Best Sleep Trackers 2024 - Oura, WHOOP, and Wearables Compared

Sleep tracking can provide valuable insights—if you use the right device and interpret the data correctly. Here’s how to choose.

Why Track Sleep?

Good sleep tracking helps you:

• Identify patterns in sleep quality
• Correlate lifestyle factors with sleep outcomes
• Track recovery from training or stress
• Optimize bedtime and wake time

The trap: Obsessing over nightly scores instead of weekly trends.

Oura Ring: Best for Comprehensive Sleep Insights

The Oura Ring is the gold standard for sleep tracking without wrist discomfort.

Pros:

• Highly accurate heart rate variability (HRV) and sleep staging
• Comfortable to wear all night
• Excellent temperature tracking
• Long battery life (4-7 days)
• Readiness score helps guide daily activity

Cons:

• Expensive ($299-$549)
• Requires subscription ($5.99/month)
• Sizing must be exact

Best for: Anyone serious about optimizing sleep and recovery

WHOOP Strap: Best for Athletes

WHOOP focuses on recovery, strain, and sleep as performance metrics.

Pros:

• Exceptional HRV and respiratory rate tracking
• Recovery score guides training intensity
• No screen = no distractions
• Waterproof and durable

Cons:

• Subscription-only model ($30/month or $239/year)
• No one-time purchase option
• Wrist band can feel bulky during sleep

Best for: Athletes and fitness enthusiasts tracking training load

Apple Watch: Best for Existing iOS Users

Convenient if you already own one, though not optimized solely for sleep.

Pros:

• Sleep staging, heart rate, blood oxygen
• Integrates with Apple Health ecosystem
• No additional subscription for basic sleep tracking
• Can detect sleep apnea indicators

Cons:

• Must charge daily (awkward timing)
• Battery life requires daytime charging or second watch
• Less accurate HRV than dedicated trackers

Best for: Apple users who want all-in-one functionality

Garmin Watches: Best for Battery Life

Garmin excels in multi-day tracking without constant charging.

Pros:

• 5-14 day battery life (model dependent)
• Detailed sleep staging and Body Battery metric
• No subscription required
• Advanced training features

Cons:

• Bulkier than rings or minimal bands
• Interface less intuitive than competitors
• Sleep tracking accuracy varies by model

Best for: Outdoor enthusiasts and endurance athletes

Fitbit: Best Budget Option

Affordable entry into sleep tracking with decent accuracy.

Pros:

• Affordable ($79-$329 depending on model)
• Sleep Score and sleep stages included
• Long battery life (5-7 days)
• Optional Premium features ($9.99/month)

Cons:

• Less accurate HRV than premium trackers
• Premium subscription pushes upsells
• Sleep staging can be inconsistent

Best for: Budget-conscious beginners

What to Look For in a Sleep Tracker

Prioritize these features:

1. HRV accuracy: Best indicator of recovery and stress
2. Battery life: Must last multiple nights between charges
3. Comfort: You won’t wear it if it’s uncomfortable
4. Actionable insights: Trends and recommendations, not just raw data

Metrics That Matter

Focus on:

• Sleep efficiency: Time asleep / time in bed
• Deep sleep and REM percentages: Track trends over weeks
• HRV trends: Rising HRV = better recovery
• Resting heart rate: Lower is generally better

Ignore:

• Nightly scores (too variable)
• Exact sleep stage times (margin of error is high)
• Sleep debt (often inaccurate)

The Most Important Rule

Don’t let tracking create sleep anxiety. If seeing the data makes you stressed, stop tracking and focus on consistent sleep habits instead.

Use trackers to identify patterns and test interventions—not to judge yourself every morning.