The short answer
Over two years, a Fitbit Charge 6 with Fitbit Premium costs about $340. An Oura Ring 4 costs about $489 to $493. A WHOOP membership costs $399 to $478, and the band comes with it. The cheapest option is not always the one with the lowest sticker price. Check the monthly fee before you buy.
Oura: a ring plus a monthly fee
Oura launched the Oura Ring 4 in October 2024. It starts at $349. Oura Membership costs $5.99 a month or $69.99 a year. Oura says members get the new daily features, such as Daytime Stress and Cycle Insights, on both the Ring 4 and the older Gen3 ring.
The two-year math is simple. Pay monthly and you spend $349 plus 24 times $5.99, which is $492.76. Pay yearly and you spend $349 plus two times $69.99, which is $488.98. The yearly plan saves about $4 over two years. That is small, but it also means one fewer bill to track.
Source: Oura, "Meet Oura: Discover the Brand-New Oura Ring 4," ouraring.com/blog, October 3, 2024.
WHOOP: the band is part of the plan
WHOOP sells a membership, not a device. On its U.S. membership page in November 2024, the annual plan was $239 paid up front. A 24-month plan was $399 paid up front. WHOOP says the sensor, a band and a battery pack are included with the purchase.
Two years on the 24-month plan costs $399. Two annual plans cost $478. The longer commitment saves $79, but you pay more cash on day one and you are tied in for longer. WHOOP also listed a free one-month trial. Check the terms before you rely on it.
The same page also listed a family membership from $199 for 2 to 6 members on one bill. That helps only if two or more people share a plan.
Source: WHOOP, U.S. membership page, whoop.com/us/en/membership, as archived on November 11, 2024.
Fitbit: a cheap device, an optional plan
The Fitbit Charge 6 has a list price of $159.95. Stores often sell it for less, so the math below uses the list price. Fitbit Premium costs $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year. Fitbit offers six months of Premium with a new device if you activate it within 60 days. After that, the plan renews at the regular price unless you cancel.
Say you keep Premium for two years. You pay $159.95 for the device and then 18 months at $9.99, which is $179.82. The total is $339.77. If you drop Premium after the free months, you pay only $159.95. Fitbit says you can cancel anytime.
Premium is a choice here. You can cancel it and keep the tracker. That makes Fitbit the one device of the three where you can walk away from the fee and still own the hardware.
Source: Droid Life, "Fitbit Charge 6 is Official at $160," droid-life.com, September 28, 2023 (list price); Fitbit, Charge 6 and Premium pages, fitbit.com, as archived in September and October 2024.
Two-year totals side by side
| Device | Upfront | Fee | Two-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oura Ring 4, monthly | $349.00 | $5.99 a month | $492.76 |
| Oura Ring 4, yearly | $349.00 | $69.99 a year | $488.98 |
| WHOOP, 24-month plan | $399.00 | None after | $399.00 |
| WHOOP, two annual plans | $239.00 | $239 in year two | $478.00 |
| Fitbit Charge 6 with Premium | $159.95 | $9.99 a month after 6 months | $339.77 |
| Fitbit Charge 6 without Premium | $159.95 | None | $159.95 |
These totals leave out tax, shipping, extra bands and financing charges. Prices change often, so confirm them on the maker's page before you buy.
How to compare before you buy
Write down three numbers: the device price, the monthly or yearly fee, and how many months you plan to use it. Multiply the fee by the months. Add the device price. That is your real cost.
Then ask what happens if you stop paying. For some devices, the answer is that the app shows far less. For others, you keep the basics. Read the maker's page for that. Also ask whether you can cancel at any time, and whether the price is locked or can rise at renewal.
Last, match the tool to the need. A tracker that sits in a drawer after three months costs a lot per day of use. Pick the plan you will actually keep.
Sources
Oura, "Meet Oura: Discover the Brand-New Oura Ring 4," ouraring.com/blog. WHOOP, U.S. membership page, whoop.com/us/en/membership. Droid Life, "Fitbit Charge 6 is Official at $160." Fitbit, Charge 6 and Premium pages, fitbit.com. All pages read as published or archived on or before November 13, 2024.