The Fitbit Air costs $99 and has been out since May. The Garmin Cirqa launched July 21 at $199.99. Both are screenless trackers with no display, both track heart rate, sleep, and HRV around the clock, and both pair with a phone app. Past that, they’re built for different people.
The Fitbit Air is for anyone who wants simple health tracking without extra cost or complexity. The Cirqa is built for people who want deeper recovery data — things like Body Battery and Training Readiness — especially if you already own a Garmin watch.
Want the full breakdown of every Cirqa feature first? Read our Garmin Cirqa smart band review.
Quick Overview
Fitbit Air Available now — $99, plus an optional $9.99/month for Premium. See it on Amazon
Garmin Cirqa Available now — $199.99, plus an optional Garmin Connect+ subscription for extra features. See it on Amazon
Neither has a screen. Both track heart rate, sleep, and stress passively. Both need a phone app to see your data.
If you’d rather have a tracker with a screen, or a full smartwatch instead of a screenless pebble, check our roundup of the best Fitbit models for 2026.
Direct Comparison
| Fitbit Air | Garmin Cirqa | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 | $199.99 |
| Release date | May 2026 | July 21, 2026 |
| Screen | None | None |
| Weight | 5.2g (sensor only) | Not officially listed |
| Battery life | 7 days | 10 days |
| Fast charge | 5 min = 1 day | Not specified |
| Sizes | One, adjustable band | S/M and L/XL |
| Colors | Multiple loop colors | 7 colors |
| Water resistance | Yes | 5 ATM |
| Heart rate | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| SpO2 | Overnight | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes, with Smart Alarm | Yes, with Smart Wake |
| HRV | Yes | Yes, with HRV Status |
| Skin temperature | Yes | Yes |
| AFib alerts | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Body Battery | No | Yes |
| Training Readiness | No | Yes |
| VO2 Max | No | Yes |
| Workout logging | Automatic detection only | Manual (80+ types) + automatic for some sports |
| GPS | No | Connected GPS via phone |
| App | Google Health | Garmin Connect |
| Subscription needed for core features | No | No |
| Optional subscription | $9.99/month | ~$6.99/month |
| iPhone support | Full | Full |
| Android support | Full | Full |
Price
The price difference is pretty significant. Fitbit Air starts at $99, while Garmin CIRQA costs $199.99 in the US (£179.99 in the UK and €199.99 across much of Europe). In other words, CIRQA costs about twice as much.
So, what does that extra $100 get you? Longer battery life, more detailed recovery insights, and access to Garmin’s well-established fitness ecosystem. If you train regularly or already use Garmin devices, those extras can be worth paying for.
On the other hand, if your goal is simply to track your steps, sleep, and daily activity, Fitbit Air delivers the essentials for half the price.
Winner: Fitbit Air (Value for Money). If you’re focused on basic health tracking and don’t need Garmin’s advanced training features, it’s hard to justify spending the extra $100.
Design and Comfort
The Fitbit Air is small — 5.2 grams without the band. It clips into a soft loop and has no buttons, no screen, and nothing to charge externally. A double-tap gesture turns off alarms. A small LED shows battery level. That’s it.
The Cirqa is a fabric band, similar to Whoop’s design. It comes in two sizes (S/M and L/XL) and four colors. Unlike the Fitbit Air, it has one physical side button, used mainly for logging activities manually.
If you’re training hard and want a secure fit, the Cirqa’s band style may suit you better. If you want something you can forget you’re wearing, the Fitbit Air is simpler.
Health and Fitness Tracking
Fitbit Air tracks:
- Heart rate, all day
- SpO2 (blood oxygen) overnight
- Sleep stages, with a smart alarm
- HRV
- AFib alerts
- Skin temperature
- Steps, calories, and automatic workout detection
- Stress, based on HRV and activity
AFib detection at $99 is a real standout — that feature usually costs $300 or more on a smartwatch.
Garmin Cirqa tracks:
- Heart rate, all day, via Garmin’s Elevate Gen 4 sensor
- Sleep quality and sleep score
- SpO2 and skin temperature
- Steps and calories, all day
- Body Battery — Garmin’s 0–100 energy score
- Training Readiness, Training Status, and VO2 Max
- HRV Status, tracked over a rolling average
- Stress score
- Manual logging for 80+ activity types, plus automatic detection for a smaller set of common sports, and Connected GPS through your phone
The Cirqa does track workouts, not just steps — both manually through the side button and automatically for some sports.
Garmin positions it as a companion to its watches, not a replacement — the idea is to wear a Garmin watch on one wrist and the Cirqa on the other, so you get data from both without giving up your main training device. Some existing Garmin owners also use it on nights or rest days when they’d rather not wear a full watch.
Already own a Garmin? Our Garmin Venu 4 review covers why it might make a better all-day tracker than the Cirqa, since it has a full display and ECG built in.
Winner: Garmin Cirqa, for anyone who wants training-specific recovery data. Body Battery and Training Readiness are two of the more respected recovery metrics available right now. For general health tracking without training data, the Fitbit Air covers what most people need at half the price.
Battery Life
The Fitbit Air lasts 7 days per charge, and charges fast — 5 minutes gets you a full day, and a full charge takes about 90 minutes.
The Cirqa lasts 10 days per charge, confirmed at launch.
Winner: Garmin Cirqa, for the longer battery. The Fitbit Air’s fast charging is a real convenience if you do need a quick top-up, but the Cirqa lasts three days longer between charges.
App Experience
Fitbit’s app has been rebuilt into Google Health, with Gemini AI at the center. The Health Coach builds a plan based on your data and gives suggestions, rather than just showing numbers. It works with Android 11+ and iOS 16.4+, and a 3-month Premium trial comes with the purchase.
Garmin Connect is a deep, detailed platform — strong if you want to track training load, VO2 Max trends, and HRV over time. It has a steeper learning curve than Google Health and tends to show you data without telling you what to do with it.
Garmin Connect+ unlocks extra features, but it isn’t required — sleep, Body Battery, HRV Status, and stress tracking all work without paying for it.
Winner: Google Health, for most users. It’s easier to use day to day. If you already live in Garmin Connect, the Cirqa fits naturally into that — and you don’t have to pay extra to get the core recovery features.
Cost Over Time
CIRQA gives you all of its core health and fitness tracking features without requiring a monthly plan. Garmin Connect+ is entirely optional and costs $10.99 per month, adding extras like advanced nutrition insights, structured workout plans, and additional training features.
For most people, the real difference between these two devices is the $100 higher upfront price, not an ongoing subscription cost.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Fitbit Air if you:
- Want the lowest price for screenless tracking
- Have a budget under $150
- Are new to health tracking and want something simple
- Use an iPhone or Android phone — it works with both
- Want AFib detection without paying for a full smartwatch
Buy the Garmin Cirqa if you:
- Already own a Garmin watch and use Garmin Connect
- Want Body Battery and Training Readiness for recovery
- Don’t want to sleep in your main training watch
- Train seriously enough that recovery data matters
- Want a longer battery and don’t mind paying $100 more
- Don’t want to pay for a subscription just for the basics
Final Verdict
For most people, the Fitbit Air is still the easier buy — $99, simple, and it covers what most non-athletes need. The Cirqa costs more, but it’s a real option if you want Garmin’s recovery tools specifically, especially since the core features don’t require a subscription.
New to screenless trackers, or not training for anything specific? Get the Fitbit Air. Already living in Garmin Connect and want your Body Battery and HRV data without wearing a full watch to bed? The Cirqa is worth the extra $100.
If you’re a Garmin athlete who already has a Fenix 9 or Forerunner 970, the Cirqa is positioned as a recovery companion that integrates seamlessly with your existing Garmin data.
FAQ
What’s the difference between Garmin Cirqa and Fitbit Air?
The Fitbit Air is built for simple, everyday health tracking. The Cirqa adds Body Battery, Training Readiness, and activity logging, aimed at people who want recovery data alongside training info.
Is the Fitbit Air worth buying?
Yes, for most people. AFib detection, a 7-day battery, sleep tracking, and Google Health’s AI coach at $99 is a strong deal.
Does the Fitbit Air need a subscription?
No. Fitbit Air’s basic health and fitness tracking works without a subscription. If you want extra insights and premium features, Google Health Premium costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year, and new users get a 3-month free trial.
Is the Cirqa better than the Fitbit Air?
It depends on your needs. Garmin CIRQA is the better choice if you want longer battery life, more advanced fitness features, and a subscription-free core experience. Fitbit Air is the better value if you’re looking for a more affordable fitness band with reliable everyday health tracking and optional premium features through Google Health Premium.
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