Oura Ring vs Fitbit Review

About Oura Ring

From teaching us more about our bodies to encouraging us to meet our fitness goals, technology can make our lives better. Both Oura Ring and Fitbit are here to prove that.

Oura Ring comes in the form of a stylish ring that monitors and tracks your health. The idea was sparked in Finland in 2013 when Kari Kivela, Markku Koskela, and Petteri Lahtela went on a mission “to improve the way we live our lives.”

The ring offers 24/7 heart rate monitoring, insights into overall wellness and sleep, and more. Alongside the app, users can track their daily scores to learn how to live a happier, stronger, and healthier life.

Since its creation, Oura Ring has changed the way millions of people live their lives. But, there’s another brand that has similar goals of helping users reach their full potential: Fitbit. Let’s take a look at what this company has to offer down below.

About Fitbit

If you’re not someone who likes to wear rings, you may be more interested in Fitbit. This brand’s watches are designed to help you keep track of daily activities and reach your health goals. How? With consistent inspiration and advanced health monitoring.

Fitbit was founded in 2007 by Eric Friedman and James Park who believed there was a better way to keep track of health—one that was wearable, too. Since then, the brand has been on a mission “to empower and inspire you to live a healthier, more active life.”

Today, the brand is headquartered in San Francisco. That said, its products are offered globally so everyone can get their health journey started, no matter their location.

Not sure which brand will work out for you? In this Oura Ring vs Fitbit review, I’m here to help you make a decision. I’ll walk you through all the details, from design features and accessibility to the overall price, value, and quality. Let’s dive in.

What To Consider

Product Range

Both companies continue to release new and improved versions of their tech. Oura Ring offers a stylish ring in different finishes while Fitbit carries a selection of smart and sleek watches with interchangeable wristbands for any occasion.

I’ll focus on the Oura Ring Generation 3 and the Fitbit Charge 5 in this review—the newest releases from each brand.

Target Audience

Fitness is important for many reasons, but mostly because it improves our overall quality of life. But getting into a routine can be hard, and there are other things to consider for wellness too, like sleep patterns and rest periods.

Oura Ring and Fitbit offer solutions in the form of fitness trackers that are worn on your body. Their devices are for people who want a simple way to receive guidance on their journey to overall health and wellness.

Design Features

Both brands offer simple and stylish designs, but they differ from regular accessories. The Oura Ring and Fitbit are chunkier than your non-techy jewelry—but they also do a lot more.

Each device comes with sensors that track your heart rate and temperature to understand your activity and overall health. This information is crucial to understanding what your body needs to reach your fitness goals.

Sustainability

The devices can last a long time, but like phones, there are new versions as technology advances. Oura Ring offers a singular version of its original ring with all the up-to-date features.

Fitbit has a wider selection of different watches and wristbands that come with different features and advancements.

Planned obsolescence also plays a role since the pieces are not expected to last for over two years.

That being said, technology is always evolving and styles change, so it’s important to have something you like to wear that gives you the most up-to-date and advanced information.

Accessibility

The prices of each product are in line with other fitness trackers. Oura Rings can be purchased on the brand’s website or at an in-person location

Fitbit watches are readily available at many online stores like its own site and Amazon. You’ll also find them through popular retailers like Walmart, Target, and BestBuy.

Their corresponding apps are available through the Apple and Google Play store. They’re free to use in conjunction with the respective devices, but monthly memberships will give you access to more features.

New Oura Ring Generation 3 vs Fitbit Charge 5: Who Are They For?  

Keeping track of your health doesn’t have to involve bullet journals or mental math. In recent years, technology has developed in a way that records our activities for us, helping us achieve goals, compete with friends, and maintain motivation.

The different features that each device offers may affect who they’re for, depending on what the user is looking to get out of the experience.

It’s important for the ring or watch to keep pace with your life and offer improvements and better practices to ensure a healthy body and mind.

Down below, I’ll cover what the Oura Ring Generation 3 and the Fitbit Charge 5 track. Then, I’ll dive into some more details.

Oura Ring Generation 3:

• Sleep
• Heart rate and activity
• Calories burned
• Readiness (body temperature, regulation, and stress signals)
• Period prediction and cycle tracking
• Guided meditations and audio sessions

Fitbit Charge 5:

• Sleep
• Heart rate and activity and exercise
• Calories burned
• Daily readiness and stress management
• Menstrual tracking
• Guided breathing
• Notifications and alarms

Both devices also offer platforms so users can engage with a community, whether that is with friends or strangers who are also using them. These features offer motivation and inspiration, as well as a great source of fun.

Overall, they both track four key things: sleep, heart rate and activity, daily readiness or temperature, and menstrual cycles. But Oura Ring offers guided meditation, while Fitbit has guided breathing sessions. Both features help clear your mind, but they are different experiences.

Fitbit also comes with a built-in alarm for those who need a little extra nudge getting up in the mornings, but not everyone loves to sleep with a watch on.

Overall, both options are ideal for someone who is looking for a little more insight into their health, while also being able to easily track changes as they move towards different fitness goals.

New Oura Ring Generation 3 vs Fitbit Charge 5: Tech Specs

While I found that while the two options have similar features in this Oura Ring vs Fitbit review, they have differences in tech specs.

This fact is important because the differences may affect the accuracy of information as well as durability and lasting power.

Let’s take a look at the tech specs of the Oura Ring Generation 3 and the Fitbit Charge 5:

Oura Ring Generation 3:

• Seven temperature sensors, including infrared
• 4-7 days of battery life
• 20-80 minute charge time
• Compatible with Apple Health and Google Fit
• Water-resistant up to 100m
• View your progress on the app

Fitbit Charge 5:

• Multipurpose electrical sensors
• 3-axis accelerometer
• Up to 7 days of battery
• 2 hour charge time
• Oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring and temperature tracking
• Compatible with Apple Health and Google Fit
• Water-resistant up to 50m
• View your progress on the watch face and the app

Each brand uses different sensors, which results in different readings. The Oura Ring Generation 3 uses infrared for heart rate and respiration. Since these sensors are directly on the finger, the readings are more accurate than they would be from other places on the body.

This device also uses a negative temperature coefficient sensor for body temperature, which detects extremely small changes and helps spot if the wearer may be getting sick. The 3D accelerometer sensor is what captures activity during the day and night to help understand sleeping and workout patterns.

Fitbit opts for accelerometer and gyroscope sensors which measure the body’s temperature, heart rate, and sweat levels through the soft skin of the wrist.

It also uses an SpO2 sensor that monitors changes in sleep and breathing patterns which can even recognize sleep disorders.

With either device, users can view their progress using the app. But, the Fitbit also offers a vibrant screen that displays daily results, which may be more appealing for those who want to check their stats quickly and frequently.

They have similar battery lives, though the Fitbit takes longer to fully charge. Both are water resistant, making them okay to wear when swimming or showering for constant tracking.

Overall, the style of the Oura Ring is more inconspicuous but can be less convenient if you don’t have your phone on you for tracking.

They perform similarly, though they may be ideal for noticing different issues sooner. With the Oura Ring, you may notice drops or rises in temperature that identify illnesses, while the Fitbit can point out issues in breathing patterns and sleep.

New Oura Ring Generation 3 vs Fitbit Charge 5: Materials and Durability

Now that we know how they work and what they do best, in this section of my Oura Ring vs Fitbit review, I will compare the materials and durability of each product to ensure they’ll be the right fit for your lifestyle.

Both are quite durable. Fitbit uses aluminum, glass, and resin for its devices, while the Oura Ring is titanium with a PVD coating. They are made for everyday wear, so the strong materials are crucial in keeping them like new—you won’t have to worry about dents or scratches.

As I mentioned, both the ring and the watch are water-resistant. But, the ring has a higher resistance of up to 100m.

Manufactured in China, Fitbit also uses responsibly sourced recycled materials and focuses on using renewable energy sources for production. Oura Rings are crafted in Finland, but other than that, there is little information about sourcing and manufacturing.

Both devices are comfortable and can be worn 24/7. But, comfortability depends on personal preferences—some people like to wear watches, while others prefer the feeling of rings—some even like both! If there’s one you prefer over the other, then that’s the best option for you.

When it comes to sizing and adjustability, both brands ensure a snug fit. Fitbit watches can be easily tightened or loosened with the buckle and holes, while the Oura Ring offers a more in-depth approach.

Once you’ve placed your order, you’ll receive a ring sizing kit. You’ll then follow these simple steps:

1. Choose the finger you’d like to wear it on. The brand recommends the pointer finger since it offers the most accuracy for pulse tracking.
2. Place the sensor bumps of the test ring on the inside of your finger and ensure a secure fit.
3. Test the fit by moving your finger around, and keeping an eye out for gaps or too much pressure. It also helps to wear the tester for 24 hours in case of changes in the size of the finger due to temperature.
4. Once you’ve found the right size, confirm on the website to receive your ring.

Other things to consider are if the design is practical, how wearable the piece is, and what color options are available. The ring is the less obvious out of the two and can still be worn with a fancy watch.

In saying that, the Fitbit is quite versatile since it can be easily dressed up or down by switching up a sporty rubber wristband for a titanium chain.

For this Oura Ring vs Fitbit review, both brands offer quite stylish and versatile pieces that are well made, though Fitbit is more transparent about its processes. That said, the ring is more water-resistant and inconspicuous.

But, the overall quality of the materials depends on your own comfort, which will stem from personal preferences.

Oura Ring vs Fitbit: Price & Value

All things considered, both brands offer insight into your overall health and wellness with the ability to track activity, heart rate, sleep, and more.

But, it’s important to ensure that the price you pay coincides with the overall value. This section of my Oura Ring vs Fitbit review will now help you determine which device will offer you the most bang for your buck.

Oura Ring:

• Generation 3: $299
• Monthly membership: $7

Fitbit:

• Charge 5: $130 on sale from $180
• Monthly membership: $10

My Oura Ring vs Fitbit review has shown that these brands offer useful fitness tracking devices. They both work well and offer accurate readings for heart rate and temperature to help you understand your health.

But, they have different perks when it comes to what issues they are better at identifying. The Fitbit tracks breathing, while the Oura Ring senses minuscule shifts in temperature.

Both brands also offer memberships, though they aren’t necessary to use alongside the app and tracking device. The Fitbit membership gives access to challenges, wellness reports, and scores and stats for sleep, fitness, and stress management. You’ll also get different workouts and meditations.

The Oura Ring membership comes with full access to daily health reports, recommendations for lifestyle, educational content, guided workout and relaxation sessions, and more. Both companies offer a 6-month membership trial when you purchase a new device.

The Fitbit Charge 5 is less expensive, especially when it’s on sale. But, Oura Ring’s membership plan is cheaper per month, making it a better option if you intend to be using it for the next few years.

Overall, the value of each option truly depends on which one you will actually wear. If you’re not someone who likes to wear rings, it doesn’t make sense to purchase the Oura Ring and vice versa.

They are both high-quality and durable options designed to help you on your health and wellness journey.

Oura Ring vs Fitbit: What Do Customers Think?

This Oura Ring vs Fitbit review wouldn’t be complete without some customer testimonials. I sourced comments from PCMag, Amazon, Digital Trends, and Trustpilot.

First, let’s take a look at the overall ratings for each brand:

Oura Ring:

• PCMag: 3.5/5 stars
• Digital Trends: 5/5 stars
• Trustpilot: 1.8/5 stars out of 389 reviews

Fitbit:

• PCMag: 4.5/5 stars
• Amazon: 4.3/5 stars
• Trustpilot: 1.4/5 stars out of 4013 reviews

Both Oura Ring and Fitbit have some polar-opposite ratings. But, how did each brand earn these ratings? Let’s take a look at some highlights from customer reviews.

Oura Ring:

• Discreet yet stylish appearance
• Long-lasting battery
• Fast delivery
• Attentive customer service
• Accurate and helpful readings
• App is constantly being updated for improvements

One shopper describes an excellent experience with customer service, writing, “I had some battery draining issues with my Oura Balance ring. I contacted customer support and my 1,5 yrs old Oura ring was replaced with a new ring in a week.”

Other shoppers describe how the ring offers up “superb information” and “plenty of insight into sleep patterns and daily activities.”

Fitbit:

• Excellent way to observe the body and changes
• Durable and long-lasting
• Plenty of great features
• Speedy shipping
• Plenty of wristbands to choose from
• App is easy to use

One shopper describes how the varied features have affected their lifestyle choices: “The hourly notification if I don’t get 250 steps really helps me get away from the computer or tv or tablet and give my body, eyes and brain a break…Now that I can hone in how many calories I’m burning in a day, I can tailor my diet accordingly and I’ve finally started to lose some weight.”

The confusion and poorer ratings on Trustpilot tend to focus on membership. It turns out that users didn’t always realize they were getting six months free, and therefore were unclear on why they were being charged after the free period was up.

This is rather unfortunate considering each website outlines how the memberships and trials work—plus, they can be canceled easily. So, I would deem the lower ratings a little unfair based on the research done for this Oura Ring vs Fitbit review.

All things considered, both Oura Ring and Fitbit strive to reach their missions and improve the lives of shoppers. The trackers perform exactly as they should, giving shoppers a better understanding of the world of health and fitness in their own lives.

Oura Ring vs Fitbit: Promotions & Discounts

This Oura Ring vs Fitbit review writer knows that promos and discounts play a large role in which brand you may end up choosing. So what do these two have to offer? Let’s take a look.

Oura Ring:

• Receive a free 6-month membership with the purchase of a ring
• Receive a free ring sizing kit with the purchase of a ring

Fitbit:

• Currently on sale for $170 from $230
• Receive a free 6-month membership with the purchase of a watch

Fitbit items tend to go on sale more often since there is a wider range, while Oura Ring currently only offers one product for purchase. But, both come with a free 6-month membership so you can get the full experience.

If you’re on the hunt for a good deal and want to try out the membership, Fitbit may be the way to go. While Oura Ring may be more expensive off the bat, the membership is less expensive monthly, so it may be a better option in the long run.

Oura Ring vs Fitbit: Shipping & Returns

Once you’ve decided you want to commit to fitness, it can be frustrating to have to wait for your tracker. You’ll also want time to test it out, so shipping and returns policies play a large role in your decision. Luckily, this section of my Oura Ring vs Fitbit review is here with the breakdown.

Oura Rings ship for a flat rate of $15 and should arrive within 2-3 weeks of the order being placed. Fortunately, shipping is available worldwide and comes with tracking information.

Rings can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of receiving the item and they must be fully functional and undamaged. They also have a one-year warranty in case of manufacturer defects.

Fitbit orders within North America ship via FedEx, Canada Post, or Purolator within 24-48 hours of placing the order. You can opt for:

• Free standard shipping: 5-14 business days
• Express and overnight (charges are calculated at checkout): up to 2 days
• International orders: up to 5 days

Fitbit also offers a 1 or 2-year warranty depending on which one you opt for, which covers defective items. Returns can be made within 45 days of shipment and the items must be in good physical condition with all original packaging and parts. Exchanges are not offered at this time.

Currently, Fitbit offers faster shipping, which is ideal if you are anxiously awaiting your device. But, Oura Ring offers exchanges, which may be necessary if you would like a different size or color. So, both brands have their perks here.

Who Will You Shop With?

All things considered, Oura Ring and Fitbit both offer a stylish accessory that tracks your everyday fitness and overall health. The ideas are pretty simple and are executed well, allowing users to better understand their well-being and how to better reach their goals.

The technologies differ, despite similar features. Because of this, readings focus on different things and can help the user hone in on personal issues when it comes to sleeping, daily activities, or health and temperature.

Both are designed to be durable and long-lasting, and they also come with optional memberships so users can get the best results. If you like what you see when it comes to specs and features with either brand, it all comes down to overall aesthetics.

Fitbit offers a wider selection of items with different sizes, shapes, bands, and faces for smartwatches and health trackers. But the Oura Ring is a bit easier and more inconspicuous to wear and can be dressed up or down. It’s also completely gender-neutral.

So, which smart accessory will you add to your daily ensemble—the Oura Ring Generation 3 or the Fitbit Charge 5?

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