The 6 Best HRV Monitors Of 2024 To Optimize Your Days (& Nights)

The best HRV monitors accurately assess your heart rate variability throughout the day and night (no matter where you are) to help you improve your overall health and well-being.

A lower HRV has been linked with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, obesity, and psychiatric disorders1, but increasing your HRV helps to calm down your body, minimize stress2, and improve sleep, digestion, concentration, and ultimately, your vitality. Sign us up for all of the above.

Today, there are trackers to monitor your heart while you sleep, work out, and anywhere in between.

To help you gain a better understanding of how aspects like diet, nutrition, exercise, and sleep are affecting your heart rate variability (and your body's performance), we hunted down the best HRV monitors on the market today.

WHOOP has only been on the scene since 2015, but it's grown quickly in popularity with pro athletes and weekend workout warriors alike.

The newest model, the WHOOP 4.0, is a faceless, comfy knit band, with sensors that track data throughout your day and while you sleep.

All data is housed in the WHOOP app, which provides a daily score for sleep performance, recovery, and strain (or physical exertion), so you can tailor your activity accordingly.

Your HRV is monitored through the "Recovery" tab, along with a newer feature, the "Health Monitor," which identifies your typical heart rate, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, skin temperature, and blood oxygen levels.

One of our all-time favorite sleep trackers, this little ring collects a ton of data through your finger and sends it to the corresponding app for you to view (with a paid membership).

You'll find HRV in the "Readiness" section of the Oura app, alongside insights like respiratory rate, body temperature, and resting heart rate.

The app gives you a "Readiness Score" each day, to measure how rested you are—so you can choose to tackle the day or take it easy.

While they're certainly the best fit for activity versus all-day use, research suggests that chest straps are the most accurate method of monitoring heart rate3.

The Polar H10 is one of the most reputable sensors, as it uses ECG (electrocardiogram) electrodes (the same method doctors use for ECG tests in hospitals) to measure the electrical activity of your heart.

The strap can be connected to your smartphone, broadcast to equipment through Bluetooth, and synced with your favorite fitness apps.

All metrics are viewable via the free corresponding app, and through the brand's smartwatch (sold separately). It also pairs with most other trackers, regardless of the brand.

With up to 400 hours of battery life, this strap gets great reviews from athletes of all levels for reliable data and a comfortable fit.

Garmin is one of the biggest names out there in activity tracking, and the brand is widely popular with athletes of all levels.

Its Forerunner series is a fan-favorite (especially among runners and triathletes) for the wide array of features the watch offers, including quality GPS tracking for a range of activities, AI-driven coaching, and an optional built-in music library.

While it is geared toward runners, you don't need to be training for a race to reap the benefits of this watch.

Additional noteworthy features include access to your calendar, phone notifications, and contactless payments.

With the Forerunner 255's "Morning Report," it's easy to get a view of your overnight HRV and recovery status on the watch itself (assuming you slept with it on) or by using the brand's free app (for a deeper dive).

While it might not be suitable for advanced athletes, this smaller smartwatch is a great, less-expensive option and one that doesn't compromise on data measurement.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 has a smaller screen but still offers plenty of features, like GPS activity tracking, push notifications from your phone, and continuous heart rate monitoring.

The brand's app provides insight into your sleep performance, workout stats, and (of course) heart rate variability.

The latest iteration, the Series 8, is Apple's most tricked-out watch yet.

In addition to sleep and activity tracking, GPS, optional cellular service, and countless other features, it includes an ECG sensor that allows you to take an electrocardiogram reading of your heart.

While this is a cool feature for in-the-moment insights into your heart health, you'll need to tap into the (free) Apple Health app if you want to track HRV trends over time.

HRV can be a helpful tool for understanding your overall readiness and adaptability.

"While you can measure your heart rate by using your fingers to measure your pulse, [unfortunately] you will not be able to measure your heart rate variability without a device that can clearly measure your electrical activity from your heart," Twyman says.

"There are no dangers or significant downsides in measuring your heart rate variability," Twyman confirms. He does, however, note that your HRV is very personal, and it's best to always compare it to your baseline versus someone else's.

"Heart rate variability can be a good tool to help gauge your health—but just like any other tool, it has to be used cautiously," agrees Corrielus. "While there is no danger in monitoring HRV, the information has to be checked for accuracy, depending on the device's use (some are more reliable than others), and the information has to be put into the context of the full clinical picture."

If you have any concerns about your heart health or the data you're seeing from a wearable tracker, it's always best to consult your doctor.

Let's break down what our HRV actually tells us. While your heart rate is measured by the number of times your heart beats per minute, your heart rate variability measures (in milliseconds) the time between your heartbeats.

Display: Consider how you prefer to read your data. Some HRV monitors have a display screen, while others collect data through sensors and send this info to be viewed on apps or various devices.

Activity & durability: Some trackers are simply more durable than others. For example, the Apple Watch has come a long way with its durability, but a cracked screen from a collision or high fall is still a big bummer. Ultimately, the best device for you will depend on what you're using it for. For example, if you're hoping to track your HRV through activities like swimming, you'll need something waterproof.

Where you'll wear it: Rings are easy to sleep with but might not be best for lifting weights. Watches are great for daytime use but could feel clunky to sleep with. Chest straps are great for exercise, but it's unlikely you'll want to wear one out and about all day (or to sleep, for that matter).

A wearable HRV monitor is a great way to take a deeper look into your body's health trends.

Just remember, while these metrics help you manage your stress and athletic performance, they are extremely personal—if you're concerned at all about your data and heart health in general, connect with your doctor.