The Google Fitbit Air is the talk of the fitness tracking town right now, not only because it’s the first new Fitbit device we’ve had in years, but it’s also one of the first major brands to go head-to-head with the established Whoop Strap (if you don’t count the Polar Loop and the Amazfit Helio Strap).
If you’re considering getting one, chances are you’re trying to decide if it’s worth it against the latest Whoop Strap 5.0. That’s why we’ve put together this Fitbit Air vs Whoop comparison guide to help you out.
For some broader context, it’s worth knowing right away that the Fitbit Air and the Whoop Strap don’t have a display on the device, but are instead designed as distraction-free trackers that can be worn discreetly and are only really meant to be interacted with when it’s time to charge them. This is the main selling point of this style.
If that’s not your thing, then there are plenty of great options to check out in our guide to the best fitness trackers overall. But then again, if you think these wrist-based wearables don’t go far enough to stay out of sight, then you might be better suited for one of the best smart rings.
There are also rumors that a Garmin alternative is in the works, known as the Garmin Cirqa, although this has yet to be made official and so for now it’s the Whoop Strap 5.0 that serves as the main point of comparison for the Fitbit Air. With that in mind, let’s see how these two trackers compare.
What is your budget?
Before we can say anything else about these two wearables, the thing that’s almost guaranteed to make the decision for you is the price. The Whoop Strap and the Fitbit Air are aimed at two very different ends of the market, and that’s reflected in their respective price tags.
While the brand originally required a one-time payment to use its wearables, Whoop switched to a subscription model in 2018 and has stuck with it ever since. At the time of writing, Whoop subscription levels start at £169/$199 per year, that’s approx £14/$16 a month if you break it off.
It’s not an insignificant amount, but it makes sense when you consider that Whoop’s target audience is professional athletes.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
The Fitbit Air, on the other hand, follows Whoop’s old trajectory with a one-time price of just £84.99/$99.99. At that price, the Air is much more affordable and works better for fitness enthusiasts who are on a strict budget. Plus, you can save 29% on this Fitbit Air bundle for a limited time.
There is an option to expand the Air’s features by having an active Google Health Premium subscription (which costs £7.99/$9.99 per month), but it is not essential.
By comparison, the Whoop Strap can’t be used without an active subscription, so if you’re not in it for the long haul, then the Fitbit Air is probably the better option.
Winner: Fitbit air
How detailed do you want your data?
One of the best things about the Fitbit ecosystem is its accessible approach to fitness tracking, especially for working adults who only have a limited amount of time in the week and just need some encouragement to get outside and exercise more. Even though the Fitbit Air is designed to provide a bit more guidance on your overall health, it maintains that sense of accessibility through the new Google Health Coach app.
Although you can view more details if you wish, the app features a scaled-down and clearly defined user interface that can show you at a glance how well you slept, how ready your body is to start a new workout, and how much progress you’ve made toward your weekly goal. If you’ve had experience using a Fitbit in the past, it will all feel very familiar.
The Whoop Strap, on the other hand, is designed for athletes who not only understand the intricacies of fitness tracking data, but also plan to spend time poring over the details to find ways to achieve a new personal best. It’s a much more comprehensive experience from the jump.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
With just a few taps, the Whoop app can show you graphs of your stress levels, energy exertion throughout the day, comprehensive breakdowns of how your previous night’s sleep compares to what came before, and more. It can be overwhelming for those who aren’t well versed in what all this data means, but for those looking to make big changes and optimize their workout routine as much as possible, it’s essential.
Winner: Whoop belt
How much value do you attach to AI?
It doesn’t matter whether you are looking at telephones, televisions or even some washing machines; Almost all products in 2026 have some form of AI integration and this also applies to the Fitbit Air and the latest Whoop Straps.
Admittedly, Whoop was one of the first companies to hop on board the bandwagon when the brand’s AI Coach debuted on the app in 2023. Not only can the service be used to summarize all the information collected into a written summary with actionable advice, but you can also talk to the coach to develop training plans based on what he already knows about you.
It’s a great feature within the Whoop ecosystem, and in an effort to thwart this new crop of competitors, it’s recently been expanded with new tools, including ‘My Memory’, which ensures training suggestions can be even sharper as additional information is provided. The problem is that, with all the money invested in Gemini, Google (and by extension Fitbit) has access to one of the most powerful AI platforms in the world, and as such puts Gemini at the center of what the Fitbit Air stands for.
The rebranding of the Fitbit app (and Google Fit) to Google Health Coach is a big part of this, and from the start, Fitbit Air users will need to briefly interact with the AI Coach so it can understand your existing workout routine, any injuries to consider, and more.
Once the Health Coach starts collecting data over the air (and you can optionally wear a Pixel Watch 4 at the same time for a larger, more accurate data set between the two), it can provide an AI-based summary of your day right there on the app’s homepage.
Of course, we won’t know where the limits of this AI integration lie until we’ve been using the Fitbit Air for a while, but at this point it seems like the Fitbit Air is essentially built around Gemini, as opposed to how Whoop retrofitted AI as an additional feature.
Thomas Deehan / Foundry
Winner: To draw
Fitbit Air vs Whoop Band: Conclusion
If there’s one thing that can be summed up by comparing the Whoop Strap and the Fitbit Air right now, it’s that the sector has never felt more exciting and if you’re considering purchasing a screen-free fitness tracker, there’s never been a better time to do so.
New users of the Whoop Strap 5.0 (or the Whoop Strap MG) will find years of software innovation waiting to be accessed, and it’s no surprise that Whoop has been able to build such a dedicated following given how much more data it can offer than the average smartwatch.
The problem with Whoop, unfortunately, has always been the high asking price and that’s where the Fitbit Air can fill a clear gap in the market. For anyone who isn’t a professional athlete and doesn’t want to spend a good chunk of money every year just to live a healthier lifestyle, the Fitbit Air with its one-time price tag will certainly be preferable for many people.
Until we finish testing the Fitbit Air (stay tuned for a full review soon), we won’t know if the device can live up to all of Google’s expectations for it, but from what we’ve seen so far, this does feel like the first screenless device that really gives Whoop a run for its money.
