How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Welltory is the best stress and energy app, with camera-based HRV and AI insights.
- HeartWatch is the best Apple Watch companion, with 30 plus metrics and one-time pricing.
- Cardiogram suits continuous Apple Watch and Wear OS tracking with simple trends.
- Elite HRV serves athletes best, with readiness scores and training guidance.
- These apps are wellness tools, not medical devices: see a doctor for concerning readings, and call emergency services for chest pain or severe symptoms.
Quick comparison
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The best heart rate monitor apps
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Welltory measures your nervous system by analyzing the timing between heartbeats, known as heart rate variability, using your phone camera or a wearable. AI insights reveal how daily habits and mood correlate with stress and energy, and a battery gauge visualizes current energy levels. The free version allows limited daily measurements and basic stress and energy tracking.
Premium costs $12.99 per month, $99.99 per year, or $299.99 once for lifetime access, adding unlimited HRV analysis, deep symptom tracking, and advanced insights. Personalized research reports show which lifestyle changes actually move your numbers, which beats generic advice. The interface is dense and technical, which can turn off users who want simple stats. For a user who wants to understand stress and recovery, Welltory is the deepest wellness app here.
What we like- Camera-based HRV
- AI insights
- Energy battery gauge
Watch out for- Premium $12.99 monthly
- Dense interface
- No trial period
Starting price$8.99 one-time
Free planNo
HeartWatch reads heart data from the Apple Health store, ideally populated by an Apple Watch, and presents over 30 health metrics with 7-day and 21-day trends that can overlap. A daily journal holds notes and measurements including blood pressure, temperature, blood glucose, weight, and body fat, and exports cover all metrics and workouts. Overlapping trends reveal whether a change in sleep, exercise, or medication lines up with a change in heart metrics. It costs $8.99 once.
It requires an iPhone with the Health app and works best with an Apple Watch, so Android users should look elsewhere. For an Apple Watch owner who wants deeper analysis than the built-in Health app, HeartWatch is excellent value at a one-time price.
What we like- 30 plus health metrics
- 7 and 21 day trends
- Journal and export
Watch out for- IPhone and Apple Watch only
- One-time price, no free tier
- Needs Health data
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Cardiogram tracks heart rate continuously from Apple Watch and Wear OS devices, with simple trends, sleep views, and activity context. The free tier covers core tracking, while premium adds deeper insights and features at varying prices, so check the current plan page. For a user who wants always-on tracking without opening an app for each reading, Cardiogram is a strong default.
Insights are less deep than Welltory HRV analysis, and some users report syncing issues with third-party apps like Strava. For straightforward continuous tracking with clean trends, Cardiogram does the job well.
What we like- Continuous Apple Watch and Wear OS tracking
- Simple trends
- Sleep and activity views
Watch out for- Premium pricing varies
- Insights less deep than Welltory
- Some sync issues reported
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Elite HRV serves athletes with morning HRV readings, readiness scores, and training guidance that tells you when to push and when to recover. The protocol is simple: measure first thing in the morning, get a readiness score, and adjust training accordingly. The free tier covers core readings, with premium features at varying prices.
The athlete focus suits training better than general wellness, and readiness scores need consistent morning readings to mean anything. Team features let coaches monitor athlete readiness across a squad, though privacy settings deserve a careful check. For a runner, lifter, or CrossFit athlete who trains hard and wants data-driven recovery, Elite HRV is the best specialist pick.
What we like- Readiness scores
- Training guidance
- Morning HRV protocol
Watch out for- Athlete focus, not general wellness
- Premium pricing varies
- Needs consistent morning readings
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
FITIV Pulse shows live heart rate zones during workouts on Apple Watch, helping users stay in fat-burn, cardio, or peak zones. Workout history tracks progress over time, and the interface stays readable mid-workout. Pricing varies by plan, so confirm current terms on the vendor page.
The workout focus means daily wellness features like stress tracking are thinner. For a gym or cardio user who trains by heart rate zone, FITIV Pulse is the clearest live-zone display here.
What we like- Live heart rate zones during workouts
- Apple Watch support
- Workout history
Watch out for- Pricing varies
- Workout focus, not daily wellness
- Smaller community
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Instant Heart Rate measures pulse with your phone camera: place a finger over the lens, hold still, and get a reading in seconds. No wearable is needed, which suits occasional checks, travel, or users without a watch. The free tier covers basic measurements with history.
Camera accuracy varies with light, movement, and finger placement, and there is no continuous tracking. For a quick spot check without buying hardware, Instant Heart Rate is the simplest option here.
What we like- Instant camera measurement
- No wearable needed
- Simple history
Watch out for- Camera accuracy varies with light and movement
- No continuous tracking
- Ads on free tier
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Azumio Heart Rate Monitor offers simple camera-based pulse checks with a clean interface and quick history. It suits users who want a no-fuss reading without accounts, wearables, or complex dashboards. The free tier covers core checks, with premium features varying.
Features stay basic: no HRV depth, no readiness scores, and no continuous tracking. For a user who checks pulse occasionally and wants the simplest possible app, Heart Rate Monitor is a fine lightweight choice.
What we like- Simple camera checks
- Clean interface
- Quick history
Watch out for- Basic features only
- No HRV depth
- Ads on free tier
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Apple Health is free and built into every iPhone, collecting heart rate from Apple Watch with resting, walking, and workout averages. No extra app, account, or subscription is needed, and data feeds HeartWatch and other apps. For an iPhone owner who wants basic tracking with zero cost or setup, Apple Health is enough.
Analysis is basic compared with HeartWatch or Welltory, and there is no camera measurement without a watch. For a starting point that costs nothing and works out of the box, Apple Health is the default every iPhone user already owns.
What we like- Free and built-in
- Apple Watch integration
- No extra app needed
Watch out for- IPhone only
- Analysis basic
- No camera measurement
How we chose
We compared apps on measurement method, continuous versus spot checks, HRV depth, readiness and stress features, wearable support, pricing, and export options. We used vendor pages and published 2026 comparisons. Where premium pricing varied across listings, we wrote See website instead of repeating a disputed figure.
How to pick a heart rate monitor app
Keep your watch charged overnight on a schedule, since a dead battery breaks the trend you are building. Start with your hardware today. Apple Watch owners should pick HeartWatch for depth or Cardiogram for continuous trends, while users without a wearable should pick Welltory or Instant Heart Rate for camera measurement. Android users should check Wear OS support, since HeartWatch and Apple Health are iPhone only.
Next, decide what you want from the data. Stress and energy insights suit Welltory, athlete readiness suits Elite HRV, workout zones suit FITIV Pulse, and simple spot checks suit Instant Heart Rate or Azumio. A readiness score only helps if you measure consistently at the same time daily, ideally first thing in the morning before coffee or exercise.
Then measure correctly. For camera readings, sit still, place your finger fully over the lens, use good light, and avoid talking or moving. For wearable readings, wear the watch snugly above the wrist bone and keep the sensor clean. Take readings at consistent times, since heart rate varies through the day with meals, caffeine, stress, and activity.
Compare apps over two weeks, not two days, since HRV baselines need at least a week of consistent morning readings to stabilize. Export your data today before canceling a subscription, since history is the most valuable part of any tracking app. Log caffeine and alcohol too. Finally, treat these apps as wellness tools, not medical devices. They do not diagnose conditions, and a single unusual reading may reflect movement, poor contact, or normal variation. Track trends over weeks, not single readings, and see a doctor now for persistent high resting heart rate, irregular rhythm alerts, dizziness, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Call emergency services immediately for chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or fainting. This article is education, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Are phone camera heart rate apps accurate?
Camera apps can be reasonably accurate for resting pulse when you sit still with good light and full finger coverage, though studies note accuracy drops with movement. Wearable sensors from Apple Watch and similar devices track more reliably across the day.
What is HRV, and why does it matter?
Heart rate variability measures the timing variation between heartbeats, which reflects nervous system balance. Measure at the same time daily, since morning readings before coffee give the most comparable baseline. Higher HRV generally signals better recovery and lower stress, while lower HRV can signal fatigue, illness, or overtraining, though individual baselines vary widely.
Do I need an Apple Watch to use these apps?
No, Welltory, Instant Heart Rate, and Azumio measure with your phone camera and need no watch. HeartWatch and Apple Health work best with an Apple Watch, while Cardiogram and Elite HRV support wearables but also accept manual or camera inputs.
How much does Welltory cost?
Welltory is free for limited daily measurements and basic stress and energy tracking. Premium costs $12.99 per month, $99.99 per year, or $299.99 once for lifetime access.
What is a good resting heart rate?
Most adults rest between 60 and 100 beats per minute, while trained athletes often rest lower. What matters most is your own trend: a resting rate rising 10 or more beats above your usual baseline for several days deserves attention and possibly a doctor visit.
Can these apps detect heart problems?
These apps can flag irregular rhythm or unusual trends, but they do not diagnose heart conditions. Apple Watch ECG features are cleared for AFib screening, while wellness apps like Welltory are not medical devices. See a doctor for any concerning pattern.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://welltory.com/pricing
- https://heartwatch.app
- https://cardiogram.com/pricing
- https://elitehrv.com/pricing
- https://fitiv.com/pricing
- https://instantheartrate.com
- https://www.azumio.com
- https://www.apple.com/ios/health/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
Welltory
HeartWatch
Cardiogram
Elite HRV
FITIV Pulse
Instant Heart Rate
Heart Rate Monitor
Apple Health