WHOOP
WHOOP 4.0
—
Released 2021-10
Best Fitness Trackers · head-to-head
WHOOP 4.0 vs Garmin Vivosmart 5
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Garmin Vivosmart 5 is cheaper at $149.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Garmin
Garmin Vivosmart 5
$149.99
Released 2022-04
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | WHOOP 4.0 | Garmin Vivosmart 5 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | — | $149.99 US MSRP at launch Apr 20 2022. |
| Brand | WHOOP | Garmin |
| Released | 2021-10 | 2022-04 |
| Form factor | band | band |
| Display | — | OLED 0.84in monochrome |
| Battery days | 5 | 7 |
| Gps | No | No |
| Spo2 | Yes | Yes |
| Ecg | No | No |
| Subscription required | Yes | No |
| Water resistance (m) | 10 | 50 |
| Release | 2021 | 2022 |
Sources — WHOOP 4.0: dcrainmaker.com (verified 2026-06-15). Garmin Vivosmart 5: garmin.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the WHOOP 4.0 and Garmin Vivosmart 5?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
- Battery days: WHOOP 4.0 5 vs Garmin Vivosmart 5 7
- Subscription required: WHOOP 4.0 true vs Garmin Vivosmart 5 false
- Water resistance (m): WHOOP 4.0 10 vs Garmin Vivosmart 5 50
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
WHOOP 4.0
Across 3 testing outlets, the Whoop 4.0 earns a consistently positive verdict, with GearJunkie scoring it 8.0/10. Reviewers converge on its accuracy for sleep, strain, and recovery tracking and its tangible impact on users' daily habits, while the recurring subscription cost (up to $30/month, or $239/year) is the main friction point raised. Battery life is reported consistently at around 4 to 5 days across sources. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Accurate sleep, recovery, and strain tracking (validated against gold-standard measures in one study, corroborated by consistency checks and accurate strain/recovery predictions); Meaningful, positive impact on users' lifestyle and habits; Consistent readings when compared against other wearables.
Flagged: Ongoing subscription cost is a sticking point for some users/reviewers.
Garmin Vivosmart 5
Three whitelisted testers (DC Rainmaker, Tom's Guide, TechRadar) field-tested the exact Vivosmart 5. All praise its accurate optical heart rate, ~7-day battery (with all-day SpO2 off), and free no-subscription Garmin Connect data, but flag the dated monochrome screen and missing onboard GPS. DC Rainmaker calls it a rare miss and overpriced versus the $149 Fitbit Charge 5; TechRadar calls it excellent for everyday wellbeing; Tom's Guide rates it a good tracker that falls short without GPS. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Accurate, responsive optical heart rate in workout/interval tests; Long ~7-day battery life (with all-day SpO2 disabled); Deep Garmin Connect data with no subscription paywall (unlike Fitbit).
Flagged: No onboard GPS; relies on phone, causing distance errors on longer routes; Dated monochrome screen, hard to read outdoors/on the move; All-day SpO2 monitoring drains battery drastically (to ~3-4 days).