If you want a running watch without spending a fortune, you don't necessarily have to compromise on the things that matter. Today's cheaper running watches can track your pace, distance and heart rate, follow structured workouts, map your routes and give you enough training data to help you get fitter and faster. The trick is knowing which features are actually useful and which aren't worth paying extra for.
That's where this guide comes in. We've tested and reviewed a wide range of running watches from Garmin, Coros, Amazfit, Apple and Fitbit, putting them through their paces to see how they perform when you're actually out running, rather than judging them on specifications alone. We've considered GPS accuracy, heart-rate tracking, battery life, training tools, comfort and ease of use, as well as how much watch you're getting for your money.
And "cheap" doesn't necessarily mean bargain-basement here. We've included everything from genuinely affordable options to more advanced running watches that still offer brilliant value compared with the premium models. So whether you're looking for your first running watch, upgrading from a basic fitness tracker or want a capable training companion without spending hundreds, we've picked out the watches that are worth your money and explained who each one is best suited to.
Read on for our top cheap running watches, plus our advice on what to look for before you buy.
We’ve recently refreshed this guide with the Garmin Forerunner 70 and Amazfit Active 3 Premium.
Matt is TechRadar's fitness, wellbeing and wearables editor, which means he’s an expert on all things fitness tech, and how it can be used to support your training and performance. He’s personally tested many of the watches below.
The best cheap running watches for 2026
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The best cheap running watch overall
The Coros Pace 4 is a lightweight running watch that uses dual-band GPS for more accurate tracking and delivers excellent battery life in a simple, performance-focused package. It’s aimed at runners who care more about accurate tracking and long battery life than smartwatch extras, and it does that job very well for the price.
In testing, it connected with GPS very quickly, even in tricky environments like around lots of tall buildings, and delivered consistent distance and pace data during runs. At just 32g, it’s genuinely easy to forget you’re wearing it, and that small weight makes it especially comfortable for long sessions and 24/7 use.
Compared with cheaper Amazfit models (like the Amazfit Active 2 below), the Pace 4 is the more serious training tool, particularly when it comes to GPS reliability and longer battery life. Against Garmin’s mid-range watches, it holds its own on core running features, but Garmin still has the advantage when it comes to smartwatch-style extras like music, payments, and offline maps.
The Pace 4 now takes the top spot as our best overall pick, replacing the older Coros Pace 3. The Pace 3 is still a really great value buy and is now often discounted since the newer model launched, but the Pace 4 is the more refined, all-round option and the better fit for most runners.
Read our full Coros Pace 4 review
The best budget option
The Amazfit Active 2 takes TechRadar's award for the best budget running watch thanks to its smart design, thoughtful training features and (crucially) shockingly low price. It's a powerhouse activity watch costing $99 in the US and £99 in the UK.
Two buttons for power, triggering workouts and navigation are complemented by a touchscreen, with a stainless steel bezel rounding things off for a premium look.
GPS is accurate to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 – a watch costing over seven times as much – and during our tests, was just 1 BPM out in terms of heart rate accuracy. That's a terrific achievement. It even manages to squeeze in full-color maps on-wrist, which you normally get in premium Garmin watches. How Amazfit has done this is a mystery, but it certainly helps with navigation during complex routes.
Our reviewer gave it 5/5 stars for sheer value alone: if you're looking for bang for your buck, the Amazfit Active 2 is tough to beat. A premium version contains a leather strap and NFC technology, which you can use for Wallet-style payments.
Read our full Amazfit Active 2 review
The best cheap running watch for training
In our guide to the best running watches, Garmin is a regular fixture, and the Forerunner 70 is a good example of why. At $249.99/£219.99/AU$399, it's not exactly an impulse purchase, but it gets you surprisingly close to the Garmin experience found on its pricier running watches without requiring you to remortgage the house.
The 70 is a small but seriously capable training companion, with reliable GPS and heart-rate tracking, a crisp AMOLED display and a generous helping of Garmin's running smarts. Training Readiness looks at your recent training and recovery to help you work out whether today is a day to push or take it easy, while running power gives you another way to judge how hard you're working.
You also get Garmin Coach training plans, breadcrumb navigation for following routes, and useful smartwatch extras such as morning and evening reports, notifications and access to the Connect IQ app store. In other words, there's plenty here to keep both your watch and your training diary busy.
Naturally, Garmin has kept a few goodies behind the paywall of its more expensive watches. The 70 doesn't have dual-band GPS or Garmin's latest heart-rate sensor, while there's no onboard music, contactless payments or dedicated open-water swimming and triathlon modes. Its battery life is decent rather than dazzling, especially with the always-on display switched on. But for everyday running, the older hardware still puts in a very respectable shift, with tracking that proved reliable in testing.
The Forerunner 165 used to hold place here but because of the 70's newer training features, particularly Training Readiness and running power, we found it makes it the better long term option for runners who want to do more than simply log their miles. The Garmin Forerunner 165 isn't out of the race, though. As it's a bit of an older model it's often discounted.
Read our full Garmin Forerunner 70 review
The best Apple Watch
This wouldn’t be a roundup of the best wearables without an Apple Watch, and the SE 3 slips into the list with its low starting price hiding a lot of power. As the cheapest watch in Apple’s current lineup (by quite some way) it's got the same chipset as all the other modern Apple Watches (yes, that includes the Ultra 3) and the same excellent watchOS 26 suite of software.
It boasts a huge array of sports, a slick design, and loads of lifestyle features via third-party apps. Apple Intelligence features are possible if you have a compatible iPhone, and gesture controls allow you to operate it hands-free.
As for running, you get full GPS functionality as well as live updates on your pace, heart rate, heart rate zones, and elevation. You can also follow race routes from your wrist and create custom workouts – ideal for otherwise finicky interval sessions. If you want an Apple Watch for running (and life in general) this is still an excellent option and the best value choice you can make.
Read our full Apple Watch SE 3 review
The best feature packed cheap running watch
If you want a cheap running watch that feels anything but cheap, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is a very tempting proposition. At $169/£169/AU$239, it packs in the sort of features that usually belong to considerably pricier watches, including dual-frequency GPS, full-color maps with turn-by-turn navigation, 170 sports modes and a wealth of running metrics.
We tested the Active 3 Premium across its fitness and smartwatch features, and its accuracy was one of the biggest highlights. It tracks everything from stride length and ground contact time to heart rate and sleep, while the Zepp app does a good job of explaining what all those numbers actually mean. That's useful if you're interested in your running but don't want to spend your evenings Googling what "ground contact time" is supposed to tell you.
Its HybridCharge feature also impressed us. It pulls together sleep, activity, heart rate and recovery data to give you a simple indication of whether you're ready to train hard or should take things easier. You also get full-color maps and turn-by-turn navigation, which is an unusually generous feature at this price.
The hardware is no slouch either. The bright AMOLED display is easy to see outdoors, the watch looks considerably more expensive than it is, and sapphire glass gives the screen some welcome protection. Amazfit claims up to 12 days of battery life, although we got closer to 10 days in testing, which is still plenty for a watch collecting this much data.
There are a few things missing from the party. Unlike the Apple Watch and Fitbit Charge 6, which can recognise certain activities and give you a nudge to start tracking, the Active 3 expects you to remember to press the button yourself. Its smartwatch credentials are also fairly modest, with no third-party apps like you'd get on an Apple Watch. But given how much fitness tech Amazfit has squeezed in at this price, those feel more like minor grumbles.
Read our full Amazfit Active 3 Premium review
The best fitness band
Is it a running watch, or is it a fitness band? The Fitbit Charge 6 definitely treads a fine line between the two, but it’s earned its spot in this roundup thanks to its touchscreen and impressive range of features, the most notable inclusions being the on-wrist ECG, EDA stress sensor and full GPS. The last one in particular tends to distinguish “tracker” from “running watch”.
However, during our tests, we found the GPS encountered some issues when the strap was done up too tightly, but when they loosened it the heart rate readings were sent awry. The band performed far better when tracking workouts in the gym, but if you only want to run recreationally as part of a varied exercise routine, it should do the job just fine. Crucially, it’s well-priced at $159 / £139 / AU$229, with Fitbits historically subject to frequent discounts.
Read our full Fitbit Charge 6 review
How to choose the best cheap running watch for you
Choosing the best cheap running watch will often come down to a few factors. Thankfully, everything on this list is designed to fit as many budgets as possible, taking that consideration out of the equation.
You’ll want to consider where you’re at with your training, working out how long you’ll be running for, and how regularly you’ll be training. For newcomers that want to be contactable and are taking their phone with them for a brisk 30-minute jog, GPS is likely to be less important because the running watch can piggyback off of your phone’s location.
If you want to step up your running regimen, you’ll want plenty of battery life so you’re not constantly charging and draining the battery again. Thankfully, many of them offer a few days of battery at least, but it remains a consideration.
Finally, the size of the watch is important, not just for comfort (and style), but for having a screen that’s big enough to be read in all conditions.
What's the best running watch for women / men?
Largely, there's not much difference in choosing the best running watch for women compared to the best running watch for men. Some differences to bear in mind are screen sizes better suited to smaller or larger wrists, and we've detailed the dimensions of each watch in our full reviews.
Many watches, like the Fitbit Charge 6 or Garmin Forerunner 165 offer "women's health tracking", showing the user information about their menstrual cycle based on heart health and skin temperature.
However, there are potential privacy concerns here for users (check out our list of ways to protect your period tracking data for more information), and it's worth bearing in mind watches with these features aren't exclusively aimed at women: they're just extra features users can turn on or off depending on their needs.
How we test the best cheap running watches
We test cheap running watches the same way we review expensive running watches – by wearing them for running. Running on treadmills just won't do!
We often test cheap wearables alongside more expensive models to compare both heart rate and GPS tracking accuracy.
Fit is also essential; where applicable, we'll always mention if the watch is suitable for people with smaller wrists.
We also explore all the features cheap running watches offer, including smart notifications and anything else that comes included in the package.
