Best sleep trackers 2026: We tested the best from Whoop to Oura

Samantha Mangino

From a fitness tracker angle, the Whoop MG is primed for athletes wanting to maximize their activity and recovery — that's why Mashable's Christianna Silva wore it to train for the NYC Marathon. 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 or Fitbit, it has no screen. That keeps things distraction-free as you rest. The small device sits comfortably on your wrist, so you can forget it's there.

It works best for users who want to know how sleep informs their recovery. If you're looking for guidance on sleep, it provides specific recommendations, too. After calibrating your habits, it provides details on the best bedtime for your designated wake-up time. Plus, it has a built-in smart alarm clock that gently vibrates to wake you each morning. You can set the alarm to a set time or let Whoop wake you when you've reached an efficient amount of sleep.

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

If you're used to wearing a smartwatch, you'll be shocked by just how comfortable the Whoop MG is. With a slim, unobtrusive design and no buttons, there's nothing to dig into skin. While comfort is important when evaluating a sleep tracker, it's the data that really matters. 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. The data is accurate, noting restless moments and sleep interruptions.

What impressed us most about its sleep tracking is its bedtime recommendations. Our tester is an insomnia sufferer; falling asleep is often a battle. Whoop provides optimal bedtimes, much later than our tester expected, but helped schedule an actually restful night's sleep. 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 accessible 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 we've tested. The charger slides on the device so you can wear it while charging, without missing a beat in your daily activity. Plus, the new Whoop MG has a battery life of 14 days, meaning charging will barely be on your mind anyway.

Read our review of the Whoop 5.0.

Read our full review of the Oura Ring 5.

If you'd prefer a more inconspicuous sleep 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 5 is the best. With its new 40 percent smaller design, it's even more comfortable, especially when worn while cleaning.

While previous Oura Rings felt noticeably clunkier than a typical ring, the Oura Ring 5 feels like a piece of jewelry. It blends in so seamlessly to your daily life, you'll often forget that you're even wearing it.

What hasn't changed between Oura Ring models is the company's commitment to holistic sleep data, focusing 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.

Having tested both the Whoop MG and Oura Ring 5, we could truly put the data head-to-head. The sleep data is 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, there's a whole section on sleep health delivering information on your sleep regularity and chronotype. Chronotype takes 90 days of continuous use to calibrate and presents your sleep profile, for example, whether 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.

It previously had the best battery life among sleep trackers, until the Whoop MG came in hot with its 14-day battery life. Still, the Oura's six to seven-day battery life is impressive.

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.

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 A30 Special. 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 A30 Special work overtime as earbuds and a sleep tracker.

Anker Soundcore earbuds are usually our preferred pick for budget earbuds, but when it comes to sleep earbuds, Soundcore's options are luxe. The Sleep A30 Special earbuds retail for $229.99 but are typically on sale for $199.99. While they are more expensive than the cheaper Sleep A20 earbuds, they bring upgraded performance, making them well worth their price.

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 A30 Special 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 eight to ten hours, but that's outstanding battery life for earbuds. Plus, the charging case holds up to 80 hours of charge, and Allard noted in her review that she could go a whole week between charging them.

Read our full review of the CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro.

Most of the sleep trackers on this list are unobtrusive and screenless, but if you're looking for a sleep tracker that's also a watch and fitness tracker, we like the CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro. For a budget smartwatch, it has masterful sleep tracking abilities, providing data as accurate as a $3,300 sleep system. But it is a hefty watch, so be cautious if you get wrist discomfort.

There are plenty of great smartwatches out there, so what makes this one the best for sleep tracking? Its comprehensive sleep tracking, extensive battery life, and phenomenal price.

The CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro is only $99, but has the metrics of a much more expensive device with 130 different sport modes. It even offers coaching for runners looking for some extra guidance. Plus, its battery life is 13 days, meaning it's actually suitable for round-the-clock wear, unlike the Apple Watch.

But where this smartwatch shines is its sleep tracking. Mashable contributor, Lauren Allain, tested the CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro at the same time as the Eight Sleep Pod 5, a multi-thousand-dollar sleep system that tracks your sleep data. The Nothing Watch 3 Pro's data was nearly identical to the Eight Sleep Pod 5's. The only thing to note about the CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro's data is that our tester noticed some spelling and grammar issues in the app's copy.

Another issue to note with the CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro is that this watch is huge. It has a diameter of 1.4 inches, larger than even the 46mm Apple Watch. It certainly feels clunky, so if you're sensitive to things on your wrist, it could be disruptive to your sleep.

All that to say, if you want to get a smartwatch for sleep tracking, we think the CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro is the best option.

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.

Oura recommends wearing their smart rings on the index or middle fingers.

Which finger you choose should be based on where the ring fits best. We highly recommend buying a ring that comes with a sizing kit. In our experience, smart ring sizing varies from traditional ring sizes, so you can't count on your usual ring size.

Instead, try various sizes from the brand's sizing kit, and wear a sample size for 24 hours to find your most comfortable fit.

The feel of every device was crucial in assessing each device for this list. Any discomfort can hinder sleep, so what's the point of an uncomfortable sleep tracker? Each was worn overnight while sleeping, considering its 24-hour comfort and wear.

Since none of these devices feature an extensive screen, data must be accessed through a smartphone app. We considered each device's app, how it presented data, and user-friendliness.

By comparing the devices against each other and based on our own experience, we were able to test the overall accuracy of each device.

While we prioritized accuracy and comfort, we also noted any special features that the devices offered. Did any sleep trackers have built-in alarm clocks? Could any trackers play music?