Affordable Top-tier GPS Watches 2025: Track Your Journeys Without Emptying Your Wallet
While you might be dreaming about sporting the latest premium Garmin watches on your next ultra marathon, the reality is you've got bills to pay. The advancements in affordable GPS watch technology over the past few years are impressive, and you can snag a smart timepiece without breaking the bank.
These watches will still provide all the functionality beginner or intermediate outdoor enthusiasts need for tracking various activities. What's more, some of the top-tier GPS watches from a few years ago are still great products that have significantly dropped in price. Big watchmakers continue to support these watches with software updates, keeping them up-to-date with newer models.
After putting these budget-friendly options through rigorous testing, here are our top picks:
Best Overall: The Amazfit GTS 4 boasts a bright AMOLED display, excellent GPS accuracy, and an intuitive interface. Its surprising capabilities are a testament to what you can find in an affordable sports watch.
Best for New Runners: If you're gearing up for your first race, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is our recommendation. It covers the basics with accurate GPS and biometrics, and its Garmin Connect mobile app streamlines health data management.
Best for Style: The Polar Pacer is a stylish watch that impresses with its responsive heart rate monitor—ideal for interval training. Although it lacks a touchscreen, its design isn't a deal-breaker.
Best for Climbing: The chunky T-Rex Pro may not be as accurate as Garmin's watches when it comes to GPS tracking, but it's still a well-made sports watch that can handle rough use.
Best Lightweight: The lightweight and comfortable Coros Pace 3 seriously stands out with its detailed and accurate metrics. Its impressive battery life that stretches into weeks sets it apart.
Comparing these watches:
Watch
| | | | | || --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 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 Ultimate Cheap GPS Watch Guide
List price
You can trust our expert reviews because our team spends days testing and comparing gear so you know how each product performs in the real world.
The Best Cheap GPS Watch Overall
Weight
1. Amazfit GTS 4
Expert Review:
Display type
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Water resistance
- AMOLED display is bright and responsive
- Excellent GPS accuracy
- User-friendly interface
- Affordable price
Reasons to avoid
- Sleek, but plain watch design
- Zepp app could be more polished
If you're looking for a cheap GPS watch, the Amazfit GTS 4 is our top recommendation. It boasts features usually found in watches priced twice as much. That includes a stunning AMOLED display, great GPS accuracy, decent battery life, and an interface that's a breeze to navigate.
Amazfit GTS 4
The touch-sensitive screen is controlled mainly using the large rotating crown button on the right-hand edge of the case. The Zepp mobile app (Zepp being Amazfit's parent company) isn't as polished as Garmin Connect, but it has seen improvements in recent years. One particularly handy feature is the PAI score, which provides an easy way to track overall wellbeing based on activity, rest, and recovery.
Even though the all-black version we tested looked quite plain, the misty white and rosebud pink colorways are much more appealing, with coordinating brushed metal cases and buckles.
$199.99 (US) / £199 (UK)
Given its impressive features, it's hard to believe that such an affordable sports watch exists. Zepp explains that they achieve this by making as many components as possible in-house, which benefits from their company's economies of scale.
Read our full Amazfit GTS 4 review.
46.6g / 1.64oz
The Best Cheap GPS Watch for New Runners
2. Garmin Forerunner 55
AMOLED
Expert Review:
Specifications
50 meters
Reasons to buy
- Accurate GPS tracking
- Training tools like daily suggested workouts, race time predictor, and recovery advisor
- User-friendly interface
Reasons to avoid
- Monochrome display doesn't support maps well
- No touchscreen
Garmin Forerunner 55
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is the GPS watch we recommend most often to newer runners looking to up their game. Its GPS tracking is highly accurate, and its monochrome display is home to a wealth of advanced performance and health-tracking tools suitable for intermediate athletes as well.
During tough interval sessions on a spin bike, the Forerunner 55 readings closely matched those from a chest strap heart rate monitor. This watch's training tools include daily suggested workouts, a race time predictor, and a recovery advisor to help ensure you're not overtraining or under-exercising.
$199 (US) / £179.99 (UK)
Its monochrome display might not be ideal for displaying maps, but it gets the job done. All in all, it's an excellent all-rounder and fantastic value for new runners.
The Best Cheap GPS Watch for Style
37g / 1.3oz
3. Polar Pacer
Expert Review:
Color memory-in-pixel
Specifications
Reasons to buy
50 meters
- Circular case with stylish colors
- Responsive optical HRM for interval training
- Lightweight and comfortable design
Reasons to avoid
- No automatic syncing of runs and rides
- GPS tracking isn't quite as accurate as other models
Polar's beginner-friendly running watch is one of the most stylish around, with its circular case available in various tasteful colors. Weighing only 40g/1.41oz, its slim design makes it easy to forget you're wearing it until it's time to train.
Amazfit T-Rex Pro
GPS tracking is quite good, but biometrics are where Polar watches truly shine. The optical HRM on the Pacer is super responsive, great for interval training. There's no touchscreen, but that won't bother runners too much. A potential 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 sync process.
If you're on a tight budget, you might want to check out the Polar Unite, a cheaper alternative that lacks GPS. You can still use it to track runs and hikes, as long as it remains connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth to monitor your route and pace.
$179.99 (US) / £139 (UK)
The Best Cheap GPS Watch for Climbing
4. Amazfit T-Rex Pro
60g / 2.12oz
Expert Review:
Specifications
Color AMOLED
Reasons to buy
- Durable and rugged build made for trail running, hiking, and climbing
- AMOLED display is clear and bright
- Good battery life extends to around a week between charges
100 meters
Reasons to avoid
- GPS tracking isn't as accurate as otherGarmin models
- Watch struggles to detect runs and walks automatically
The T-Rex Pro is another watch that's a few years old but still holds its own today. Like the Garmin Instinct, the T-Rex Pro is a tough customer, an excellent choice if you're planning off-road trail running, hiking, and climbing.
It sports 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.
Polar Pacer
Its GPS tracking isn't quite as accurate as other models, so there's a trade-off. It offers a wealth of workout tracking modes for practically every activity you can name, but we found it struggled to detect runs and walks automatically, so manual tracking will be necessary for anything you want to log.
If you have a bit more money to spare, you might want to consider the Amazfit T-Rex Pro 2. Although it's a bit too pricey for this list, it offers a significant hardware upgrade and has a stylish design.
$239.95 (US) / £209 (UK)
The Best Lightweight Cheap GPS Watch
5. Coros Pace 3
40g / 1.41oz
Expert Review:
Specifications
Color memory-in-pixel
Reasons to buy
- Lightweight and comfortable design perfect for dedicated athletes
- Reliable battery life with excellent battery life stretching to weeks
- Reasonable pricing
50 meters
Reasons to avoid
- Simple watch face and nylon strap may appear cheap
- No touchscreen or additional smartwatch features (payment options, message writing)
Designed for dedicated athletes who want to track their progress without getting mired in extra features, the Coros Pace 3 is a lightweight training tool that's excellent value for money. For navigating menus, you can choose between a touchscreen or two well-placed buttons, and you can delve into the Coros app on your phone to investigate detailed metrics from your workouts when needed.
Our reviewer was particularly impressed with the watch's battery life, managing to charge it only once every three weeks despite logging 15 hours of GPS use over 17 workouts in that time. The watch has a low-profile design that comfortably fits well on the wrist without impeding tight sleeves. It's a bit of a shame that the simple watch face and nylon strap can make it look a bit cheap, though.
Coros Pace 3
The Coros Pace 3 is a GPS watch powerhouse offering detailed heart rate zones, VO2 max, pace, aerobic and anaerobic power, cadence, stride length, and recommended training load and recovery times. It also has route planning, breadcrumb navigation, and deviation alerts if you decide to venture off-trail a bit. There aren't many additional smartwatch features, but that's not what this model is about. It's easy to use, reliable, and great value.
Read our full Coros Pace 3 review.
from $229 (US / £219 (UK)
Testing Methodology
Our testers wear each GPS watch for several weeks, or until they build a baseline and start tracking fitness trends. During this time, they take the device for regular runs of varying distances, including a pre-measured 5km route to help assess the accuracy of the on-board GPS.
30g / 1.06oz
They 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. This is compared 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.
240 x 240 pixels, always-on LCD
Choosing the Best Cheap GPS Watch
The best cheap GPS watches excel in different areas—we've highlighted these with our "best for" labels. Choosing one mainly comes down to your lifestyle and what you really want most from the watch.
50 meters
Do you want a reliably long battery life? Enhanced GPS accuracy? Intuitive setup? 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 tailored for a specific end use, and may have fewer benefits 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 on bespoke features while shopping. App integration and the development of the app industry mean 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, while 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, 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 personal 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 those deluge days.
You'll want a comfortable fit on your wrist, and buttons that aren't easy to press accidentally. Most GPS watches feature a touchscreen, but some don't. Could you live without one?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a GPS watch work without a phone?
Yes, most GPS watches have a built-in GPS receiver and can track your activity without requiring you to carry your smartphone. Built-in receivers use satellite signals to calculate your position.
These watches let you track your runs, bikes, and hikes. Some even offer navigation capabilities, allowing you to track your path and retrace your steps. Some allow you to download areas of maps to use.
That being said, there are some watches that don't have a built-in GPS receiver and use a phone connection for GPS data.
How accurate is a GPS watch?
To test the accuracy of the best cheap GPS watches, we test them on fast hikes and runs off-road and on-road in challenging areas for satellite navigation, like forested and built-up areas.
We also test the accuracy of 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.
Although most cheap GPS watches are quite accurate, some excel in different areas compared to others.
What Should I Do with My Old Watch?
You can dispose of your old watch as part of a waste electronics recycling program (your local council or authority can provide details). However, it's better to give it a second life if it's still in good condition. Donate it to a new runner or a charity that accepts electronic equipment, or sell it online to recoup some cash. Just remember to include the charging cable if you're shipping it.
Is a GPS watch worth it?
Yes, definitely! Even if you're not a tech enthusiast or an athlete in training, a GPS watch can quickly become an essential everyday wearable.
It can keep tabs on your wellbeing by tracking daily steps and calculating calories burned while also offering extra features such as sleep monitoring and alerts for smartphone notifications.
Read about what happened when our staff writer Julia Clarke, who had always shied away from GPS watches, found herself pondering the question: "Do you really need a GPS watch for hiking?"
- The Amazfit GTS 4, our top pick for the best cheap GPS watch overall, offers a stunning AMOLED display, excellent GPS accuracy, an intuitive interface, and is affordable, making it a great option for those looking for a cheap GPS watch.
- The Garmin Forerunner 55 is our recommendation for new runners. It covers the basics with accurate GPS and biometrics, and its Garmin Connect mobile app streamlines health data management.
