Best sleep trackers without a subscription Rings, bands, watches and a mattress pad you pay for once
Ten sleep trackers that work without a membership, plus Oura and WHOOP for contrast: sleep stages, HRV, iPhone or Android, and the cost over three years.
12 compared
On price, limits and platforms, plus 4 features side by side, from each maker's own pages.
Three-year costs
From $10 to $609 for one person.
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Nobody paid to be here, and we earn nothing if you sign up.
| Pick | From | 3 years | Subscription needed? | Sleep stages free | HRV / readiness free | Works with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Apple Watch (built-in Sleep app)watch | $249 | $249 | No | Yes | Partly | iPhone |
| 2Garmin Index Sleep Monitorband | $169.99 + optional $6.99/mo | $170 | Optional | Yes | Yes | iPhone and Android |
| 3Samsung Galaxy Ringring | $299.99 | $300 | No | Yes | Yes | Android |
| 4RingConn Gen 2 Airring | $199 | $199 | No | Yes | Yes | iPhone and Android |
| 5Ultrahuman Ring PROring | $479 | $479 | No | Yes | Yes | iPhone and Android |
| 6Amazfit Helio Strapband | $99.99 | $100 | No | Yes | Yes | iPhone and Android |
| 7Google Fitbit Airband | $99.99 + optional $8.25/mo yearly | $100 | Optional | Yes | Yes | iPhone and Android |
| 8Withings Sleep (Sleep Analyzer)bedside | $199.95 + optional $8.29/mo yearly | $200 | Optional | Yes | No | iPhone and Android |
| 9Polar Loopband | $199.99 | $200 | No | Yes | Yes | iPhone and Android |
| 10AutoSleepapp | $9.99 once | $10 | No | Yes | Yes | iPhone |
| 11Oura Ring 5ring | $399 + $5.83/mo yearly | $609 | Yes | No | Partly | iPhone and Android |
| 12WHOOPband | $16.58/mo yearly | $597 | Yes | No | No | iPhone and Android |
Prices per person, from each maker's own pricing page unless the entry says otherwise. “3 years” is the device plus the cheapest paid plan that does the job. Costs, sorted.
What's the best sleep tracker without a subscription?
With an iPhone and an Apple Watch, you already get sleep stages and a score with no subscription; AutoSleep adds readiness for $9.99 once. Without a watch, the Amazfit Helio Strap ($99.99) and RingConn Gen 2 Air ($199) track sleep stages and HRV with no fees at all. Oura and WHOOP need a membership.
- iPhone
- Apple Watch (built-in Sleep app): sleep stages, a Sleep Score and overnight vitals free, from $249 for the SE 3.
- Pay once
- AutoSleep: $9.99 once for readiness and HRV on any Apple Watch.
- Cheapest
- Amazfit Helio Strap: a $99.99 screenless band with every score free.
- Ring
- RingConn Gen 2 Air: $199, sleep stages and HRV, and no fees at all.
- Nothing to wear
- Withings Sleep (Sleep Analyzer): a pad under the mattress; sleep stages and score free, nothing to charge.
- Galaxy phones
- Samsung Galaxy Ring: all tracking free in Samsung Health, Energy Score included.
12 picks
The picks, one by one
In the order we'd look at them for most people. Each with what it costs, who it suits, the one thing it does best, and its catch. Checked Oct 13, 2026.
- 01
Apple Watch (built-in Sleep app)
watch · by Apple
Best for: iPhone owners who want sleep stages and a nightly score from a watch they already wear all day
Stands out: Sleep Score is built in and explained: 50 points for duration, 30 for bedtime consistency, 20 for interruptions.
The catch: iPhone only, and the $249 SE 3 gets no Readiness score or overnight HRV; those start at $399.
- Subscription needed?NoSleep app and Sleep Score are part of watchOS
- Sleep stages freeYesAwake, REM, Core and Deep
- HRV / readiness freePartlyReadiness score and overnight HRV only on Series 12 ($399) and Ultra 4 ($799)
- Works withiPhoneNeeds an iPhone with the latest iOS
- Without a subscriptionSleep stages, Sleep Score and overnight Vitals free; Readiness and overnight HRV need Series 12 or Ultra 4
- Apple Watch SE 3$249
- Three years$249
- Runs onOwn watch; iPhone only
Price from apple.com. Sources: apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, support.apple.com, apple.com.
- 02
Garmin Index Sleep Monitor
band · by Garmin
Best for: People who want nothing on the wrist or finger at night and a soft armband instead
Stands out: Worn on the upper arm, with up to 7 nights per charge even with continuous Pulse Ox and a vibrating smart wake alarm.
The catch: It is a sleep band, so daytime activity tracking needs a separate Garmin watch or tracker.
- Subscription needed?OptionalConnect+ $6.99/month adds extras; Garmin says existing features and data stay free
- Sleep stages freeYesSleep stages and a 0-100 sleep score
- HRV / readiness freeYesHRV status and Body Battery
- Works withiPhone and AndroidGarmin Connect on iPhone and Android
- Without a subscriptionSleep score, stages, HRV status and Body Battery free; Connect+ extras optional
- Index Sleep Monitor (band included)$169.99
- Garmin Connect+ (optional) plan$6.99 a month
- Three years$170
- Runs onOwn upper-arm band; iPhone and Android (Garmin Connect app)
Price from garmin.com. Sources: garmin.com, garmin.com, garmin.com, garmin.com.
- 03
Samsung Galaxy Ring
ring · by Samsung
Best for: Galaxy phone owners who want a ring and never want a monthly fee
Stands out: Energy Score, a daily readiness number built from sleep, activity and sleeping heart rate and HRV, at no charge.
The catch: Works only with Samsung Galaxy phones and has no sleep apnea detection; smaller sizes last about 6 days.
- Subscription needed?NoSamsung Health is free; no fee mentioned on the product page
- Sleep stages freeYesSleep score and sleep stages
- HRV / readiness freeYesEnergy Score uses sleeping heart rate and HRV
- Works withAndroidNeeds a Samsung Galaxy phone; no iPhone support
- Without a subscriptionAll tracking free in Samsung Health, including Energy Score
- Galaxy Ring$299.99
- Three years$300
- Runs onOwn ring; Samsung Galaxy phones only (Android 11+)
Price from samsung.com. Sources: samsung.com, samsung.com, news.samsung.com, techcrunch.com.
- 04
RingConn Gen 2 Air
ring · by RingConn
Best for: Budget ring buyers who want sleep stages and HRV with no fees at all
Stands out: The lowest-priced ring in this guide at $199, with up to 10 days per charge.
The catch: The Air skips sleep apnea monitoring; that needs the $299 Gen 2.
- Subscription needed?NoSubscription fee listed as Free
- Sleep stages freeYesSleep stages, heart activity, temperature
- HRV / readiness freeYesHRV monitored 24/7
- Works withiPhone and AndroidiOS 17+ and Android 10+
- Without a subscriptionAll tracking free; RingConn lists the subscription fee as Free
- Gen 2 Air ring$199
- Three years$199
- Runs onOwn ring; iPhone (iOS 17+) and Android (10+)
Price from ringconn.com. Sources: ringconn.com, ringconn.com.
- 05
Ultrahuman Ring PRO
ring · by Ultrahuman
Best for: People who want an Oura-style ring and would rather pay once than every month
Stands out: Up to 15 days per charge, the longest of the rings here, with no fee to see your data.
The catch: At $479 it costs more than Oura's ring, and heart-health extras like Cardio Adaptability are paid add-ons.
- Subscription needed?NoNo recurring fees for your data; optional paid PowerPlugs such as Cycle & Ovulation Pro
- Sleep stages freeYesREM, Deep and Light in Sleep Index
- HRV / readiness freeYesRecovery score; HRV in Stress Rhythm
- Works withiPhone and AndroidUltrahuman app on iPhone (iOS 16+) and Android
- Without a subscriptionSleep, recovery and HRV free; some PowerPlug add-ons cost $24-$39 a year
- Ring PRO with charging case$479
- Three years$479
- Runs onOwn ring; iPhone and Android
Price from ultrahuman.com. Sources: ultrahuman.com, ultrahuman.com, apps.apple.com, play.google.com, techcrunch.com, engadget.com.
- 06
Amazfit Helio Strap
band · by Zepp Health (Amazfit)
Best for: Budget buyers who want a screenless band and never want a subscription
Stands out: The cheapest wearable here at $99.99 with sleep HRV, stages and up to 10 days of battery.
The catch: No single strain score, just training load and BioCharge energy.
- Subscription needed?NoAmazfit says no required subscription; Zepp app is free
- Sleep stages freeYesSleep stages including REM, naps, sleep score
- HRV / readiness freeYesSleep HRV and BioCharge energy score
- Works withiPhone and AndroidAndroid 7.0+ and iOS 15.0+
- Without a subscriptionAll tracking and scores, no subscription
- Helio Strap$99.99
- Three years$100
- Runs onOwn band; iPhone (iOS 15+) and Android (7+)
Price from us.amazfit.com. Sources: us.amazfit.com.
- 07
Google Fitbit Air
band · by Google
Best for: Fitbit and Google users wanting a cheap band, with coaching optional
Stands out: Comes with three months of Google Health Premium, so you can try the coach before deciding to pay.
The catch: $99.99 band; the AI coach needs Premium, $9.99/month after three free months.
- Subscription needed?OptionalPremium ($9.99/month or $99/year) adds the AI coach; 3 months included
- Sleep stages freeYesSleep stages and Sleep Score in the free Google Health app
- HRV / readiness freeYesReadiness and HRV free per Google's posts; deeper insights in Premium
- Works withiPhone and AndroidAndroid 11+ and iOS 16.4+
- Without a subscriptionReadiness, sleep score and cardio load; coaching is paid
- Fitbit Air$99.99
- Google Health Premium (optional) plan$8.25 a month, billed yearly
- Three years$100
- Runs onOwn band; iPhone (iOS 16.4+) and Android (11+)
Price from Google's own announcement posts (the Google Store asked us to sign in). Sources: blog.google, support.google.com, support.google.com.
- 08
Withings Sleep (Sleep Analyzer)
bedside · by Withings
Best for: People who won't wear anything to bed and want tracking that needs no charging
Stands out: Slides under the mattress, plugs into the wall, and needs no charging or wearing.
The catch: Readiness is behind Withings+, and the US version doesn't advertise sleep apnea detection.
- Subscription needed?OptionalWithings+ $99.50/year after a free month; Withings says your data stays free
- Sleep stages freeYesDeep, light and REM
- HRV / readiness freeNoReadiness score is a Withings+ feature; no HRV listed in specs
- Works withiPhone and AndroidWithings app on iOS 18+ and Android 12+
- Without a subscriptionSleep stages, sleep score, heart rate and snoring free; Readiness needs Withings+
- Withings Sleep pad$199.95
- Withings+ (optional) plan$8.29 a month, billed yearly
- Three years$200
- Runs onUnder-mattress pad; iPhone and Android (Withings app)
Price from withings.com. Sources: withings.com, support.withings.com.
- 09
Polar Loop
band · by Polar
Best for: People who want a WHOOP-style screenless band from a long-standing fitness brand, paid once
Stands out: Nightly Recharge combines sleep, heart rate, HRV and breathing into a recovery reading, all included.
The catch: No built-in GPS, so outdoor workouts borrow your phone's GPS.
- Subscription needed?NoPolar says no monthly fees and no locked features
- Sleep stages freeYesLight, deep, REM and interrupted sleep with a sleep score
- HRV / readiness freeYesNightly Recharge and nightly HRV
- Works withiPhone and AndroidPolar Flow on App Store and Google Play
- Without a subscriptionEvery feature included; Polar Flow app is free
- Polar Loop with SoftWeave band$199.99
- Three years$200
- Runs onOwn band; iPhone and Android (Polar Flow app)
- 10
AutoSleep
app · by Tantsissa
Best for: Apple Watch owners on any model who want a readiness score without a subscription
Stands out: Adds a readiness score and sleeping HRV to any Apple Watch for one $9.99 payment.
The catch: Apple-only, and it needs an Apple Watch to do its job.
- Subscription needed?NoOne-time $9.99; listing says no in-app purchases
- Sleep stages freeYesCan use Apple's sleep stages
- HRV / readiness freeYesReadiness score and sleeping HRV
- Works withiPhoneiPhone (iOS 15+) with Apple Watch
- One-off$9.99: The app, with no in-app purchases or subscription
- Three years$10
- Runs oniPhone and Apple Watch
Price from AutoSleep's App Store listing (the app is sold only there). Sources: apps.apple.com.
- 11
Oura Ring 5
ring · by Oura
Best for: People who'd rather wear a ring than a band, especially to bed
Stands out: In a 2024 Oura-funded hospital study, Oura's Gen3 stage estimates did not differ from lab polysomnography.
The catch: Ring 5 starts at $399, and most insights need the membership.
- Subscription needed?Yes$5.99/month or $69.99/year; without it, insights are 'much more limited'
- Sleep stages freeNoStage detail needs the membership
- HRV / readiness freePartlyReadiness score shown free, detail and HRV trends need membership
- Works withiPhone and AndroidiPhone and Android
- Without a subscriptionSleep, Readiness and Activity scores only, no detail
- Oura Ring 5$399
- Membership plan$5.83 a month, billed yearly
- Three years$609
- Runs onOwn ring; iPhone and Android
Price from Oura's membership page; the $399 ring price from its US store as indexed by search. Sources: ouraring.com, doi.org, techcrunch.com.
- 12
WHOOP
band
Best for: People who want daily recovery and strain coaching and are fine paying every year
Stands out: No upfront hardware price: the band is included in the yearly membership.
The catch: Nothing works without a membership: $199 a year for One, up to $359 for Life.
- Subscription needed?YesMembership from $199/year; the band comes with it
- Sleep stages freeNoOnly with a membership
- HRV / readiness freeNoRecovery and HRV only with a membership
- Works withiPhone and AndroidiPhone and Android
- One plan$16.58 a month, billed yearly
- Three years$597
- Runs onOwn band; iPhone and Android
Three years, one person
What each one costs over three years
The device, plus the cheapest paid plan that does the job, for 36 months. Optional subscriptions aren't counted, and many have a free plan with limits: see each entry. Cuttlefish is shown at its planned price.
Add up the ones you pay for: subscription calculator.
Lately
What changed in this category
The facts behind a few of the picks, each with its source.
An October 2025 US International Trade Commission ruling for Oura blocked Ultrahuman from importing new rings, including the Ring Air; US Customs cleared Ultrahuman's redesigned Ring Pro in March 2026.
Source: techcrunch.comOura filed to go public on September 3, 2026, reporting about 5 million paying members and 3.6 million rings sold in the past year.
Source: techcrunch.comApple added a daily Readiness score and overnight Recovery HRV for Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 in September 2026, with no subscription for them mentioned.
Source: apple.comGarmin launched its optional Connect+ subscription ($6.99 a month or $69.99 a year) in March 2025 and said existing Garmin Connect features and data stay free.
Source: garmin.comGoogle launched the screenless Fitbit Air at $99.99 on May 7, 2026, with Google Health Premium sold separately at $9.99 a month or $99 a year.
Source: blog.google
Method
How we picked
- What works with no membership at all: sleep stages, HRV, a readiness score.
- What it costs one person over three years; optional subscriptions aren't counted.
- Whether it works with your phone: some are iPhone-only or Galaxy-only.
- How it's worn at night: watch, ring, band, or nothing at all.
We compare what each maker publishes: plans, limits, platforms, privacy terms and documented features, from their own pages, dated. We haven't used every product here for months, and we don't pretend to. We earn nothing from these links.
The order is our judgement of fit for most people, not a score. How we research these pages. Seen a price change? Tell us.
Not a pick: on our waitlist
Cuttlefish, recovery scores from the watch you own for $99 once
Daily recovery, strain and sleep scores from the Apple Watch you already wear. No band, no membership. It isn't built yet, so it isn't ranked above. We build the dupes people sign up for first; WHOOP One costs $597 over three years.
Questions
Best sleep trackers without a subscription: FAQ
What is the best sleep tracker without a subscription?
It depends on your phone. On iPhone, an Apple Watch's built-in Sleep app gives stages and a Sleep Score free. On a Samsung phone, the Galaxy Ring's Energy Score is free. On any phone, the Garmin Index Sleep Monitor ($169.99), Polar Loop ($199.99) and RingConn Gen 2 Air ($199) need no subscription for sleep stages or HRV.
What is the best wearable sleep tracker without a subscription?
For a ring, the RingConn Gen 2 Air ($199) and Ultrahuman Ring PRO ($479) charge nothing to see your data. For a screenless band, the Amazfit Helio Strap ($99.99) and Polar Loop ($199.99) include every feature. If you'd rather wear nothing on the hand, Garmin's Index Sleep Monitor goes on the upper arm.
What is the best free sleep tracker app for iPhone?
If you have an Apple Watch, Apple's own Sleep app is free and shows REM, Core and Deep sleep plus a nightly Sleep Score. For a readiness score and sleeping HRV on any Apple Watch, AutoSleep costs $9.99 once, with no subscription or in-app purchases.
Are there any free sleep tracking apps?
Yes. Apple's Sleep app is free with an Apple Watch, and the Garmin Connect, Samsung Health, Polar Flow, Zepp and Withings apps are free with their makers' devices. Without a wearable, Sleep Cycle tracks from your phone's microphone or motion sensor and is free to download, but sounds, snore detection and data export sit in its paid Premium.
Which smartwatch is best for tracking sleep?
Pick by phone: Apple Watch works only with iPhone and gives stages and a Sleep Score free, with Readiness and overnight HRV on Series 12 and Ultra 4. Samsung's Galaxy Watch4 and later get the same free Energy Score as the Galaxy Ring. Garmin watches sync to the same Garmin Connect app, and Garmin says its existing features stay free next to the optional Connect+.
Which sleep tracker is most accurate?
Few independent tests exist, and most accuracy claims are the makers' own. One 2024 study at Brigham and Women's Hospital (35 healthy adults, one night, funded by Oura) found Oura Ring Gen3, Fitbit Sense 2 and Apple Watch Series 8 all close to lab polysomnography on total sleep; Oura's stage estimates didn't differ from the lab, while the Apple Watch underestimated deep sleep by 43 minutes. Those are older models, and none of the other trackers here were tested.
Why does Reddit look for sleep trackers without a subscription?
Because the best-known trackers charge every year: Oura's membership is $69.99 a year on top of the ring, and WHOOP starts at $199 a year with nothing working without it. Most other trackers here, from Garmin, Polar, Samsung, RingConn, Ultrahuman and Amazfit, charge once for the device.
What is the best wearable health tracker without a subscription?
For all-day health plus sleep with no fee, a smartwatch you already use (Apple Watch on iPhone, Galaxy Watch on Samsung) is the simplest choice. For something screenless, the Polar Loop and Amazfit Helio Strap include recovery, HRV and sleep in a one-time price; Fitbit Air works free too, with an optional Premium for its AI coach.
Keep comparing
Alternatives to the apps above
Every subscription app we've compared, by the job it does, with what three years of it costs against one payment.
Mockingbird
Catbird
Hermit
Bowerbird