Consider how the scale pairs with your device, which metrics it measures, price, and syncing abilities when choosing your new fitness tool.
Whether you’re starting a new fitness plan, resolving to get healthy this year, or just trying to watch your weight, it’s time to ditch your old analog scale and upgrade to a smart scale.
What makes a smart scale different from a regular scale?
Standard bathroom scales only tell you your weight, while smart scales give you a more comprehensive view of your body composition that can help you tailor your weight-loss (or muscle-building) plan. They use Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) technology, which sends small currents through your body to capture body composition measurements.
Not all smart scales track the same measurements, but you can expect to find ones that show you body mass index (BMI), body water percentage, body fat percentage, muscle mass, bone density, fat-free body weight, metabolic age, and more. Of course, smart scales will also tell you your weight.
The number of measurements tracked varies from scale to scale. Some, keep it simple with just a handful of measurements like BMI and body fat, while others track up to 14 different metrics.
Smart scales not only give you all of this information, but they give you the ability to track your body composition data by connecting to your phone via Bluetooth or WiFi. (Bluetooth scales are often easier to set up.) Most smart scales will only show you your weight on the scale’s actual screen or panel. You’ll have to open the mobile app to see the rest of the measurements. Some scales require you to have your phone open to the app nearby in order to pull the data, while others work in the background and will sync with your phone the next time you open the app even if you didn’t have it near you when you stepped on the scale.
Some smart scales do have limits to the number of people who can use them, so if you have a large household you’ll likely want one that can accommodate everyone who lives with you. Each person who uses the scale will have their own user profile and the scale automatically knows who’s on the scale based on their body composition. (Though, users with similar body types and weights might get mistaken for each other.) If the scale pulls up the wrong profile in the app, you can easily correct it by manually selecting your profile.
Do smart scales really work?
At-home smart scales aren’t going to give you as accurate readings as you could get from a medical professional, but can definitely give you more data than a traditional scale. Your readings might fluctuate more with a home smart scale.
Smart scales are accurate enough for everyday use and can help you track your physical health and fitness goals.
Can everyone use a smart scale?
Because smart scales use BIA technology, not all of them are recommended for everyone to use. BIA is pretty noninvasive, but some smart scales have warnings for children, pregnant people, and anyone with a pacemaker or similar medical device. If you have any concerns, check with your doctor before using a smart scale.
That said, there are some smart scale models that are designed for tracking pregnancies and child growth if you’re interested in tracking measurements for the whole family. We’ll indicate which ones are OK below.
FITINDEX smart wireless digital scale
This scale provides 13 body measurements at an affordable price.-
What it measures:
Body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, water percentage, skeletal muscle, fat-free body weight, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, muscle mass, bone mass, protein, basal metabolism, and body age -
Number of users:
Unlimited -
Size:
10.2 x 10.2 x 0.96 inches
The FITINDEX smart scale is great if you will have multiple people tracking their measurements as the scale can accommodate unlimited users. Each smart scale user will just need to create their own profile in the FITINDEX app, which can then sync with their respective accounts on Apple Health, Google Fit, and Fitbit. The FITINDEX smart scale works without needing your phone open nearby, but some reviewers reported missing information when trying to sync that way, So, have the app open when you step on the scale to be safe.
Arboleaf smart scale
For a low price, Arboleaf provides impressive accuracy.-
What it measures:
Weight, body fat percentage, body type, visceral fat, body water percentage, muscle mass, bone mass, BMR, BMI, and metabolic age -
Number of users:
Unlimited -
Size:
11.8 x 11.8 x 1 inches
Reviewers love the Arboleaf smart scale for its accuracy and price. The scale’s app does more than just show you your data — it also provides plans on how to improve and meet goals for each measurement. You do have to have the app open nearby to record your metrics.
Withings Body+
Pregnancy and baby modes make Withings stand out.-
What it measures:
Weight, body fat, water percentage, muscle mass, and bone mass -
Number of users:
Up to 8 -
Size:
12.8 x 12.8 x 0.9 inches
The price tag is higher than some of the competition, but that’s because you’re getting an established, recognizable brand. Withings has impressive fitness trackers, so you can expect the same high quality in the brand’s smart scale. The Withings Body+ is great for all users and has pregnancy and baby modes, which allow you to monitor your body composition and nutrition as you go through a pregnancy and gather information about the babies or tots in your life to monitor their growth
Renpho Bluetooth body fat scale
The Renpho scale has a good number of features for its low price.-
What it measures:
Body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, water percentage, skeletal muscle, fat-free body weight, muscle mass, bone mass, protein, basal metabolism, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, and body age -
Number of users:
Unlimited -
Size:
11 x 11 x 1 inches
I personally have the Renpho smart scale, and while I’ve never had my body composition measured by a professional to compare accuracy, it seems to do a good job. There have been some occasions where I’ll have to step on the scale twice for the measurements to show up in the app, but overall I like the app layout and the scale is easy to use and it seamlessly differentiates between users as long as the app is open at weigh-in.
Greater Goods Bluetooth smart scale
A portion of proceeds from the Greater Goods smart scale goes toward charity.-
What it measures:
Weight, BMI, body fat, lean mass, water weight, and bone mass -
Number of users:
Up to 8 -
Size:
15 x 15 x 4 inches
You don’t need your phone by you to weigh in on the Greater Goods smart scale — your info will sync next time you open the app. Something unique about Greater Goods is that a portion of each sale goes toward the brand’s nonprofit charity partners. So, it’s a high-quality product that also gives back. As for accuracy, this smart scale nails it in the weight category, while some reviewers reported other measurements being a little off.
Fitbit Aria Air Bluetooth smart scale
Fitbit users will find this to be an easy addition to their fitness arsenal, though it doesn’t track as much as the competition.-
What it measures:
Weight and BMI -
Number of users:
Up to 8 -
Size:
11.81 x 11.81 x 1.06 inches
Eufy C1 smart scale
Eufy provides a straightforward scale with few extra features.-
What it measures:
Weight, body fat percentage, BMI, body fat mass, lean body mass, BMR, visceral fat, muscle mass, bone mass, water -
Number of users:
Up to 16 -
Size:
11.02 x 11.02 x 0.91 inches
Garmin Index S2 smart scale
Garmin users can get a comprehensive view of their health.-
What it measures:
Weight, weight trend, BMI, body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass, bone mass, body water percentage -
Number of users:
Up to 16 -
Size:
18 x 16 x 3 inches
This is a pricey smart scale, but if you’ve got the cash and are a die-hard Garmin user, the Garmin Index S2 is definitely a good scale. The scale itself displays your profile name and cycles through all of your measurements instead of making you open the app. The scale’s screen even shows you the weather to help you plan for your day.
Yunmai Premium smart scale
Create fitness goals within the Yunmai scale’s app.-
What it measures:
Weight, body fat, BMI, muscle, water percentage, protein, visceral fat, bone mass, BMR, fitness age -
Number of users:
16 -
Size:
12.9 x 12.9 x 1.2 inches
Redover smart scale
The whole family can track 13 health measurements with this smart scale.-
What it measures:
Weight, BMI, body fat, body water, skeletal muscle, BMR, fat-free body weight, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, muscle mass, bone mass, protein, and metabolic age -
Number of users:
Unlimited -
Size:
11.8 x 11.8 x 1 inches
Unlike most scales, the Redover smart scale doesn’t require you to tap the scale’s sensors to calibrate it — you can just step right on and get an accurate reading. The scale tracks 13 metrics, which is on the higher end of smart scale measurement numbers.
1byone smart scale
Store your fitness data in the cloud, export it as a PDF, or even enter it manually.-
What it measures:
Weight, BMI, body fat, body water, bone mass, visceral fat, BMR, muscle mass, protein, skeletal muscle rate, fat-free body weight, lean body mass, body type and body score -
Number of users:
Unlimited -
Size:
11 x 11 x 0.9 inches
The 1byone smart scale provides a whopping 14 body composition measurements and is ready to roll when you are and turns on without you having to tap it awake first. Within the app, you can save your data progress in cloud storage or export it as a PDF — and there’s even an option to insert data manually.
How a smart scale can help you lose weight
It’s easy to see how smart scales could promote motivation to stick to losing or maintaining weight. After you step on the scale, your information is recorded and sent to the accompanying app. Most of these apps track your progress in charts and allow you to set goals. Being able to see your goals and see where you are in terms of meeting them can motivate you in ways that simply writing down your weight can’t.
This means you can track things like body fat and muscle mass over time, and most scales and their apps are compatible with other fitness apps like Fitbit, Apple Health, and Google Fit, so you can sync your data where you’re already tracking other fitness goals.
Some of these measurements might not be necessary for you to track. If you are just casually trying to watch your weight, you probably don’t need a scale that tracks your bone mass and muscle. But, getting a holistic view of your body composition can promote more mindfulness of your physical health overall.