Best heart rate monitors 2026 — supercharge your training with heart rate data

The 4iiii Viiiiva Heart Rate Monitor has an extra useful function in that it acts as an ANT+ ‘bridge’, meaning it can send ANT+ data through to a Bluetooth device, so a traditional speed and cadence sensor can be used on an app on your phone, for instance. There are still some apps that don’t currently support this multi-device connection, but this is more to do with them not being up to date rather than any fault of 4iiii’s. 

Judging it just as a HRM, it performs very well according to our reviewer and was highly accurate compared to other devices. It is also simple to pair with cycle computers and phones, and the fit is good. It adjusts through two sliders at the back, keeping them off potentially angular parts of the body. At the front the strap connects to the unit itself through a popper on each side.

If you want to simply measure your heart rate then there are cheaper, options, but if you’re looking for an HRM with better connectivity the 4iiii Viiiiva is a very solid option. 

Coospo’s HW807 Heart Rate Monitor Armband is, as the name suggests, another HRM that you wear on your arm rather than the wrist or around your chest. The product images show the device being worn around the upper arm, but our reviewer found it worked just as well around the lower part of the forearm. 

Our reviewer also reported that the data the Coospo HW807 yields tracks very closely to that of a chest strap sensor, and it tracked very accurately compared to a number of other devices. A claimed 20-hour battery life, compatibility with most cycling computers and watches out there and quick, convenient recharging make the HW807 a very good buy for cyclists who prefer the armband-style HRM, so long as you’re not planning to be switching kit mid-ride and are worried about your tan as we’ve already mentioned! 

If you’ve already bought a Garmin bike computer such as the Garmin Edge 830 or Edge 1040 that comes bundled with a HRM then this is the one that will be included… so you’re all set! If you’re a Garmin computer or watch owner and feel like you missed out by not adding the HRM, then this is a perfectly reliable monitor that should last you years, and is compatible with pretty much all Garmin devices introduced in the last few years. 

The improved design compared to the previous generation includes a comfortable chest strap that is adjustable and washable. You get up to 3.5 years of battery life with a coin cell battery, and as standard it will connect via Bluetooth and ANT+. 

The Garmin HRM-Pro Plus might be three or four times the price of most heart rate monitors, but as the name suggests, it does quite a lot more than your average chest strap. 

Connecting via ANT+ or Bluetooth to all your devices and apps like Zwift or komoot, the HRM-Pro Plus also works as an activity tracker so you can log your daily calories and heart rate on Garmin Connect if you’re following a specific plan; no need for a watch or separate activity tracker. If you run as well as cycle, the HRM-Pro Plus also has Garmin’s Running Dynamics built in, saving on the cost of a Garmin Pod for running data which costs £59.99 on its own.

It’s also comfortable to wear and will work with lots of other devices, even for very long and sweaty workouts, so is a sound investment for those who are serious about their training, especially multisporters. 

The Garmin Venu 2 Plus might not have quite as much ‘do it all’ functionality as something like an Apple Watch, but for something smart that can be worn for cycling or general daily use it excels.

As the price suggests this is quite a bit more than just a heart rate monitor, but heart rate tracking is via an optical sensor like pretty much all smart watches. Our reviewer was impressed with the crisp, clear and highly customisable display, and said it was a marked improvement on previous Garmin smart watch offerings. Those who are new to smart watches and HRMs won’t be left scratching their heads either, as it’s easy to use and intuitive. 

The Kalenji Dual heart rate monitor belt is a soft and comfortable heart rate strap that uses both ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart as standard to connect with your sports watches, bike computer or mobile phone of choice. 

Considering the impressively low price our reviewer found the build quality and performance was similar to more expensive alternatives, with the sensor picking up quickly on multiple devices and the strap being made from an elasticated nylon that is similar to premium heart rate straps from the likes of Garmin. 

There’s very little not to like, and overall this is a very good value dual-protocol HRM. 

If you’re after a HRM that gives you the options to wear it on the chest, arm or wrist, Myzone’s MZ-Switch is a premium option that just deals with heart rate. 

In the box you get the monitor itself, a wrist strap, an arm strap, a chest strap, a USB charger cable and a storage pouch. The monitor snaps into the holder on each strap and sits there securely. Our reviewer reported that the straps are all good quality and fit comfortably, and the monitor is accurate in all positions. You also get an app to run alongside it, and setup is just like any other Bluetooth or ANT+ device. 

You can get full budget smart watches for the same price as the MZ-Switch, and you could also buy separate chest and wrist HRMs for less; but if you want all your options in one package and have other devices for recording GPS and all your other training metrics, the MZ-Switch will do a reliable job of telling you your heart rate wherever you decide to wear it. 

Polar is known to be at the forefront of wearable heart rate technology and the H9 is a more affordable version of Polar’s H10 heart rate monitor with many of the same features and tech.

 As you’d expect it will connect to any of your Bluetooth or ANT+ devices and we found that it consistently gives reliable data. It has a comfortable strap too and the battery is said to last around a year.

The Verity Sense uses LEDs to measure heart rate through the skin, which works just like an old-school chest HRM but this one is arguably more comfortable, because it fits around your forearm or bicep. 

This strap also works without a phone or bike computer too, recording the data on the device itself and spitting it out to you post-session via Polar’s app. Our reviewer found the photoplethysmography (PPG) technique that the Verity Sense uses to measure heart rate appeared to be highly accurate in comparison tests with another HRM, although the readings were a little delayed. 

This HRM will record swimming and other activities too, so it’s a great option for multisports and packs in more features than just a heart rate monitor. Go for this if you’re not a fan of chest straps and are prepared to invest a little in an accurate, comfortable and versatile HRM.  

The Wahoo TICKR keeps things traditional with a well-designed chest strap. It can be connected to up to three Bluetooth devices at once, the dual-band connectivity is stable and the LED status lights are useful to check everything is working properly. While you can pay much less for a basic HRM, there are plenty of reasons to invest a bit more in the TICKR.

The design is really good, with the pod acting as a bridge between the two ends. This is neater than most others and acts as a reminder to remove it from the straps, thus preventing rust. The red LED flashes to say it’s picking up your heart rate and the green one shows your connection status, and our reviewer found it to be highly accurate. 

You can connect to your devices via Bluetooth or ANT+, and the 2032 coin cell in the strap should be good for 500 hours according to Wahoo.