the two that it will probably become clear which one makes more sense.

Features

Battery Life: The battery life is about the same on these two devices.

Waterproofing: The Vivosmart 3 is waterproof, while the Charge 2 is only splash resistant.

Functions: Both offer similar tracking functions (sleep, exercise, heart rate) with a few exceptions. The Vivosmart 3 offers stress level tracking, swim tracking, and automatic rep tracking. The Charge 2 has more comprehensive sleep monitoring and stats.

Notifications: Neither have much in terms of notifications – these aren’t smart watches, anyway – but the Vivosmart 3 has a few more options (though its screen isn’t as clear as the Charge 2, so maybe they’re even?).

Design

If the look of the device is important, you’ll probably find the Charge 2 to be slightly better. Neither are overtly fashionable, but the Vivosmart 3 has a much more low-profile aesthetic happening. And the Charge 2 can change out straps, unlike the Vivosmart.

Neither of the trackers are exceptional in navigation or ease of use on the screen, though the Vivosmart 3 is slightly more intuitive. The touchscreen on both can be finicky, which can be frustrating.

App

Any lost points in the features department are made up in the Fitbit’s app program, which is much more user-friendly than Garmin’s. The Fitbit app is the best on the market, so Garmin would have a lot of making up to do anyway. However, the Garmin app isn’t very intuitive and it is a little buggy.

The Charge 2 also makes up for the lack of GPS by connecting to your smart phone’s GPS. The Vivosmart 3 doesn’t have this feature (or built in GPS).

Verdict

As we mentioned, choosing between these two trackers will come down to personal preference and your specific activity tracking needs. Here’s a recap of where each excels:

• The Garmin Vivosmart 3 is waterproof and it offers stress tracking and additional activity trackers (reps; swimming)
• The Fitbit Charge 2 has a more pleasing design and a better app, as well as a more comprehensive look at your sleep

Whichever way you go, both of these fitness trackers offer great tools for the price point.

In the world of wearable activity trackers, many models are so similar that it can be difficult to choose among them. Case in point: the Garmin Vivosmart 3 and the Fitbit Alta HR. These two fitness trackers are remarkably similar, creating a tough decision for some potential buyers. This guide will compare these fitness trackers so that you can make an informed decision between the two options.

Want specifics about either of these devices? We reviewed each of these individually. You can find them here: Garmin Vivosmart 3 and Fitbit Alta HR.

Overview

Currently, the Vivosmart 3 and Alta HR are about the same price, with some differences depending on where you buy, but probably not enough to influence your decision. They are also nearly identical in size – both wrist size and band thickness, though the Alta HR is slightly slimmer.

There are mostly similarities in the functionality of the two, with just a few differences – but significant enough that they will likely help you make a decision.

Features

Both devices have heart rate tracking and keep track of steps and calories burned. Both offer quite a bit of sleep tracking and data. All of the basics that you would want out of a fitness tracker at this price point are available in both the Vivosmart 3 and the Alta HR.

Neither has a screen large enough to have handy notifications, but both devices do have reminders to get you active and will automatically log activity.

The Alta HR has a slightly better battery life, boasting 7 days, while the Vivosmart 3 can go 5 days without a charge. It also has more comprehensive sleep data than the Vivosmart.

The Vivosmart 3 wins for additional features, however. These extra features include:

• Stress tracking
• Waterproofing (the Alta HR is only splashproof)
• Rep counting for weights
• Fitness score/fitness age (based on VO2 max level)
• Activity menu on device

Design

To most, it would seem that the Alta HR has a better design, but it depends on what you want in a fitness tracker. The Alta HR has a sleeker, more stylish design for sure. But for those interested in a nondescript band (and one that seems to be unisex), the Vivosmart 3 would be a better choice. The Alta HR has the added benefit of being able to change out the bands, which Garmin’s device cannot do.

Neither device has exceptional user interface design on the screen, but you probably shouldn’t expect much at this price point (or on a non-smartwatch). The Vivosmart 3 has a few more options through the screen, but it’s a little tricky to use (lots of double tapping required).

App

When it comes to the app and the user experience there, the Alta HR is the clear winner. Fitbit’s app is far superior to Garmin’s, and it’s the best fitness tracker app out there right now. The Garmin app is comprehensive and has plenty of info, but the Fitbit app is far more intuitive and easy to navigate. It’s also less buggy than the Garmin app.

Verdict

We don’t have a clear winner, simply because there are several differences that will appeal to different people. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each instead.

Pros

• Vivosmart 3: Waterproof, stress and rep tracking, activity menu
• Alta HR: Great app, stylish design, comprehensive sleep tracking

Cons

• Vivosmart 3: Limited music control, app isn’t great, cannot change out bands
• Alta HR: Not waterproof, fewer features than Charge 2, dim screen

Between these two, you should be able to find a fitness tracker at this price point that has the functionality you need.