While it's exciting to browse the most innovative the best Garmin watches and dream about the advantages they could bring on your next ultra marathon, the reality is we have household bills to pay.
The technology in the best GPS watches has moved on in leaps and bounds in recent years, and that comes at a price, with some watches costing many hundreds of dollars.
But the good news is that the technology has developed too, and you can now bag yourself an incredibly smart timepiece for much less than you'd think. These watches still provide all the functionality beginner or intermediate outdoor enthusiasts need for tracking activities.
What's more, some of the top-end GPS watches from a few years ago are still superb products that have significantly dropped in price. Big watchmakers continue to support these watches with software updates that bring them mostly in line with the newer products, which makes them a solid option.
We've put these accessible options through the same rigorous testing as we would the higher-end watches, and highlighted the best performing below.
If you're after something more classic, check out our guide to the best field watches, and runners who want to outpace their PB will find their perfect training partner in our expert selection of the best running watches.
The quick list
This is the quick list, a snapshot of the best cheap GPS watches available right now. To delve deeper into the features and qualities of each smartwatch, see our more detailed reviews further down the page in this guide.
With a bright AMOLED display, great GPS accuracy, and a smart interface that's intuitive to use, the GTS 4 is seriously impressive. We were amazed that such an affordable sports watch could deliver so much.
This is the watch we recommend to anyone preparing for their first ever race. It covers all the bases, with accurate GPS and biometrics, and pulls all your health data into Garmin's well designed Connect mobile app.
The Pacer Pro looks far more expensive than it is, and really impressed us with its super responsive heart rate monitor (great for interval training). There's no touchscreen, but that's not a dealbreaker for us.
The chunky T-Rex Pro isn't quite as accurate as Garmin's watches when it comes to GPS tracking, but this is still a very well made sports watch with a super tough design that'll easily handle knocks and drops.
Lightweight, comfortable and packed full of features, the Coros Pace 3 seriously impressed, with detailed and accurate metrics and a battery life that stretches into weeks
The best cheap GPS watch comparison table
You can trust Advnture Our expert reviewers spend days testing and comparing gear so you know how it will perform out in the real world. Find out more about how we test and compare products.
Watch | List price | Weight | Display type | Water resistance |
Amazfit GTS 4 | $199.99 (US) / £199 (UK) | 46.6g / 1.64oz | AMOLED | 50 meters |
Garmin Forerunner 55 | $199 (US) / £179.99 (UK) | 37g / 1.3oz | Color memory-in-pixel | 50 meters |
Amazfit T-Rex Pro | $179.99 (US) / £139 (UK) | 60g / 2.12oz | Color AMOLED | 100 meters |
Polar Pacer | $239.95 (US) / £209 (UK) | 40g / 1.41oz | Color memory-in-pixel | 50 meters |
Coros Pace 3 | from $229 (US / £219 (UK) | 30g / 1.06oz | 240 x 240 pixels, always-on LCD | 50 meters |
The best cheap GPS watches
The best cheap GPS watch overall
If you're looking for a cheap GPS watch, the Amazfit GTS 4 is our top recommendation. It has the kind of features you'd expect from a watch costing twice as much as its list price. That includes a bright, sharp AMOLED display, great GPS accuracy, decent battery life, and an interface that's a breeze to use.
That stunning screen is touch-sensitive, but we mostly controlled the watch using the large rotating crown button on the right-hand edge of the case. Turn to scroll through menus, then press to select an option or start tracking. Easy.
The Zepp mobile app (Zepp being Amazfit's parent company) isn't as polished as Garmin Connect, but it's improved a lot in recent years. One particularly handy feature is the PAI score, which is a single figure based on your activity, rest, and recovery that gives you an easy way to keep tabs on your overall wellbeing. If you want more detail though, you can easily drill down into fine detail about your workouts, complete with explanations to help you understand exactly what all the stats mean if you're relatively new to running.
The all-black version we tested looked quite plain, but the misty white and rosebud pink colorways are much more appealing, with coordinating brushed metal cases and buckles.
Sounds too good to be true, right? We once asked an Amazfit rep how the company can charge so little, and they explained that it's simply a matter of making as many components as possible in-house. Zepp is a colossal company, so economies of scale help too.
Read our full Amazfit GTS 4 review
The best cheap GPS watch for new runners
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is the GPS watch we recommend most often to newer runners wanting to up their game. It's technically the company's entry-level running watch, but it's packed with so many advanced performance and health-tracking tools, it's great for intermediate level athletes as well.
It has some of the most accurate GPS tracking of any watch we've tested, and during tough interval sessions on a spin bike readings from the Forerunner 55 matched up almost exactly with those from a chest strap heart rate monitor.
You're also getting a bundle of Garmin's latest training tools here, including daily suggested workouts (great if you find yourself running the same old route over and over), a race time predictor, and a recovery advisor to help ensure you don't over train or take things excessively easy.
Its monochrome display isn't the best for displaying maps, but it's workable. All in all, it's an excellent all-rounder and fantastic value.
The best cheap GPS watch for style
Polar's beginner-friendly running watch is one of the most stylish around, with its circular case in a variety of tasteful colors. It's almost as feather-light as the Forerunner 55, and its slim design means you'll easily forget you're wearing it until it's time to train.
GPS tracking is very good, but biometrics are where Polar watches really shine (unsurprising considering the company started out specializing in heart rate monitoring tech). The optical HRM on the Pacer is super responsive, which you'll really appreciate if you're into interval training.
There's no touchscreen, but that's not likely to bother runners too much. Using touch controls with sweaty or gloved fingers is a nuisance. Perhaps the biggest downside is that your runs and rides don't sync automatically. Instead, you have to open the Polar Flow app on your phone to initiate the process. That's hardly a dealbreaker though.
If you're on a really tight budget then you might be interested in checking out the Polar Unite, which is much cheaper, but lacks GPS. You can still use it to track runs and hikes, but you'll need to keep it connected to your phone via Bluetooth to monitor your route and pace.
The best cheap GPS watch for climbing
The T-Rex Pro is another watch that's a few years old, but still stands up today. Like the Garmin Instinct, the T-Rex Pro is one tough customer, and would be a good option if you're planning to head off-road for some trail running, hiking, and climbing.
Like the Amazfit GTS 4, it has a colorful AMOLED display that looks great in all lighting conditions, and has surprisingly little impact on battery life. You can expect the T-Rex Pro to keep running for around a week between charges, which isn't as impressive as the Garmin Forerunner 55 or Instinct, but is perfectly acceptable.
Its GPS tracking isn't quite as accurate as other models though, so there is a sacrifice to be made. There's a wealth of workout tracking modes for just about every activity you can name, but we found the watch struggled to detect runs and walks automatically, so you'll need to make sure you start manual tracking for anything you want to log.
If you've got a little extra cash, you might be interested in the Amazfit T-Rex Pro 2. It's a bit too pricey for this list, but it's a big upgrade on the hardware front and looks fantastic.
The best lightweight cheap GPS watch
Designed for dedicated athletes who want to track their progress without getting bogged down in extra features, the Coros Pace 3 is a lightweight training tool that's exceptional value for money.
For navigating the menus you can choose between a touchscreen or two well-placed buttons, and delve into the Coros app on your phone when you want to investigate detailed metrics from your workouts. Our reviewer was particularly impressed with the watch's battery life, only needing to charge it once in three weeks despite logging 15 hours of GPS use over 17 workouts in that time.
It's got a low profile design that's comfortable on the wrist and doesn't get in the way of tight sleeves. It's a slight shame that the simple watch face and nylon strap can make it a little cheap looking, though.
The Coros Pace 3 is a powerhouse of workout tracking, offering detailed heart rate zones, VO2 max, pace, aerobic and anaerobic power, cadence, stride length and recommended training load and recovery times. There's also route planning, breadcrumb navigation and deviation alerts if you want to head off the beaten track a little. There aren't many additional smartwatch features, such as payment options or message writing, but that's really not what this model is about. It's easy to use, reliable and great value.
Read our full Coros Pace 3 review
How we test the best cheap GPS watches
Our testers wear each GPS watch for several weeks, or as long as it takes to build up a baseline and start tracking fitness trends. During that time they take the device for regular runs of varying distances, including a pre-measured 5km route to help check the accuracy of the on-board GPS.
We also put each watch to the test in several interval sessions on a spin bike to check how quickly and accurately it detects changes in heart rate. We compare this with data gathered using a chest strap heart rate monitor.
Our testers wear each watch all day and all night to test its sleep tracking and any recovery monitoring tools, keeping track of when they actually fell asleep and woke, and the times recorded by the devices. We can also compare this data to stats gathered using a Withings Sleep Analyzer to see how accurate the device is.
For more details, see how Advnture tests products.
How to choose the best cheap GPS watch
The best cheap GPS watches all excel in different areas – we've highlighted these with our 'best for' labels. They are great products with different feature packages, so choosing one mainly comes down to your lifestyle and what you really want most from the watch.
Do you want a reliably long battery life? Enhanced GPS accuracy? Intuitive set-up?
Usually budget is the biggest deciding factor for people when shopping for a GPS watch. Here, you'll find most of our picks are $250 or under.
What activities will you use it for?
Are you looking for a GPS watch for just one activity, such as trail running or climbing? Even at this affordable price point some watches offer functionality for a specific end use, and may have fewer advantages for other sports.
Some may be designed for people training for an end goal such as a marathon run, with enhanced biometrics and health data tracking. They may suffice for hikers, but others in the guide may offer better features for people heading out into the wilderness, such as a reliable GPS and a long battery life while using navigation tools.
While lots of basic functions work for different activities, the more specific your needs are, the more you'll want to focus in on bespoke features while shopping. App integration and the development of the app industry means that your watch can now become your trusted training coach.
When it comes to accuracy, again some developers may have focused the technology in the biometric-collecting functions, where as others may have enhanced the GPS hardware.
Of course, there are plenty of cheap GPS watches in this guide that work for everyday use. If you're training for your first 5k, or want to log your casual hikes, you'll find something for a great price that offers the basics – GPS location, distance covered, speed you're travelling, a step counter, alarm, stopwatch and the time.
Build and wearability
While the feature package of a GPS watch is crucial, we still like to choose a timepiece to match our style. The physical design of a watch can be a dealmaker or breaker.
Ultralight trail runners might prefer a light, low-profile timepiece that won't catch on running tops. Look for a crystal-clear screen with large display for quick and easy time checking.
Outback adventurers may want a more rugged and tough build that can withstand knocks and offer water resistance for deluge days.
You'll want a nice and comfy fit on your wrist and buttons that aren't easy to press accidently. Most GPS watches feature a touchscreen, but some don't. Could you live without one?
FAQs
Does a GPS watch work without a phone?
Most GPS watches have a GPS receiver built into them and can track your activity without you having to carry your smartphone too. Built-in receivers use data from satellite signals to calculate your position.
These watches allow you to track your runs, bikes and hikes. Some offer navigation capabilities, allowing you to track your path and retrace your steps. Some allow you to download areas of maps to use.
However, there are some watches that do not have a GPS receiver built-in and use a phone connection for GPS data.
How accurate is a GPS watch?
To work out the accuracy of the best cheap GPS watches, we test them on fast hikes and runs off road and on road in locations that prove challenging for satellite navigation – including wooded and built-up areas.
We also test the accuracy of the heart rate monitors, comparing results to those from a chest strap heart rate monitor. When it comes to sleep analysis, we compare GPS watch results to stats gathered using a Withings Sleep Analyzer.
While most cheap GPS watches are very accurate, some excel in different areas to others.
What should I do with my old watch?
You can dispose of your old watch as part of a waste electronics recycling scheme (your local council or authority will be able to provide details) but it's even better if you can give it a second life if it's still in good condition. Donating it to a new runner or a charity that takes electronic equipment is a good idea, or you could sell it online and make back a little cash. Just be careful if you're shipping it; not all mail carriers are happy to handle lithium batteries. Make sure you include the charging cable.
Is a GPS watch worth it?
Yes, 100%! Even if you're not a tech enthusiast or an athlete in training a GPS watch can quickly become a wearable you don't want to be without.
They can keep tabs on your wellbeing by tracking daily steps and calculating calories burned while offering extra features such as sleep monitoring and alerting you to smartphone notifications.
Read what happened when Advnture staff writer Julia Clarke, who had always dodged GPS watches, answered the question: "Do you really need a GPS watch for hiking?"
