Best heart rate monitors 2024: Accurately track your training and health

best heart rate monitors
(Image credit: Future)

When used correctly, the best heart rate monitors can help you unlock a new level of athletic performance, no matter whether you're cycling, running, or performing any other endurance sport.

Their most basic requirement is to provide consistently accurate heart rate data - measured in beats per minute (BPM). They then need to connect to a smartphone, computer or other device to transmit this data to be recorded. 

Written and tested by
Cyclingnews Senior Tech Writer Josh Croxton
Written and tested by
Josh Croxton

Heart rate has been a fundamental aspect of my training for racing, and over the years, I have used countless heart rate monitors. When evaluating these devices, I prioritize accuracy and usability, they need to provide valuable training data and be compatible with a variety of training tools, ranging from GPS computers to indoor smart trainers.

Recent updates

Last updated on 25th of October 2024

To ensure the best heart rate guide is current, products were updated, and new imagery was added for each option. Buy if/Don't buy if recommendations and updated some formatting and testing experiences were added to make the guide's reviews clearer and easier to understand.  

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Josh Croxton
Associate Editor (Tech)

Josh is Associate Editor of Cyclingnews – leading our content on the best bikes, kit and the latest breaking tech stories from the pro peloton. He has been with us since the summer of 2019 and throughout that time he's covered everything from buyer's guides and deals to the latest tech news and reviews. 

On the bike, Josh has been riding and racing for over 15 years. He started out racing cross country in his teens back when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s, racing at a local and national level for Somerset-based Team Tor 2000. These days he rides indoors for convenience and fitness, and outdoors for fun on road, gravel, 'cross and cross-country bikes, the latter usually with his two dogs in tow.