Optimize your REM sleep with the best sleep tracker of 2025 (2025)

Read our full review of the Whoop 4.0.

From a fitness tracker angle, the Whoop 4.0 is primed for athletes wanting to maximize their activity and recovery. But purely based on sleep, it's the best sleep tracker. It takes on the classic wristband design among fitness trackers, but unlike an Apple Watch for Fitbit, it has no screen. That keeps things distraction-free as you rest. The small device sits comfortably on your wrist without discomfort, so you can forget it's there.

It's best for someone who wants to be told what to do when it comes to sleep. After calibrating your habits, it will provide details on the best bedtime for your designated wake-up time. Plus, it has a built-in alarm clock that gently vibrates to wake you each morning.

The Whoop 4.0 is a phenomenal fitness tracker, but for the average person, it's overkill, with its wordy interface and activity metrics. However, when it comes to sleep, it's equipped to help you on your sleepmaxxing journey.

I was surprised by how comfortable it was to wear. As a devoted Apple Watch user, I can't wear mine at night, needing to even take it off for a nap. The Whoop 4.0 is far more comfortable, with a slim design and no buttons to dig into your skin.

Its sleep tracking is extensive. It calculates a sleep performance score each day and provides feedback on how it might affect your recovery and performance throughout the day. I found the data to be accurate, noting my restless moments or when I woke up in the middle of the night.

What impressed me most about its sleep tracking was its bedtime recommendations. As an insomnia sufferer, falling asleep is often a battle, and I get exasperated when I start feeling anxious about staying up too late. Whoop provides me with optimal bedtimes, which are much later than expected but still give me a good night's sleep. When following Whoop's recommendations I woke up well-rested, feeling like I'd gotten enough sleep to take on the day.

Plus, if you want to reduce screen time and eliminate your phone's alarm clock, the Whoop has a built-in alarm clock. It gently wakes you through vibrations and even offers a snooze option. It's an accesiable choice for everyone, even those with hearing loss.

While it doesn't necessarily apply to sleep tracking, it should be mentioned that the Whoop has the most ingenious charging design of any fitness tracker I've tested. The charger slides on the device so you can wear it while charging, not missing a beat of your daily activity.

GET IT

Read our full review of the Oura Ring 4.

If you'd prefer a more inconspicuous tracker, smart rings are the answer. Taking on the shape and design of a classic ring band, they disguise the tech inside. Among all the smart rings we've tested, the Oura Ring 4 is the best. It doesn't feel too clunky because while it is slim for a smart ring, it's still thicker than your average ring.

Oura's holistic sleep data approach focuses on long-term patterns and how they affect overall health. If you're interested in understanding your health beyond sleep, an Oura Ring may be a better fit than other options, as it has several partnerships with other health tech brands like Clue or Natural Cycles.

If you're interested in gentle recommendations and long-term insights, the Oura Ring is a worthy investment.

While Whoop is all about using data to maximize physical performance, Oura combines health metrics with a compassionate approach.

I tested the Whoop 4.0 and Oura Ring 4 simultaneously. My sleep data was nearly identical, assuring accuracy won't differ much between devices. Where they do differ is how they deliver information. Whoop's recommendations have urgency, pressing you to make changes quickly to maintain your physical performance. However, Oura's suggestions are much gentler, not pushing any agenda.

Oura also provides data that is invested in long-term health understanding. In the Oura app, under the "My Health" tab, two metrics are given for sleep health: sleep regularity and chronotype. The first is listed after 28 days and recognizes the consistency of your sleep, while the second takes 90 days of continuous use to calibrate and presents your sleep preference, for example, if you're more of a morning or night person. While these tools are helpful, they take a long time to calculate, which may not be ideal if you want to gain insights quickly.

Its killer battery life is six to seven days, and it requires you to take it off to charge.

The ring itself is comfortable, with a smooth finish that doesn't cut into fingers. To assure a comfortable fit, it's recommended to buy a sizing kit and wear a sample for 24 hours. This is especially helpful if your fingers swell at night, which could affect your overall comfort. Not to mention, it's a lot more attractive than the Whoop, with a design that blends into your personal style rather than sticking out like a sore fitness tracker.

GET IT

Sleep earbuds are designed to be more comfortable than your standard pair of buds. Among the models we've tested, the best are Anker's Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds. So, if you're already wearing earbuds to bed every night, you may as well wear a pair for sleep.

But these don't just play music; they track sleep metrics as well. Not only will they track your sleep cycles, but using the sensors to detect sleep, they will also change your music. The buds will automatically turn off whatever you were listening to and switch to white noise once you're sound asleep.

So, if you're already using earbuds to sleep, the Soundcore Sleep A20 work overtime as earbuds and a sleep tracker.

Anker Soundcore earbuds are usually our preferred pick for budget earbuds. The Sleepcore A20 is on the pricier end of Anker's line-up at $179.99, but it's a specialized model designed for sleeping, and it is worth it. Not only are they comfortable for sleeping, even when you're on your side, but they also include sleep-tracking data.

The data can be stored in the earbuds for a week before requiring a sync with the app. My colleague Bethany Allard tested the Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds and reported they offered more accurate data than other trackers she'd used in the past. In addition to the length of sleep cycles, the earbuds also track how many times you toss and turn for even more detailed data.

Other trackers on this list have days-long battery life, and these earbuds only last 14 hours, but that's outstanding battery life for earbuds. Plus, the charging case holds up to 80 hours of charge, and Bethany noted in her review that she could go a whole week between charging them.

GET IT

Read our full review of the Fitbit Inspire 3.

If you want to track your sleep but don't want to spend a lot of money, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is our favorite option and the cheapest on this list. Yes, premium features require a monthly fee, but so do Whoop and Oura.

With a slim design, it has a lower profile than the Whoop, so it's comfortable for sleeping and working out. While it does have a small screen, it's not the full LED of an Apple Watch, and if you are trying to cut back on screen time, it includes a Smart Wake alarm that gently rouses you awake during the lightest part of your sleep.

Above all, the Fitbit Inspire 3's price is one of its best qualities. At $99.95, it's a budget-friendly option and is often on sale for even less. Despite its lower price tag, it doesn't skimp on features. Like all the trackers on this list, it traces your sleep cycles throughout the night.

It includes a Smart Wake alarm, which rouses you during the lightest part of your sleep as you approach your designated wake-up time. However, Mashable contributor Sam Stone, who tested the Fitbit Inspire 3, noted that he didn't wake up feeling any less groggy with the Smart Wake alarm. As a bonus feature, it will do a sleep analysis to target factors affecting your sleep.

While it does have a screen, you can turn it on to sleep mode so that it won't turn on or bother you with notifications while you're sleeping. In addition to sleep tracking, it's an even better fitness tracker. It automatically recognizes activity and helps you push harder at the gym.

GET IT

How we tested