FuelBand vs Fitbit: Which Exercise-Tracking Device Is Really Better
This is the fifth in the 12-part series "Head to Head," in which we pit two rivals against each other in the ultimate challenge showdown. "Head to Head" is sponsored by Ford.
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I've tried three of them: the FuelBand, Runkeeper, and Fitbit. Runkeeper is best for tracking outdoor runs or biking by GPS, so the decision for indoor athletes and health enthusiasts often comes down to the Fitbit or FuelBand.
Fuelband has a powerful brand behind it, but Fitbit is earning quite a bit of market share. It has raised more than $25 million from investors, most recently raising $12 million at the end of January. Unlike the Fuelband, which can only be worn on a wrist, Fitbit offers multiple products that can either be worn as arm/wrist bands (launching this spring) or clips. It even offers a smart scale product that tracks weight and body fat percentage over time.
So, which company makes a better product? After trying both Fitbit and Fuelband for a few months, here's my honest assessment.
Full disclosure: BI was given both devices to try for free. We acquired the Nike Fuelband in August 2012 and the Fitbit in January 2013.