Fitbit Air vs. Whoop: Which screenless fitness tracker is better for you?
How locked in do you want to be?
Screenless fitness trackers have experienced a resurgence in popularity. Whoop launched its first tracker in 2015, and recent massive funding rounds have signaled increased interest in the category. Competitors have entered the market, most notably Google with its Fitbit Air, positioning itself directly against Whoop's offerings.
To determine which device is better suited for your needs, we can compare features, pricing, and app experiences. Both do a great job tracking activities, sleep, and vitals, but both rely heavily on subscriptions to unlock their full potential.
Key differences between them
The Fitbit Air is slimmer than Whoop bands, which impacts battery life. Newer Whoop models are rated to last 14-plus days, whereas the Fitbit Air lasts up to seven days. Whoop also includes a wireless battery pack that slides onto the band for on-the-go charging.
Companion apps for both platforms provide detailed data about activities, sleep, and vitals, alongside integrated AI assistants. However, the Whoop app focuses on metrics like strain and recovery, making it better suited for serious fitness enthusiasts, while the Google Health app is more approachable for casual users.
Whoop operates strictly on a membership model where hardware is tied to an active subscription, with annual costs starting around $199 in primary regions. Fitbit allows basic tracking without a subscription, while offering Google Health Premium for additional features.
Google Health Premium costs about $100 per year on top of the $100 hardware cost. Meanwhile, Whoop memberships start at $149 for the first year and scale up depending on the chosen tier.
Higher-tier Whoop subscriptions can reach up to $359 annually, illustrating that Whoop targets serious athletes while the Fitbit Air caters to everyday users.
Which should you buy?
The primary advantage of the Fitbit Air is that basic health insights and sleep tracking remain available without a subscription. Advanced AI features and deeper sleep analysis require Google Health Premium.
Whoop devices offer high-end tracking with granular data on strain and recovery, along with reliable automatic activity detection for workouts, though a costly membership is mandatory.
Overall, the Fitbit Air serves as a more accessible and affordable device for most people, whereas Whoop suits individuals engaged in intense training regimens.
