10 Best Cheap Gps Running Watch 2025 in the United States

The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music is a lightweight and affordable running smartwatch designed for those who want solid GPS tracking and health monitoring without extra bulk. Its built-in GPS and wrist-based heart rate sensor offer reliable pace and distance tracking, which fits well for casual runners and fitness enthusiasts. The watch’s 1.2-inch colorful AMOLED touchscreen is bright and easy to navigate, combined with physical buttons for added convenience, making it comfortable to use even on the move.

Battery life is strong for its category, giving you up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and about 19 hours with continuous GPS use—enough for multiple runs or long workouts without frequent recharging. It supports music storage and playback, allowing you to download playlists from popular streaming services and connect wireless headphones for phone-free listening, a nice feature not always found in budget models.

Garmin includes personalized training plans and recovery insights that adapt to your performance, helping you improve safely. Safety features like incident detection add peace of mind during outdoor runs, but they require a smartphone connection and coverage to work fully. The watch also offers smart notifications and contactless payments, which enhance daily usability beyond just running. The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music combines comfort, essential fitness tracking, and handy extras in a compact design, making it a great choice for runners seeking a versatile, budget-friendly smartwatch.

The Garmin Forerunner 970 is a feature-packed GPS running and triathlon watch with a bright 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen that's easy to read even in low light, thanks to a built-in LED flashlight. Its titanium bezel and sapphire lens make it durable and stylish, and the watch is lightweight, which adds to comfort during long runs. With up to 26 hours of GPS mode battery life and 15 days in smartwatch mode, it supports extended training sessions without frequent recharging.

The watch offers advanced running metrics like running economy, step speed loss, and running power to help you improve your form and efficiency. Heart rate monitoring is solid, and the ECG app provides an extra health check, though this feature is limited by country and age restrictions. Garmin’s multi-band GPS and full-color maps ensure accurate tracking and flexible route planning, which is great for runners exploring new paths. Smart features include phone call handling, voice assistant access, and adaptive training plans tailored to your recovery and performance.

Designed for multisport athletes, this watch provides detailed data and smart connectivity within a durable, comfortable design. While it may be pricier than typical GPS running watches and its extensive features may be more than needed for straightforward tracking, it remains an excellent option for runners and triathletes seeking comprehensive performance insights.

The Garmin Forerunner 570 offers a solid package for runners and triathletes looking for an affordable GPS watch with advanced features. Its built-in GPS is reliable, helping you track your routes and pace accurately during runs and other activities. The watch’s battery life is quite impressive for its class, lasting up to 10 days in smartwatch mode and 18 hours with continuous GPS use, so you won’t need to recharge frequently even on longer training sessions. Heart rate monitoring is integrated with training insights like training readiness and recovery scores, which can help you avoid overtraining and improve your fitness safely.

The AMOLED touchscreen makes it easy to interact with the watch, and the aluminum bezel keeps it lightweight and comfortable for smaller wrists. It also has useful smart features such as phone call support from your wrist and safety tracking, which adds extra peace of mind during outdoor workouts. Some users might find the 1.2-inch screen a bit small, especially if they prefer larger displays. Additionally, while it is water resistant enough for open-water swimming, it’s not explicitly rated for deep-water activities, so caution is advised with heavy water exposure.

Priced higher than basic models but reasonable given its rich training features, this Forerunner is a strong choice for those seeking a running watch that balances a bright display, strong battery life, and smart coaching tools without breaking the bank. It is especially suitable for serious runners or triathletes who do not require all the advanced features of high-end models.