There are now dozens of fitness trackers and trainers available. Many firms have entered the market, and now there is a lot of competition. Companies have to continually work to maintain their edge over their competition and continue to invent better products and features. This is great for consumers because it means that there are many choices available. Here we have taken the guesswork and done the research to help you determine the differences between Fitbit vs Jawbone.
In our series of fitness tracker comparison articles, like Fitbit One vs Fitbit Zip, we are working to cut through some of that noise and help you to make a decision faster. Here we are going to compare the latest FitBit and Jawbone offerings.
Fitbit vs Jawbone
Both of these firms offer cutting-edge technology products. Fitbit has worked its way into the mainstream with their branding; however, both companies are big players in the fitness tracking market.
Both companies offer easy, step-by-step instructions, even for the novice tech person, to set up their accounts initially. Once that is done, you simply have to sync your device and check your progress. Sometimes you can do that right on the device, as with the Fitbit One and Fitbit Charge. Sometimes you have to check it on the device you sync to, like your smartphone, as is the case if you own a Fitbit Flex which does not have a screen to view your steps, calories, distance travelled, etc.
Depending on the product you buy from either company, both Fitbit and Jawbone’s products offer long battery life in between charging them. And the Fitbit Zip and Jawbone Upmove devices offer a one-time battery option that lasts 6 months and doesn’t need to be charged.
Both companies offer different sizes of wristbands so you can get the best fit. Both Fitbit’s and Jawbone’s products offer the ability to wirelessly sync across a wide-range of platforms and devices.
Each company offers both wrist options as well as a clip model. The Fitbit offers Fitbit One and Fitbit Zip. Jawbone offers the Jawbone Upmove.
Fitbit products
Depending on what features you are looking for, there are many Fitbit products to choose from. There is a wide range in price too, but we seem to find that Amazon has them consistently cheaper
- Fitbit Ultra
- Fitbit Flex
- Fitbit Force
- Fitbit Charge
- Fitbit Charge HR
- Fitbit Surge
- Fitbit One
- Fitbit Zip
The newer models have superseded some of the earlier ones, but the earlier models work well; they just may not have as many features. Often, you won’t want those options anyway. Additionally, these earlier models are often far cheaper than the newer ones, so they can be a good buy and are definitely worth considering, especially if you are not sure if you will stick to it. (Though we love our Fitbit fitness trackers so much and believe you will too!)
Fitbit as a gift
Also consider if you are buying this as a gift or for someone who is new to technology and/or exercise or maybe as a gift for a child (Read our review on Fitbit for Kids). One of the less expensive models could be a perfect fit for them.
Jawbone products
Jawbone has fewer products available but what they do have offers similar functionality as the Fitbit. Some of their fitness tracking products are:
- UPmove
- UP2
- UP3
- UP4
Fitbit vs Jawbone: which is best?
There is no way you can say that one company is better than the other. They both make fantastic fitness trackers, which attract largely good customer reviews. Each company takes a slightly different approach to how data is collected and presented, but neither has a reputation for providing more accurate information than the other.
With fitness trackers, which is best depends very much on what you are trying to achieve. Some people only want to measure the number of steps taken. Others want to use their fitness device as a virtual coach. Still others want to monitor their general health as well as their activity levels. That is why the lastest model trackers include heartbeat monitors and sleep tracking.
To help you to narrow down the options we have broken down the rest of the article into a few popular user types then looked at both the Jawbone and Fitbit ranges to find the one that suits each user best. Naturally, this is very much my opinion, so we try to explain the rationale behind my choice to give you as much information as possible.
General fitness monitoring
For this category, Fitbit Charge HR just has the edge over the Jawbone UP2. The fact it comes in three different wrist sizes means that you can find one to fit. Because the Fitbit Charge HR continuously monitors your heart rate, it is good at calculating how many calories you have actually burned.
Fitbit Charge HR monitors the following:
- Sleep time and quality with a built in alarm
- Heart rate during workouts and while resting
- Steps
It also doubles as a watch and has a nifty caller ID feature. This is very handy, especially when you are in a meeting or talking with someone. You have the ability to casually glance at your wrist to see who is calling instead of obviously reaching for your cell phone.
Minimalist users
If you want a simple tracker, the Jawbone UP2 is a great option. It is perfect for someone who is not a tech fan, for example, an elderly relative that wants to get fitter.
Jawbone UP2 does the following:
- Monitors steps taken
- Calculates calories burned
- Tracks sleep with a built in smart alarm
It does everything automatically, including detecting when you are asleep. There are no buttons to press and no screen just a simple system of three lights that alert you when you have completed your steps for the day.
Best small clip fitness tracker
If you want a discreet fitness tracker, the Fitbit One is a great option. It is so small you can easily clip it to a bra; put it in your pocket; or clip it to your waistband.
Fitbit One monitors:
- Distance
- Steps
- Calories
- Time spent without activity
- Best fitness coach features
Choosing Fitbit vs Jawbone
New fitness trackers are being released all of the time. There is no doubt that fitness trackers will evolve and become even more invaluable to those wanting to monitor their fitness levels. But the products that are available now, be it Fitbit or a Jawbone, are excellent. You will increase your daily activity and burn more calories mostly because you will be more mindful of your activities, trying to set goals within your health and fitness range.
Maybe owning one of these products will inspire you to travel greener (Legoland California trip) by encouraging you to walk instead of drive. While Fitbit vs Jawbone continue to come out with more products, whatever you buy now will be just fine for what you want, as it is already expert technology that you will find helpful, informative, and motivating.
