$349.00
Best Buy
$349.00
Ultrahuman
The best Oura Ring alternatives, tested by our editors
Subscription-free smart rings from Ultrahuman and Samsung are some of our favorites.
This is my favorite Oura Ring alternative: it has the same $349 price tag but no mandatory subscription fees. It’s lighter than the Oura Ring and just as comfortable — I forgot I was wearing it most of the time.
It’s a fully featured smart ring that tracks your health, wellness and fitness metrics, with a big emphasis on actionable insights — it can send you notifications for things like your optimal caffeine window for the day, ideal sun exposure and details around your circadian phases.
You can learn more in my Ultrahuman Ring Air review.
If you already own a Samsung smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Ring is the best smart ring to get. It tracks very similar metrics and analysis to the Oura and Ultrahuman rings, but it has a standout design that sets it apart from the competition.
It’s the most comfortable smart ring I’ve tested — it’s very light, and the concave design looks sleek on my finger. It comes with a transparent, wired charging case that I love, especially compared to Oura and Ultrahuman’s charging docks. Plus it syncs seamlessly with other Samsung smartphones and smartwatches.
Please note that it is only compatible with Android smartphones — iPhone owners should look at our other options.
The Ringconn Gen 2 Air costs $199 and does not have a subscription fee — it costs much less than the Oura Ring and every other smart ring on this list. Despite its lowest price, it has an up to 10-day battery life, much longer than its competitors. It tracks similar metrics and scores with sleep, health and fitness, including Health Alerts to indicate potential signs of illness.
If you want features like sleep apnea detection, a wireless charging case and 12 days of battery life (up from 10) you’ll want to consider the pricier RingConn Gen 2 instead.
There are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for any smart ring, regardless of brand.
Smart ring sizing is not universal — each ring fits a little differently, even if you order the same size. Purchase the brand’s sizing kit first to find your perfect fit before ordering the actual smart ring.
There’s a saying in photography that the best camera is the one you have with you. The same is true for health and fitness tracking: the best smart ring for you is the one that you’ll actually wear daily. Consider which finger you’ll wear your smart ring, and if it will rub uncomfortably against other jewelry you may wear. If you’re not a ring person, it’s unlikely a smart ring is going to change your mind and be more comfortable than a wrist-based fitness tracker.
Like smartwatches, smart rings are compatible with Android and/or iPhone devices. Make sure you purchase one that is compatible with your phone — iPhone owners shouldn’t purchase the Android-only Samsung Galaxy Ring, for example.
I am a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on smartwatches, running shoes, cameras and more. I test smart rings and wearable tech regularly, and leveraged my experience using smart rings as well as that of NBC Select staffers.
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