The fundamental trade-off in HRV tracking: chest straps offer gold-standard accuracy but require deliberate readings, while wrist devices trade some precision for passive 24/7 monitoring.
Comparison Overview
| Category | Polar H10 | Whoop 5.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | ECG gold standard ✓ | Good PPG, some noise |
| Chest strap captures cleaner signal | ||
| Convenience | Must wear for each reading | Automatic, always on ✓ |
| Passive tracking wins for consistency | ||
| Cost | $90 one-time ✓ | $30/month ongoing |
| Chest strap is dramatically cheaper | ||
| App Flexibility | Works with any app ✓ | Locked to Whoop |
| H10 pairs with Elite HRV, HRV4Training, etc. | ||
| Overnight Tracking | Not practical | Automatic sleep HRV ✓ |
| Can't sleep in a chest strap | ||
| Trend Consistency | Depends on user discipline | Guaranteed daily data ✓ |
| Automation beats intention | ||
The Bottom Line
For maximum accuracy on a budget, pair a Polar H10 with Elite HRV and commit to morning readings. For passive tracking where you just want data without thinking about it, choose a wrist or ring device.
Detailed Reviews
Polar H10
The accuracy benchmark. If you want the most precise HRV data and don't mind taking deliberate morning readings, the...
Full reviewWhoop 5.0
Best for serious athletes who want completely passive tracking and don't mind paying monthly. The training load and...
Full review