Health tracking bands have moved away from screens. Most of the picks here are slim straps that track heart rate, sleep and activity in the background and show everything in a phone app. The biggest difference between them isn't the sensor. It's how you pay: once, or every year.
We compared six bands using each brand's own product, pricing and policy pages, checked on Oct 27, 2026. Search Wary did not wear-test these devices, and we don't judge their accuracy. Every feature and battery figure below is the brand's own claim. These are consumer wellness devices, not diagnostic tools, and no number from a wearable replaces advice from your doctor.
The Hume Band 2.0 is our top pick for people who want a no-subscription band, followed by five alternatives for training-focused users, sleep-only tracking, tight budgets and anyone who wants a screen.
Our top pick
Hume Band 2.0
The Hume Band 2.0 is a one-time $249 purchase on Hume's store with no subscription required to use the band or see your data, which makes its cost easy to predict next to WHOOP's $199 to $359 yearly memberships. Hume also claims up to 14 days of battery and an IP68 rating, and offers a 45-day return window.
See today's price at Hume HealthRead our full reviewQuick comparison
| # | Pick | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hume Band 2.0 | Best no-subscription band | $249 one-time ($356 list) |
| 2 | WHOOP 5.0 / WHOOP MG | Best for training and recovery coaching | $199–$359 per year |
| 3 | Garmin Index Sleep Monitor | Best for sleep-only tracking | $169.99 |
| 4 | Polar Loop | Best subscription-free alternative | $199.99 |
| 5 | Amazfit Helio Strap | Best budget band | $99.99 |
| 6 | Fitbit Charge 6 | Best if you want a screen and GPS | $159.95 |
Best no-subscription band
1. Hume Band 2.0
$249 one-time ($356 list)
The Hume Band 2.0 is a screen-free band. Hume says its sensor uses 5 LEDs and 4 photodiodes to track heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), blood oxygen (SpO2), skin temperature, sleep stages, activity, and strain and recovery. Hume also markets newer features such as blood pressure insights and a biological age estimate; we haven't evaluated those, and they don't replace a cuff reading or a checkup.
Per Hume, battery life is up to 14 days and the sensor is IP68 rated, water resistant to 1 meter for up to 2 hours. No subscription is required to use the band or access your raw data; Hume Premium coaching is optional from $8.99 a month.
Hume's store showed the Band at $249 one-time, next to a $356 list price; judge the deal against the $249 you pay, not the list price. One year of warranty is included; a 10-year extension costs extra at checkout, and Hume says about $70 if you add it later. Returns are accepted for 45 days, but return shipping costs apply.
- Price
- $249 one-time; $356 list
- Subscription
- Not required; Premium optional from $8.99/month
- Battery
- Up to 14 days (per Hume)
- Water rating
- IP68, 1 m for up to 2 hours (per Hume)
- Display
- None
- Warranty
- 1 year included; 10-year extension extra
- Returns
- 45 days; return shipping costs apply
Pros
- One-time price with no required subscription
- Longest battery claim here at up to 14 days, tied with WHOOP
- 45-day return window
- Free shipping on orders over $20, per Hume
Cons
- Standard warranty is only 1 year unless you pay for the extension
- You pay return shipping if it doesn't suit you
- Some marketed features, like blood pressure insights, are hard to verify independently
Best for training and recovery coaching
2. WHOOP 5.0 / WHOOP MG
$199–$359 per year
WHOOP doesn't sell the band on its own. You buy a membership, and the hardware comes with it. Per WHOOP's pricing page, One is $199 a year, Peak is $239 and Life is $359. In the US, One and Peak include the WHOOP 5.0 sensor; Life includes the WHOOP MG sensor and a Luxe band.
All tiers include sleep, strain and recovery tracking, VO2 max estimates, strength training tools and AI coaching. WHOOP says Peak adds Health Monitor, Stress Monitor and Healthspan, and Life adds Blood Pressure Insights and an ECG-based Heart Screener, which WHOOP describes as medically regulated features not available in every region. WHOOP claims 14+ days of battery for both 5.0 and MG.
The fine print: memberships renew automatically at the same annual rate unless you cancel, monthly billing ($25 to $40) is only offered after a 12-month commitment, and downgrades aren't refunded. Over three years, Peak costs $717, roughly three times the Hume Band's one-time price.
- Price
- One $199/yr, Peak $239/yr, Life $359/yr
- Hardware
- Included with membership
- Battery
- 14+ days (per WHOOP)
- Display
- None
- Renewal
- Auto-renews annually
- Monthly option
- $25–$40, only after 12 months
Pros
- Hardware included and upgraded through membership
- Detailed strain, recovery and training coaching, per WHOOP
- 14+ day battery claim
Cons
- Ongoing yearly cost; auto-renews unless canceled
- No refund when downgrading
- Advanced health features locked to higher tiers
Best for sleep-only tracking
3. Garmin Index Sleep Monitor
$169.99
Garmin's Index Sleep Monitor is built for one job. It's a soft band worn on the upper arm at night, for people who don't want anything on their wrist in bed or who already wear a Garmin watch during the day.
Per Garmin, it tracks sleep stages, HRV status, Pulse Ox, skin temperature and stress overnight, and its smart wake feature uses a light vibration during a lighter sleep stage inside a window you choose. Garmin claims up to 7 nights of battery with continuous Pulse Ox tracking, and data syncs to the Garmin Connect app.
It was $169.99 on Garmin's site with no sale price. Garmin states plainly that it is not a medical device and isn't intended to diagnose or monitor any medical condition. Skip it if you want daytime activity or workout tracking; it isn't designed for that.
- Price
- $169.99
- Worn
- Upper arm, overnight
- Battery
- Up to 7 nights with continuous Pulse Ox (per Garmin)
- Tracks
- Sleep stages, HRV status, Pulse Ox, skin temperature, stress (per Garmin)
- Alarm
- Smart wake vibration
- App
- Garmin Connect
Pros
- Nothing on your wrist at night
- Smart wake alarm, per Garmin
- Pairs naturally with Garmin watches
Cons
- Sleep only, with no daytime tracking
- Shortest battery claim here at 7 nights
- Garmin says it is not a medical device
Best subscription-free alternative
4. Polar Loop
$199.99
Polar Loop is the closest like-for-like rival to the Hume Band: a screen-free band that Polar calls subscription-free. Polar says it tracks heart rate 24/7, sleep, HRV during sleep, activity and recovery, and it can detect training sessions automatically or start them from the Polar Flow app.
Polar claims up to 8 days of battery and lists a WR30 water rating, which it says makes it suitable for bathing and swimming, though it doesn't record swim-specific metrics.
Both the SoftWeave textile and magnetic silicone versions were $199.99 on Polar's US site, with free shipping, easy returns and a 2-year guarantee, which is double Hume's included warranty. Polar's FAQ says the Loop is not a medical device. Choose it over Hume if you value a longer standard warranty and Polar's established training app more than a 14-day battery claim.
- Price
- $199.99
- Subscription
- None, per Polar
- Battery
- Up to 8 days (per Polar)
- Water rating
- WR30
- Display
- None
- Warranty
- 2-year guarantee
Pros
- No subscription, per Polar
- 2-year guarantee, the longest standard coverage here
- Free shipping
Cons
- 8-day battery claim is shorter than Hume's or WHOOP's
- No swim-specific metrics
Best budget band
5. Amazfit Helio Strap
$99.99
At $99.99, the Helio Strap is the cheapest way into screen-free tracking here. Amazfit sells it with no subscription fees and says it tracks heart rate continuously, can broadcast live heart rate to other devices, and can be worn on the wrist or upper arm during training.
Amazfit claims up to 10 days of battery and lists a 5 ATM water rating. It syncs to the Zepp app and is designed to fill gaps when you take off an Amazfit watch.
Amazfit's US store offers free shipping over $99, so the strap itself qualifies, plus 30-day returns and a 1-year warranty. It ships only to the US and Canada from that store. For the price, it's a sensible first band if you're not sure you'll keep wearing one.
- Price
- $99.99
- Subscription
- None, per Amazfit
- Battery
- Up to 10 days (per Amazfit)
- Water rating
- 5 ATM
- Worn
- Wrist or upper arm
- Warranty
- 1 year; 30-day returns
Pros
- Half the price of most bands here
- No subscription fees, per Amazfit
- Live heart-rate broadcast, per Amazfit
Cons
- 1-year warranty
- Ships only to the US and Canada from Amazfit's US store
- Fewer health features marketed than Hume or WHOOP
Best if you want a screen and GPS
6. Fitbit Charge 6
$159.95
The Charge 6 is the only pick here with a display. It shows the time, heart rate and steps on your wrist, and Google lists built-in GPS, so you can see pace and distance without carrying your phone.
Google claims a 7-day battery and water resistance to 50 meters. The Google Store page also lists an ECG app and an EDA scan feature, plus Google Maps and Wallet support. Health features vary by region and should be discussed with a doctor before you rely on them.
It was $159.95 on the Google Store, and Google includes 3 months of Google Health Premium. After those 3 months, Premium is a paid subscription if you keep it, so check what you'd lose before the trial ends. Choose it over a screen-free band if you want notifications, a clock and GPS in one device.
- Price
- $159.95
- Display
- Yes
- GPS
- Built-in
- Battery
- 7 days (per Google)
- Water rating
- Water resistant to 50 m
- Subscription
- 3 months of Google Health Premium included
Pros
- Screen with time, heart rate and steps
- Built-in GPS
- Water resistant to 50 m, per Google
Cons
- Premium coaching becomes paid after 3 months
- 7-day battery claim is shorter than Hume, WHOOP or Amazfit claim
How we chose
We looked for bands people compare when shopping for a WHOOP-style tracker, then chose picks that each serve a clear buyer: no subscription, deep training coaching, sleep only, lowest price and a band with a screen. Every price, feature and policy comes from the brand's own site, checked on Oct 27, 2026.
We compared:
- Total cost of ownership: one-time price versus yearly memberships, and what renews automatically.
- Battery and water ratings, labeled as brand claims.
- Return windows, warranty length and who pays return shipping.
- How each brand describes its health features, including any not-a-medical-device statement.
We did not test accuracy and don't rank devices on it. Hume Health is our top pick and has a full Search Wary review; we may earn a commission if you buy through our link. WHOOP's main site blocked our automated checks, so its prices come from WHOOP's own support pricing page.
What to look for
Add up the three-year cost
| Band | Upfront | Required yearly cost | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hume Band 2.0 | $249 | None | $249 |
| WHOOP Peak | Included | $239 | $717 |
| Garmin Index Sleep Monitor | $169.99 | None | $169.99 |
| Polar Loop | $199.99 | None | $199.99 |
| Amazfit Helio Strap | $99.99 | None | $99.99 |
| Fitbit Charge 6 | $159.95 | None (Premium optional after 3 months) | $159.95 |
Optional add-ons such as Hume Premium or Google Health Premium cost extra. Check whether an optional subscription unlocks the features you actually bought the band for.
Screen or no screen
Screen-free bands (Hume, WHOOP, Polar, Amazfit, Garmin Index) are lighter and less distracting, but everything lives in the app. If you want the time, notifications or GPS pace on your wrist, the Fitbit Charge 6 is the only pick here with a display.
Read health claims carefully
Brands use phrases like biological age, recovery and blood pressure insights. These are estimates from optical sensors. Garmin and Polar both state their bands are not medical devices. If any reading worries you, or you have a heart condition, talk to your doctor rather than relying on a wearable.
Check the return terms before you open the box
Return windows run from 30 days (Amazfit) to 45 days (Hume). Hume charges return shipping. WHOOP memberships renew automatically, and downgrades aren't refunded, so set a reminder before your renewal date.
FAQ
Do I need a subscription for a health tracking band?
Not always. Hume, Polar and Amazfit say their bands work without a subscription, and Garmin's Index Sleep Monitor syncs to the Garmin Connect app. WHOOP requires a membership from $199 a year, which includes the hardware. Fitbit includes 3 months of Google Health Premium, after which Premium is optional and paid.
Is the Hume Band 2.0 cheaper than WHOOP?
Over time, yes, based on list pricing. Hume sells the Band for a one-time $249 with no required subscription, while WHOOP memberships cost $199 to $359 every year. Over three years, WHOOP Peak totals $717. WHOOP includes hardware upgrades through membership, which a one-time purchase does not.
Are health tracking bands accurate?
Search Wary didn't test accuracy, and brands rarely publish comparable data. Optical sensors give estimates that can be affected by fit, movement and skin contact. Treat trends over weeks as more useful than any single reading, and talk to your doctor about anything that concerns you instead of relying on a wearable.
Which band has the longest battery life?
By brand claims, the Hume Band 2.0 (up to 14 days) and WHOOP 5.0 and MG (14+ days) lead. Amazfit claims up to 10 days for the Helio Strap, Polar up to 8 days, Fitbit 7 days for the Charge 6, and Garmin up to 7 nights for the Index Sleep Monitor. Real battery life depends on which features you use.
Can I swim with these bands?
Per the brands, the Hume Band 2.0 is IP68 rated, the Polar Loop is WR30 and suitable for swimming, the Amazfit Helio Strap is 5 ATM and the Fitbit Charge 6 is water resistant to 50 meters. Ratings differ in what they cover, so check each brand's guidance for pools, hot showers and saunas.
What's the return policy on the Hume Band?
Hume offers a 45-day return or exchange window, and its product page says return shipping costs apply. One year of warranty is included with the band, and Hume sells a 10-year warranty extension at checkout, and says it costs about $70 if you add it later.
Sources
Prices and specs come from each brand's own site, checked on Oct 27, 2026.