Last update on 2024-06-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Garmin and Fitbit are among the most popular smartwatch makers in the world. But they have different approaches, trying to satisfy different tastes and needs.
Garmin has traditionally focused more on exercise tracking, while Fitbit offers comprehensive devices that match most lifestyles.
However, the question is which one is better for sleep tracking and helps maintain a healthier sleep routine. Read on to find out.
Comparing Garmin and Fitbit for Sleep Tracking
To compare Garmin and Fitbit, we need to consider different aspects and features, including sleep insights, accuracy, tracking midday sleep and naps, and smart alarm.
Sleep Insights
The apps by both companies provide the following information:
- How long you’ve slept each night.
- Timeline of your light, deep, or rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
- Sleep score.
- Sleeping heart rate.
- Seven-day view of your sleep.
- Respiration rate.
Information that Fitbit provides but Garmin doesn’t:
- Blood oxygen variation.
- Comparison of your target sleep plan with your actual schedule.
- 30-Day average time spent in each sleep stage.
- Comparison of your sleep patterns with other people of similar age and gender.
Information that Garmin provides but Fitbit doesn’t:
- A timeline of your movements.
- Average blood oxygen levels.
Verdict
As you can see, Fitbit offers more insightful and broader information about your sleep than Garmin. And note that some of this information, like sleep score, is only available on high-end Garmin watches, whereas Fitbit offers them for most of its devices.
Another issue is that most Garmin watches don’t show your sleep information on the device itself; you can only see them on your mobile phone or laptop. But Fitbit provides some sleep-related stats on the small screen as well.
Accuracy
To see how accurate Garmin and Fitbit are, let’s examine the results of two different studies done on Garmin Vivosmart 3 and Fitbit Charge 2.
The first study by Garmin Health shows that Garmin Vivosmart 3 is about 96 percent accurate in detecting sleep, while only around 73 percent accurate in detecting awake.
The second study by researchers at the Center for Health Sciences shows that Fitbit Charge 2 is 96 percent accurate in detecting sleep but only 61 percent accurate in detecting when you’re awake.
According to the first study, the Garmin watch can detect the three sleep stages with about 70 percent accuracy. On the other hand, the Fitbit model has 81, 49, and 74 percent accuracy in detecting light, deep, and REM sleep stages, respectively.
Verdict
Both Garmin and Fitbit are pretty accurate in tracking your overall sleep patterns. But when it comes to differentiating between sleep stages, Garmin seems to be more consistent—although both brands have much more work to do.
Tracking Naps
Garmin users often complain that their devices can’t monitor mid-day naps. Garmin still hasn’t addressed this request. So, if that’s important for you, you might want to consider one of Fitbit’s watches.
Smart Alarm
The smart alarm is a feature that sets off the alarm during your light sleep, so you don’t wake up grumpy. Garmin doesn’t offer the feature, but it’s included in Fitbit models like Charge 4 and Ionic.
Has Garmin Improved Sleep Tracking?
Until recent years Garmin was way behind Fitbit in sleep tracking. But since introducing the Advanced Sleep Monitoring feature, the company has significantly enhanced its sleep tracking. With this feature, Garmin offers more helpful information in a more user-friendly way.
Garmin also uses sleep data for a feature called Body Battery, which essentially shows an estimation of your energy level based on your heart rate variability, stress, activity, and rest data.
2 Best Garmin Watches for Sleep Tracking
Garmin Venu 2
- Suit your style with a smartwatch that's available in two colors and features a bright AMOLED display.Supported Application:GPS. Connectivity technology:GPS....
- Know your body better with extensive health monitoring features including health snapshot, Body Battery energy levels, sleep score, fitness age, stress tracking...
- Find new ways to keep your body moving with more than 25 built-in indoor and GPS sports apps, including walking, running, cycling, HIIT, swimming, golf and many...
Last update on 2024-06-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
With functions like heart-rate variability, respiration, and blood oxygen level monitoring, Garmin Venu 2 is designed with a focus on sleep tracking.
This watch also uses the Body Battery data to tell you the best times for exercise and sleep.
Pros
- Respiration and hydration monitoring.
- Always-on display.
- More than 25 built-in sports profiles.
- Energy monitoring.
- Personalized coaching.
- Fitness age feature.
Cons
- A little pricey.
- Relatively heavy.
Garmin Vivosmart 4
- Slim, smart activity tracker blends fashionable design with stylish metal accents and a bright, easy to read display
- Includes advanced sleep monitoring with REM sleep and can gauge blood oxygen saturation levels during the night with the wrist based Pulse Ox sensor. (Not a...
- Fitness and health monitoring tools include estimated wrist based heart rate, all day stress tracking, Relaxation breathing timer, Vo2 Max, body battery energy...
Last update on 2024-06-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Garmin Vivosmart 4 is an affordable watch that monitors necessary metrics for sleep tracking. With this watch, you can also track your stress, receive notifications, and optimize your body’s energy.
Pros
- Budget-friendly.
- Lightweight.
- Sophisticated sleep tracking features.
- Wireless charging.
- Dedicated activity profiles for walking, running, pool swimming, and more.
Cons
- No built-in GPS.
- Low-quality screen.
Check more Garmin watches for sleep tracking.
2 Best Fitbit Watches for Sleep Tracking
Fitbit Versa 2
- Use amazon Alexa built in to get quick news and information, check the weather, set timers and alarms, control your smart home devices through the sound of your...
- Based on your heart rate, time asleep and restlessness, sleep score helps you better understand your sleep quality each night. Also track your time in light,...
- Get a 30-day free trial of the Fitbit Premium to help you stay active, sleep well and manage stress. Unlock it all in the Fitbit app. (Cancel before free trial...
Last update on 2024-06-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Fitbit Versa 2 is more a fitness tracker than a smartwatch, but it offers what most people want from sleep tracking. It also has a high-resolution display with a squircle design that makes it very eye-catching.
Pros
- Smart alarm.
- Built-in Amazon Alexa.
- Supporting wireless headphones.
- Comprehensive exercise modes.
Cons
- No built-in GPS.
- More focus on fitness tracking than smartwatch features.
Fitbit Charge 4
- Use built-in GPS to see your pace and distance on screen during outdoor runs, rides, hikes and more and see a workout intensity map in the app that shows your...
- With Active Zone Minutes, feel a buzz when you reach your target heart rate zones during exercise, and celebrate when you earn extra minutes outside of exercise
- Get a 90-day free trial of the Fitbit Premium to help you stay active, sleep well and manage stress. Unlock it all in the Fitbit app. (Valid payment method...
Last update on 2024-06-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Fitbit Charge 4 comes at an affordable price and features a built-in GPS. It offers various sleep tools with a SpO2 sensor that makes it a good choice for people who care about their sleep quality.
Pros
- Plenty of sleep tools.
- Multi-sport mode.
- Measuring floors climbed.
- Sleep mode.
- Relatively lightweight.
- (Probably) the cheapest smartwatch with built-in GPS.
Cons
- Greyscale display.
- Not very user-friendly.
Here’s an overview of the four watches in this article to help you decide:
Garmin Venu 2 | Garmin Vivosmart 4 | Fitbit Versa 2 | Fitbit Charge 4 | |
Screen | 1.3″ (416×416 pixel) | 0.74″ (48×128 pixel) | 1.3″ (300×300 pixel) | 1″ (100×160 pixel) |
Weight | 49g | 21.5g | 38g | 30g |
Battery Life | Up to 11 days22 hours with GPS | Up to 7 days | 6+ days | Up to 7 days5 hours with GPS |
SpO2 Sensor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Sleep Score | ✓ | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Built-in GPS | ✓ | X | X | ✓ |
Always-on Display | ✓ | X | ✓ | X |
On-board Music | ✓ | X | ✓ | X |
Final Verdict
Overall, Fitbit outperforms Garmin in terms of sleep tracking with broader insights, more focus on sleep, and a more user-friendly app.
If you don’t care much about features like a smart alarm or nap tracking and generally prioritize exercise-tracking over sleep-tracking, Garmin is also a good choice.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a device that monitors your lifestyle holistically, not just your training, and provides better sleep insights, then you better go with Fitbit.